Introduction
Summary of the book Putin’s People by Catherine Belton. Before we start, let’s delve into a short overview of the book. Imagine stepping into a world where quiet plans are made behind closed doors, where powerful secret agents shape entire nations, and where hidden money flows like rivers beneath the surface of everyday life. This is the story of how one man, Vladimir Putin, and his old network of KGB agents took control of Russia. At first glance, he seemed like an ordinary leader with a simple, grey suit and a calm voice. But behind that calm voice stood groups of men who were once part of a feared secret police force. Together, they found clever ways to regain power that many thought they had lost when the Soviet Union broke apart. In these chapters, you will discover how they rose to rule the world’s largest country, shaped its economy, controlled its oil and media, challenged the West, and influenced politics from Europe to the United States.
Chapter 1: The Unseen Beginnings Of A Quiet KGB Officer Leading To Greater Ambitions.
Before Vladimir Putin stepped into the spotlight of Russian politics, he was just a boy with a secret dream. He grew up in a modest apartment in Leningrad (today’s St. Petersburg) and, like many young people, watched action movies and heard stories that sparked his imagination. But his dream was not to become a movie star or a famous athlete; he wanted to join the KGB, the powerful Soviet secret police organization. Long before he became president, Putin made phone calls and asked direct questions at the KGB office, determined to follow their suggestions. He enrolled in special law courses and foreign language classes that the KGB recommended. His discipline and steady focus impressed those mysterious figures who watched him from a distance. They saw a reliable, loyal, and determined young man who might one day be useful.
By the time he was a young adult, Putin had sharpened his mind like a carefully honed blade. He knew which subjects to study, which people to talk to, and how to behave so the KGB would notice him. After completing his university education, Putin finally joined the KGB, reaching the goal he had held since his teenage years. His new world was one filled with codes, secret assignments, silent operations, and a web of agents dedicated to protecting the Soviet system. In 1985, he was sent to Dresden in East Germany, a place caught between tensions of the Cold War. Here, he observed the world from behind a spy’s mask, learning to read people like open books, planning silent moves that might one day influence entire nations.
In Dresden, Putin’s tasks were not glamorous like in adventure stories. He was a minor figure among a small team of Soviet agents stationed there. Still, the challenges were real and often dangerous. Operations involved secret exchanges, finding trustworthy allies, and dealing with hidden enemies. East Germany was struggling—its economy was weak and its people unhappy. The KGB, seeing the cracks, tried to weave a safety net of contacts that would survive even if East Germany collapsed. Putin watched and learned, honing skills that would later prove incredibly useful in Russia’s turbulent politics. The KGB trained him to be patient, observant, and cautious, always ready to adapt as governments fell, policies changed, and borders shifted like sand under the wind.
While serving in Dresden, Putin and his fellow KGB officers saw that the world around them could change overnight. The Berlin Wall was nearing its end, and history was about to take a sharp turn. Although Putin was just one small cog in a vast machine, the lessons he gained would guide him through bigger challenges ahead. He learned that power could slip through one’s fingers if not firmly held. He understood that control over networks, money, and information meant survival. And when the Soviet Union began to crumble, he returned home with experience, connections, and the quiet confidence that came from passing hidden tests. Before he ever entered public office, Vladimir Putin had already walked through a secret garden of influence and deception that would shape his future path.
Chapter 2: The Sudden Rise Of New Money Kings Challenging Old KGB Power.
After the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, the world that Putin and the KGB once knew vanished almost overnight. Russia opened its doors to new ideas, new businesses, and new ways of handling money. President Boris Yeltsin tried to bring democratic reforms and free markets to a country used to strict control. Suddenly, a handful of young businessmen—known later as oligarchs—took advantage of this confusing time. They snatched up factories, oil fields, and banks at shockingly low prices. They loaned money to the government in exchange for valuable shares in powerful companies. As the old Soviet system fell apart, these oligarchs became incredibly wealthy and influential. They seemed to be the new masters of Russia’s economy, leaving former KGB officers struggling to hold onto their old power.
