A view from the West I am not Russian. I grew up in Western Europe, far from Russia and the history and conflicts that still shape the country today. For most people in the West, Russia is quite simple. We know Putin, we know the war, and we know a few opposition personalities from our newspapers and television. Beyond that, Russia is often just Russia, a country of more than 140 million people we hardly ever talk about. My own view has changed a lot over the last four years. Through my work with the Russian resistance, I started talking to people I would never have met otherwise. I discovered regional movements, people helping political prisoners, activists, volunteers and people resisting the regime from inside Russia. Some have very different ideas about what should come after Putin, and they don't all agree with each other. But that is also part of the reality that is often missing when we talk about Russia in the West. Most people here have never heard of them. They know the names of a few opposition politicians, but they know very little about the much wider resistance around them. And I think we may regret that one day. There is a lot of discussion in Europe about what Russia should look like after Putin. Should it remain a federation? Could some regions become independent? Who could take power and who would the West be willing to work with? I follow these discussions, but I have never felt that these decisions belong to me. I can have an opinion, but in the end it is not my country. The people living there, including the different peoples and regions of Russia, will have to decide their own future. I also understand why it's difficult to talk about Russian resistance in the West today. Russia has been waging this war for years. We have seen threats, propaganda, espionage and attempts to influence our countries. So when somebody comes to us and says, “I am Russian and I want to change Russia,” trust doesn't come automatically. Why should it? But that makes personal contacts even more important. We need to know who these people are, what they stand for and what they are doing. And they need to understand us as well. There are things about Europe and the West that are difficult to understand from inside the Russian political world, just as there are things about Russia that I needed years to understand. I don't think we should wait for one big opposition movement or one famous person who somehow represents everybody. The people I have met are far too different for that, politically and personally, and their ideas about Russia's future can be very different too. For me, that isn't necessarily a weakness. It is simply something the West has to understand if we ever want to deal seriously with the people who may play a role in what comes after Putin. That is also where I see my own place. I don't support the Russian resistance because I want to tell Russians what their country should become. That's not my decision to make. What I can do is bring people together, explain what I see from here and help voices that are unknown in the West reach people who would otherwise never hear them. I have learned a lot from doing this, including that the West and the Russian resistance often know surprisingly little about each other. Putin will not be there forever. Nobody knows whether change will come slowly or whether things will suddenly move very quickly. But when it happens, I don't think that will be the right moment for Europe to start looking around and asking who else exists besides the Kremlin and the same opposition figures we have known for years. Those contacts should exist before they are needed. There are people inside and outside Russia already thinking about what comes next. Others are taking risks today without knowing whether they will ever see the Russia they are fighting for. Their future is theirs to decide. But I would like the West to know who they are. Freya FAE t.me/actiondirect/236

🇺🇦 The fundraising for the soldiers of the 38th Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is ongoing! "Friends, we remind you that the delegates of the "Congress of People's Deputies" together with the "Marina Donbass Arena" team are continuing to collect funds for the Ukrainian defenders. 🎯 Our goal is 250,000 hryvnias to purchase a pickup truck and Starlink for the soldiers of the 38th Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The war continues, and help is still needed. Reliable transportation and stable communication are not just equipment, but the ability to carry out combat missions and save lives. Even a small donation brings us closer to our goal. 50, 100, or 500 hryvnias – every contribution is important. If you have already supported the fundraiser, thank you very much! If you are currently unable to provide financial assistance, please share this post. Support for Ukraine should be expressed not only in words, but also in concrete actions. 🇺🇦 Together to victory!" 🔗 Link to Monobank: send.monobank.ua/jar/6McvEpx… 💳 Bank card number: 4874 1000 3412 1924 You can also support the fundraiser through PayPal: [email protected] You can always find reports and other information on Marina's page. Congress of People's Deputies t.me/roskongress/27314

“An anti-Putin opposition without decolonization is an empire without Putin.” Dzhambulat Suleimanov, a veteran of the Chechen wars and leader of the United Force national liberation movement, has sharply criticised the Russian opposition over its attitude towards Chechen independence and the self-determination of other peoples. Writing after the 15th Free Russia Forum, Suleimanov questions whether opposition leaders who speak of democracy and freedom are prepared to recognise those same rights for Chechens, Tatars, Buryats and other peoples under Moscow's rule. He criticises Garry Kasparov and other prominent opposition figures for continuing to approach Russia's future within its existing territorial framework, rather than recognising that some peoples want independence, not greater autonomy. Drawing on his own experience of the two Russian-Chechen wars, in which he lost two brothers and a cousin, Suleimanov rejects the idea that Chechens must first prove they are capable of winning independence before their right to self-determination is recognised. He also argues that Europe's long-term security depends on confronting Russian imperialism, not simply replacing Putin with another government. His position is clear: removing Putin without changing Russia's relationship with the peoples it has conquered would leave the imperial system largely intact. “We, and I personally, did not fight to one day have the opportunity to participate in the construction of a more decent Russian empire. We fought for the freedom of Chechnya.” - Dzhambulat Suleimanov Source: Anti-Imperial Bloc of Nations, 19 October 2026 abn.org.ua/en/liberation-mov…

