NPR

The U.S. has sanctioned Vladimir Putin's long-rumored romantic partner

Rumors of a relationship between Putin, 69, and Alina Kabaeva, 39, date back more than a decade. Putin and the former Olympic gymnast are thought to have had at least three children together.
Russian President Vladimir Putin hands flowers to Alina Kabaeva after awarding her with an Order of Friendship during a ceremony at the Kremlin in June 2001.

The U.S. has brought sanctions against the former Olympic gymnast who is long-rumored to be the romantic partner of Russian President Vladimir Putin — adding the person known as "Russia's most flexible woman" to the growing list of individuals to face financial penalties in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Alina Kabaeva, 39, has been romantically linked to Putin, 69, for more than a decade and is thought to have had at least three children with him. In announcing sanctions against her

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