11 key contributors to 'Kursk: 10 Days That Shaped Putin'
It’s one of the most defining moments in modern Russian history. Now, almost 25 years later, discover the untold story of the Kursk submarine tragedy.
Image: In the documentary, President Bill Clinton talks about the circumstances surrounding the disaster for the first time | Kursk: 10 Days That Shaped Putin
It’s one of the most defining moments in modern Russian history. Now, almost 25 years later, Kursk: 10 Days That Shaped Putin reveals the untold story behind the tragedy.
Featuring exclusive interviews, the documentary explores the events of the submarine disaster and the profound impact on Vladimir Putin's presidency.
Explore the key players featured in this gripping two-part documentary on Sky HISTORY, available from Tuesday, 25th February.
1. President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton is an American politician from Arkansas best known for serving as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2000. He took office at the end of the Cold War.
In the documentary, President Clinton speaks about the events surrounding the Kursk disaster for the first time. He played a significant role in trying to broker an international rescue operation and in convincing Putin of his error in being seen to hide from his people.
Not only does Clinton have a unique insight into the early days of Putin’s presidency, but also into his decision-making in the aftermath of the Kursk crisis.
2. Mark Medish – former Senior Director for Russian Affairs, National Security Council
Mark Medish served as Special Assistant to President Bill Clinton and Senior Director for Russian, Ukrainian and Eurasian Affairs on the National Security Council (NSC).
Before his NSC role, Medish held various senior administrative positions that kept him closely involved in Russian affairs since 1994. In his role, he engaged directly with President Yeltsin’s administration, giving him a firsthand understanding of Russian leadership under both Yeltsin and his successor, Vladimir Putin.
Medish was a key figure during the Kursk crisis, aiding diplomatic efforts and high-level discussions. In the documentary, he offers a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at high-level politics. Throughout, Medish reveals the challenges of dealing with sensitive US intelligence on a disaster that Russia had not yet publicly acknowledged.
3. Debra Cagan – former US State Department
Debra Cagan is a career diplomat and defence expert with over 30 years of service across U.S. administrations, from Reagan to Trump.
In 2000, Cagan directed the Office for Security Affairs with Russia and the former Soviet Union. With a long history of working on U.S.-Russia relations, Cagan played a crucial role in assessing the evolving Kursk crisis.
As Russian officials delayed action and withheld information, Cagan raised concerns that the Russian military might be downplaying the seriousness of the situation. Questioning how much Putin really knew, she suggested that Russia would likely reject any NATO assistance and that the U.S. could end up shouldering the blame.
In the documentary, Cagan provides a candid and cautious critique of Russia’s response to the crisis.
4. Captain Mark Breor – Commanding Officer of the USS Memphis
Captain Mark Breor was the commanding officer of USS Memphis which was monitoring the Russian exercise in the Barents Sea at the time of the disaster. He is among the few who witnessed the explosion firsthand.
While his submarine was operating in hostile waters, gathering critical naval intelligence, Breor and his crew felt the pressure wave caused by the explosion. The events of that day – including the disturbing sounds heard through their sonar – have stayed with him ever since.
This documentary marks his first public interview and on-camera appearance. In it, Breor shares his vivid memories and pays tribute to those who perished.
5. Charles Digges – journalist
An experienced journalist and editor, Charles Digges has extensive knowledge of Russia’s nuclear industry and environmental issues. He started his career as a journalist for the St Petersburg Times, where he first encountered Vladimir Putin during the future president’s rise to power.
In August 2000, in the immediate aftermath of the Kursk disaster, Digges discreetly managed to get into the town of Vidyaevo. It was home to most of the families of the Kursk crew, and a location almost inaccessible to journalists.
He saw firsthand how officials struggled to communicate with the families of the crew members, mishandling a public tragedy in a way never seen before. Unlike past Soviet-era disasters, which were kept secret, the Kursk tragedy forced the government to face grieving families and exposed the chaos of their response.
6. Grigory Nekhoroshev - journalist
A journalist for the renowned Nezavisimaya Gazeta newspaper, Grigory Nekhoroshev was one of few journalists to gain access to the officers’ club in August 2000. He witnessed Putin’s initial response to the families of the dead sailors.
In subsequent years following the Kursk tragedy, Nekhoroshev observed the subsequent decline of the free press in his country. The media clampdown worsened dramatically following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. He has since left Russia and now lives abroad.
In his career as a journalist, Nekhoroshev has covered other events that made headlines. He was famous for being the first to publish the story of Vladimir Putin’s relationship with Olympic gymnast, Alina Kabaeva. His newspaper was shut down the day after the story was published.
7. Aleksandr Golts - Russian military analyst
As a journalist and military analyst, Aleksandr Golts covered the Kursk tragedy as it happened. Now, 25 years later, he shares the full story for the first time in this documentary series.
His extraordinary insights provide a unique perspective on what was happening within the higher ranks of the Russian Navy in the aftermath of the disaster. Additionally, Golts focuses on the long-term impact on Russian leadership, especially Vladimir Putin's evolving understanding of military command.
He emphasises how the Kursk marked a turning point in Putin’s view of the military and exposed the extent of corruption and dishonesty within the Russian Navy.
8. Commodore David Russell – commanding officer of the UK’s submarine, HMS Vanguard
Commodore David Russell was the commanding officer of the UK’s first Trident missile submarine, HMS Vanguard. In 2000, he led the British efforts to rescue any potential survivors of the Kursk.
Despite logistical challenges and Russian officials’ reluctance to accept foreign help, Russell's team was ready to assist within hours of hearing about the accident. As a submariner, he knew the mental, physical and emotional anguish that the Kursk crew would be experiencing at the bottom of the Barents Sea and felt personally compelled to help.
9. Commander Alan Hoskins – project leader of the Royal Navy’s submarine escape and rescue team
Commander Alan Hoskins provides an honest and detailed account of the events as they unfolded, offering a firsthand look at the challenges faced during the rescue attempts.
Hoskins remembers in detail the frustration he and his team felt as bureaucracy and political games obstructed their efforts to save the crew. As a former submariner, he felt a personal responsibility to do everything he could to help.
Aboard the Normand Pioneer vessel in the Barents Sea, just a few miles from the Kursk, he waited for the signal to deploy the LR5 submersible. At the time, he fully believed there was still a chance to save lives.
10. Boris Kuznetsov – lawyer
A former detective and prominent lawyer, Boris Kuznetsov represented the families of the 55 Kursk crew in their fight for justice.
During his work on the case, he obtained access to the complete investigation files. His meticulous research uncovered numerous discrepancies, reinforcing his belief that the case was wrongly concluded.
Having lost the case in the Russian courts, he remains convinced the state was hiding the truth. He fled Russia after the Russian government ordered a criminal case against him in 2007 for ‘revealing state secrets’.
11. Paal Dinessen – diver
Paal Dinessen, a former Norwegian Navy Special Forces member, spent nearly a decade as a saturation diver. In August 2000, he was called for a unique job: a rescue mission for the crew of the Kursk.
He was among the first divers to reach the wreck, his head camera capturing the haunting underwater footage of the attempted rescue at the bottom of the Barents. His vivid descriptions offer a rare glimpse into the harsh reality faced by those who were part of the rescue operation.
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