In Moscow's Shadows 250: Moscow's Comms Playbook (And Why It's So Bad)

In Moscow's Shadows 250: Moscow's Comms Playbook (And Why It's So Bad)

Author: Mark Galeotti May 31, 2026 Duration: 40:31
A Russian drone hits a Romanian apartment block, two civilians are injured, and suddenly a stray weapon becomes a case study in how Putin’s Kremlin handles bad news. Why does the Kremlin’s crisis management default to a belligerent, self-sabotaging sequence that turns a manageable incident into a wider political problem? It comes down to the priorities of an insecure, personalistic authoritarian system that equates any admission of failure with weakness, that regards information as a battlef...

For those looking past the day's news to understand the deeper currents shaping Russia, In Moscow's Shadows offers a nuanced and authoritative perspective. Hosted by the acclaimed analyst Mark Galeotti, this podcast serves as an audio companion to his long-running blog, creating a space for detailed discussion on the nation's history and, more frequently, its complex contemporary politics. Rather than rehashing headlines, Galeotti delves into the underlying forces-the cultural shifts, power struggles, and historical echoes-that truly define events. Episodes might feature a deep dive into a new academic work, a solo analysis of a developing situation, or a conversation with fellow experts, all approached with Galeotti's characteristic blend of erudition and provocation. The result is a consistently engaging listen that feels like a private briefing from one of the field's most informed voices. By tuning into this podcast, you gain access to a clearer, more substantive understanding of Russia, exploring both its visible machinations and the influential dynamics that operate, as the title suggests, just out of sight. It’s essential listening for anyone who appreciates context and commentary that challenges conventional wisdom.
Author: Language: en-gb Episodes: 100

In Moscow's Shadows
Podcast Episodes
In Moscow's Shadows 168: Putin Wants Us To Have Nuclear Nightmares [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:05
Putin's at it again, raising nuclear fears to unsettle the West. Or is the new revision to Russian nuclear doctrine more than just a bit of sabre-rattling? I suggest it is, with bearing on potential Ukrainian endgames. B…
In Moscow's Shadows 167: Shoigu Redux [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:25
While the Security Council itself is having its time wasted with trivia, new Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu has been busy. How has he survived (is it the shaman connection? It is not), and what do his goals see…
In Moscow's Shadows 166: Raider Nation, a quick news round-up [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:55
I still haven't decided how/if to continue with these mid-week quickfire podcasts picking up on some news stories that catch my eye, but in the meantime, there's a divorce/business shootout in Moscow, more traffic fines…
In Moscow's Shadows 162: Lavrov's (Living) Obituary [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:49
Empty rumours of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's death on the internet yesterday, got me thinking about his shrinking role, and the twilight of Russia's technocrats. Besides, he is already politically dead, so i…
In Moscow's Shadows 161: What's Going On in Russian Prisons? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:51
After another armed hostage taking by inmates (and bloody response), I consider what’s going on in Russia’s prisons, and what it may tell us about what’s happening in Russia as a whole. And in the last segment, I conside…
In Moscow's Shadows 160: Kursk as Political Actor and Allegory [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:15
As Ukraine's Kursk incursion rumbles on, what does it tell us about the political processes in Russia behind the warfighting? From how Russians really aren't apathetic and however low their expectations of their governme…

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