Podcast Episodes

In Moscow's Shadows 206: Corruption, Putinism's Achilles' Heel

Episode 206

After some thoughts about the recent NATO summit in The Hague, I focus on the perennial challenge of corruption. Even Russian officials are admitting it is again on the rise, and becoming more predat…

Published on 2 months, 2 weeks ago

In Moscow's Shadows 205: The Peace Crisis that faces Russia after the Ukraine War

Episode 205

There is a range of serious practical problems that an end to the war in Ukraine -- whenever that may be -- will pose for the Kremlin. However, if the Soviet war in Afghanistan is any comparison, arg…

Published on 2 months, 3 weeks ago

In Moscow's Shadows 204: The Opportunity and the Threat, Moscow and Iran, Moscow and the West

Episode 204

In the first half, I explore what the eruption of open conflict between Israel and Iran means for Russia. Will Putin be tempted to throw Iran under the bus? He certainly has much more scope and reaso…

Published on 3 months ago

In Moscow's Shadows 203: Can Putin Afford To End The War?

Episode 203

A pervasive argument is that for reasons personal, political or economic, Putin simply cannot afford to end his war: that he needs the excuse for tyranny, or that his economy would stagnate. I dig in…

Published on 3 months ago

In Moscow's Shadows 202: What Is This Resilience Thing Anyway?

Episode 202

An IMS on a Thursday? Although I'm still not quite yet over the cold that stopped me recording on Sunday, as I can't record next Sunday, needs must...

In the first part, I look at recent development a…

Published on 3 months, 2 weeks ago

In Moscow's Shadows 201: Peacetalkers and Warfighters

Episode 201

Negotiations (of a sort) in Istanbul: a real engagement or just a piece of theatre? The answer, of course, is a bit of both.

And what can one read into the elevation of Colonel General Mordvichev as t…

Published on 3 months, 4 weeks ago

In Moscow's Shadows 200: Victory Day (whose?)

Episode 200

The 200th episode! Hard to believe.

After briefly assessing Putin's late-night offer of talks with Kyiv, I dig into the Victory Day parade and what it means, especially from an international angle, an…

Published on 4 months ago

In Moscow's Shadows 199: the General in GenPop

Episode 199

General Ivan Popov, once hailed as one of the heroes and rising stars of the Russian army, has just been sentenced to 5 years in a general regime penal colony on what seem questionable charges. What …

Published on 4 months, 1 week ago

In Moscow's Shadows 198: War (in Russia's underworld) and Peace (in Ukraine)?

Episode 198

In the first half, I consider the latest twists in the saga of the US-pushed 'ceasefire' plan. Has Trump has an epiphany in the Vatican, or will Kyiv still face a choice of evils?

In the second, I dra…

Published on 4 months, 2 weeks ago

In Moscow's Shadows 197: Russia's future fascist turn?

Episode 197

An intemperate recent interview from Foreign Minister Lavrov, at which he warned that 'fifth columnists' within the elite wanted to hand Russia to the West on a platter, is typical of a new tome of p…

Published on 4 months, 3 weeks ago