The sometimes shirtless, usually serious image of Russian President Vladimir Putin is a ubiquitous sight in international politics. As one of the most powerful men in the world, Putin has long tried to cultivate a public persona that projects strength, and the result has been an endless procession of photo ops that show the ex-KGB officer performing some kind of masculine feat while he holds a steely look.
Though it seems he's always had that glare, the photos below of Putin as a fresh-faced youth stand in stark juxtaposition to his current image. Of course, even the most notorious of public figures have to go through their formative years, but it's still a bit bizarre to see what Russia's leader looked like as a young troublemaker.
The WorldPost presents a brief glimpse into the childhood of Vladimir Putin:
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