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Russia accuses Italy of discrimination after it cancels pro-Putin conductor Gergiev concert
Russia accuses Italy of discrimination after it cancels pro-Putin conductor Gergiev concert

Straits Times

timea day ago

  • Politics
  • Straits Times

Russia accuses Italy of discrimination after it cancels pro-Putin conductor Gergiev concert

MOSCOW - Russia's Foreign Ministry on Wednesday accused Italy of discrimination and said it had caved into anti-Russian lobbying after a planned classical music concert by high-profile Russian conductor Valery Gergiev was cancelled. Gergiev, who heads Moscow's Bolshoi Theatre and St Petersburg's Mariinsky Theatre, had been expected to lead an Italian orchestra and soloists from the Mariinsky at a concert near Naples on July 27. But some Italian politicians and Ukrainian and Russian anti-Kremlin activists, including the wife of late Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny, objected to the concert because of Gergiev's open support for President Vladimir Putin and what they said was his refusal to condemn Russia's war in Ukraine. The Reggia di Caserta, the grand 18th-century palace which had been due to host the concert, said in a short statement on Monday that the event had been called off. It gave no reason. Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for Russia's Foreign Ministry, said in a statement on Wednesday that the museum complex was under the jurisdiction of the central Italian authorities and that she was sorry Italian audiences would be deprived of the opportunity "to experience great Russian music performed by a renowned Russian conductor". "We strongly condemn such discriminatory attempts at 'cancel culture', carried out by the Italian authorities," she said, accusing Rome of giving in to pressure from Ukrainian nationalists. REUTERS

Four Moscow airports shut as Ukraine blasts capital with massive drone blitz for fourth night as explosions rock city
Four Moscow airports shut as Ukraine blasts capital with massive drone blitz for fourth night as explosions rock city

The Irish Sun

time4 days ago

  • Politics
  • The Irish Sun

Four Moscow airports shut as Ukraine blasts capital with massive drone blitz for fourth night as explosions rock city

