After the Soviet Union fell apart, Vladimir Putin stated on Sunday that he used to work as a cab driver.
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| Putin called the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 as a "tragedy" for Russian citizens and the loss of "historical Russia" |
He bemoaned the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, calling it a tragedy for Russians.
His comments come as worries mount that Russia is plotting a military invasion of Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin bemoaned the disintegration of the Soviet Union, saying he had to take an extra job as a taxi driver to make ends meet after it fell apart.
Putin called the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 as a "tragedy" for Russian citizens and the loss of "historical Russia" in a programme shown Sunday on state television station Russia 1. On the YouTube account of state-owned broadcaster Russia 24, excerpts from the documentary titled "Russia. Recent History" were posted.
"There were instances when I had to work extra hours," Putin explained. "I mean, work as a private driver to supplement your income. To be honest, it's horrible to talk about, but it was the situation."
Putin has previously intimated that he pondered working as a private driver in the late 1990s, but his statements on Sunday were his first public acknowledgement of doing so.
Taxis were scarce during the dissolution of the Soviet Union, a period of economic upheaval in Russia, and some individuals would provide rides to strangers for additional money, according to the BBC.
Putin, who rose through the political ranks following a career in the KGB secret services, has frequently expressed his sadness over the Soviet Union's demise. In 2018, he stated that if he could undo anything in Russian history, it would be the Union's demise.
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