The recent invasion of Ukraine by Russia has caused the world to cast its eyes on Russian President Vladimir Putin. The politician has had a firm grip on the country for years, serving as the president of the country since 2012. He had been in the position from 1999 to 2008 and served as the prime minister during the in-between years. But who is Putin beneath the mask?
Technicalities aside, the man has been in power for over 20 years. His politics has earned him the favors of allies and the ire of the Western world. Today, he is the man to watch – especially with the threat of a potential nuclear war.
The young Vladimir Putin
Who was Putin before he was president?
Vladimir Putin’s young life was marked by tragedy and abandonment. Born in 1952, he did not grow up with his biological family but with a surrogate his parents sent him to. Because of this, he grew up to have a reclusive nature, more comfortable with pets than with people.
Before trying his hand in politics, Putin studied law at Leningrad State University. After that, he worked as an intelligence officer for the KGB for 16 years.
He first brushed hands with politicians under the administration of Boris Yeltsin. During that time, he served as the director of the Federal Security Service and the secretary of the Security Council. Following the resignation of Yeltsin, Putin became acting president.
As for his personal life, it does not look much better. Nothing much is known about Vladimir Putin’s wife or kids. He has famously kept them out of the public eye for so long, and there were only a few instances when the press has picked up on his family.
German author Erich Schmidt-Eenboom claims that Putin assaulted his former wife, Ludmila, in the 80s. To this day, Putin has no close relationship with his ex-wife or daughters. This gives the world a view into who is Putin behind the pedestal.
Putin, the alpha leader
During Putin’s time as president, Russia has slid toward authoritarianism. The country recorded poor scores in the corruptions index, democracy index, and freedom of the world index. He has repeatedly attacked the press and jailed political enemies. These moves have given the public a glimpse of who is Putin behind the curtain and how he deals with people who threaten his power.
On a positive note, steady improvement of the economy marked his first years as a leader. Purchasing power was at an all-time high, and even common Russians had high ratings for their quality of life. This can be attributed to different factors, but mostly due to oil and gas price hikes.
However, he also made clear his thirst for power. In fact, in 2021, he signed into law some changes that would allow him to run for reelection twice. Many believe he is looking to stay as president until 2036.
During his stint, he has also launched two attempts of invasion at Ukraine. He had called for military intervention in Ukraine in 2014 when he also annexed Crimea. In 2022, he ordered a full invasion of Ukraine, much to the world’s disdain.
Treading a dark path
Who is Putin? Some political analysts have drawn parallels in the lives of the young Putin and the young Adolf Hitler. However, Putin is undoubtedly his own man and builds his own path – both politically and financially.
Currently, it is hard to pinpoint or tie a specific number to the Russian official, but according to a critic and former Russian hedge manager, his wealth stands at $200 billion.
Today, public opinion of Putin by Russians and the rest of the world is at an all-time low. And if he doesn’t change his direction soon, he will be well on his way to being one of the world’s least favorite state leaders.
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