INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Little is known publicly about Russian President Vladimir Putin's daughters, sanctioned on Wednesday by the U.S
government over Moscow's "atrocities in Ukraine."The U.S
Treasury identified the daughters as Katerina Tikhonova, "a tech executive whose work supports ..
the Russian defense industry" and Maria Vorontsova, who leads state-funded genetics research programs "personally overseen by Putin."A
official said Washington believes "Putin's assets are hidden with family members."According to Putin's official biography on the Kremlin's
Katerina was born the next year in Dresden
The only known photo of the women shows them as little girls, with bows in blond braids.In rare remarks over the years, Putin has disclosed
that his daughters received their university education in Russia, speak several European languages and live in Russia
sight.According to Russian media reports, Vorontsova is an endocrinologist who is involved in a large medical research company focused on
cancer treatment with ties to the government.Russian media have identified Tikhonova as a mathematician who heads a science and technology
foundation affiliated with Russia's leading state university.Tikhonova is also a professional acrobatic rock and roll dancer, who has taken
fitted costumes stepping onto her partner's hands and being catapulted into the air for flips and somersaults.During a press conference in
2019, Putin declined to directly answer a question about his daughters' growing business clout and their ties to the government, never
actually acknowledging that Vorontsova and Tikhonova were his children and referring to them as simply "women.""I am proud of them
They continue to study and they work," Putin said during another press conference several years earlier."They are not involved in any
business activity and they are not involved in politics
They are not trying to push their way anywhere," he added.In an interview in 2020, Putin said he doesn't want to share any information about
his family because of "security concerns."He did disclose that he has grandchildren, but wouldn't say how many."I have grandkids, I am happy
They are very good, so sweet
I really enjoy spending time with them."
