An unprecedented look behind the scenes of Russian foreign policy: How does the Russian Foreign Ministry operate? Who are the people working there, what are their thoughts, and what drives them to act? How did Russian foreign policy evolve leading up to the Ukraine war, what motivated it, and what powers were at play? Boris Bondarev was one of the very few who publicly resigned from the Russian civil service in protest against the war of aggression in Ukraine. He spent over twenty years in various roles within the Russian Foreign Ministry and diplomatic service, witnessing the obedience to authority, corruption, and incompetence in Russian institutions. He is a Russian and a democrat, and since his resignation, he has been living in exile under strict security measures, yearning to return – to a different Russia without Putin. With a clear view of the present and sharp criticism of the brutal Russian aggression policy, he also contributes to what is now becoming important: making the right considerations and being ready to support Russia, and especially the Russian people, on the path back to a democratic order.