The bodybuilding community has been shaken by distressing reports surrounding Russian bodybuilder Kirill Tereshin, better known online as “Bazooka Arms” or the “Russian Popeye.”
After years of injecting petroleum jelly and synthol — a dangerous oil-based substance used to artificially inflate muscles — it was reported that doctors now fear Tereshin may need both arms amputated due to severe infection and tissue death.
While Tereshin, 29, has publicly denied claims that he’s at risk of losing his limbs, the news has sparked widespread discussion about body image, addiction, and the dark side of social media fame.
Among those weighing in is bodybuilding icon Kai Greene, who addressed the situation with compassion and hard-earned perspective on the Generation Iron Fitness & Bodybuilding Network in a segment titled The Kai Greene Effect.
Greene began by expressing concern and empathy, saying he genuinely hopes the reports are exaggerated, as Tereshin has claimed.
“Wow. I really hope he’s not facing the possibility of losing his arms,” Greene said. “That would be a very serious consequence—one that most of us never want to consider when it comes to our passion.”
The bodybuilding legend, known for his introspective and philosophical take on the sport, went on to explain that the pursuit of physical greatness can easily become distorted when ambition turns into obsession.
“Seeing an athlete do something extraordinary with their craft—their willingness to work, their pursuit of a dream and a vision to develop themselves—can be inspiring,” Greene said. “And sometimes there are people on the sidelines who just don’t understand it.”
But in Tereshin’s case, Greene admitted that the obsession seems to have gone too far — calling it a dangerous form of body dysmorphia that may require therapy rather than judgment.
“I think it’s similar with most artists,” Greene reflected. “I don’t want to pretend I know this gentleman or his specific motivations, but many people are actually survivors of difficult experiences and require intense therapy. For some, the gym and that lifestyle become a way to work through it.”
Even with that perspective, Greene refused to ridicule Tereshin, emphasizing that compassion — not mockery — is what’s needed most.
“Freak show—I get it,” he said. “I’ve probably been guilty of seeing it that way at different times in my life and career. And honestly, what man wouldn’t want to be talked about for having appendages that are larger than average?”
According to reports from The Sun and New York Post, Tereshin’s condition has deteriorated dramatically in recent months. Medical experts in Russia claim that his arms are now severely infected and rotting, the result of years of injecting synthol — a mixture of oil and painkillers — directly into his biceps.
Photos and footage shared online show open wounds, severe scarring, and tissue necrosis, with one video capturing a wound Tereshin described as having “burst.” Doctors have warned that the infection has advanced so far that amputation may soon be unavoidable unless his condition stabilizes for surgery.
Tereshin, however, insists that reports of his impending amputation are false. In a video message to fans, he pushed back against what he called “internet fairy tales.”
“Everything is fine with me, the tests went really well,” Tereshin said. “My arms are well enough for skin graft surgery, it will happen this week. They made up this false information. Before you listen to the Internet, first find out whether it’s true or not and don’t listen to these fairy tales.”
Still, doctors at Sechenov Moscow State Medical University maintain that his health is critical. One of his previous surgeons, Dr. Dmitry Melnikov, previously removed nearly three pounds of infected muscle and oil from Tereshin’s arm in 2019, describing the substance extracted as a mix of “petroleum jelly and scar tissue.”
Melnikov warned him at the time: “You injected this so thoroughly that it spread in the muscle and killed it.”
Tereshin’s rise to infamy began in 2017, when he posted photos of his 24-inch ballooned biceps, achieved not through lifting weights but through self-administered synthol injections. His shocking appearance — coupled with his outlandish online persona — made him a viral sensation across Instagram and YouTube.
Once an aspiring MMA fighter and soldier, Tereshin’s fame soon took a darker turn. Medical professionals repeatedly warned that his use of synthol was life-threatening, leading to embolism, nerve damage, and potentially heart failure.
Even after multiple surgeries, Tereshin continued to chase attention online, at times joking about his deteriorating arms. In one infamous video, he even held pieces of his removed flesh, calling them his “treasures.”
Greene’s take on the situation stands out for its compassion rather than condemnation. He recognized the pain that often lies beneath extreme decisions like Tereshin’s, framing it not as vanity but as an unbalanced pursuit of identity and acceptance.
For Greene, it’s also a mirror reflecting the darker edges of ambition in any form — something even elite athletes can relate to.
“People outside the sports world often fail to understand the mindset behind pushing physical limits,” he said. “True champions can be so driven that they see the world differently.”
Greene’s comments have resonated deeply with fans, many of whom praised him online for showing empathy in a situation where ridicule often dominates the conversation.
The 50-year-old bodybuilding legend — known for his introspective approach and artistic philosophy — made it clear that no one deserves to suffer for their passion, no matter how misguided their choices might be.
“Wow,” he said quietly. “I really hope he’s not facing that possibility. Nobody deserves that kind of outcome.”
While “Bazooka Arms” continues to deny his condition is life-threatening, his story has become an example of what happens when obsession replaces discipline.
And Kai Greene’s words may be the most grounded takeaway of all: empathy first, judgment last.
Featured image credit: YouTube/@РукиБазуки/Instagram/@kaigreene (screenshots)
