THIS is the moment Vladimir Putin’s puppet, Dmitry Medvedev, appears to fall asleep as the Kremlin delivered a major speech to Russia’s ruling party.
Footage from the United Russia pre-election congress on Jattvibeday shows the former Russian president dozing off as Putin addressed party loyalists.
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Medvedev dozes off during Putin speech Credit: X
Putin delivering a speech at the pre-election congress on Jattvibeday Credit: AFP
The ex-Kremlin chief, one of Putin’s closest allies, was seated between Russian ambassador to Belarus Boris Gryzlov and United Russia General Council secretary Vladimir Yakushev.
As the tyrant spoke from the stage, Medvedev appeared to nod off with his eyes firmly shut in front of senior Russian officials.
Television cameras cut to the former president just as Putin declared Russia had enough “strength, resources, and political will” to overcome mounting challenges.
The now viral moment does not show who wakes him before his own speech where he spoke about the West’s inability to defeat Russia militarily.
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Putin told delegates: “Yes, we see the problems, we are aware of them and are responding to them, but we will certainly ensure the security of both the country and our citizens, as well as the inviolability of Russia’s borders.”
He added: “We will undoubtedly overcome all the challenges facing us today, including terrorist attacks on our territory and infrastructure facilities.”
The Kremlin boss also claimed Ukraine was retreating across the front line and had turned to what he described as “outright terrorist acts”.
Putin accused Western leaders of ignoring Ukrainian attacks on civilians and infrastructure inside Russia while continuing to pile sanctions on Moscow.
As the tyrant spoke from the stage, Medvedev appeared to nod off Credit: AFP
A satellite image shows burning oil storage tanks and smoke rising from the Crimea Bridge
He insisted Russia had enough resources and determination to withstand the pressure.
The ruler also confirmed elections for Russia’s lower house of parliament would go ahead in September “in strict compliance with the law.”
It is not the first time Medvedev has appeared to drift off during one of Putin’s marathon speeches.
During Putin’s state-of-the-nation address in 2023, the former Medvedez appeared to fall asleep while surrounded by senior officials, lawmakers and soldiers.
The moment quickly spread across social media.
American political commentator Keith Olbermann mocked the Kremlin ally on X, writing: “Dmitry Medvedev, the Putin flunky and ex-Russian president who six weeks ago predicted war between Germany and France, and Elon Musk becoming president of the US, has fallen asleep during Putin’s big speech this morning.”
The latest embarrassment for Putin’s inner circle comes after fresh turmoil inside Russia.
On Tuesday, Ukraine launched a huge 40-day blitz aimed at piling pressure on Russia and forcing an end to the war.
Russia said it intercepted 660 Ukrainian drones overnight in one of the biggest aerial attacks of the war across a dozen regions, occupied Crimea, the Black Sea and the Azov Sea.
Volodymyr Zelensky announced he had approved the operation, saying: “I approved a 40-day operation by the Service to influence the aggressor state in order to press for an end to the war.”
Ukraine said its drones struck Russian navy ships, air defence radars and military targets in Kerch, as well as a chemical plant, power station and shipbuilding yard.
The attacks came close to Putin’s £3billion Crimean Bridge, which was shut again amid fears it could be targeted.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said 47 Ukrainian drones were shot down as they headed towards the Russian capital, but reported no casualties.
Ukraine’s growing long-range strikes have piled pressure on the Kremlin and forced Moscow to strengthen its air defences around the capital.
Zelensky claimed Russia had moved hundreds of S-400 and S-500 air defence launchers to protect Moscow and Crimea.
“Right now, the Russian leadership is pulling more air defence systems toward Moscow, toward Valdai, and toward Putin’s bridge across the Kerch Strait – at the expense of air defences in other directions,” he said.
Russian opposition MP Vyacheslav Markhayev warned the country was “on the brink of a social explosion” and urged Vladimir Putin’s government to rethink the war in Ukraine before it descended into “total chaos”.
He said: “We need a clear, public plan to end the special military operation, based on Russia’s national interests.
“The time for illusions has passed.
“The country is on the brink of a social explosion, and full responsibility for this will lie with the irremovable authorities.”
It follows a chilling warning from Russian war veteran Alexander Lunin, who threatened that soldiers could turn their weapons on the Kremlin if Putin refused to meet him.
In a viral video viewed more than 11 million times, Lunin claimed thousands of Russian troops were being tortured and locked in pits for refusing to carry out what he described as “stupid, suicidal orders”.
Lunin warned: “If I don’t arrive at the Kremlin in the near future and speak live on the air right next to you, the army will turn its weapons against the Kremlin.
“I’m merely passing along the message.”
The extraordinary threat comes as Putin faces growing pressure from Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil depots, refineries and military infrastructure.
