Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Vladimir Putin
A closer look at the most debated and controversial moments involving Vladimir Putin.
Vladimir Putin is a Russian politician who has dominated Russian politics for over two decades. He served as President of Russia from 2000 to 2008 and again from 2012 to the present. He also held the position of Prime Minister from 1999 to 2000 and 2008 to 2012. Prior to his political career, Putin was a KGB intelligence officer. His tenure has been marked by a centralization of power, economic reforms (initially), and a more assertive foreign policy. He is the longest-serving Russian president since the collapse of the Soviet Union.
1960: US Cancels Summit
In 2013, the United States canceled a summit with Russia for the first time since 1960 after Putin gave asylum to Edward Snowden.
1972: US Withdrawal from Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty
According to the Kremlin, Putin embarked on a build-up of Russia's nuclear capabilities because of U.S. president George W. Bush's unilateral decision to withdraw from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.
1978: Publication of "Strategic Planning and Policy"
In 1978, King and Cleland's Strategic Planning and Policy book was published. According to some academics, Putin copied entire paragraphs of this book in his thesis.
1987: Potential Violation of Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty
Some analysts believe that the nuclear strategy under Putin has brought Russia into violation of the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.
1992: Alleged corruption in metal exports
In 1992, a case regarding Putin's alleged corruption in metal exports from Saint Petersburg was brought back by Marina Salye, but she was silenced and forced to leave Saint Petersburg.
June 1997: Defended Candidate of Science dissertation
On June 27, 1997, Vladimir Putin defended his Candidate of Science dissertation in economics at the Saint Petersburg Mining Institute. The thesis, titled Strategic Planning of the Reproduction of the Mineral Resource Base of a Region under Conditions of the Formation of Market Relations, was later found to contain plagiarized content.
December 1999: Signed decree guaranteeing immunity to former president
On December 31, 1999, Vladimir Putin signed his first presidential decree, titled "On guarantees for the former president of the Russian Federation and the members of his family", ensuring that corruption charges against Yeltsin and his relatives would not be pursued.
1999: Systematic Punishment of Journalists Challenging Putin's Viewpoint
According to Scott Gehlbach, since 1999, Putin has systematically punished journalists who challenge his official point of view.
August 2000: Criticism over Kursk submarine disaster
In August 2000, Vladimir Putin faced criticism for his handling of the Kursk submarine disaster.
August 2000: Criminal investigation dropped
On August 30, 2000, a criminal investigation (number 18/238278-95) in which Putin himself, as a member of the Saint Petersburg city government, was one of the suspects, was dropped.
December 2000: Case against prosecutor general dropped
On December 30, 2000, yet another case against the prosecutor general was dropped "for lack of evidence", despite thousands of documents having been forwarded by Swiss prosecutors.
2001: Russian Territorial Extension Claim
In August 2007, Russian expedition Arktika 2007, part of research related to the 2001 Russian territorial extension claim, planted a flag on the seabed at the North Pole.
2002: Otto von Habsburg criticizes Putin
In a newspaper interview in 2002, Otto von Habsburg warned of Putin as an "international threat", that he was "cruel and oppressive", and a "stone cold technocrat".
March 2003: Elizaveta (Luiza Rozova) allegedly born
In March 2003, Elizaveta, also known as Luiza Rozova, was born with Svetlana Krivonogikh, allegedly being Putin's another daughter.
2003: Otto von Habsburg criticizes Putin
In 2003, Otto von Habsburg warned of Putin as an "international threat", that he was "cruel and oppressive", and a "stone cold technocrat".
2003: Rose Revolution in Georgia
In 2003, the Rose Revolution in Georgia led to frictions in the relations of Georgia with Russia.
2003: Alexander Litvinenko Becomes an MI6 agent
The end of 2006 brought more strained relations between the UK and Russia in the wake of the death by polonium poisoning in London of former KGB and FSB officer Alexander Litvinenko, who became an MI6 agent in 2003.
