A prominent Russian poet, actress, and singer have derided Vladimir Putin as a “terrorist” and the “biggest maniac of the 21st century.”
Vera Polozkova, 36, shared how she felt “insane pain and shame” about the war in Ukraine, warning her people that they must be willing to admit their crimes, repent and make reparations to Ukraine.
From exile, she said, “My country is occupied by a terrorist gang, it is very uncomfortable to be there because you are their hostage.”
Her forceful attack on Putin and his regime have led Russian law enforcement to exact revenge on her.
Polozkova – who has performed in London and is especially popular among educated Russians – complained that long ago he failed to heed strong warnings about Putin from his enemies such as politician Boris Nemtsov – shot dead close to the Kremlin – and dissident Valeria Novodvorskaya.
She labeled the 70-year-old Putin “the most important maniac of the 21st century,” suggesting he reveled in the bloodshed he causes.
“All I know is that happy people don’t kill and don’t take pleasure in blood,” she said.
“If anyone thinks he’s a happy, rich, and powerful man—no, he’s not, he’s in hell.”
Speaking from Cyprus, she told interviewer Yury Dud that she would never be able to live in Russia again after Putin’s carnage, saying she was raising money for the Ukrainian army that “fought for me… and my children.”
She said, “If they win—and they will—we’ll get a chance to go back to Russia one day.”
But Polozkova – who has been called the most popular poet in the modern Russian language – warned: “When Putinism is over, a terrible interregnum will begin.”
It “might be even scarier than the last year of Putinism.”
She said: “The country that did this to Ukraine will – if it is really lucky – recognize it, repent and make reparations. But to make it livable after all that’s going to happen to it… this is just the beginning. I can’t imagine how long it will take. Maybe it won’t happen in our lifetime.”
Putin had thrown Russia “so far back” that it was hard to imagine how it could resurface in the world.
She added, “All the achievements, everything that was made with so much care and love, all these kids that were born after the previous demographic collapse. [in Russia] — dozens of these kids are now being thrown into the oven…
“Do you think after this everyone can stand up, shake off the ashes and walk into the bright future? I really doubt it. I’m sure it will happen to Ukraine because the truth is on their side.”
Polozkova, also a playwright, said of Ukraine that the damage would remain after reconstruction – “the destroyed psyche of the people, their traumas and children, forever afraid.”
But “it will be helped by all, it has been seen and heard by all, it will soon be restored.”
But Russia “is heading full steam ahead to a very unpleasant future.”
Putin was a “liar and manipulator” who disgraced the memory of World War II veterans who died to build a better future.
Russians and the world had not realized the truth about Putin, she said.
“All of us around the world haven’t done enough to keep it from happening,” she said.
“We underestimated the threat level, we didn’t understand that we were really on board a plane that was captured by terrorists who will then do something irreparable with our lives and the lives of our children.
“It seemed like it was just thieves, losers, and idiots. But they are really maniacs…. My country is occupied by a terrorist gang; it is very uncomfortable to be there because you are their hostage… All residents of Russia who remained in the country also “moved” to another country …
“These people are now immigrants in their own homes. Formally things haven’t changed… but everything has changed completely, it’s a different state with different laws and regulations…. The country now exists as a totalitarian sect.”
