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 Vladimirovich Putin is a Russian politician who has dominated Russian politics for over two decades. He served as President of Russia from 2000 to 2008, then as Prime Minister from 2008 to 2012, and has been President again since 2012. A former intelligence officer, Putin is the longest-serving Russian president since the collapse of the Soviet Union. His leadership has been marked by a strong emphasis on national sovereignty and a centralized state.

Sections (6)

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

1911: Birth of Parents

In 1911, both Vladimir Putin's father, Vladimir Spiridonovich Putin, and his mother, Maria Ivanovna Putina (née Shelomova), were born.

1940: Birth of Brother Viktor

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

1941: Maternal Grandmother Killed

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

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.

1942: Death of Brother Viktor

In 1942, during the Siege of Leningrad by Nazi Germany's forces in World War II, Vladimir Putin's brother Viktor died of diphtheria and starvation.

October 1952: Birth in Leningrad

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

October 1952: Putin's Birth

In October 1952, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin was born.

September 1960: Started School

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

1965: Death of Grandfather

In 1965, Vladimir Putin's grandfather, Spiridon Putin, who was a personal cook to Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin, passed away.

1970: Studied Law at Leningrad State University

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

1975: Graduated from Leningrad State University

In 1975, Vladimir Putin graduated from the Leningrad State University.

July 1983: Putin's marriage to Lyudmila Shkrebneva

On 28 July 1983, Vladimir Putin married Lyudmila Shkrebneva.

April 1985: Birth of Maria Putina

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

August 1986: Birth of Yekaterina Putina

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

November 1989: Fall of the Berlin Wall

In November 1989, during the fall of the Berlin Wall, Vladimir Putin saved the files of the Soviet Cultural Center (House of Friendship) and of the KGB villa in Dresden, burning only the KGB files.

1989: Confrontations with Anti-Communist Protesters

In 1989, Vladimir Putin recounted his confrontations with anti-communist protesters who attempted to occupy Stasi buildings in Dresden.

1990: End of Putin's time in East Germany

From 1985 to 1990, Vladimir Putin and Lyudmila Shkrebneva lived together in East Germany.

1990: Paris Charter

In 1990, the Paris Charter was created by a summit that included European governments, the U.S. and the Soviet Union, convened as Communism crumbled across Eastern Europe.

1991: Ceased Membership in CPSU

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

1993: Car crash involving Putin's wife

In 1993, Vladimir Putin's wife was involved in a serious car crash that Putin says contributed to his religious awakening.

August 1996: Fire burns down Putin's dacha

In August 1996, a life-threatening fire burned down Vladimir Putin's dacha, which Putin says contributed to his religious awakening.

1996: Establishment of the Ozero cooperative society

In 1996, after his dacha burned down, Vladimir Putin rebuilt it and was joined by a group of friends who built dachas nearby. The group formally registered their fraternity as a co-operative society, calling it Ozero ("Lake") and turning it into a gated community.

1997: Received Degree in Economics

In 1997, Vladimir Putin received a degree in economics (Candidate of Economical Sciences) at the Saint Petersburg Mining University.

August 1998: Russian financial crash

During the Russian financial crash of August 1998, Putin learned that financial crises are politically destabilizing and must be avoided at all costs.

1998: Death of Mother

In 1998, Vladimir Putin's mother, Maria Ivanovna Putina, passed away.

1999: Described communism

In 1999, Putin described communism as "a blind alley, far away from the mainstream of civilization".

1999: Death of Father

In 1999, Vladimir Putin's father, Vladimir Spiridonovich Putin, passed away.

March 2003: Alleged birth of Putin's daughter Elizaveta

In March 2003, Vladimir Putin allegedly had another daughter, Elizaveta, also known as Luiza Rozova, with Svetlana Krivonogikh.

2004: Beslan school siege

In 2004, the Beslan school siege took place. The Crocus City Hall attack in March 2024 was the deadliest terrorist attack on Russian soil since the Beslan school siege in 2004.

2006: Putin's reported income totaled 2 million rubles (approximately $152,000).

