Global News Podcast The Global Story: The mystery of Putin and the apartment bombs
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Feb 1, 2026 
Helena Merriman, journalist and documentary maker who investigates historical mysteries, revisits the 1999 apartment bombings that reshaped Russia. She explores the timeline of blasts, the controversial Ryzan incident, links to the Second Chechen War, and how the events accelerated Putin's rise. Short, tense storytelling that probes conflicting accounts and sealed files.
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Deadly Late-Night Apartment Bombings
- In September 1999 four apartment buildings were bombed across Russia, killing hundreds overnight while people slept.
- Helena Merriman recounts how the first blasts in Buinaksk and Moscow set the stage for national fear and attention.
Putin's Early 'Strongman' Moment
- Vladimir Putin used his first public appearances as prime minister to promise harsh retaliation and present himself as a decisive leader.
- Helena Merriman explains that this speech and visible wartime leadership boosted his standing dramatically.
Ryazan 'Drill' That Sparked Suspicion
- In Ryazan locals found sacks and a timer in a basement and reported it, triggering a huge hunt and evacuation.
- The FSB later called the incident a training drill and claimed the sacks were sugar, a contradiction that baffled residents and journalists.