WARSAW, March 1,  (V7N) – Vladimir Putin’s four-year invasion of Ukraine caps a quarter century of consolidating power, crushing rivals and seeking to expand Russia’s influence and borders.  

The war, which has killed hundreds of thousands and devastated both countries, is set to be the defining element of the 73-year-old Kremlin leader’s legacy. Putin hopes victory will place him alongside historic figures such as Peter the Great.  

“Russia is fighting for its future, for independence, for truth and justice,” he said at a Kremlin ceremony in February. Western governments and Kyiv dismiss the claim as an imperial land grab.  

Putin’s uncompromising approach echoes his rule since 1999, from the brutal Chechnya conflict to the silencing of oligarchs and opponents. The deaths of figures including Boris Nemtsov, Alexander Litvinenko and Alexei Navalny have drawn international condemnation, though the Kremlin denies involvement.  

The 2014 annexation of Crimea marked a turning point, with sanctions and Russia’s expulsion from the G8. Any remaining goodwill collapsed with the full-scale invasion launched on February 24, 2022.  

“This is going to end up being the defining element of his presidency,” historian Mark Galeotti told AFP. Putin portrays the war as part of a civilisational struggle against “Western globalist elites.”  

Born in Leningrad, trained as a lawyer and KGB officer, Putin rose through the ranks after the Soviet collapse. His private life remains off-limits in Russia, though he is widely reported to be in a relationship with former Olympic gymnast Alina Kabaeva.  

Asked during his annual phone-in show in December 2025 if he was “in love,” Putin replied simply: “Yes.”  

END/WD/RH