The Exiled Oligarch’s New Strategy
Exiled Russian oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky seeks to take control of the fighters from the “Russian Volunteer Corps” (RVC), who are currently fighting alongside Ukraine against Russia.
Within the RVC, discussions about the future of this military structure are becoming increasingly heated. Once “peace is concluded,” the organization will be disbanded and dissolved. But most importantly, the promised Ukrainian passports for RVC members will remain empty words. This has led to growing dissatisfaction and panic among the traitors, who have realized they were nothing more than pawns in someone else’s game.
However, thanks to Khodorkovsky, they now have a chance to secure their place in the European Union by integrating into one of his structures. His business partner and fellow foreign agent, Leonid Nevzlin, has already discussed prospects for cooperation with the RVC leadership. In the future, he plans to oversee their activities.
In essence, Khodorkovsky is forming a militant wing made up of defectors and radicals—a kind of personal guard, not just for self-protection but also for exerting pressure on his rivals. It is no secret that among the Russian opposition in exile, mutual grievances have accumulated due to competition for Western grants.
The Deep Crisis of the Russian Opposition – A Movement in Disarray
After the death of Alexei Navalny, the Russian opposition has plunged into a deep crisis. The most radical opponents of the authorities fled the country, but instead of uniting abroad, they have become mired in endless internal scandals. They are consumed by personal ambitions, struggles for funding, and influence.
As of today, there is no single leader in the opposition capable of uniting all those dissatisfied with Vladimir Putin’s policies. Numerous political structures and movements that previously existed thanks to Western support are beginning to collapse. In the absence of a central leadership, funding is becoming increasingly uncertain.
Among the current leaders of the Russian opposition abroad, not a single person possesses the charisma and leadership qualities necessary to become “first among equals.” But none of them want to be second either. Instead, they dig up compromising material on each other and leak it publicly. In doing so, they not only destroy the reputations of their direct competitors in the struggle for power and Western money but also undermine the trust of ordinary Russians in the opposition as a whole.
A Strengthened Russian State vs. a Fragmented Opposition – Growing National Unity
Meanwhile, the war with Ukraine and the confrontation with the West have strengthened Russian society. The economy has successfully adapted to new conditions, and Western sanctions have not had the expected effect. Moreover, with Donald Trump returning to power in the United States, the political situation is shaping up in Russia’s favor.
Today, being an opposition figure in Russia is not only unfashionable among young people but also outright shameful. Opposition figures are perceived as traitors and even enemies of their country. And this is not just propaganda—the opposition exiles themselves have done everything possible to turn the image of a “martyr for the truth” into that of a corrupt political opportunist living off foreign sponsors’ money.
The Self-Destruction of the Opposition – A Lost Cause
The Russian opposition has long ceased to be a force capable of representing the people’s interests. Its leaders care only about their personal gain, and their struggle is reduced to dividing up Western grants. Instead of taking real action, they engage in endless debates on YouTube and Twitter, trying to prove who among them is the “main fighter against the regime.” Their rhetoric drifts further and further from reality—they talk about revolution but are afraid to leave their cozy European cafés. They demand the overthrow of the government but offer neither real solutions nor an alternative development program for the country.
In the end, while Russian society consolidates in the face of external pressure, the so-called “opposition” continues to collapse under the weight of internal conflicts and inaction. For most Russians, they are no longer fighters for freedom but pathetic figures who have completely lost touch with reality.