Before long, these business tycoons dominated key parts of Russia’s economy. They owned huge oil companies, metals factories, and major banks, making decisions that shaped the country’s financial direction. The KGB, which once controlled everything behind the scenes, now found itself sidelined. Yeltsin’s policies offered more freedom and allowed competition, so the old networks of secret agents no longer had an exclusive grasp on wealth. Some oligarchs became household names. They could influence election results, support political candidates, and guide government policies. With their money, they shaped media coverage, funded political parties, and sometimes even decided who rose and fell in public life. The KGB veterans watched in dismay as their old methods failed to compete with the raw power of the oligarchs’ money.
During these intense changes, the country’s leadership struggled to pay its bills. Government funds dried up, salaries were often late, and public trust in state institutions faded. The oligarchs stepped in with cunning loans-for-shares deals. They lent money to the government in return for stakes in important state-owned businesses. When the government couldn’t pay back, these valuable companies fell into the oligarchs’ hands for a fraction of their true worth. Just like that, men who were once ordinary businessmen turned into economic giants controlling the nation’s resources. This new era left many people disheartened. Ordinary Russians struggled with low wages, empty store shelves, and a sense that their country’s wealth had slipped into a few private pockets.
While the oligarchs flexed their new muscles, some former KGB insiders tried to hold on where they could. In certain cities like St. Petersburg, old agents quietly maintained influence behind the scenes. They formed partnerships, struck deals, and monitored local trade. The real power struggle was just beginning. Although the KGB was no longer a single mighty agency, many of its former members remained scattered throughout government and business. They remembered their training and understood that raw wealth wasn’t the only path to power. There were other ways—subtle influence, secret agreements, silent threats, and delicate political maneuvers. As the 1990s rolled on, these quiet players waited patiently for a chance to reclaim control. Little did anyone know that Vladimir Putin would be their ultimate champion in this silent war.
Chapter 3: Secret Webs Beneath St. Petersburg, How KGB Threads Shaped City’s Fate.
As the Soviet Union’s power faded, Vladimir Putin returned to Leningrad (soon to be renamed St. Petersburg). He arrived in a city struggling with empty stores, a weak economy, and criminal gangs that bullied local businesses. Into this environment stepped Anatoly Sobchak, a law professor who promised more democracy and openness. Putin worked closely beside him. On the surface, Sobchak’s ideas seemed very different from what the KGB had once stood for. However, behind this democratic curtain, old players found ways to remain important. Putin, once a quiet KGB man, acted as a bridge between the mayor’s office and former secret service networks. Through him, old agents and shady business figures began to shape deals, control trade, and direct valuable resources for their own benefit.
One clever trick they used was the creation of something called an obshchak, a secret slush fund. They issued export licenses to fake companies supposedly bringing food to hungry citizens. But instead of helping the people, the money vanished into hidden accounts. This secret money supported the KGB’s interests and funded their growing influence in the city. They also took over important places like the city’s port and oil terminal. By having their own people in charge of these strategic points, they could decide what came in and out, who got rich, and who stayed poor. These moves were not publicized, but they set the foundation for a bigger plan: to restore the old network’s hold on Russia’s future.
It wasn’t easy work. The city was chaotic, with organized crime groups fighting for their share of the market. Rival gangsters intimidated merchants, and violence sometimes spilled onto the streets. Yet, under Putin’s guidance, former KGB contacts formed alliances with powerful underworld figures. Together, they created a system where the lines between government, business, and crime were blurred. Licenses were traded not based on fairness or public good, but on loyalty and profit. With each shady deal, the old security men grew richer and more confident. They learned how to manipulate city officials, keep judges quiet, and scare away outsiders who tried to uncover their schemes.
As these hidden networks solidified, Putin’s star rose within Sobchak’s administration. Although he rarely made grand speeches or drew public attention, his quiet competence impressed those who mattered. He was the man who could get things done, the puzzle-solver who understood how to balance official duties with shadowy favors. By the time the city’s political scene shifted again, Putin had built a reputation as a reliable insider—someone who could handle delicate negotiations and keep secrets buried. Even when Sobchak lost an election, Putin’s destiny was not tied solely to local politics. He had learned valuable lessons on how power really worked. With a mixture of patience, cunning, and old KGB connections, he was ready to move on to the biggest stage of all: Moscow.
Chapter 4: A Silent Climb In Moscow Corridors, A Former KGB Man Advancing Swiftly.
