Investigative Journalist Roman Badanin Says Putin's War Aim Is Preserving His Own Power

Veteran Russian investigative journalist Roman Badanin has argued that Vladimir Putin's central objective in Ukraine is not territorial conquest or geopolitical influence, but the preservation of his own grip on power inside Russia. Badanin made the assessment during an interview with FRANCE 24's "Perspective" program, drawing on more than two decades spent examining the Russian leader's career and decision-making.

Badanin's comments coincided with the release of his new book, titled "Le Tsar en personne" in French, or "The Tsar in Person." The work, which is already available in Russian and French, offers a detailed examination of how Putin's mind operates, according to the author. An English-language edition is expected to follow. Badanin is widely regarded as one of Russia's most accomplished investigative reporters, a reputation built on years of digging into the financial and political networks that sustain the Kremlin.

Central to Badanin's thesis is a comparison between Putin's behavior and that of a gang member. He described the Russian president's operating principle as a readiness to respond to any challenge with overwhelming force, encapsulated in the idea that "if you beat me, I will beat you even harder." That mindset, Badanin suggested, shapes not only Putin's approach to foreign adversaries but also his management of domestic rivals and potential threats to his authority.

The journalist's argument places the war in Ukraine within a broader framework of regime survival. Rather than viewing the conflict solely through the lens of territorial ambition or historical grievances, Badanin contends that Putin treats the war as a mechanism for consolidating control at home. A prolonged conflict, in this reading, serves to justify repression, silence dissent, and keep the population mobilized around a permanent external threat.

Such an interpretation aligns with a long-standing pattern in Putin's rule, in which foreign confrontations have been used to bolster domestic legitimacy. From the second Chechen war in the late 1990s, which helped propel him to the presidency, to the annexation of Crimea in 2014, which triggered a surge in his approval ratings, external conflicts have repeatedly served to shore up his standing. Badanin's analysis suggests the full-scale invasion of Ukraine follows a similar logic, though on a far larger and more costly scale.

The book's title itself points to the personalization of power in Russia. By referring to Putin as "The Tsar in Person," Badanin emphasizes how thoroughly the Russian state has become an extension of one man's will. Decisions that in other systems might be subject to institutional debate or bureaucratic compromise are, in Badanin's account, ultimately resolved by Putin himself, often through the lens of personal survival rather than national interest.

Badanin's credentials lend weight to his conclusions. Over more than 20 years of reporting, he has investigated the hidden mechanisms of Russian power, including the opaque financial dealings of the political and security elite. His work has frequently placed him at odds with authorities, and he has spent years outside Russia, continuing his reporting from exile as independent media inside the country have been progressively squeezed.

The timing of the interview reflects the continuing international appetite for understanding the Kremlin's strategic thinking as the war in Ukraine grinds on. Analysts and policymakers have long debated whether Putin's aims are expansionist, defensive, or simply opportunistic. Badanin's contribution frames the question differently: the war's primary audience, in his view, may be the Russian public rather than foreign governments.

That framing has implications for how Western capitals might approach any future negotiations. If Putin's true goal is domestic political survival, then concessions on territory or security arrangements may not by themselves alter his calculus. Instead, the sustainability of his rule at home — and the pressures that might erode it — could prove more decisive in shaping his behavior than anything offered at the negotiating table.

Badanin's characterization of Putin as a gang member also carries a psychological dimension. The phrase suggests a leader who interprets restraint as weakness and who is predisposed to escalate rather than de-escalate when challenged. Such a disposition complicates diplomacy, since it implies that compromise may be read not as a path to settlement but as an invitation to press further advantages.

The interview forms part of FRANCE 24's "Perspective" series, which regularly features authors, analysts, and public figures discussing major international developments. Badanin spoke with correspondent Stuart Norval about the book and its conclusions, offering viewers a window into a body of research that is largely unavailable to Russian audiences through state-controlled media.

The publication of "Le Tsar en personne" in French and Russian marks another stage in the diffusion of dissident Russian journalism into Western markets. With independent outlets shuttered or driven abroad, exiled journalists have increasingly turned to books and foreign-language media to reach audiences both inside and outside Russia. A forthcoming English translation would extend that reach further.

Badanin's assessment ultimately amounts to a stark proposition: the war in Ukraine, whatever its stated justifications, is inseparable from Putin's personal project of staying in power. For observers seeking to anticipate the Kremlin's next moves, that argument suggests attention should focus less on maps of occupied territory and more on the internal dynamics of a system built around one individual's hold on authority.