UKRAINE unleashed chaos at Moscow's four airports with a fourth successive drone blitz rocking the city. Hundreds of passenger planes had to be diverted as waves of flying bombs converged on the Russian capital. Advertisement 8 The moment of a Ukrainian strike on the Russian-occupied Donetsk region on Saturday Credit: East2West 8 Ukrainian drone attack disrupted four Moscow airports Credit: East2West 8 Stranded passengers at Sheremetyevo airport, Moscow Credit: East2West 8 Footage captured the moment a Ukrainian drone was downed in Zelenograd, Moscow region Credit: East2West Footage showed explosions as Russian air defences attacked incoming unmanned planes in Zelenograd, a district 23 miles northwest of the Kremlin. Ukraine has stepped up assaults since Donald Trump reportedly told Ukrainian president Volodymr Zelensky it was Russia's defence ministry claimed to have downed 93 Ukrainian drones overnight across nine regions - 19 of them over the Moscow area alone. Authorities were forced to twice close airspace over Moscow, hitting airports Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Vnukovo and Zhukovsky. Advertisement Read more on Ukraine war A total of 134 planes were diverted, as confusion and frustration gripped passengers caught up in the escalating fallout of the war. State airline Aeroflot was forced to adjust its schedule, while regional airports in Kaluga, Yaroslavl and Nizhny Novgorod were also thrown into disarray. Frustrated passengers - including tourists on summer vacations - were hit by delays, diverted flights and numerous cancellations in an apparent new tactic by Ukraine to paralyse air travel in Vladimir Putin's capital. Passengers — many travelling for summer vacations — were left bedding down on the airport floor. Advertisement Most read in The US Sun Exclusive 'The restrictions are necessary for ensuring the safety of civil aircraft flights,' announced Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency. In Zelenograd, a district on the northwestern edge of Moscow, explosions were heard as air defences intercepted drones. 'Really p****d' Trump gives Putin 50-day ultimatum as he unveils major plan Debris sparked fires that damaged buildings and set vehicles alight, according to local reports. In nearby Golube, residents described powerful blasts that shattered windows and shook homes, Advertisement While Russian officials claimed success in intercepting the majority of drones, the repeated closures of Moscow's airspace suggest Ukraine is successfully placing pressure on the capital - targeting not just military assets but the daily functioning of civilian infrastructure. In a separate blow, anti-Kremlin partisan group Atesh claimed responsibility for sabotage on a key rail line in Tula region. They set fire to a relay cabinet, causing what the group described as 'serious disruptions in railway communication'. Atesh said the attack had critically crippled the movement of weapons and military gear from key defence factories. Advertisement It was a hammer blow to Putin's logistics — and a taste of the chaos Ukraine and its allies are now willing to unleash. Elsewhere, drone strikes were reported on Russian-occupied Donetsk, with footage showing what appeared to be an attack near a regional trauma hospital. In Ukrainian-held Sloviansk, one person was killed in a Russian drone strike. The Kremlin continued its own strikes in response, targeting the Sumy region in Ukraine's northeast after scoffing at Advertisement A 78-year-old woman was killed in Shostka, close to the Russian border, while in the Zaporizhzhia region a 69-year-old woman was wounded in another attack. Putin's war machine, ever indiscriminate, continues its campaign of terror against civilians. 8 The aftermath of a Ukrainian strike on the Russian-occupied Donetsk region on July 19 Credit: East2West 8 Explosion of a Geran-2 drone next to a Yak-52 aircraft that was acting as an interceptor Credit: East2West Advertisement 8 Shostka in Sumy region, Ukraine, was attacked with drones and aerial bombs on Saturday Credit: East2West The Russian Defence Ministry, desperate to project strength, released footage of a MiG-31K jet launching a hypersonic Kinzhal missile, a menacing display as the Kremlin signals no intent to back down. And in a chilling twist, a Russian Shahed drone exploded dangerously close to a Yak-52 aircraft used as an interceptor. Despite Moscow's bluster, president Zelensky continues to push for peace - on Ukraine's terms. Advertisement 'The pace of negotiations must be increased. Everything must be done to achieve a ceasefire,' he said. 'And the Russian side must stop hiding from decisions. 'Prisoner exchanges. Return of children. End to the killings. 'And a meeting at the level of leaders is needed to truly ensure peace – a really lasting one. Ukraine is ready for such a meeting.' Advertisement But Kremlin is showing no signs of backing down. According to German General Christian Fröding, Russia is now preparing to swarm 2,000 drones at Ukraine, launching them simultaneously to try to overwhelm its defences. He warned of growing Chinese support behind the scenes. 'The current situation is such that China is effectively exporting exclusively to Russia, while Ukraine is excluded from this market,' Fröding said. Advertisement And while Kyiv has not officially commented on its role in the latest strikes, officials have repeatedly insisted that 'Ukraine consistently adheres to international humanitarian law and targets only legitimate military objectives.' According to Ukraine's military: 'All actions by the Armed Forces of Ukraine are conducted in accordance with the Geneva Conventions, with a clear distinction made between civilian and military targets.' 8 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a press conference as part of the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025 in Rome, Italy Credit: Getty

Four Moscow airports shut as Ukraine blasts capital with massive drone blitz for fourth night as explosions rock city
Four Moscow airports shut as Ukraine blasts capital with massive drone blitz for fourth night as explosions rock city

Scottish Sun

time4 days ago

  • Politics
  • Scottish Sun

Four Moscow airports shut as Ukraine blasts capital with massive drone blitz for fourth night as explosions rock city

Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) UKRAINE unleashed chaos at Moscow's four airports with a fourth successive drone blitz rocking the city. Hundreds of passenger planes had to be diverted as waves of flying bombs converged on the Russian capital. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 8 The moment of a Ukrainian strike on the Russian-occupied Donetsk region on Saturday Credit: East2West 8 Ukrainian drone attack disrupted four Moscow airports Credit: East2West 8 Stranded passengers at Sheremetyevo airport, Moscow Credit: East2West 8 Footage captured the moment a Ukrainian drone was downed in Zelenograd, Moscow region Credit: East2West Footage showed explosions as Russian air defences attacked incoming unmanned planes in Zelenograd, a district 23 miles northwest of the Kremlin. Ukraine has stepped up assaults since Donald Trump reportedly told Ukrainian president Volodymr Zelensky it was time to make Russians feel 'the pain' of war. Russia's defence ministry claimed to have downed 93 Ukrainian drones overnight across nine regions - 19 of them over the Moscow area alone. Authorities were forced to twice close airspace over Moscow, hitting airports Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Vnukovo and Zhukovsky. A total of 134 planes were diverted, as confusion and frustration gripped passengers caught up in the escalating fallout of the war. State airline Aeroflot was forced to adjust its schedule, while regional airports in Kaluga, Yaroslavl and Nizhny Novgorod were also thrown into disarray. Frustrated passengers - including tourists on summer vacations - were hit by delays, diverted flights and numerous cancellations in an apparent new tactic by Ukraine to paralyse air travel in Vladimir Putin's capital. Passengers — many travelling for summer vacations — were left bedding down on the airport floor. 'The restrictions are necessary for ensuring the safety of civil aircraft flights,' announced Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency. In Zelenograd, a district on the northwestern edge of Moscow, explosions were heard as air defences intercepted drones. 'Really p****d' Trump gives Putin 50-day ultimatum as he unveils major plan Debris sparked fires that damaged buildings and set vehicles alight, according to local reports. In nearby Golube, residents described powerful blasts that shattered windows and shook homes, The Kyiv Post reported. While Russian officials claimed success in intercepting the majority of drones, the repeated closures of Moscow's airspace suggest Ukraine is successfully placing pressure on the capital - targeting not just military assets but the daily functioning of civilian infrastructure. In a separate blow, anti-Kremlin partisan group Atesh claimed responsibility for sabotage on a key rail line in Tula region. They set fire to a relay cabinet, causing what the group described as 'serious disruptions in railway communication'. Atesh said the attack had critically crippled the movement of weapons and military gear from key defence factories. It was a hammer blow to Putin's logistics — and a taste of the chaos Ukraine and its allies are now willing to unleash. Elsewhere, drone strikes were reported on Russian-occupied Donetsk, with footage showing what appeared to be an attack near a regional trauma hospital. In Ukrainian-held Sloviansk, one person was killed in a Russian drone strike. The Kremlin continued its own strikes in response, targeting the Sumy region in Ukraine's northeast after scoffing at Trump's 50-day peace ultimatum. A 78-year-old woman was killed in Shostka, close to the Russian border, while in the Zaporizhzhia region a 69-year-old woman was wounded in another attack. Putin's war machine, ever indiscriminate, continues its campaign of terror against civilians. 8 The aftermath of a Ukrainian strike on the Russian-occupied Donetsk region on July 19 Credit: East2West 8 Explosion of a Geran-2 drone next to a Yak-52 aircraft that was acting as an interceptor Credit: East2West 8 Shostka in Sumy region, Ukraine, was attacked with drones and aerial bombs on Saturday Credit: East2West The Russian Defence Ministry, desperate to project strength, released footage of a MiG-31K jet launching a hypersonic Kinzhal missile, a menacing display as the Kremlin signals no intent to back down. And in a chilling twist, a Russian Shahed drone exploded dangerously close to a Yak-52 aircraft used as an interceptor. Despite Moscow's bluster, president Zelensky continues to push for peace - on Ukraine's terms. 'The pace of negotiations must be increased. Everything must be done to achieve a ceasefire,' he said. 'And the Russian side must stop hiding from decisions. 'Prisoner exchanges. Return of children. End to the killings. 'And a meeting at the level of leaders is needed to truly ensure peace – a really lasting one. Ukraine is ready for such a meeting.' But Kremlin is showing no signs of backing down. According to German General Christian Fröding, Russia is now preparing to swarm 2,000 drones at Ukraine, launching them simultaneously to try to overwhelm its defences. He warned of growing Chinese support behind the scenes. 'The current situation is such that China is effectively exporting exclusively to Russia, while Ukraine is excluded from this market,' Fröding said. And while Kyiv has not officially commented on its role in the latest strikes, officials have repeatedly insisted that 'Ukraine consistently adheres to international humanitarian law and targets only legitimate military objectives.' According to Ukraine's military: 'All actions by the Armed Forces of Ukraine are conducted in accordance with the Geneva Conventions, with a clear distinction made between civilian and military targets.'

New pics show Putin's ‘secret son' Ivan, 10, looking identical to despot as he follows in glam gymnast mum's footsteps
New pics show Putin's ‘secret son' Ivan, 10, looking identical to despot as he follows in glam gymnast mum's footsteps

Scottish Sun

time15-07-2025

  • Politics
  • Scottish Sun

New pics show Putin's ‘secret son' Ivan, 10, looking identical to despot as he follows in glam gymnast mum's footsteps

