Russia has sent shock waves through the world with their recent assault on Ukraine. What lies ahead is now uncertain as the Ukrainians do their best to hold off the relentless attack of the Kremlin. This isn’t the first time President Vladimir Putin has invaded Ukraine, and unless the world responds decisively it will likely not be the last. The question that weighs heavily on everyone’s minds at the moment is, why now? Why has Putin taken it upon himself to disrupt the world order? In 2015, PBS’s Frontline aired an episode called Putin’s Way that may provide some insight.
Putin’s Way was an episode that documented Putin’s beginnings and of course, his eventual rise to power.
Frontline is an investigative journalist series that covers high profile people, current events, and history. Putin’s Way was an episode that documented Putin’s beginnings and of course, his eventual rise to power. Much is covered in this episode that is relevant to what Putin is doing now. His alleged wrongdoings, his corruption, and his tightening grip on Russia are said to have spanned over the course of more than two decades. Also discussed is the speculation of his wealth, and how the political tyrant has purportedly grown his private fortune to the tune of billions whilst the rest of his country remains impoverished. Putin’s Way paints Russia’s Vladimir Putin as a career criminal and cold hearted dictator who will do anything to remain in office.
Frontline’s presentation as a series is like that of a documentary, with tons of stock footage and their reporters’ findings. This episode is headlined by investigative reporter Gillian Findlay. Findlay has made it her mission to uncover who Putin really is and how he operates as the leader of the Russian Federation. She does so with an abundance of information. She goes back to the beginning of Putin’s youth, all the way to his status in the KGB and after when he would eventually take office. Above all else, Findlay’s work expresses how Putin has managed to stay in his position longer than any other elected official in recent memory. There are multiple interviews with Russians who had first-hand knowledge of Putin’s inhumane crimes and his suspect financial dealings. The interviewees dish on their involvement with Putin, what they knew and when they knew it, and what has led them into exile. Some had hailed this as merely propaganda, but Putin’s Way was aired in 2015 and Putin’s war, is what is happening right now.
Putin’s Way is just one episode of Frontline’s many. The television series has been around since the 80s but with the current state of the world, this particular episode seemed to be the one most worth examining. The reason being that right now, people are confused. They’re so unsure of Putin’s goals or why he’s even decided to do what he’s doing. Putin’s Way is unlikely to provide any concrete answers but it will offer a better understanding of Putin’s current actions. Putin’s Way is now streaming on YouTube, where numerous other free episodes have been posted by Frontline’s channel.
