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From Soviet Spy to Modern Russian Leader, Vladimir Putin Built a Career Marked by Power, Discipline, and Secrets
Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, was born on October 7, 1952, in the city of Leningrad, now called St. Petersburg. The son of a former Soviet navy officer and a factory worker, Putin came from humble beginnings before embarking on a path marked by power, secrets, and many controversies.
Putin’s Start: From Leningrad to the KGB
Putin entered the Law Faculty of Leningrad State University in 1970. He graduated with honors in 1975, with a thesis on U.S. policy in Africa.
In the same year, he was recruited by the feared Russian Committee for State Security, the KGB, the main intelligence agency and secret police of the Soviet Union.
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He served in the KGB until 1991, the year of the dissolution of the Soviet Union. During this time, he spent five years in East Germany. After that, he continued in intelligence, taking positions in the KGB’s successor, the FSB.
Rise to Power
After the end of the Soviet Union, Putin began his political career as a coordinator for the government of St. Petersburg. He gained prominence and was called to the federal government, becoming an advisor to then-President Boris Yeltsin. In 1998, he was appointed head of the FSB and then became Prime Minister.
With Yeltsin’s resignation at the end of 1999, Putin assumed the presidency temporarily. From there, he began his uninterrupted tenure that continues to this day, consolidating his image as a firm and centralized leader.
Martial Arts and Discipline
Putin holds a black belt in judo and advocates the practice as a means of personal discipline. He started at a young age with sambo, a Russian self-defense technique, and later specialized in judo.
“I started practicing judo at 14, and actually, I began doing something called sambo, which is a Russian acronym for ‘unarmed self-defense’, a Russian wrestling technique. After that, I joined a club that taught judo. And I was what they call a master of sport,” the president stated.
This disciplined approach is something he seeks to reflect in politics, according to his own speeches.
Putin’s Fortune and Oligarchs
Putin is said to be one of the richest men in the world, although he officially denies it. According to former allies and independent sources, he controls vast fortunes through advisors and consultants, some of whom are considered “straw men.”
The president has close ties with several Russian oligarchs who became wealthy after the fall of the Soviet Union. Allegations of using illegal fortunes are longstanding but have never been acknowledged by the Kremlin.
Pose and Vanity
Besides power, Putin cultivates a public image of strength. He frequently appears in photos released by the Kremlin in situations that reinforce his virility: practicing judo, shooting, swimming in icy waters, riding a horse shirtless, or showing off pets. He has also been seen playing the piano at official events.
Family Under Wraps
Despite media exposure, Putin maintains absolute discretion about his family life. Little is known about his daughters, Maria and Katerina.
Their identities and appearances are restricted. He officially divorced his wife Lyudmila in 2014. After that, he revealed that he was in love again but never disclosed who the new partner would be.
International Recognition
Despite the criticisms he receives, Vladimir Putin has been internationally awarded. In 2007, he was named Person of the Year by Time magazine. In 2011, he received the Confucius Peace Prize, awarded by the Chinese Center for International Peace Studies. In 2014, he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
The Russian president remains an influential and controversial figure on the international stage, combining political power, military discipline, a controlled image, and a personal life shrouded in secrecy.
With information from O Globo.
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