A shocking new book has claimed that Vladimir Putin's father gouged out his mother's eye with a pitchfork when she was just 17 years old. The horrifying incident reportedly led to the future Russian dictator's mother, Maria, losing her eye and being forced into marriage with his father.

The startling revelations are part of a new book titled The Tsar in Person: How Vladimir Putin Fooled Us All, which delves into the despot's life before he assumed power in Moscow. The book alleges that the attack occurred during "a fit of rage" from Putin's father, prior to their marriage.

According to the book, Putin's father arrived at Maria's - known as Marusya - home with a group of male friends when she was alone in her village in the Tver region in 1928. A villager named Anfisa Kormilitsyna recounted: "Marusya didn't want to let them in."

Kormilitsyna stated that this refusal seemed to infuriate Putin's father, adding: "They took the pitchfork that was standing by the fence and started breaking down the gate. She got scared, ran out of the house, and raced up to the fence."

"And Volodka [Vladimir senior, Putin's father], at that moment, broke through the gate with the pitchfork and hit Marusya right in the face.

"In short, he accidentally gouged out her eye. He took her to the hospital right away. There, Marusya's eye was removed."

Kormilitsyna also disclosed the tragic reason why the couple ended up marrying after this alleged incident, stating: "For a girl in those days, this was a disgrace.

"So Marusya's mother threatened Volodka: if you don't marry, I'll put you on trial. So they got married. Marusya was very embarrassed about her glass eye later, never looked you in the face when talking, and tilted her head to the side."

The local resident also claimed Putin's father was infamous for terrorising young girls.

Anfisa revealed: "He liked to lift up girls' skirts and tie them in a knot over their heads. Co-author Roman Badanin said this was so the village boys could get a better look at the girl's knickers."

Independent Russian media outlet Proekt added: "One-eyed since her youth because the other eye had been put out with a pitchfork in a fit of rage by the father of the future Russian leader."

Despite these shocking claims, Putin has consistently portrayed his parents as exemplary figures.

His mother was over 40 when she gave birth to the future intelligence operative and autocrat, sparking speculation that he was adopted or illegitimate.

Last year he declared: "Never - I want to emphasise this - never did I see my father drunk. That never happened at all. I'm not even talking about my mother. I never heard a single swear word from him. Not one. Well, I'm not even talking about my mother here either."

The writers have accused Putin of concealing the truth about his private background.