Accomplices. Why the Russian Elite Chose War

After Russia's invasion of Ukraine, many expected that the political and economic elite would attempt to stop the war initiated by Putin. This was partly to maintain their accustomed way of life. This did not happen. On the contrary, technocrats and state businesses became the main supports of Putin's military economy.

The book by Alexandra Prokopenko, based on dozens of interviews, explains how over two decades the ruling layer of Russia underwent a "pseudomorphosis": while retaining the external attributes of power, it lost internal autonomy and became an instrument of governance.

The book traces the moral career of the Russian bureaucratic elite - from liberal ideals to loyalty and practically complete depoliticization - and shows how the war accelerated this transformation. Through personal stories, observations, and sociological analysis, the book clarifies why today's top Russian leaders - ministers, state bankers, senior security officials - have ceased to be an elite and have turned into a powerless mechanism of a personalist regime.