In Moscow's Shadows

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 draw a line between the gunning down of a mobster in Tbilisi with the twilight of Putinism, through leaking roofs and the likelihood of mob wars. The podcast's corporate partner and sponsor is Conducttr [https://www.conducttr.com/], which provides software for innovative and immersive crisis exercises in hybrid warfare, counter-terrorism, civil affairs and similar situations. You can also follow my blog, In Moscow's Shadows [https://inmoscowsshadows.wordpress.com/], and become one of the podcast's supporting Patrons and gain question-asking rights and access to exclusive extra materials including the (almost-) weekly Govorit Moskva news briefing right here [https://www.patreon.com/InMoscowsShadows].  Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/InMoscowsShadows]

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 populist nationalism that got me wondering. Putin's Russia is often called 'fascist' but this is a label of dubious accuracy. Are there hints that Russia could turn fascist? I still think this will not happen, but it is something worth exploring. The Bell, by the way, is here [https://en.thebell.io/].  The podcast's corporate partner and sponsor is Conducttr [https://www.conducttr.com/], which provides software for innovative and immersive crisis exercises in hybrid warfare, counter-terrorism, civil affairs and similar situations. You can also follow my blog, In Moscow's Shadows [https://inmoscowsshadows.wordpress.com/], and become one of the podcast's supporting Patrons and gain question-asking rights and access to exclusive extra materials including the (almost-) weekly Govorit Moskva news briefing right here [https://www.patreon.com/InMoscowsShadows].  Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/InMoscowsShadows]

In the first half, I look at developments regarding Ukraine (I'm getting more sceptical about Putin's interest in a deal) and profile former FSB general Sergei Beseda, 'the Baron.' In the second half, for Cosmonautics Day, I look at the ailing Russian space programme. The FPRI report by Pavel Luzin I mention is here [https://www.fpri.org/article/2024/07/russias-space-program-after-2024/]. The podcast's corporate partner and sponsor is Conducttr [https://www.conducttr.com/], which provides software for innovative and immersive crisis exercises in hybrid warfare, counter-terrorism, civil affairs and similar situations. You can also follow my blog, In Moscow's Shadows [https://inmoscowsshadows.wordpress.com/], and become one of the podcast's supporting Patrons and gain question-asking rights and access to exclusive extra materials including the (almost-) weekly Govorit Moskva news briefing right here [https://www.patreon.com/InMoscowsShadows].  Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/InMoscowsShadows]

A bonus second batch of questions, relating to war, peace and my attitudes to social media! The CASE survey of emigre attitudes is here [https://case-center.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/DOCLAD_fin.pdf]. The RUSI commentary on the OSCE is here [https://www.rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/commentary/ukraine-peace-and-forgotten-security-organisation]. The podcast's corporate partner and sponsor is Conducttr [https://www.conducttr.com/], which provides software for innovative and immersive crisis exercises in hybrid warfare, counter-terrorism, civil affairs and similar situations. You can also follow my blog, In Moscow's Shadows [https://inmoscowsshadows.wordpress.com/], and become one of the podcast's supporting Patrons and gain question-asking rights and access to exclusive extra materials including the (almost-) weekly Govorit Moskva news briefing right here [https://www.patreon.com/InMoscowsShadows].  Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/InMoscowsShadows]

Comrades!  Forgive the tedious title, but this episode is the first of two answering questions set by my esteemed Patrons, covering Russian domestic and foreign policy, with another to follow covering the war and more. Climate change and oligarchic rivalry, Belarusian cunning and Central Asian balancing, all this and a lot more... The Washington Post article ‘Art of dissent: How Russians protest the war on Ukraine’ is here [https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/interactive/2022/russia-ukraine-protest-art/]. The National Guard report I mention, Putin's Praetorians: The Evolving Role Of The National Guard And Their Capacity To Control The Streets , is here [https://mayak-intelligence.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/report-putins-praetorians.pdf]. The podcast's corporate partner and sponsor is Conducttr [https://www.conducttr.com/], which provides software for innovative and immersive crisis exercises in hybrid warfare, counter-terrorism, civil affairs and similar situations. You can also follow my blog, In Moscow's Shadows [https://inmoscowsshadows.wordpress.com/], and become one of the podcast's supporting Patrons and gain question-asking rights and access to exclusive extra materials including the (almost-) weekly Govorit Moskva news briefing right here [https://www.patreon.com/InMoscowsShadows].  Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/InMoscowsShadows]