Shadowmen: Russians working with Ukraine. A network of Russians say they are secretly fighting their own country. They claim armed resistance to stop Russia winning in Ukraine is the best way to undermine Putin’s regime. BBC Eye investigates. bbc.com/audio/play/p0ph2fk6

Russian officer who secretly helped Ukraine now fights with the Russian Volunteer Corps. Lev Stupnikov, a 26-year-old former Russian army officer, spent months secretly passing information about his own brigade to Ukrainian forces. According to The Wall Street Journal, the intelligence he provided helped Ukraine carry out strikes that killed more than 300 Russian soldiers, although the figure has not been independently verified. Stupnikov was serving as a communications officer when he began cooperating with Ukraine in February 2024. He had opposed the invasion from the beginning but had been unable to leave the Russian military. One of the deadliest strikes came that same month, when Ukrainian missiles hit a Russian training ground near Vuhledar. The attack reportedly killed 68 soldiers, including the brigade commander. As suspicions of a possible informant grew within his unit, Stupnikov feared he would be discovered. In July 2024, he crossed the front line and surrendered to Ukrainian forces. He later joined the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC), a unit of Russian volunteers fighting on Ukraine's side. He now serves as a communications specialist and says he wants to make amends for his role in the invasion. Speaking about the oath he took at a Russian military academy, Stupnikov said: “I swore to defend freedom, independence and the constitutional order. But Putin has destroyed all three.” Source: The Wall Street Journal, via ntv, 19 October 2026. n-tv.de/politik/Russischer-U…

Putin doesn't care about Russians. All that remains for him is revenge against Ukrainians for being freedom-loving. Delegate of the Congress of People's Deputies, Maxim Kukhazmetov, participated in the program "Time Will Tell" hosted by Anna Stepanova, a like-minded individual who is also implementing a project to help Ukrainians and victims of Russian aggression. On air, Maxim Kukhazmetov commented on the situation at the front and the ongoing Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities: Putin doesn't care about Russians. Russia cannot win, no matter how much pressure is put on Ukraine to surrender. Nothing can be changed at the front, no matter how many of Putin's soldiers he throws into suicidal assaults. Therefore, all he can do now is seek revenge. Revenge against Ukrainians for not surrendering, for being freedom-loving. And this revenge is terrible in its ruthlessness: destroying residential areas in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, destroying power plants so that there is nothing left – no water, no electricity, nowhere in Ukraine. This can only be revenge. It will not change anything at the front. But Russia has the resources to do this. 🎥 Watch the full interview with Maxim Kukhazmetov on "Time Will Tell". youtube.com/live/2k1Zp1fZyWE… Congress of People's Deputies t.me/roskongress Rosdep.org

How could Putin’s regime collapse? What might turn Russia’s elites against the dictator? Could Russia break apart? Caesar of the Freedom of Russia Legion discussed these questions with Rostislav Murzagulov, a former insider of the Russian political system who later became an opponent of the regime. Their conversation covers possible scenarios for a political crisis in Russia, the future of Putin’s rule, and the role of the Freedom of Russia Legion in the Russian resistance. Watch the full interview on Caesar’s YouTube channel. youtube.com/watch?v=8dLBh6CR…

"I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the author, Sergey Antonov, for this profound and insightful book, "Psychopolitics of Putin." The book has earned a prominent place in my home library. I highly recommend it to everyone." t.me/maratakhmerov_official/…

Leaving Russia shouldn't mean having to spend the rest of your life looking over your shoulder. On October 16, Akhmed Zakayev, Prime Minister of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, published an appeal to journalists about threats against his special representative, Inna Kurochkina. Kurochkina has been accused of terrorism in Russia, faces criminal charges and has been targeted by Russian state media. Zakayev fears that her life may be in danger and wants international attention brought to her case. Russian activists and journalists who have left the country aren't necessarily safe from persecution. Some continue to face threats even while living in Europe. thechechenpress.com/developm…

Partisans from “Osvoboditel” (Liberator) have reported the results of their six-month campaign targeting Russian Railways (RZD) automation and remote-control systems. According to the group, direct material damage to the regime amounts to tens of millions of rubles, while the wider economic losses run into the billions. Overall damage ⚡️ The repeated destruction of relay cabinets caused a series of disruptions to the automatic control of military train movements. Trains transporting heavy armoured vehicles and ammunition to the front were regularly forced to switch to manual operation, reducing the capacity of affected railway lines by three to four times. ⚡️ Each destroyed cabinet meant the loss of dozens of scarce plug-in relays and transformers. Russian factories are already overwhelmed with military orders. Osvoboditel claims its campaign has exhausted RZD's emergency stockpiles, forcing the authorities to remove equipment from civilian railway lines far behind the front to repair infrastructure on routes closer to the fighting. The group's members carried out operations over six months, verified the damage, waited through a lengthy reporting delay and delivered results while remaining beyond the reach of the security services. t.me/alresistance

