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Moscow State University (MGU) has completed the establishment of a closed artificial intelligence center under the leadership of Katerina Tikhonova, the director of its AI institute and widely reported to be the daughter of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The secretive AI hub, which consolidates a new Faculty of Artificial Intelligence, a research center, and the MGU-270 supercomputer, grants Tikhonova control over one of Russia's most advanced AI education and research environments, according to independent outlet T-Invariant as cited by The Moscow Times.
What Is the Moscow State University Secret AI Hub?
The classified AI hub brings together multiple elements of MGU's AI infrastructure on the Vorobyovy Gory (Sparrow Hills) campus in Moscow. It includes the Institute of Artificial Intelligence, the newly launched Faculty of Artificial Intelligence, a dedicated research center, and the MGU-270 supercomputer—one of Russia's most powerful computing systems. The faculty admitted 36 undergraduate and 36 master's students for the 2026-27 academic year, with tuition set at approximately 500,000 rubles ($6,650) annually. The project is financially backed by sanctioned billionaire Oleg Deripaska and state-owned VTB Bank, highlighting the Kremlin's strategic prioritization of domestic AI development despite severe Western sanctions.
The creation of this secret AI hub in Russia coincides with Moscow's urgent push to expand indigenous AI capabilities amid sweeping export controls that have severely restricted the country's access to advanced semiconductors and high-performance computing hardware from the United States, Europe, and allied nations.
Who Is Katerina Tikhonova?
Katerina Vladimirovna Tikhonova, born August 31, 1986, in Dresden, East Germany, is a Russian scientist and manager who heads the Innopraktika company and serves as deputy director of the Institute for Mathematical Research of Complex Systems at MGU. She is widely identified as Vladimir Putin's second daughter, though the Kremlin has never officially confirmed the relationship. Tikhonova studied Asian studies at Saint Petersburg State University and Moscow State University, and in the mid-2010s, she competed internationally in acrobatic rock 'n' roll dancing, placing fifth at a 2013 world championship. She was married to businessman Kirill Shamalov from 2013 to 2018 and reportedly has a daughter with ballet dancer Igor Zelensky. In April 2022, she was sanctioned by the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and Japan following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Her appointment to lead the closed AI hub underscores how Putin family members in strategic sectors are increasingly placed in charge of sensitive national technology projects, raising concerns about nepotism and the intertwining of family interests with state security priorities.
How Did Russia Acquire Nvidia Chips Despite Sanctions?
One of the most striking revelations about the MGU-270 supercomputer is how its processors were obtained. According to the T-Invariant investigation, the supercomputer was assembled using Nvidia chips acquired through gray imports via Chinese companies under the fictitious brand name "Solar Peak." Nvidia officially halted all business operations in Russia in 2022 following the invasion of Ukraine, making the procurement a clear violation of Western export controls.
The MGU-270 supercomputer, valued at approximately $37.4 million, is central to Russia's AI ambitions. However, access is highly restricted—even to university staff. One researcher quoted by T-Invariant said: 'I've been asking for two years what's happening there under Tikhonova's leadership. They just shrug and say they're not allowed in.' Another scientist questioned the logic of creating a separate AI faculty, stating: 'Does AI really need to be treated separately? Why is this a new faculty and not a separate department? I don't understand. It reflects a "king of the hill" mentality—marking your own territory.'
The broader AI ecosystem tied to the project is also shifting toward Chinese technology. VTB Bank has been testing Chinese-made Huawei Ascend 910C graphics processors as potential alternatives to export-restricted Nvidia H100s, and the project plans to deepen AI cooperation with China through joint laboratories. This pivot reflects the Russia-China AI technology partnership that is accelerating as both countries face tightening Western tech restrictions.
Impact and Implications
The establishment of the closed AI hub has significant geopolitical implications. It demonstrates Russia's determination to achieve technological sovereignty in artificial intelligence despite unprecedented sanctions. The involvement of Putin's daughter in such a sensitive project raises questions about governance, transparency, and the potential for dual-use applications—including AI-guided drones and gait recognition systems for security purposes.
Western sanctions have clearly not stopped Russia from acquiring advanced computing hardware, though they have made it more expensive and complex. The use of Chinese intermediaries to bypass export controls also highlights the growing technology alliance between Moscow and Beijing, which could reshape the global AI landscape. As Russia continues to invest heavily in AI education and infrastructure—with the new faculty training the next generation of AI specialists—the long-term effects on global technology competition remain to be seen.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Moscow State University AI hub?
It is a closed artificial intelligence center at Moscow State University that consolidates an AI institute, a new Faculty of AI, a research center, and the MGU-270 supercomputer under the leadership of Katerina Tikhonova, Vladimir Putin's alleged daughter.
How did Russia get Nvidia chips for the supercomputer?
Russia obtained Nvidia chips through gray imports via Chinese companies under the fictitious brand name "Solar Peak," circumventing Western sanctions that prohibit the sale of advanced semiconductors to Russia.
Who is Katerina Tikhonova?
Katerina Tikhonova is a Russian scientist and manager who is widely reported to be Vladimir Putin's daughter. She heads the Innopraktika company and directs the AI Institute at Moscow State University. She has been sanctioned by the US, UK, EU, and Japan.
Why is the AI hub considered secret?
Access to the hub and its supercomputer is highly restricted, with even university computing center staff reportedly barred from entry. The project's details, including its full research agenda and funding sources, remain classified.
What are the implications for global AI development?
The hub signals Russia's commitment to AI self-sufficiency despite sanctions, deepens Russia-China technology cooperation, and raises concerns about the militarization of AI and nepotism in strategic state projects.
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