NEW pictures show Vladimir Putin's "secret son" Ivan looking identical to his tyrant dad as he follows in his gymnast mum's footsteps. The young boy, now 10, was born to the Russian dictator's hidden glam lover Alina Kabaeva, 42, an Olympic gold medal-winning rhythmic gymnast. 11 Ivan Putin, the reported secret son of Russian president Vladimir Putin and his gymnast mother Alina Kabaeva Credit: East2West 11 Ivan Putin, front row and centre, the reported secret son of Russian president Vladimir Putin Credit: East2West 11 Ivan Putin, fourth from the left, resembles his tyrant dad Credit: East2West 11 His mum is a rhythmic gymnast Credit: East2West 11 New images appear to show Putin's son at a training session in June 2025 in Valdai, where the tyrant has his favourite palace. And pictures of Ivan in a public gymnastics performance have been revealed by anti-Kremlin Telegram channel VChK-OGPU, which in April published the first photos of a child they called 'the loneliest boy in Russia'. The channel wrote: "Ivan is in a team of boy-gymnasts with a separate number within a group performance, and the cameraman's attention is focused on his team. "He took part in a large [performance] called 'Lezginka' at a festival organised by his mother." Unbelievable footage shows him performing as part of the team at the ALINA 2023 event. His mum Alina Kabaeva - a highly decorated rhythmic gymnast - runs an elite gymnastics academy and is behind training sessions in Valdai. The channel added: "From the numerous photos [...] of the sports team for which Ivan competes, you can see that one of its members is not an ordinary boy. 'During performances, training, and other events that take place indoors, there are eight people in the team. 'Alina Kabaeva is often present in the photo of the eight, she is behind one of the boys." The channel said Ivan doesn't appear to have taken part in 'mass events' since 2023, but he still features in his team's pictures. Putin defies Trump's ultimatum and BOMBARDS Ukraine - as Kremlin mouthpiece warns Russia will 'turn Kyiv into Hiroshima' Swiss-born Ivan - who resembles mad Vlad in his Soviet childhood - has a younger brother Vladimir junior, now five, who is yet to be pictured. Ivan, just like his mum, appears to be accomplished as a young gymnast, and competed in the same festival where fellow contestants were from countries like China, Cuba, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Belarus. A message posted by his club stated their gymnasts showed an 'excellent level of training and the ability to work in a team". It added: "Hours of training and rehearsals were not in vain! We are proud!!" Putin has never confirmed the young family he has with Kabaeva - who is three decades younger than him. However, in a random moment last year, he confessed to watching Russian fairytale movies with '[his] little ones'. Putin told reporters: 'Our historic fairytales and epic tales are being revived. 'I myself sometimes watch these with pleasure with my little ones.' 11 The children are thought to be from the tyrant's relationship with glamorous gymnast partner Alina Kabaeva (pictured) Credit: East2West 11 Ivan Putin, fourth the left, takes part in gymnastic competitions Credit: East2West 11 Swiss-born Ivan has a younger brother called Vladimir Credit: East2West 11 Ivan Putin, third from the left in the front row is pictured alongside his mother, gymnast Alina Kabaeva Credit: East2West 11 Russian president Vladimir Putin seen as primary school pupil, left, and in his early teenage years Credit: East2West A flicker of a smile appeared on the tyrant's face as he mentioned them. Despite Putin and the Kremlin vehemently denying a relationship between him and glamorous Kabaeva, independent Russian journalists have established they have two sons together. Until now, the children have never been seen and live out of sight behind his high-security palace walls. Putin also has another secret daughter Ekaterina Krivonogikh, 22 - aka Luiza Rozova - born to his former mistress, cleaner-turned-multimillionaire Svetlana Krivonogikh, 50. She holds shares in a top bank and owns a prominent St Petersburg strip club. Luiza is known to have lived in the West - in Paris - during the war in Ukraine. Putin is highly secretive about his private life. "I do not permit interference. It must be respected,' divorced Putin barked in one interview. He deplored "those who with their snotty noses and erotic fantasies prowl into others' lives'. Kabaeva in 2004 posed almost nude - except for furs - for Maxim magazine in Russia and was described as 'full of sex' by a photographer. Earlier - after being temporarily banned in a doping scandal in 2001 - she was photographed naked but for strategically-placed lilacs as part of a Russian project 'Twelve Months' by Ekaterina Rozhdestvenskaya. Later, she appeared on a Russian show called One Hundred Questions for Adults when she was questioned about her private life by an audience of children. In one clip, was asked by a young boy if she had met her 'ideal man' to which she replied giggling: 'I have.' She was then asked who the mystery man in her life was but would only reveal 'he's a very good man, a great man," adding: "I love him very much". Last year Dossier Centre investigative news outlet confirmed the longstanding speculation that Kabaeva had two sons with Putin. Astonishingly, the boys secretly have had British and New Zealand citizens as governesses, but now due to Putin's war, the Russian ruler recruits South African citizens to teach English to his heirs. The children live under the permanent guard of FSO [Federal Protective Service] officers. 'The brothers have little contact with their peers and see little of their parents, but they appreciate the rare moments they manage to spend with their father,' said Dossier Centre. They don't attend schools and are taught in Putin's palaces like the royal children of the last Russian tsar. Putin's secret lover PUTIN and his alleged gymnast lover were first linked 15 years ago after a report in a Moscow newspaper run by media tycoon and former KGB spy Alexander Lebedev. The despot was still married to his first wife at the time, Lyudmila Putina, whom he later divorced in 2014. Kabaeva, who is 31 years younger than Putin, shot to fame as "Russia's most flexible woman" and went on to become one of Russia's most decorated gymnasts in history. Around the time they first met, Alina was asked on a kids' TV show whether she had found her "ideal man". And without naming the Russian leader, Alina replied giggling: 'I have met him" and added that she was 'so happy'. 'A man, a very good man, a great man," she said, adding: 'I love him very much.' Russian state media bans any mention of links between the two and Putin is said to be ferociously private about their relationship. "I have a private life in which I do not permit interference. It must be respected,' he barked in one interview. He deplored "those who with their snotty noses and erotic fantasies prowl into others' lives' A Moscow source previously told The Sun: 'Putin is an intensely private man - he has been hiding his two adult daughters under fake IDs for years. "Even now, though he talks about them occasionally, he never names them. 'If Alina gave birth to his children, her hiding away might be one of the strongest hints pointing to this. "He is obsessive about the security of his family.' In 2016, Kabaeva appeared in public wearing a ring on her ring finger, which she seemed to attempt to hide from the cameras. She was wearing the ring again during a rare TV interview, where she failed to shed any new light on her alleged relationship with the Kremlin leader, whose name wasn't mentioned. In February 2017, Kabaeva made another public appearance, apparently showing off the ring at a gymnastics tournament in Moscow. Months later, she teased Russians yet again by showing off what appeared to be a wedding ring on an outing in Italy.

