Russian President Vladimir Putin's political ambitions are
all over the news right now. But what about his family life? Were you aware he had two,
or maybe three, daughters? Keep watching for what we know.
On February 24, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, in what NPR called "the largest such military
operation in Europe since the end of World War II." In a televised speech a day earlier,
Putin gave his justification for the invasion. He said Russia would engage in a "special
military operation" in Ukraine to end what he called a "genocide of the Kyiv regime."
There is no proof of any genocide happening in Ukraine.
Experts believe Putin is making the case that there is one to overthrow Ukraine's government.
Michael Kofman, director of Russia Studies at the think tank CNA, said,
"It is a military operation with maximalist war aims, whose [ultimate] aim is regime change."
"We were not given any other chance to act otherwise."
The Guardian reported that the Russian state-run news outlet Channel One was
playing video showing fake Ukrainian "attacks" just days after the invasion began. The videos
are believed to be fabricated by the GRU, Russia's version of the CIA.
The Russian president is no stranger to carefully cultivating information
that is shared with the public. Putin seems to have a tight grip on how much
information about his family is published, too. There's not much,
a big contrast to Western leaders who make their families part of their public image.
If Putin's daughters are mentioned, they are never acknowledged by name.
When they make public appearances, no one acknowledges who their father is,
always staying in line with how the Kremlin wants them handled.
We know about two for sure: Katerina Tikhonova and Maria Vorontsova are
the daughters of the Russian president and his ex-wife, Lyudmila Shkrebneva,
who divorced Putin in 2013. On a government website, Shkrebneva is quoted saying,
"Not all fathers are as loving with their children as he is.
And he has always spoiled them, while I was the one who had to discipline them."
Vorontsova was born in Russia, in Leningrad. But Business Insider explains Tikhonova was born
in Germany, where the family lived until 1996. Both girls were pulled out of school once Putin
became president, and went to university under false names, according to Express.
Vorontsova, a medical researcher, studied Biology and then Medicine in Moscow,
Business Insider reports. She's married and has a child. Director Oliver Stone says Putin
told him in 2017 he rarely sees his grandchild. Tikhonova went to university for Asian Studies
and was seen in June 2021 speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
"I have a very busy schedule. Even with my daughters,
I hardly see them. Maybe once or twice a month."
According to the U.S. Sun, there might be a secret third daughter.
Putin has always refused to acknowledge the existence of this alleged secret child,
but rumors continue to circulate that she exists. The controversial leader allegedly fathered
the child during an affair, which is likely why he's so reticent to discuss the matter.
Unverified reports claim 18-year-old fashion designer and DJ Luiza Rozova
is that secret third daughter. Rozova is gaining popularity on Instagram,
and some have said she bears more than a passing resemblance to her rumored father.
Rozova is the daughter of Putin's alleged former lover, Svetlana Krivonogikh.
Russian opposition media revealed her identity in 2021, which increased Rozova's social media
following exponentially. Rozova herself has mostly remained silent on the matter,
though she did tell Russian GQ she might look "similar" to a young Putin.
Meanwhile, when the shocking story initially dropped,
Putin's spokesperson claimed the reports were "not very convincing" and "de facto unfounded."
According to Grazia Daily, when questioned about the rumors, Rozova responded,
"I am very grateful for the chance to be in the limelight."
In 2020, the New York Post reported that photos purported to be of Putin's daughters were posted
to the website of disgraced billionaire Sergei Pugachev. A former Putin confidate,
Pugachev had recently lost a massive, $12 billion lawsuit against Russia,
which might explain why he decided to share photos of Maria Vorontsova
and Katerina Tikhonova, who are never publicly acknowledged as the president's children.
According to the Russian news outlet Open Media, Pugachev added the caption,
"Young friendship is forever!!!"
The photos show Vorontsova and Tikhonova as teenagers along with Pugachev's own children.
They're shown inside the Kremlin, at Pugachev's residence in Moscow at the time,
and enjoying a private party with Russia's answer to the Spice Girls, Strelki.
In 2015, Putin made a rare comment about his girls, gushing about how "proud" he was of
their careers and linguistic abilities. He still refused to name them, stating,
"I never discuss questions related to my family. They are not
involved in business or politics. They are not pushing for this."
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