December 2004: Criticism of Rose and Orange Revolutions
In December 2004, Putin criticized the Rose and Orange revolutions, saying: "If you have permanent revolutions you risk plunging the post-Soviet space into endless conflict".
2004: Freedom House warns of Russia's retreat from freedom
In 2004, Freedom House warned that Russia's "retreat from freedom marks a low point not registered since 1989, when the country was part of the Soviet Union".
2004: Direct Election of Governors Replaced by Presidential Nomination
In 2004, the direct election of regional heads (governors) by popular vote was replaced with a system where they would be nominated by the president and approved or disapproved by regional legislatures.
2005: Organization of paramilitary groups
Between 2005 and 2012, Putin allegedly organized a number of paramilitary groups loyal to himself and the United Russia party.
2005: Russia listed as "not free" by Freedom House
In 2005, Freedom House listed Russia as "not free", citing democratic backsliding during Vladimir Putin's tenure. Experts generally do not consider Russia to be a democracy due to purges, jailing of political opponents, curtailed press freedom, and the lack of free and fair elections.
2005: Otto von Habsburg criticizes Putin
In 2005, Otto von Habsburg warned of Putin as an "international threat", that he was "cruel and oppressive", and a "stone cold technocrat".
2005: Tulip Revolution in Kyrgyzstan
In 2005, the Tulip Revolution in Kyrgyzstan led to frictions in the relations of Kyrgyzstan with Russia.
October 2006: Murder of Anna Politkovskaya
On October 7, 2006, Anna Politkovskaya was shot in the lobby of her apartment building, triggering international criticism and accusations that Putin had failed to protect the country's new independent media.
2006: Putin planned the Russo-Georgian War
As early as 2006, Putin imagined and communicated the Russo-Georgian War to his staff, which eventually started and finished in August 2008.
2006: Alexander Litvinenko's Death by Polonium Poisoning
The end of 2006 brought more strained relations between the UK and Russia in the wake of the death by polonium poisoning in London of former KGB and FSB officer Alexander Litvinenko, who became an MI6 agent in 2003.
January 2007: Meeting with Angela Merkel in Sochi
In January 2007, Vladimir Putin met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Sochi, bringing his black Labrador Konni, causing discomfort to Merkel, who has a phobia of dogs.
February 2007: Putin Criticizes U.S. Dominance in Munich Speech
In February 2007, Putin delivered a speech in Munich criticizing what he called the United States' monopolistic dominance in global relations and the "almost uncontained hyper use of force in international relations." He argued this policy stimulated an arms race, and NATO Secretary Jaap de Hoop Scheffer found the speech disappointing.
2007: CIA estimate of Putin's wealth
In 2007, the CIA estimated Vladimir Putin's wealth at $40 billion.
2007: Diplomatic Crisis Between Russia and the UK
In 2007, the crisis in relations between the UK and Russia continued with the expulsion of four Russian envoys over Russia's refusal to extradite former KGB bodyguard Andrei Lugovoi to face charges in the murder of Alexander Litvinenko. Russia retaliated by expelling UK diplomats.
2007: "Dissenters' Marches" and Police Action
In early 2007, "Dissenters' Marches" organized by the opposition group The Other Russia were met by police action, including interfering with the travel of protesters and arrests.
February 2008: Gazprom threatens Ukraine
On February 11, 2008, during Putin's address at Gazprom's anniversary party, Gazprom employees threatened Ukraine with a stoppage of gas flow.
April 2008: Putin warns of NATO expansion
In April 2008, at the NATO Bucharest summit, Putin told George W. Bush that the appearance of a powerful military bloc on Russia's border was a direct threat to national security.
April 2008: Moskovsky Korrespondent reports Putin's divorce and engagement
In April 2008, the Moskovsky Korrespondent reported that Vladimir Putin had divorced Lyudmila and was engaged to marry Alina Kabaeva. The story was denied, and the newspaper was shut down shortly thereafter.
