Steve Gutterman's Week In Russia: Recent Episodes
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Sam Greene, professor at the King’s Russia Institute at King’s College London and director of democratic resilience at the Center for European Policy Analysis, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss Russia’s war against Ukraine, including the prospects for a cease-fire in 2025 and the role that public opinion in Russia, Ukraine, and the West could play.
Lucian Kim, author of the new book Putin's Revenge: Why Russia Invaded Ukraine, joins the host to discuss Putin's growing resentment, Russia's imperialist legacy, the Kremlin's turn toward autocracy, and other factors behind the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
U.S. permission for Ukrainian strikes deeper in Russian territory. A new Russian nuclear doctrine and a ballistic missile attack. Olga Oliker of the Crisis Group joins the host to discuss what the rush of recent developments could mean for the war in Ukraine.
What does Donald Trump's election mean for the war in Ukraine? Author and analyst Mark Galeotti joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss the ramifications of the U.S. vote and examine Russia's sabotage campaign in Europe.
As it focuses on its war against Ukraine, Russia is also seeking to leverage violence in the Middle East to improve its global standing and condemn the West. The Kremlin is reaping rewards, but it also faces risks posed by its footprint in the volatile region. Hanna Notte, director for Eurasia at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies and Senior Associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, joins the host this week.
As Moscow's forces press forward and Ukraine holds onto part of Russia's Kursk region, there are new "mutterings" in the West about the prospects for an end to the fighting. Ruth Deyermond, senior lecturer in the Department of War Studies at King's College London, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss the situation on the battlefield and the latest wave of talk about talks.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy took his "victory plan" to Biden, Harris, and Trump in a U.S. visit that also included UN speeches. In Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin issued yet another nuclear threat. Analyst and author Mark Galeotti joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss what it all means for the war in Ukraine.
How big a deal is Kyiv's incursion into the Kursk region? What are Ukraine's goals? And what are the ramifications for Russia? This week, host Steve Gutterman discusses these issues with Oleg Ignatov, a senior analyst for Russia at the International Crisis Group.
Russian forces press forward in eastern Ukraine but also suffer setbacks. Dara Massicot, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and an expert on Russian military issues, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss the battlefield situation, manpower problems, and the talk about efforts to end the fighting.
President Joe Biden has withdrawn from the U.S. presidential race and Donald Trump has picked J.D. Vance as his running mate. Sam Greene, director of Democratic Resilience at CEPA and a professor at the King's Russia Institute, discusses what these developments could mean for Ukraine and its defense against the Russian invasion.
July 17 marks 10 years since a Russian missile shot down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over the war zone in eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 passengers and crew. Christopher Miller, Ukraine correspondent for the Financial Times and author of The War Came To Us: Life And Death In Ukraine, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
NATO leaders meet after a Russian strike on a children's hospital underscores the horrors of Russia's war on Ukraine. And the U.S. election looms after votes in Britain and France. Nigel Gould-Davies, the senior fellow for Russia and Eurasia at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, joins the host to discuss.
What do Western elections and new support deals mean for Ukraine's defense against Russia? And a year later, how is the Wagner mutiny still reverberating across Russia and beyond? Mark Galeotti, author of Downfall: Prigozhin, Putin, And The New Fight For The Future Of Russia, joins host Steve Gutterman discuss.
How will relaxed U.S. rules for Ukraine's use of American weapons affect Kyiv's defense against Russia's invasion? And can the upcoming Peace Summit in Switzerland make a difference? Olga Oliker, program director for Europe and Central Asia at the Crisis Group, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
What's behind the shake-up that is sending longtime Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to President Vladimir Putin's Security Council and putting a longtime economic official in charge of the military? Author and analyst Mark Galeotti joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss the personnel shifts and Russia's new offensive in Ukraine's Kharkiv region.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy warns that Ukraine could lose the war if new U.S. aid is not approved. Is Russia about to make major advances? And why is the Kremlin doubling down on claims of a Ukrainian role in the Crocus City Hall attack despite a lack of evidence? Oleg Ignatov, senior analyst for Russia at the International Crisis Group, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
Gunmen killed at least 137 people at a concert hall outside Moscow in the deadliest terror attack in Russia in 20 years. Why did this happen now, what does it mean, and how will the Russian state respond? Author and analyst Mark Galeotti, an honorary professor at the UCL School of Slavonic and East European Studies in London, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
Russia’s March 15-17 election is set to keep President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin for six more years. Given that certainty, does the election matter? And what might Putin’s fifth term mean for Russia, Ukraine, and the world? Russian historian and analyst Sergei Medvedev joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
Will talk of a stalemate affect the course of the war in Ukraine and Western support for Kyiv? And in Russia, what are the potential ramifications of the anti-Semitic airport attack in Daghestan? Olga Oliker, the program director for Europe and Central Asia at the Crisis Group, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
An anti-Semitic rampage at the main airport in Russia's North Caucasus republic of Daghestan. In Ukraine, high-level disputes about how the war is going. Author and analyst Mark Galeotti joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss the roots and ramifications of these developments.
