Long before he became the president of Russia, Vladimir Putin was a KGB spy — take a look at his early career

• 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 hacking the DNC's emails and engaging in other forms of cyber subversion in order to throw the race in favor of now-US President Donald Trump. A series of politically charged social media groups and advertising campaigns have been traced back to Russia, and special counsel Robert Mueller is reportedly investigating former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort, allegedly for potential collusion with Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has denied that his country is involved in a cyber war with the US.

At the same time, he's also expressed his pride in the "unique people" of Russia's intelligence community, according to the AFP. 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:

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As a teenager, Putin was captivated by the novel and film series "The Shield and the Sword." The story focuses on a brave Soviet secret agent who helps thwart the Nazis. Putin later said he was struck by how "one spy could decide the fate of thousands of people."

Source: "The New Tsar: The Rise and Reign of Vladimir Putin"

Putin went to school at Saint Petersburg State University, where he studied law. His undergraduate thesis focused on international law and trade.

Source: "The New Tsar: The Rise and Reign of Vladimir Putin"

After initially considering going into law, Putin was recruited into the KGB upon graduating in 1975.

Source: "The New Tsar: The Rise and Reign of Vladimir Putin"

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source http://www.businessinsider.com/vladimir-putin-kgb-spy-2017-9