What World Leaders NEED to Know about Russia

Elvira Bary

Authoritarian regimes don’t survive by accident. They survive by mastering fear, memory, and human instinct. This channel explores how power systems twist history, culture, and psychology to maintain control. Russia’s past and present serve as the clearest case study, revealing patterns found in authoritarian societies everywhere. I’m Elvira Bary, an author born in the USSR. Drawing on lived experience, research, and cultural insight, I break down how strongmen build systems, justify lies, and train people to accept - and defend - their own confinement. New videos every Wednesday and Sunday

  1. Missile Crisis 2.0? The Truth About Russia’s Return to Cuba

    1D AGO

    Missile Crisis 2.0? The Truth About Russia’s Return to Cuba

    Russia is back in Cuba. Here’s why it matters - and what Trump might do next. Cuba is trending again for a reason. In this episode, Elvira Bary explains what Moscow actually wants from Havana in 2026, why it’s nothing like 1962, and why fuel—not missiles—is the real pressure point now. We’ll trace how Soviet subsidies built the regime, how Cuba was used as a proxy force abroad, what happened after the USSR collapsed, how Venezuela’s oil became Cuba’s lifeline, and why Russia’s recent naval signals are about leverage, optics, and distraction—not a repeat of the Cold War. Video Chapters: 00:00 Missile Crisis 2.0? The Truth About Russia’s Return to Cuba 02:30 Missiles Near Miami 05:33 Subsidies Building Havana 08:03 Fists for Hire 11:32 When Subsidies Died 14:42 Fuel Is Politics 19:08 Leverage, Not Love 22:19 Tomahawks and Signals 25:16 The Collapsing Club JOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY 👉 Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 👉 Donate with PayPal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 👉 My books on Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/465Co4Q⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    29 min
  2. New Russian “Insane” Laws That Make Russia Into One Giant Prison

    6D AGO

    New Russian “Insane” Laws That Make Russia Into One Giant Prison

    Russia’s strangest laws aren’t jokes - they’re weapons. In this video, Elvira Bary unpacks how the Kremlin uses bizarre, ambiguous, and deliberately absurd legislation to control private life, criminalize dissent, chain careers to the state, punish curiosity, and protect one man’s grip on power. From anti-LGBT crackdowns and treason expansions to censorship, forced loyalty, and laws that turn memes into crimes, this is the hidden architecture of fear that keeps an entire nation silent. If you want a clear, independent look at how these laws really work, and what they mean for Russia’s future - this deep dive will walk you through every layer. Video Chapters: 00:00 Russia's “Insane” Laws Kremlin Uses To Silence an Entire Nation 02:22 Policing Love and Family Relationships 05:53 Owning Your Career 08:42 Criminalizing Thoughts 13:35 Any Protest Is Treason 17:02 Citizenship for Mercenaries 20:05 People As New Oil 22:56 The Eternal President Project JOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY 👉 Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 👉 Donate with PayPal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 👉 My books on Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/465Co4Q⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    27 min
  3. Why the Kremlin is Terrified of Migrants: The Secret Threat No One Talks About

    FEB 6

    Why the Kremlin is Terrified of Migrants: The Secret Threat No One Talks About

    Why Putin fears migrants - and why their future could reshape Russia more than any war. Migration has shaped Russia for centuries - building cities, fueling industries, and holding the country together through war and collapse. But today, migrants have become the one force the Kremlin cannot control, and the one fear Putin cannot openly admit. In this video, we explore why migrants from Central Asia and beyond have become essential to Russia’s economy, why they face constant harassment from police and politicians, and how their rising visibility threatens the foundations of Putin’s system. From post-Soviet demographic collapse to forced labor in drone factories, this is the story of the hidden crisis shaping Russia’s future - and the quiet danger the Kremlin hopes you never notice. Video Chapters: 00:00 Why the Kremlin is Terrified of Migrants 01:59 Building by Moving 07:20 After the Breakup 15:25 Central Asian Lifeline 22:44 The New Migrants JOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY 👉 Buy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/elvirabary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 👉 Donate with PayPal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CSAQ25WWN979A⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 👉 My books on Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/465Co4Q⁠⁠⁠⁠ 👉 Sign-up for news about the New Book here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://elvirabary.com/elvira-barys-newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    27 min

Ratings & Reviews

4
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Authoritarian regimes don’t survive by accident. They survive by mastering fear, memory, and human instinct. This channel explores how power systems twist history, culture, and psychology to maintain control. Russia’s past and present serve as the clearest case study, revealing patterns found in authoritarian societies everywhere. I’m Elvira Bary, an author born in the USSR. Drawing on lived experience, research, and cultural insight, I break down how strongmen build systems, justify lies, and train people to accept - and defend - their own confinement. New videos every Wednesday and Sunday