As fierce fighting continues along the front line in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the future of Western aid for Kyiv is clouded by an array of developments from Capitol Hill to the Middle East and beyond. Author and analyst Sam Greene, a professor at the Russia Institute at Kings College London and director of democratic resilience at the Center for European Policy Analysis, joins Steve Gutterman to discuss.
Author and analyst Mark Galeotti talks about his takes on the struggle for the Black Sea, the state of Western support for Ukraine after potentially damaging developments in the United States and Europe, and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s remarkable claim about the crash that killed mutinous Wagner mercenary group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin.
On October 4, 1993, a tense standoff between President Boris Yeltsin and opponents holed up in the "White House" came to a violent head when government forces shelled the parliament building on the Moscow River, a development that still reverberates in Russia today. This weekend, developments in the United States and Slovakia raised questions about the future of Western support for Ukraine against the Russian invasion. Kadri Liik, senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
Christopher Miller, Ukraine correspondent for the Financial Times and author of The War Came To Us: Life And Death In Ukraine, speaks to RFE/RL about his book, his experiences covering the country and the war, and where things stand after President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's visit to the United States.
As Ukraine's counteroffensive against the Russian invasion continues, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy heads to the United States for the UN General Assembly and a potentially crucial visit to Washington. Olga Oliker, program director for Europe and Central Asia at the Crisis Group, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss the big week.
Four days after a fiery plane crash, Russian investigators said they have confirmed the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Wagner mercenary boss who led a brief but shocking mutiny in June. Nigel Gould-Davies, senior fellow for Russia and Eurasia at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, joins Steve Gutterman to take a look at the potential consequences for Russia, the war in Ukraine, and Belarus.
Analyst and author Mark Galeotti joins RFE/RL to discuss Moscow's war on Ukraine, its reverberations in Russia, and how it's related to the invasion of Georgia in 2008. Also on the agenda: the continuing aftermath of the Wagner mutiny.
President Vladimir Putin's most prominent foe, the imprisoned opposition leader Aleksei Navalny, has been convicted of extremism and sentenced to 19 years in the harshest kind of penitentiary Russia has. Jan Matti Dollbaum -- co-author of the book Navalny: Putin's Nemesis, Russia's Future? -- joins host Steve Gutterman to talk about what the verdict means for Navalny and for Russia.
After scuttling the agreement that allowed for the safe shipment of Ukrainian grain across the Black Sea and out to the world, Russia has attacked export facilities on the Black Sea and the Danube in Ukraine. Why did Moscow withdraw from the grain deal, and what's next? Alissa de Carbonnel of the Crisis Group joins Steve Gutterman to discuss.
Since President Vladimir Putin launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, policymaking in Russia has been subordinated to the war and long-term planning is at a standstill. Political analyst Andras Toth-Czifra joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss the chaotic situation and its potential consequences.
Two weeks after the short-lived Wagner mutiny, how badly weakened is President Vladimir Putin -- and what does it mean for Russia and its war on Ukraine? Also, what's in store for Ukraine at the NATO summit this week? Analyst and author Mark Galeotti joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
Why did Yevgeny Prigozhin halt Wagner’s advance toward Moscow so abruptly? How badly weakened is Russian President Vladimir Putin, and what might the 24-hour rebellion mean for the course of the war in Ukraine? Olga Oliker, program director for Europe and Central Asia at the Crisis Group, host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
Crimea is Ukraine, but some in the West say Kyiv should not try to take it back by force if it gets the chance. Is that good advice, or could such an approach be dangerous for Ukraine and the West? Ruth Deyermond, a senior lecturer in the Department of War Studies at King's College London, joins Steve Gutterman to discuss.
