Putin, the man who wanted to be emperor

On February 24, Vladimir Putin decided to invade Ukraine. To the international community, Ukraine is a sovereign and independent nation; to the Kremlin leader, it is a country allegedly “in the hands of Nazis,” a claim he used while brandishing nuclear threats to deter any Western intervention. In his sights was Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. By stepping into the role of a wartime leader against the Russian giant, the former comedian astonished the world with his courage and determination.

Though the invasion seemed unpredictable, it can also be viewed as the culmination of a strategy Vladimir Putin has pursued since coming to power in 2000: rebuilding a Greater Russia.

Through his foreign policy, Putin has consistently sought to destabilize neighboring states. From the war in Chechnya in 1999 to the military intervention in Georgia in 2008 and the annexation of Crimea in 2014, his objective has remained the same: to bring back into Russia’s sphere of influence countries increasingly drawn toward democracy and closer ties with the European Union and NATO.

Other countries and regions have instead become Russian allies. Their role is now crucial in the war Putin is waging against Ukraine. Among them is Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, who has provided steadfast support and sent thousands of Chechen fighters to the Ukrainian front alongside Russian forces.

But the Russian president, who dreams of restoring imperial power, is not content with extending his influence across Europe. He has advanced Russian interests worldwide: intervening in Syria to support Bashar al-Assad, as well as expanding Russian influence in Libya, the Central African Republic, and Venezuela through the activities of the notorious Wagner mercenary organization. These networks have enabled Moscow to project power abroad while securing access to strategic resources.

Within Russia itself, Putin has strengthened his grip on power by silencing opposition figures. Journalists, human rights activists, political opponents, and even oligarchs have faced imprisonment, exile, or worse. This investigation meets relatives of murdered dissidents as well as Russian businesspeople who have fled abroad.

Drawing on testimony from experts, journalists, former senior officials, and those who knew Putin’s opponents personally, this documentary paints a revealing portrait of the man whose decisions have reshaped global geopolitics. It examines the methods of the Kremlin’s master strategist and asks a pressing question: is Vladimir Putin, seemingly unchecked, prepared to push the world toward a third global conflict?

Directed by: Marc de La Villardière and Igor Sahiri.