From chasing rats as a child to the KGB, how 72-year-old Putin came to power – and what drives him now.

From chasing rats as a child to the KGB, how 72-year-old Putin came to power – and what drives him now.
With at least 100,000 soldiers killed in the war against Ukraine, Moscow is making life harder for draft dodgers.
Russian-British historian Sergey Radchenko talks to Al Jazeera about Moscow’s desire for status on the world stage.
Sympathy towards wartime Russia has deep historical roots, back to the Cold War era and earlier.
A sense of optimism is being felt across Russia, but some remain sceptical about the possibility of peace.
Moscow is increasingly cracking down on the minority community, forcing some to flee.
A new film reveals how Moscow’s overhauled syllabus is influencing a generation of young Russians.
Russia’s war saw many flee due to fears of persecution or being drafted, but find some life abroad too challenging.
The US president-elect has promised to end the conflict in Ukraine but the Kremlin has not endorsed any tentative plans.
Fighting intensifies months after Zelenskyy hinted that holding territory in Kursk could embolden his plans for victory.