Podcast mini-series on survival and resistance under Putin
What’s going on in Russia has become increasingly opaque as a result of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, international isolation, and the difficulty of independent journalism. But large numbers of anti-war Russians remain in the country. How do they express their opposition to the regime despite ever-growing political repression and the risk of imprisonment?
One way to survive is to go ‘underground’. The goal of narrative podcast Russia Underground is to shed light on the artists, journalists, booksellers, actors, NGO workers, activists and others involved in the country’s secret resistance. Keeping civil society alive involves both high-tech innovation, and embracing the return of Soviet-era practices.
One way to survive is to go ‘underground’. The goal of narrative podcast Russia Underground is to shed light on the artists, journalists, booksellers, actors, NGO workers, activists and others involved in the country’s secret resistance. Keeping civil society alive involves both high-tech innovation, and embracing the return of Soviet-era practices.
Episode one
Life On the Margins
Our first episode is an introduction to what it means to be ‘underground’ in modern Russia, and the ways anti-war Russians can – and do – express their opposition to the fighting in Ukraine and the political direction taken by the Kremlin.
We meet a documentary filmmaker who has been shooting the reality of wartime Russia, and attend a screening of one of her recent films in Moscow. An advocate of so-called ‘partisan filmmaking’, she grapples with issues of risk and self-censorship. And she worries about what will happen if her films are successful and she gains a public profile – could she attract unwanted attention?
In a city in the Ural Mountains region, we speak to a political activist who has been questioned by police, and whose events have been raided. We also attend an event in Moscow where people are writing letters to political prisoners – an important way of expressing support. The event’s organiser own husband is currently in jail (for reading anti-war poems in public), and she talks about the experience of his arrest and trial.
We meet a documentary filmmaker who has been shooting the reality of wartime Russia, and attend a screening of one of her recent films in Moscow. An advocate of so-called ‘partisan filmmaking’, she grapples with issues of risk and self-censorship. And she worries about what will happen if her films are successful and she gains a public profile – could she attract unwanted attention?
In a city in the Ural Mountains region, we speak to a political activist who has been questioned by police, and whose events have been raided. We also attend an event in Moscow where people are writing letters to political prisoners – an important way of expressing support. The event’s organiser own husband is currently in jail (for reading anti-war poems in public), and she talks about the experience of his arrest and trial.
Episode two
Journalism Against the Odds
Some independent journalists still operate in Russia, finding ways to get around wartime censorship and minimize the chances of ending up in jail.
We look at the immense challenges facing independent journalism, which continues to cling on despite repression. We explore the emergence of what some have called a “new generation” of journalists, which includes Vera, a 21-year-old reporter from Belgorod, who covers the consequences of the war in Ukraine for her hometown despite the growing risks.
We spoke with journalists who have gone underground, use pseudonyms to evade government scrutiny, and exercise self-censorship so as to be able to keep working. They highlight the resilience and adaptability of Russian journalists who chose not to emigrate – and who are trying to navigate the treacherous landscape of wartime censorship and a crackdown on free speech.
We look at the immense challenges facing independent journalism, which continues to cling on despite repression. We explore the emergence of what some have called a “new generation” of journalists, which includes Vera, a 21-year-old reporter from Belgorod, who covers the consequences of the war in Ukraine for her hometown despite the growing risks.
We spoke with journalists who have gone underground, use pseudonyms to evade government scrutiny, and exercise self-censorship so as to be able to keep working. They highlight the resilience and adaptability of Russian journalists who chose not to emigrate – and who are trying to navigate the treacherous landscape of wartime censorship and a crackdown on free speech.
Episode three
LGBTQ+ Resistance
Repressive laws and a wartime crackdown have made Russia’s LGBTQ+ community more invisible than ever. But activists continue operating despite the risks, and NGOs have found a way to keep operating on the ground (even if staff are located abroad).
We spoke with Max, a trans man in Rostov-on-Don, who opposes the war in Ukraine and has remained involved in political activism since the full-scale invasion. Max rushed into his transition when Russia first announced it was looking to ban people from changing their gender. We also talked to Margarita, a gay woman in Yekaterinburg who runs an underground organization helping the LGBTQ+ community. Despite the safety concerns, they don’t want to stop what they’re doing.
We spoke with Max, a trans man in Rostov-on-Don, who opposes the war in Ukraine and has remained involved in political activism since the full-scale invasion. Max rushed into his transition when Russia first announced it was looking to ban people from changing their gender. We also talked to Margarita, a gay woman in Yekaterinburg who runs an underground organization helping the LGBTQ+ community. Despite the safety concerns, they don’t want to stop what they’re doing.
Host
Howard Amos
Howard Amos is a writer, journalist
and ex-chief editor of independent outlet The Moscow Times. He’s reported for publications including Newsweek, The Guardian and Politico. His non-fiction book Russia Starts Here will be published in the UK by Bloomsbury in 2025.