New pics show Putin's ‘secret son' Ivan, 10, looking identical to despot as he follows in glam gymnast mum's footsteps
New pics show Putin's ‘secret son' Ivan, 10, looking identical to despot as he follows in glam gymnast mum's footsteps

The Irish Sun

time15-07-2025

  • Politics
  • The Irish Sun

New pics show Putin's ‘secret son' Ivan, 10, looking identical to despot as he follows in glam gymnast mum's footsteps

NEW pictures show Vladimir Putin's "secret son" Ivan looking identical to his tyrant dad as he follows in his gymnast mum's footsteps. The Advertisement 11 Ivan Putin, the reported secret son of Russian president Vladimir Putin and his gymnast mother Alina Kabaeva Credit: East2West 11 Ivan Putin, front row and centre, the reported secret son of Russian president Vladimir Putin Credit: East2West 11 Ivan Putin, fourth from the left, resembles his tyrant dad Credit: East2West 11 His mum is a rhythmic gymnast Credit: East2West 11 New images appear to show And pictures of Ivan in a public gymnastics performance have been revealed by anti-Kremlin Telegram channel VChK-OGPU, which in April published the first photos of a child they called The channel wrote: "Ivan is in a team of boy-gymnasts with a separate number within a group performance, and the cameraman's attention is focused on his team. "He took part in a large [performance] called 'Lezginka' at a festival organised by his mother." Advertisement read more news Unbelievable footage shows him performing as part of the team at the ALINA 2023 event. His The channel added: "From the numerous photos [...] of the sports team for which Ivan competes, you can see that one of its members is not an ordinary boy. 'During performances, training, and other events that take place indoors, there are eight people in the team. Advertisement Most read in The US Sun 'Alina Kabaeva is often present in the photo of the eight, she is behind one of the boys." The channel said Ivan doesn't appear to have taken part in 'mass events' since 2023, but he still features in his team's pictures. Putin defies Trump's ultimatum and BOMBARDS Ukraine - as Kremlin mouthpiece warns Russia will 'turn Kyiv into Hiroshima' Swiss-born Ivan - who resembles mad Vlad in his Soviet childhood - has a younger brother Vladimir junior, now five, who is yet to be pictured. Ivan, just like his mum, appears to be accomplished as a young gymnast, and competed in the same festival where fellow contestants were from countries like China, Cuba, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Belarus. Advertisement A message posted by his club stated their gymnasts showed an 'excellent level of training and the ability to work in a team". It added: "Hours of training and rehearsals were not in vain! We are proud!!" Putin has never confirmed the young family he has with Kabaeva - who is three decades younger than him. However, in a random moment last year, he confessed to watching Russian fairytale movies with '[his] little ones'. Advertisement Putin told reporters: 'Our historic fairytales and epic tales are being revived. 'I myself sometimes watch these with pleasure with my little ones.' 11 The children are thought to be from the tyrant's relationship with glamorous gymnast partner Alina Kabaeva (pictured) Credit: East2West 11 Ivan Putin, fourth the left, takes part in gymnastic competitions Credit: East2West Advertisement 11 Swiss-born Ivan has a younger brother called Vladimir Credit: East2West 11 Ivan Putin, third from the left in the front row is pictured alongside his mother, gymnast Alina Kabaeva Credit: East2West 11 Russian president Vladimir Putin seen as primary school pupil, left, and in his early teenage years Credit: East2West A flicker of a smile appeared on the tyrant's face as he mentioned them. Advertisement Despite Putin and the Kremlin vehemently denying a relationship between him and glamorous Kabaeva, independent Russian journalists have established they have two sons together. Until now, the children have never been seen and live out of sight behind his high-security palace walls. Putin also has another secret daughter Ekaterina Krivonogikh, 22 - aka Luiza Rozova - born to his former mistress, cleaner-turned-multimillionaire Svetlana Krivonogikh, 50. She holds shares in a top bank and owns a prominent St Petersburg strip club. Advertisement Luiza is known to have lived in the West - in Paris - during the war in Ukraine. Putin is highly secretive about his private life. "I do not permit interference. It must be respected,' divorced Putin barked in one interview. He deplored "those who with their snotty noses and erotic fantasies prowl into others' lives'. Advertisement Kabaeva in 2004 posed almost nude - except for furs - for Maxim magazine in Russia and was described as 'full of sex' by a photographer. Earlier - after being temporarily banned in a doping scandal in 2001 - she was photographed naked but for strategically-placed lilacs as part of a Russian project 'Twelve Months' by Ekaterina Rozhdestvenskaya. Later, she appeared on a Russian show called One Hundred Questions for Adults when she was questioned about her private life by an audience of children. In one clip, was asked by a young boy if she had met her 'ideal man' to which she replied giggling: 'I have.' Advertisement She was then asked who the mystery man in her life was but would only reveal 'he's a very good man, a great man," adding: "I love him very much". Last year Dossier Centre investigative news outlet confirmed the longstanding speculation that Kabaeva had two sons with Putin. Astonishingly, the boys secretly have had British and New Zealand citizens as governesses, but now due to Putin's war, the Russian ruler recruits South African citizens to teach English to his heirs. The children live under the permanent guard of FSO [Federal Protective Service] officers. Advertisement 'The brothers have little contact with their peers and see little of their parents, but they appreciate the rare moments they manage to spend with their father,' said Dossier Centre. They don't attend schools and are taught in Putin's palaces like the royal children of the last Russian tsar. Putin's secret lover PUTIN and his alleged gymnast lover were first linked 15 years ago after a report in a Moscow newspaper run by media tycoon and former KGB spy Alexander Lebedev. The despot was still married to his first wife at the time, Lyudmila Putina, whom he later divorced in 2014. Kabaeva, who is 31 years younger than Putin, shot to fame as "Russia's most flexible woman" and went on to become one of Russia's most decorated gymnasts in history. Around the time they first met, Alina was asked on a kids' TV show whether And without naming the Russian leader, Alina replied giggling: 'I have met him" and added that she was 'so happy'. 'A man, a very good man, a great man," she said, adding: 'I love him very much.' Russian state media bans any mention of links between the two and Putin is said to be ferociously private about their relationship. "I have a private life in which I do not permit interference. It must be respected,' he barked in one interview. He deplored "those who with their snotty noses and erotic fantasies prowl into others' lives' A Moscow source previously told The Sun: 'Putin is an intensely private man - he has been "Even now, though he talks about them occasionally, he never names them. 'If Alina gave birth to his children, "He is obsessive about the security of his family.' In 2016, Kabaeva appeared in public She was In February 2017, Kabaeva made another public appearance, apparently Months later, she teased Russians yet again by showing off what appeared to be a 11 Vladimir Putin's Valdai residence where the children are said to be being raised Credit: East2West

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