Vladimir Putin's alleged lover resurfaced in Moscow this week and was photographed wearing what appears to be a wedding ring, sparking rumours she married the Russian President while in hiding.
Last month, it was claimed Alina Kabaeva, 38, was hiding in a plush Swiss villa with her children that she is alleged to have fathered with Putin.
Other rumours suggested she may have actually been hiding in an underground bunker in Siberia with Putin and his inner circle.
Kabaeva was spotted at a junior rhythmic gymnastics rehearsal in Moscow, marking her first public appearance in weeks.
Trainer Ekaterina Sirotina shared pictures from the event on Instagram, despite a reported ban on images from inside the rehearsal by the Kremlin.
In Russia it is customary for married couples to wear their wedding rings on the third finger of their right hand.
In one image, Kabaeva posed with gymnasts and on her right "ring" finger a small band is visible, sparking rumours in Ukrainian tabloids she secretly got married.
In other images, her hands are in her pockets.
Speculation about Putin and Kabaeva's relationship is not new as it has also been claimed the couple have children together.
The photos have also sparked speculation that she had used the same cosmetic surgeon as Putin amid claims of Botox and fillers.
Russian-language tabloids also highlighted that Kabaeva's face had changed while she was out of the public eye.
Sources in Lugano, Switzerland had previously told Bulgarian tabloid site 24 Chasa that it is known Kabaeva is there and that everyone who knows her and her children has sworn to keep their location secret.
However, the Swiss government has previously said on March 20 that there was no information that she was in the country.
The former Olympic gymnast's children were all reportedly born in Switzerland and hold Swiss passports and Kabaeva is believed to hold a number of passports under different names, PageSix previously reported.
Her movements have been continued to be highly speculated as the Swiss government has faced demands to add her to the list of sanctioned people.
More than 60 Ukrainian MPs signed an appeal to Claude Wild, the Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation to Ukraine, requesting to push his government to add Kabaeva to a list of sanctioned Russian individuals.
Political scientist Valery Solovey has previously speculated she could be in an underground "city equipped with the latest science and technology" in Siberia along with Putin.
Solovey said in a recent interview: "I strongly doubt Alina Kabaeva was hiding in Switzerland.
“According to my information, she’s been in the Russian Federation, in an absolutely secure location. I have no doubt the Russian president will do everything possible and even impossible to secure his family.
“Should they need to be abroad, it definitely won’t be Switzerland.… Right now, they are safe in Russia, as far as I know…”
The facility in the Altai Mountains is intended to house Russian survivors in the event of Armageddon.
Observers have previously spoken of a high-voltage line connected to a 110-kilovolt substation and ventilation points near the mountain, which would be sufficient to keep a small town running, Bulgarian weekly news 168 Chasa has previously reported.
Pals of the former Russian MP have also reportedly begged her to return to Moscow to convince Putin to end the war - adding further speculation she isn't in Russia.
Kabaeva is seldom seen in public - but was caught on video dancing in Moscow in December.
In August 2021, she went on state TV to denounce Tokyo 2020 judges after Russian star Dina Averina failed to win a gold medal in rhythmic gymnastics.
