A new documentary film has appeared in Russia, dedicated to Vladimir Putin’s 25-year period in power and his impact on the fate of the country
According to the Russian propaganda outlet RBC, this project has already been completed and is soon to be broadcast on the state television channel “Russia.” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that the film will air and that its creators are experienced and talented specialists who managed to gather unique footage and facts from the life and career of the current leader of Russia. In official comments, Peskov stated that the film covers the period from 2000 to 2025 and shows "how he has been leading our country for 25 years." According to the spokesperson, it is "about how he maintained power and shaped the current political climate in Russia." He added that the film contains "the most interesting and valuable footage from personal archives, as well as comments from leading experts and observers." However, regarding the release date, duration, and other details, the spokesperson refrained from commenting. This film is yet another example of actively promoting the official narrative of Putin as a "successful politician" who has "been governing the country for nearly three decades." Considering his long-standing time in power, it is worth noting that Vladimir Putin has been elected president of Russia five times and has effectively been in charge of the country since the early 2000s. At the same time, his rule has been accompanied by numerous controversial events: mass election falsifications, persecution of opposition figures, and accusations of suppressing freedom of speech and public protests. Since coming to power in 2000, Putin has witnessed and been involved in a number of tragic and conflict-ridden events. Starting with the First Chechen War and a series of terrorist attacks in Moscow and other cities, which official narratives attribute to Chechen militants or "extremists," yet many believe these incidents may have hidden links to the Russian authorities to justify military operations. In 2008, Russia launched a large-scale invasion of Georgia during the South Ossetian conflict, an action many experts and analysts labeled as Russian aggression and an attempt to maintain influence in the region. On the internal front, Putin maintains strict control over the situation in Russia. Attempts by opposition, independent media, and activists have repeatedly been blocked or prosecuted under fabricated charges. Furthermore, in 2014, Russia annexed Crimea, and in the conflict zone in Donbas, it supported pro-Russian separatist formations, turning the situation into a military crisis that elicited widespread international condemnation and sanctions. The situation worsened even further with the large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The Kremlin announced a "special military operation," but the actual circumstances and goals of Russia contradict these statements. Ukrainian and Western experts insist that this is an act of aggression that has caused a large-scale humanitarian catastrophe, destruction of cities, and the killing of civilians. The international community, including the EU, the US, and others, imposed series of sanctions on Russia, critically limiting the country's economy and international relations. Additionally, in 2023, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin for war crimes, including the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia—an event that caused wide resonance and lively debates in legal circles and among the public. This, along with numerous accusations of human rights violations and election falsifications, constructs the image of Putin as one of the key figures in contemporary global politics—an image that elicits mixed assessments. Against this backdrop, an unexpected news appeared in society about a Polish biographical film, released in Ukraine in January 2025, titled “The Death of Putin.” Directed by Patrick Vega, the film depicts the life of the Russian leader from his childhood to the moment when he was "swept away" by the full-scale war in Ukraine. The plot even foresees Putin’s death in 2026, which sparked significant interest and discussion among political and cultural circles. This film has become a kind of mirror reflecting Ukrainian and global critique of his regime, illustrating how, through artistic reinterpretation in cinema, one can express attitudes towards Russia, its leadership, and their actions over the past two decades. It has become part of a broader wave of analyses and debates regarding the future of the region and the role played by one of the most influential political leaders in contemporary history.