Russia has gone though a great deal of change in the past 24 years since the Soviet Union
was dissolved. It's had three different presidents and has been in 12 different wars. However, of
the leaders Russia has had so far, none have made as great of an impact as Vladimir Putin.
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin was born to Vladimir Spirodonovich Putin, a grizzled,
hard-working veteran of both World Wars, and his wife, Maria, on October 7, 1952, in
Leningrad, Soviet Union, which is now known as St. Petersburg, Russia. After the devastation of
the city from the Nazis' siege, the Putins had to share a 180 square foot apartment with a Jewish
family and an elderly couple, the latter Vladimir would remember fondly, as he spent much time
with them. Throughout his childhood, Putin was never very big, yet he was always a
troublemaker. Although he was intelligent, he didn't care about school. In fifth grade, Putin
began learning Sambo, a Soviet martial art similar to Judo, at the Trud Club. Since he needed
good grades to continue to go to the Trud, Vladimir focused in school, and eventually improved
his grades. During this time period, nostalgia grew, as the twentieth anniversary of the defeat of
the Nazis arrived. A new novel, which enthralled a young, adventurous Putin, was released: The
Shield and the Sword, and three years later, it became a five hour film. The story was about a
Soviet spy who infiltrated the Nazi ranks to sabotage their efforts. To a teenage Vladimir, it was
an enchanting tale, one which decided for Putin what he wanted to be when he grew up: a Soviet
spy. He didn't know much about how it all worked, but he worked towards it nonetheless. He'd
go though secondary school, focusing primarily on his studies and sports. Because of this, Putin
earned good grades, especially in history and German. After cramming for his entire last year of
secondary school, Vladimir passed the entrance exams and earned a spot at Leningrad State
University's law department. In college, he remained focused on his studies and judo, for which
he'd travel around the Soviet Union. After four years at Leningrad State University, he was
visited by someone, who he didn't know at the time was in the KGB. In 1975, after passing his
background check, he was accepted into the KGB. Putin was soon sent to School No. 401 in
Leningrad, where the KGB trained new agents. During his training, he learned the basics of
intelligence operations. When he left the school, he was a first lieutenant, and reported to the
Second Chief Directorate, the counterintelligence department of the KGB. Putin kept his work
secret, even from his closest friends and family. After being in counterintelligence for six
months, Putin went to the First Chief Directorate, which was responsible for the KGB's
intelligence outside of the Soviet Union. He then shadowed foreign diplomats in Leningrad's
consulates. Vladimir, however, had no aspiration to climb to a higher rank, instead being content
with the work he had. He still caused trouble, often involving himself in street fights, and once
Putin even tossed a drunk student over his shoulder simply because he shoved him. When 1979
rolled around, Putin achieved the rank of captain, and was finally able to go to Moscow and attend the Higher School, in which the KGB trained operatives. Although it seemed like Putin was going to be sent abroad, he returned to Leningrad a year later and resumed doing what he
did before he left. In 1980, Putin, a twenty-eight year old man, was still unmarried, which was
strange for a Soviet citizen, let alone a KGB agent. Because of this, he wasn't sent away, as
bachelorhood was seen as a liability. In March 1980, he met a flight attendant named Lyudmila while she was on holiday in Leningrad. The following July, Lyudmila visited again, and she began her relationship with Vladimir. Only after a year and a half did she learn Putin's real
employment, but until then, she thought that he was a criminal investigator. In April 1983, Putin
finally asked her to marry him. ��� ���In three and a half years, you have probably made up your
mind,��� he told her at his apartment.��� [Myers 32] She said yes. On July 28, 1983, a date
predetermined by Vladimir, they had a civil ceremony, and afterwards held two different
celebrations: one with friends and relatives; another, more private, one with Vladimir's KGB
colleagues. They honeymooned, and afterwards moved into his parents' two-bedroom apartment.
