Vladimir Putin's former schoolteacher has reignited speculation about the Russian president's use of body doubles after she appeared uncertain of his identity during a carefully stage-managed meeting. Vera Gurevich, now 92, who taught Putin German in his youth, met with him at her Moscow hotel for a dinner outing. Upon his arrival, she peered at his face and asked doubtfully, 'Is that you?' Putin smiled and replied, 'Yes, it's me. It's me.' The exchange has fueled ongoing rumors that the Kremlin leader employs body doubles for security reasons.
Teacher's Doubts Spark Questions
After the president seemingly confirmed his identity, Gurevich kissed him as he handed her a large bouquet. She was then escorted into a Russian state Aurus limousine and driven to the Kremlin for dinner, accompanied by security vehicles. This meeting has drawn attention to Putin's known practice of using body doubles, a tactic Western intelligence suggests has become more frequent amid his growing paranoia over security.
Past Revelations About Putin's Youth
Gurevich has previously shared anecdotes about Putin's school years. She recalled a school trip when, at age 16, Putin slaughtered a duck before it was cooked for dinner. She described how he covered his head with a blanket and said, 'Bring in the unfortunate one, lay her head so that, without seeing her, I can sever her head with a single blow.' She also noted that as a schoolboy, Putin 'wasn't particularly interested in girls at all,' and she had anticipated he would become a lawyer, not a president. 'Honestly, I could never imagine that it'd be Vladimir Putin who'd become president, head of our great state. He's a talented man, but I've always thought he'd make a lawyer,' she said.
Putin's Security Fears Intensify
According to Western intelligence reports, Putin has become increasingly concerned about his safety, living and working in bunkers amid fears of a coup. He has abandoned his favorite palaces, worrying they could be targets of drone strikes, potentially by members of his own entourage. A new analysis, citing an unnamed Western intelligence agency and first published by Russian news outlet Important Stories, states that since the beginning of March 2026, the Kremlin has been concerned about leaks of sensitive information and the risk of a plot or coup against Putin. The report specifically mentions the use of drones for a possible assassination attempt by members of the Russian political elite. Putin's Security Council Secretary, Sergei Shoigu, who served as Minister of Defence during the early years of the war in Ukraine, is allegedly associated with the risk of a coup attempt.
