The series shed light on the largely unknown for the western general audience, tragedies in the early years of Putin’s presidency 1999-2004, highlighting how his initial tactics of blaming the West and devaluing his own citizens’ lives laid the groundwork for the war in Ukraine.

Trailer

Episode 1:

The Kursk Submarine Disaster (2000)

A newly empowered Vladimir Putin faces his first major crisis— the Kursk submarine disaster. This tragedy, marked by government deception, media suppression, and political maneuvering, became a defining moment in Putin’s rise.

Pilot

Episode 2:

The Russian apartment bombings (1999).

This tragedy marked the beginning of Putin’s reign, and many experts believe that the FSB (Russian Secret Service) orchestrated it as a ‘false flag operation’ to bring Putin to power.

Expert Opinion

Episode 3:

The Moscow Theater Siege (2002)

Chechen militants seized a Moscow theater, holding over 800 hostages in a desperate act of defiance against Russian rule. The episode exposes how the Kremlin’s brutal response—marked by misinformation, and the deadly use of chemical gas—turned a rescue mission into a massacre.

Episode 4:

The Beslan school siege (2004)

Armed militants stormed a school in Beslan, taking over 1,100 hostages—mostly children and parents—on the first day of classes. The Cost of Power investigates how the Russian government’s chaotic and deadly response escalated the crisis into one of the most horrific tragedies in modern history.

During Vladimir Putin’s 25 years in power, a clear pattern of exploiting national tragedies to expand power has emerged. Each of these tragedies not only dealt a blow to society, but also served as a tipping point, allowing the Kremlin to gain even greater control. After consolidating power at home, Putin has used a similar pattern to expand beyond Russia’s borders.

During Vladimir Putin’s 25 years in power, a clear pattern of exploiting national tragedies to expand power has emerged. Each of these tragedies not only dealt a blow to society, but also served as a tipping point, allowing the Kremlin to gain even greater control. After consolidating power at home, Putin has used a similar pattern to expand beyond Russia’s borders.

Experts Panel

James F Collins, The U.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation 1997-2001;

David Satter, American journalist and historian, the first researcher who claimed that Vladimir Putin and Russia’s Federal Security Service were behind the 1999 Russian apartment bombings;

Peter Eltsov, Professor of International Security, College of International Security Affairs, National Defense University;

Yevgeny Kiselyov, a journalist renowned in both Russia and Ukraine, having served as the General Director of Russia’s ‘NTV Channel’ from 2000 to 2001;

Graeme Robertson, Professor of Political Science, Director of the Center for Slavic, Eurasian and East European Studies at the University of North Carolina, author of “Putin v. The People”;

Maxim Sytch, the University of Michigan professor, with expertise in conflict, networks and influence;

Amy W. Knight, American historian of the Soviet Union and Russia.

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