Kathrine Frich
Viewers noticed inconsistencies in an official Kremlin video that appeared and then quickly changed.
The episode has prompted speculation about how the address was produced and distributed.
A brief confusion
According to Ukrainian television channel Kanal24, Vladimir Putin’s New Year address appeared in two different versions on the Kremlin’s official website shortly after noon Moscow time.
Viewers spotted that the recordings were not identical. In each version, Putin was dressed differently, despite delivering the same annual message.
Telegram channels that monitor Kremlin communications quickly highlighted the discrepancy.
Vanishing footage
The first version of the speech showed Putin wearing a black tie. That recording was removed soon after publication and replaced with a second version in which he appeared wearing a red tie, Kanal24 reported.
Despite the swift correction on the Kremlin website, the original version had already been aired by several regional Russian television channels.
As a result, both versions circulated online before the change went largely unnoticed by official outlets.
Shortest wartime speech
The Moscow Times reported that this year’s address was notably brief. The speech lasted 3 minutes and 21 seconds, making it the shortest New Year message Putin has delivered since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
By comparison, his address at the end of 2022 ran for nearly nine minutes. The speeches delivered in 2023 and 2024 were also longer than the latest one.
The reduced length added to speculation about changes in how the message was prepared.
Possible explanation
Ukrainian media suggested the appearance of two versions was most likely the result of technical issues rather than a political decision.
According to those reports, the discrepancy may be linked to digital processing techniques or the use of artificial intelligence in editing or preparing the broadcast.
Both versions of the recording remain accessible online, allowing viewers to compare the differences directly.
Sources: Kanal24, Moscow Times, Telegram, WP.