In 1996, after Sobchak lost the mayoral race, Putin left St. Petersburg’s city government and headed to Moscow. There, doors opened in surprising ways. He joined the Kremlin administration, at first handling foreign property matters. This might sound dull, but controlling these assets meant dealing with the country’s massive wealth spread across the globe. It was the heart of Russia’s once-imperial fortune, a place where the right moves could bring enormous influence. Over the next few years, Putin climbed higher and higher, passing through a series of strategic promotions. He oversaw departments tasked with making sure the president’s orders were obeyed, even in unruly regions. Before long, he became head of the FSB, the agency that succeeded the KGB, thus taking charge of the very organization that had shaped him.
Putin’s rise was startlingly fast. To many Russians, he seemed to come out of nowhere, a quiet figure suddenly thrust into top positions. He wasn’t a flashy politician, nor did he carry the baggage of the wild oligarchs. He projected calm, order, and loyalty. Behind the scenes, it appeared as if older KGB generals and powerful insiders supported him. They needed someone dependable, someone who understood their language and methods. By August 1999, Putin was appointed prime minister. At the time, Russia was tense and uncertain. The public knew little about their new prime minister. He was a fresh face who could either fade away like many before him or become something greater.
Only weeks after Putin became prime minister, a series of horrific bombings in apartment buildings shocked the country. Hundreds died, and fear spread rapidly. The government blamed Chechen rebels, and Putin took center stage. He ordered tough military responses, vowing to bring safety and stability back to Russia. Some whispered that the bombings were suspicious, maybe even orchestrated by insider forces. No solid proof emerged to confirm such claims, but the timing benefited Putin. As a stern leader who promised to fight terror, he gained tremendous popularity. By the time President Yeltsin announced his resignation and named Putin as acting president on New Year’s Eve 1999, many Russians welcomed him as a hero who would restore order and pride to a wounded nation.
With Putin now in the top seat, the quiet network that had guided him upward could breathe easy. Their chosen champion had reached the ultimate prize: the Russian presidency. In less than a decade, a once-obscure KGB officer had transformed into the country’s most powerful figure. Russians, tired of chaos, hoped that he would bring stability, prosperity, and dignity. Yet, few understood that his calm exterior masked the influence of old agents and hidden deals. As the new millennium began, Putin’s Russia was poised on the edge of significant changes. Step by step, the state would tighten its grip over media, business, and public life. The path back to a form of controlled governance had started, fueled by old strategies and guided by men in the shadows.
Chapter 5: Breaking The Free Voices And Seizing Black Gold For Undeniable Command.
In Putin’s early years as president, Russia looked like it might head toward a stable democracy with free media and open markets. Some people believed that after the wild 1990s, the country would finally settle into fair laws and respectful politics. However, signs quickly emerged that Putin had a different vision. He disliked criticism on TV channels, newspapers, and radio. One of the first targets was Boris Berezovsky, an oligarch who owned a major TV station that often criticized Putin. The president’s allies dug up legal troubles against Berezovsky, forcing him to flee the country. Soon, the state tightened its grip on other media outlets, ensuring that what Russians saw and heard was guided by the Kremlin’s hand.
With the media largely tamed, Putin’s gaze turned toward the nation’s oil and gas industries. After all, energy was Russia’s most valuable resource, the black gold that powered its economy. During Yeltsin’s time, the oil sector had been carved up by a handful of oligarchs who controlled enormous fortunes. As oil prices climbed, these oligarchs became richer, sometimes challenging the government’s influence. Putin understood that whoever controlled oil controlled the nation’s heartbeat. He decided to bring it under state influence once again, step by step. Companies that once belonged to private hands would slowly return to a network overseen by people close to the Kremlin.
This process wasn’t neat or polite. The Kremlin started with investigations that often seemed suspiciously timed. Authorities accused top oil executives of crimes like tax evasion. Meanwhile, strange events occurred—like high-ranking oil officials getting kidnapped or forced into unfair deals. The message was clear: cooperate or face the consequences. Some companies struck deals to avoid destruction, quietly giving hidden stakes to those aligned with Putin. Others tried to resist, but resistance almost always ended badly. By using these tactics, the Kremlin gradually reassembled the old state power over energy resources. Once again, old KGB connections and trusted allies took their places at the top of oil giants and pipeline networks.
