The reasons for the collapse of the USSR through the prism of personalities. Review of the monograph by Toshchenko J.T., Kozhemyako V.S. Werewolves in power: They killed the Soviet country

This review is devoted to the analysis and understanding of the scientific and journalistic book "Werewolves in power. They killed the Soviet country" (Moscow: Rodina, 2025. — 444 p.), written by corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences J.T. Toshchenko and political commentator of the newspaper "Pravda" V.S. Kozhemyako. In the new book, the authors provide a deep and comprehensive analysis of the events that took place during the existence of the USSR. Through the personalities of certain high — ranking officials — M.S. Gorbachev, B.N. Yeltsin, E.A. Shevardnadze, L.M. Kravchuk, E.T. Gaidar, G.E. Burbulis, and others. The book obviously claims to be not just a historical study, but also a kind of "trial" of those who, according to the authors, "killed the Soviet country." The use of such a strong metaphor as "werewolves" speaks to the desire to evoke an emotional resonance in the reader and to awaken a sense of justice. This approach, on the one hand, makes the material more accessible and exciting, on the other hand, it can carry elements of subjectivity and one — sidedness. In general, the book "Werewolves in power. They killed the Soviet country" is presented as a work designed to comprehend the tragic pages of Soviet history through the prism of personalities and their actions. The book is addressed to a wide range of readers interested in the history of the USSR, and offers its own rather harsh interpretation of the events that have become a real national tragedy for many generations of Russians.

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