Russian President Vladimir Putin marked his 73rd birthday with a military dinner in St. Petersburg, where the contrasting condition of his plate sparked widespread online commentary.
Putin’s birthday dinner with generals
President Vladimir Putin celebrated his 73rd birthday in St. Petersburg, inviting senior military officials including Defence Minister Andrey Belousov, FSB director Alexander Bortnikov, Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, and other commanders. A recording of the event showed the group seated around a table.
Putin’s plate sparks online curiosity
On the video, Putin’s plate was full, while the generals’ plates were either empty or covered with napkins, and no beverages were visible. Some commentators suggested the arrangement reflected tight control and a strict hierarchy, while others argued it was a staged scene for propaganda.
Birthday wishes arrive from abroad
Russia’s Foreign Ministry announced that on his birthday Putin received greetings from President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, and leaders of North Korea, Azerbaijan, and Central Asian states.
Polish congratulatory comment sparks controversy
A post by the Polish party KORWiN on the social‑media platform X thanked Putin for his birthday, urging him to “win the battle for the existence of civilization, succeed in free‑market promotion, lower taxes further, defend traditional values and improve Polish‑Russian relations.” The message drew criticism for supporting the dictator.
