Investigation identifies previously unknown granddaughter of Vladimir Putin

A recent investigation by the Russian media outlet Proekt, supported by data from the Federal Border Service, has identified an eight-year-old girl named Elsa Igorevna Tikhonova as a previously unknown granddaughter of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The girl is reported to be the daughter of Katerina Tikhonova, the president's younger daughter, and Igor Zelensky, a former artistic director of the Bavarian State Ballet. Born in December 2017, Elsa is documented in travel records under her mother's surname, Tikhonova, while her patronymic, Igorevna, aligns with Igor Zelensky's identity.

Investigations into leaked travel documents show that the child accompanied her parents on international trips, including a documented visit to Munich on November 11, 2019. While Katerina Tikhonova has long been identified by international media and Western governments as the daughter of Vladimir Putin, the Russian president has never publicly confirmed this relationship. Furthermore, the report notes that there is no public confirmation of a marriage between Tikhonova and Zelensky, and it remains unclear why the child does not carry the Zelensky surname.