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- By Supratik Das
- Fri, 05 Dec 2025 07:45 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Putin India Visit: Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in the national capital on Thursday evening to a rare personal reception from Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Palam Air Force Station, a gesture that underscored the significance of his two-day visit.
As the global spotlight narrows on Moscow’s most influential figure, renewed attention is turning to the lesser-known chapters of Putin’s early years, from his time in East Germany, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the guarded private world he continues to protect fiercely.
KGB Beginnings And The Dresden Posting
Long before he occupied the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin served as a mid-ranking operative in the KGB. His career began in the late 1970s, when he was trained in classic Cold War skills, including recruiting informants, surveillance, and counterintelligence.
In 1985, he was posted to Dresden, East Germany, under the cover of a translator. There, he worked closely with the Stasi, living in a quiet neighbourhood that he later described as “formative.” Witnessing Western life from across the border, while navigating the tense atmosphere of the Cold War, left a deep imprint on him.
The collapse of the Berlin Wall in 1989 changed everything. When a mob surrounded the Stasi and KGB office in Dresden, Putin famously received “devastating silence” from Moscow after requesting reinforcements. Putin left the KGB in 1991 after the dissolution of the Soviet Union and entered public life during one of Russia’s most turbulent political periods. He later recalled burning “so much material that the furnace burst.” The episode marked a psychological turning point, one that shaped his views on power, control, and political vulnerability.
Putin’s Extremely Guarded Private World
Even during foreign visits like the ongoing India trip, Putin’s personal security ecosystem is unusually complex. All meals are prepared by a special Russian team, with ingredients pre-tested and dishes cooked in a secure kitchen. At formal banquets, he attends but rarely eats from the public table.
His daily diet, however, is surprisingly simple—porridge or tvorog cheese, honey, fresh juice, and occasionally quail eggs for breakfast. He prefers fish, vegetables, and pistachio ice cream, avoiding heavy sweets or red meat.
Putin rarely speaks about his family. His marriage to Lyudmila Putina ended in 2013 after three decades, and the couple has two daughters; Maria, a medical researcher involved in major healthcare projects, and Katerina, a former competitive acrobatic dancer who later moved into academic and business roles. Both maintain low profiles, and neither is publicly identified by the Kremlin. He has acknowledged having grandchildren, saying only, “I want them to grow up like ordinary children.”
As New Delhi hosts Putin for talks expected to cover defence cooperation, energy, and global challenges, his formative years in East Germany and the closed world around him continue to draw interest. Together, they offer a rare glimpse into the background of a leader whose political instincts were shaped in the shadows and whose private life remains as carefully protected as the state he governs.