Vladimir Putin denied using a body double during a phone-in press conference – but the question was posed by an AI-generated image of himself.
The question about the Russian President’s alleged body doubles came from St Petersburg State University using an AI-generated deep fake of Putin.
During the bizarre exchange, Putin told the AI he was his “first twin”.
He said: “You can talk like me and use my voice, my pitch, but I figured only one person can speak like myself and use my voice, and this is going to be me.”
The Russian leader has long been rumoured to use body doubles. In 2020, Putin said he was offered a double for security but turned him down.
READ MORE: Putin reeling as Russia loses ‘3,000 troops in three days’ in fierce fighting
The despot answered various questions from journalists and members of the Russian public during the four-hour live broadcast on Thursday.
The military featured heavily in his remarks – concerns over continuing Western aid to Ukraine appeared to buoy the Kremlin leader.
Speaking of Kyiv, he said: “They have been trying to maintain their manufacturing capability but they have actually been importing things for free, freeloading.
“But it will come to an end sooner or later.”
He also said Russia and China were experiencing an unprecedented level of cooperation and compared the war in Ukraine to the one in Gaza, claiming the latter was much more brutal.
He said: “Everybody here and around the world can see and look at the special military operation and at what is happening in Gaza and feel the difference.”
Putin also ruled out another mobilisation as popular support for the war in Russia plummets.
Moscow already has 617,000 soldiers currently serving in Ukraine, nearly double the amount it had there when Putin launched his invasion in February 2022.
