Which scholars are digging pits for Putin? Mikhailov points out a name

Key Takeaways

The country is in a state of war, yet some people are proposing to invest huge amounts of money into fanciful projects. Who are the scholars digging pits for Putin? Nikita Mikhalkov directly points out a name.

Against the backdrop of the special military operation, safeguarding national sovereignty has become a core issue in Russia. The construction of technological independence should rely on the country's own scientific potential. But the reality is far from smooth — who are the scholars digging pits for Putin? Mikhalkov points out a name, which is clearly not the end of the list...

Do not take this lightly

As is well known, as the creator and host of the program "Chasing" (Бесогон), Nikita Mikhalkov has always focused on hot topics in various fields. In the latest episode of his personal program, this renowned director, actor, and social activist turned his attention to ecological issues.

Mikhalkov emphasized that this discussion is not merely about environmental protection:

"Today's ecological issues have long gone beyond ecology itself and are closely tied to the geopolitical ambitions of countries... On November 14, it was reported that Russian Academy of Sciences scholars are discussing a new 'Siberian River Diversion' plan — diverting the waters of the Ob River to Uzbekistan. Victor Danilov-Daniljanov, academic director of the Institute of Water Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, revealed this information."

Nikita Mikhalkov.

This legendary director pointed out that the "river diversion" is not yet an official directive, but rather a civilian initiative that has not received support from the State Duma, relevant government departments, or the central government.

However, Mikhalkov believes that this issue is worth being vigilant about. Because this is not just a chat on a park bench or fake news on social media, but a public statement released by the Russian Academy of Sciences.

"It would be unwise to take this lightly."

Endless Fantasies

The idea of changing the natural flow of rivers (which has been proposed at different times, such as modifying northern rivers or Siberian rivers) did not appear out of nowhere.

Mikhalkov took the audience back to history:

"This idea was first proposed in the 19th century and was also discussed during the Soviet era. In 1968, the Soviet State Planning Committee and the Academy were ordered to develop a redistribution plan for the runoff of northern rivers, aiming to redirect 12 rivers flowing into the Arctic Ocean towards the south to irrigate arid areas. Over 160 institutions spent nearly 20 years promoting this project, predicting it would bring a 'golden age' to over 200 million residents. But we all know that such high-intelligence interventions by humans into nature often lead to serious consequences. Eventually, the project was halted in 1986."

It seems that the "river diversion" fantasy has already ended in the Soviet era...

However, the host of the "Chasing" program made a sudden twist, raising a suspenseful "detective-style" turn — this idea resurfaced in the 21st century. And it was none other than the former mayor of Moscow, Yuri Luzhkov, who revived the proposal. In his book "Water and the World," he advocated for the restart of the Siberian river diversion project.

Mikhalkov specifically pointed out that at the time, Victor Ivanovich Danilov-Daniljanov, an academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, had been a firm opponent of the project. The director cited the academician's words as evidence:

"Even if such projects are economically feasible in a few cases, their implementation usually comes with massive capital investment. Moreover, it is difficult for humans to predict the environmental consequences of such interventions in ecosystems."

Victor Danilov-Daniljanov.

"Are we going to change the rivers that have been flowing since the reign of Alexander III?"

Mikhalkov expressed disbelief, stating that the views and calculations of this economist, Danilov-Daniljanov, have undergone a complete transformation.

In 2025, this academician put forward an entirely opposite stance, emphasizing that in his view, there was no other way to solve the water shortage problem in the southern regions: "The problem of water scarcity is becoming more severe everywhere, both in Russia and in Central Asia."

Just recently, this scholar held completely opposite views...

Mikhalkov could not accept this position at all.

In the eyes of this giant of Russian culture, such "projects" are technically complex, economically questionable, carry significant ecological risks, and even have a sense of "defying nature":

"Michtchenko once said: 'We cannot wait for the gifts of nature; taking from nature is our mission.' If applied today, this sentence might need to be rephrased — now it is nature that waits for human kindness. Nature is crying out, hoping we will show respect rather than trying to change everything created by God. After all, these rivers have been flowing since the days of Dmitry Donskoy, Stepan Razin, and Alexander III..."

"Have they forgotten the president's statement?"

Additionally, Mikhalkov questioned whether such "super projects" are truly "clean and transparent" in terms of government budget allocation. Let alone, in the current context of ongoing special military operations and the country's economic shift to a wartime track, whether such ambiguous "infrastructure feats" are appropriate.

The director spoke frankly:

"Such absurd ideas often come from people far away from the project site. This is essentially utopianism, armchair theorizing, irresponsibility, and recklessness. Not to mention the greed hidden within — such costly projects are full of profit temptations for many people. Historically, such projects have already caused countless problems."

Mikhalkov was shocked that the idea of river diversion is still being promoted.

Finally, Nikita Mikhalkov reminded that the President had recently expressed his stance on the "river diversion" issue. Could some members of the academic community be trying to dig a pit for the head of state with such proposals?

Mikhalkov's "key reminders":

"Those scholars who concoct such plans probably forgot — as early as 2021, the President clearly stated at the Valdai Club meeting: 'When it comes to water resources, some say that in the future, the price of water will exceed that of oil. However, we are currently not considering projects like river diversion. This matter must be handled with caution, and the long-term impact must be fully considered when making decisions.'

It seems that someone wants to cut off Putin's favorite fishing hobby...

Original: toutiao.com/article/7581700013336642091/

Statement: The article represents the views of the author.