August 2008: 2008 South Ossetia War
In August 2008, Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili attempted to restore control over South Ossetia, leading to the 2008 South Ossetia War where Russian forces entered South Ossetia and other parts of Georgia.
August 2008: Russo-Georgian War
The Russo-Georgian War both started and finished in August 2008. This was imagined by Putin and communicated to his staff as early as 2006.
2008: Alleged Statement on Ukraine and NATO
In 2008, Putin allegedly declared at a NATO-Russia summit that if Ukraine joined NATO, Russia could annex the Ukrainian East and Crimea, and told George W. Bush that "Ukraine is not even a state!".
2009: Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State
Putin has repeatedly accused Hillary Clinton, who served as U.S. secretary of state from 2009 to 2013 of interfering in Russia's internal affairs.
2010: Putin's comments on gas and nuclear power
In 2010, Putin observed at a German trade show that if his hosts did not want Russia's natural gas nor nuclear power they could always heat with wood, and for that they would need to log Siberia.
December 2011: Protests against electoral fraud
After the parliamentary elections on December 4, 2011, tens of thousands of Russians protested against alleged electoral fraud, criticizing Putin and United Russia.
2011: Putin condemns military intervention in Libya
In 2011, Putin criticized the foreign military intervention in Libya, calling the UN resolution "defective and flawed" and referring to Muammar Gaddafi's death as a "planned murder" by the US.
2011: Russia rated as "authoritarian" by The Economist Intelligence Unit
In 2011, The Economist Intelligence Unit rated Russia as "authoritarian", a change from its previous classification as a "hybrid regime."
2011: Internet leak of Palace photos
In 2011, photos from inside "Putin's Palace" were leaked onto the Internet
March 2012: Putin wins the presidential election
On March 4, 2012, Putin won the Russian presidential election in the first round with 63.6% of the vote, despite widespread accusations of vote-rigging and criticism from opposition groups and international observers.
May 2012: Russia Enacts Restrictive Laws After Putin's Reelection
Since May 2012, when Putin was reelected as president, Russia has enacted many restrictive laws, started inspections of non-governmental organizations, harassed, intimidated and imprisoned political activists, and started to restrict critics.
August 2012: Critics list Putin's ownership of villas and palaces
In August 2012, critics of Vladimir Putin listed the ownership of 20 villas and palaces, nine of which were built during Putin's 12 years in power.
2012: Crackdown Extended to Liberal Media
According to Maria Lipman, in Foreign Affairs claims, "The crackdown that followed Putin's return to the Kremlin in 2012 extended to the liberal media, which had until then been allowed to operate fairly independently".
2012: Organization of paramilitary groups
Between 2005 and 2012, Putin allegedly organized a number of paramilitary groups loyal to himself and the United Russia party.
2012: Publication of Gessen's Biography
In 2012, Russian-American Masha Gessen wrote a biography of Putin, noting that his work in the KGB mainly involved collecting press clippings.
2012: Sergei Kolesnikov exposes "Putin's Palace"
In 2012, Sergei Kolesnikov, a former business associate of Vladimir Putin's, told the BBC's Newsnight programme that he had been ordered to oversee the building of "Putin's Palace".
2012: "Foreign Agent" Legislation Adopted
The 2020 law on labelling individuals and organizations receiving funding from abroad as "foreign agents" is an expansion of "foreign agent" legislation adopted in 2012.
2012: Mass Protests Against Election Falsification and Censorship
The period after 2012 saw mass protests against the falsification of elections, censorship and toughening of free assembly laws.
June 2013: Adoption of the Russian gay propaganda law
In June 2013, the State Duma adopted a law called the Russian gay propaganda law, which is against "homosexual propaganda" (which prohibits such symbols as the rainbow flag, as well as published works containing homosexual content).
