Slideshow · Viral
30 Unbelievable Facts You Never Knew About Vladimir Putin
From surviving a rat-infested Leningrad flat and singing Blueberry Hill to flying nuclear bombers and dominating Russian politics for a quarter-century, explore the unbelievable life of Vladimir Putin.
1 hour agoVerified Editorial
⏱12 Min Read
◫30 Verified Slides
30 Unbelievable Facts You Never Knew About Vladimir Putin 
29. Raised In A Leningrad Communal FlatGrew up in extreme poverty in a cold-water communal apartment. 
28. Parents Barely Survived World War IIHis father suffered shrapnel wounds and his mother nearly starved. 
27. Walked Into The KGB At Age SixteenAttempted to enlist as a schoolboy inspired by Soviet spy films. - AdvertisementSwipe or tap ▶ to continue countdown
26. Champion Judoka And Sambo MasterTook up martial arts at twelve and co-authored a judo book. 
25. Undercover KGB Officer In DresdenStationed in East Germany from 1985 collecting foreign intelligence. 
24. Stood Down An Angry German MobProtected the Dresden KGB villa with an empty service pistol. 
23. Lost Everything In A Dacha FireA 1996 house fire destroyed his savings but spared his cross. - AdvertisementSwipe or tap ▶ to continue countdown
22. Almost Became A Taxi Driver In 1996Considered driving an unlicensed cab after losing his mayoral job. 
21. Meteoric Rise In Eighteen MonthsRose from obscure bureaucrat to Russian President in eighteen months. 
20. The New Year's Eve Power HandoverHanded the nuclear briefcase by Boris Yeltsin on Millennium Eve. 
19. Inaugurated As President In May 2000Sworn in inside the Grand Kremlin Palace after winning elections. - AdvertisementSwipe or tap ▶ to continue countdown
18. Co-Piloted A Fighter Jet Into ChechnyaFlew into Grozny in the co-pilot seat of a fighter jet. 
17. First Foreign Leader To Call Bush On 9/11Telephoned the White House and grounded Russian military drills immediately. 
16. Fluent German Address To The BundestagDelivered an entire diplomatic speech in fluent German in Berlin. 
15. Flew A Supersonic Nuclear BomberPiloted a Tu-160 strategic bomber and launched cruise missiles. - AdvertisementSwipe or tap ▶ to continue countdown
14. His Labrador Terrified Angela MerkelBrought his large dog into talks with dog-fearing Angela Merkel. 
13. The 2007 Munich Security ShockwaveDenounced American unipolar hegemony in a landmark geopolitical speech. 
12. Viral Topless Fishing In TuvaPosed bare-chested while fishing and riding horseback in Siberia. 
11. Tranquilized An Amur Tiger In 2008Shot a wild Siberian tiger with a tranquilizer dart. - AdvertisementSwipe or tap ▶ to continue countdown
10. Dove 1,400 Meters Into Lake BaikalDescended to the bottom of the world's deepest lake. 
9. Sang Blueberry Hill To Hollywood StarsPlayed piano and sang in English at a charity gala. 
8. Founded The Night Hockey LeagueRegularly scores multiple goals in games alongside former NHL legends. 
7. The 2012 Presidential Castling MoveSwapped offices with Dmitry Medvedev to reclaim the Kremlin presidency. - AdvertisementSwipe or tap ▶ to continue countdown
6. Guided Cranes In A Motorized Hang GliderPiloted a hang glider to guide endangered white Siberian cranes. 
5. Staged The Billion Sochi OlympicsTransformed a subtropical Black Sea resort into a winter wonderland. 
4. Handed A World Cup Ball To TrumpTossed an Adidas football to Donald Trump in Helsinki. 
3. The Infamous Six-Meter Kremlin TableEnforced extreme COVID isolation with a giant white boardroom table. - AdvertisementSwipe or tap ▶ to continue countdown
2. Completely Offline Without A SmartphoneDoes not carry a smartphone and reads reports on paper. 
1. Full-Time Food Tasters And DecoysEmploys military toxicologists to sample every dish before eating. - Advertisement
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