Vladimir Putin

Vladimir Putin is the long-serving leader of Russia, having held the position of president or prime minister since 1999. Born in 1952 in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg), he previously worked as an intelligence officer for the KGB during the Soviet era. He first became president in 2000 and served two terms until 2008. After a brief period as prime minister, he returned to the presidency in 2012 and has remained in that office ever since. Under his leadership, the Russian government has become increasingly centralised, and he has overseen significant military actions, including the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the large-scale invasion of Ukraine that began in 2022. Changes to the Russian constitution in 2020 allow him to potentially remain in power until 2036. As of June 2026, he continues to serve as president, focusing on domestic economic policies and managing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.