2013: Russia Ranked Low in Press Freedom
In 2013, Reporters Without Borders ranked Russia 148 in its list of 179 countries in terms of freedom of the press, criticizing the crackdown on the political opposition and the failure to bring to justice criminals who have murdered journalists.
2013: US Cancels Summit After Putin Grants Asylum to Snowden
In late 2013, Russian-American relations deteriorated when the United States canceled a summit for the first time since 1960, after Putin gave asylum to American Edward Snowden, who had leaked classified information from the NSA.
2013: Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State
Putin has repeatedly accused Hillary Clinton, who served as U.S. secretary of state from 2009 to 2013 of interfering in Russia's internal affairs.
2013: ICC Investigates Possible War Crimes in Ukraine Since 2013
The International Criminal Court (ICC) stated that it would investigate possible war crimes in Ukraine since 2013. The US pledged to help the ICC to prosecute Putin for war crimes.
February 2014: Statement on Ousting of Viktor Yanukovych
Following the Russian annexation of Crimea, he said that Ukraine includes "regions of Russia's historic south" and "was created on a whim by the Bolsheviks". He went on to declare that the February 2014 ousting of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych had been orchestrated by the West as an attempt to weaken Russia.
February 2014: Russian military incursions into Ukraine
In February 2014, Russia made several military incursions into Ukrainian territory after the Euromaidan protests. Russian soldiers without insignias took control of strategic positions and infrastructure within Crimea.
March 2014: Annexation of Crimea
Following the Revolution of Dignity in March 2014, the Russian Federation annexed Crimea, stating it was done because "Crimea has always been and remains an inseparable part of Russia".
March 2014: Putin Justifies Crimea Recognition Using Kosovo Precedent
In March 2014, Putin used Kosovo's declaration of independence as a justification for recognizing the independence of Crimea, citing the "Kosovo independence precedent".
July 2014: Shareholders of Yukos awarded compensation
In July 2014, shareholders of Yukos were awarded $50 billion in compensation by the Permanent Arbitration Court in The Hague.
August 2014: Russian military vehicles cross into Ukraine
In August 2014, Russian military vehicles crossed the border in several locations of Donetsk Oblast. Ukrainian authorities saw this incursion by the Russian military as responsible for the defeat of Ukrainian forces in early September.
August 2014: Statement on Russian and Ukrainian Peoples
In late August 2014, Putin stated: "People who have their own views on history and the history of our country may argue with me, but it seems to me that the Russian and Ukrainian peoples are practically one people".
October 2014: Putin addresses Russian security concerns
In October 2014, Putin addressed Russian security concerns in Sochi at the Valdai International Discussion Club.
2014: Abbott Threatens to 'Shirtfront' Putin at G20 Summit
Amid calls to ban Putin from attending the 2014 G20 Summit, Prime Minister Tony Abbott said he would "shirtfront" (challenge) the Russian leader over the shooting down of MH17 by Russian-backed rebels. Putin denied responsibility.
2014: Russia Suspended from G8 After Crimea Annexation
In 2014, Russia was suspended from the G8 group as a result of its annexation of Crimea. Putin gave a speech critical of the United States, accusing them of destabilizing world order.
2014: Comments on homosexual visitors to the Olympics
In 2014, responding to international concerns about Russia's legislation, Putin stated that homosexual visitors to the 2014 Winter Olympics should "leave the children in peace" but denied there was any "professional, career or social discrimination" against homosexuals in Russia.
2014: Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project names Putin Person of the Year
In 2014, the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project named Putin their Person of the Year for furthering corruption and organized crime.
July 2015: Shift in Russian foreign policy
In July 2015, Andrei Tsygankov opined that Putin's annexation of Crimea had initiated a completely new type of Russian foreign policy and that his foreign policy had shifted "from state-driven foreign policy" to taking an offensive stance to recreate the Soviet Union.
August 2015: OSCE observes vehicles marked with Russian military code
As of early August 2015, the OSCE observed over 21 such vehicles marked with the Russian military code for soldiers killed in action.