Russia claims its forces, led by Wagner mercenaries, have captured all of the ruined Ukrainian city of Bakhmut after many months of heavy fighting. Kyiv denies it. How important is the battle for Bakhmut? Author and analyst Mark Galeotti joins Steve Gutterman to discuss.
What do visits from Xi Jinping and Bashar al-Assad say about Russia’s clout beyond the former Soviet Union, and how will an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for President Vladimir Putin affect Moscow’s standing? Meanwhile, is Yevgeny Prigozhin losing influence in Russia as the Wagner Group’s losses mount in the bloody battle for Bakhmut? Author and analyst Mark Galeotti joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
Days before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine enters its second year with no end in sight, President Vladimir Putin delivers a state of the nation speech on February 21. Irina Lagunina, associate standards editor and former director of the Russian Service at RFE/RL, joins Steve Gutterman to discuss.
How will German, British, and U.S. tanks affect the course of Russia's war against Ukraine? And is the Kremlin's attempt to rally Russians for a "New Patriotic War" against the West already failing? Mark Galeotti, a Russia analyst and author whose books including Putin's Wars: From Chechnya To Ukraine, joins Steve Gutterman to discuss.
Dozens of Ukrainian civilians are killed when a Russian rocket obliterates part of an apartment building in Dnipro. Fighting persists following Moscow's claims of control over the Donbas town of Soledar. RFE/RL's Irina Lagunina joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
Following Russian setbacks in its bloody bid to subjugate Ukraine, is the propaganda changing? And why is Putin avoiding holding one of his big image-making exercises, the annual press conference? Ian Garner, an author and expert on Russian war propaganda, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
Why was the Kremlin so eager to bring an arms dealer home, and what are the prospects for further releases following the Griner-Bout exchange? Also, what's behind opposition politician Ilya Yashin's long prison term? RFE/RL's Irina Lagunina joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
The Belarusian state has provided plenty of support for Russia's war on Ukraine but has resisted sending troops. What's behind that reluctance – and why has the death of the country's longtime foreign minister sparked so much speculation? Katia Glod, a fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
Russian attacks on Ukraine's infrastructure are darkening cities as winter approaches, but Ukrainians' resolve may be burning even brighter, and Western support continues. Kadri Liik, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss the latest phase of the war.
From a massive mobilization drive to money problems in the regions, Russia's war on Ukraine is straining the Kremlin's ability to govern -- and to keep up support from the people it needs to maintain its grip. Analyst Andras Toth-Czifra joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss what the unprovoked war has done to 'state capacity' and 'regime capacity' in Russia.
What’s next -- for Ukraine and Russia -- after Russian forces relinquished the only regional capital they had seized since the start of the invasion in February? And amid Ukrainian gains on the ground, what’s behind the talk about talks? Olga Oliker, program director for Europe and Central Asia at the Crisis Group, joins Steve Gutterman to discuss.
The Duma stops live transmissions and prepares broad new anti-LGBT legislation. Navalny says he's targeted in a new criminal probe. Ben Noble, associate professor of Russian politics at University College London, associate fellow at Chatham House, and co-author of the recent book Navalny: Putin's Nemesis, Russia's Future? joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
Russia's assault on Ukraine continues eight months after the February 24 invasion. Amid setbacks on the battlefield, the Kremlin has taken a series of steps in an effort to gain the upper hand -- or avoid losing the war. Author and analyst Mark Galeotti, an honorary professor at the UCL School of Slavonic & East European Studies, joins host Steve Gutterman to take stock.
Grumbling in a security alliance and a diatribe from Tajikistan's president directed at Vladimir Putin point to tensions between Moscow and the Central Asian countries amid Russia's war on Ukraine. RFE/RL Central Asia correspondent Chris Rickleton joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
Russia strikes Kyiv and cities across Ukraine in multiple attacks after a blast and fire the Kremlin blames on Ukraine badly damages the bridge to occupied Crimea. RFE/RL’s Irina Lagunina joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
In a speech marking the attempted annexation of four Ukrainian regions amid setbacks for Moscow in its war on Kyiv, Russian President Vladimir Putin lashed out at the West in some of his most elaborately vitriolic language yet. What was the point – and will Russians buy it? Ian Garner, an author and expert on Russian war propaganda, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
Tens of thousands of Russians have fled, and some others are protesting. Is President Vladimir Putin’s “partial mobilization” a big mistake? And how might the mobilization and the so-called referendums that Moscow is imposing on four Ukrainian regions affect the course of the war in Ukraine? Author, analyst, and Russia expert Sam Greene joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
Nigel Gould-Davies, a senior fellow on Russia and Eurasia at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, and former British ambassador, joins host Mike Eckel to discuss the regional elections in Russia this weekend, the lightning Ukrainian counteroffensive and the war in Ukraine, and what the Kremlin might be thinking about these days.
