Russia mocks Ukraine intel chief over claims of Putin’s ‘body double’ in Iran visit

The Russian Embassy in Tehran pokes fun at Ukraine’s top intelligence official for claiming that Russian leader Vladimir Putin may have been replaced by a lookalike body double during his recent trip to Iran.

Iran and Russia Presidents Raisi and Putin

In a tweet on Sunday, the diplomatic mission rejected Major General Kyrylo O. Budanov’s claims as “absurd.”

“The Russian Embassy also suggests that this statement was probably made by a body double of Mr. Budanov,” it said mockingly.

The intelligence official had told Ukrainian outlet 1+1 that Putin’s lively appearance during the visit was uncharacteristic, suggesting that the man seen in the footage was not the Russian president.

“I will only hint,” Budanov said.

“Please look at the moment of Putin’s exit from the plane. Is it Putin at all?”

Putin visited Tehran on Tuesday to attend a tripartite meeting with his Iranian and Turkish presidents over the Syria crisis.

IFP Editorial Staff

The IFP Editorial Staff is composed of dozens of skilled journalists, news-writers, and analysts whose works are edited and published by experienced editors specialized in Iran News. The editor of each IFP Service is responsible for the report published by the Iran Front Page (IFP) news website, and can be contacted through the ways mentioned in the "IFP Editorial Staff" section.