Vladimir Putin can be seen moving awkwardly as he climbed out of a bulletproof limousine to lay flowers in Red Square with anti-Russian media quipping: "Old age is not a joy."
The president seemed uncomfortable as he bent down to lay tributes marking Russia ’s National Unity Day.
His public appearance came days after reports that an intelligence source close to the Kremlin had confirmed he is suffering from Parkinson's and pancreatic cancer.
Putin, 70, is being watched closely as the conflict in Ukraine is seen as his personal war - which could end if his supposed illness worsened or he was overthrown.
He was seen arriving in Red Square, Moscow and laying flowers at a newly renovated monument to Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky.
He was driven a short distance of 100 metres from the Spassky Tower gate of his Kremlin seat of power with his security retinue around him.
Anti-Putin online media outlets questioned if this was because he was unable to walk a longer distance.
CрTD media commented: “Old age is not a joy.”
Once out of his limousine he appeared to walk normally, as shown on footage from Russian defence ministry TV channel Zvezda.
Putin told how at the beginning of the 17th century the country was on the verge of losing its sovereignty, but Russians did not allow this.
Having united in a militia army led by Minin and Pozharsky, they defended their homeland, he said.
A Russian intelligence source was reported earlier this week as confirming Putin had been diagnosed with early stage Parkinson's and pancreatic cancer, claims long made by Telegram channel General SVR.
His circle is worried that his “thinness and persistent cough” is becoming noticeable and will be seen by the elites in Russia as a “sign of the leader's rapidly deteriorating health”, claimed the channel last month.
The Mirror reported how Putin is suffering from both Parkinson's and pancreatic cancer, according to leaked Kremlin spy documents.
Rumours of the 70-year-old's poor health have been around for years as it's believed he is followed by a team of doctors who constantly monitor him.
It was also reported that Putin's inner circle is worried that his “thinness and persistent cough” is becoming noticeable and will be seen by the elites in Russia as a “sign of the leader's rapidly deteriorating health”, Telegram channel General SVR said.
The channel has long claimed he is suffering from cancer despite the Kremlin's insistence he is in good health.
A Russian intelligence source close to the Kremlin also allegedly confirmed Putin has been diagnosed with early-stage Parkinson's and pancreatic cancer.
The reported emails also say there are rumours he now had prostate cancer.
"I can confirm he has been diagnosed with early-stage Parkinson's disease, but it's already progressing," the Russian security services insider claimed.
