When Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared on TV today to insist none of the country’s troops are positioned in the Ukraine, he looked decidedly fresh-faced for a man accused of war-mongering.

The wrinkles on the 62-year-old's forehead, clearly visibly in previous pictures, have disappeared, while his skin look smooth, taut, tanned and younger than ever.

And as this series of pictures show, the Russian president's face has changed dramatically over the years – amid persistent rumours he has undergone cosmetic surgery to give himself a more youthful look.

A black and white picture taken in 1991 when he was 37 years old shows him looking gaunt, and black bags under his eyes are clearly visible.

In a photo dated 2000, Putin’s hair still has tones of blonde but the signs of ageing are becoming more apparent on his features.

Fast-forward to 2010, and the 'action man', now 57, looks tired and haggared after taking part in a judo session

Questions over whether Putin had gone under the knife came to the fore in 2011, when the then-Prime Minister was photographed with a yellow bruise on his face. 

Plastic surgeons at the time told MailOnline that Botox injections, a facelift, cheek-fillers, a brow lift and removal of the bags under his eyes would have helped improve his ageing features – although his spokesman denied at the time he had had any work done.

But In the same year he announced he wanted to become the next President of Russia, leading commentators to ask if that was the reason behind his new look. 

In December 2013, after around two years in office as President, he looked vastly different again, his face puffy but wrinkle-free.

And in March this year, the Kremlin was forced to deny rumours that he was unwell – or had undergone surgery – when the President disappeared for 10 days, cancelling a string of appointments and public appearances.

When he emerged to meet with the President of Kyrgystan his face was puffy and shiny, and eyes only able to partially open, leading journalists to wonder about the cause of his new look.

However Putin has remained tight-lipped about his absence, laughing off the suggestions of poor health - or rumours that he had been attending the birth of a love child - saying; 'It would be boring without gossip.'

His latest appearance is unlikely to quell suggestions that Putin has been knocking on the doors of plastic surgeons.

Putin was recently reported as saying he won't be in office past the year 2024, when he will turns 71 years old - although these pictures suggest there is a good chance he won't look it.

(dailymail.co.uk)