What World Leaders NEED to Know about Russia

Russia doesn’t behave like a modern state of citizens—it behaves like an internal empire that colonizes its own population. In this episode, author Elvira Bary breaks down the extraction logic: how the state sits on economic choke points, uses “technical” money changes to drain purchasing power, turns default into policy, and normalizes coercion as “participation.” From early monetary shocks to Soviet-era bonds and Torgsin-style gold extraction, to late-Soviet and post-Soviet reforms that erased savings, the pattern repeats: protect the gatekeeper and push the losses downward. If you want to understand why trust never stabilizes—and why the cycle keeps returning—this is the map.JOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Donate with PayPal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 My books on Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/465Co4Q⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvira Bary YouTube Channel (115K Subs):  https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabaryJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/Buy Me A Coffee  - https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabaryDonate with PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A

In this episode, Elvira Bary explains why life without Putin terrifies many Russians, including educated people who can see the damage his rule has done. The fear is not always love for Putin or blind propaganda. It is fear of chaos, fear of patron networks collapsing, fear of losing protection, status, income, and national identity. From buried memories of civil war to the belief that a “lucky” ruler keeps the country safe, this video shows how authoritarian systems trap people by making the leader seem dangerous to remove, even when he is dangerous to keep.JOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Donate with PayPal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 My books on Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/465Co4Q⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvira Bary YouTube Channel (115K Subs):  https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabaryJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/Buy Me A Coffee  - https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabaryDonate with PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A

In this episode, Elvira Bary explains why Hungary’s election mattered far beyond Budapest. Viktor Orbán was not just another European leader. For years, he served as one of the Kremlin’s most useful voices inside the EU and NATO—slowing support for Ukraine, defending Russian energy ties, and helping Moscow sell the story that Europe was divided and Putin still had friends in the West. This video breaks down why Orbán mattered so much to Russia, why his defeat hit Moscow psychologically as well as politically, and what Hungary may do next now that one of the Kremlin’s favorite allies is gone.JOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Donate with PayPal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 My books on Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/465Co4Q⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvira Bary YouTube Channel (115K Subs):  https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabaryJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/Buy Me A Coffee  - https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabaryDonate with PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A

At first glance, war in Iran seems like good news for Moscow: oil prices rise, the world looks away from Ukraine, and Russian propaganda gets fresh anti-Western material. But in this episode, Elvira Bary shows why that first impression is misleading. Higher prices do not help much if export infrastructure is damaged, extra revenue does not improve normal life for Russians, and a crisis inside Iran weakens one of Russia’s most important military and political partners. What looks like a rescue may actually be a trap.JOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Donate with PayPal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 My books on Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/465Co4Q⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvira Bary YouTube Channel (115K Subs):  https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabaryJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/Buy Me A Coffee  - https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabaryDonate with PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A

In this episode, author Elvira Bary explains the only war Putin can realistically win: not a tank war, but a war against democratic attention, trust, and cohesion. Russia cannot defeat the United States or the wider West in a fair military contest, so it shifts the battlefield inward—into algorithms, influence operations, propaganda laundering, sabotage, corruption, and emotional exhaustion. We trace why authoritarian regimes treat free speech and open platforms as vulnerabilities, why America remains the central target, and why the goal is not conquest but paralysis. This is a map of how anger gets studied, mirrored, amplified, and turned back against us—outrage by design.JOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Donate with PayPal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 My books on Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/465Co4Q⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvira Bary YouTube Channel (115K Subs):  https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabaryJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/Buy Me A Coffee  - https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabaryDonate with PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A

In this episode, author Elvira Bary traces a long and uncomfortable pattern: when the Soviet or Russian system hit a wall, it repeatedly reached to the West for machines, engineers, designs, code, and know-how. From American-built factories and copied bombers to post-Soviet digital infrastructure and today’s AI race, the story is not one of proud self-reliance but of borrowed strength repurposed for coercion. This is the technology trap: how freer societies keep handing tools to authoritarian power—and how those tools come back sharpened.JOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Donate with PayPal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 My books on Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/465Co4Q⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvira Bary YouTube Channel (115K Subs):  https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabaryJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/Buy Me A Coffee  - https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabaryDonate with PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A

In this episode, author Elvira Bary argues that modern China is less a futuristic exception than a familiar authoritarian pattern—one the Soviet Union already ran to exhaustion. We trace the legitimacy trap that forces rulers to constantly perform success, the fake numbers that rise through frightened bureaucracies, the preference for loyalty over brains, the seductive theater of megaprojects, the costly foreign client networks that mimic old Soviet habits, the offshore escape routes globalization gave corrupt elites, and the final turn toward external danger when growth slows. The question is not whether China looks strong. It is whether that strength is real, durable, and structurally different from the Soviet illusion.JOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Donate with PayPal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 My books on Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/465Co4Q⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvira Bary YouTube Channel (115K Subs):  https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabaryJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/Buy Me A Coffee  - https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabaryDonate with PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A

Many outsiders read Putin’s religious imagery as conviction: candles, icons, priests, “traditional values.” But in Russia, religion survives on the state’s terms. In this episode, author Elvira Bary breaks down the mechanism: how the Kremlin uses Orthodoxy as a political asset, why Russian rulers never tolerate an independent church, how “faith” becomes a loyalty system in uniform, and how the Ukraine split proved power matters more than theology. This isn’t a holy war. It’s empire wearing incense.JOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Donate with PayPal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 My books on Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/465Co4Q⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvira Bary YouTube Channel (115K Subs):  https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabaryJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/Buy Me A Coffee  - https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabaryDonate with PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A

