BIZARRE footage shows a topless Vladimir Putin swimming and kissing a pair of friendly dolphins.
The previously unseen footage was released by the Kremlin to commemorate the 20th anniversary since the former KGB spy became Russian President.
According to Putin’s own press service, the video was filmed in December 2000 at Cuban health resort Varadero.
In the clip, the Moscow hardman grabs onto the dolphins’ fins as he is dragged through the water.
Vlad, who is known for his love of animals, is then kissed on the face by the adorable sea creatures.
But this isn’t the first time that Putin has been pictured cavorting with wildlife.
The bald-headed bruiser has cultivated a rugged strongman persona within his own country meaning he is often pictured shirtless in the Russian countryside.
Horse riding in Siberia
In 2009 the cult of Putin was born with these remarkable images. Taken in the the Tuva region, the then Prime Minister took off his shirt and donned sunglasses for the ride.
He is seen wearing boots and practical outdoorsman trousers – pieces of clothing he wears regularly during forays into the wilderness.
This set of pictures are among the most famous to emerge of Putin – and sparked the creation of his macho image.
Exploring ancient wrecks
Last year Putin’s most bizarre stunt involved diving to the bottom of the Black Sea aboard a research vessel to inspect an ancient shipwreck.
Looking like the archetypal Bond villain, he was photographed peering out from the ship moments before it descended underwater in the sea near the Crimea.
He took the mini-submarine about 270ft underwater to inspect a Byzantine trading ship – having only months earlier wrested control of the area from Ukraine.
Fly fishing in the wild
In other trips to his beloved Siberian wilderness, Putin took time out to go fly fishing.
He chose to go topless for this photo series too and even wore his trademark outdoors boots, cargo trousers and sunglasses.
The pictures were taken on the Khemchik River in Republic of Tuva 15 August 2007.
Vlad the animal lover
The 60-year-old has also been keen in recent years to broadcast his softer side – by photographing himself with animals.
He appears to have a particular affinity with dogs and has been seen cuddling them on numerous occasions.
