From Leningrad to the Kremlin: The stories that shaped Vladimir Putin - BBC World Service

Key Concepts

• Trauma of Leningrad Siege: The formative impact of WWII’s siege on Putin’s worldview, emphasizing scarcity, loss, and vulnerability.
• Dvor Culture: The lessons learned from the shared courtyards of Soviet housing – the importance of not backing down.
• The “Rat” Anecdote: Putin’s interpretation of cornering an opponent leading to fierce resistance, informing his strategies of avoiding entrapment and not entrapping others.
• Dresden Experience: The pivotal moment witnessing the fall of East Germany and the perceived abandonment by Moscow, shaping his obsession with state strength and control.
• Sobchak’s Trust & Blank Papers: The significance of absolute trust and delegated authority in shaping Putin’s understanding of power as personal and indivisible.
• FSB & Rise to Power: Putin’s rapid ascent through the ranks of the intelligence services and his selection as Yeltsin’s successor.
• Cult of Personality: The deliberate crafting of a “macho strongman” image.

Early Life and Formation (Leningrad & KGB)

Vladimir Putin’s early life in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg) was profoundly shaped by the city’s experience during the 872-day Nazi siege in World War II. The siege resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands, including Putin’s older brother, and instilled in him a deep-seated awareness of scarcity, trauma, and the fear of vulnerability. He grew up in a cramped communal apartment lacking basic amenities, described as a “rough, hardscrabble existence.” This environment fostered a resilient, even combative, personality – he was known as a “scrapper” as a child.

The “Dvor” – the shared courtyard between apartment blocks – played a crucial role in his upbringing, teaching him the principle of never backing down, even when physically disadvantaged. This led him to pursue wrestling and judo, eventually achieving a black belt. A recurring anecdote from his childhood involves chasing a rat into a dead end. When the rat turned to fight, Putin fled, drawing the lesson that “if you corner a rat and you leave it no way out, they will fight with unexpected ferocity.” He explicitly states this experience informed his belief in avoiding both being cornered and cornering others.

Driven by a desire to join the KGB, Putin initially approached the agency as a teenager but was advised to pursue a law degree first. He joined the KGB in 1975, motivated less by ideology and more by perceiving it as “the biggest gang in town.” His fluency in German led to a posting in Dresden, East Germany, in 1985.

The Dresden Turning Point

Putin’s time in Dresden proved pivotal. In late 1989, as mass protests erupted across East Germany leading to the fall of the Berlin Wall, he witnessed the storming of the Stasi headquarters. The crowd then turned towards the KGB compound, identifying the Soviets as oppressors. Putin confronted the crowd, warning them that armed soldiers were inside and would be forced to fire if attacked, successfully de-escalating the situation.

However, when he requested backup from Moscow, he received no response. This perceived abandonment, occurring even before the official collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, deeply affected Putin. He felt the Soviet Union ended that day, instilling in him a lasting obsession with state strength, civil control, and preventing disorder. This experience is considered a foundational moment in shaping his political worldview.

Rise Through the Ranks & The Sobchak Connection

Following Dresden, Putin returned to Leningrad and briefly considered an academic career while completing a PhD in mining economics. However, a crucial opportunity arose when his former law professor, Anatoly Sobchak, became the mayor of Leningrad and offered him a position. Putin’s role within Sobchak’s administration was described as being a “bagman” – someone who could “get things done unobtrusively.”

Sobchak’s extraordinary trust in Putin is highlighted by the anecdote of him providing a stack of blank, signed papers, authorizing Putin to act in the mayor’s name. This experience solidified Putin’s view of power as something personal, loyal, and indivisible. He remained closely connected to many individuals he met during this period, and they continue to surround him today.

Ascent to the Presidency & Image Crafting

After Sobchak lost an election, Putin moved to Moscow, joining Boris Yeltsin’s administration in the late 1990s. He rapidly ascended through the ranks, becoming the head of the FSB (Federal Security Service) in 1998 and Prime Minister in 1999. Yeltsin’s inner circle sought a controllable and efficient successor, and Putin fit the bill.

Initially, Putin was largely unknown to the Russian public, presenting him with a “blank slate” upon which to build his image. He deliberately cultivated the persona of a “macho, hypermasculine strongman,” a carefully crafted image that resonated with a population seeking stability after the chaotic 1990s. He has since maintained control of the country for over 25 years, becoming increasingly authoritarian.

Conclusion

Putin’s pre-Kremlin years, while not entirely deterministic, provide significant insight into his operating instincts. His childhood trauma, KGB training, the events in Dresden, and the lessons learned from Sobchak – particularly the importance of loyalty and centralized control – have profoundly shaped his mindset and political choices. These formative experiences instilled deep-seated beliefs about vulnerability, the dangers of state collapse, and the necessity of maintaining strong state power. While external factors like wars, economic crises, and clashes with the West have also influenced his trajectory, understanding these early influences is crucial to comprehending Putin’s leadership and his approach to both domestic and international affairs.