Russian President Vladimir Putin has been seen looking tired with "reddened eyes" and "deep grooves" during a video call in what could be new signs of illness, a body language expert has said.
Rumours of Putin's health continue with some experts say he is suffering from cancer or Parkinson’s disease, others say he is recovering from surgery and on a course of steroids.
The claims are unconfirmed and unverified but body language experts believe he shows signs of being unwell.
"We can see a lowered chin hinting at lowered energy. His eye area looks reddened and there is a lack of energy in his eye expression," body language expert Judi James told The Mirror.
She says Putin's most recent meeting with Alexey Tsydenov, the Head of the Republic of Buryatia, shows the despot displaying a range of emotions from a "rather urgent desire to establish control to a more anxious and even slightly confused state".
During the meeting, Tsydenov spoke about the war in Ukraine.
However, he called it a "special military operation" and delighted at many of "his guys" from Buryatia "honourably fulfilling their duty" to protect people and ensure the strategic security of Russia.
He spoke about the Ministry of Defence's decision to present Lieutenant Baldan Tsydypov to the title of Hero of Russia, as he was reportedly seriously wounded and had his foot was amputated.
Putin said he supported it.
Ms James says there is a sense of urgency when Putin talks which "could suggest someone or some point that should not be argued with".
She also said he seems confused, continuing: "With the notes apparently upside-down initially. He corrects this but begins to touch other sheets of paper, ending by straightening the paperwork in a correcting, straightening ritual that could suggests some levels of inner anxiety."
In an interview with a Ukrainian newspaper, Kyrylo Budanov, the Chief Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine's Ministry of Defence, declared Putin has cancer.
Bundanov said he "fully confirms" the information about the despot's ill health and added that his mental state was “confused” and hinted at the toll the failing war could be taking on him, claiming he was in a manic state.
"If you crop down to the eye area alone we seem to see a man looking tired and lacking in energy or enthusiasm," Ms James continues.
"His brows sag to the outer sides, they are also held puckered in the middle in a gesture of concern or worry that creates four or five deep grooves in the skin of his forehead."
Former MI6 operative Christopher Steele claimed to LBC Radio a few weeks ago that Putin has to take regular breaks from meetings to seek medical treatment.
He said: "There's no clear political leadership coming from Putin, who is increasingly ill, and in military terms, the structures of command and so on are not functioning as they should."
