ON THIN ICE: PUTIN V GREENPEACE – Shocking Documentary

BBC Brit’s Latest Premiere is a Shocking Portrait of Repression Faced by Greenpeace Activists at the Hands of Russian Authorities in 2013. “On Thin Ice: Putin v Greenpeace” unfolds with unrelenting tension, guiding viewers precisely through each stage of the infamous peaceful protest by the Arctic 30 — a group that, in the autumn of 2013, attempted to stop Russia’s destructive oil drilling in Arctic waters. In the fall of 2013, on the calm waters of the Arctic Ocean, far from the world’s watchful eye, Russia planned to expand its influence through oil drilling. Shortly after Vladimir Putin began another presidential term, a group of twenty-eight Greenpeace activists and two journalists from around the globe set out to expose the practices of the Russian authorities. They organized what, in hindsight, became one of the most high-profile protests in Greenpeace’s history. Fully aware of the enormous risks — the likelihood of arrest, repression, and possibly a lifelong ban from returning to their families — they carried out a daring boarding of a Russian ship, drawing global attention. However, the consequences they faced for discrediting Russian authorities — and by extension, exposing Putin’s imperialist policies — went far beyond their worst expectations.

The creators of “On Thin Ice: Putin v Greenpeace” use activists’ archival footage — documenting events just before, during, and after the Kremlin’s brutal response — to offer a chilling glimpse into the inner workings of Russia’s special services. These practices, shockingly, remain unchanged to this day. The Arctic 30 protest was Greenpeace’s first operation of such scope. Almost immediately after the brutal crackdown and arrest of the environmental activists, the protest became a symbol of peaceful resistance to Vladimir Putin’s propaganda machine. Now, over a decade later, the BBC documentary features firsthand testimonies from protest participants, influential British politicians, and former close associates of Putin.

Step by step — from the shipboarding, arrest, and imprisonment in Russian jails, to threats of lengthy sentences and the reactions of world leaders and pop culture icons like Paul McCartney — the documentary juxtaposes the resilience of the often first-time young activists with the ruthless tactics of Gazprom-linked Russian oligarchs and FSB officers. They were held at gunpoint, helicopters were dispatched to detain them, and key Greenpeace figures involved in the action were taken to prison in Murmansk. Due to global disinformation, the world remained unaware for a long time of the activists’ fate and what punishment awaited them for defying Russian military forces. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-6sJdJL9Jc Initially charged with piracy, they were soon absurdly accused of using force and smuggling drugs — a strategy clearly aimed at discrediting them in the international media.

Isolated from the outside world and held in dreadful conditions in Russian prisons, the Greenpeace activists later chose to reveal the full story — a story that shocked world leaders and public opinion alike, serving as undeniable evidence of modern Russia’s imperial ambitions. “On Thin Ice: Putin v Greenpeace” plays out like a full-scale political thriller, exposing the mechanisms of authoritarian rule as well as the inner workings of major international NGOs. Not only do the main Arctic 30 figures speak out, but also MPs, soldiers, and former officers of Russian security forces. It’s a powerful socio-political commentary — all the more shocking given today’s context of growing Russian influence.