The book is in English. Order the Russian version here: War and Punishment

“History is made of myths,” writes renowned Russian dissident journalist Mikhail Zygar. “Alas, our myths have led us to the fascism of 2022. The time has come to expose them.” Drawing on his perilous career exploring the borders of the Russian Empire, Zygar shows how 350 years of propaganda, bad history, folk tales, and fantasy pushed his country to war with Ukraine.

A recognized expert on the Kremlin with unprecedented access to hundreds of participants in the current conflict—from politicians to oligarchs, gangsters to comedians—Zygar traces the power struggles that gave rise to modern politics and extracts essential truths from beneath layers of seductive legends.