Dmitry Medvedev: Former Russian President and Prime Minister

• Dmitry Medvedev, a former Russian President and Prime Minister, has become a vocal critic of the U.S. establishment.

• On August 1, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered two “nuclear submarines” to be positioned in “appropriate regions”, a direct threat to Russia.

• Medvedev’s back-to-back social media posts sparked Trump’s escalatory move, slamming Trump’s “foolish, inflammatory and provocative” statements.

• Medvedev evoked the fabled Dead Hand mechanism, a secretive semi-automated Russian command system that could launch a nuclear strike if its leaders were killed in enemy attacks.

• Born on September 14, 1965, in Leningrad, Medvedev earned a degree in law and completed post-graduate studies at Leningrad State University.

• He taught at the St. Petersburg State University and worked as an adviser to the city council.

• Medvedev became the President of Russia in May 2008, for a one-term stint, and was nominated as Prime Minister by Putin.

• During his tenure, Medvedev undertook several reforms, including the decriminalisation of defamation and negotiated with the U.S. President, Barack Obama, to reduce the number of nuclear warheads in the two nations.

• After Putin returned as President in March 2012, Medvedev became the head of the United Russia party and the Prime Minister of Russia, occupying this position from May 8, 2012 to 2020.

• Medvedev became Russia’s most popular blogger by the end of 2022 and his public trust rating rose from 23% in 2021 to 45.7% in June 2025.