Vladimir Putin was mocked today after televised images showed strange bulging creases on his jacket, as he delivered an angry lecture to the West about nuclear weapons. The sighting of the bulges produced much speculation on social media channels, with a number of theories put forward.
One was that the Kremlin boss was wearing a bulletproof vest under his blue jacket, as he delivered his speech during a meeting of the security council. Another was that his "satanic wings" had started to sprout. Putin was in a combative mood, saying he was prepared to use nuclear weapons if Russia was threatened by the West.
"I stress, and no one should doubt it, that Russia is capable of responding to any existing or emerging threat, and this response will not be verbal, but through the use of military-technical measures," he said.
But he also offered Donald Trump a nuclear arms control deal to voluntarily extend the New START Treaty for one year when it expires in February.
"This measure will only be viable if the United States acts in a similar manner and does not take steps that undermine or violate the existing balance of deterrence capabilities," he said.
Social media channels were soon buzzing with chatter about the bizarre images everyone had seen.
Ukrainian channel Pravda Gerashchenko commented: "The main thing is that the suit fits. At the Russian Security Council meeting, Putin's shoulders strangely 'popped out' of his jacket."
It asked if "bunker-dweller" Putin had "put on a bulletproof vest".
Telegram channel Nexta Live said: "The public's attention was drawn not to the content of Putin's speech, but to his appearance.
"What is happening with the dictator's shoulders? Either the jacket is the wrong size, or the satanic wings are [protruding]."
The former theory seems more likely, as the Kremlin tyrant is known to be terrified of being assassinated by his enemies.
Gleb Karakulov - a high-ranking Kremlin defector who once served in Putin's elite personal security service - told the Dossier Centre that his former boss lives in constant fear of being killed.
The 35-year-old said Putin has set up three identical offices across Russia in order to hide undetected in times of crisis.
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