The Ruthless Bully and Master Manipulator: Putin’s Global Web of Violence and Deception

How Propaganda, Power, and Greed Fuel Putin’s Evil Ambitions

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” —Edmund Burke

Russia’s history is marked by violence and bloodshed, from Ivan the Terrible’s ruthless campaigns to Stalin’s purges, which are estimated to have caused between 20-30 million deaths, with some estimates being as high as 40 million. Vladimir Putin stands as the latest tyrant in this long, brutal lineage, seizing control and holding it with an iron grip. Like his predecessors, he manipulates the masses, silences opposition, and wages war to secure his power. Russia’s story is not just one of conquering land but breaking people’s spirits and destroying lives—a relentless cycle of murder and mayhem.

Most of my friends and family know very little about Russia’s violent past or who Vladimir Putin truly is. “Who cares? He’s on the other side of the planet, right?” For centuries, Russia's brutality terrorized its neighbors, largely confining its aggression to the region. Now, however, in an age where technology shrinks the world, Putin has become the first Russian tyrant capable of exporting this domination on a global scale. Understanding who this man is has never been more critical, as his influence spreads rapidly, with Europe and the United States squarely in his sights.

Vladimir Putin’s violent demeanor is said to have started at an early age. Biographer Masha Gessen describes his childhood as marked by frequent brawls and a no-retreat attitude. Early accounts suggest he was a fearless bully, ready to start a fight with anyone at any time. His combative nature was further honed through judo training, where he earned a black belt, reflecting his disciplined approach to conflict. Gessen and other biographers argue that Putin’s aggressive youth, combined with his KGB background, directly shaped his authoritarian and ruthless political style.

Putin joined the KGB after graduating from Leningrad State University in 1975, serving as an intelligence officer. For those unfamiliar, the KGB—now known as the FSB—operates much like a state-run mafia. During his tenure, particularly in East Germany, Putin sharpened his espionage, surveillance, and manipulation skills. The KGB’s aggressive, secretive, and power-hungry culture shaped his methods, driving him to use violent tactics to secure his position and eliminate opposition. This background instilled in him a mindset of preemptive action and domination, evident in his handling of political dissent and territorial ambitions at home and abroad.

Putin became Prime Minister of Russia in August 1999, during a period when Boris Yeltsin’s declining health left a power vacuum that Putin quickly began to fill. Within weeks of gaining power, Putin leveraged his position to launch a military campaign in Chechnya, marking the start of the Second Chechen War. This conflict, which resulted in as many as 80,000 deaths according to some estimates, was framed by Putin as an “anti-terrorist operation” and played a critical role in consolidating his power. It also set the tone for his presidency, characterized by an unrelenting drive to expand Russia’s influence and territory through brutal military force. This aggressive approach has persisted throughout his time in power, cementing his reputation as a shrewd and ruthless leader.  

Vladimir Putin’s military conflicts have erupted repeatedly over his 24 years in power, causing immense human suffering. Estimates suggest that millions have lost their lives due to his aggressive campaigns to secure more personal wealth and power, with countless others displaced or injured. From the destruction of Grozny in the brutal Chechen wars to the annexation of Crimea, the invasion of Georgia, the Syrian civil war, and the ongoing devastation in Ukraine, these conflicts have been marked by widespread atrocities—indiscriminate bombings of civilian areas, the use of banned weapons, and relentless suppression of dissent. Beyond the staggering loss of life, the destabilization and displacement caused by Putin’s ruthless pursuit of power have inflicted long-term suffering on tens of millions, if not more.

Putin has not only wielded his military power to intimidate and subjugate neighboring nations, but he has also turned this force inward, exerting control over Russia’s wealth. By systematically nationalizing many of the country’s most profitable companies, he consolidated state power and ensured his regime’s dominance over vital economic sectors. To manipulate public perception, Putin framed these takeovers as “necessary steps to protect Russia’s economic sovereignty” and “national security.” In other words, he effectively seized control of Russia’s wealthiest companies and convinced his citizens that it was all in their best interest.

Beyond Russia’s borders, Putin has employed private military groups like the Wagner Group to extend his influence into resource-rich regions such as Africa, where he has a strong presence. In these areas, his private armies have violently seized control of valuable natural resources, including gold, diamonds, oil, gas, and rare earth minerals, often under the cynical pretext of “peacekeeping missions.” Alongside these brutal tactics, Putin’s regime has reportedly paid off African leaders to present Russia as an ally while ruthlessly exploiting their nations and killing their people. These actions underscore Putin’s barbaric and manipulative strategy of using both state and private military forces to enrich his regime and strengthen his geopolitical influence, all at the expense of foreign nations and their innocent civilians.

Instead of seeing Vladimir Putin as merely the president of Russia, it’s more fitting to view him as a global mafia boss. Unlike the regional mob figures in films like Casino or shows like The Sopranos, Putin commands one of the world’s largest armies and controls vast amounts of natural resources, enabling him to commit large-scale crimes on a global stage—and bribe or kill anyone who tries to get in his way.

