Early Life and Education of Vladimir Putin: A Complete Timeline

An overview of the childhood and early education of Vladimir Putin, highlighting the experiences that shaped the journey.

Vladimir Putin is a Russian politician who has dominated Russian politics for over two decades. He served as President of Russia from 2000-2008 and again from 2012 to the present. He was also Prime Minister from 1999-2000 and 2008-2012. A former intelligence officer, Putin is often considered the de facto leader of Russia since 2000, wielding significant influence over the country's domestic and foreign policy.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1940: Birth of Brother Viktor

In 1940, Putin's brother, Viktor, was born.

1941: Death of Maternal Grandmother

In 1941, Putin's maternal grandmother was killed by German occupiers of the Tver region.

1942: Death of Brother Viktor

In 1942, Putin's brother Viktor died of diphtheria and starvation during the Siege of Leningrad.

1942: Father Wounded in the War

In 1942, Putin's father was severely wounded while serving in the regular army during the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union.

October 1952: Putin's Birth in Leningrad

In October 1952, Vladimir Putin was born in Leningrad, Soviet Union (now Saint Petersburg, Russia). He was the youngest of three children.

October 1952: Putin's Birth

In October 1952, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin was born. He is now a Russian politician and the current President of Russia.

September 1960: Started School

In September 1960, Putin began attending School No. 193 at Baskov Lane.

1970: Began Studying Law

In 1970, Putin started studying law at the Leningrad State University.

1975: Graduated from Leningrad State University

In 1975, Putin graduated from Leningrad State University with a degree in law.

1978: Publication of "Strategic Planning and Policy"

In 1978, King and Cleland's "Strategic Planning and Policy" was published, which was later alleged to have been plagiarized by Putin in his thesis.

July 1983: Putin's marriage to Lyudmila Shkrebneva

On July 28, 1983, Vladimir Putin married Lyudmila Shkrebneva.

April 1985: Birth of Maria Putina

On April 28, 1985, Vladimir Putin's daughter, Maria Putina, was born in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg).

August 1986: Birth of Yekaterina Putina

On August 31, 1986, Vladimir Putin's daughter, Yekaterina Putina, was born in Dresden, East Germany (now Germany).

November 1989: Fall of the Berlin Wall and Saving of Files

During the fall of the Berlin Wall, beginning on 9 November 1989, Putin reportedly saved the files of the Soviet Cultural Center and the KGB villa in Dresden from demonstrators and only burnt the KGB files.

1989: Confrontations with Anti-Communist Protestors

In 1989, Putin confronted East Germany's anti-communist protestors in Dresden who attempted to occupy the city's Stasi buildings.

1990: Putin lived in East Germany

Vladimir Putin lived in East Germany from 1985 to 1990.

1991: End of CPSU Membership

In 1991, Putin's membership in the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) ceased when the party dissolved.

1993: Car Crash Involving Wife

In 1993, Putin's wife was involved in a serious car crash, which Putin has cited as the beginning of his religious awakening.

August 1996: Fire at Dacha

In August 1996, a life-threatening fire burned down Putin's family dacha, contributing to his religious awakening.

1997: Received Degree in Economics

In 1997, Putin received a degree in economics from Saint Petersburg Mining University, focusing on energy dependencies and foreign policy.

1999: Putin Describes Communism

In 1999, Vladimir Putin characterized communism as "a blind alley, far away from the mainstream of civilization." By the autumn of 1999, Putin had surpassed Zyuganov as the leading candidate in the polls for the upcoming 2000 presidential election.

2000: Presidential Election

In 2000, Zyuganov was the frontrunner for the first round of the presidential election.

March 2003: Birth of Elizaveta Rozova

In March 2003, Elizaveta, also known as Luiza Rozova, was born, allegedly the daughter of Vladimir Putin with Svetlana Krivonogikh.

2004: Beslan School Siege

In 2004, the Beslan school siege took place.

2006: Putin kisses boy's stomach

In 2006, Putin lifted the shirt of a boy to kiss his stomach without permission, an incident that Tatiana Mikhailova cites as an example of Putin's image building attempt.