September 2015: Russian military intervention in Syrian civil war
On September 30, 2015, President Putin authorized Russian military intervention in the Syrian civil war, following a formal request by the Syrian government for military help against rebel and jihadist groups.
December 2015: Putin admits Russian military intelligence officers in Ukraine
In December 2015, Putin admitted that Russian military intelligence officers were operating in Ukraine.
2015: Reported Birth of Daughter by Kabaeva, Denied
In 2015, Alina Kabaeva reportedly gave birth to a daughter by Vladimir Putin; this report was denied.
2015: Putin described as a dictator by Garry Kasparov and for turning Russia into raw materials colony of China by Boris Nemtsov.
In 2015, political opponent Garry Kasparov described Putin as a "dictator", and opposition politician Boris Nemtsov said that Putin was turning Russia into a "raw materials colony" of China.
2015: Larry Diamond's Assessment of Russian Democracy
In 2015, political scientist Larry Diamond stated that "no serious scholar would consider Russia today a democracy".
2015: British Government Launches Public Inquiry into Litvinenko's Death
In 2015, the British Government launched a public inquiry into Litvinenko's death, presided over by Robert Owen.
2015: Levada Center director comments on Russian polls
In 2015, the director of the Levada Center stated that drawing conclusions from Russian poll results or comparing them to polls in democratic states was irrelevant due to the lack of real political competition and the influence of state-controlled media.
January 2016: Publication of the Owen Report on Litvinenko's Death
On January 21, 2016, the Owen report, a public inquiry into Litvinenko's death, stated that the FSB operation to kill Mr. Litvinenko was probably approved by Mr Patrushev and also by President Putin.
March 2016: Withdrawal of Russian forces from Syria
After Putin's announcement on March 14, 2016 that the mission he had set for the Russian military in Syria had been "largely accomplished" and ordered the withdrawal of the "main part" of the Russian forces from Syria, Russian forces deployed in Syria continued to actively operate in support of the Syrian government.
April 2016: Panama Papers Leak
In April 2016, 11 million documents belonging to Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca were leaked. Though Vladimir Putin's name does not appear, the leak revealed that close associates of Putin own offshore companies worth US$2 billion in total.
December 2016: Putin denies interference in U.S. election
In December 2016, Putin denied any Russian interference in the U.S. election, as did Trump.
December 2016: US Intelligence Accuses Putin of Approving Cyber Attacks
In December 2016, US intelligence officials stated that Putin approved the email hacking and cyber attacks during the U.S. election against Hillary Clinton, which Putin's spokesman denied.
2016: Legislation Prohibiting Missionary Activity Passed
In 2016, Putin oversaw the passage of legislation that prohibited missionary activity in Russia.
2016: Putin described as the 'Tsar of corruption' by Alexei Navalny
In 2016, opposition activist and blogger Alexei Navalny described Putin as the "Tsar of corruption".
2016: CIA nurtured a Russian source
In 2016, the CIA had long nurtured a Russian source who eventually rose to a position close to Putin, allowing the source to pass key information about Putin's direct involvement in interference with the U.S. elections.
January 2017: U.S. intelligence assessment on Russian interference
In January 2017, a U.S. intelligence community assessment expressed high confidence that Putin personally ordered an influence campaign, initially to denigrate Hillary Clinton and to harm her electoral chances and potential presidency, then later developing "a clear preference" for Donald Trump.
March 2017: Putin denies interference in U.S. election
In March 2017, Putin denied any Russian interference in the U.S. election, as did Trump.
June 2017: Putin denies interference in U.S. election
In June 2017, Putin denied any Russian interference in the U.S. election, as did Trump.
July 2017: Putin denies interference in U.S. election
In July 2017, Putin denied any Russian interference in the U.S. election, as did Trump.
