I get paid to be a Vladimir Putin lookalike – but now I’m scared for my safety

A VLADMIR Putin lookalike has admitted that he fears for his safety as international opinion of the Russian President sinks by the day.   Slawek Sobola believes that Ukrainians and anti-war protestors based in his hometown could turn on him as Putin’s bloody war continues into its fifth day.   https://mirrorimages.co/Slawek Solbola 53, has been working as Putin lookalike for eight years[/caption] https://mirrorimages.co/The Polish national says he fears for his safety amid the invasion of Ukraine[/caption] The 53-year-old doppelganger, from Wroclaw, Poland, said that he has felt tense ever since the Russian president declared the start of his “special military operation” last week. And now he fears that locals and refugees could target him thanks to his uncanny resemblance to the war-hungry tyrant. He told the Daily Star: “Before the war I wasn’t afraid for my safety on the street, but now when the war started, when Putin attacked Ukraine I’m a little afraid because in our town Wroclaw, there’s a lot of people from Ukraine who work and live here.” “There have been many times that these people told me I look like Putin, and now because of the war I’m a little afraid that these people could be angry or aggressive when they see me.” Slawek said that he has worked as Putin lookalike eight years and says his unusual job has allowed him to “see the world.” The Polish national, who lives with his wife Dorota, runs a transport company and says he earns “good money” as a lookalike for one of the world’s most famous men. Most read in News READY TO STRIKE Plot to kill Zelensky within DAYS as 400 assassins sneak into Ukraine EDGE OF WAR Boris Johnson flies to Eastern Europe as he blasts Putin's 'colossal mistake' SECRET SIGNS Chilling meaning behind symbols painted in Kyiv as panicked locals hide them SPEEDBOAT HORROR Thai star dies after falling from speedboat on restaurant trip with pals PUTIN BLITZ 'Dozens killed' as Putin begins carpet-bombing civilians after stalled invasion SINKING FEELING Ukrainian sailor sinks Russian boss's £5.8m luxury yacht in Spain “I have worked as a Putin lookalike for eight years and during this time I have recorded a lot of videos and other work. It was a good job, and good money for this kind of work but this is not the main job I have,” he said. “I run a transport company, the Putin stuff is extra income.”    Slawek’s line of work has seen him travel to far-flung international locations including the US, Hong-Kong, London and even the homeland of the man himself. But his wife Dotra admits that there were downsides of his likeness to the ruler, saying that people often hassle him for selfies. She said: “For me sometimes it’s funny when we do this job and we meet other lookalikes and have fun but sometimes it’s uncomfortable because when we are with family and we walk on holiday, on the beach or in the restaurant, bar, people touch him and say: ‘Hey, hey you look like Putin, can I get a picture with you?'” “It’s sometimes very uncomfortable for me.” I’m a little afraid that these people could be angry or aggressive when they see me, Slawek Sobola However, since the news filtered through about the crisis in Ukraine, Sawek has changed his opinion on the Russian leader and has vowed not to profit from the ongoing war. “This war is nothing good and I do not think about earning money from it,” he said. “I had a lot of respect for him (Putin) but now I think that this man did a lot of harm and I do not know today how I will play his role in the future. “This situation with the war, I am standing with Ukraine. I think that they have to fight. He added: “I would like to help with my image of Putin, to show him the irony, that Putin also has a second face.” “I like to ask him to look at me and think how you can have the same face but perceive the world differently.” Slawek concluded that he has contacted the Russian Embassy in Poland to try and set up a meeting with Putin, but was rebuffed as “they do not allow him in such situations.” https://mirrorimages.co/Slawek has travelled all around the world as a Putin doppelganger[/caption] https://mirrorimages.co/The 53-year-old is regulars asked for selfies from the general public[/caption] https://mirrorimages.co/He has also collaborated with other lookalikes including Donald Trump and Kim-Jong-un[/caption]