In Moscow's Shadows 71: Russia, Ukraine and beyond - another miscellany
After tackling three of recent developments worth noting - the evolving military command structure of the war, Sergei Kirienko's role and the emergence of the war economy - I tackle a dozen listeners'...
2 Juli 202258min
In Moscow's Shadows 70: A Miscellany - Being Banned, Putin and Lavrov Speak Out, Divisions in the Elite and Listeners' Questions
Something of a magazine episode. In the first half I talk about my being banned from Russia (here's the Foreign Ministry announcement), Putin at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, Lavrov ...
18 Juni 202246min
In Moscow's Shadows 69: A Bargain-Basement Empire in the Offing, and Who Is Sergei Kirienko?
In the first part of this slightly rambling episode, I develop on a theme I covered for the Sunday Times (here) on whether Moscow will move beyond annexing the Donbas and Lugansk People's Republics an...
13 Juni 202251min
In Moscow's Shadows 68: No, Russia isn't winning in Ukraine, and no, there's no coup imminent...
Good news and bad news? Anyway, in the first part I explore what's happening in the Donbas, why it is far too soon to talk of Russia 'winning' and the signs it is digging in for the long haul, and loo...
29 Maj 202245min
In Moscow's Shadows 67: Why September is the Month to Watch, and 'Putin, Ukraine and the Revenge of History'
When are Russians really going to start feeling the pressure of the shooting war in Ukraine and the economic/political one with the West? I explain why I think September is when they will really start...
18 Maj 202246min
In Moscow's Shadows 66: Silovik, Nuclear, Criminal and Religious - a Choice of Victories
A week before Victory Day, I consider some different constituencies' notions of victories. For Patrushev and the hard-liners, they could win politically not despite failing in the war, but thanks to ...
1 Maj 202253min
In Moscow's Shadows 65: Fabian Burkhardt on Russia's Elites, Coups and Rumours
For an experimental change in format, this episode is given over to a long conversation with Fabian Burkhardt of IOS-Regensburg, who works on Russian elites, institutions and authoritarian politics. H...
22 Apr 20221h 4min
In Moscow's Shadows 64: Dvornikov, Mishustin, Scenarios and Traitors - more about Ukraine
Who is General Dvornikov, the new Russian operational commander for the war in Ukraine? Will Prime Minister Mishustin and the other technocrats be able to prevent the militarisation of the Russian eco...
16 Apr 202252min
