Howard Amos's book, "Rusland begint hier," examines the underlying causes of the war in Ukraine and the long-standing support for Vladimir Putin's regime, focusing on the city of Pskov, Russia. Pskov, bordering Estonia and Latvia, serves as a significant location due to Putin's high approval rates there and its strategic importance in the conflict.
The book highlights Pskov's poverty and depopulation, tracing these factors back to the aftermath of the Soviet Union's collapse, creating a context of social and economic hardship fueling support for Putin. The region also plays a role as a watchtower against the West, contributing to the military's significant presence there.
Amos interviews a variety of citizens, emphasizing the stories of individuals like Svetlana, whose husband Michail died fighting in Ukraine. Michail's motivations involved escaping poverty, seeking a sense of purpose and masculinity that was reinforced by Russian propaganda, and a lack of engagement with ideological aspects of the conflict.
The author connects the current situation to the 1990s, characterizing the transition away from Communism as chaotic and economically devastating for most Russians. The resulting loss of savings, widespread unemployment, and rise in organized crime generated a yearning for order and stability under Putin. The current generation feels the absence of the social safety nets and stability that existed in the Brezhnev era of the Soviet Union.
Amos also explores the impact of Bishop Tikhon, described as a highly influential religious figure and close confidante of Putin. The bishop's views are outlined as supportive of an expansive Russian empire and are believed to have shaped Putin's stance on the conflict in Ukraine.
While the book acknowledges the unreliable nature of Russian opinion polls, Amos argues that Putin retains his grip on power by maintaining order amidst widespread apathy towards the regime. Active support is limited to a small minority, while resistance is equally small, with most of the population choosing not to engage with the political aspects of the situation.
Amos visits an orphanage in Pskov, detailing distressing conditions that mirror institutions from the past. The children, many of whom aren't actual orphans, live in dilapidated conditions with poor healthcare and education, leading to a life of continued hardship into adulthood, in some cases, even imprisonment.
The book suggests that to understand Putin's support, one needs to understand Russia's post-Soviet trauma, which generated a desperate yearning for order and stability, which has been exploited to great effect.