You can have whatever opinion you want about Applepaum....IMO she’s a liberal and there’s plenty others who have written better works regarding the Soviet Union...which is she primarily her subject matter....Russia on the other hand is another story better left to others than she.
As far as what Putin said regarding the fall of the Soviet Union...you might consider reading the entire context of where he is quoted regarding that statement.
You see you are a Putinista and a Putin apologist for the former KGB Colonel, thug, and dictator.