Kirill Shamalov

Kirill Shamalov
Born	(1982-03-22) March 22, 1982 Russia
Occupation(s)	Entrepreneur, business executive
Known for	Former spouse of Katerina Tikhonova; director and part-shareholder of Sibur

Kirill Nikolayevich Shamalov (; born 22 March 1982) is a Russian entrepreneur and the former spouse of Katerina Tikhonova, who is the daughter of Russian President Vladimir Putin. He previously held a position as an economic consultant within the Russian government.

He is the younger child of Nikolai Shamalov, who co-owns Rossiya Bank and is known for his close ties to Putin.

Following his 2013 marriage to Putin's daughter, Shamalov secured multiple high-value business transactions amounting to billions, becoming Russia’s youngest billionaire at age 32. He serves as a director and part-shareholder of Sibur, a leading petrochemical firm in Russia, possessing a 21% ownership stake reportedly worth around $2 billion. The specifics surrounding this acquisition are ambiguous; notably, shortly after his wedding, he acquired a 3.8% share (valued at $388 million) for merely $100.

The United States imposed sanctions on him in 2018, with the United Kingdom following suit after the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Early life and education

Shamalov is the younger son of Nikolai Shamalov. He earned a law degree from Saint Petersburg State University.

Career

At just 25 years old, Shamalov attained an executive position at Gazprom-Media, Russia’s largest media conglomerate. By 2012, he had risen to become Deputy CEO of Sibur, holding a minor 0.5% equity. In June 2013, his offshore entity Kylsyth Investments Limited, registered in Belize, acquired a 3.8% stake in Sibur for only US$100. Subsequently, in August 2014, his Russian company Yauza 12—financed by a Gazprombank loan—purchased an additional 17% stake in Sibur from major shareholder Gennady Timchenko for approximately $2.2 billion.

By 2013, Shamalov had established an extensive portfolio of offshore companies. Bloomberg reported in April 2017 that he divested the Sibur shares obtained from Timchenko to co-owner Leonid Mikhelson.

Sanctions

In April 2018, Shamalov was among 24 Russian individuals sanctioned by the United States. After marrying Vladimir Putin’s daughter in 2013 and swiftly becoming a significant Sibur shareholder, he received a substantial loan from Gazprombank and acquired a large stake from Timchenko—both entities subject to U.S. sanctions.

The United Kingdom also imposed sanctions on him on 24 February 2022 due to his involvement with PAO SIBUR Holding, which was identified as supporting the invasion of Ukraine.

Personal life

Shamalov married Katerina Tikhonova, Putin’s second daughter, in February 2013 at Igora ski resort near Sosnovo in Leningrad Oblast. The couple separated in January 2018; reports suggest Shamalov forfeited half of his wealth as part of their split.

Later that year, Shamalov reportedly wed Zhanna Volkova. They share a daughter but separated around mid-2021 and are currently engaged in divorce proceedings, with Shamalov initiating legal action to annul the marriage.

He owns extensive real estate holdings across Russia and France. On 14 March 2022, two Russian activists were detained after occupying his villa located in Biarritz, France, intending to provide shelter for Ukrainian refugees amid the ongoing conflict caused by the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.