2017: Kristen Ghodsee's book Red Hangover: Legacies of Twentieth-Century Communism
In 2017, Kristen Ghodsee argued in her book "Red Hangover: Legacies of Twentieth-Century Communism" that the triumphalist attitudes of Western powers after the Cold War, along with the association of leftist and socialist ideals with Stalinism, paved the way for neoliberalism, weakened democratic institutions, and caused economic problems throughout the former Eastern Bloc, which in turn helped fuel the rise of Putin's right-wing nationalism.
2017: Poll indicates public holds Putin responsible for corruption
In 2017, Newsweek reported that a poll "indicated that 67% held Putin personally responsible for high-level corruption".
2017: Criticism of Violence Against Rohingya Minorities
In 2017, Putin criticized violence in Myanmar against Rohingya minorities.
March 2018: Sergei Skripal Poisoned in Salisbury
On March 4, 2018, former double agent Sergei Skripal was poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent in Salisbury. Later in March, the British government accused the Russian state of attempted murder, a charge which Russia denied.
July 2018: Report on CIA's Russian source
In July 2018, The New York Times reported that the CIA had long nurtured a Russian source who eventually rose to a position close to Putin, allowing the source to pass key information in 2016 about Putin's direct involvement.
October 2018: Russians hold Putin responsible for country's problems
In October 2018, two-thirds of Russians surveyed agreed that "Putin bears full responsibility for the problems of the country".
October 2018: Putin comments on nuclear war
On October 18, 2018, Putin said Russians will 'go to Heaven as martyrs' in the event of a nuclear war as he would only use nuclear weapons in retaliation.
2018: Forbes' Assessment of Putin as a Dictator
Following the jailing of Alexei Navalny in 2018, Forbes described Vladimir Putin's actions as those of a dictator, suggesting he relies on force and repression due to failing public support.
April 2019: Record number of Russians willing to emigrate
In April 2019, a Gallup poll showed a record number of Russians, 20%, willing to permanently emigrate from Russia.
September 2019: Interference in regional elections
In September 2019, Putin's administration interfered with the results of Russia's nationwide regional elections and manipulated it by eliminating all candidates in the opposition which contributed to inciting mass protests for democracy, leading to large-scale arrests and cases of police brutality.
2019: Reported Birth of Twin Sons by Kabaeva
In 2019, Alina Kabaeva reportedly gave birth to twin sons by Vladimir Putin.
April 2020: Putin Extends Non-Working Time Amidst COVID-19
In April 2020, Vladimir Putin extended the non-working time until April 30 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Public disapproval of Putin's handling of the crisis was noted in a Levada poll.
June 2020: Political Prisoners in Russia
As of June 2020, per Memorial Human Rights Center, there were 380 political prisoners in Russia, including 63 individuals prosecuted, directly or indirectly, for political activities (including Alexey Navalny) and 245 prosecuted for their involvement with one of the Muslim organizations that are banned in Russia.
July 2020: Support of Khabarovsk Krai Protests
In July 2020, a Levada poll found that 45% of surveyed Russians supported the 2020 protests held in the Khabarovsk Krai in Russia's Far East in support of arrested regional governor Sergei Furgal, which became increasingly anti-Putin over time.
November 2020: Proekt alleges Putin has another daughter, Elizaveta
In November 2020, an investigation by Proekt alleged that Vladimir Putin has another daughter, Elizaveta, also known as Luiza Rozova, born in March 2003, with Svetlana Krivonogikh.
2020: Law on Labelling Individuals and Organizations as Foreign Agents
In 2020, Putin signed a law on labelling individuals and organizations receiving funding from abroad as "foreign agents".
2020: Constitutional Reference to God
One of the 2020 amendments to the Constitution of Russia has a constitutional reference to God.
2020: Continued attempts in the 2020 U.S. presidential election
Putin continued similar interference attempts in the 2020 U.S. presidential election.
