Vladimir Putin is the current President of the Russian Federation, having served as the country’s leader since 2000. Born in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) on October 7, 1952, Putin grew up in a communal apartment and joined the KGB after graduating from Leningrad State University in 1975.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Putin became involved in local politics in his native St. Petersburg, eventually rising to become a top official in the Russian government. In 1999, he was appointed as Prime Minister by then-President Boris Yeltsin, and when Yeltsin resigned on December 31 of that year, Putin became the acting President.
Putin won his first election as President in 2000 and was reelected in 2004. In 2008, he was barred by the Russian Constitution from running for a third consecutive term as President, so he instead became Prime Minister under his handpicked successor, Dmitry Medvedev. Putin returned to the presidency in 2012 and was reelected to another six-year term in 2018.
Putin’s leadership has been marked by a strong emphasis on the restoration of Russia’s national prestige and security, as well as an increasingly authoritarian approach to governance. He has been criticized for his government’s suppression of political opposition, restrictions on the media, and crackdowns on civil society groups.
At the same time, Putin has been credited with overseeing a period of economic stability and growth in Russia, and has taken an active role in foreign affairs, particularly in relation to conflicts in Syria and Ukraine. His government has also pursued policies aimed at modernizing the country’s economy and infrastructure.
Despite his polarizing reputation, Putin remains a popular figure in Russia, with approval ratings that have consistently been above 60% throughout his presidency.
