Russian President Vladimir Putin recorded his declaration of war against Ukraine days earlier, according to multiple reports.
Putin pre-taped on Monday the address that aired on state TV Thursday in Russia, according to the country’s Novaya Gazeta newspaper.
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks about authorizing a special military operation in Ukraine, February 24, 2022. EPA/RUSSIAN PRESIDENT PRESS SERVICE / HANDOUTThe outlet posted metadata purportedly from the Kremlin’s website indicating the footage was created at 7 p.m. Feb. 21.
An explosion after Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized a military operation in eastern Ukraine. VIA REUTERS“You can verify this by downloading the video from the Kremlin website and checking its properties,” according to a translation of the newspaper’s tweet.
The Moscow-based Conflict Intelligence Team also noted that Putin, 69, wore the same maroon tie and dark suit during Thursday’s address as he did during a meeting with the Russian Security Council on Monday.
The researchers also cited data showing Russian air traffic controllers in Rostov posted a notice to shut down flights along the border of Ukraine beginning Tuesday.
A woman waits for a train trying to leave Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti
Workers prepare to load the debris of a rocket onto a truck in the aftermath of Russian shelling in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky
Police investigate Russian shelling in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky
Vladimir Putin reportedly recorded his declaration of war against Ukraine days earlier. NY Post illustration“This suggests that a large-scale invasion of Ukraine was planned for February 22, but was postponed for reasons unknown to us,” CIT tweeted early Thursday.
Not all analysts were convinced, however. A journalist for Bellingcat, a Netherlands-based investigative news site, said Putin’s address was “apparently” filmed Thursday and that Novaya “just scraped the wrong video” for its report.
“This is the wrong video,” analyst Aric Toler tweeted, adding that Putin’s war declaration was 28 minutes long rather than 55 minutes — his prelude to all-out war on Monday when he announced Russia would recognize two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine and denounced the country’s sovereignty.
The Intelligence Team also noted that Vladimir Putin wore the same maroon tie and dark suit during Thursday’s address as he did on Monday. EPA/ALEKSEY NIKOLSKYI/SPUTNIK/KREMLIN POOL
Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with members of the Security Council in Moscow on February 21, 2022. ALEXEY NIKOLSKY/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images
People attend a pro-Ukrainian demonstration on Whitehall, near Downing Street, in London, UK, February 24, 2022. REUTERS/Peter Cziborra
Inhabitants of Kyiv leave the city following pre-offensive missile strikes of the Russian armed forces and Belarus on February 24, 2022. Pierre Crom/Getty ImagesThe Financial Times’ Moscow bureau chief, meanwhile, posted a side-by-side image of Putin from his “rambling speech” Monday and his war declaration Thursday.
“Quite possible this was pre-recorded, especially given the separatist letters were dated Tuesday,” bureau chief Max Seddon tweeted. “He’s wearing the same outfit, down to the tie.”
