The Global Story The mystery of Putin and the apartment bombs
Jan 27, 2026
Helena Merriman, journalist and host of a BBC history-investigation series, revisits the 1999 Russian apartment bombings. She recounts the timeline of the attacks, the Ryzan drill scandal, and how the blasts propelled Putin into power. The conversation explores early reporting, investigations stifled by secrecy, and what the events reveal about narrative control in Russia.
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First Bomb In Buynaksk
- In September 1999 a truck bomb destroyed an apartment in Buynaksk, killing dozens and drawing little national attention at first.
- The attack seemed tied to unrest near Chechnya and set the stage for later, more lethal blasts in Moscow.
Moscow Blasts Spark Mass Panic
- A second Moscow blast peeled apartment fronts off like a doll's house and killed many while they slept, forcing public panic and sleepless nights.
- The third blast intensified fear nationwide and triggered widespread night watches and evacuations.
Putin's First High-Profile Moment
- Vladimir Putin, newly appointed prime minister, delivered a tough public speech promising to 'wipe out' the perpetrators during the crisis's height.
- That televised posture made him the first familiar face for many Russians and boosted his reputation for strength.