In their relationship, Putin was very controlling, making most of their decisions by himself. A
year later, he was promoted to major and sent to the Red Banner Institute, the KGB's elite foreign
intelligence school, in Moscow. Finally, Putin learned how to be a spy, as he dreamed about as a
teenager. In 1985, Lyudmila gave birth to Vladimir's first child, Masha. Vladimir missed the
birth, but visited soon after. Although his studies went well, he had a negative end of the year
report, which cut his studies short. Instead of going on at the Institute and eventually going West,
he was assigned to Dresden, a small city in East Germany. He arrived in August 1985, and he fit
in immediately. Not long after, Lyudmila became pregnant again, and on August 31, 1986, Katya,
their second daughter, was born. They fit in well in Dresden, and Putin was a good worker, which caught his superior's eyes. By 1990, however, they moved back to Leningrad and moved
in with Vladimir's parents, as the KGB all but collapsed outside the Soviet Union. Putin found
employment as the advisor of Leningrad's City Council chairman, Anatoly Sobchak, as well as
the director of foreign relations for the city. During a putsch led by head KGB officials, Putin had
to choose a side: the KGB or his boss, mentor and friend, Sobchak. He sent his resignation not to
Sobchak, but to the KGB, which he served for sixteen years. The putsch fell apart, democracy in
Russia survived, and Putin was on the winning side. Leningrad was renamed St. Petersburg, as it
was centuries before. After these events, Putin was interviewed; in the interview, he exposed his
former employment. In the years following, he'd continue to serve under newly-elected mayor
Sobchak, eventually being promoted to deputy mayor. Because of Putin's work, companies such
as Coca-Cola and Ford had factories set up in Petersburg. However, the city lagged behind
Moscow, and eventually became synonymous with crime���especially contract kills. Not very long
after, in 1993, Russia's parliament rebelled against President Boris Yeltsin, causing a division in
loyalties. Sobchak allied with Yeltsin, as did Putin. Sobchak's vice mayor, however, sided with
the parliament. The conflict was resolved, but strengthened both Sobchak's and Putin's thoughts
about the security forces: they were absolutely necessary to quietly ensure law and order. After
Sobchak ran for reelection, and lost, Putin was unemployed. By September 1996, Putin had
bounce around from several different jobs, but settled into an office near the Kremlin as a deputy
of Pavel Borodin, manager of the Property Management Directorate. He brought two aides with
him: Sergei Chemezov and Igor Sechin; the former served with Putin in Dresden, both serving in
Sobchak's administration. Putin was put in charge of the Kremlin's properties, which included
schools and embassies formerly owned by the Soviet state. He was doing well until an associate,
Aleksei Kudrin, was promoted, and recommended Putin for his former position: the head of the
Main Control Directorate, as well as the deputy chief of staff in Yeltsin's administration. ���Putin's
task was to restore order, to end the most rampant schemes that were dragging the government
and the economy ever downward.��� [Myers 112] Not much after, Putin got word that Sobchak
was sick, and being harassed by the prosecutor's office for crimes, so Putin arranged him and his
wife a flight to Paris, an act done solely out of loyalty. In May 1998, Putin was promoted to the
position of first deputy director of the presidential administration, giving him control over the
relations of Russia's eighty-nine regions. Although he didn't do much in this position, he was
promoted nonetheless, now assuming the job of the director of the FSB, which was Russia's new
intelligence service. Even though Putin resented becoming a member of the intelligence services
again, he accepted. In the post, Vladimir would investigate several big crimes, including
murders��� many of which were contract kills��� and large corporations' thefts and illegal income.
On August 5, 1999, president Yeltsin summoned Putin to his home; there, he appointed Vladimir
his prime minister. As prime minister, Putin waged war on Chechnya, which was fighting for independence, as well as continuing to ensure law and over. On December 28, president Yeltsin
filmed his annual New Year's address, as tradition stated; however, in the address, he resigned
and appointed Putin as acting president until the elections in June. As president, Putin continued
his war with the Chechens, while his staff handled his campaign. He'd win the election in June,
and he'd go on to win the presidency another time. Afterwards, he'd be prime minister to his
prot��g��e, and former prime minister, Dmitri Medvedev, who became president in 2008. In the
2012 election, Putin won another election for president, with Medvedev serving as his prime
minister once more. In 2014, Vladimir and Lyudmila officially divorced. He is up for reelection
in 2018, as the terms have recently been extended from four to six years.
Vladimir Putin is an essential figure, and has been for over a decade, to the events of both
Russia and the rest of the world. Putin has brought Russia's economy back from the brink of
destruction, as well as giving Russia the stability it wanted and desperately needed. He found a
way to hold all-but-absolute power without breaching the laws of democracy. Putin also helped
hold together a dissolving Russian Federation, keeping states from leaving. Vladimir has done
work mending foreign relations with several countries, including the US, UK, Germany, and
China. All in all, Putin has done a lot to influence recent events.
There are a few lessons that can be learned from Vladimir Putin's life and actions. For
one, Vladimir never gave up, always pursuing the goals that we're established for him. Putin was
also fiercely loyal, first to the KGB, then to Sobchak, and finally to Yeltsin; ultimately, he was
loyal to his comrades from St. Petersburg, and to his country. However, Putin wasn't the best
husband and father, as he didn't spend as much time with his family as he probably should have.
Putin was also very aggressive, although he was usually good at hiding it. As a whole, Putin
gives a decently positive example for others.
Putin has impacted Russia, and the world, in many ways. Through multiple wars, three
presidential terms, and numerous jobs in the government, he's always stayed true to his beliefs.
Turning Russia from the edge of collapse and making it one of the most prosperous nations
today, he is one of the most influential world leaders of the past century.