In a highly unusual and personal revelation, Russian President Vladimir Putin has publicly declared that he is "in love". The statement was made during his sprawling annual end-of-year press conference and Q&A session, immediately igniting a firestorm of speculation about the identity of the object of his affection.
A Planted Question and a Cryptic Reply
The moment arrived via a question that appeared to be staged by state media. The interviewer asked: "You said today that you believe love at first sight exists. Vladimir, are you in love?" Putin's reply was brief and offered no further detail: "Yes. That answers the final part of your question." The 73-year-old leader, known for his guarded and often austere public persona, did not elaborate, leaving the Russian public and international observers to decipher the meaning behind his words.
This marks a potentially significant departure, as Putin has never before openly acknowledged being in a romantic relationship since his divorce from Lyudmila Putina in 2014. The couple had two daughters together, Maria (40) and Katerina (39). Analysts suggest the admission could be a calculated attempt to soften his image as a remote and hard-faced autocrat, demonstrating a capacity for human emotion to the Russian populace.
The Alleged Secret Family with Alina Kabaeva
The immediate and dominant theory circulating in Moscow and beyond points to Alina Kabaeva, a 42-year-old former Olympic gold-medalist in rhythmic gymnastics. For nearly two decades, Kabaeva has been widely reported in independent media to be Putin's secret partner.
The couple are alleged to share two young sons who live under the pseudonyms Ivan Spirodonov, aged 10, and his brother Vladimir Spirodonov, aged 6. It is believed they reside in seclusion with their parents across a network of secure, hidden palaces within Russia. Putin has never publicly acknowledged Kabaeva or the children, making his 'in love' comment a potential first, albeit indirect, nod to their existence.
Some observers posit that the Russian President may be embarking on a slow, controlled process to legitimise this long-rumoured relationship and family after years of stringent secrecy.
A Web of Other Alleged Relationships
The mystery is deepened by reports of other alleged romantic entanglements in Putin's life. Investigative journalists from the outlet Proekt have previously claimed that Putin cheated on Kabaeva with a then-underage beauty pageant contestant, Alisa Kharcheva.
According to these reports, Kharcheva, who was 17 at the time of the alleged meetings, was secretly brought to Putin when Kabaeva was away from his residence. The visits, said to have occurred roughly once a fortnight, would have taken place when Putin was 58 and serving as Prime Minister. His formal wife, Lyudmila, was reportedly no longer living with him at that time.
Another long-rumoured affair links Putin to Svetlana Krivonogikh, a 50-year-old banker and former owner of a striptease club. This relationship is said to have produced a daughter, Luiza (real name Elizaveta Krivonogikh), who is now 22 and lives in Paris. In a poignant recent encounter, Luiza reportedly expressed regret to a Ukrainian journalist whose brother was killed in the war, stating she was not responsible for the situation.
These accounts paint a picture of a leader who, despite publicly championing traditional family values, is alleged by critics and biographers to prefer "free" relationships and has been linked by reports to "a multitude of women". Putin's simple admission of being in love has therefore ripped open the curtain on one of the most closely guarded aspects of his life, ensuring intense scrutiny and debate for the foreseeable future.