In 2006, Vladimir Putin's reported income totaled 2 million rubles (approximately $152,000).

2007: Cultivating a tough guy image

In 2007, Putin cultivated a cult of personality, projecting an outdoorsy, athletic "tough guy" image through extreme sports and interactions with wild animals. Komsomolskaya Pravda published a photo of a shirtless Putin with the headline "Be Like Putin".

2007: Official figures released during the legislative election of 2007 put Putin's wealth at approximately 3.7 million rubles (US$280,000)

In 2007, during the legislative election, official figures put Vladimir Putin's wealth at approximately 3.7 million rubles (US$280,000) in bank accounts, a private 77.4-square-meter apartment in Saint Petersburg, and other assets.

April 2008: Report of Putin's alleged 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.

2009: Putin gifts Blancpain watch to Siberian boy

In 2009, Vladimir Putin gifted a Blancpain watch valued at thousands of dollars to a Siberian boy he met while on vacation.

August 2012: Critics list the ownership of 20 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: Birth of Putin's grandson

In 2012, Vladimir Putin had a grandson through his daughter Maria.

2012: Putin reported an income of 3.6 million rubles ($270,000).

In 2012, Vladimir Putin reported an income of 3.6 million rubles ($270,000).

2012: Mass protests

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

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

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

2013: Gay athletes will not face any discrimination at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics

In 2013, Putin stated that gay athletes would not face any discrimination at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.

April 2014: Putin and Lyudmila's divorce finalized

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

2014: Death of Putin's dog, Konni

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

2015: Reported birth of Putin's daughter with Kabaeva denied

In 2015, Kabaeva reportedly gave birth to a daughter by Vladimir Putin; this report was denied.

2017: Birth of Putin's grandson and granddaughter

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

2018: Allegation of sensory room installation in Putin's residence

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

2019: Kabaeva reportedly gives birth to twin sons by Putin

In 2019, Kabaeva reportedly gave birth to twin sons by Vladimir Putin.

November 2020: Investigation alleges Putin has another daughter

In November 2020, an investigation by Proekt alleged that Vladimir Putin has another daughter, Elizaveta, also known as Luiza Rozova, with Svetlana Krivonogikh.

2020: Efforts to Reduce Abortions

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

2020: Support for Constitutional Amendment 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.

2020: Constitutional reference to God

One of the 2020 amendments to the Constitution of Russia has a constitutional reference to God.

2022: Increased political repressions

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

2022: Swiss media reports Kabaeva gave birth to boys

In 2022, Swiss media, citing the couple's Swiss gynecologist, wrote that on both occasions Kabaeva gave birth to a boy.

November 2023: Call for Large Families

On November 28, 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

In March 2024, the Crocus City Hall attack took place, causing the deaths of 145 people and injuring 551 more. It was the deadliest terrorist attack on Russian soil since the Beslan school siege in 2004.

August 2024: Pardoned Evan Gershkovich and others in prisoner swap

In August 2024, Vladimir Putin pardoned American journalist Evan Gershkovich, opposition figures Vladimir Kara-Murza, Ilya Yashin and others in a prisoner swap with western countries. The 2024 Ankara prisoner exchange was the most extensive between Russia and United States since the end of the Cold War, involving the release of 26 people.

September 2024: Nuclear retaliation warning

In September 2024, Vladimir Putin warned the West that if attacked with conventional weapons Russia would consider a nuclear retaliation, in an apparent deviation from the no first use doctrine. Putin threatened nuclear powers that if they supported another country's attack on Russia, then they would be considered participants in such an aggression.

April 2025: Trump called for a peace deal

In April 2025, US President Donald Trump criticized Putin's determination to continue the war against Ukraine despite the horrific death toll and called for a peace deal, posting on social media: "Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying. Lets get the Peace Deal DONE!"

May 2025: Victory Day parade in Moscow

In May 2025, Vladimir Putin attended the Victory Day parade in Moscow with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Brazilian President Lula da Silva and other foreign leaders.