Russian President Vladimir Putin and Lyudmila Putina have divorced, the couple announced on Thursday.

Putin and Lyudmila Putina made the announcement in a program on Russia's Rossiya 24 television.

"It is true. All my activities, all my work involves publicity, absolute publicity. Some people like it, some don't. But there are people who are absolutely incompatible with it. Lyudmila Alexandrovna has done eight years' - even nine years' - duty. So, to sum up, it was a joint decision," said the president.

"Yes, I support the words of Vladimir Vladimirovich," said Lyudmila Putina.

"It's true that it was our joint decision. And it's also true that the reason why our marriage is over is that we practically don't see each other. Vladimir Vladimirovich is completely immersed in his work, our children have grown up, each of them has her own life. To sum up, we've ended up in a situation where each of us has our own life. And it's true that I don't like publicity," she said.

"We will forever remain very close people," Putina said.

"I'm grateful to Vladimir Vladimirovich for supporting me," she said.

Earlier on Thursday, the couple came to a ballet performance at the State Kremlin Palace but left together after the first act.