Putin pictured with ‘track marks from IVs on back of hand’ as rumours swirl tyrant suffering cancer & crippling pain

VLADIMIR Putin has been pictured with suspected track marks from IV treatment on the back of his hand - amid rumours he's suffering from cancer and crippling pain.

The propaganda videos show Putin trying to grasp a Russian soldier and exposing a mysterious mark on his hand in the process.

Kyiv Post correspondent Jason Jay Smart shared the damning footage on Twitter claiming that "videos released by [Russian] Government news show what could be track marks, from IVs, on the hand of Putin".

He also claimed Moscow released two videos: one heavily watermarked to supposedly mask Putin's hand and another that doesn't show them at all.

Russia's state news hastily deleted the footage in a move that will add to speculation about Putin's ill health.

Putin made a rare appearance on Thursday as he fired a sniper rifle at a training camp for mobilised Russians.

There are claims the mysterious mark could "be just a weird angle of bulgy veins".

Former Ukraine correspondent Tom Warner wrote: "I downloaded the 5 vids of this event posted to Telegram on zvezdanews and looked at all closely for back of hand shots. This seems to be just a weird angle of bulgey veins.

"But the hand and face are puffy in all scenes. Long-term steroids."

Others claimed it could be a bite mark while one retired neurosurgeon said it was "sclerotic veins from multiple IV catheters".

It comes as rumours continue to swirl that the Russian tyrant is suffering from a rare cancer and Parkinson's and travels with an entourage of medics.

Earlier this month, Putin appeared to be visibly in pain during a parade in Moscow's Red Square to celebrate breaking international law to annex four regions of Ukraine.

The ailing autocrat had a manic look and has inflamed cheeks and a red face.

An unsubstantiated report from the Telegram channel General SVR claimed that ahead of important war rooms meeting Putin "complained of aching pain in the abdominal cavity, which could not be quickly stopped, and he held the meeting leaning forward, trying to maintain a natural posture". 

The Russian strongman has previously been seen in pain as recently as his meeting with Sochi with Belarus dictator Alexander Lukashenko last week.

The channel stated: "Putin’s oncology is progressing and, despite adequate treatment lately, the pain is not always completely relieved.  

"It must be understood that the deplorable state of the president's physical and mental health affects the adoption of key decisions.  

"Putin doesn't want to change history, he wants to end it."

The channel has long claimed that Putin is suffering from serious illnesses including abdominal cancer, early Parkinson’s disease, and a schizoaffective disorder.

There have been Western claims about Putin’s health, notably from ex-MI6 head Sir Richard Dearlove, who said the Russian leader faces being sent to a sanatorium and will be gone by 2023, due to medical issues. 

Last month, political scientist Valery Solovey claimed Putin's condition was “dramatically deteriorating”.

He also asserted that Putin’s secret medical conditions have impacted his judgment on the war. 

The self-appointed health expert - who claims to have sources inside Putin's circle - said: "All of the decisions made by him…on February 24 [start Russian invasion of Ukraine] and September 21 [start of mobilisation] are a direct consequence of his physiological status.

“Direct in the sense of physiological health and in terms of mental [health].”