In this episode, Elvira Bary explores a deep cultural pattern many outsiders miss: in Russia, the human body has long been treated less as a private home than as a public resource. Shaped by hunger, Orthodox suspicion of pleasure, and a Soviet system that trained people to endure, obey, and function, this mindset still lives in everyday habits—food as love and status, beauty as class signal, sex as taboo, self-care as shame, sport as recruitment, and hygiene as ritual under scarcity. This is a story about dignity, control, and what happens when a society learns to treat the body as disposable.JOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Donate with PayPal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 My books on Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/465Co4Q⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvira Bary YouTube Channel (115K Subs):  https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabaryJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/Buy Me A Coffee  - https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabaryDonate with PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A

In this episode, author Elvira Bary shows how Putin’s Russia treats gaming culture as a recruitment and training ecosystem for a drone war. Gamer reflexes—fine motor control, screen tracking, split-second correction—become battlefield currency, shrinking the distance between a bedroom and the front line. We trace the pipeline: state-funded “patriotic” games that smuggle ideology, recruiters hunting in global gaming spaces, children pushed through cute “education” into dual-use drone skills, and the Soviet logic underneath it all—catch them young, normalize service, convert talent into war work. This isn’t about blaming games. It’s about how an authoritarian state captures attention, skills, and youth.JOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Donate with PayPal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 My books on Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/465Co4Q⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvira Bary YouTube Channel (115K Subs):  https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabaryJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/Buy Me A Coffee  - https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabaryDonate with PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A

Russia entered the 2000s with rare great-power assets: resources, scale, scientific legacy, and global leverage. In this episode, author Elvira Bary explains how Putin’s system has steadily dismantled those advantages—turning the economy into a rent pipe, hollowing out military readiness through a long furnace-war, deepening tech dependence behind “import substitution,” driving out talent and throttling ambition at home, swapping influence networks for isolation, and collapsing soft power into fear and toxicity. The result is a country that can still look strong on television while its real foundations weaken. Great powers think in decades. Putin’s model consumes the future to survive the present.JOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Donate with PayPal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 My books on Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/465Co4Q⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvira Bary YouTube Channel (115K Subs):  https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabaryJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/Buy Me A Coffee  - https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabaryDonate with PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A

After years of war, sanctions, and losses, Russia is saturated with rage—but most of it can’t be aimed at the state without consequences. In this episode, author Elvira Bary explains “safe anger”: the redirected outrage that lands on permitted targets—minor scandals, celebrities, migrants, broken apps, “the West”—while the real source of pain stays untouchable. You’ll see the rules that make a target “safe,” meet the real average Russian living inside this pressure cooker, and learn how transfer of responsibility to a “solver” at the top traps society in scapegoats and postponement instead of action.JOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Donate with PayPal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 My books on Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/465Co4Q⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvira Bary YouTube Channel (115K Subs):  https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabaryJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/Buy Me A Coffee  - https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabaryDonate with PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A

Why does Russia keep the supreme leader “clean” while dumping every failure onto ministers, mayors, and faceless чиновники? In this episode, Elvira Bary breaks down the Good Tsar Trap, an old mental model where the ruler is imagined as holy and distant, while the boyars below “sabotage” his will. You’ll see how the vertical of power turns state failure into a loyalty ritual, why Russians appeal to the president to fix local disasters, how scapegoats are sacrificed to protect the center, and why fear of chaos makes a bad Tsar feel safer than no Tsar at all. Once you recognize this pattern, Putin’s untouchable image stops looking mysterious and starts looking engineered.JOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Donate with PayPal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 My books on Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/465Co4Q⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvira Bary YouTube Channel (115K Subs):  https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabaryJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/Buy Me A Coffee  - https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabaryDonate with PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A

Dictatorship can look “normal” until you trace what it quietly removes. In this episode, author Elvira Bary walks through what losing freedom actually looks like inside Putin’s Russia: how speech is chilled through labels and punishment, how the state builds an internet kill switch, why social platforms get purged, why Telegram became both a war nerve and a threat, how shortages and “parallel imports” create a two-tier society, how elections turn into ballots without choices, and why the regime keeps certain escape hatches open on purpose. This is a map of the slow, deliberate process by which a society is trained into obedience—without one dramatic day that announces it.JOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Donate with PayPal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 My books on Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/465Co4Q⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvira Bary YouTube Channel (115K Subs):  https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabaryJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/Buy Me A Coffee  - https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabaryDonate with PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A

If you say “I want a Russian wife,” you’re usually buying a fantasy bundle, not choosing a person. In this episode, Elvira Bary breaks down 12 common types you’re likely to meet—from the Queen and the Intelligent Lady to the Homemaker, the Climber, the Refugee of Chaos, and the Loyal Traditionalist. For each type, you’ll learn what she actually wants, what she genuinely offers, the hidden risks, and what kind of man she can live with without slowly starting to hate him. The point isn’t to stereotype women—it’s to help you stop guessing, stop projecting, and make a choice with open eyes.JOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Find Out Your Own Archetype Here: https://elvirabary.com/quiz/👉 Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Donate with PayPal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 My books on Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/465Co4Q⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvira Bary YouTube Channel (115K Subs):  https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabaryJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/Buy Me A Coffee  - https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabaryDonate with PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A