As Putin consolidated control, he ensured that any wealth flowing through Russia’s veins would also run through the Kremlin’s hands. Media no longer served as a platform for free debate, but as a tool to shape public opinion. Oil, instead of simply enriching a few businessmen, now enriched a circle of insiders loyal to the president’s cause. While many Russians welcomed the idea of a stronger, more stable leadership after years of chaos, they did not fully see the price being paid. A darker pattern was forming—one where the state ruled with hidden strings, and old security minds guided the future. These changes set the stage for even bigger confrontations and power plays, both inside Russia and on the global stage.
Chapter 6: Crushing The Mightiest Oligarch And Rebuilding A Shadowy Empire Of Control.
Among all the oil tycoons, Mikhail Khodorkovsky stood out. He owned Yukos, one of Russia’s largest and most successful oil companies. He was confident, bold, and didn’t shy away from questioning the Kremlin. Unlike other oligarchs who quietly accepted Putin’s new rules, Khodorkovsky funded pro-democracy groups and backed political opponents. He believed in more openness and less corruption. He even criticized government figures to their faces. This was dangerous. Putin’s circle watched with growing anger. To them, Khodorkovsky represented a threat—a wealthy man who wouldn’t submit, who dared to challenge their grip on power.
The Kremlin moved swiftly. First, they targeted Yukos’ security chief, linking him to violent crimes. Then, they arrested Khodorkovsky’s close business partner. As these legal troubles piled up, Yukos’ stock prices fell. Soon, armed men raided Yukos’ offices. Finally, Khodorkovsky himself was arrested and put on trial for tax fraud. The trial was widely criticized. Many believed the outcome was decided in advance. Laws seemed twisted to ensure Khodorkovsky’s downfall. In the end, he was found guilty and sent to prison for years. With Khodorkovsky locked away, the Kremlin broke Yukos into pieces, handing out its valuable parts to state-controlled companies and friendly businessmen.
This attack on Yukos sent a clear signal: no oligarch, no matter how rich, could defy Putin and walk away unscathed. Before, many business giants had acted almost like kings within their industries. After Yukos, they understood that the Kremlin was the ultimate judge and jury. Khodorkovsky’s punishment showed that the old KGB network, now wearing suits and working quietly in government offices, had regained the upper hand. Private business would continue, but not without recognizing the Kremlin’s authority. As oil fields returned to state-related control, and the media remained tightly managed, Russia slid back into a world where one group held the reins of power, wealth, and influence.
By crushing Yukos, Putin and his allies didn’t just settle a personal score—they demonstrated their strategy for ruling the country. They would use laws and courts as tools, not to ensure fairness, but to maintain their advantage. They would keep everyone guessing: who would be next if they dared to challenge the Kremlin’s wishes? In this shadowy empire, fortunes could be made or destroyed at the snap of a finger, and business leaders who once held the nation’s future in their hands now had to bow down. This was the turning point at which Putin’s Russia became a place where democracy looked like a distant dream. The old guardians of power had returned, ensuring their legacy would dominate the country’s future course.
Chapter 7: Turning Fear Into Favor, How A Theatre Siege Boosted A Leader’s Image.
In October 2002, armed Chechen militants took over a theatre in Moscow, holding hundreds of people hostage. The scene was terrifying. Innocent men, women, and children were trapped, explosives wired throughout the building. The attackers demanded an end to the brutal war in Chechnya. As the world watched, Russian officials prepared their response. After days of waiting, special forces pumped a mysterious gas into the theatre to knock everyone out. Unfortunately, the gas killed more than a hundred hostages. The soldiers then stormed the building and shot the unconscious Chechen fighters. The official version praised the operation as a rescue attempt, but many questioned the cruel methods and deaths of so many innocent people.
Some Kremlin insiders whispered dark rumors. They claimed the attack was secretly arranged by high-level officials wanting to justify the government’s harsh approach in Chechnya. If that were true, it would mean the whole tragedy was a cruel chess move to boost support for the war. Publicly, Putin was praised for acting decisively. Russia’s image as a strong state, unafraid to handle terrorists with iron fists, was reinforced. The security services got more funding. The Chechen war, which many had doubted, gained new public support. Whether the rumors were true or not, this event definitely gave Putin an opportunity to show himself as a protective leader willing to make tough choices.