As autumn approaches, the future of southern Ukraine and European support for Kyiv may be hanging in the balance. Kadri Liik, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss the war -- and examine the Kremlin's handling of Mikhail Gorbachev’s death.
August 24 is Independence Day in Ukraine -- and marks six months since Russia launched a massive attack against the country. Where do things stand in the war, and what has that half-year brought the invading country? Irina Lagunina, associate standards editor and former director of RFE/RL's Russian Service, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
In a recent article, analyst and author Mark Galeotti wrote that Vladimir Putin appears to be entering "the final, most dangerous phase of his descent into rogue state tyrant." What does that mean for the war in Ukraine -- and what can the West do about it? Galeotti joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
A crucial time in the war in Ukraine, and two years since a disputed election led to protests and crackdown in Belarus. Nigel Gould-Davies, senior fellow for Russia and Eurasia at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
Boris Nemtsov, a politician with presidential potential who became a vocal opponent of Vladimir Putin and Moscow's aggression against Ukraine, was shot dead near the Kremlin in 2015. His daughter, journalist Zhanna Nemtsova, talks about Another Russia, her new podcast about Nemtsov and the continuing fight for the country's future.
Despite setbacks on the battlefield, Russia announced that it wants to control at least two Ukrainian regions beyond the Donbas. And it reached a deal to unblock Ukrainian grain exports, but then fired rockets at Odesa. Olga Oliker, program director for Europe and Central Asia at the Crisis Group, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss what these developments could bring.
Are Russians hearing about the horrors of their country’s war on Ukraine, or are the state’s narratives drowning out the bloody details? And is Western resolve strong enough to stand up to the Kremlin’s framing of its invasion? Ian Garner, an expert on Russian war propaganda, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
What's behind President Vladimir Putin's assertion that Russia has not yet begun to fight the war in Ukraine "in earnest?" And when Western officials talk about victory for Ukraine, what does that mean -- and how far will they go to achieve it? Analyst and author Mark Galeotti, an honorary professor at the UCL School of Slavonic and East European Studies in London, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
In 1998, days after Vladimir Putin was named to head the FSB, a journalist digging into his past was beaten to death -- a brutal attack that's examined in the final installment of an investigative series by RFE/RL on the early part of Putin's rise to power. Enterprise Editor Carl Schreck and Andrei Soshnikov, an investigative journalist and web editor for Current Time, join host Steve Gutterman to discuss the project and the story of Anatoly Levin-Utkin's killing.
At an annual economic forum that was once his window on the West, President Vladimir Putin lashed out at Washington and repeated baseless claims in an effort to justify the invasion of Ukraine. Irina Lagunina, associate standards editor at RFE/RL, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
President Vladimir Putin likened himself to Peter the Great and suggested that grabbing land is the main motive for his war against Ukraine. How might this affect the course of the conflict -- and how crucial are the actions of the West? Kadri Liik, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
Does President Vladimir Putin think Russia is winning its war against Ukraine? And does he face a threat from Russians who favor the war but think it’s losing? Irina Lagunina, associate standards editor at RFE/RL, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
Author and analyst Mark Galeotti, an honorary professor at the UCL School of Slavonic & East European Studies in London, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss the latest developments in the war in Ukraine – as well as the speculation about Russian President Vladimir Putin's health and the possibility that he could pushed from power.
What's the connection between the largest cocaine bust in Russian history and the man who was the city's deputy mayor at the time, Vladimir Putin? Current Time reporter Andrei Soshnikov and RFE/RL Enterprise Editor Carl Schreck join guest host Mike Eckel to discuss a mostly overlooked but revelatory entry in Putin's political trajectory as well as findings made in the first of a multipart series looking at the Russian president's backstory.