In this video, Elvira Bary breaks down why the world feels unhinged—and what’s actually driving it beneath the headlines. You’ll see how the postwar moral bargain shaped alliances, why mass migration became the “solution” to inequality, how environment and networks quietly replaced merit, why moral language stayed while moral behavior faded, and why millions who feel locked out of the successful world are turning to nationalism for dignity. The episode ends with a clear, mechanism-first framework for what a new formula of justice, morality, and cooperation could look like in a world where the old rules no longer workJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Donate with PayPal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 My books on Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/465Co4Q⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvira Bary YouTube Channel (115K Subs):  https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabaryJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/Buy Me A Coffee  - https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabaryDonate with PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A

In this conversation, Elvira Bary speaks with award-winning writer and journalist Will Storr, author of The Status Game, about the invisible force shaping human behavior. Why do people sacrifice comfort for pride? Why do politicians sell “future glory” to win loyalty? Why do nations chase status even when it destroys them? Storr explains humans as ultra-cooperative “great apes” driven by two core needs—connection and status—and how status games operate at both the individual and collective level, from elections and propaganda to identity, migration, and war. If you want a clearer map of what’s really driving modern chaos beneath the headlines, this is it.JOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Donate with PayPal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 My books on Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/465Co4Q⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvira Bary YouTube Channel (115K Subs):  https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabaryJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/Buy Me A Coffee  - https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabaryDonate with PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A

Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes were real, and the victims deserve justice. But if we stop at the lurid details, we miss the mechanism that made it possible. In this episode, Elvira Bary explains blat—a Soviet-style operating system where formal rules exist on paper, while real power moves through favors, fixers, and mutual compromise. We’ll look at why “forbidden zones” form inside weakening institutions, what Epstein actually sold to powerful people, and how a society quietly slides from law into a backstage system where exemptions become the true status symbol.JOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Donate with PayPal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 My books on Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/465Co4Q⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvira Bary YouTube Channel (115K Subs):  https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabaryJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/Buy Me A Coffee  - https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabaryDonate with PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A

In “Why Russians Lie to Your Face (And Expect You to Know It),” author Elvira Bary explains why “truth” in Russia often depends on who’s in the room. This isn’t just propaganda—it’s a survival skill shaped by hierarchy, fear, and audience-based speech. You’ll learn the everyday system of “multiple truths,” why boss-approved reality matters more than facts, how “truth for outsiders” is manufactured, what the powerful sell to the powerless, and how even close friendships require careful bending of reality. By the end, you’ll know how to decode these lies without getting emotionally pulled into them—and why Russians often assume you already understand the game.JOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Donate with PayPal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 My books on Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/465Co4Q⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvira Bary YouTube Channel (115K Subs):  https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabaryJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/Buy Me A Coffee  - https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabaryDonate with PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A

What happens to ordinary people when an occupation becomes a “victory”? In this episode, author and narrator Elvira Bary breaks down what Russian rule looks like in places it already controls—and what that reveals about the future if Russia wins in Ukraine. We walk through Crimea as a showcase, the “old” Donbas model, the brutal post-2022 occupations, and the grim mechanics that follow: filtration, forced passports, property seizures, coerced schooling, and a security state that grows by feeding on fear. This is not about slogans. It’s about how occupation works—day by day—and why the real battlefield is often paperwork, compliance, and silence.JOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Donate with PayPal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 My books on Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/465Co4Q⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvira Bary YouTube Channel (115K Subs):  https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabaryJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/Buy Me A Coffee  - https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabaryDonate with PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A

Russia’s “doomsday button” is mostly a myth, but the shock is real. In this video, Elvira Bary maps what Russia actually exports, what happens if oil and gas flows seize up, how grain and fertilizer disruptions hit food prices with a delay, where factories choke on metals like nickel and palladium, why nuclear fuel services are an awkward bottleneck, and how trade reroutes through shadow logistics instead of stopping cleanly. By the end, you’ll see the likely winners and losers — and why a full shutdown hurts Russia as much as anyone.JOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Donate with PayPal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 My books on Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/465Co4Q⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvira Bary YouTube Channel (115K Subs):  https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabaryJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/Buy Me A Coffee  - https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabaryDonate with PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A

Greenland is back in the headlines—but the real story is the Arctic itself: a strategic arena where shipping routes, resources, and missile geometry collide. In this episode, Elvira Bary breaks down Putin’s Arctic strategy, why the Northern Sea Route is still a mirage for global trade, how Russia is militarizing the high north, and why talk of “controlling Greenland” can create the exact kind of division Moscow wants. If you want to understand why countries are willing to risk confrontation at the top of the map, this is the deep dive.JOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Donate with PayPal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 My books on Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/465Co4Q⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvira Bary YouTube Channel (115K Subs):  https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabaryJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/Buy Me A Coffee  - https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabaryDonate with PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A

Maduro’s arrest didn’t just shake Caracas—it exposed a weak point in Moscow’s foreign policy. In this episode, Elvira Bary breaks down why Putin invested so heavily in Venezuela, how oil and arms deals were meant to buy influence in America’s backyard, and how sanctions evasion routes turned Venezuela into a risky “back door” for the Kremlin. We’ll also look at the narco-shadow hanging over the regime, what happens when a “strategic asset” suddenly collapses, and why Venezuela may be the clearest warning sign yet that Putin’s model of buying leverage through fragile dictatorships is aging fast.JOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Donate with PayPal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 My books on Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/465Co4Q⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvira Bary YouTube Channel (115K Subs):  https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabaryJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/Buy Me A Coffee  - https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabaryDonate with PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A

