Putin’s rock ‘n roll dancer daughter is given major new role helping Russia dodge Western sanctions

• Katerina Tikhonova, 35, is new co-chairman of a group advising imports
• The leader’s daughter has long been tipped for a major role due to Putin’s health
• She will focus on reducing Russian reliance on Western products and expertise 

Vladimir Putin’s daughter has been parachuted in to help Russia dodge the impact of Western sanctions over her father’s war in Ukraine.

Katerina Tikhonova, 35, is the new co-chairman of a high-powered group supervising import substitution.

She has been long tipped for a major political role amid reports of Putin’s ailing health, and this could be the first sign of new prominence for the high-kicking ‘rock’n’roll’ dancer.

Vladimir Putin’s daughter Katerina Tikhonova (pictured) has been parachuted in to help Russia dodge the impact of Western sanctions over her father’s war in Ukraine

The 35-year-old dancer is the new co-chairman of a high-powered group supervising import substitution

She has been long tipped for a major political role amid reports of Vladimir Putin’s ailing health

Her appointment is with the powerful Kremlin-loyal Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP) which represents major state and private businesses.

Many have been badly hit by sanctions in response to the invasion of Ukraine.

The new role for Tikhonova comes as Putin has legalised sanctions-busting ‘parallel imports’ to secure a flow of restricted Western goods into Russia via third countries and unlicensed means.

The union avoided mentioning she is Putin’s daughter when announcing she will co-chair the Coordinating Council on Import Substitution and Technological Independence, which aims to speedily reduce Russian reliance on Western products and expertise, so mitigating the impact of sanctions.

She is currently director-general of the low-key National Intellectual Development Foundation.

Tikonova was revealed in May as having made regular trips to Munich to be with her new lover Igor Zelensky, 52 (right) 

Her appointment is with the powerful Kremlin-loyal Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP) and her co-chairman is Alexander Shokhin (pictured with Putin)

Tikhonova – who recently underwent expensive beauty treatments in Munich – is Putin’s second daughter by former first lady Lyudmila, his ex-wife.

Separately, there has been speculation she could be drafted into parliament and take a prominent role with the main pro-Putin political party, United Russia, amid fears that Putin’s health problems mean he cannot remain in power long term.

Tikonova was revealed in May as having made regular trips to Munich to be with her new lover Igor Zelensky, 52, who until recently headed the Bavarian State Ballet.

The Russian ballet icon was ousted after refusing to denounce Putin’s savage war in Ukraine.

Previously she was married to Russia’s youngest billionaire Kirill Shamalov, 40, whose father is a close Putin crony.

Previously she was married to Russia’s youngest billionaire Kirill Shamalov (pictured), 40, whose father is a close Putin crony

Born when her father was a KGB spy in Germany, Tikhonova has been deputy director of the Institute for Mathematical Research of Complex Systems at Moscow State University.

Earlier, before her identity as Putin’s daughter was known, she took part in international ‘rock’n’roll’ dancing contests.

Her elder sister is Dr Maria Vorontsova, a leading researcher at the National Medical Research Centre for Endocrinology of the Ministry of Health of Russia.

She has a half-sister Luiza Rozova, 19, daughter of Putin’s ex-lover, cleaner-turned-multimillionaire Svetlana Krivonogikh, 45.

Krivonogikh is now part-owner of a major Russian bank, one of the country’s wealthiest women with an estimated £74 million financial and property fortune.

Her elder sister is Dr Maria Vorontsova, a leading researcher at the National Medical Research Centre for Endocrinology (pictured dancing at a friend’s wedding in 2019)

She has a half-sister Luiza Rozova (pictured), 19, daughter of Putin’s ex-lover, cleaner-turned-multimillionaire Svetlana Krivonogikh, 45

Putin never identifies his daughters in public.

Speculation over a prominent future political role for Tikhonova – perhaps even leader of United Russia – has been highlighted by Telegram channel General SVR which claims Putin is suffering from serious illnesses including cancer, Parkinson’s disease and a schizoaffective disorder.

Tikhonova’s new council will coordinate work on import substitution, and seek to speed the replacement of sanctioned imported equipment with Russian-made equivalents, reported RBC.

She will spearhead digital services to support import substitution, and formulate proposals for state policy in this field.

Her co-chairman is ex-deputy prime minister Alexander Shokhin, who is president of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs.

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