When the war is over, will Russia end up in a worse position than it was in before it invaded Ukraine? And should making sure that it does be a goal for the West? Nigel Gould-Davies, the senior fellow for Russia and Eurasia at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
At the annual military parade in Red Square, Russian President Vladimir Putin repeated the Kremlin's narratives about the war in Ukraine but made no big announcements and signaled no changes in strategy. Ian Garner, an author and expert on Russian war propaganda, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
With Russia causing devastation in Ukraine that echoes World War II and preparing to celebrate the anniversary of Nazi Germany's defeat 77 years ago, are major developments likely in Ukraine – and in Russia itself? Kadri Liik, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
Can Ukraine win the war? And as Russia's military losses mount and isolation increases, are the whispers of dismay and discontent in circles close to President Vladimir Putin growing louder? Political analyst and author Mark Galeotti joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
As the terrible human toll mounts and evidence of atrocities emerges, where is the war in Ukraine headed? And how sustainable is the situation in Russia? Olga Oliker, program director for Europe and Central Asia at the Crisis Group, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
As Russian forces withdrew from the suburbs of Kyiv, they left a trail of death and destruction -- including mounting evidence of cold-blooded killings of Ukrainian civilians. Will this awful development change views of the war in Russia or the West? Alexander Clarkson, a lecturer at King's College London, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
Imprisoned Kremlin opponent Aleksei Navalny is handed a new nine-year sentence, part of a sweeping and persistent clampdown on dissent in Russia as the war in Ukraine -- which President Vladimir Putin may have expected to last a few days -- enters its second month. Ben Noble, an associate professor of Russian politics at University College London and co-author of a recent book about Navalny, joins host Steve Gutterman on Twitter Spaces to discuss.
Russia’s war in Ukraine is horrifyingly real. Are the peace talks for real, too, or are they meant to buy Moscow time after the initial failures of its military campaign? And what’s in store for Russia, where President Vladimir Putin is seeking enforce loyalty and support for the war? Author and analyst Mark Galeotti joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
More than two weeks after Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, the death toll is mounting as Moscow’s forces pound civilian areas across much of the country. Buzzfeed News correspondent Christopher Miller, who has been in Ukraine since January, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
Events have not developed the way Russian President Vladimir Putin might have expected following the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, leaving the future and even the next few weeks unclear in both countries. Olga Oliker, program director for Europe and Central Asia at the Crisis Group, joins host Steve Gutterman on Twitter Spaces to discuss.
Days after Russian President Vladimir Putin unleashed an unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, casualties are mounting and the prospects for productive negotiations are uncertain. Where might the war be headed, and what are the potential consequences for Russia? Kadri Liik, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss in a special edition on Twitter Spaces.
There's talk of summit talks as tension spikes in the Donbas, adding to fears of a new Russian invasion of Ukraine. Meanwhile, Kremlin foe Aleksei Navalny is on trial again. Mark Galeotti, author, analyst of Russian politics, and honorary professor at the UCL School of Slavonic and East European Studies in London joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
As the tension over Moscow's military buildup near Ukraine's borders mounts, the Kremlin's clampdown on dissent, civil society, and independent media in Russia continues, with Aleksei Navalny facing a new trial and a 16-year-old boy sentenced to prison in a controversial case. Irina Lagunina, director of special projects at RFE/RL's Russian Service, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
More diplomacy this week -- but no sign of a letup in Moscow's military buildup near Ukraine's borders, and an alarming message from the United States on the possibility of a new Russian offensive. Chris Miller, a BuzzFeed News correspondent who is currently in Kyiv, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
With an estimated 100,000 troops positioned near Ukraine’s borders, what’s the mood in Kyiv? And what’s behind the striking difference between public assessments by Ukrainian and U.S. officials? RFE/RL senior correspondent Mike Eckel, now on assignment in Ukraine, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
Amid the persistent Russian threat to Ukraine, diplomacy seems certain to continue -- but for how long? Also, what to make of alleged Russian plots to install a friendly government in Kyiv, and a bill on recognition of the Moscow-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine? Russia analyst Mark Galeotti, the author of books including The Weaponization Of Everything, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
Last week saw the most consequential European security negotiations in years, as diplomats from Russia, NATO, and the United States tried to find agreement on Moscow's sweeping demands -- demands undergirded by around 100,000 troops deployed to Ukraine's borders. So what comes next? Are we about to see new war in Ukraine? Kadri Liik, a senior fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, and Sam Greene, director of the Russia Institute at King's College London, join host Mike Eckel to discuss.