Russia’s “doomsday button” is mostly a myth, but the shock is real. In this video, Elvira Bary maps what Russia actually exports, what happens if oil and gas flows seize up, how grain and fertilizer disruptions hit food prices with a delay, where factories choke on metals like nickel and palladium, why nuclear fuel services are an awkward bottleneck, and how trade reroutes through shadow logistics instead of stopping cleanly. By the end, you’ll see the likely winners and losers — and why a full shutdown hurts Russia as much as anyone.JOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Donate with PayPal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 My books on Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/465Co4Q⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvira Bary YouTube Channel (115K Subs):  https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabaryJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/Buy Me A Coffee  - https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabaryDonate with PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A

Why does Russia circle back to one-man rule again and again—across monarchs, commissars, and presidents? This video breaks the myth of “national character” and looks at mechanics: how concentrated wealth, bottleneck control, elite dependence, weaponized law, and fear-based patronage can reproduce a tsar even when a country imitates democratic rituals. You’ll see how power becomes property, how castes form around access, why politics turns into survival behavior for ordinary people, and why the system keeps “resetting” toward authoritarianism unless the underlying incentives change.JOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Donate with PayPal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 My books on Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/465Co4Q⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvira Bary YouTube Channel (115K Subs):  https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabaryJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/Buy Me A Coffee  - https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabaryDonate with PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A

Russia’s “collapse” won’t look like a clean breakup — it will look like a state that stops working.When people picture Russia’s worst-case scenario, they imagine a neat breakup into new states, like the USSR. In this video, I argue the darker outcome is messier: Russia remains “officially” intact, but the center stops functioning — salaries go unpaid, regions improvise, violence becomes a service, and new local bosses compete for money and force. I walk through how autocracies shred talent, why a Smuta-style collapse is more likely than a clean divorce, who rises first when Moscow weakens, what daily life looks like when institutions fail, and what kind of outside “rescue” may arrive — with strings attached. Then we end with the hard question: what rules and institutions would actually make a future Russia governable.Video Chapters: 00:00 Russia’s Worst Case Scenario02:32 The Talent Shredder8:08 The Smuta Trap11:52 New Bosses Rise15:07 Life Without Center19:05 The Violence Market22:30 The Rescue with Strings25:45 Rules That HealJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Donate with PayPal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 My books on Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/465Co4Q⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvira Bary YouTube Channel (115K Subs):  https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabaryJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/Buy Me A Coffee  - https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabaryDonate with PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A

Russia is back in Cuba. Here’s why it matters - and what Trump might do next. Cuba is trending again for a reason. In this episode, Elvira Bary explains what Moscow actually wants from Havana in 2026, why it’s nothing like 1962, and why fuel—not missiles—is the real pressure point now. We’ll trace how Soviet subsidies built the regime, how Cuba was used as a proxy force abroad, what happened after the USSR collapsed, how Venezuela’s oil became Cuba’s lifeline, and why Russia’s recent naval signals are about leverage, optics, and distraction—not a repeat of the Cold War.Video Chapters: 00:00 Missile Crisis 2.0? The Truth About Russia’s Return to Cuba02:30 Missiles Near Miami05:33 Subsidies Building Havana08:03 Fists for Hire11:32 When Subsidies Died14:42 Fuel Is Politics19:08 Leverage, Not Love22:19 Tomahawks and Signals25:16 The Collapsing ClubJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Donate with PayPal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 My books on Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/465Co4Q⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvira Bary YouTube Channel (115K Subs):  https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabaryJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/Buy Me A Coffee  - https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabaryDonate with PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A

Why do Russians seem so contradictory to Western eyes—proud and defeated, loyal and cynical, obedient yet endlessly inventive? This video argues that what looks like “Russian mentality” is often a survival language: habits formed under fear, instability, and arbitrary power. Elvira Bary breaks down the hidden logic behind status as protection, loopholes as life skills, the state as “armor,” political apathy, loyalty theater, and the swing between superiority and shame. Once you see the pattern, Russia stops looking unpredictable—and starts looking brutally consistent.Video Chapters: 00:00 Russia’s Secret Mindset01:54 The Social Costume06:23 Scheming as a Life Skill08:44 State as Armor13:08 Political Apathy18:23 Loyalty Theater23:51 The Self-Worth Split26:39 Survival ModeJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Donate with PayPal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 My books on Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/465Co4Q⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvira Bary YouTube Channel (115K Subs):  https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabaryJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/Buy Me A Coffee  - https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabaryDonate with PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A

Russia’s strangest laws aren’t jokes - they’re weapons. In this video, Elvira Bary unpacks how the Kremlin uses bizarre, ambiguous, and deliberately absurd legislation to control private life, criminalize dissent, chain careers to the state, punish curiosity, and protect one man’s grip on power. From anti-LGBT crackdowns and treason expansions to censorship, forced loyalty, and laws that turn memes into crimes, this is the hidden architecture of fear that keeps an entire nation silent. If you want a clear, independent look at how these laws really work, and what they mean for Russia’s future - this deep dive will walk you through every layer.Video Chapters: 00:00 Russia's “Insane” Laws Kremlin Uses To Silence an Entire Nation02:22 Policing Love and Family Relationships05:53 Owning Your Career08:42 Criminalizing Thoughts13:35 Any Protest Is Treason17:02 Citizenship for Mercenaries20:05 People As New Oil22:56 The Eternal President ProjectJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Donate with PayPal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 My books on Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/465Co4Q⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvira Bary YouTube Channel (115K Subs):  https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabaryJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/Buy Me A Coffee  - https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabaryDonate with PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A

