MOSCOW - Russian President Vladimir Putin and his wife Lyudmila Putina on Thursday announced their divorce.

"It was our mutual decision, our marriage is over," Putin said in a program on a local news TV channel.

Putina, born in 1958 in Russia's Kaliningrad, was married to Putin in 1983. The couple have two daughters. The first lady was rarely seen in the public together with Putin.

"We practically don't see each other. Each of us has their own life," said Putin in the program.

Putina admitted she doesn't like publicity and has troubles with flying. As for their daughters, "We are very fond of our children, we are proud of them, and we see them all the time," she added.

Speculation about their marriage lasted for years. After Putin' s confirmation of the divorce on Thursday, Dmitry Peskov, the presidential press secretary, also confirmed to local media that Putin's marriage was over.