Young Putin was a “treacherous” boy who “pulled children’s hair out in battle,” former school friends and teachers claim

VLADIMIR Putin “fought to the end” as a child during feuds at school, his former classmates and teachers claim.

The Russian tyrant was branded “insidious” and “a troublemaker” by those who knew him from a young age – decades before he waged war in Ukraine.

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According to his former buddies, Putin would terrorize his school in Leningrad’s Dzerzhinsky district and “go into a frenzy” should anyone mess with him.

His newly qualified homeroom teacher, 26-year-old Tamara Chizova, said she was exasperated by the “disorganized” youngster who “would definitely cause problems,” reports The Times.

With a rebellious streak, his childhood best friend Viktor Borisenko recalled that Putin was the first to join a fight when one broke out.

He said: “He could argue with anyone. He wasn’t afraid.

“It never occurred to him that the other boy was stronger and could hit him.

“If a big guy insulted him, he’d jump straight at him – scratch him, bite him, pull chunks of his hair out.

“He wasn’t the strongest in our class, but in a fight he could beat anyone because he went into a frenzy and fought to the end.”

The Russian leader grew up in a dingy, cockroach-infested apartment he shared with two other families — with no heating and no bathroom.

Rats also ravaged the yard, and Putin often chased them with sticks — until one day a large rat he had cornered attacked him.

He later said: “No one should be cornered. No one should be placed in a situation from which there is no way out.”

Despite this, Putin later said he never felt “deprived or miserable” growing up.

After gaining a bad reputation in elementary school, Putin transferred to secondary school in 1965 at the age of 12.

Added to this was a new class teacher, Vera Gurevich, who was tough, but because of her excellent memory and speed like the youngster.

Putin then took up sambo, a form of mixed martial arts, and his grades improved dramatically when he became a member of the Pioneers, the main organization of the Communist Party.

Having given up his desire to be an airline pilot, at 16 he inquired about what it would take to join the KBG.

He was told to join the Faculty of Law at Leningrad State University, which he eventually did just before his 18th birthday in September 1970.

In 1975 Putin was accepted into the KBG as a second lieutenant and worked his way through the ranks for years until 1990.

During this period he met his first girlfriend – medical student Lyudmila Khmarina, whom his parents loved.

“Very unimpressive”

But by 1980, they had split, and Putin had eyes for another woman — 22-year-old Aeroflot flight attendant Lyudmila Shkrebneva.

However, she was not included and described Putin as “poorly dressed”.

Lyudmila recalls: “He looked very nondescript. I wouldn’t have paid any attention to him on the street.”

Despite first impressions, the two exchanged numbers and they met whenever Lyudmila was in Leningrad.

However, the relationship was tumultuous, as Putin’s parents did not approve and his traditional views of a woman’s role handicapped him.

At a party the following year, Putin was furious when Lyudmila danced the night away.

She said: “Apparently I was too uninhibited. It was made clear to me that another relationship is impossible.”

After two weeks they got back together – but Putin’s temper and his mistakes continued.

She once recalled waiting for him at a tube station, reports The Times.

Lyudmila said: “Fifteen minutes, you can accept it. Even half an hour.

“But if it’s been an hour and he’s not there, you just cry in pain.

“After an hour and a half you don’t feel anything anymore. All your emotions are used up. That was happening all the time.”

To make matters worse, Putin hid his KGB job from Lyudmila for 18 months – leading her to believe he was working for the police.

Despite her distrust, Lyudmila married Putin in 1983 – and described their year together as “total harmony”.

But his bad habits crept back in when he started coming home late from work.

She said: “I understand it’s not like that [his superiors] who made him work long hours. It was himself.”

Eventually, the couple divorced in 2013, when Lyudmila was exhausted by Putin’s lifestyle and said she was “dejected” at not being able to talk to her friends about the issues she was facing.

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