As a former high-ranking KGB officer, Vladimir Putin has mastered not only the art of manipulation and psychological warfare but also expanded these techniques to exert global influence, deterring international forces from challenging his agenda. Whether through extortion, bribery, blackmail, or strategic manipulation, Putin operates with the calculated precision of a criminal mastermind who seems untouchable. His vast personal wealth and control over Russia’s immense natural resources—particularly oil and gas—give him substantial leverage over foreign politicians and global markets, often forcing nations into compliance to avoid economic turmoil.

Backed by an expansive spy network and a formidable military, Putin uses more than just financial leverage; he intimidates and coerces those who resist, ensuring submission by any means necessary. When softer tactics fail, his KGB-honed skills come into sharper focus, with credible reports of sabotage, cyber warfare, and targeted assassinations against those who dare oppose him. This potent blend of wealth, espionage, and military power has allowed Putin to control narratives, destabilize opponents, and reshape global geopolitics to his advantage. Through these calculated and often ruthless strategies, he has amassed unparalleled wealth and influence, solidifying his status as one of the most formidable—and feared—leaders on the world stage.

Through his ruthless approach, Vladimir Putin has positioned himself as the de facto leader among the world’s autocrats. Recognizing that a world dominated by authoritarian rulers serves his interests far better than democratic governments, he exports his expertise in coercion and power consolidation to like-minded regimes, teaching other dictators how to tighten their grip on power and amass more wealth. Additionally, he helps aspiring dictators consolidate their power by providing them with strategies to dismantle democratic institutions and silence opposition. Hungary seems to be one of Putin’s most recent victims, with Viktor Orbán drawing on their close relationship to reshape the constitution and convert Hungary from a democracy into something closer to a dictatorship. Orbán has held onto power for 13 years, benefiting from their alliance as he tightens his grip on the country, echoing many of Putin’s authoritarian tactics. To safeguard these autocratic allies, Putin often deploys his private military forces as security, stabilizing their regimes and ensuring their loyalty. He also utilizes his extensive propaganda network to spread disinformation, bolstering these dictatorships by manipulating public perception both domestically and internationally. For instance, during the 2020 uprising in Belarus, Putin swiftly sent forces to quell protests and maintain Alexander Lukashenko’s rule. Similarly, he has stationed private forces in Venezuela to protect Nicolás Maduro from internal and external threats. These authoritarian leaders, heavily reliant on Putin’s backing, function much like mafia underbosses, enabling him to enrich himself further while expanding his global network of authoritarianism. This strategy has made Putin a pivotal figure in the resurgence of global authoritarianism, reshaping the political landscape to his advantage.

Although Vladimir Putin has benefited greatly from economic ties with Western governments, he despises the West for promoting democratic values like human rights, liberty, and the rule of law—principles that undermine authoritarian control. To maintain his grip on power, he relentlessly demonizes the West to his population, portraying Western nations as hostile enemies bent on invading and destroying Russia, which his propaganda network continuously echoes. This tactic mirrors that of cult leaders, fostering an “us versus them” mentality. In a speech in 2022, Putin labeled the United States and Europe as being “satanic,” a narrative amplified by state-controlled media to instill fear and loyalty within the populace.

If you’re noticing a trend between the bloody “peacekeeping operations” in Africa to seize valuable resources, the “anti-terrorism” missions in Chechnya that bomb innocent civilians to conquer territory, Putin’s theft of Russian natural resources under the guise of “economic security,” and labeling countries trying to stop a genocide as “satanic,” you’ve likely recognized him as an orchestrator of manipulation. His invasion of Ukraine, framed as a “denazification” effort to liberate the people of Ukraine, is another example of this deception. By labeling his brutal actions with benign or favorable terms, Putin not only misleads the global community but also plays psychological games designed to obscure the truth and undermine opposition. This tactic of rebranding atrocities as noble causes is a large-scale deception aimed at distorting reality and eroding the ability of others to challenge his narrative.

With virtually limitless resources, Putin can pay substantial sums to influential figures worldwide who are willing to peddle his propaganda and manipulate public opinion. His narrative portrays himself as a strong leader and Russia as a noble country victimized by so-called “Western aggression.” While his propaganda network funds anyone willing to promote this agenda, it has gained significant traction in far-right communities across Europe and the United States.

A recent indictment against a right-wing media company in Tennessee highlights this tactic. In addition to the seven individuals already named in the indictment, approximately 600 others in the United States are currently being monitored by the FBI for allegedly working with Putin’s vast propaganda network to support Donald Trump’s political campaign and discourage support for Ukraine. This isn’t hearsay either—one of the top Russian figures involved in the network publicly admitted to their involvement after their company was exposed, confirming the U.S. indictment. If you’re interested in learning more, I’ll link to another article I wrote on this topic below—it’s a quick read, about seven minutes long, and I highly encourage you to check it out.

