Our Dear Friends in Moscow: Journalism, fear, and betrayal in the age of Putin

Our Dear Friends in Moscow: Journalism, fear, and betrayal in the age of Putin

Author: Department of War Studies July 9, 2025 Duration: 53:58
In this episode, investigative journalists Andrei Soldatov and Irina Borogan—both Visiting Fellows at the Department of War Studies—join Dr Daniela Richterová, Senior Lecturer in Intelligence Studies, to discuss their new book, Our Dear Friends in Moscow: The Inside Story of a Broken Generation. The book reflects on a generation of young Russians who came of age in the hopeful yet turbulent 1990s. In the wake of the Soviet Union’s collapse, many embraced the promise of reform and openness. But economic turmoil, war and terrorism soon reshaped the country, as the state moved steadily toward authoritarianism. Blending personal narrative with political analysis, Andrei and Irina explore how a once close-knit group of friends—united by shared ideals—fractured under the pressure of Putin’s rise. Some aligned with the regime; others, like the authors, chose exile. Drawing on two decades of reporting, they examine the rise of Russia’s security state and the moral decisions that shaped their generation.

Drawn from the work of the School of Security Studies at King's College London, War Studies offers a direct line to one of the world's largest and most dedicated academic communities focused on security, defence, and international relations. This isn't about surface-level headlines; each episode digs into the intricate realities of conflict, diplomacy, and global power. You'll hear scholars and researchers unpack the underlying forces that shape world affairs, moving beyond theory to examine the tangible challenges faced by those navigating these complex spaces. The Department of War Studies produces this podcast to share its world-leading research, treating each conversation as an opportunity to question assumptions and deepen understanding. Tuning in means engaging with rigorous analysis that connects academic insight to the pressing security issues of our time. The consistent thread is a belief that examining the nature of war is essential for comprehending the broader landscape of human conflict and cooperation. Expect thoughtful, evidence-driven discussions that refuse to simplify the difficult questions.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

War Studies
Podcast Episodes
Russian Imperialism revisited with Dr Domitilla Sagramoso [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:47
The UK government's 2021 Integrated Review of security and defence outlines Russia as the "most acute threat to our security". This follows the rise of an increasingly resurgent and highly unpredictable Russia under Puti…
Revolutionary thought after the Paris Commune  with Julia Nicholls [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:18
Marx called it the 'glorious harbinger of a new society’, the Bolsheviks shrouded Lenin’s body in a Communard flag, and Mao Zedong claimed the events partly inspired the Cultural Revolution. The Paris Commune 1871 was on…
The Gulf War with Dr Carool Kersten [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:50
“Seeing the carnage outside beamed instantly into my living room via satellite TV really drove home the realisation that I was indeed witnessing the first fully mediatised war.” In special episode marking 30 years since…
The untold story of NATO's role in independent Kosovo with Ade Clewlow [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:56
"Only a week earlier I’d been pushing my daughter on a swing in England, within a few days I was also already playing my part in shaping the Balkans’ newest independent country.” In this podcast Ade Clewlow MBE, former B…
Intelligence and the Norwegian Resistance retold with Dr Tony Insall [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:26
Who were the shadowy figures and unsung heroes that lay behind the extraordinary story of the Norwegian resistance during World War II? What were the extreme conditions they worked under? And how did they contribute to m…
'The Great War': War in TV and film with Dr Peter Busch [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:18
‘We are telling a story as great as that of the Bible’, wrote Tony Essex to Gordon Watkins in 1964. These television producers had been given the opportunity of a lifetime - to bring to life the first major multi-episode…

«1...678910