The fear is always the same: what if Putin uses nuclear weapons? But the Kremlin’s nuclear talk isn’t just about war—it’s about control. This video breaks down how nuclear threats shape Western policy, why Cold War childhood fears still influence leaders today, and how Soviet propaganda flipped the same terror onto Americans. Most importantly, it explains the myth of the “red button”: nuclear launch is a chain of people, procedures, and incentives—where self-preservation matters as much as ideology. You’ll also walk through the worst-case scenario step by step, separating what’s technically possible from what’s politically likely, and why Russia’s nuclear posture functions as a bluff designed to freeze decision-making.Video Chapters: 00:00 Russian Nuclear Bluff06:05 Policy of Fear09:09 The Childhood Trauma12:10 Flipping the Story14:56 The Button Is People17:52 They Love Their Life21:01 Even If He Orders ItJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Donate with PayPal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 My books on Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/465Co4Q⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvira Bary YouTube Channel (115K Subs):  https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabaryJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/Buy Me A Coffee  - https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabaryDonate with PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A

Putin still has friends - but they’re expensive, unstable, and quietly looking for the exit. Maduro is gone - and in Moscow, the panic is real. In this video, Elvira Bary maps the shrinking circle of states still willing to stand beside Putin, and what those “friendships” are actually made of: fear, weapons, discounts, votes, banking channels, and pure transaction. We’ll break down the loyal vassal Belarus, the arms pipelines from Iran and North Korea, the lopsided dependency on China, the pragmatic middlemen like Turkey and the UAE, and the partners who play neutral-for-profit. The conclusion is simple: Putin isn’t building a coalition — he’s renting one. And in 2026, the price of that rent keeps rising.Video Chapters: 00:00 Who Is Left Standing With Putin?02:10 The Loyal Vassal07:06 Arms Dealers10:56 A Friend Too Big16:30 Pragmatic Middlemen19:17 Transactional Partners22:05 Who’s Left StandingJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Donate with PayPal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 My books on Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/465Co4Q⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvira Bary YouTube Channel (115K Subs):  https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabaryJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/Buy Me A Coffee  - https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabaryDonate with PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A

Why Putin fears migrants - and why their future could reshape Russia more than any war. Migration has shaped Russia for centuries - building cities, fueling industries, and holding the country together through war and collapse. But today, migrants have become the one force the Kremlin cannot control, and the one fear Putin cannot openly admit. In this video, we explore why migrants from Central Asia and beyond have become essential to Russia’s economy, why they face constant harassment from police and politicians, and how their rising visibility threatens the foundations of Putin’s system. From post-Soviet demographic collapse to forced labor in drone factories, this is the story of the hidden crisis shaping Russia’s future - and the quiet danger the Kremlin hopes you never notice.Video Chapters: 00:00 Why the Kremlin is Terrified of Migrants01:59 Building by Moving07:20 After the Breakup15:25 Central Asian Lifeline22:44 The New MigrantsJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Donate with PayPal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 My books on Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/465Co4Q⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvira Bary YouTube Channel (115K Subs):  https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabaryJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/Buy Me A Coffee  - https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabaryDonate with PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A

Why Russians are reporting neighbors again - and what this reveals about modern Russia. Why has denunciation - the act of reporting neighbors, coworkers, even family, returned in modern Russia? In this episode, Elvira Bary examines the historical roots of snitching, the psychological forces behind it, and the political system that now rewards it. From Stalin-era terror to today’s “professional informants,” denunciations reveal how fear shapes society, how authoritarian regimes maintain control, and why this culture is resurfacing as the war in Ukraine reshapes life inside Russia. This is the hidden mechanism powering repression - and a warning for any society that begins to normalize suspicion.JOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Donate with PayPal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 My books on Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/465Co4Q⁠⁠⁠👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvira Bary YouTube Channel (115K Subs):  https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabaryJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/Buy Me A Coffee  - https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabaryDonate with PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A

Why Russia calls the West “decadent” — and why this lie still shapes a nation’s soul. For centuries, Russia has defined itself not by what it is, but by what it is not. From tsars to Putin, its leaders have painted the West as “decadent,” godless, and doomed — a moral contrast that justifies repression, poverty, and war as signs of spiritual superiority. In this video, Elvira Bary explores how the myth of the “Decadent West” became Russia’s most enduring illusion — the lie that excuses everything. Along the way, she reveals how moral inversion, projection, and fear sustain this worldview, and why millions still cling to it today.Video Chapters: 00:00 What's Behind Russia's Lie About the 'Decadent West'?03:17 The Crooked Mirror10:07 The Architecture of the Myth 20:11 Moral Inversion23:40 The Longevity of the LieJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Donate with PayPal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 My books on Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/465Co4Q⁠⁠⁠👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvira Bary YouTube Channel (115K Subs):  https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabaryJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/Buy Me A Coffee  - https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabaryDonate with PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A

Russia once built Sputnik. Now it strips washing machines for chips. Here is what went wrong.When you see rockets on TV and “miracle” Russian robots on parade, it’s easy to think the old Soviet tech power is still alive. In this video, I peel back the facade and show how Putin’s Russia hollowed out its own science: from once self-sufficient industries to an import-addicted petrostate, from vanishing Soviet engineers to a massive brain drain, from corrupt defense “wonder weapons” to fake microchips and stunt robots. If you want to understand why a country that launched the first satellite now scavenges parts from fridges and washing machines, and what that means for the future of Russian power, this deep dive is for you.JOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabary⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Donate with PayPal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A⁠⁠⁠👉 My books on Amazon: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/465Co4Q⁠⁠👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvira Bary YouTube Channel (115K Subs):  https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabaryJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/Buy Me A Coffee  - https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabaryDonate with PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A

