Inside Vladimir Putin’s Secret Family: Children Drink From Special Mugs To Avoid Poison, Grow Up In Isolated Fortress

Russian President Vladimir Putin, 73, is widely known as a paranoid autocrat, ruling with an iron fist. But his private life suggests a tightly controlled family world. It is largely hidden from public view.  Putin reportedly has two “official” daughters with his first wife, Lyudmila Putin, a former Aeroflot flight attendant. Maria Vorontsova, 40, and Katerina Tikhonova, 39, have never been publicly photographed with their father. The couple divorced in 2013 after nearly 30 years of marriage.

Elizaveta Rudnova, Lives In Paris

Elizaveta Rudnova, 22, also known as Luiza Rozova, has become the most widely discussed of Putin’s alleged children. She is believed to be the daughter of Putin and Svetlana Krivonogikh, 50, who reportedly had an affair with him in 2003 while working as a cleaner at one of his luxury compounds.

Rudnova grew up primarily with her mother, who now reportedly controls a $105 million empire. She left Russia around the 2022 invasion of Ukraine and currently lives in Paris, working at two galleries known for anti-war and dissident exhibitions.

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She was recently asked about Putin’s responsibility for Ukraine war, she replied calmly, “What does that have to do with me?”

She later told reporters, “I’m really sorry that this is happening. Unfortunately, I’m not responsible for this situation. I’m glad you had the courage to come up to me and talk. Have a good evening.”

Putin’s Children with Alina Kabaeva

Putin is believed to have fathered at least two sons with Olympic rhythmic gymnast Alina Kabaeva, 41, though the couple publicly deny any relationship. Ivan, 9, and Vladimir Jr., 5, reportedly live in a highly secure forest compound near Putin’s Lake Valdai residence. The boys are home-schooled, shielded from other children, and under constant surveillance.

The Dossier Center, a Russian investigative group, reported, “They live in residences guarded by the FSO (Russia’s elite security service). They do not attend school, do not mix with other children, and travel only by private plane, yachts, and armored trains. Their daily activities – from sports to playtime – occur under constant surveillance.”

The Valdai residence reportedly has air defense systems to protect against Ukrainian drones and missiles. Even small daily routines are controlled.

“Like Vladimir Putin, his sons have their own mugs and drink only from them,” the report said. Security personnel are always close by, and Putin is described as “the only one who can speak sternly to them.”

In August, Putin hinted at his children during a visit to Siberia, “Members of my family, the little ones, speak Chinese.”

The boys are also learning English and German.

There are unconfirmed reports that Putin and Kabaeva have twin daughters, born in Switzerland in February 2015. Their existence has not been publicly verified.

The Isolated Life of Putin’s Children

Whether official or alleged, Putin’s children live extraordinarily controlled lives, isolated from public scrutiny and ordinary childhood experiences. O’Neill says this is consistent with Putin’s personality:

“It’s unlikely that his children would see him as anything other than a cold or distant person – at best, even behind closed doors.”

For Rudnova and the other alleged children, being associated with Putin comes with a heavy burden. As O’Neill puts it, “You’re carrying a big load of bricks if you’re a child of Putin.”

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