January 2021: Navalny's investigation into Putin's Palace
On January 19, 2021, two days after Alexei Navalny was detained upon his return to Russia, a video investigation by him and the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) was published accusing Vladimir Putin of using fraudulently obtained funds to build the estate for himself in what he called "the world's biggest bribe".
July 2021: Publication of Article on Historical Unity of Russians and Ukrainians
In July 2021, Putin published a lengthy article titled "On the Historical Unity of Russians and Ukrainians", stating the formation of a Ukrainian state hostile to Moscow was "comparable in its consequences to the use of weapons of mass destruction against us", and it was made mandatory reading for military-political training in the Russian Armed Forces.
July 2021: Putin Publishes Essay on Russian and Ukrainian Unity
In July 2021, Vladimir Putin published an essay titled "On the Historical Unity of Russians and Ukrainians", asserting that Belarusians, Ukrainians, and Russians form one All-Russian nation and denying the existence of Ukraine as an independent nation.
November 2021: The Economist notes Putin's shift to dictatorship
In November 2021, The Economist noted that Vladimir Putin had "shifted from autocracy to dictatorship".
November 2021: Distrust of Putin contributes to vaccine hesitancy
Polls conducted in November 2021, after the failure of a Russian COVID-19 vaccination campaign, indicated that distrust of Putin was a major contributing factor for vaccine hesitancy, with regional polls indicating numbers as low as 20–30% in the Volga Federal District.
2021: Khabarovsk Krai Protests
In 2021, protests continued to be held in the Khabarovsk Krai in Russia's Far East in support of arrested regional governor Sergei Furgal. The 2020 Khabarovsk Krai protests became increasingly anti-Putin over time.
February 2022: Invasion of Ukraine
In February 2022, during his fourth presidential term, Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, leading to international condemnation and sanctions.
February 2022: Putin Recognizes Separatist Republics in Donbas
On February 21, 2022, Vladimir Putin signed a decree recognizing the two self-proclaimed separatist republics in Donbas as independent states and addressed the events in Ukraine.
March 2022: Ukrainians' unfavorable view of Putin and Russia
In March 2022, 97% of Ukrainians had an unfavorable view of Putin, and 98% did not believe any part of Ukraine was rightfully part of Russia. A poll published on 30 March in Russia saw Putin's approval rating jump from 71% in February to 83%.
April 2022: Parkinson's disease speculation
In April 2022, tabloid newspaper The Sun reported that based on video footage Vladimir Putin may have Parkinson's disease, which has not been supported by medical professionals.
September 2022: Annexation of Ukrainian Oblasts
In September 2022, Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization and forcibly annexed four Ukrainian oblasts into Russia.
December 2022: Speech to Security Council Calling Ukraine Fighting a War
On 22 December 2022, Putin addressed the Security Council, referring to the fighting in Ukraine as a "war" rather than a "Special Military Operation".
2022: Russian Invasion of Ukraine
As of 2024, no data is available on Russian military emissions since before the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
2022: Condemnation of the Russian Invasion of Ukraine
Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, several Pacific leaders, including the prime ministers of Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and the Solomon Islands, condemned Putin and the invasion.
2022: Russian invasion of Ukraine and media censorship
Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, state-controlled media presented the invasion as a "special military operation" and liberation mission, with Roskomnadzor ordering media to use only state sources and banning the use of "war", "invasion", or "aggression".
2022: Swiss media reports on Kabaeva's childbirths
In 2022, Swiss media, citing the couple's Swiss gynecologist, reported that on both occasions Alina Kabaeva gave birth to a boy.
2022: Condemnations of Putin Following Invasion of Ukraine
In 2022, following mounting civilian casualties during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, U.S. President Joe Biden called Vladimir Putin a war criminal and "murderous dictator". The Ukrainian envoy to the United Nations, Sergiy Kyslytsya, likened Putin to Adolf Hitler. Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins also compared the Russian leader to Hitler, calling him a deluded autocrat.
