Alright, let's talk about Vladimir Putin. This guy's name is basically synonymous with modern-day Russian politics. Born on October 7, 1952, in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg), Putin's known for his iron-fisted rule and the way he's consolidated power in Russia.
Back in the day, Putin's family was pretty humble. His dad was a factory foreman, and his mom was a factory worker. They all lived in a communal apartment, which is just a fancy way of saying they shared a cramped living space with other families.
In college, Putin studied law at Leningrad State University. While he was there, he joined the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and got involved with the KGB. After he graduated in 1975, Putin became a KGB agent in Dresden, East Germany.
For the next sixteen years, Putin worked for the KGB, climbing the ranks and becoming a higher-up in the intelligence agency. He did spy stuff, gathered intel on foreign countries, and served as a go-between for the KGB and the Soviet military in East Germany. Basically, Putin was the OG James Bond.
After the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, Putin got into politics. He became the head of the Federal Security Service (FSB), which was the KGB's successor. And in 1999, Russian President Boris Yeltsin appointed Putin as the Prime Minister of Russia. This was a big surprise to everyone, since Putin wasn't exactly a household name at the time.
But Putin quickly established himself as a strong leader, and he was elected as the President of Russia in 2000. He served for three terms, during which he really strengthened the presidency and reduced the power of the parliament. He also made sure the state had more control over the media. You know, typical dictator stuff.
Of course, Putin's also been criticized for his human rights abuses and his crackdown on political opposition. He's been involved in some pretty brutal military campaigns, too. And let's not forget about how he's always talking about how Russia needs to be a global power again. I mean, come on dude, have you heard of "less is more"?