The 1999 Russian Apartment Bombings & The Rise of Putin
In September 1999, just weeks after Vladimir Putin becomes Prime Minister, the apartment bombs begin. Russia is gripped by fear. The question is: who did it?
In September 1999, just weeks after 46-year-old Vladimir Putin became Russia’s prime minister, a series of apartment bombings ripped through Russian cities, killing hundreds as they slept and plunging the country into fear. The government blamed Chechen militants—but questions soon emerged. Some journalists and investigators began to suspect Russia’s own security services, the FSB, successor to the KGB. Those who pursued the story, including former agent Alexander Litvinenko, paid a heavy price. To this day, the truth remains fiercely contested. What is clear is the impact: out of the chaos, Putin rose as a leader promising order and revenge—an ascent that would reshape Russia’s future.
Dan is joined by journalist Helena Merriman who hosts a brand new podcast from BBC Studios called The History Bureau that delves into this story and asks the journalists who were there - what did we miss the first time around? You can listen to The History Bureau on BBC Sounds.
Produced by Mariana Des Forges and edited by Matthew Wilson and Dougal Patmore
Dan Snow's History Hit is a History Hit podcast.
