Leaked Border Data Reveals Name of Putin’s Granddaughter, Elza Tikhonova

Key points

• Proekt journalists identified the child’s name as Elza Igorevna Tikhonova using a leaked database from Russia’s Federal Border Service.
• The girl, born in December 2017, is the daughter of Katerina Tikhonova (Putin’s younger daughter) and Igor Zelensky, a ballet dancer and former artistic director of the Bavarian State Ballet.
• Records show the family traveled to Munich in November 2019 on a private jet operated by Air Hamburg (now VistaJet) and to Croatia in 2021 on a Bombardier Global 5000.
• The Munich trip included a large entourage of at least four nannies, two language teachers, and security personnel, while the Croatia trip included four FST employees and close associate Kirill Dmitriev.
• The child carries her mother’s assumed surname, Tikhonova, rather than her father’s surname, Zelenskaya, but retains her father’s patronymic, Igorevna.
• Proekt plans to publish a broader investigation titled 'Travel Companions' detailing how Russian elites and officials travel abroad.

Background

This revelation follows a 2022 joint investigation by Important Stories and Der Spiegel, which confirmed the existence of a child born in 2017 to Katerina Tikhonova and Igor Zelensky but withheld the child’s name for ethical reasons. That earlier report noted Tikhonova traveled to Munich over 50 times between 2017 and 2019 while her husband worked in Germany. Putin has long kept his family members hidden, using assumed surnames for his daughters Maria Vorontsova and Katerina Tikhonova, as well as his sons Ivan and Vladimir Spiridonov. The current leak adds to a pattern of secrecy surrounding the Russian president’s personal life, which the Kremlin consistently refuses to address in public.

How outlets are covering it

Proekt, the primary source of the new findings, emphasized the identification of the child’s name and the scale of the entourage accompanying her, highlighting the luxury and security measures used by the Russian elite. UA.NEWS focused on the specific individuals in the entourage, naming nannies, teachers, and security officials, and noted the involvement of Kirill Dmitriev and his wife on the Croatia trip. Kyiv Post contextualized the finding within the broader history of investigations into Putin’s family, noting that the 2022 Der Spiegel investigation had already confirmed the child’s existence but withheld her name. TodayPress.tv provided a general overview, reiterating the use of the mother’s surname and the pattern of secrecy. All outlets agreed on the core facts but differed in emphasis: Proekt and UA.NEWS focused on the logistics of travel and the entourage, while Kyiv Post and TodayPress.tv focused on the naming convention and the historical context of the family’s secrecy.

Why it matters

The identification of Putin’s granddaughter and the details of her travel underscore the extent to which the Russian president and his family operate outside public scrutiny. The use of private jets, large entourages, and assumed surnames highlights the privileges and security measures afforded to the Russian elite. This information also provides further evidence of the close ties between Putin’s family and other high-ranking officials, such as Kirill Dmitriev. The leak of border service data raises questions about the security and integrity of Russian government databases and the potential for further revelations about the personal lives of top officials.

What to watch

Proekt has announced it will publish a comprehensive investigation titled 'Travel Companions' in the coming week, which is expected to detail the travel patterns of other Russian officials and elites. The leaked database may lead to further scrutiny of the security and privacy measures used by the Russian government. International media may continue to investigate the family’s movements and connections, potentially leading to more sanctions or diplomatic pressure on Russia. The Kremlin is likely to remain silent on the matter, as it has done in previous cases involving the president’s family.