PUTIN'S REACTION SET SOCIAL MEDIA ON FIRE: See what the Russian President did when Ukrainian athletes appeared (VIDEO)

The world leader was filmed as he made himself comfortable in an armchair while Ukrainian athletes presented themselves and their national anthem at the Bird's Nest Stadium, according to the British Independent.

A photo of the Russian leader has travelled the world, showing Putin sitting alone in one row of seats and keeping his eyes closed as if asleep.

It is possible that Putin really fell asleep during the program, but it is also possible that everything looked just like that, since Ukrainian athletes were parading at the time. Putin's eyes were open only when the team of the Russian Olympic Committee entered the national stadium in Beijing, he then got up to greet them.

The President's "slumber" came amid strained relations between Russia and Ukraine after Putin placed more than 100,000 troops on the country's border. Vladimir Putin's pictures have sparked a series of speculations on Twitter, and even stated that he "faked" a nap as an insult to a rival country.

Putin came to the Winter Games despite a four-year ban on Russia's participation in the 2019 Olympic Games due to widespread doping and cover-up approved by the state.

The ban prohibits Russian athletes from competing under their flag or listening to their national anthem at the Games, but allows them to participate as the Russian Olympic Committee, Mondo reports.