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Vladimir Putin
Владимир Путин
Владимир Путин (08-03-2024) (cropped) (higher res).jpg
Putin in 2024
President of Russia
Assumed office
7 May 2012
Prime Minister
Preceded by Dmitry Medvedev
In office
7 May 2000 – 7 May 2008
Acting: 31 December 1999 – 7 May 2000
Prime Minister
Preceded by Boris Yeltsin
Succeeded by Dmitry Medvedev
Prime Minister of Russia
In office
8 May 2008 – 7 May 2012
President Dmitry Medvedev
First Deputy
  • Sergei Ivanov
  • Viktor Zubkov
  • Igor Shuvalov
Preceded by Viktor Zubkov
Succeeded by Viktor Zubkov (acting)
In office
9 August 1999 – 7 May 2000
President Boris Yeltsin
First Deputy
  • Nikolay Aksyonenko
  • Viktor Khristenko
  • Mikhail Kasyanov
Preceded by Sergei Stepashin
Succeeded by Mikhail Kasyanov
Secretary of the Security Council of Russia
In office
9 March 1999 – 9 August 1999
Chairman Boris Yeltsin
Preceded by Nikolay Bordyuzha
Succeeded by Sergei Ivanov
Director of the Federal Security Service
In office
25 July 1998 – 29 March 1999
President Boris Yeltsin
Preceded by Nikolay Kovalyov
Succeeded by Nikolai Patrushev
First Deputy Chief of the Presidential Administration
In office
25 May 1998 – 24 July 1998
President Boris Yeltsin
Deputy Chief of the Presidential Administration – Head of the Main Supervisory Department
In office
26 March 1997 – 24 May 1998
President Boris Yeltsin
Preceded by Alexei Kudrin
Succeeded by Nikolai Patrushev
Personal details
Born (1952-10-07) 7 October 1952 (age 72)
Leningrad, Soviet Union
Political party Independent
(1991–1995, 2001–2008, 2012–present)
Other political
affiliations
  • People's Front (since 2011)
  • United Russia (2008–2012)
  • Unity (1999–2001)
  • Our Home – Russia
  • (1995–1999)
  • CPSU (1975–1991)
Spouse
Lyudmila Shkrebneva
(m. 1983; div. 2014)
Children At least 2, Maria and Katerina
Relatives Putin family
Residences Novo-Ogaryovo, Moscow
Alma mater
  • Leningrad State University (LLB)
  • Leningrad Mining Institute (Kandidat Nauk)
Awards Full list
Signature
Military service
Allegiance Soviet Union
Russia
Branch/service
Years of service
  • 1975–1991
  • 1997–1999
  • 2000–present
Rank
  • Colonel
  • 1st class Active State Councillor of the Russian Federation
Commands Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Battles/wars

Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin (born 7 October 1952) is a Russian politician. He is the current president of Russia. Putin has been a leader in Russia since 1999. He has served as prime minister and president. He was prime minister from 1999 to 2000 and again from 2008 to 2012. He was president from 2000 to 2008 and has been president since 2012. He is the longest-serving Russian or Soviet leader since Joseph Stalin.

Forbes magazine named him the "World's Most Powerful Individual" from 2013 to 2016.

Early Life and Family

Vladimir Putin with his mother
Five-year-old Vladimir Putin with his mother, Maria, in July 1958

Vladimir Putin was born on October 7, 1952. This happened in Leningrad, Soviet Union. Today, this city is called Saint Petersburg, Russia. He was the youngest of three children. His parents were Vladimir Spiridonovich Putin and Maria Ivanovna Putina.

Putin's grandfather, Spiridon Putin, was a personal cook. He cooked for leaders like Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin. Vladimir had two older brothers who died young. Albert died as a baby in the 1930s. Viktor died in 1942 during the Siege of Leningrad. This was during World War II.

Putin's father, Vladimir Spiridonovich Putin
Putin's mother, Maria Ivanovna Shelomova

Putin's mother worked in a factory. His father was a soldier in the Soviet Navy. He served in submarines in the 1930s. During World War II, his father was badly hurt. Putin's grandmother was killed by German soldiers in 1941. His uncles also disappeared during the war.

Putin went to School No. 193. When he was 12, he started learning sambo and judo. He also enjoyed reading books by famous thinkers like Karl Marx. Putin learned German in school and speaks it well.

Education and Early Career

Putin studied law at Leningrad State University. This university is now called Saint Petersburg State University.

In 1997, he earned a Ph.D. in economics. This was from Saint Petersburg Mining University.

Joining the KGB

Vladimir Putin in KGB uniform
Putin in the KGB, around 1980

In 1975, Putin joined the KGB. This was the main security agency of the Soviet Union. From 1985 to 1990, he worked in Dresden, East Germany. He worked there as a translator, but this was a secret identity for his KGB work.

After the Communist government in East Germany fell, Putin returned to Leningrad. He left the KGB in 1991. This happened after a failed attempt to remove Mikhail Gorbachev from power.

Political Journey

In May 1990, Putin became an advisor. He advised the mayor of Leningrad, Anatoly Sobchak, on international matters. In March 1994, he became a top official in the city government.

