What has happened to Russia in the last thirty years since the collapse of the Soviet Union? How have events in the country developed? What factors have led to Russia becoming what it is today? What might Russia expect in the future? Often, an outside perspective allows for the consideration of different aspects, opens the possibility for a more multifaceted analysis, and helps to clarify the picture of what is happening. The renowned German author Olaf Kühl, who has been an advisor on Russia to the Governing Mayor of Berlin for many years, gathers the most dramatic events of the past decades in Russia and supplements them with his personal observations and assessments. Like a mirror, a rich image of Russia emerges with an accurate and deep description and analysis of the events.