Soldiers of the Kremlin's army, captured by the Russian Volunteer Corps in the winter of 2026 in the Zaporizhzhia region. Capture was a salvation for them from death. And death awaited them not only because of our fire, but also because of the cold and hunger to which these people were condemned by their own command. Now they are telling Roman Popkov about how they hid for weeks in frozen basements of destroyed houses, and about what they had to endure there. Most of them had only served in the Russian Armed Forces for a few months. This is the first of six parts of an interview with prisoners of war captured by RVC/RDK assault units in the Zaporizhzhia region. youtu.be/gL5266yokUQ t.me/rvc_army

On October 10–11, the 15th Free Russia Forum took place in Warsaw, bringing together Russian opposition politicians, activists, journalists and experts. The programme covered Russia's war against Ukraine, support for Ukrainian forces and Russian volunteers, the future of Russia after the war, and ways to confront authoritarian regimes. The first day included meetings of the Forum's working groups and its Council of Regional Representatives, while the second day was devoted to public discussions. Founded in Vilnius in 2016, the Free Russia Forum has become an established platform for members of the Russian opposition, particularly those living in exile. Over the years, its discussions have addressed political repression, sanctions, Russia's aggression against Ukraine and the prospects for political change.

Marat Akhmerov took part in the Free Russia Forum in Warsaw. "Thanks to the organizers and all participants for the openness, warm atmosphere, and the opportunity to express my position. Victory for Ukraine! 🇺🇦 Down with the regime, end of the empire! For your and our freedom!"

"Deals Cost Lives": Protest in New York Supports Ukraine A protest took place in Times Square, in the heart of New York City, against trade agreements with Russia and the potential easing of sanctions against Moscow. Participants protested against economic cooperation with a country that is continuing a full-scale war against Ukraine. The protest was organized by Rebirth.Ukraine. The main message of the protesters was "Deals Cost Lives." According to the participants, economic concessions to Russia create risks of additional income for Moscow in the context of the ongoing war. Congress of People's Deputies t.me/roskongress Rosdep.org

🇫🇷 Paris - Rally in support of the Freedom of Russia Legion on October 17 A rally in support of the Freedom of Russia Legion will take place in Paris this Saturday. Join others who stand in solidarity with those fighting for a free Russia. 📅 Saturday, October 17 🕑 2:00 PM – 8:00 PM 📍 Place Jacques Bonsergent, Paris Bring your white-blue-white flags and posters. See you in Paris!

Why send them back? So Putin can put them in uniform, hand them a gun and send them to Ukraine to kill innocent people? Not every Russian supports this war. Some just don't want to fight, kill Ukrainians or have anything to do with what their government is doing. They're leaving because they don't want to be dragged into this war. And you want to send them back, knowing they could end up being forced to fight? If we want fewer Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine, why send back people who don't want to fight?

🇫🇷 Paris - Rally in support of the Freedom of Russia Legion on October 17 A rally in support of the Freedom of Russia Legion will take place in Paris this Saturday. Join others who stand in solidarity with those fighting for a free Russia. 📅 Saturday, October 17 🕑 2:00 PM – 8:00 PM 📍 Place Jacques Bonsergent, Paris Bring your white-blue-white flags and posters. See you in Paris! t.me/VDlegionoffreedom/6360

🇺🇦 17% of the goal achieved! We continue collecting funds for the soldiers of the 38th Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Friends, we have good news! Thanks to your support, we have already collected 42,500 hryvnias – 17% of the required amount. As a reminder, the delegates of the "Congress of People's Deputies" have joined the initiative of our friends – the "Marina Donbass Arena" team. Together, we are collecting funds for a pickup truck and Starlink for the soldiers of the 38th Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. 🎯 Our goal is 250,000 UAH. ✅ Collected: 42,500 UAH (17%). ⏳ Remaining to collect: 207,500 UAH. We sincerely thank everyone who has already supported the collection, made a donation, or shared the post. It's too early to stop! There is still a long way to go, and we still need your help. Even small donations bring us all closer to our common goal. 💙💛 Let's continue to help Ukraine together! 🔗 Link to Monobank: send.monobank.ua/jar/6McvEpx… 💳 Bank card number: 4874 1000 3412 1924 You can also support the collection through PayPal – [email protected] You can always find reports and other information on Marina's page. Congress of People's Deputies t.me/roskongress Rosdep.org

On October 15, the colonized people of Tatarstan and the neighboring Volga republics mark Khäter Köne - a day of remembrance and mourning for the defenders of Kazan who died when the city was captured by the forces of the Russian Tsardom in 1552.