According to a report by The Sun (UK) on Sunday, January 11, 2026, ex-MI6 chief Sir Richard Dearlove has stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin “certainly” makes use of body doubles to protect himself from assassination attempts.
Speaking on intelligence assessments and long-standing rumours, Dearlove said the use of doubles is a standard security tactic for leaders who are considered prime targets. He stressed that Putin’s risk level has grown significantly since the war in Ukraine began.
The former intelligence boss explained that Ukrainian forces have shown they can strike far inside Russia, raising fears within the Kremlin about Putin’s safety during public appearances. As a result, decoys may be used during events where security cannot be fully controlled, especially outdoors.
However, Dearlove clarified that such measures would not apply to face-to-face diplomatic meetings or sensitive negotiations, where impersonation would be too risky and difficult to maintain.
Although Russian authorities deny these claims, reports suggest that presidential security procedures have become much stricter in recent years. Ukrainian intelligence officials have also alleged that multiple trained doubles exist and are deployed selectively to reduce threats to the Russian leader.
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