The theatre siege also helped build a narrative of Russia as a nation under threat. To tighten their hold on the country, Kremlin officials encouraged pride in Russian Orthodox traditions and reminded people of Russia’s painful history of sacrifices. Anyone who opposed the war or questioned the government’s moves seemed disloyal, even if their doubts were reasonable. Meanwhile, anti-West feelings were stirred up by suggesting that Western nations somehow backed Chechen terrorists. Although there was no evidence, this talk inflamed distrust and made it easier for Putin’s circle to justify their policies. When revolutions in neighboring countries like Ukraine or Georgia leaned toward Western ideals, Moscow used these events to warn Russians about foreign interference and hidden agendas.
In this climate of fear and suspicion, Putin’s power solidified further. He positioned himself as the guardian of Russian identity, standing firm against enemies within and beyond its borders. Criticism of the government became risky, as those who spoke out were seen as weakening the nation’s unity. The result was a society more willing to accept stricter controls, less freedom of speech, and a president portrayed as a savior. The theatre siege was a tragedy that shook the world’s conscience, yet it also played into the Kremlin’s strategy. It turned a gruesome event into a tool of control, shaping public perception and bolstering a leadership style that prized loyalty, strength, and silence over open debate and genuine justice.
Chapter 8: Hidden Treasures And Twisted Deals, Building Secret Funds To Influence Neighbors.
By the mid-2000s, Putin’s network controlled major industries, the media, and the security forces. Yet, they wanted more than just domestic power. They aimed to create secret reserves of wealth—massive slush funds hidden in complicated financial webs. These funds allowed the Kremlin to enrich its leaders, reward loyal friends, and influence foreign affairs without leaving clear fingerprints. One way to do this was by manipulating state companies, selling shares at discounted prices to hidden allies who later channeled the money back into Kremlin-connected banks. Through these quiet schemes, Putin’s circle built secret treasure chests, money that could be used at home or abroad to push their agenda.
Ukraine soon became a target of these secretive financial moves. Russia knew that Ukraine depended heavily on its gas supply. With clever deals, the Kremlin forced Ukraine’s leaders to purchase gas through a middleman company. This suspicious company made huge profits and gave Russia extra leverage. If Ukraine tried to move closer to Western Europe, Moscow could threaten higher gas prices or other penalties. Over time, these tactics pressured Ukraine’s leadership, sometimes causing political crises and leadership changes. It was a way for the Kremlin to maintain influence without firing a single shot—just turn the economic screws and wait for the right outcome.
Beyond Ukraine, the Kremlin used its slush funds to cultivate friendships and power in other neighboring countries. Special front companies, offshore bank accounts, and secret financial arrangements allowed Russia to offer gifts and hidden loans to politicians, business leaders, and even media outlets willing to play by Moscow’s rules. In this way, public opinion and government policies could be nudged or twisted quietly. The West often misunderstood these operations, hoping that by engaging with Russia in honest business deals, they would encourage more transparency. Instead, Russian money seeped into European markets, forging subtle loyalties and weakening resistance against Moscow’s influence.
With each success, the Kremlin grew bolder. Its leaders realized that wealth could be just as powerful as armies. Money, not just guns, could sway elections, undermine rivals, and secure loyal allies abroad. These secret funds acted like roots spreading underground, nourishing a wide network of supporters who owed favors to the Kremlin. Countries that depended on Russian energy, loans, or investments found themselves locked into lopsided relationships. Gradually, this hidden empire of money and influence expanded beyond Eastern Europe. Soon, Russia would set its sights on a grander stage: London’s financial markets, Europe’s cultural arenas, and even the political landscapes of distant nations. The seeds sown in Ukraine were only the beginning of a much larger plan.
Chapter 9: Quiet Footsteps In London’s Streets, How Russian Wealth Whispered Into The West.
As Russia’s coffers swelled with cash from rising oil prices, the Kremlin looked beyond its borders to the global stage. London, with its powerful banks and prestigious stock exchange, became an attractive playground. Russian companies started selling shares in London, raising billions of dollars. British financiers embraced this new money eagerly, hoping profitable deals would follow. Yet, these partnerships brought more than just capital. They allowed the Kremlin’s web to spread quietly into Western financial systems. Lax rules compared to the United States made London an easier place for Russian companies—some not entirely transparent—to do business.
Western leaders believed that by tying Russia into their markets, they would encourage honesty and better governance. Instead, the opposite often happened. Russian oligarchs and state-linked firms brought their secretive ways with them. Shady front companies, confusing ownership structures, and suspicious transactions slipped through the cracks of the West’s financial defenses. Meanwhile, ordinary Londoners cheered when a Russian billionaire bought a famous football club. It seemed like harmless fun—just a rich fan investing in British sports. But behind the scenes, such moves built goodwill, making it easier for Russian money to blend in and gain acceptance.