This week brings a series of talks between the West and Russia amid concerns about Moscow’s military buildup near Ukraine and its sweeping demands for restrictions on NATO enlargement and activities. Olga Oliker, program director for Europe and Central Asia at the Crisis Group, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
After a year of growing oppression, will the Kremlin now redouble efforts to increase control in 2022? And will talks between Russia and the West ease fears of war? Andras Toth-Czifra, a political analyst, nonresident fellow at CEPA, and author of the analytical blog No Yardstick, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
The year 2021 has been marked by a major clampdown on Kremlin opponents, civil society, and independent media, and is ending amid high tension over Russia’s dramatic demands of Kyiv, NATO, Washington, and the West. Analyst and author Mark Galeotti joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss what may happen in 2022.
At most of President Vladimir Putin's annual press conferences, the bulk of the questions are about domestic affairs. But this week, much of the attention will be focused on Moscow's military buildup near Ukraine and its demands for a rollback of the consequences of the Soviet collapse. Irina Lagunina, director of special projects at RFE/RL's Russian Service, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
Aleksei Navalny won’t be in Strasbourg this week to pick up a European human rights prize named after Andrei Sakharov, because he’s in prison in Russia. Ben Noble, an associate professor of Russian politics at University College London and co-author of the book Navalny: Putin’s Nemesis, Russia’s Future? joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss the opposition leader and his fate.
Amid concerns over a military buildup that has added to questions about Moscow's intentions toward Ukraine, U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin are due to hold a video call on December 7. Dr. Olga Oliker, program director for Europe and Central Asia at the Crisis Group, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss what to watch out for.
One of the main factors fueling concerns of a new Russian offensive targeting Ukraine is the evidence that President Vladimir Putin is determined to exercise control over the neighboring country. How dangerous is the situation and what can the West do about it? Kadri Liik, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
The fate of the prominent human rights group Memorial hangs in the balance -- though it may already have been decided -- as courts hold hearings on the government’s bid to order its closure. And the COVID crisis persists in Russia, with daily fatality tolls at record highs and lawmakers preparing to consider new restrictions that would be imposed next year. Irina Lagunina, director of special projects at RFE/RL’s Russian Service, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
The Russian government has launched a campaign to close the prominent human rights groups Memorial, a startling new step in the ongoing clampdown on civil society, independent media, and public dissent. Meanwhile, the migrant crisis on Poland’s border with Belarus persists as winter approaches. Moscow-based journalist Matthew Luxmoore joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
The coronavirus crisis rages on, Moscow is criticized over climate change despite a shift in tone, and tension builds in and around the Donbas amid new Russian military movements near the Ukrainian border. Russia expert, analyst, and author Mark Galeotti joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
Moscow is going into its most restrictive lockdown in over a year this week as coronavirus cases and deaths rise across Russia. And imprisoned Kremlin opponent Aleksei Navalny has won the Sakharov Prose for Freedom of Thought. Moscow-based journalist Matthew Luxmoore joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
The State Duma convenes after elections that preserved the Kremlin-backed party’s dominance but were marred by a campaign of repression and claims of fraud. Meanwhile, the Nobel Peace Prize and the Pandora Papers shone an unflattering spotlight on President Vladimir Putin’s government. RFE/RL Enterprise Editor Carl Schreck joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
(PLEASE NOTE: There will be no podcast next week. The Week Ahead In Russia will return on October 25.)
A massive leak of financial documents exposes the hidden wealth and dealings of several people close to President Vladimir Putin. And it’s been 15 years since Anna Politkovskaya, the groundbreaking journalist who exposed abuses of power and human rights, was shot dead. Irina Lagunina, director of special projects at RFE/RL’s Russian Service, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
Two of the main results from the State Duma elections: The Kremlin-controlled United Russia party preserved its two-thirds majority in the lower house of parliament, amid allegations and evidence of fraud, and the Communist Party made gains. RFE/RL senior correspondent Robert Coalson joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss the consequences.
