How to Slay a Dragon
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Is Russia Really Winning in Ukraine? Putin's Fake Victories
Commanders lie to the generals, the generals lie to Putin, contract soldiers pay with their lives.
Nov 6
•
Mikhail Khodorkovsky
88
5
18
October 2026
Is Putin really dreaming of living to 150?
I don't think Putin fully believes these stories. What should worry us is that future of the world depends on one man who is no longer young, and that…
Oct 27
•
Mikhail Khodorkovsky
47
9
6
Putin Dreams of a New Yalta. He Will Get a Folding Chair
Trump is open to talks between the United States, Russia and China. After 25 years of Putin's rule, Russia can count on a seat at the side of the table.
Oct 26
•
Mikhail Khodorkovsky
78
8
9
China Sets Its Price for Russian Gas — and It’s Punishingly Low
Putin is taking ritual steps so that Trump keeps his position, counting on another winter of strikes on Ukraine's energy system. But after the US…
Oct 26
•
Mikhail Khodorkovsky
66
2
8
Weekly Q&A: Why Is Trump Siding With Putin?
Topics of this week include: Trump's diesel deal with Putin and his attack on Zelensky, Ukraine's strikes on Russian data centers, Europe's plans to…
Oct 19
•
Mikhail Khodorkovsky
56
5
8
Putin Is Betting on Winter and on Europe's Far Right. Both Bets Will Fail
Putin hopes to break Ukraine this winter and to find friendlier governments in Europe next year. Meanwhile, Gerhard Schröder has taken a new job in…
Oct 13
•
Mikhail Khodorkovsky
199
5
28
No War, No Putin: Why a Peace Treaty with Him Would Be Self-Deception
At the Warsaw Security Forum, I explained why signing a lasting treaty with Putin would be self-deception, where his regime is vulnerable, and what…
Oct 13
•
Mikhail Khodorkovsky
100
4
16
On Trump's Plan to Trade Sanctions for Political Prisoners
Trump has reportedly backed a plan to ease sanctions on Russia in exchange for political prisoners. In Belarus, the money from such deals ends up in…
Oct 12
•
Mikhail Khodorkovsky
69
5
6
September 2026
Could a machine give Russia’s nuclear launch order?
Russia hid its doomsday nuclear retaliation system in a giant bunker under a mountain. One of its developers says it can now retaliate without human…
Sep 27
•
Mikhail Khodorkovsky
50
9
10
The New Russia Sanctions Look Tough. Are They?
The measures look very tough. But Trump has considerable freedom over how he uses them.
Sep 20
•
Mikhail Khodorkovsky
47
1
11
The mobilization will not be televised. It will just happen
It is the fundamental error of the West to assume Putin is looking for a way out. He thinks he just has to hold on a little longer, and then everything…
Sep 17
•
Mikhail Khodorkovsky
208
16
37
What happens if Putin is no longer up to the job?
Russian dictator repeats nonsense about orcas and missiles, gets battlefield locations wrong and struggles to read prepared answers.
Sep 17
•
Mikhail Khodorkovsky
154
13
28
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