This process didn’t just affect bankers and big investors. It flowed into real estate, art auctions, and luxury brands. Suddenly, London’s upscale neighborhoods hosted wealthy Russian families buying multi-million-pound mansions. Expensive cars, private schools, and lavish parties decorated their new lives. British lawyers, accountants, and advisors competed for their business. As everyone profited, fewer people questioned where the money came from or what strings might be attached. Bit by bit, Russian influence took root, not through invasion or threats, but through luxury and finance, two languages the West understood well.
As Russian capital integrated with Western markets, it carried political influence along. Companies partly owned by the Kremlin meant that whenever Westerners invested, they were becoming partners—however minor—with Russian state interests. This interconnectedness made it harder for Western governments to stand firm against Moscow’s more aggressive moves. Too much was at stake: investments, jobs, and economic stability. Thus, London became a quiet corridor allowing Russia to walk into the heart of Western financial life. But the Kremlin would not stop with money. It would soon look to gain political and cultural leverage, supporting certain political parties in Europe, financing think tanks, and even forging relationships that could affect major decisions about the future of the European continent.
Chapter 10: Battlefields Of Influence, Ukraine As A Chessboard For The Kremlin’s Wider Game.
When Putin returned to the presidency in 2012, Russia’s economy faced slowing growth. Instead of opening up and encouraging fair competition, the Kremlin doubled down on old tactics. Among these tactics was a renewed focus on the region’s political chessboard, especially Ukraine. For centuries, Ukraine was seen as part of Russia’s sphere of influence. When Ukrainians grew closer to Europe and embraced Western ideas, Moscow felt threatened. In 2014, Russia moved quickly and stealthily. Masked troops seized Crimea, a Ukrainian region with a large Russian-speaking population. In a rushed referendum, Crimea voted to join Russia. Suddenly, Europe and the United States realized that Russia was willing to redraw borders in the 21st century.
The West responded with sanctions, hoping to hurt Putin’s inner circle financially and force him to step back. Instead, the conflict spread to eastern Ukraine. Russian-backed rebels fought Ukrainian troops using equipment that seemed suspiciously similar to Russian military gear. Russia claimed the fighters were local volunteers, but evidence suggested direct Russian involvement. The fighting claimed thousands of lives and displaced many families. Rather than a quick solution, Ukraine became stuck in a long, painful struggle. For Russia, this was a powerful message: it could break European unity, test NATO’s resolve, and remind the world that it was still a force to be feared.
This aggression turned Ukraine into a stage for a larger power contest. Russia’s moves aimed to show that Western ideals, democratic revolutions, and NATO ambitions could be rolled back by force. The Kremlin believed that the West was weak, distracted, and unwilling to risk a big confrontation. By carving out a frozen conflict in eastern Ukraine, Russia guaranteed lasting leverage. It could ease or worsen tensions as needed, keeping Ukraine unstable and Europe uncertain. The goal was not only to control a piece of land but to send a signal that Russia’s desires could not be ignored.
Over time, the conflict shaped international relations. It complicated Russia’s ties with Europe and the U.S., leading to new rounds of sanctions and diplomatic standoffs. Ordinary Ukrainians paid the highest price, living under the shadow of violence and division. While the West tried to counter Russian aggression with economic pressure and diplomatic efforts, Putin’s circle seemed confident that the global order could be bent to their advantage. Ukraine’s struggle proved that money, disinformation, and well-timed military pressure could unsettle neighbors and challenge the rules-based system that the West cherished. This grim lesson would guide Russia’s future strategies as it continued to poke at Western weaknesses, seeking opportunities to expand its influence and protect its interests at any cost.
Chapter 11: Shadows Crossing Oceans, Cultural Soft Power And Surprising Allies In The West.
By the late 2010s, Russia’s approach became more complex and far-reaching. It wasn’t just about gas deals, hidden money, or grabbing territories. The Kremlin now invested heavily in what experts call soft power—shaping opinions, values, and beliefs without direct force. Russia set up cultural organizations, supported Orthodox Christian groups abroad, and funded think tanks that spread pro-Russian views. The idea was to make Russian interests appear natural and appealing. They backed far-right and far-left political groups in Europe, hoping to weaken European unity. They targeted countries like Hungary, the Czech Republic, and even major players like France and Germany. By promoting leaders who challenged mainstream European politics, Russia chipped away at the European Union’s strength.
