The life of Spiridon Putin remained quite secretive until Putin spoke about it in the 2018 documentary 'Putin'. Authored by: Samannay BiswasUpdated Jan 20, 2026, 14:31 ISTShareAmong the complex patterns that comprise Russian history, there are very few lives that encompass both the era preceding the revolution and the height of Soviet power as intriguing as that of Spiridon Ivanovich Putin. Born on December 19, 1879, and living for exactly 86 years, until December 19, 1965, Spiridon was a Russian chef who was able to find himself in the company of some very influential men in the 20th century. As the grandfather of Russia’s leader Vladimir Putin on his father’s side, his story presents a very important insight into the living reality behind the monumental narrative of revolution and dictatorship. Spiridon’s life journey from modest origins in the province of Tver to catering meals for such important personalities as Grigori Rasputin, Vladimir Lenin, and Joseph Stalin testifies about the unpredictable course people’s life trajectories can take within their historical environment. This piece examines his biography in great detail using verified documentation and stories passed down by his family about how a common cook became involved in a network of individuals credited as building modern Russia. Early Life and Culinary BeginningsSpiridon Putin was born in Tver Province in a poor family that existed in the last days of Tsarist Russia.
