Putin splashes £6,000 a month on British and German nannies for secret children | World | News
Vladimir Putin reportedly spent up to £6,000 a month on British and German nannies hired to help raise his alleged secret children. The Russian president is said to have employed a network of foreign governesses, tutors, and carers to look after two boys believed to be his sons with former Olympic gymnast Alina Kabaeva. This stands in stark contrast to his regular attacks on Western values and his portrayal of Russia as a nation under cultural assault from Europe and the United States.
Documents uncovered by investigative outlet Systema claim at least 20 foreign childcare workers have been recruited over the years to help educate and care for the children. Putin, 73, has officially been single since divorcing his wife Lyudmila in 2014. However, rumours linking him to Kabaeva have circulated for nearly two decades, while reports about their alleged children have only emerged in recent years.
According to Systema, the couple have two sons: Ivan, now believed to be 11, and a younger boy known as Vladimir Jr, aged six or seven. The children are said to spend much of their lives at a heavily guarded residence near Lake Valdai, northwest of Moscow.
The investigation found that the largest number of caregivers came from Germany, while others were recruited from Britain, Ireland, Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, New Zealand, and South Africa, reports The Times.
Monthly salaries reportedly started at around 167,000 roubles, equivalent to about £1,700, but documents showed some employees earned as much as £6,000 a month through bonuses and additional payments.
One handwritten note concerning a governess identified only as Kate reportedly stated: “The real contract is worth £1,500 a week plus accommodation.”
The figures underline the extraordinary demand for native English-speaking childcare staff among Russia‘s wealthy elite. For decades, oligarchs and billionaires have competed to hire British nannies and tutors in a bid to ensure their children speak fluent English and acquire polished Western manners.
Salaries for top positions have reportedly reached as much as £180,000 a year, with accommodation, food, travel, and healthcare often provided on top.
The staff employed by Putin’s family were reportedly hired partly to ensure the boys became fluent in foreign languages. Correspondence cited by Systema included instructions that Ivan’s English and German should match “the speech of an educated European”.
Despite employing Western carers, strict rules governed what they could discuss with the children.
Contracts reportedly warned employees against expressing political, religious, or ideological views and specifically prohibited discussions about LGBT issues or sex education without prior approval.
The restrictions reflect Putin’s own public stance. The Russian leader has repeatedly denounced what he describes as Western moral decline and has portrayed LGBT rights as evidence of cultural decay in Europe and North America.
Workers also faced unusually tight security restrictions. One British-Irish tutor was reportedly informed she could not visit public places during her free time. Instead, handlers told her to submit lists of items she needed so they could be purchased and disinfected before being delivered to her.
The documents also offer rare insights into the children’s daily lives. One report described Ivan becoming fascinated by tiger and lion cubs during a zoo visit and wanting to take them home. Another revealed he made a Christmas card for his parents in December 2018.
Putin has long maintained an extraordinary level of secrecy around his family. Even his two adult daughters from his marriage to Lyudmila—Maria Vorontsova and Katerina Tikhonova—were kept largely out of public view for years.
The Kremlin leader has rarely spoken about them publicly and has consistently avoided discussing reports about younger children.
Previous investigations have claimed the boys live largely isolated lives, interacting mainly with relatives, tutors, household staff, and security personnel. They are also said to have personal chefs, ponies, rabbits, and a St Bernard dog.
The secrecy surrounding Putin’s private life has fuelled intense speculation both inside and outside Russia. Alongside persistent rumours about Kabaeva and their alleged sons, there have also been years of conjecture about the Russian leader’s health.
Observers have repeatedly pointed to public appearances in which Putin appeared unsteady, gripped tables tightly, or showed signs of facial swelling. Unverified claims have circulated alleging he suffers from conditions ranging from cancer to Parkinson’s disease, although the Kremlin has consistently denied suggestions that he is seriously ill.
Since launching the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Putin has increasingly cast the West as a hostile force seeking to undermine Russia’s traditional values. Yet the latest revelations suggest that when it comes to educating his alleged children, Western expertise remains highly prized.
Systema said neither Putin nor Kabaeva were directly named in the contracts it reviewed.
However, investigators said: “Extensive evidence links the documents to the Russian president’s family and exhaustive efforts have been made to verify the material.”
The Kremlin has not commented on the allegations, which are likely to raise fresh questions about the private life of one of the world’s most secretive leaders.
