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Russian History

Why Putin Blames Lenin for Ukraine's Independence

What Happened Vladimir Putin has consistently used historical arguments to justify Russia’s war in Ukraine, with Vladimir Lenin serving as a central target in his narrative. In speeches and essays, the Russian president argues that modern Ukraine is an “artificial construct” created by the Bolsheviks after the 1917 Russian Revolution. According to Putin’s interpretation, Ukraine never existed as a distinct nation separate from Russia until Lenin granted it formal status as a Soviet republic.

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How Rasputin's Psychological Hold Doomed Russia's Last Tsar

What Happened Rasputin’s rise to influence began in 1905 when he was introduced to Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra, whose son Alexei suffered from hemophilia—a life-threatening condition that caused severe bleeding episodes. The peasant mystic convinced the royal couple that he possessed healing powers, appearing to help during several of Alexei’s medical crises. Beevor’s research reveals how Rasputin systematically exploited the parents’ terror for their child’s life. Each time Alexei’s condition improved after Rasputin’s interventions—likely coincidental recoveries that occur naturally with hemophilia—the family attributed the improvement to the mystic’s powers, creating a psychological dependency.

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Lenin's Revolutionary Psychology: New Podcast Explores Mind Behind Soviet State

What Happened History Extra has released a podcast episode featuring historian Lara Douds discussing Vladimir Lenin’s life and psychological makeup with host Danny Bird. The episode examines Lenin’s journey from his formative years as a political émigré moving between European capitals to his pivotal role in the 1917 October Revolution that toppled the Russian Provisional Government. Douds explores Lenin’s elevation to an almost saintlike figure among his followers, his radical theories that challenged existing political order, and his contested legacy in contemporary Russia under Vladimir Putin’s leadership.

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