--- description: This year's take on the annual diary revives portrayals of the Russian president as a consummate diplomat and outdoorsman title: Russian President Vladimir Putin Unveils His 2019 Calendar image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt31d0dcd011edf19f/69893bd3ab6d779d456b3d92/gettyimages-906938908.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [World](/section/world/) ## World Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [russia](/tag/russia/) ## russia Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Vladimir Putin's Charm Offensive Kicks Off Another Year With 2019 Calendar by [Eli Meixler](/author/eli/) ## Eli Meixler Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Oct 4, 2018 5:04 AM CUT  Russia's President Vladimir Putin dips in the icy waters of Lake Seliger during the celebration of Epiphany in Tver Region, Russia on Jan. 19 , 2018. Russia's President Vladimir Putin dips in the icy waters of Lake Seliger during the celebration of Epiphany in Tver Region, Russia on Jan. 19 , 2018.Russian Presidential Press and Information Office/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images by [Eli Meixler](/author/eli/) ## Eli Meixler Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Oct 4, 2018 5:04 AM CUT The 2019 Putin VVP calendar, so-named for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s initials, has hit the stands. This year’s take on the annual diary revives portrayals of the Russian president as a consummate diplomat and outdoorsman, suggesting that Putin, 65, is a president for all seasons. The calendar kicks off [January](https://www.theguardian.com/world/shortcuts/2018/oct/03/vladimir-putin-2019-calendar-puts-cliff-richards-to-shame "undefined") with an image of a bare-chested Putin dipping into the icy waters of Lake Seliger to observe the Russian Orthodox Epiphany, according to the _Guardian_. Putin’s image as an [avid sportsman](http://time.com/36572/putin-revives-stalin-era-fitness-program-gto/ "undefined") is also on display throughout the year, with photos of him wielding a shooting range pistol, playing hockey, horseback riding and cycling along a wooded road. Subsequent months aim at showcasing the president’s softer side, with Putin holding a Bulgarian shepherd dog in one shot, and cuddling a leopard cub in another. Russian state propaganda has carefully nurtured an image of Putin as an accomplished athlete and a [paragon of masculinity](http://time.com/3481393/putin-hercules/ "undefined"). Images of Putin’s [adventure holidays](http://time.com/4888625/putin-sunbathing/ "undefined") in the country’s remote regions frequently circulate in Russian media, many of them boasting a shirtless Putin engaging in [outdoor sports](http://content.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1952454,00.html "undefined") like fishing and hunting. **Read more**: [_23 Pictures That Prove Vladimir Putin Thinks He’s an Action Figure_](http://time.com/95422/vladimir-putin-action-figure/ "undefined") The 2019 calendar is the latest edition in what has become a popular [annual series](https://edition.cnn.com/2016/10/19/europe/vladimir-putin-calendar-2017/index.html "undefined"): copies of a 2016 calendar published by a Russian tabloid newspaper [sold out in Moscow](http://cnn.com/2015/12/28/europe/vladimir-putin-calendar-2016/ "undefined"), according to CNN. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/5414918/vladimir-putin-2019-calendar/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/5414918/vladimir-putin-2019-calendar/"},"headline":"Vladimir Putin's Charm Offensive Kicks Off Another Year With 2019 Calendar","datePublished":"2018-10-04T05:04:28.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-23T21:37:59.413Z","description":"The calendar suggests Putin, 65, is a president for all seasons","url":"https://time.com/5414918/vladimir-putin-2019-calendar/","keywords":["russia","onetime","overnight"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt31d0dcd011edf19f/69893bd3ab6d779d456b3d92/gettyimages-906938908.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Eli Meixler","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/eli/"}],"articleSection":"World","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt31d0dcd011edf19f/69893bd3ab6d779d456b3d92/gettyimages-906938908.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Russian President Putin celebrates Epiphany","caption":"Russian President Putin celebrates Epiphany","creditText":"Russian Presidential Press and Information Office/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/world/","name":"World"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/russia/","name":"russia"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/5414918/vladimir-putin-2019-calendar/","name":"Vladimir Putin's Charm Offensive Kicks Off Another Year With 2019 Calendar"}}]}] ```