In the United Kingdom, Russian investments flowed into political parties, and influential Russians built friendships with major British figures. Western politicians, business people, and intellectuals who accepted Russian money or invitations often found themselves caught in a web of subtle influence. It was not always about direct orders from the Kremlin. Just knowing that Moscow backed certain views or rewarded supportive voices could shift the political landscape. These methods were harder to trace than tanks or missiles, making them more dangerous to open societies that value free speech and debate.
Even across the Atlantic, in the United States, Russia attempted to gain ground. Before Donald Trump became president, he and some of his associates had crossed paths with suspicious Russian businessmen. While many of these deals never materialized into grand projects, they created connections and possibilities. During the 2016 U.S. presidential election, Russian-linked hackers released stolen emails from Trump’s opponent, Hillary Clinton, helping to create confusion and mistrust. Some Russians hoped Trump would ease sanctions, weaken NATO, or at least cause disagreements within America. Whether Russia’s involvement swung the election is still debated, but their preferred candidate’s victory certainly delighted many in the Kremlin.
With Trump in office, Russia saw an opportunity. Even if Trump was not directly controlled by Moscow, his tough talk about NATO’s costs, his fondness for strongman leaders, and his disruptive style all played into Russia’s hands. By encouraging divisions in the West—through Europe’s migrant crisis, support for Brexit, pushing extremist groups, and highlighting cultural conflicts—Russia aimed to weaken its rivals from within. The lesson from decades of careful plotting was clear: real power wasn’t just about armies or wealth. It was about shaping narratives, planting doubts, and slowly bending free societies toward confusion and conflict. The shadows that started in the secret halls of the KGB had now crossed oceans, influencing politicians, business leaders, and ordinary citizens in ways that were both subtle and profound.
All about the Book
Discover the untold story of Russia’s elite and Vladimir Putin’s rise to power in ‘Putin’s People.’ Catherine Belton uncovers the intricate connections between wealth, politics, and crime, revealing how Putin’s regime reshapes the global order.
Catherine Belton is an investigative journalist with extensive experience covering Russia, known for her insightful analysis and groundbreaking work revealing the inner workings of Vladimir Putin’s regime.
Political Analysts, Journalists, Historians, International Relations Experts, Business Executives
Reading Political Biographies, Studying Contemporary History, Exploring Geopolitical Issues, Investigative Journalism, Engaging in Political Discussions
Corruption in Putin’s regime, The influence of oligarchs, Manipulation of media and public opinion, International relations and geopolitical tension
To understand the Kremlin, you must first uncover the networks of power and the stories of those who wield it.
Masha Gessen, Timothy Snyder, Anne Applebaum
The Orwell Prize for Political Writing, The Pushkin House Book Prize, The James Tait Black Memorial Prize
1. Understand Putin’s rise to power in Russia. #2. Discover how KGB influences Russian politics today. #3. Explore the interconnection between oligarchs and Kremlin. #4. Learn about corruption’s roots in Russian government. #5. Grasp Putin’s network of loyal operatives’ influence. #6. Recognize the strategic use of Russia’s natural resources. #7. Examine manipulation of media under Putin’s regime. #8. Identify methods used to suppress political dissent. #9. Study the role of Russian intelligence in business. #10. Realize Western complicity with Russian elite’s actions. #11. Assess the impact of financial scandals in Russia. #12. Uncover Kremlin’s covert operations in international politics. #13. Investigate how Putin consolidates authoritarian control. #14. Recognize tactics used to undermine Western democracies. #15. Learn about Russian money laundering operations globally. #16. Understand the strategic objectives behind foreign investments. #17. Explore the personal influences shaping Putin’s policies. #18. Identify key insiders directing Kremlin’s global strategy. #19. Comprehend the geopolitical aims of Putin’s governance. #20. Evaluate the long-term consequences of Putin’s leadership.
Putin’s People, Catherine Belton, Russian politics, Kremlin secrets, Putin biography, Moscow elite, political corruption, oligarchy, Russian government, national security, political analysis, authoritarian regime
https://www.amazon.com/Putins-People-Belton/dp/0062942952
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