Alexei Nikolsky/RIA Novosti Kremlin/AP Images
Putin was recruited to the KGB straight out of university.
• Russian President Vladimir Putin was recruited as a KGB agent after graduating from university.
• He served as an agent in East Germany for five years.
• Putin's experience as a KGB operative may have helped to mold his worldview.
The Cold War is long finished, but Russian intelligence has been all over the American news.
Russia is accused of $4 and engaging in $4 in order to throw the race in favor of now-US President Donald Trump. A series of politically charged $4 and $4 have been traced back to Russia, and special counsel Robert Mueller is reportedly investigating former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort, allegedly for $4.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has $4.
At the same time, he's also expressed his pride in the "unique people" of Russia's intelligence community, $4. Putin's soft spot for spies comes as no surprise: His previous career was a KGB operative.
Here's a look into Putin's early career as a spy: