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 Bonus Minipod: Ukrainskii Sindrom [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:08
Originally one of the 'Twelve Days of Shadowy Christmas' bonuses for Patrons, in this short pod I explore whether, when the soldiers come home, Russia is likely to experience a problem of a dispossessed and alienated gen…
In Moscow's Shadows 185: The One With All The Stuff [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:28
How else, frankly, to title an episode which covers Trump and Putin, the CIA's Ukrainian cooperation, Russo-Iranian and -Indian relations, Belarus, and four books on Crimea's history? The Vlad Vexler commentary I mention…
In Moscow's Shadows 184: One Hundred Years of Companionship? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:44
The UK has signed a 'One Hundred Years Partnership Agreement' with Ukraine -- what's really involved under this grandiose title, and what does it show us about the wider challenges (and some missed opportunities) for sup…
In Moscow's Shadows 183: War and Peace (and Public Opinion) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:21
We pundits have done more than our fair share speculating on whether, how, when and with what consequences there could be peace or a ceasefire in Ukraine, but instead it seems a good time to see what various research pro…
In Moscow's Shadows 182: Things To Watch in 2025 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:59
Outright prediction may be a mug's game, but what are some of the people and processes I will be watching in 2025? For those who get lost in the flow, they are: PERSONALIA · Elvira Nabiullina · Ramzan Kadyrov · Alexander…
In Moscow's Shadows 181: Strap in for a Bumpy 2025 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:47
Sabotage under the Baltic, a grudging apology, a possible attack on a Russian cargo ship, firebombing ATMs, energy blackmail in Moldova... what connects them beyond a sense that, having changed his rules of engagement ab…
In Moscow's Shadows 180: Keep Calm and Carry On [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:48
What can one learn from Putin's 4½-hour-long end of year press conference? Essentially, his message to his people is that - however they might feel - everything is fine and they should stay the course. Meanwhile, over Uk…
In Moscow's Shadows 179: Sex, Drugs & Rocky Roads [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:24
We tend to focus on the big challenges facing Russia: war, sanctions, the struggle of authoritarianism vs the remnants of civil society. Maybe it is time to look at some of the less often discussed problems that nonethel…