2007: Komsomolskaya Pravda publishes "Be Like Putin" photo

In 2007, the tabloid Komsomolskaya Pravda published a huge photograph of a shirtless Putin vacationing in the Siberian mountains under the headline "Be Like Putin", contributing to his cult of personality.

2007: Putin's Beliefs

In 2007, when asked about his belief in God, Putin stated that he has beliefs he prefers not to share publicly due to his position.

2011: Photographs from inside the palace were leaked onto the Internet

In 2011, photographs from inside the palace were leaked onto the Internet.

2012: Birth of Putin's grandson

In 2012, Putin had a grandson through Maria.

2012: Mass Protests Against Election Falsification

The period after 2012 saw mass protests against the falsification of elections, censorship, and the toughening of free assembly laws.

June 2013: Putin and Lyudmila announce the end of their marriage

On June 6, 2013, Putin and Lyudmila announced that their marriage was over.

March 2014: Russian Federation Annexes Crimea

Following the Revolution of Dignity, in March 2014, the Russian Federation annexed Crimea. According to Putin, in March 2014, this was done because "Crimea has always been and remains an inseparable part of Russia."

April 2014: Divorce of Putin and Lyudmila finalized

On April 1, 2014, the Kremlin confirmed that the divorce of Vladimir Putin and Lyudmila had been finalized.

2014: Death of Konni

In 2014, Konni, one of the dogs Putin received from national leaders, died.

January 2015: Eurasian Union established

On 1 January 2015, the Eurasian Union was officially established.

2017: Birth of grandchildren through Maria and Katerina

In 2017, Putin had a grandson through Maria and reportedly a granddaughter through Katerina.

2018: Sensory Room Allegation

In 2018, the Russian political magazine Sobesednik alleged that Putin had a sensory room installed in his private residence in the Novgorod Oblast.

2020: Putin supports efforts to reduce abortion numbers

In 2020, Putin supported efforts to reduce the number of abortions in Russia instead of prohibiting it.

2020: Putin supports constitutional referendum defining marriage

In 2020, Putin supported the Russian constitutional referendum, which passed and defined marriage as a relationship between one man and one woman in the Constitution of Russia.

November 2021: Burns met Putin in person

In November 2021, William Burns, the then U.S. ambassador to Russia, had a personal meeting with Putin.

April 2022: Parkinson's Disease Speculation

In April 2022, The Sun newspaper reported speculations, not medically supported, that Putin may have Parkinson's disease based on video footage.

July 2022: CIA Director Statement on Putin's Health

In July 2022, CIA Director William Burns stated that there was no evidence to suggest Putin was unstable or in bad health, amidst increasing media speculation.

2022: Increased Repressions After War

In 2022, Putin increased political repressions after launching his full-scale war with Ukraine.

November 2023: Putin urges Russian women to have "seven, eight, or even more children"

On 28 November 2023, during a speech to the World Russian People's Council, Putin urged Russian women to have "seven, eight, or even more children" and said "large families must become the norm, a way of life for all of Russia's people".

March 2024: Crocus City Hall Attack and Election

On March 22, 2024, the Crocus City Hall attack resulted in 145 deaths and 551 injuries, marking the deadliest terrorist attack on Russian soil since 2004. Also in March 2024, Putin won the Russian presidential election with 88% of the vote, which international observers considered neither free nor fair.

August 2024: Putin pardons Gershkovich and others in prisoner swap

In August 2024, Putin pardoned American journalist Evan Gershkovich, opposition figures Vladimir Kara-Murza, Ilya Yashin, and others in a prisoner swap with Western countries, marking the most extensive exchange between Russia and the United States since the end of the Cold War.

September 2024: Nuclear Retaliation Warning

In September 2024, Vladimir Putin warned the West that Russia would consider nuclear retaliation if attacked with conventional weapons, deviating from the no first use doctrine. He threatened nuclear powers against supporting attacks on Russia.