Kathrine Frich
For years she stood beside one of the world’s most powerful men.
After the marriage ended, she quietly stepped out of the spotlight.
More than a decade on, her life has taken a very different shape.
Lyudmila Putina marked her 68th birthday on January 6, 2026. Since divorcing Vladimir Putin, she has remarried and settled into a new routine, largely away from public view.
A public split
Lyudmila Putina and Vladimir Putin were married for more than 30 years before announcing their divorce in 2013.
According to reports from the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), the separation was revealed during a carefully managed media appearance.
Journalists questioned the couple after they attended the ballet La Esmeralda together. Putin said at the time that the decision was mutual.
“I agree with Vladimir Vladimirovich’s words; it was truly our mutual decision. Our marriage has ended. This is due to the fact that we practically don’t see each other,” Lyudmila said.
Love after divorce
Three years later, Lyudmila remarried. In 2016, she wed Artur Oczeretny, a man 18 years her junior.
According to media reports, the couple live in a villa in France built in 1927.
They have kept their relationship largely private, avoiding public appearances and interviews.
Oczeretny, who promotes an active lifestyle and competes in endurance sports such as ultramarathons and triathlons, rarely uses social media.
He has never spoken publicly about his wife’s former marriage to the Russian president.
A low-profile life
Oczeretny comes from Lyubertsy in the Moscow region and was involved in business from an early age. Reports suggest he achieved financial success before his marriage.
The couple’s life together has unfolded quietly, far from the political stage that once defined Lyudmila Putina’s public role.
Despite her past prominence, she has avoided public commentary on Russian politics or her former husband.
Financial security
Lyudmila Putina’s standard of living did not decline after the divorce. According to the Anti-Corruption Foundation, Vladimir Putin ensured his ex-wife retained significant financial security.
Investigations have reported that Lyudmila and her husband invest in real estate across Western Europe. One notable asset is the Volkonsky House in central Moscow.
Once a protected historic monument, the building now operates as a modern office complex. Reports say it generates substantial rental income, contributing to Lyudmila Putina’s continued wealth.
Sources: Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), WP.
