Russian President Vladimir Putin’s grandson has been registered using his mother’s surname, according to a report by the news outlet Agentsvo. The child, named Adrian, is the son of Putin’s daughter, Katerina Tikhonova, and ballet dancer Igor Zelensky. While born on August 15, 2025, the child’s birth was only officially registered 11 months later.
Official records list the boy as Adrian Tikhonov, utilizing the masculine form of his mother’s family name. The decision has drawn public attention due to the father's surname, which is identical to that of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Despite the shared name, the report clarified that Igor Zelensky has no family connection to the Ukrainian leader.
Russian law requires that births be registered within one month of a child's arrival, making Adrian’s delayed registration significantly outside the standard timeframe. The report noted that the delay and the choice of surname may be linked to efforts by the president’s family to maintain privacy or potential complications arising from the parents using different surnames.
The couple also has an older daughter, eight-year-old Elsa. At her birth, she was registered with the feminine form of her father’s surname, Zelenskaya, though she is now believed to use the surname Tikhonova.
Key facts
- Adrian was born on August 15, 2025, to Katerina Tikhonova and Igor Zelensky.
- The child’s birth registration occurred 11 months after his birth date.
- Igor Zelensky is a 57-year-old ballet dancer and former artistic director of the Bavarian State Ballet.
- Katerina Tikhonova, 40, is a technology executive involved in artificial intelligence projects.
- Russian law mandates birth registration within one month of delivery.
Background
Vladimir Putin’s family details have largely remained shielded from public view. According to the report, all five of the president's children utilize names other than his own. Other reported grandchildren include those of his daughter Maria Vorontsova, while his sons with partner Alina Kabaeva, Ivan and Vladimir, reportedly use the surname Spiridonov, derived from Putin’s paternal grandfather.
Source: Times of India
Comments