Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin was born on 7 October 1952 in Leningrad. His father, Vladimir Spiridonovich Putin, a veteran of the Great Patriotic War (World War II) helped defend the city of Leningrad.
His mother, Maria Ivanovna Putina, is from the Tver region, but spent the entire siege of Leningrad in the city.

In 1975 Putin graduated from the Faculty of Law of Leningrad State University, and was sent to work for the state security service. From 1985 to 1990 he served in the German Democratic Republic.
On 20 August 1991 he resigned from the state security service.

From 1990 he worked as assistant to the rector of Leningrad State University, responsible for international affairs, and later he was adviser to the chairman of the Leningrad Soviet (the city government).

On 12 June 1991 he became chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the mayor's office in St Petersburg. He was responsible for attracting investments in the city's economy, setting up joint ventures and cooperation with foreign partners.

From 1994-96 he was first deputy president of the government of St Petersburg, and chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee for the city mayor's office. He headed the city commission for operational issues and oversaw the work of security bodies, cooperation with the St Petersburg Legislative Chamber and the Public Relations Office.

In August 1996 he was transferred to Moscow to work as deputy chief of staff for the president of the Russian Federation.

From March 1997 he served as deputy chief of staff for the president of the Russian Federation, heading the Main Control Department.

In May 1998 he became the Russian Federation president's first deputy chief of staff in charge of regional affairs.

In July 1998 he was appointed director of the Federal Security Service (FSB) and in May 1999 secretary of the Russian Federation's Security Council.

He was appointed prime minister of the Russian Federation in August 1999.

On 31 December 1999 he became acting president of the Russian Federation.

On 26 March 2000 he was elected president of the Russian Federation, taking up office on 7 May 2000.

Vladimir Putin has a master's degree in economics.

He has an active command of German, and can also converse in English.

Since he was 11 he has been trained in sambo, the Russian version of judo, and in judo. He was several times sambo champion of St Petersburg. In 1973 he gained the title Master of Sports in sambo, and in 1975 in judo.

He is married, to Lyudmila Aleksandrovna Putina.

They have two daughters, Maria (1985) and Katerina (1986).