In this episode of Dictators v Democrats: Why We Fight, host Theo Allthorpe-Mullis speaks with Oleg Magaletsky, a Ukrainian investor, strategist and one of the founders of the Free Nations of Post-Russia Forum.

Oleg argues that true and lasting peace in Europe will only be possible through the decolonisation and disintegration of the Russian Federation. From the Caucasus to Siberia, dozens of captive nations remain under Moscow’s control. Their natural wealth is exploited and their people are used as expendable soldiers in wars of imperial expansion.

The conversation explores how the Free Nations of Post-Russia Forum connects independence movements with Western policymakers, and why the West must stop fearing the breakup of Russia. Oleg explains how a smaller, post-imperial Russia would make the world more stable, and outlines the urgent need for a coordinated strategy to support the peoples still living under Moscow’s rule.

He discusses:

• Why peace in Europe depends on the collapse of Russian imperialism
• How Russia remains the last colonial empire in Europe
• The growing alignment of authoritarian states in a new axis of dictatorship
• Lessons from the fall of the USSR and Yugoslavia for managing the risks of Russian fragmentation
• His journey from the Maidan Revolution to global political activism
• What democracy and freedom mean when both are under assault

Oleg also reflects on the moral responsibilities of the free world and the importance of individual agency in defending open societies.

Key Themes

• The Free Nations of Post-Russia Forum
• Decolonisation and self-determination in the Russian Federation
• The axis of authoritarian states
• The role of Ukraine in defending democracy
• Disinformation and Kremlin influence
• Civic courage and personal responsibility

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