Putin's grandson 'is barred from using his father's surname - because it is Zelensky'

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The boy, Adrian, was born on August 15, 2025 but his existence has only now become known, according to a new investigation.

Published: 14:45 GMT, 13 November 2026 | Updated: 16:36 GMT, 13 November 2026

Vladimir Putin's new grandson has been given his mother's surname to avoid him using his father's family name Zelensky, it has been claimed.

The boy, Adrian, was born on August 15, 2025, but his existence has only now become known.

He is the son of Putin's second daughter Katerina Tikhonova, 40, a former rock'n'roll dancer who is now a multimillionaire tech executive in charge of key Russian AI developments with a role in sanctions-busting.

The one-year-old's father is ballet dancer and artistic director, Igor Zelensky, 57, previously head of the Bavarian State Ballet, who shares a a surname with a certain Ukrainian leader – although they are not related.

Use of the name Zelensky by his fourth known grandchild appears too difficult for dictator Putin who has been at war with Ukraine for almost five years.

It took 11 months after Adrian's birth for him to be registered. Then his surname was shown as Tikhonov, the male version of the family name used by Katerina, according to independent news outlet Agentsvo, which disclosed the existence of Putin's latest grandchild.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin pictured chairing a meeting on November 12

The couple's firstborn Elsa, now eight, was at birth given the female version of her father's name – Zelenskaya – but is now believed to use Ms Tikhonova.

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