• Vladimir Putin sticks to a standard daily schedule.
• As president of Russia, Putin has overseen the country’s slide back into authoritarianism, according to the Economist’s Democracy Index.
• Putin’s daily routine reportedly features a late start, a morning press briefing, and lots of exercise.
Vladimir Putin loves badly behaved dogs and a breakfast of quail eggs.
That's according to a 2014 profile of Putin by Newsweek's Ben Judah, who spent years researching the foreign leader for his book, "Fragile Empire: How Russia Fell in and Out of Love with Vladimir Putin."
The Russian president has also been a fixture in global news lately due to - among other things - the ongoing investigation into alleged collusion with President Donald Trump's campaign, meddling in the 2016 presidential election, and the poisoning of a Russian ex-spy and his daughter in Britain.
The former KGB agent served as Russia's prime minister from 1999 to 2000 and from 2008 to 2012. From 2000 to 2008 and 2012 to the present day, he has held the office of the presidency. While some have praised Putin's partial reversal of Russia's economic fortunes, his tenure has sent the country sliding back into authoritarianism, according to the Economist's Democracy Index.
Take a look at a day in the life of Vladimir Putin:
Putin rises late in the morning, taking breakfast around noon.
Source: Newsweek
He usually tucks into a large omelet or a big bowl of porridge, with some quail eggs and fruit juice on the side.
Source: Newsweek
Newsweek reports that the ingredients are "dispatched regularly from the farmland estates of the Patriarch Kirill, Russia's religious leader."
Source: Newsweek
Once he's finished his meal, he drinks coffee.
Next, it's time to exercise. Newsweek reported that Putin spends about two hours swimming. While he's in the water, Putin often "gets much of Russia’s thinking done," Judah wrote.
After he's done swimming laps, Putin lifts weights in the gym.
The 65-year-old has been keen to cultivate an athletic, masculine image over the years.
In 2015, he was photographed exercising with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. As Esquire reported, his workout outfit cost $3,200.
Putin is conservative with his sartorial choices, preferring bespoke suits and "dour" Valentino ties, according to Judah.
Source: Newsweek
The state-run website Russia Beyond the Headlines reports that Putin's favorite clothing brands are Kiton and Brioni.
Source: Russia Beyond the Headlines
The Russian president usually doesn't get to work until the early afternoon. First, Putin typically sits down at his desk to read briefing notes.
These include reports on domestic intelligence and foreign affairs, as well as clips from the Russian press and the international media.
Source: Newsweek
Beyond work, the Russian president isn't much of a reader, although he did indulge in at least one pulpy action novel in 2006, according to Newsweek.
Source: Newsweek
Once in a while, an adviser will show Putin a satirical online video mocking him and his government.
Source: Newsweek
Otherwise, he abstains from most technology at work, preferring "red folders with paper documents, and fixed-line Soviet War-era telephones" to computers, as Newsweek reported.
Source: Newsweek
The Russian president is a night owl and often stays up quite late working. He's at his sharpest at night, writes Newsweek.
Source: Newsweek
While traveling abroad, the Russian president's schedule tightens even more. Wherever he stays, everything from sheets to toiletries to fruit bowls is replaced.
Source: Newsweek
Putin also never accepts food from a host that hasn't been cleared by the Kremlin first.
Source: Newsweek
The Telegraph previously reported that Putin's favorite food is pistachio ice cream. He also gifted his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping a tub of ice cream during last year's G20 summit.
Sources: The Telegraph, Business Insider
However, the Newsweek article reported that when Putin travels, he "cannot be served milk products."
Sources: The Telegraph, Business Insider
According to reports, Putin abstains from alcohol, except for during formal receptions. Projecting the image of teetotalism also may be a political move.
Source: Politico
According to Politico, the Russian president may be taking a symbolic stand amid Russia's alcoholism epidemic and contrasting himself with his predecessor Boris Yeltsin.
Source: Politico
His work schedule tends to be more flexible over the weekend, to accommodate Putin's English language classes. On Sunday, he sometimes prays and makes confession.
Source: Newsweek
Nonetheless, Russian officials close to the president stress that "his life is not that of a Christian," according to Newsweek.
Source: Newsweek
Every few weeks, Putin's schedule clears to make room for one of his favorite pastimes: ice hockey.
Source: Newsweek
The Russian president doesn't just observe the sport. He plays in a league, squaring off against teams of bodyguards.
Source: Newsweek
As USA Today reported, Putin's opponents and teammates alike tend to give him quite a bit of space during the games.
Source: USA Today
Putin also loves animals. He owns a black Labrador named Konni, an Akita Inu named Yume, and a Karakachan Dog named Buffy.
Source: Newsweek
Yume sparked an incident in 2016, when she trotted into an interview and barked at visiting Japanese journalists. Putin responded by giving the Akita a treat and showing off some of her tricks, according to CNN.
Source: CNN
Newsweek reports that Putin likes to stick close to home. He hates commuting to Moscow, even though it only takes about 25 minutes, and seems to prefer his Novo-Ogaryovo complex on the Black Sea to the Kremlin.
Source: Newsweek
Putin prefers to work late at night. According to Judah, he gets the most done in "the cold hours where everything is clearer."
Source: Newsweek
