'I'm Sorry': Putin's Alleged Daughter Breaks Silence
Russian President Vladimir Putin, 2024. Photo courtesy of the Press Service of the President of the Russian Federation under CC BY 4.0.
In the heart of Paris, a tense encounter unfolded that put a human face on the brutal conflict raging thousands of miles away. A young woman, widely believed to be Elizaveta Krivonogikh — rumored to be the secret daughter of Russian President Vladimir Putin — was reportedly confronted by a grieving Ukrainian journalist who accused her father of killing his brother in the ongoing war in Ukraine. The woman, who now goes by the names Luiza Rozova and Elizaveta Rudnova, expressed sorrow but insisted she held no responsibility for the actions of her alleged father.
A Confrontation Charged With Grief and Accusation
The confrontation reportedly took place on the streets of Paris, where Rozova has lived in self-imposed exile. Ukrainian journalist Dmytro Sviatnenko allegedly approached her with a calm but firm tone, telling her that "three weeks ago, your father killed my brother," referring to his sibling, Volodymyr, a drone pilot who died in a recent Russian airstrike, as reported by The Sun. Sviatnenko pressed Rozova on how she could live in Europe, a place Putin has portrayed as "hateful" and "cursed" through his propaganda, and whether she supported her father's policies.
Rozova, wearing a mask and accompanied by a bodyguard, allegedly responded with measured regret. She said she was "really sorry that this is happening" but emphasized that she was "not responsible for this situation," as reported by the New York Post. When asked to speak further or to call her father to urge him to stop the shelling of Kyiv, she reportedly declined, stating she had already spoken enough and did not consent to being filmed.
From Privilege to Exile
Elizaveta Krivonogikh's story is one of stark contrasts. Born into a life of luxury as the alleged love child of Putin and Svetlana Krivonogikh, a former cleaner turned multimillionaire, she once reportedly flaunted her privileged lifestyle on social media. Her mother's sudden rise to wealth included stakes in sanctioned Russian banks and ownership of a nightclub known for erotic shows. Elizaveta herself was known for designer wardrobes, private jets, and exclusive nightclubs, a lifestyle that stood in sharp contrast to the hardships faced by many Russians and the devastation wrought by the war in Ukraine.
However, just before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, she vanished from Russian social media and re-emerged in Paris under a new name, Elizaveta Rudnova. She graduated from the ICART School of Cultural and Art Management and now works at two Parisian art galleries — L Galerie in Belleville and Espace Albatros in Montreuil — both known for hosting anti-war and dissident exhibitions. Her public posts have shifted from luxury displays to cryptic condemnations of tyranny and war, including references to "the man who took millions of lives and destroyed mine," as reported by The Sun.
The Question of Identity and Denial
Despite the widespread rumors and circumstantial evidence — including her birth timing, her mother's sudden wealth, and a striking facial resemblance to Putin — official confirmation of Rozova's parentage remains absent. Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov has reportedly denied knowledge of Krivonogikh, intensifying speculation. Putin officially recognizes only two daughters from his previous marriage, Maria Vorontsova and Katerina Tikhonova, neither of whom have publicly acknowledged any connection to Rozova.
Rozova's decision to drop the patronymic "Vladimirovna" from her name, which would have confirmed her father's identity, and to adopt the surname Rudnova — likely referencing a late Putin ally Oleg Rudnov — signals a desire to distance herself from her alleged father's legacy. Yet, her presence in Paris's dissident art circles has sparked controversy, with some accusing her of benefiting from the regime she now appears to criticize.
Artist Nastya Rodionova publicly severed ties with the two galleries upon learning of Rozova's involvement. She posted on Facebook that it was unacceptable to allow someone from a family benefiting from Putin's regime to confront victims of that regime, as reported by The Sun. Meanwhile, Dmitry Dolinsky, director of L Association which runs both galleries, defended Rozova, telling The Times that while she looks like Putin, "so do 100,000 other people," and that he had not seen a DNA test to confirm her identity.
A Human Face of a Brutal War
The encounter between Rozova and Sviatnenko highlights the complex web of personal legacies and moral accountability that the war in Ukraine has exposed. For Sviatnenko, the confrontation was deeply personal, a demand for recognition of loss and justice. For Rozova, it was a moment of public reckoning with a past she cannot fully escape.
Her apology, though cautious, underscores the human cost of the conflict. "I'm really sorry that this is happening," she said, adding, "Unfortunately, I'm not responsible for this situation," as reported by the New York Post.
What Lies Ahead?
Rozova's future remains uncertain. Her role in the art world and her public stance against the war suggest a break from her alleged father's policies, yet the shadow of her origins continues to provoke debate and scrutiny. Meanwhile, the war in Ukraine shows no sign of abating, and the personal stories of loss and confrontation will likely continue to emerge.
For now, the streets of Paris bore witness to a rare moment where grief met privilege, where a journalist's demand for justice confronted a young woman's reluctant apology. It was a moment that captured the human cost of a conflict that has reshaped the world.
References: Moment Putin's 'secret daughter' says 'I'm really sorry' as grieving Ukrainian tells her 'your dad killed my brother' | Putin's alleged secret daughter tells Ukrainian journalist she is 'really sorry' for her father's war | How Putin's exiled 'daughter he shares with strip club boss' lives glam life in West as 'she's confronted by Ukrainian'
