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 177: Adaptation in Russia and Ukraine [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:22
President Zelensky's suggestion that military attempts to retake the occupied territories could be abandoned in return for rapid NATO membership for Ukraine does mark a change in tack. What is driving this political-dipl…
In Moscow's Shadows 173: Personalistic Power under Putin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:51
I use reviews of three books to consider the risks and limitations of personalistic explanations of power under Putin, and whether a medieval concept of clan and family actually makes more sense... The books are: THE WIZ…
In Moscow's Shadows 172: BRICS without Straw [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:08
(It seems to be obligatory to use a weak BRICS/bricks pun, so I felt I had to follow...) The BRICS summit in Kazan (a smart place to hold it) gives all the appearances of being a propaganda win for Putin. However, I thin…
In Moscow's Shadows bonus minipodcast: North Koreans in Russia? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:00
Released to Patrons yesterday, a bonus mini-pod on the claims that North Korean combat troops are heading to fight in Ukraine and what the media discussion also says about the current discourse. The podcast's corporate p…
In Moscow's Shadows 170: The Opposition Soap Opera [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:20
At times it does look as if the emigre liberal opposition to Putin is in such a mess that it looks like a soap opera. So what are some of the recent plot twists and why are they so divided -- and, ultimately, is it neces…