On May 22, Putin failed to shout ‘Hooray’ at a public event

Events of May 22

According to Главком: During his speech on May 22, Russian President Vladimir Putin struggled to utter the traditional battle cry ‘Hooray!’. A video of the incident was published by the outlet ‘Glavkom’ on May 24, 2026. Initially, the politician tried to yell the slogan while seated, but only a quiet, hoarse sound came from his mouth. Then he stood up, yet he still could not pronounce the word. The situation was saved by the Russian military personnel present at the event, who echoed the call.

Russia’s Military Actions

On the same day, Russia deployed a new medium-range ballistic system against the peaceful city in the Kyiv region. The Russian army struck civilian facilities, including:

• water treatment plant
• market
• dozens of residential buildings
• several schools

In particular, a ‘hazelnut’ missile was launched at Bila Tserkva. The nighttime combined attack on Kyiv resulted in a significant number of casualties: the number of injured residents of the capital almost doubled compared to the morning reports.

This incident did not go unnoticed by Ukrainians and social media users. Many actively mocked that ‘the old man forgot how to shout’. Numerous analysts and commentators noted Putin’s physical frailty, suggesting that the sudden loss of voice and his general behavior could be symptoms of a severe illness, micro-stroke, or other serious health problems.

‘Putin cannot even pronounce the word “hooray” properly – he muffles it, yet he continues to defeat residential buildings with his missiles. Three Russian missiles struck a water supply facility, burned a market, damaged dozens of residential homes, and several ordinary schools. He launched his ‘hazelnut’ at Bila Tserkva. Truly inadequate. It is important that this does not go unpunished for Russia. Today, everyone in the world who does not remain silent, who helps Ukraine, is a guardian of life.’

Volodymyr Zelensky

Thus, the events of May 22 became significant not only due to the absurd moment with Putin but also because of the serious military actions that resulted in new casualties among the civilian population. The combination of these two aspects underscores the complicated situation in Russia and Ukraine, where the ruling power's internal problems may impact external aggression. This also raises concerns about Russia's future steps as the international community continues to monitor the developments in the region.

In the context of rising tensions in the region, the incident with Putin was just one element of a broader picture. The recent attack on Moscow also undermines the myth that the war is taking place far from the capital, highlighting the regime’s vulnerability and instability. These events raise serious questions about the future for both Russia and Ukraine.