Vladimir Putin
Russia · 1999 — present
Est. victims: 100k+ in Ukraine, Chechnya
Born in Leningrad (St Petersburg), Putin joined the KGB in 1975 after graduating from Leningrad State University. He served 16 years: domestic counterintelligence, then foreign intelligence in Dresden, East Germany (1985–1990), recruiting agents and coordinating with the Stasi. Resigned as Lieutenant Colonel in 1991. In St Petersburg (1990–1996) he headed the Committee for External Relations under Mayor Sobchak. Accused of corruption: selling undervalued steel for food aid that never arrived (1990); a $122M export scheme (1992). Investigative committees recommended his removal; Sobchak protected him. Former FSB officer Alexander Litvinenko (later poisoned in London) testified that Putin had ties to organised crime during his time as deputy mayor. In 1998 Putin became FSB director; Litvinenko raised concerns about corruption and was harassed. The 1999 apartment bombings (300+ dead) in Moscow and other cities were used to justify the Second Chechen War and boost Putin's popularity. In Ryazan, FSB agents were caught planting explosives; the FSB claimed it was a drill. Independent investigations were blocked; commission members died under suspicious circumstances (Yushenkov, Shchekochikhin).
Rise of dictatorship
Navalny death in prison
Alexei Navalny, Russia's main opposition leader, died on 16 February 2024 in the Polar Wolf penal colony (IK-3) in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District. He was serving a 19-year sentence on politically motivated charges. The prison service claimed 'sudden death syndrome'; his family and allies accused the Kremlin of murder. He had survived a Novichok poisoning in 2020, which European investigators linked to the FSB.
Full-scale invasion of Ukraine
On 24 February 2022 Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The war has killed over 100,000 Ukrainian soldiers and tens of thousands of civilians; millions have fled. Putin justified it as 'denazification' and 'demilitarisation'. The ICC issued arrest warrants for Putin and Lvova-Belova for war crimes (deportation of children).
2022–2025: War criminal
Protests against war — thousands arrested
Navalny poisoned, crackdown on opposition
In August 2020 Navalny was poisoned with Novichok in Siberia. He was evacuated to Berlin; European labs confirmed the nerve agent. Bellingcat and The Insider traced the assassination attempt to FSB operatives. Upon return to Russia in 2021 he was arrested and given long prison terms.
Annexation of Crimea, war in Donbas
After the Maidan revolution, Russia annexed Crimea in March 2014 via a staged referendum. Proxy forces and Russian troops sparked the war in Donbas. Over 14,000 killed by 2022. Sanctions imposed by the EU and US.
2012–2022: Full authoritarianism
Returns as President, massive protests crushed
Constitution changed to extend term, Medvedev as placeholder
2008–2012: Medvedev interlude
Media fully controlled, Beslan used to justify power grab
Khodorkovsky arrested, Yukos dismantled — end of independent oligarchs
Mikhail Khodorkovsky, head of Yukos and funder of opposition parties, was arrested on fraud charges. Yukos was broken up and sold to state-owned companies. The case was widely seen as politically motivated — elimination of the last independent oligarch who dared to challenge Putin.
Elected President, promises of democracy
2000–2008: Consolidation
Apartment bombings (suspected FSB), pretext for war
A series of bombings in Moscow, Volgodonsk and Buynaksk killed over 300. The attacks were used to justify the Second Chechen War and boost Putin's popularity. In Ryazan, FSB agents were caught planting explosives; the FSB later claimed it was a drill. Independent investigations were blocked.
Appointed Prime Minister, Second Chechen War launched
Putin was appointed PM by Yeltsin in August 1999. Weeks later, after the apartment bombings, he launched the Second Chechen War, which boosted his popularity. Grozny was largely destroyed; tens of thousands of civilians and combatants died. The conflict consolidated his power and set the tone for military crackdowns.