Kremlin Aide Dmitry Kozak Voiced Strong Opposition to Ukraine War in Letter to Putin Prior to Resignation

A former deputy chief of staff to President Vladimir Putin has reportedly penned a letter condemning Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, which he presented to Putin prior to his resignation earlier this year, as indicated by the investigative outlet Agentstvo, citing sources familiar with the matter.

Dmitry Kozak, who has been a long-time ally of Putin, does not think that his critical stance has provoked the president and “looks forward to a reunion with him soon,” one insider revealed to Agentstvo.

Another source characterized the letter as articulating his perspectives on the conflict “in very strong language” and mentioned that it was prepared in conjunction with his formal resignation, which was submitted in mid-September.

Agentstvo did not release any excerpts from the alleged letter. The Moscow Times was unable to verify its existence independently.

According to the outlet’s sources, since leaving his position, Kozak has frequently traveled to Israel, not due to personal safety concerns, but for medical treatment.

In August, The New York Times reported that Kozak had fallen out of favor with Putin after voicing opposition to the war. He is said to have argued against escalation just three days prior to the large-scale invasion, suggested a negotiated settlement that Putin dismissed, and subsequently lost his responsibilities related to Ukraine.

Once viewed as a powerful figure operating behind the scenes, Kozak has kept a low profile since exiting the Kremlin, with many of his former responsibilities reportedly transferring to Sergei Kiriyenko, an influential first deputy chief of staff.

Kozak, who was born in Ukraine’s Kirovohrad region during the time it was part of the Soviet Union, began his career in legal roles in St. Petersburg, where Putin worked in the mayor’s office. He entered federal government service in 1999 and transitioned to the Kremlin after Putin’s election in the following year.