This video takes you inside the secretive clan system that rules modern Russia — a feudal power structure built not on laws or institutions, but on bloodlines, favors, marriages, and silent loyalties. From the rise of “House Putin” to the security clans guarding the throne, from regional dynasties to wives and ex-wives holding hidden fortunes, this deep dive reveals how Russia functions as a family kingdom disguised as a republic. And most importantly, we’ll explore why this system is cracking under its own weight. If you want to understand the true architecture of power behind today’s Russia, this is the map no one else will show you.JOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Donate with PayPal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 My books on Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/465Co4Q⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvira Bary YouTube Channel (115K Subs):  https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabaryJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/Buy Me A Coffee  - https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabaryDonate with PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A

What happens after the war in Ukraine ends? In this video, Elvira Bary explains why Putin’s regime cannot survive without the appearance of constant strength - making new conflict not a possibility but an expectation. Through an analysis of the Kremlin’s strategic storytelling, political constraints, and opportunistic pressure points, this episode examines potential targets: the Baltic states, Moldova, Central Asia, and Europe’s critical infrastructure. It also explores how hybrid warfare, covert sabotage, and non-military influence campaigns offer the Kremlin cheaper, lower-risk ways to project power. Understanding these scenarios reveals the structural logic behind authoritarian expansion and the risks facing Europe in the years ahead.Video Chapters: 00:00 Putin’s Hit List: Which Countries Is Russia Targeting Next?02:53 Victory at Any Cost06:15 Choosing His Prey08:40 Risky Bet11:42 Shelved Leverage15:41 Turn Around 18:57 A Smarter OptionJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: ⁠⁠https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/⁠⁠👉⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/baryelvira/⁠⁠👉⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/elvira.bary/Elvira Bary YouTube Channel (115K Subs):  https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabaryJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/Buy Me A Coffee  - https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabaryDonate with PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A

Greenland is suddenly a global flashpoint - and inside Russia, the reaction is not Cold War panic, but applause, sarcasm, and memes. In this episode, Elvira Bary walks you through how the Kremlin uses the Greenland drama as useful chaos to weaken Europe, how the Z-patriot crowd turns it into moral cover for Ukraine, why opposition voices see an alarming mirror of Putin-style tactics, and how ordinary Russians are already placing kitchen-table bets on “how” and “when” a takeover could happen. It’s less outrage, more fatalism—and that shift is the real warning.Video Chapters: 00:00 What Do Russians Really Think About Greenland Takeover?01:44 Useful Chaos04:55 Warmonger Chorus07:06 Voice of Conscience08:52 Kitchen-Table BetsElvira Bary YouTube Channel (115K Subs):  https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabaryJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/Buy Me A Coffee  - https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabaryDonate with PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A

Why does Russia avoid celebrating living generals while Ukraine turns its commanders into national symbols? In this video, Elvira Bary uncovers the deeper truth: Putin fears his own military leaders more than he fears NATO. From photo-op commanders to exiled war heroes, from Prigozhin’s mutiny to purged officers, this investigation reveals how the Kremlin suppresses anyone who grows too popular, too competent, or too independent. Discover why Russia’s system treats every potential hero as a future threat — and what this means for the future of the war, the regime, and the country itself.Video Chapters: 00:00 Why Putin Fears His Own Generals More Than NATO02:30 War Makes Politicians04:57 Putin’s Monopoly on Glory 09:39 Photo-Op Commanders13:22 When Generals Shine Too Bright19:58 Fearing His OwnJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/👉https://www.facebook.com/baryelvira/👉https://www.instagram.com/elvira.bary/Elvira Bary YouTube Channel (115K Subs):  https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabaryJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/Buy Me A Coffee  - https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabaryDonate with PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A

What will Russia look like in 2035? In this video, Elvira Bary unpacks the powerful forces shaping Russia’s next decade — from demographic collapse and brain drain to economic decline, global distrust, and China’s shifting expectations. Instead of predicting the future, she maps the real constraints that will define it, and the competing dreams of elites, ordinary citizens, reformers, and foreign powers. If you want to understand the harsh future Russia is drifting toward, and why even Putin can’t stop it - this is the video to watch.Video Chapters: 00:00 Russia 2035: The Harsh Future Even Putin Can't Stop02:34 What a Future is Made Of11:32 The Dream of the Imperialists 14:36 The Dream of the Survivors18:27 The Dream of the Reformers21:26 The World Without Trust25:39 The Chinese LensJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/👉 https://www.facebook.com/baryelvira/👉 https://www.instagram.com/elvira.bary/Elvira Bary YouTube Channel (115K Subs):  https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabaryJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/Buy Me A Coffee  - https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabaryDonate with PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A

Most 2026 forecasts obsess over interest rates and AI. Useful—but incomplete. Because the real driver of the next year isn’t technology or spreadsheets. It’s power psychology: leaders who start living inside a self-made reality, treating image as truth and status as survival. In this big-picture geopolitical breakdown, Elvira Bary maps the deeper forces shaping 2026: the instinct trap that elevates “strong leaders,” the rise of narrative over facts, the dangerous logic of status games, and the coming fight over who gets protected first when resources feel scarce. If you want to understand what will shape the headlines before they happen—this is the video.Video Chapters: 00:00 2026 Warning03:05 The Instinct Trap06:49 The Age of Self-Made Reality10:59 The Status Trap15:01 Resource DistributionElvira Bary YouTube Channel (115K Subs):  https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabaryJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/Buy Me A Coffee  - https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabaryDonate with PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A

