A WOMAN floored Russian president Vladimir Putin in a judo sparring session then tried to 'cover up' photos of the incident, it has been claimed.

After the 2016 Olympic bronze medal winner Natalia Kuzyutina, 29, tackled the strongman, he got up and kissed her on the head.

7 At the same session, Putin injured a finger on his right hand and required first aid Credit: AFP

7 She floored Putin in a judo sparring session, forcing him to 'get real' Credit: East2west News

But so far images of the moment which left him on the sprawling mat from last night’s fight practice in Sochi have not been released, prompting the Ukrainian media to claim a cover-up by Russian “propaganda” teams.

Ukrainian publication Obozrevatel claimed: “Russian propaganda did not show the unpleasant moment for Putin.”

At the same session - which began at 9pm following a day of tense talks with the leaders or Turkey and Iran culminating in a state banquet - Putin injured a finger on his right hand and required first aid, footage shows.

Kuzyutina revealed how she had thrown Putin over her head in the middle-of-the-night session.

She said: “Thank you President Putin that after such complex negotiation at the summit he found time for a full-scale quality training.

“I was glad yet again to be a sparring partner of the first judoist of our country!”

Russian propaganda did not show the unpleasant moment for Putin. Ukrainian publication Obozrevatel

Putin said after the session: "It’s a well-known medical fact - the level of adrenaline increases in a person who practices physical exercises, so your mood improves, and you take a different look on the world around you.

“I can probably say that it helps you to get real.”

Newspaper Moskovsky Komsomolets reported: “Kuzyutina was a lot pushier than fellow male sportsmen.

"She kept going on and on and finally managed to throw Vladimir Putin over her head.

“He wasn’t upset but indeed appreciated her persistence.”

An onlooker said: “This is not the first sparring fight that the President has with her, and he really values her.”

Russians were assured that Putin trained for a full hour and was “in very good physical shape”.

Putin’s injury came during sparring with Olympic champion Beslan Mudranov, and a doctor rushed to bandage him before he continued.

Ukraine's"propaganda" comment comes as the two countries continue to go head-to-head ever since conflict broke out in 2014.

Ukraine-Russian relations have been tense at the best of times for a while now, and tensions escalated more than ever when the issue of Crimea came into play.

MOST READ IN NEWS FACE OFF Trump mocks Biden for having 'PLASTIC SURGERY’ only to cover it with Covid mask HOT SPOTS Interactive Covid map reveals how many cases are in YOUR area Live Blog VIRUS UPDATE New MAJOR Covid surge feared in 3 areas - including London - as lockdowns loom SWIPED OUT Tinder fraudster jailed for conning dates out of £450K to fund gambling habit DRINK UP Are pubs and restaurants closing? New rules explained FROSTED CLASS Parents clash as school opens windows & tells pupils 'get used to cold'

In November, Russia captured three Ukrainian naval vessels which were sailing off the coast of Crimea.

Russia opened fire, before special forces stormed the vessels, which worsened relations more than ever before.

Ukraine said it was a Russian "act of aggression". Moscow said the ships had illegally entered its waters in the hotly-contested Kerch Strait.

This particular clash was the first time Russia and Ukraine have come into open conflict in recent years, although Ukrainian forces have been fighting Russian-backed separatists and Russia volunteers in the east since 2014.

Irina Zabludina floors Russian President Vladimir Putin during a sparring judo session in 2016

7 After the 29-year-old tackled the strongman, he got up and kissed her on the head Credit: East2west News

7 She said: 'Thank you President Putin that after such complex negotiation at the summit he found time for a full-scale quality training' Credit: East2west News

7 Russians were assured that Putin trained for a full hour and was 'in very good physical shape' Credit: AFP

7 Natalia Kuzyutina is a 2016 Olympic bronze medal winner for judo Credit: East2west News

7 She said: 'I was glad yet again to be a sparring partner of the first judoist of our country!' Credit: East2west News