{"id":635580,"date":"2026-11-11T13:23:30","date_gmt":"2026-11-11T11:23:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/korabelov.info\/2026\/11\/635580\/while-russians-die-in-the-war-putin-s-friends-seek-the-secret-of-immortality-7-000-monkeys-for-the-kremlin-s-grand-dream\/"},"modified":"2026-11-11T13:39:54","modified_gmt":"2026-11-11T11:39:54","slug":"while-russians-die-in-the-war-putin-s-friends-seek-the-secret-of-immortality-7-000-monkeys-for-the-kremlin-s-grand-dream","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/korabelov.info\/en\/2026\/11\/635580\/while-russians-die-in-the-war-putin-s-friends-seek-the-secret-of-immortality-7-000-monkeys-for-the-kremlin-s-grand-dream\/","title":{"rendered":"While Russians die in the war, Putin\u2019s friends seek the secret of immortality: 7,000 monkeys for the Kremlin\u2019s grand dream"},"content":{"rendered":"

At the Russian Kurchatov Institute<\/strong>, headed by Mikhail Kovalchuk,<\/strong> a large collection of primates<\/strong> has been established, including elderly animals used to study the aging process<\/strong>. The researchers hope their work will help find ways to influence human life expectancy<\/strong>. Kovalchuk<\/strong> spoke about this at the Kurchatov Genomic Forum in Moscow, Russian media report.<\/p>\n

More than 7,000 primates of 22 species<\/strong> are kept at the institute\u2019s breeding facilities. Researchers examine monkeys aged 18 to over 30<\/strong>, analyzing biochemical indicators, body structure, and the condition of their blood vessels and brains. According to Kovalchuk<\/strong>, the scientists aim to track the different stages of primate aging and use the data to develop a system for regulating lifespan.<\/p>\n

The Kurchatov Institute and a Russian research center for surgery have already created a biobank of blood samples from long-lived monkeys<\/strong>. The center\u2019s director, Konstantin Kotenko<\/strong>, said the samples will be used to study the mechanisms of aging. The Moscow Times and Meduza have also reported on the biobank\u2019s creation.<\/p>\n

Mikhail Kovalchuk<\/strong> is considered a longtime friend of Vladimir Putin<\/strong> and his unofficial adviser on scientific matters. His brother, billionaire Yuri Kovalchuk<\/strong>, is part of the Russian president\u2019s inner circle.<\/p>\n

Putin<\/strong> himself is also interested in longevity. In September 2025<\/strong>, during his visit to China, microphones accidentally picked up a conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/strong> about the possibility of extending human life to 150 years.<\/strong> Putin<\/strong> spoke about the prospects of biotechnology and repeated organ replacement, while Xi Jinping<\/strong> suggested that people might live to that age within this century.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Putin\u2019s eldest daughter, Maria Vorontsova<\/strong>, an endocrinologist, is also involved in research on genetics and longevity. According to The Wall Street Journal, she is linked to Russian government programs focused on genetics and combating aging.<\/p>\n

In October 2026, Vorontsova<\/strong> spoke at the Skolkovo Moscow School of Management, where a longevity laboratory had opened. She described attempts to push beyond the natural limits of human life as an effort to \u201coutwit God.\u201d<\/p>\n

As The Wall Street Journal previously reported, Russian research programs cover more than just the study of primate aging. Scientists are also working on gene therapy aimed at slowing cellular aging, bioprinting tissues, and growing organs for transplantation inside genetically modified pigs. The publication noted that, despite the state\u2019s ambitious plans, the number of findings from this research<\/strong> confirmed in international peer-reviewed scientific journals remains limited.<\/strong><\/p>\n

We previously reported:<\/strong><\/p>\n