Ultranationalist Russian political leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky has died aged 75, after a career built on fiery remarks and absurd antics. He stood for the presidency six times and was part of the official opposition tolerated by President Vladimir Putin. Last December he appeared to predict Russia would attack Ukraine. He claimed to have had eight Covid-19 vaccinations. He contracted coronavirus and died weeks after being admitted to hospital with pneumonia. His death was finally confirmed by parliament speaker Vyacheslav Volodin on Wednesday, after two reports earlier this year had been discounted. Zhirinovsky was, he said, always in the thick of things: “A man who deeply understood how the world works and foresaw a lot.” Zhirinovsky’s brand of clownish ultranationalism kept Russians shocked and entertained during more than 30 years of his political career. In the early 1990s he claimed he dreamt of the day “when Russian soldiers can wash their boots in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean”. In one of his final appearances before MPs, he said Russia would invade Ukraine and predicted almost to the day when it would happen.