In June 1996, the mayor lost his election. Putin then left his job in the city.

Rising in Government

On March 26, 1997, President Boris Yeltsin gave Putin a new job. He became a deputy chief in the Presidential Staff. He kept this job until May 1998.

On July 25, 1998, Yeltsin appointed Putin as director of the Federal Security Service (FSB). The FSB is Russia's main intelligence and security agency. It is the successor to the KGB.

On August 9, 1999, Putin became acting Prime Minister. President Yeltsin also said he wanted Putin to be the next president. On December 31, 1999, Yeltsin suddenly resigned. Putin then became the Acting President of the Russian Federation. In the 2000 presidential election, Putin won with 53% of the votes.

Presidency and Key Policies

Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin walking in Ireland
Putin with U.S. president Barack Obama at the G8 summit in Ireland, June 2013
Vladimir Putin in Kommunarka hospital1
Putin (in yellow suit) visits coronavirus patients in Moscow, March 2020
Vladimir Putin in the United States 13-16 November 2001-22
Putin's visit to the United States, November 2001
Vladimir Putin & Donald Trump in Helsinki, 16 July 2018 (2)
Putin with U.S. president Donald Trump in Helsinki, July 2018
Vladimir Putin met with Xi Jinping in advance of 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics (1)
Putin met Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing, February 2022

During Putin's first time as president, Russia's economy grew a lot. It grew about seven percent each year. This was due to new economic rules and a big increase in oil and gas prices. In 2012, Russia joined the World Trade Organization.

In 2014, Putin signed a deal to send natural gas to China. This project, called "Power of Siberia," started in 2019. It is expected to last 30 years.

Social and Cultural Affairs

Putin has worked closely with the Russian Orthodox Church. He supported a change to the Constitution of Russia in 2020. This change defined marriage as being between one man and one woman.

Conflicts and Foreign Relations

Putin is known for ending the Second Chechen War. This brought federal control back to the region. When he was prime minister, he oversaw a military conflict with Georgia. He also made changes to the military and police.

In his third term as president, Russia took control of Crimea. Russia also supported a war in eastern Ukraine. These actions led to international sanctions against Russia.

Putin has also worked to increase Russia's claims in the Arctic region. He has also increased Russia's military presence there. In 2007, a Russian expedition placed the Russian flag on the seabed at the North Pole.

Relations with Other Countries

Russia's relationship with NATO and the U.S. has changed over time. After the 9/11 attacks in 2001, Putin had good relations with U.S. President George W. Bush. He also had good relations with many European leaders. However, in 2011, a military action in Libya led to criticism from Putin and other world leaders.

In late 2013, relations between Russia and the U.S. worsened. The U.S. canceled a meeting after Putin gave safety to Edward Snowden. In 2014, Russia was removed from the G8 group. This was because Russia took control of Crimea. Putin criticized the United States. He said they were trying to control the world. In February 2023, Putin stopped Russia's part in a nuclear arms reduction treaty with the U.S.

In his fourth term, Putin started a military operation in Ukraine. This led to strong international criticism. It also led to more sanctions against Russia.

Putinisms

Putin is known for saying many memorable phrases. These are sometimes called "putinisms." Many of these came from his yearly question-and-answer sessions. During these, he answers questions from journalists and people across Russia. Putin is known for his strong and direct language. He often uses Russian jokes and folk sayings.

Personal Life

Family

Vladimir Putin wedding-2
Putin and Lyudmila Putina during their wedding on July 28, 1983

On July 28, 1983, Putin married Lyudmila Shkrebneva. They lived in East Germany from 1985 to 1990. They have two daughters. Mariya Putina was born on April 28, 1985, in Leningrad. Yekaterina Putina was born on August 31, 1986, in Dresden, East Germany.

On June 6, 2013, Putin and Lyudmila announced their marriage was over. On April 1, 2014, the Kremlin confirmed their divorce was final.

Putin has two grandsons through his daughter Maria. They were born in 2012 and 2017. He also reportedly has a granddaughter through Katerina, born in 2017.

Pets

Vladimir Putin (2017-10-11)
Putin with one of his pets named Verni, 2017

Putin has received five dogs as gifts from other leaders. Their names are Konni, Buffy, Yume, Verni, and Pasha. Konni passed away in 2014. When Putin first became president, his family had two poodles, Tosya and Rodeo. They reportedly stayed with his ex-wife Lyudmila after their divorce.

Sports and Hobbies

Putin enjoys watching football. He supports FC Zenit Saint Petersburg. He also likes ice hockey and bandy. He even played in a hockey game on his 63rd birthday.

Vladimir Putin in Japan 3-5 September 2000-22
In March 2022, Putin was removed from all positions in the International Judo Federation (IJF)

Putin has practiced judo since he was 11. He later switched to sambo at age 14. He won competitions in both sports in Leningrad. In 2012, he earned an eighth dan black belt in judo. This made him the first Russian to reach this level. Putin also practices karate.

He helped write a book called Learn Judo with Vladimir Putin (2000). He also co-authored Judo: History, Theory, Practice in English (2004).

Awards and Honours

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Vladímir Putin para niños

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