Mysterious blonde in Putin's circle stirs speculation: political intrigue or careful security?

Vladimir Putin was photographed attending the Christmas Eve service in a chapel in Novo-Ogaryovo with an unidentified blonde woman. It's speculated that she couldn't have been just a random individual, given that she had access to the heavily protected political figure.

Finns are revisiting current and older photos of the Russian leader, with the "Ilta Sanomat" newspaper seeking the opinion of Kremlin researcher Teemu Oivo. According to the expert, blonde women frequently appear in Putin's circle. The possibility of the same woman appearing repeatedly cannot be ruled out.

Oivo, affiliated with the University of Eastern Finland, says the Kremlin is deliberate about Putin's public presentation and his companions. "Great care is taken with his image. The chances that someone appears next to him by accident are minimized. The Christmas Eve Mass is a significant event. We can safely assume that all people in official photographs have been approved," he told the "Ilta Sanomat" newspaper.

Belarusian journalist Tadeusz Giczan, who lives in London, noticed the same blonde woman in uniform standing behind Putin during his New Year's address last year. Giczan postulated that this woman had been seen in Putin's company previously.

Some sources indicate that this woman might be Larisa Serguhina, deputy director of the fertilizer company EuroChemService in Saint Petersburg. Media reports also suggest that she might be a party activist and a parliamentarian from the Novgorod region.

In Giczan's Twitter post from last year, he shared three photos of a similar-looking woman. She can be seen wearing a uniform among soldiers during Putin's New Year speech, behind Putin at a religious event, and with sailors on the same boat as Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev.

The Finns conjecture that the woman, who seems to take on multiple roles, is likely a highly trained security staff member. She is seen near the Russian president because providing defense is part of her job, necessitating her to be within reach.