The Scheme to Overthrow Putin

Vladislav Ammosov, once a devoted officer in Russia’s military-intelligence unit, the GRU, has dramatically shifted his view of his homeland. “It was my childhood dream to become an officer and defend the country,” he recalls of his younger days spent in a village in Siberia. Now, having risen to the rank of captain, he is in Warsaw, applying for political asylum after leading a brigade of anti-Putin fighters in Ukraine.

Ammosov fought alongside Ukrainian troops, opposing those who once were his fellow countrymen. The onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 catalyzed Ammosov’s transformation from patriotism to a dream rooted in destruction. “I dream of destroying it, by any means necessary,” he shares, revealing the intensity of his disillusionment.

A crucial aspect of Ammosov’s identity is his Sakha heritage—a Turkic people native to Siberia. Sakha, a resource-rich province in northeastern Russia, has led its citizens into poverty as Moscow oligarchs, allegedly aligned with Vladimir Putin, benefit from its vast resources. “We are richer than the Arabs,” Ammosov states, “but we live in poverty.” This stark injustice ignited his desire to incite change, turning his grief over personal losses, including the murder of his brother, into a motive for insurrection.

The war he views as an opportunity to wrest control from Moscow’s imperial grasp and strive for Sakha’s independence. “I am a former GRU captain,” he asserts with conviction. “I know how to destroy countries.” This knowledge stems from his work as a senior researcher within Russia’s military apparatus focusing on targeting the economic vulnerabilities of adversaries, which he now contemplates applying to Russia itself.

The atmosphere in Poland’s Russian exile community is charged. As passive opposition to Putin’s regime has grown increasingly futile, a cohort of Russians—both within the nation and abroad—are increasingly leaning into the idea that liberation requires violent action. A myriad of beliefs exists within this group; some, like Ammosov, seek to fracture Russia entirely, while others, including far-right nationalists, aim to purge nonethnic Russians from power structures.

Interestingly, the members of this revolutionary movement are well aware of the daunting challenges ahead. “Of course,” Ammosov acknowledges when considering threats to his safety. “We’re at war.” A recent reminder of the stakes unfolded for Ilya Ponomarev, an anti-Putin leader who survived a drone strike in Kyiv, escalating the perception of risk they all face.

Historically, Russian revolutions have drawn on a legacy of political violence. Today’s dissidents find themselves in a convoluted tape of politics mirroring earlier eras. Sean Guillory, a historian, notes that resorting to violence emerges partly from the vacuum in conventional political structures. For Ammosov and his cohort, the real dilemma isn’t whether to embrace violence; it’s whether such action can succeed after other methods have failed.

Denis Sokolov, an essential figure in recruiting modern Russian revolutionaries, has witnessed this ideological shift firsthand. His organization, the Civic Council, aims to connect Russian volunteers willing to fight in Ukraine against Putin’s forces. Sokolov, a social anthropologist, believes strongly that Russia lacks a future under its current regime and supports regional independence, including that of Ammosov’s Sakha.

Sokolov describes the reality facing Russians today: fleeing the country is one option, while another involves sacrificing their lives fighting for an unjust cause. The frustration is palpable. Many Russian men feel isolated, leading them to yearn for brotherhood found in resistance against their government. This desire manifests as relatives and friends join forces, with individuals like “Valter,” a wounded volunteer seeking redemption in the battle against Russia’s aggression.

Tatiana Kosinova, who aids Sokolov in recruiting efforts, highlights her pride in her son as he becomes a combatant against Russian troops. Her background as part of Memorial, a disbanded human rights organization, feeds her passion for resistance and the urgent need to remove Putin from power.

As the conflict escalated, stories of individuals like Itil, a former clerk in a military command center, echoed a resurgence in militant ideologies. Once fearful of imprisonment for opposing the war, he now attends to the wounded in Kyiv. In his reflections, he reveals an unwillingness to flee his homeland again, showcasing the resilient spirit among those dedicated to opposing Putin’s regime.

The rise of digital communication has streamlined the process of recruitment. Sokolov’s Civic Council outlines procedures on platforms like Telegram, encouraging anyone who wishes to resist Putin’s regime to apply. This reach extends to individuals inside Russia and abroad, paving the way for an influx of recruits from diverse backgrounds, all motivated by a unified goal against oppression.

Despite progress, challenges remain. The establishment of helpful networks and units, such as the Siberian Battalion, led by Ammosov, faces bureaucratic hurdles and infiltration risks from Russia’s security services. As they seek to coalesce into a more effective fighting force, results have been inconsistent, and the situation remains precarious.

The symbolic significance of Russian volunteers lends weight to their cause, even if they do not pose a tangible military threat to the Kremlin. Their actions aim to disrupt the narrative Putin has crafted about unwavering national unity against Ukraine. While there may be no clear, defined strategy to overthrow the regime, the collective momentum has taken on a life of its own.

Drawing parallels with past revolutions, Ammosov remains hopeful. History has shown that countries can crumble without warning, proving that a sudden uprising is always a possibility. With each passing day, the oppressed continue to organize, the stage set for history to repeat itself.

Source: Business Insider