Experts pointed out shocking reason behind why Vladimir Putin walks with one arm by his side.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s distinctive walking style has long caught the attention of observers and experts alike.
While his left arm swings naturally as he walks, his right arm remains unusually still, pressed closely to his body.
For years, this unique gait has led to speculation about potential medical conditions or even robotic behavior.
However, recent analysis from neurology and military history experts suggests a far more deliberate explanation—one that may be rooted in Putin’s past as a KGB operative.
Experts believe Putin’s unusual gait is a trained behaviour, not a health issue
In 2015, a team of neurologists led by Professor Bastiaan Bloem from Radboud University Medical Center in the Netherlands studied multiple recordings of Putin’s movements.
Their findings, published in the “British Medical Journal”, revealed that the President consistently displays a reduced arm swing on his right side.
At first glance, this asymmetry might seem like a neurological disorder, such as Parkinson’s disease, which often causes a loss of arm movement.
However, the researchers found no other physical symptoms to support that theory.
Additionally , they also uncovered an explanation rooted not in health but in Putin’s military training.
The team discovered an old KGB training manual instructing operatives to walk with their dominant arm—typically the right—held close to the chest.
This position allowed quick access to a concealed weapon, ensuring the operative could react instantly if faced with a threat. The researchers coined the term “gunslinger’s gait” to describe this deliberate, tactical walking pattern.
“Searching for possible explanations, we encountered a training manual of the former Russian KGB.
“According to this manual, KGB operatives were instructed to keep their weapon in their right hand close to their chest and to move forward with one side, usually the left, presumably allowing subjects to draw the gun as quickly as possible when confronted with a foe.” They wrote.
Other High-Ranking Russian officials share the same pattern
What makes this theory more convincing is that Putin isn’t the only prominent Russian figure who walks this way.
The same reduced right-arm movement has been observed in former Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, ex-Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov, senior Kremlin official Sergei Ivanov, and former General Anatoly Sidorov.
All of these men have either military or intelligence backgrounds, further supporting the idea that this gait is not coincidental but a learned behavior ingrained through years of training.
The neurologists were “stunned” to find the walking pattern repeated so precisely among multiple former KGB or military leaders.
Rather than indicating a disorder, the stiff arm likely signals a constant state of readiness—an ingrained habit of preparedness for drawing a weapon in high-pressure environments.
This behavior, developed during the Cold War era, appears to have persisted long after the agents’ operational roles ended.
Putin’s “Gunslinger’s Gait” reflects his lifelong mindset of caution and control
While some may dismiss the behavior as paranoia, others interpret it as an insight into Putin’s psychological profile.
As a former spy turned world leader, Putin’s stiff right arm can be seen as symbolic of his calculated approach to power and security.
In a world where perception often shapes political influence, even the way a leader walks can reveal deeper truths. His gait, rigid yet composed, aligns with a persona that values discipline, control, and strategic caution.