By constantly peddling dishonest propaganda around the world, Putin creates a smokescreen that confuses the public and leads to disengagement. This tactic, a form of psychological warfare known as gaslighting, distorts reality by overwhelming people with contradictory information, making it difficult for them to focus on his atrocities. By shaping the political landscape to his advantage, Putin ensures he can continue his vicious crime spree unchecked. This disorientation solidifies his grip on power and serves as a model for other dictators. 

Currently, NATO is the only significant force standing in Putin’s way. This is why it’s particularly troubling to hear political figures like Donald Trump openly discuss removing the U.S. from NATO, a move that would essentially render the alliance powerless. It would leave Europe to defend itself against Putin’s regime and its ambitions to conquer European countries. Equally troubling is how members of the Republican Party have been keen on blocking support for Ukraine, effectively saving Putin from the consequences of his disastrous decision to invade Ukraine. Putin is struggling badly in Ukraine, and this war might have already ended if he weren’t banking on Donald Trump winning the presidency and withholding military aid from Ukraine. Such actions would hand Vladimir Putin the biggest victory of his life, allowing him to continue pillaging sovereign nations and killing innocent civilians to amass more wealth and power, all without facing any repercussions. If this were to happen, Putin would stand to gain trillions, which raises the question: how much might he be willing to offer Trump to make it a reality?

Is the United States Putin’s next target, and is Donald Trump the next Viktor Orbán who will convert a democracy into an autocracy? Does it raise any red flags that Orbán has traveled to Mar-a-Lago for private meetings with Trump—multiple times? And is it alarming that Trump recently praised Orbán during a presidential debate? Most people don’t realize that to someone like Vladimir Putin, hundreds of millions—or even billions—are nothing when it comes to influencing powerful politicians. To put it in perspective, Putin’s vacation home alone is worth over $1.4 billion. Ask yourself an honest question: do you think Donald Trump would sell out this country for ungodly amounts of money from a hostile dictator? Remember that he has already openly “joked” about fleeing the country. Also, keep in mind that Putin offers political asylum to those who serve his interests. This is all public knowledge.

Remember who helped Donald Trump financially after U.S. banks blacklisted him following multiple bankruptcies in the 2000s…

“Russians make up a pretty disproportionate cross-section of a lot of our assets,” - Donald Trump Jr., 2008

“We see a lot of money pouring in from Russia.” - Donald Trump Jr., 2008 

The KGB and its successor, the FSB, have long used financial vulnerability as a key tactic for compromising influential individuals. When someone is in financial distress, they are more likely to accept money or favors, even if it means becoming entangled with foreign powers. By providing financial lifelines to those in dire need, the FSB effectively gains leverage over them, often pulling them into a web of manipulation and control. This tactic has been a go-to method for decades, allowing the Russian regime to exert influence over compromised individuals on a global scale.

Putin has been wreaking havoc around the globe for decades, but now he is at his weakest point, presenting a critical opportunity for the international community to dismantle his criminal regime once and for all. This isn’t just about our safety—there are currently around 3 billion innocent people living under the iron grip of ruthless dictators. A handful of greedy old men destroy billions of lives, squandering unimaginable amounts of human potential in pursuit of their sick desires for power and wealth. To prevent the dystopian future Putin envisions, with his gang of violent autocrats ruling the world, we must remain united and support Western-aligned nations, especially Ukraine, which stands on the front lines of Putin’s terror.

By standing united and accelerating Putin’s downfall, we could trigger a chain reaction that weakens other authoritarian regimes and paves the way for a more just and free world—filled with love, innovation, and prosperity. Putin desperately wants a divided and weakened United States, which is exactly the divisive rhetoric his friend Donald Trump is amplifying on a regular basis. Russian propagandists, along with their far-right agents, frequently fuel talk of a Civil War in the U.S., almost giving us a glimpse into their playbook. Considering that the United States leads NATO, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see how all of the divisive chaos Trump is creating benefits Putin, who openly seeks to destroy democracies.

The level of freedom we currently enjoy is rare in the grand scheme of things, and it could all be gone in the blink of an eye—just as the entire country suddenly shut down in March 2020. The United States remains the world’s beacon of liberty. It’s in all of our best interests to talk to one another and spread truthful information so we don’t fall victim to Putin’s scheme to continue sowing chaos for his own gain.

Thank you for reading this article. I’ve been studying this topic for many years, and I’m trying to share what I’ve learned with those less familiar with the subject. If you found this article informative, please share it with your friends and family to help raise awareness. Propaganda only works on the uninformed. If you’d like to read another article I wrote on this subject, I’ll link it here (and below). I’ve also included a short but insightful video on Russian propaganda from Anna Danylchuk, a terrific communicator with direct experience. Thanks again, and take care.

“Power is not a means; it is an end. One does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution; one makes the revolution in order to establish the dictatorship.” – George Orwell