Putin can’t win militarily—so he’s trying to erase Ukraine. Here’s his final plan to partition it.JOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Get New Episodes at least 7 days earlier on Elvira Bary YouTube channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabary⁠⁠⁠⁠Why is Putin embracing a so-called “peace plan” that dismantles Ukraine rather than ending the war? In this video, Elvira Bary examines the Kremlin’s shift from battlefield conquest to political erasure, the ideological roots behind denying Ukraine’s existence, the Western actors unintentionally enabling Moscow’s strategy, and the dangerous global consequences if Ukraine is carved apart. This is the deeper story behind Putin’s last strategy—one that could reshape Europe’s security and the future of international norms.Video Chapters: 00:00 Putin's Final Plan: Partition of Ukraine01:56 Putin’s Dead End05:29 Erasing a Country10:00 Trump’s Peace15:43 Their Slice of the Pie19:54 If Partition Happens👉Support this channel with Buy Me a Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabary⁠⁠⁠⁠or👉Donate via PayPal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A⁠⁠⁠⁠JOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Get New Episodes at least 7 days earlier on Elvira Bary YouTube channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvira Bary YouTube Channel (115K Subs):  https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabaryJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/Buy Me A Coffee  - https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabaryDonate with PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A

Inside Russia’s death cult and why the Kremlin still treats dying as a national duty.JOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Get New Episodes at least 7 days earlier on Elvira Bary YouTube channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabary⁠⁠⁠⁠Russia’s relationship with death is unlike anything in the West. In this video, I trace how centuries of serfdom, Orthodox martyrdom, Soviet hero worship, and today’s propaganda fused into a “death cult” that still shapes Russian politics and the war in Ukraine. From children raised on stories of glorious sacrifice, to schools once again teaching boys to die for the state, to the quiet anger of widows and mothers left behind, we’ll explore why death is treated as sacred capital — and what happens when a country built on sacrifice runs out of people to lose.Video Chapters: 00:00 Inside Russia’s Death Cult03:17 The Origins of the Death Cult12:15 The Soviet Reinvention of Sacrifice19:35 The Modern Revival: How Schools Teach Death Again23:21 Those Who Are Left Behind29:26 The Real Consequences👉Support this channel with Buy Me a Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabary⁠⁠⁠or👉Donate via PayPal: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A⁠⁠⁠JOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Get New Episodes at least 7 days earlier on Elvira Bary YouTube channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvira Bary YouTube Channel (115K Subs):  https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabaryJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/Buy Me A Coffee  - https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabaryDonate with PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A

Why Russia has no real opposition left — and what it means for its future.JOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Get New Episodes at least 7 days earlier on Elvira Bary YouTube channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabary⁠⁠⁠⁠In today’s Russia, opposition isn’t just silenced — it’s erased. Elections are theater, dissent is criminalized, and truth itself has gone underground. In this video, Elvira Bary explores why real political opposition no longer exists under Putin — from fake parties to exiled journalists — and what kind of leadership might one day replace the collapsing system. Drawing on history, personal insight, and Russia’s moral crisis, she asks a question every society must face: what happens when a nation loses its conscience?Video Chapters: 00:00 The Theater of Lies: How Putin Fakes Democracy in Russia02:58 The Official (Fake) Opposition08:55 Aleksei Navalny14:11 Thought Leaders and “Foreign Agents”18:01 War Supporters20:52 The Opposition That Has a Chance👉Support this channel with Buy Me a Coffee: ⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabary⁠⁠or👉Donate via PayPal: ⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A⁠⁠JOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Get New Episodes at least 7 days earlier on Elvira Bary YouTube channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvira Bary YouTube Channel (115K Subs):  https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabaryJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/Buy Me A Coffee  - https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabaryDonate with PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A

Why Ukraine kept democracy alive while Russia and Belarus slid into dictatorship.JOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Get New Episodes at least 7 days earlier on Elvira Bary YouTube channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabary⁠⁠⁠⁠Why did three nations with the same Soviet past choose such different futures? In this video, Elvira Bary breaks down why democracy survived in Ukraine but collapsed in Russia and Belarus. This is not a story about “national character.” It’s a story about money, security forces, national myths, and the political deals each country made after 1991. From oil wealth that fuels autocracy to competing oligarch clans, from captured courts to volunteer networks that became an “other army” in Ukraine — this deep-dive reveals the real forces shaping Eastern Europe today.Chapters: 00:00 Why Democracy Failed in Russia and Belarus - but Survived in Ukraine02:05 How Oil Kills Democracy06:53 Empire or Europe10:54 Vertical or Chaos14:58 The Guns at Service19:02 Friends or Foes23:29 Who Owns the Square26:59 Russia’s Last Democratic Window👉Support this channel with Buy Me a Coffee: ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabary⁠or👉Donate via PayPal: ⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A⁠JOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 Get New Episodes at least 7 days earlier on Elvira Bary YouTube channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvira Bary YouTube Channel (115K Subs):  https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabaryJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/Buy Me A Coffee  - https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabaryDonate with PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A

Inside the strange world where Putin’s Russia runs not on logic—but on superstition and fate.JOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/⁠⁠⁠👉 Get New Episodes at least 7 days earlier on Elvira Bary YouTube channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabary⁠⁠⁠⁠Most analyses of Russia focus on politics or war—but beneath both lies something deeper: belief. In this video, Elvira Bary explores how superstition, mysticism, and magical thinking became part of Russia’s operating system—from pagan rituals and Rasputin’s court to Soviet ideology and the modern Kremlin’s obsession with luck, curses, and “enemy sorcery.” Discover why this mindset shapes decisions at every level of power, and what it reveals about a nation where faith and fear still outweigh reason.Chapters: 00:00 The Black Magic of the Kremlin: Who Putin Really Listens To02:53 Official Religion and Traditional Beliefs07:23 The Rise of Mysticism12:46 The Mystics of the Soviet Era16:27 The Superstition Boom in the Post-Soviet Years21:37 Modern Magical ThinkingJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/⁠⁠⁠👉 Get New Episodes at least 7 days earlier on Elvira Bary YouTube channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabary⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvira Bary YouTube Channel (115K Subs):  https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabaryJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/Buy Me A Coffee  - https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabaryDonate with PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A

