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He warns Europeans, that they should realize, that the Russian threat is very real.
He also thinks that Putin and Trump are using the same strategy.
What is happening?
Evgeni Savostianov, once the head of the KGB in Moscow and later a military advisor to multiple governments—including Vladimir Putin’s—speaks out in a rare interview
Now an outspoken critic of Russian policy, he reflects on his insider knowledge with a wry smile, saying, “I think I’m qualified to speak…”
From Kremlin insider to outspoken dissenter
Savostianov’s transformation is striking. He resigned as Russia’s Minister of Culture in 2015, citing rampant censorship.
By 2022, he publicly opposed the invasion of Ukraine and later condemned the use of nuclear threats.
He is, however, also banned form entering Europe because of his past.
Nuclear tensions: Echoes of the Cold War?
Discussing the recent U.S. decision to reposition nuclear submarines near Russia, Savostianov tells Corriere della Sera, that he sees familiar tactics at play.
He compares Trump’s ultimatum to Putin’s past nuclear posturing—meant to unsettle the West and extract concessions, as seen during Crimea, Kherson, and U.S. aid delays in Ukraine.
Trump’s submarine threat: A turning point?
Savostianov interprets Trump’s recent submarine maneuver as a message: the old intimidation tactics won’t work anymore.
Unlike the Cuban Missile Crisis, he says, this isn’t a moment of true escalation. Ukraine isn’t on the brink of collapse, and mutual deterrence still holds.
Can Russia afford to ignore U.S. muscle?
The mention of two Ohio-class submarines, armed with devastating nuclear or conventional payloads, likely caught the Kremlin’s attention.
“Their capability is enough to neutralize Russia’s entire strategic land force,” Savostianov warns. “And yes, that’s extremely intimidating.”
Medvedev: A pawn in a larger game?
Dismissing Dmitry Medvedev’s provocations as “idiotic,” Savostianov suggests the former president has been reduced to a mouthpiece.
Once seen as a modern reformer, Medvedev is now used to bark empty threats in hopes of rattling the West.
“He should simply be ignored,” Savostianov says.
Trump and Putin: Not the bromance you think
Savostianov challenges the idea of any genuine rapport between Trump and Putin.
He views Trump’s friendliness as a calculated move—flattery used to bait concessions.
He explains that it’s a negotiation strategy, and when it stops working, Trump will stop using it.
A coalition of extremes
According to Savostianov, global power isn’t just about diplomacy anymore.
He groups Putin with Xi Jinping, Kim Jong-un, and Iran’s Ayatollah Khamenei—leaders united by ideology, not pragmatism.
According to Sacostianov, the four aren’t interested in progress – instead, they want to destroy Western influence.
Russophobia or rational fear?
When asked if his views amount to Russophobia, Savostianov laughs.
Because even though Russian propaganda wants the world to think that fear of Russia is irrational, not enough people are afraid, according to Savostianov.
Europe’s blind spot
Despite being banned from Europe since 2014, Savostianov doesn’t cry foul. He calls it the price of his past—and Europe’s overzealous caution.
But he issues a warning: “If everyday Europeans heard what Russian officials really say about them, they’d be terrified. Shielding people from this reality is a grave mistake.”
