Putin's Secret Sons Revealed in New Book by Russian Journalist

In his new book, "The Tsar Himself. How Vladimir Putin Fooled Us All," acclaimed Russian investigative journalist Roman Badanin offers a deeply personal and revealing look into the Kremlin's inner workings and the enigmatic figure of Vladimir Putin. Badanin, who has spent 25 years cultivating a network of sources within Russian power circles, shares insights that challenge conventional Western narratives about the Russian president.

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There are still people who want to talk. For various reasons.

The book delves into previously undisclosed aspects of Putin's life, including intimate details and, most sensationally, exclusive photographs of his two young sons, Ivan and Vladimir Spiridonov, with his secret mistress Alina Kabaeva. These children reportedly live in a luxury palace outside Valdai, a revelation that adds a new layer to the public's understanding of Putin's private affairs. Badanin's meticulous research also touches upon Putin's past, from his fashion choices in the 1990s to his alleged clandestine meetings and his remarkable memory for people.

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Exclusive pictures. We have received them from a secure source.

Badanin, a prominent figure in independent Russian journalism, founded the investigative website Projekt, known for its exposés on entities like the Wagner Group. He expresses frustration with how Western media outlets, particularly the New York Times, have sometimes failed to credit Russian journalists for their groundbreaking work, citing an instance where a Pulitzer Prize-winning report mirrored Projekt's earlier findings without acknowledgment. This lack of recognition, he feels, is particularly disheartening given the risks faced by Russian reporters.

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It felt awkward that they refused to give exposed Russian journalists recognition in this way.

Furthermore, Badanin voices concern over the current trend of Western journalists reporting on internal Kremlin dynamics from afar. He criticizes reports of "wild internal conflicts" and predictions of Putin's imminent downfall as being detached from reality. He argues that such reporting, often based on the loose rumors fed by intelligence agencies, misrepresents the situation within Russia and fails to capture the nuances of Kremlin decision-making. Badanin's perspective underscores the importance of on-the-ground reporting and understanding the local context, which he believes is often missed by international coverage.

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Recently, there have been reports of wild internal conflicts in the Kremlin. 'Putin will be overthrown soon!' But this has nothing to do with reality.