Does Vladimir Putin have 2 secret sons?

Russian President Vladimir Putin has long kept his personal life shrouded in mystery, but new reports shed light on his alleged two young sons with former Olympic gymnast Alina Kabaeva.

Despite Kremlin denials of their romantic involvement, several investigative reports claim that the couple shares two sons, Ivan and Vladimir Jr, who live under tight security and secrecy.

Here’s everything we know about Putin’s children, past and present:

Alleged sons: Ivan and Vladimir Putin Jr

According to multiple reports, including an investigation by the Dossier Center, a Russian investigative news outlet founded by opposition figure Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Putin and Kabaeva share two sons—Ivan, born in 2015, and Vladimir Jr, born in 2019.

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The Dossier Center cites anonymous sources close to the family who claim the boys live in near-total isolation at Putin’s mansion near Lake Valdai, northwest of Moscow. Their lives are managed by a team of governesses, nannies, and Kremlin Federal Guards.

The secrecy surrounding their existence is extreme. The boys are reportedly given cover identities and documents normally reserved for spies, preventing their names from appearing in any government databases.

They don’t attend regular schools and are instead tutored by private teachers in a wide range of subjects, including music, swimming, and artistic gymnastics.

Life in isolation

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Both Ivan and Vladimir Jr lead highly controlled lives, with very limited interaction with the outside world. The Dossier Center describes how the boys spend their days in a secluded environment filled with luxuries but deprived of typical childhood socialisation. They reportedly play mostly with adults, including their father and his associates.

“They have to play mostly alone or with adults… They only see their parents late at night,” the report said. Despite their father’s staunch criticism of Western culture, Ivan is reportedly a huge fan of Disney cartoons and enjoys dressing up as his favourite characters — a habit that is said to annoy Putin, who has publicly expressed a preference for Soviet-era animation.

Ivan has also shown an interest in sports, particularly artistic gymnastics and hockey. Though he has competed in several gymnastics competitions, his results are described as unremarkable. He also regularly plays hockey with Putin at a rink in their private residence.

The family is known to relocate frequently, spending winters at a luxury residence near the Krasnaya Polyana resort, where the boys have been learning to ski. Summers are spent sailing on yachts in the Black Sea and Russia’s northern lakes. They travel exclusively via private planes or an armoured train.

Expensive education & Staff

Education and recreation for Putin’s sons come with a hefty price tag. The family reportedly offered $8,500 per month for an English tutor for the boys, with a preference for candidates from South Africa, a country considered “friendly” by the Kremlin.

The job came with stringent conditions, including mandatory medical exams and a prohibition against leaving the family residence.

Besides English, the children are also taught German and music by a Bosnian national who has worked with them since 2017. Despite the luxurious setting, turnover among the staff is reportedly high due to the intense isolation and demanding security protocols.

The family “lives in isolation,” one ad for a tutor stated. Staff members are provided amenities like a gym and tennis courts within the compound but are not allowed to leave the grounds.

Putin’s older daughters & the controversy around his family

While Putin has never publicly acknowledged Ivan or Vladimir Jr, he has two daughters from his previous marriage to Lyudmila Shkrebneva, whom he divorced in 2013 after three decades of marriage. His daughters, Maria, 39, and Katerina, 38, have largely stayed out of the public eye, and little is known about their current lives.

Speculation about Putin’s relationship with Kabaeva began as early as 2008, just before his divorce from Lyudmila was finalised. Both Putin and Kabaeva have consistently denied any romantic involvement. Responding to reports of the affair in 2008, Putin famously remarked, “I have always disliked those who, with their snotty noses and erotic fantasies, break into other people’s private affairs.”

Despite the denials, rumours persisted, and in 2022, the UK government sanctioned Kabaeva for her “close personal relationship” with Putin. The Kremlin, however, continues to reject these claims, maintaining that Putin’s personal life is a private matter.

A glimpse into Kabaeva’s life

Alina Kabaeva, 41, was once a star in the world of rhythmic gymnastics, debuting professionally at age 13. She won a bronze medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and later took home gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics. After retiring from gymnastics, Kabaeva briefly served in Russia’s lower house of parliament, representing Putin’s United Russia party.

Though officially uninvolved in politics now, Kabaeva remains under the public eye, often dubbed “Russia’s First Mistress” or the “Secret First Lady.” She has largely avoided the spotlight, particularly after reports surfaced that she had given birth to twins in 2015. However, those claims have never been verified.

What has the Kremlin said?

The Dossier Center’s investigation revealed that while Kabaeva did indeed give birth to Ivan in 2015 at a maternity clinic in Lugano, Switzerland, and to Vladimir Jr in Moscow in 2019, rumours of twins have been debunked by insiders. “No, no, and no. All the media were wrong, except for the Swiss newspaper. They have two sons,” said a source cited by the Dossier Center.

The Kremlin’s tight grip on information and the security around Putin’s family makes independent verification of these reports difficult. The boys reportedly enjoy extravagant trips and activities but live under conditions of strict isolation.

While Putin remains publicly tight-lipped about his sons, he dropped a rare hint in a recent speech to schoolchildren in Siberia, where he remarked, “Members of my family, the little ones, speak Chinese.”

Despite the numerous allegations and reports, the full extent of Putin’s family life remains a closely guarded secret.

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