As Putin Marks 25 Years in Power, Has He Truly ‘Taken Care of Russia’?
New Year’s Eve in 1999 is a day I’ll never forget. Back then, I was working as a producer for the BBC in Moscow. The holiday atmosphere was suddenly interrupted by breaking news: Russian President Boris Yeltsin had stepped down.
The announcement came out of nowhere, catching even the British press corps in Moscow off guard. With no correspondent available, I had to step in, writing and delivering my first-ever BBC report.
“Boris Yeltsin always said he’d finish his term in office,” I wrote. “Today, he told Russia he’d changed his mind.”
That day wasn’t just the start of my reporting career—it was also the beginning of Vladimir Putin’s rise to power.
After Yeltsin’s resignation, Russia’s Prime Minister Vladimir Putin stepped in as acting president, as the constitution required. Just three months later, he secured his position in a national election. Yeltsin’s parting words to him were simple: “Take care of Russia.”
A Quarter Century of Leadership
Fast forward 25 years, and those words from Yeltsin feel more poignant than ever, especially as Russia’s war on Ukraine edges closer to its third year.
Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has brought immense destruction and suffering, not only to Ukraine but also to Russia itself. Ukraine has seen its cities ravaged, nearly 20% of its territory occupied, and millions of its people displaced. But Russia, too, has paid a steep price:
- Heavy military losses on the battlefield.
- Frequent drone attacks on its own towns and cities.
- Ukrainian forces occupying parts of Russia’s Kursk region.
- Straining economic sanctions tightening their grip.
- A worsening demographic crisis and intensifying domestic repression.
Reflecting on Yeltsin’s words, I can’t help but wonder: has Putin truly taken care of Russia?
The Evolution of Vladimir Putin
When Putin first came to power, few could have predicted he’d still be in charge 25 years later or that he would lead Russia into an all-out war with Ukraine while locking horns with the West. Over the decades, I’ve seen multiple versions of Putin emerge.
I’m not alone in noticing this transformation. Former NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson recalled a very different Putin during their initial encounters.
“The Putin I met and worked with was pragmatic. He even supported Ukraine’s sovereignty. That man is unrecognizable today,” Lord Robertson told me in 2023. “Now, he’s someone with a megalomaniacal ambition to restore Russia’s glory.”
Robertson’s take is that Putin’s desire to reclaim Russia’s position as a global superpower, comparable to the Soviet Union, has fueled his increasingly aggressive policies.
The Kremlin, however, frames it differently. Putin often portrays himself as a defender of Russian sovereignty. He argues that the West has repeatedly lied to and disrespected Russia, dismissing its concerns. In this narrative, his actions—however extreme—are meant to protect the nation’s independence.
Facing the Question Head-On
At a recent press conference, I had the rare chance to pose a direct question to Putin. Four hours into the marathon event, I reminded him of Yeltsin’s famous words.
“Boris Yeltsin asked you to take care of Russia,” I said. “But with the heavy losses in Ukraine, sanctions, inflation, and even Ukrainian troops in Russian territory, do you feel you’ve lived up to that promise?”
“Yes,” he responded. “Not only have I taken care of Russia, but I’ve pulled it back from the brink of collapse.”
Putin painted a bleak picture of Yeltsin’s era, accusing the West of exploiting Russia’s vulnerabilities. In contrast, he claimed his leadership had secured Russia’s sovereignty.
But is this a convenient narrative crafted to justify his controversial actions, including the war in Ukraine? Or does he genuinely believe he’s safeguarded Russia’s future?
A Pivotal Question for Russia’s Future
The answer to that question may determine how this war ends and what lies ahead for Russia. For now, it remains unclear. What is evident, though, is that Vladimir Putin’s 25 years in power have profoundly reshaped both Russia and its place in the world.
