To gain a deep understanding of the psychology of contemporary Russia, one should dive into Peter Pomerantsev’s groundbreaking book, “Nothing Is True and Everything Is Possible,” published in 2014. This was the same year when Vladimir Putin forcefully annexed Crimea using disguised “little green men” who may or may not have been Russian soldiers. Pomerantsev masterfully encapsulates the cultivated unreality and sinister surrealism that permeates Russian society, a reality that was momentarily disrupted by Yevgeny Prigozhin’s failed mutiny.
As a British journalist, Pomerantsev spent nearly a decade in Moscow, primarily working on reality TV shows for a Russian entertainment channel. This unique vantage point allowed him to witness firsthand the Kremlin’s relentless efforts to construct an image of Putin as an unbeatable and flawless leader. Within this constructed reality, individuals dare not speak their true thoughts and opinions, and even the concept of truth becomes elusive, as everything is potentially a lie.
Pomerantsev astutely remarks on the disorienting nature of this society, stating, “You are encouraged to have one identity one moment and the opposite the next. You’re always fragmented and unable to fully commit to change. This results in the pervasive apathy that is so frequently encountered here — the same mindset that upheld the USSR now supports the new Russia.”
It was from this world of illusions that the war against Ukraine was launched. Every claim made by the Kremlin regarding the invasion has either been a falsehood or a result of self-delusion. Whether it’s the changing justifications for the war, the unrealistic optimism, the scale of the casualties, or the euphemistic term “special military operation,” the truth has been artfully obscured. Only in May did Putin finally acknowledge it as an “actual war,” yet portrayed it as an assault on Russia.
What is truly unsettling is the question of whether Putin himself believes the narrative he perpetuates or if he is merely the mastermind behind an elaborate charade. Regardless, something went awry in Putin’s approach beyond the obvious incompetence of his military, Ukrainian bravery, and Western intervention. In essence, the problem lies in the fact that a monopoly on truth can only be maintained through a monopoly on violence. For the “Big Brother” to successfully propagate the “Big Lie,” he must possess the “Big — and only — Gun.” Otherwise, the lie eventually collapses.
Yet, Putin attempted to uphold his monopoly on truth even as he allowed Prigozhin’s Wagner Group to operate independently alongside the fighters of Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov. Putin likely pursued this strategy to create competing centers of power that remain loyal to him but harbor deep hostility toward one another, a tried-and-true method of effective dictatorships. However, this approach comes with inherent risks, including the possibility that someone from within these centers of power will dare to reveal an inconvenient truth.
And that’s precisely what Prigozhin did. However, his mutiny did not occur through a physical takeover of Rostov-on-Don or a brief march on Moscow; rather, it manifested in a 30-minute diatribe on Telegram where he exposed the truth about the war. He revealed that it was a poorly planned operation that resulted in the deaths of thousands of highly trained Russian soldiers in its initial days, contrary to the official narrative of the war and its justifications perpetuated by the Ministry of Defense.
Aside from Prigozhin’s self-serving attempt to shift blame from Putin to his generals, his revelations come closest to the truth that Russians are likely to hear. This may explain why he was hailed as a hero in Rostov-on-Don, as people found temporary liberation not only from the grip of the Kremlin’s political and security apparatus but also from the effects of its propaganda-induced numbness.
There is something invigorating and unsettling about hearing the truth, even if it stems from a self-interested thug. It forces us to confront the horrifying choices Russia faces in this war: a humiliating defeat, a bloody stalemate, or an escalation that could ignite a much wider conflict. There are also underlying fears, buried deep within, of self-indictment when ordinary Russians confront the atrocities committed in their name, whether due to apathy or blind nationalism.
Western commentary since Prigozhin’s mutiny suggests that Putin’s invincibility has been shattered, his facade of strength exposed. However, it remains uncertain whether this will result in any tangible change. Putin’s most vocal and credible internal critic may now vanish, silenced by those in power. Russians may choose the comforting realm of pleasant lies, which they have long been complicit in, over the harsh reality. Putin will likely continue to rule within his insular bubble because the alternatives, including defeat and chaos, appear more daunting. Only a resolute Ukrainian victory has the potential to rupture this illusory world.
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