Vladimir Putin poses as ‘man of all seasons’ in creepy 2026 calendar

The calendar includes bizarre photos of Putin alongside quotes such as: "I am a dove, but I have very powerful iron wings."

Vladimir Putin releases a calendar packed with photos and quotes every year

Vladimir Putin has shared a number of bizarre snaps and offered up his "recipe for energy" in four Russian calendars for 2026. The pinups are released by the Russian Government each year, painting its leader as a strong and multifaceted "man of all seasons", whether fishing, doing extreme sports or moonlighting as a lifestyle coach. Each month includes a new shot of Putin accompanied by a short quote made over the previous year, and are available at shops and newsstands across the country.

This year marked a departure from the infamous topless shots of the Russian leader, but it also notably includes no reference to the conflict in Ukraine, choosing instead to push a message of triumph over adversity. In one calendar, he acknowledges a "difficult period" but urges citizens to "continue to set long-term goals".

Another includes the caption: "I believe in our achievements, our victories and the future of Russia."

Putin Calendar

The calendar does not contain any direct references to the war in Ukraine (Image: BBC)

The compilation of images and quotes also includes the authoritarian president's "recipe for energy", namely: "Sleep little, work a lot and don't whine."

"It's the idea of a man for every season," Fiona Hill, former head of the Russian desk at the National Security Council, tells the New York Times.

"They are positioning Putin as this iconic figure, reminding everybody how cool he is, how much in charge he is, how much he's kind of the living symbol and embodiment of literally everybody's days."

Maxim Trudolyubov, editor of The Russia File blog, adds: "This genre is its own kind of art. It's an empire with this ancient emperor who's been around for decades, so it is supposed to be boring; it is supposed to signal stability, predictability, even if the reality is nothing of the kind."

Putin Calendar

The calendar is sold across Russia for the equivalent of around £2.65 (Image: BBC)

The calendars, which retail for the equivalent of around £2.65, veer from the mundane to the outlandish, with any mention of Russia's oil industry being crippled by Ukraine strikes replaced by photos of Putin winning a Judo match alongside the caption: "I am a dove, but I have very powerful iron wings."

He also proudly brandishes a large fish beside the quote: "The Russian bear will ask no one's permission and will not give away its forests."

In a more chilling veiled threat to the West amid tensions with the US and Russian spy ships being spotted around UK waters, one caption reads: "It is pointless to threaten Russia, because it only makes us stronger."

The efforts to consolidate his "emperor"-style hold on power come after Putin amended the Russian constitution to allow him to run again for two more six-year presidential terms, potentially prolonging his time in office to 2036.