Putins

Putins is a Russian surname. The most prominent bearer is Vladimir Putin (born 1952), who has played a central role in Russian and international politics for more than two decades. The surname’s feminine form is Putina. While Putin is by far the best known public figure with this name, the surname is shared by others in Russia and elsewhere, though they have not achieved comparable international recognition.

Vladimir Putin was born in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg) and pursued a career in the Soviet and Russian security services before entering national politics in the late 1990s. He rose to prominence as a political operator in Saint Petersburg and subsequently in Moscow, becoming acting president in 1999 and being elected to the presidency in 2000 and 2004. Due to constitutional limits, he served as prime minister from 2008 to 2012 and was elected president again in 2012, with subsequent re-elections in 2018 and, after constitutional changes, remaining in office beyond 2024. His leadership has been associated with centralization of political authority, state control of media and major industries, and a foreign policy posture that emphasizes national sovereignty and security concerns.

Key international actions during his tenure include the 2014 annexation of Crimea, military intervention in the Syrian Civil War, and a long-running tension with Western governments, culminating in broad sanctions and ongoing strategic competition. Domestically, his administration has faced criticism over democratic governance, human rights, and the handling of opposition movements, even as it maintains broad support among segments of the population.

Putins other than Vladimir are rarely in the public spotlight, and the name is primarily associated with Vladimir Putin in contemporary global discourse.