Beyond the modern Kremlin lies a lineage deeply intertwined with the highest levels of Soviet power. Vladimir Putin’s paternal grandfather, Spiridon Putin, was not just an ordinary chef; he was a trusted culinary confidant to the USSR’s most powerful leaders. Spiridon’s career began in the kitchens of the Hotel Astoria, where he reportedly once served the mystic Grigori Rasputin. Following the Russian Revolution, his skills led him to become the personal chef to Vladimir Lenin and later, a recurring cook for Joseph Stalin.