Kremlin Insider Dmitry Kozak Voices Strong Criticism of Ukraine War in Letter to Putin Before Resignation

Vladimir Putin’s former deputy chief of staff penned a letter criticizing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and submitted it to the president prior to his resignation earlier this year, as reported by the investigative outlet Agentstvo, citing sources familiar with the matter.

Dmitry Kozak, a long-time ally of Putin, does not think that his criticism upset the Russian president and “anticipates another meeting with him in the near future,” according to one source close to Kozak, as per Agentstvo.

Another source noted that the letter articulated his views on the conflict “in very strong language” and was drafted in conjunction with his official resignation letter, which was filed in mid-September.

Agentstvo did not share any parts of the alleged letter. The Moscow Times was unable to independently verify its existence.

According to sources from the outlet, since resigning, Kozak has been frequently traveling to Israel, not due to concerns for his safety, but for medical treatment.

The New York Times reported in August that Kozak had lost favor with Putin after expressing opposition to the war. He reportedly argued against escalating the conflict just three days before the full-scale invasion and suggested an early settlement, which Putin rejected. Subsequently, he was relieved of his responsibilities related to Ukraine.

Once viewed as a significant behind-the-scenes figure, Kozak has kept a low profile since leaving the Kremlin, with many of his former responsibilities reportedly transferred to Sergei Kiriyenko, the influential first deputy chief of staff.

Originally from Ukraine’s Kirovohrad region, which was part of the Soviet Union, Kozak began his career in legal positions in St. Petersburg, where Putin was serving in the mayor’s office. He joined the federal government in 1999 and moved to the Kremlin following Putin’s election the following year.