Ordinary Russians are unable to protest against the Ukraine war. But evidence of covert resistance is everywhere.
The Kremlin’s suicidal imperialism
The more apparent it is that Russia is losing, the more forcefully Vladimir Putin declares that it is not.
The greatest democrat Russia ever had
Mikhail Gorbachev was Russia’s last liberal leader. His spirit lives on for the next.
Don’t cancel Russian culture
Refusing to engage with Russian culture will not change Putin’s calculations, let alone impel him to withdraw from Ukraine.
Unhappy birthday, Andrei Sakharov
The Kremlin’s negation of the Nobel laureate’s legacy represents another step backwards which could lead to nuclear war.
The origins of Putin’s totalitarianism
The siloviki who gained power during Putin’s early years have been replaced by faceless security technocrats—real heirs to the KGB.
Putin’s war will destroy Russia
By attacking another European country, Putin crossed a line drawn after World War II. But he also changed Russia.
Can Navalny take down Putin?
Today’s protest movement has a charismatic and sympathetic leader but Putin has spent the last decade consolidating a police state.