Russian President Vladimir Putin has been claimed to have two young sons, living in luxury and secrecy at a guarded mansion outside Lake Valdai, northwest of Moscow. The boys Ivan, nine, and Vladimir Jr., five belong to Putin and former Olympic gymnast Alina Kabaeva, whose romance with the president has been long-rumored but never confirmed publicly.
The report shows that the children are mostly kept within the Valdai compound, out of public sight and under Kremlin guard. Their daily routine is governed by governesses, nannies, and private tutors instead of peers of their own age.
Though their reclusive lifestyle, Ivan and Vladimir Jr. also live in luxury. They get to play with big Lego sets, access iPads, and are the proprietors of various pets, such as ponies, rabbits, and a St. Bernard. However, their interaction with their parents is said to be limited to late evenings.
The boys are living under extraordinary security conditions. They were, since birth, supplied with special cover documents usually only given to spies or high-ranking authorities under state protection. They never show up on public registers, move only by private planes or armored trains, and are tutored privately as opposed to going to school.
The Valdai estate provides employees with luxury benefits like a tennis court and gym, earning around £6,500 a month, although turnover is said to be high because of stringent restrictions, such as prohibitions against leaving the compound.
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Putin's children are reported to be multilingual, with the president himself more recently suggesting that "the little ones" in his household speak Chinese. They are also reported to be studying English and German.
Their cyclic routine mirrors their elite lifestyle. Every winter, they shift to a luxurious mansion on the outskirts of the Krasnaya Polyana ski resort. They spend the summer months on luxurious yachts sailing along the Gulf of Finland, the Black Sea, and Russia's northern lakes.
Though living in comfort, the boys allegedly infuriate Putin with their cartoon parodies, especially of Disney characters. Nevertheless, their lives continue to remain closely off-limits to the public, and even photographs of them being withheld for "ethical reasons," claims The Dossier Centre.