Russia’s hidden oil fleet: the secret pipeline turning crude into blood for Putin’s war.JOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/⁠⁠👉 Get New Episodes at least 7 days earlier on Elvira Bary YouTube channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabary⁠⁠⁠⁠How does Putin keep funding his war in Ukraine despite the toughest sanctions in modern history? In this video, Elvira Bary reveals the shadow fleet - a covert network of tankers and offshore schemes that turn Russian oil into blood money. Built in secret and sailing under false flags, this ghost fleet bypasses Western restrictions and keeps the Kremlin’s war chest full. Through the lens of her upcoming novel The Snow Queen’s Spring, Elvira traces how corruption, fear, and deception form the real engine behind Russia’s war, and what the West can still do to stop it.Video Chapters: 00:00 How Russia's Ghost Fleet is Keeping Putin’s War in Ukraine Alive02:40 The Art of Deception — How Russia’s culture of scheming became its greatest weapon.06:35 The Sanctions — What the West tried to do, and where it went wrong.12:21 The Birth of the Shadow Fleet — How the operation was built in record time.15:09 The Vanishing Act — How Russian oil “disappears” on paper and resurfaces in other ports.19:07 The Cops Closing In — How the West is finally learning to fight back.JOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/⁠⁠👉 Get New Episodes at least 7 days earlier on Elvira Bary YouTube channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabary⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvira Bary YouTube Channel (115K Subs):  https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabaryJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/Buy Me A Coffee  - https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabaryDonate with PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A

Russia looks strong. Putin looks untouchable. I’ll show you why that “strength” is staged.JOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: ⁠⁠⁠https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/⁠👉 Get New Episodes at least 7 days earlier on Elvira Bary YouTube channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabary⁠⁠⁠⁠Authoritarian power always sells itself as efficient, ruthless, unstoppable. Skyscrapers in months. Enemies crushed overnight. Glorious parades and endless missiles. But much of what looks like strength in Putin’s Russia is theater — an expensive illusion meant to scare outsiders and keep citizens obedient. In this video, I’ll break down how fake power is manufactured, why corrupt systems choose spectacle over progress, how that lie spreads to the West, and why regimes built on fear always rot from within. We’ll also talk about the one force that dictators can’t control: educated minds. Stay to the end, because I’m going to ask you something important.Video Chapters: 00:00 The Great Fake: Why Russia is Crumbling Behind the Facade02:43 The Illusion of Triumph10:34 The Logic of Pretending16:59 The Art of Deception24:07 The InevitableJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/⁠⁠👉 Get New Episodes at least 7 days earlier on Elvira Bary YouTube channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvira Bary YouTube Channel (115K Subs):  https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabaryJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/Buy Me A Coffee  - https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabaryDonate with PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A

Why Putin can’t stop the war — and why peace is more dangerous to his regime than defeat.JOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: ⁠⁠https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/👉 Get New Episodes at least 7 days earlier on Elvira Bary YouTube channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabary⁠⁠⁠⁠Why does Russia keep fighting a war it can’t win, can’t afford, and can’t walk away from? In this video, Elvira Bary dives into the hidden logic of the Kremlin — the fear, the internal rivalries, the lies, and the survival instincts that keep this war alive long after strategy stopped making sense. We’ll explore why negotiations are impossible, why peace is more dangerous for Putin than defeat, why Russian elites stay silent, and why ordinary people once supported a catastrophe that offers them nothing. This is the political psychology of the Kremlin — stripped of myths, illusions, and propaganda.Video Chapters: 00:00 Why Putin Can’t Stop: The Lie Keeping Russia Fighting in Ukraine01:38 Why Negotiations Are Impossible Right Now06:53 What the Kremlin Truly Wants13:41 Why Ordinary Russians Supported the War21:56 The Silence of the Elites👉 Get New Episodes at least 7 days earlier on Elvira Bary YouTube channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvira Bary YouTube Channel (115K Subs):  https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabaryJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/Buy Me A Coffee  - https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabaryDonate with PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A

Inside the minds of Putin’s supporters — the seductive dream shaping Russia’s future.JOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: ⁠https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/What do Putin’s supporters really believe about the future of the world — and Russia’s place in it? In this video, Elvira Bary takes you inside Russia’s parallel reality, where the West is collapsing, China is rising, and Russia sees itself as the last stronghold of moral order. Through real conversations and psychological insight, she explores how this dream of empire transforms fear into faith — and why it may ultimately destroy the nation it claims to save. Join Elvira for an unflinching look at the vision of the world that drives Putin’s supporters — and the heavy price of believing in it.Video Chapters:00:00 Inside the Mind of Putin's Supporters02:15 The End of the Old World 07:19 The New Order 11:49 The Globalist Conspiracy 16:34 Predictions of the Future22:16 The Price of the Dream 👉 Get New Episodes at least 7 days earlier on Elvira Bary YouTube channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabary⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvira Bary YouTube Channel (115K Subs):  https://www.youtube.com/@elvirabaryJOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/Buy Me A Coffee  - https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabaryDonate with PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A