Despite its lack of popularity, the Kremlin-controlled United Russia party is on track to retain its constitutional majority in the State Duma after a three-day election marred by evidence of fraud. Is it really a win for President Vladimir Putin? Irina Lagunina, director of special projects at RFE/RL's Russian Service, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
As a crackdown on independent voices continues and the Kremlin-controlled party's popularity wanes, Russians will vote this week in elections to the State Duma, the lower parliament house, and in local balloting across the country. RFE/RL's Moscow correspondent Matthew Luxmoore joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
Ahead of the September 17-19 election of the State Duma and regional balloting across Russia, there's evidence the Kremlin is doing its best to thwart Putin foe Aleksei Navalny's Smart Voting initiative and keep dissent at a minimum. RFE/RL senior correspondent Robert Coalson joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
It’s been more than two years since Volodymyr Zelenskiy was elected Ukrainian president, but this is his first visit to the White House. RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service correspondent Natalia Churikova joins host Mike Eckel to discuss what this means for the Zelenskiy presidency -- and what it means for the Kremlin, which is watching the visit closely.
Beyond the gloating over the U.S. failure to build a stable, democratic Afghanistan over the past 20 years, how does Moscow perceive the situation in Kabul? Mark Krutov, a correspondent with RFE/RL's Russian Service, joins guest host Mike Eckel to discuss Moscow’s biggest concerns.
Thirty years ago, a botched putsch accelerated the forces pulling the U.S.S.R. apart, and within months the massive country was no more. Irina Lagunina, director of special projects at RFE/RL’s Russian Service, joins host Steve Gutterman to talk about those dramatic days in August 1991 -- and what’s become of Russia since.
One year ago, a deeply disputed election threw Belarus into turmoil as unprecedented crowds protested Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s victory claim and he cracked down hard. The Russian state has helped prop up Lukashenka while intensifying its own repressions at home. RFE/RL senior correspondent Tony Wesolowsky joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
Lawyer Lyubov Sobol, who dropped plans to run for parliament due to pressure, faces a verdict over a protest against Aleksei Navalny's arrest in January. And across the country, a number of activists -- some of them would-be candidates in September elections -- have been subjected to forced medical treatment. RFE/RL senior correspondent Robert Coalson joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
A groundbreaking investigative reporting outfit and a prominent legal-defense group are among the latest victims of the Russian state’s sweeping campaign against opponents, civil society, and independent media. Meanwhile, court cases against allies of Aleksei Navalny and others continue. RFE/RL senior correspondent Robert Coalson joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
With parliamentary elections just over two months away, the wave of coronavirus cases and deaths rolls on and the Russian state continues to struggle to vaccinate the populace. Moscow correspondent Matthew Luxmoore joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
Amid a persistent Kremlin crackdown on civil society and a surge of COVID-19 cases driven in part by failures on the vaccination front, Russian President Vladimir Putin holds what is likely to be an hours-long televised Q&A session on June 30. Irina Lagunina, director of special projects at RFE/RL’s Russian Service, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
It’s back – though it never really went away. COVID-19 cases and deaths from the disease have increased sharply in Russia, in particular Moscow, with the “Delta” variant taking its toll and millions of citizens ignoring calls from the authorities to get vaccinated. Now it's mandatory for many. Moscow Correspondent Matthew Luxmoore joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
Expectations are low ahead of a high-profile summit between the U.S. and Russian leaders, who are to meet this week for the first time since President Joe Biden took office in January. RFE/RL senior correspondent Mike Eckel joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss the June 16 summit in Geneva.
A Moscow court may label three organizations linked to imprisoned opposition leader Aleksei Navalny extremist groups this week, part of what Kremlin critics say is an ongoing effort to sideline his supporters and silence dissent. Is the crackdown only connected to the upcoming State Duma elections? Or does it go deeper? Irina Lagunina, director of special projects at RFE/RL’s Russian Service, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
More than 50 employees of the Russian Embassy in Prague reportedly flew back to Moscow over the weekend after the Czech Republic ordered their expulsion last month. How will the exodus affect Russia's espionage efforts in the heart of Europe? RFE/RL senior correspondent Tony Wesolowsky joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
What would Russia look like today if some of the late Nobel laureate Andrei Sakharov’s ideas had been realized? Also, legislation barring people with ties to Aleksei Navalny and his organizations from running in elections is set to advance in the State Duma this week. RFE/RL senior correspondent Robert Coalson joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for tighter gun regulations after a deadly school shooting in Kazan, but will it happen -- and will the Kremlin use the attack to expand control over the Internet? Also, some of the latest victims of the state’s crackdown on perceived opponents are former Moscow subway workers who were fired over alleged support for imprisoned opposition leader Aleksei Navalny. Irina Lagunina, director of special projects at RFE/RL's Russian Service, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
A Russian teenager who has defied the authorities on the streets and in court faces a verdict on a vandalism charge. RFE/RL senior correspondent Robert Coalson joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss Olga Misik's case and take stock of the situation surrounding imprisoned Kremlin foe Aleksei Navalny.