2022: Honorary doctorates and awards revoked
In 2022, some of the honorary doctorates and other awards that Vladimir Putin received from organizations across the world were revoked in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
2022: SMO start in Ukraine
In 2022, the SMO began in Ukraine without preparation. President Putin later regretted not starting it at the same time as the annexation of Crimea and with more "preparation".
2022: Law on False Information About the Military
In March 2022, Putin signed a law introducing prison sentences of up to 15 years for publishing 'knowingly false information' about the Russian military. Additionally, Russia's demographic crisis deepened due to emigration, lower fertility rates and war casualties.
2022: Increased Political Repressions After War With Ukraine
Vladimir Putin increased political repressions after launching his full-scale war with Ukraine in 2022.
February 2023: Russia Suspends Participation in New START Treaty
On February 21, 2023, Putin suspended Russia's participation in the New START nuclear arms reduction treaty with the United States.
March 2023: ICC Arrest Warrant
In March 2023, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin for alleged war crimes related to illegal child abductions during the war.
June 2023: Wagner Group Rebellion
On 23 June 2023, the Wagner Group, a Russian paramilitary organization, rebelled against the government of Russia due to escalating tensions between the Russian Ministry of Defense and Yevgeny Prigozhin.
July 2023: Putin Threatens Reciprocal Action and Withdraws From Grain Deal
In July 2023, Vladimir Putin threatened "reciprocal action" if Ukraine used US-supplied cluster munitions. Additionally, on July 17, Putin withdrew from the deal that allowed Ukraine to export grain across the Black Sea.
August 2023: Prigozhin Killed in Plane Crash
On 23 August 2023, exactly two months after the rebellion, Yevgeny Prigozhin was killed along with nine others when a business jet crashed in Tver Oblast. It is suspected that the Russian state was involved.
December 2023: Netanyahu Expresses Displeasure to Putin Over Russia's Conduct at the UN
In a December 2023 call, Benjamin Netanyahu expressed displeasure to Vladimir Putin, over Russia's conduct at the UN and described its growing ties to Iran as dangerous.
December 2023: Putin Press Conference on Ukraine Negotiations
On 14 December 2023, President Putin held a press conference where he indicated that Russia would only negotiate with Ukraine "when we achieve our objectives". He stated that another mobilization wasn't required as "617,000" Russian soldiers were fighting in Ukraine.
2023: Der Spiegel Investigation
In 2023, Der Spiegel reported that an anonymous source claiming involvement in the Red Army Faction, who alleged Putin's involvement, was a "notorious fabulist".
September 2024: Putin Warns West of Nuclear Retaliation
In September 2024, Vladimir Putin cautioned the West that Russia would contemplate a nuclear response if attacked with conventional weapons, seemingly deviating from its no-first-use policy. Putin further threatened nuclear powers, stating they would be considered participants in aggression if they supported an attack on Russia. Experts suggest Putin's warning aimed to deter the United States, the United Kingdom, and France from allowing Ukraine to use Western-supplied long-range missiles against Russia.
2024: Regret Over Timing of "Special Military Operation"
During the 2024 Year-End Review, President Putin was asked if there were regrets from the “Special Military Operation”.
2024: Putin Achieves 88% of the Popular Vote in Presidential Election
In the 2024 Russian presidential election, Vladimir Putin achieved 88% of the popular vote. There were reports of irregularities at this election, including ballot stuffing and coercion. Russian authorities claimed that in occupied areas of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, Putin won 88.12% and 92.83% of votes. In Chechnya, Putin won 98.99% of the vote.
2024: Putin Wins 2024 Russian Presidential Election
Vladimir Putin won the 2024 Russian presidential election with 88.48% of the vote. International observers did not consider the election to be either free or fair, with reports of irregularities and unprecedented levels of fraud.
2035: Russia's Energy Strategy to Burn More Fossil Fuels
Russia's energy strategy to 2035 is mostly about burning more fossil fuels.
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