11 Bold Facts about Vladimir Putin

First published 7th February 2024 Samantha Khu

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Vladimir Putin is easily one of the most infamous people in the world. As the head of Russia, he has long made questionable decisions regarding the country, its policies, and its treatment of other nations. But how much do you know about the Russian President? Here are some bold and interesting facts about Vladimir Putin.

1. He was born in Leningrad.

Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, to give his full name, was born on October 7, 1952. He was born in Leningrad, which is now known as Saint Petersburg, in the Soviet Union.

2. He served in the KGB and made his way up the ranks.

Vladimir Putin served as a KGB foreign intelligence officer for 16 years, from 1975 to 1991. He eventually rose to the heady rank of lieutenant colonel. This experience, of course, would help him make moves towards becoming Russian Premier further down the line.

3. He began his political life as a mayor.

Vladimir Putin entered politics in the early 1990s before becoming President of the country. He served for a time as the Mayor of Saint Petersburg from 1991 to 1996, while Boris Yeltsin was in charge of the country, and after the fall of the USSR regime.

4. He officially became President in 1999.

Putin became the Acting President of Russia in 1999, succeeding Boris Yeltsin. He was then officially elected as President in 2000. Yes – as strange as it seems, Putin has been in charge of the country for over two decades.

5. He later became Prime Minister, too.

From his first election as President, Putin served two consecutive terms until 2008. Due to constitutional limitations on consecutive terms, he then served as the Prime Minister from 2008 to 2012 and again as President from 2012.

6. He has long been a controversial figure.

Vladimir Putin’s presidency has been marked by some controversial actions, including the annexation of Crimea in 2014, supporting the Syrian government during the war in Syria, and, of course, most recently, the war in Ukraine, which started in 2022. These events have drawn outcry from heads of state across the world.

7. He has been accused of mass censorship.

There have been multiple concerns worldwide involving Putin’s leadership, including concerns about media freedom in Russia under his leadership. There have been multiple accusations of censorship and control over independent media outlets, for example.

8. He has been the head of a personality cult.

Putin’s leadership style often puts forward a strong, authoritarian image, and he has been the subject of something of a personality cult in Russia. He has maintained high popularity ratings in Russia, and his leadership style is often associated with stability.

9. He is very private.

Despite being one of the most famous people in the world, Vladimir Putin keeps his personal life very private. There has been limited public information about his family. However, the public does know that he is known for his interest in martial arts, particularly judo, and has a black belt in the sport.

10. He is a very influential figure, despite his infamy.

As you can imagine, Putin’s long tenure in power has made him one of the world’s most prominent political figures, and his influence on Russian politics is significant. However, his recent attack on Ukraine and the Ukrainian people has brought his power and abilities into question both in and outside of Russia.

11. He owns a forest palace.

Literally nicknamed as “Putin’s Palace,” the Russian President has a huge complex based at the coast of Krasnodar Krai. It’s an immense property that houses its own gas station, greenhouse, ice palace, church facilities, a warehouse, a casino, saunas, an ampitheater, and, yes, even a helipad. It’s said to be around 18,000 square meters large.

Putin’s Palace

FAQs about Vladimir Putin

Does Vladimir Putin have children?

Yes – it’s thought Putin has two children at present, Katerina and Maria. They are rarely seen and mentioned in the public eye, and Putin and their mother, Lyudmila Shkrebneva, divorced after 30 years of marriage in 2013.