Russian president Vladimir Putin turned 70 on Friday, celebrating his landmark birthday by immersing himself in freezing cold water in Siberia with a tiger cub as birthday cards were raining down from world leaders from near and far.
Nope, it was years ago. He is actually in hot water now.
Putin hadn't been shy about showing off his macho, particularly when it is his birthday: remember those action-filled photo shoots like tiger-tracking or deepwater diving to discover not one but two archaeological trophies, stripping to waist to ride a horse or hunt, revving a Harley Davidson Lehman trike, walking up snowy mountains, fishing and butterfly swimming in icy water, skiing down a volcano, doing judo, scoring seven goals in a nationally televised hockey game against professionals, getting a rare tiger as a present and so on.
Famous for his unusual birthdays, Putin is having it unusual this time too, unusually boring - by keeping his shirt on.
A press release issued by the Kremlin today shows there was a critical shortage of birthday cards and phone calls this time as his military invasion of Ukraine flounders amid fears of nuclear war:
"On the occasion of his 70th birthday, Vladimir Putin has received numerous congratulatory messages and telegrams from heads of state and government of foreign countries, heads of international organizations, and representatives of public and political circles", reads the press release.
"In addition, the President was congratulated by telephone by the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov , President of the Republic of Cuba Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President of the Republic of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa.
"Today, Vladimir Putin will be congratulated by the leaders of the CIS countries gathered for an informal meeting". CIS is a reference to some of former Soviet republics which Russia hasn't attacked yet.
High-octane photos of Vladimir Putin released by the Kremlin on different occasions over the past years (Photo credit Kremlin):