As the government steps up its efforts to neutralize Aleksei Navalny and his supporters across Russia ahead of parliamentary elections due in September, some observers say the repression has reached a point of no return. Has the Kremlin’s crackdown pulled Russia into a dark new era? Irina Lagunina, director of special projects at RFE/RL’s Russian Service, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
Imprisoned Kremlin opponent Aleksei Navalny has ended a hunger strike after more than three weeks of fasting that doctors said would lead to his death if he persisted longer. Meanwhile, his backers are defiant in the face of a potential “extremism” designation that would outlaw his organizations across Russia. RFE/RL senior correspondent Robert Coalson joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
RFE/RL senior correspondent Mike Eckel provides clarity on a complex story that appears to tie together a deadly blast at a Czech munitions site in 2014, poisonings in England and Bulgaria, two well-traveled Russian military intelligence agents, and more. Meanwhile, Aleksei Navalny's condition is dire and his supporters plan protests hours after President Vladimir Putin delivers an annual address on April 21.
Kremlin opponent Aleksei Navalny is on a hunger strike in prison, his condition said to be worsening. Tensions rise as the motives behind Russia's military moves in Crimea and close to the Ukrainian border near the Donbas remain murky. Plus, will the Hermitage have to put all its artworks depicting nudes in an adults-only area? Irina Lagunina, director of special projects at RFE/RL's Russian Service, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
Imprisoned Kremlin foe Aleksei Navalny says he is being tortured with sleep deprivation and accuses his jailers of a deliberate effort to undermine his health. Also, the plight of an award-winning forest ranger whose penchant for catching suspected poachers may have made him some powerful enemies. RFER/RL Senior Correspondent Robert Coalson joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
The Russian police, FSB, and other law enforcement agencies are inextricably entwined in the massive theft of oil from pipelines and at other stages of transport within the country, an RFE/RL investigation has found. Enterprise Editor Carl Schreck joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss the revealing report by Russian Service correspondent Sergei Khazov-Cassia.
Aleksei Navalny's whereabouts are unknown -- again -- as the state appears to use the Kremlin foe's long journey to prison to make a point. Meanwhile, back in Moscow, police raid a forum of independent lawmakers and arrest everyone in the room. RFE/RL senior correspondent Robert Coalson joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
Aleksei Navalny was moved out of a Moscow jail almost two weeks ago -- and still may not have arrived at the prison where is to serve his sentence in a case he calls absurd. RFE/RL Moscow correspondent Matthew Luxmoore discusses the situation surrounding the opposition politician, as well as the Kremlin’s efforts to rein in the Internet, with host Steve Gutterman.
Aleksei Navalny has been sent to prison -- apparently to a facility in the Vladimir region that former inmates describe in chilling terms. Back in Moscow, a vote on whether to return Soviet secret-police founder Feliks Dzerzhinsky's statue to Lubyanka Square or put up a monument to medieval prince Aleksandr Nevsky was abruptly canceled. Irina Lagunina, director of special projects at RFE/RL's Russian Service, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
As expected, Aleksei Navalny lost two court cases on February 20: Judges rejected his appeal against a prison sentence on a parole-violation claim he calls absurd and found him guilty of defaming a World War II veteran in a case he said was a Kremlin propaganda stunt. What's behind the decisions and what's next? RFE/RL senior correspondent Robert Coalson joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.
After big street protests over Aleksei Navalny's jailing were met with a violent crackdown, the Kremlin opponent and his allies called for a different kind of demonstration on February 14, with Russians stepping out of their homes and shining mobile-phone flashlights into the sky. Meanwhile, the court cases targeting Navalny continue. Irina Lagunina, director of special projects for RFE/RL's Russian Service, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss.