Mark Galeotti

Mark Galeotti is one of the world’s foremost experts on Russia, an honorary professor at University College London, director of Mayak Intelligence, and author of more than 30 books on Russian history, intelligence, and organized crime. His latest work, Forged in War, explores the military history of Russia from its origins to the present day. In this episode, Galeotti explains why Vladimir Putin’s recent Victory Day parade revealed not strength—but vulnerability. He breaks down the growing strain inside Russia, from economic pressure and Ukrainian drone strikes to elite infighting and declining public trust in Putin’s leadership. The conversation also explores Putin’s worldview, the Soviet legacy that shaped him, and why Galeotti believes Russia is entering a generational transition. He examines the growing divide between Putin’s aging inner circle and younger elites preparing for a post-Putin future, while offering insight into what Russia could look like in the decades ahead. Throughout the discussion, Galeotti argues that the war in Ukraine has fundamentally reshaped Russia politically, economically, and psychologically—and that even if the fighting stopped tomorrow, the consequences will last for generations. 00:00 Intro — What Putin’s Victory Day Parade Revealed 01:11 Why the Parade Signaled Weakness 05:21 Russians Are Starting to Feel the War 07:56 Does Putin Think the War Is Ending? 12:37 Why Putin Can’t Walk Away From Ukraine 17:03 How History Will Remember Putin 19:14 Is Putin Becoming Russia’s Brezhnev? 22:34 The Quiet Succession Debate Inside Russia 25:30 Ukraine’s Attacks on Russia’s Economy 30:14 How the Soviet Union Still Shapes Putin 35:33 What a Post-Putin Russia Could Look Like 40:14 Organized Crime, Russia, and Final Thoughts Support the show

In this episode of The NDS Show, Nick Smith sits down with Mark Galeotti, one of the world's leading experts on Russia, banned indefinitely by the Kremlin in 2022, to break down how Russia's intelligence apparatus really works, what's actually happening inside Putin's inner circle, and where the Ukraine war is really headed. 📘 Order Mark's books: We Need to Talk About Putin: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/439532/we-need-to-talk-about-putin-by-galeotti-mark/9781529981094 Homo Criminalus: How Crime Organizes the World: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/445951/homo-criminalis-by-galeotti-mark/9781529148220 Downfall: Prigozhin, Putin and the New Fight for the Future of Russia: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/460781/downfall-by-galeotti-anna-arutunyan-and-mark/9781529927382 Forged in War: A Military History of Russia from Its Beginnings to Today: https://www.ospreypublishing.com/uk/forged-in-war-9781472862518/ 🎙️ Check out Mark’s podcast: https://inmoscowsshadows.buzzsprout.com/ They dive into: - Why Russia's intelligence community operates on a permanent war footing - The truth behind Russian disinformation, and how much of it is actually hype - What ordinary Russians really think about Putin and the war - The only realistic endgame for the Ukraine war - The dirty secret behind the Russia-China "alliance" - How the Kremlin is outsourcing operations to organized crime - What happens to Russia when Putin is gone This conversation offers a rare glimpse into the forces shaping Russia today, from modern warfare and global power shifts to the inner workings of authoritarian systems behind closed doors.

In this Talk Eastern Europe Deep Dive, Adam Reichardt and Nina Panikova speak with renowned Russia analyst Mark Galeotti about what is happening inside Russia today and what it means for Ukraine, Europe, and the wider global order. The conversation explores the Kremlin’s tightening control over the internet, disruptions to platforms like Telegram and WhatsApp, and the political struggle behind Russia’s so-called “sovereign internet.” Galeotti explains how these measures are not only about security, but also about power inside the Russian system — and why they may be alienating new parts of Russian society. The discussion also looks at the state of the Russian economy, the impact of Western sanctions, Russia’s evolving relationships with Iran and North Korea, and how Vladimir Putin is trying to position Russia in an increasingly fragmented world. Galeotti also reflects on Donald Trump, Europe’s internal divisions, Hungary after Viktor Orbán, and the risks posed by future elections in France and elsewhere. Finally, the episode turns to Russia’s May 9th Victory Day narrative and what it reveals about Putin’s weakened social contract with Russian citizens. Topics covered in this episode: 00:00 Introduction 03:00 Russia’s internet restrictions and “sovereign internet” 08:45 Public discontent and protest potential inside Russia 16:15 Is the Russian economy really faltering? 20:00 Western sanctions and their real impact 22:30 Russia, Iran, North Korea and the global order 27:00 Trump, Putin and the future of US-Russia relations 29:00 Hungary, Europe and Russia’s influence in the EU 34:30 Victory Day, propaganda and Putin’s wartime narrative Guest: Mark Galeotti is a historian, Russia analyst, director of Mayak Intelligence, honorary professor at UCL School of Slavonic and East European Studies, and host of In Moscow’s Shadows . — Talk Eastern Europe is the podcast from the New Eastern Europe magazine - your trusted source for in-depth analysis and expert perspectives on Central and Eastern Europe, Russia, and the post-Soviet space. ABOUT THIS PODCAST We publish twice weekly: Every Tuesday: Expert Interviews featuring deep dives with leading analysts, journalists, and scholars Every Friday: Weekly News Roundup with essential updates and commentary on the latest developments Available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms. Support on Patreon Join our community for bonus content, early access, behind-the-scenes insights, and access to our exclusive WhatsApp group where we discuss the news in real-time. → Join the Talk Eastern Europe community: https://www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope New Eastern Europe Magazine Bimonthly publication with exclusive long-form analysis. → Become a member: https://neweasterneurope.eu/become-a-member-of-new-eastern-europe/ Brief Eastern Europe Newsletter Weekly briefing sent out every Monday with news updates, expert commentary, and our editorial picks - free to your inbox. → Subscribe: https://briefeasterneurope.eu/subscribe FOLLOW US Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neweasterneuropemag/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewEasternEurope/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/new-eastern-europe/

In this episode, we host Professor Mark Galeotti to explore how Russia wages political warfare against the West beyond the conventional battlefield. Drawing on decades of work on Russian power, intelligence, organised crime, and state coercion, Professor Galeotti explains why Moscow’s challenge to Europe is not best understood simply through hard power but rather through sabotage, disinformation, criminal proxies, cyberactivity, and the deliberate exploitation of Western vulnerabilities. He also reflects on how Putin’s system works today, why the Kremlin so often misreads both its adversaries and itself, and what episodes such as the Prigozhin mutiny reveal about the strengths and fragilities of the Russian state. We discuss why “political warfare” may be a more useful term than “hybrid war" and how Russia blends state and criminal networks. From sabotage plots and outsourced coercion to red-teaming, resilience, insider threats, and the use of AI to identify vulnerabilities, this conversation offers a timely guide to how Russia applies pressure below the threshold of open war – and what Western states, institutions, and organisations need to do to prepare more intelligently. Professor Mark Galeotti is one of the leading experts on modern Russia, with particular expertise in its security politics, intelligence services, organised crime, and political warfare. He is Director of Mayak Intelligence, an Honorary Professor at the UCL School of Slavonic and East European Studies, a Senior Non-Resident Fellow at the Institute of International Relations Prague, and an Associate Fellow at the Council on Geostrategy. He is a prolific author of more than 30 books on Russia, writes regularly for The Times and The Spectator , is a frequent contributor to RUSI and Foreign Policy , and hosts the podcast In Moscow’s Shadows . The International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical instability and organised crime to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you’re a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter. The International Risk Podcast is sponsored by Conducttr , a realistic crisis exercise platform. Conducttr offers crisis exercising software for corporates, consultants, humanitarian, and defence & security clients. Visit Conducttr to learn more. Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe’s leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe’s leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe’s business leaders. Dominic is the go-to business advisor for leaders navigating risk, crisis, and strategy; trusted for his clarity, calmness under pressure, and ability to turn volatility into competitive advantage. Dominic equips today’s business leaders with the insight and confidence to lead through disruption and deliver sustained strategic advantage. Subscribe for all our updates! Tell us what you liked! <a target="_blank" href="https://ww

On today's episode we're joined by Mark Galeotti, security expert and author, to discuss Trump's recent efforts to reach a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. Galeotti speaks to Conor Boyle, Head of Programming at Intelligence Squared, about how Trump's strategy is different to previous U.S. administrations and whether security guarantees from Europe and the United States can really quell Putin';s imperial ambitions. Galeotti's new book is called Homo Criminalis: How Crime Organises The World and is available now from your local bookstore. If you'd like to become a Member and get access to all our full conversations, plus all of our Members-only content, just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more. For £4.99 per month you'll also receive: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared episodes, wherever you get your podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series - 15% discount on livestreams and in-person tickets for all Intelligence Squared events ... Or Subscribe on Apple for £4.99: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series … Already a subscriber? Thank you for supporting our mission to foster honest debate and compelling conversations! Visit intelligencesquared.com to explore all your benefits including ad-free podcasts, exclusive bonus content and early access. … Subscribe to our newsletter here to hear about our latest events, discounts and much more. https://www.intelligencesquared.com/newsletter-signup/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Dictators v Democrats: Why We Fight , we’re joined by Professor Mark Galeotti, one of the world’s leading experts on modern Russia, for a sweeping conversation on authoritarianism, democracy, and the future of Putin’s regime. We explore: Why democracy failed in post-Soviet Russia The real legacy of Boris Yeltsin and the 1990s How Putin rebuilt an authoritarian state with elite loyalty and public apathy Russia’s strategic culture and the "first punch" doctrine What comes after Putin—and how the war in Ukraine might end Grey zone warfare, gangsters as proxies, and Russia’s criminal statecraft How democracies can resist authoritarian influence without sacrificing their values Why Russian disinformation works—and why fact-checking alone won’t stop it Key Takeaways : “You can have rule of law without democracy, but not democracy without rule of law.” Putin's Russia is a hybrid of medieval court politics and 21st-century bureaucracy. The West enabled Russian authoritarianism by endorsing rigged elections and prioritising short-term stability over long-term democratic development. Today’s global struggle isn’t just military—it’s narrative, emotional, and psychological. Disinformation thrives where trust in institutions has already collapsed. Fixing democracy’s reputation means fixing democratic systems themselves. Russia’s alliances with Iran, China, and others are transactional—not ideological. “Democracy is a frustrating, unstable beast—but it can do amazing things if we fight for it.” Mark Galeotti’s Latest Book : Homo Criminalis — out now in the UK and Netherlands. U.S. release coming soon. Listen to Mark’s podcast : In Moscow’s Shadows Support the Show This podcast is entirely self-funded. If you value this work: Buy Me a Coffee Join our Patreon Support the show

Russia. The land of frozen winters, boiling tempers, and a history so thick with blood, betrayal, and bombast you could bottle it and sell it as a Molotov cocktail. This isn’t just a country. It’s a worldview forged in war, paranoia, and the long, unforgiving shadow of history. From the horsemen of the Mongol horde to the black leather coats of Stalin’s secret police, the Russian psyche has been shaped by centuries of siege. Real and imagined. Fortress mentality isn’t a strategy there. It’s a state of being. And yet, despite the suspicion, the brutality, and the endless dance with disaster, Russia endures. Reinvents. Retaliates. Sometimes with style. Often with force. Always with purpose. Today, we’re sitting down with Professor Mark Galeotti. Yup, that Mark Galeotti. We’re going to dig into the roots of Russian insecurity. Where it comes from. Why it matters. And how it still shapes every handshake, every airstrike, and every line drawn on a map. We’ll trace the scars left by Napoleon’s march, Stalin’s purges, and the Cold War’s long hangover. We’ll talk about the inferiority complex that festers behind the Kremlin walls, and how history—real or rewritten—guides Moscow’s every move from Kyiv to Damascus to Washington. This isn’t about making excuses. It’s about understanding the worldview of a nation that still thinks in terms of czars and tsars, enemies and allies, and very little in between. So pour a drink if it’s after 11. Grab a coffee if it’s earlier. And join us as we wander the haunted corridors of Russian history, where paranoia isn’t a glitch in the system. It is the system. Downfall: Putin, Prigozhin, and the Fight for the Future downfall:%20Putin,%20Prigozhin,%20and%20the%20fight%20for%20the%20future%20of%20Russia%20https%3A//a.co/d/1bi80vk Forged in War: A military history of Russia from its beginnings to today https://a.co/d/3ZyL1rJ Putin's Wars: From Chechnya to Ukraine https://a.co/d/1bcsoZG Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the audio from a video we have just published on our YouTube channel – an interview with Mark Galeotti. To make sure you never miss great content like this, subscribe to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/@spiked Vladimir Putin is often said to have a tsar-like grip on Russia. He is apparently so powerful that he even has Donald Trump in his pocket. Here, historian and Russia expert Mark Galeotti – author of Forged in War – explains why Putin actually faces far greater challenges than the West seems to realise, from the internal threats to his rule to the war’s rising costs and waning public support. Mark also discusses how the West betrayed Ukraine long before Trump’s arrival. Celebrate 25 years of spiked . Donate £25 or more to get a year’s membership of spiked supporters for half the usual price: https://www.spiked-online.com/donate/ Support spiked: https://www.spiked-online.com/support/ Sign up to spiked’s newsletters: https://www.spiked-online.com/newsletters/ Order Brendan O’Neill’s After the Pogrom now from: 🇬🇧 📕 Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/After-Pogrom-October-Israel-Civilisation/dp/1068719303/ 🇺🇸 📕 Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/After-Pogrom-October-Israel-Civilisation/dp/1068719303/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Making sense of the current geopolitical moment is no easy undertaking. In the third episode of Future Discontinuous, hosts Misha Glenny and Eva Konzett invite prolific author, historian, and Russia expert Mark Galeotti on the podcast. Together with their guest, they try to illuminate the murky waters of Russia’s foreign policy, the repercussions of the power shifts in the Middle East on Putin’s strategy, and the broader security implications of Ukraine’s bid for NATO membership. Mark Galeotti is the director of the consultancy Mayak Intelligence and an Honorary Professor at University College London. A specialist in Russian politics and security, he has worked for the British Foreign Office, headed the Center for Global Affairs at New York University, and studied at Cambridge University and the LSE. A prolific author, he has some 30 books to his credit, most recently Forged in War: A Military History of Russia from its Beginnings to Today (Osprey Bloomsbury, 2024). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Russia, the Wagner Group and the Fall of Yevgeny Prigozhin. In this episode, Mark sits down with Professor Mark Galeotti, to discuss his new book, co-authored with Anna Arutunyan, ‘Downfall: Prigozhin, Putin, and the new fight for the future of Russia’. The life of Yevgeny Prigozhin was nothing if not extraordinary. After an earlier stint in prison in Russia, he turned his hands to business, became a catering magnate, then a troll master, and finally the leader of the infamous Wagner PMC (Private Military Contractor). The actions of the Wagner Group in places like Mali, the Central African Republic and other countries in Africa led to it being designated a transnational organized criminal group by the US in early 2023, whilst it was locked in a fierce battle with Ukrainian forces in the city of Bakhmut, Ukraine. At the same time, Prigozhin was involved in a very public war of words with the Russia MoD, particularly with then Minister of Defence and close associate of President Putin, Sergei Shoigu. This spat eventually boiled over and led to Prigozhin’s ill-fated ‘March of Justice’ in 2023 which made it to the very edge of Moscow. This catastrophic decision ultimately led to his death, alongside several other members of the Wagner leadership, in a dramatic plane crash a few months later. In this episode Mark Galeotti sits down with Mark Shaw to talk about Yevgeny Prigozhin, his life and career, his turbulent relationship with certain members of the Russian elite, his posthumous reinvention as the ultimate Russian patriot, where he sits in the arc of Russian history and the future of the Wagner Group without him. ==================================================== Mark Galeotti’s book ‘Downfall: Prigozhin, Putin, and the new fight for the future of Russia’ is available here: https://amzn.eu/d/jiIaqS8 Audible version: https://amzn.eu/d/9Tb9MIE ==================================================== Underworlds with Mark Shaw Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXSX1Xu1kM0ss7EEqXOflp3d-lZw4LfIe ==================================================== 📱 YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@UCP-lqJdhM-9iDKkswuVcXZA 🌎 VISIT US! Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime - https://globalinitiative.net/ 🎧Audio version: https://link.chtbl.com/7c27X1CM 🎧WHY NOT TRY OUR OTHER PODCASTS: 🎧Deep Dive: Exploring Organized Crime - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXSX1Xu1kM0spSX0QUq7j0NmIZOqyDTZQ 🎧The Index - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXSX1Xu1kM0uc_4CftGl8PrwHA3IK5WeI =================================================== FOLLOW US X - @gitoc LinkedIn - @Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime IG - @gi_toc ===================================================

From the introduction of North Korean troops into the war in Ukraine to a budding friendship with Elon Musk, Putin continues to make strange headlines. The real question is whether Putin actually knows what he’s doing or if he, as a wannabe 21st century Russian Tsar, is subject to the same seemingly inevitable historical forces as the Tsars of yesteryear. As both a seasoned Putin watcher and the author of many books about Russia, Mark Galeotti is as well positioned as anyone to determined if Putin is a prisoner or a master of history. Churchill famously described Russia as "a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma." In his new book, Forged in War: A Military History of Russia from its Beginnings to Today , however, Galeotti unwraps this mystery by seeing Russia as an eternal prisoner of its geo-strategic vulnerabilities and thus, like Putin, always insecure, land-hungry and bellicose. Professor Mark Galeotti is one of the foremost Russia-watchers today, who used to travel there regularly to teach, lecture, talk to his contacts, and generally watch the unfolding story of the Putin era, until the Kremlin banned him indefinitely in 2022. Based in the UK, he is an Honorary Professor at UCL and heads the consultancy Mayak Intelligence. He is also a Senior Associate Fellow with both RUSI and the Council on Geostrategy, as well as a Senior Non-Resident Fellow at the Institute of International Relations Prague. Before then, he was Professor of Global Affairs at NYU and head of History at Keele University, and was educated at Robinson College, Cambridge, and the LSE. A prolific author on Russia and security affairs, he frequently acts as consultant to various government, commercial and law-enforcement agencies. Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting KEEN ON, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy show. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER and HOW TO FIX THE FUTURE. Andrew lives in San Francisco, is married to Cassandra Knight, Google's VP of Litigation & Discovery, and has two grown children. Keen On is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe

GUEST: Mark Galeotti - historian, author, security expert and academic. ---------- SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISER A project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's frontline towns. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain/collections ---------- LINKS: https://inmoscowsshadows.wordpress.com/ https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/in-moscows-shadows/id1510124746 https://twitter.com/MarkGaleotti https://www.rusi.org/people/galeotti https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Galeotti ---------- SPEAKER: Mark Galeotti is an author and academic – by training an historian – but in practice an interdisciplinary scholar with interests encompassing politics, criminology, security studies, international relations, and anthropology. He is a specialist in transnational and organized crime, security affairs, Russian Politics, Russian History, Intelligence and Security. Mark has a PhD in Government from LSE and has worked as a Senior Lecturer and Head of Department of History at Keele University. He is a Principal Director at Mayak Intelligence, and is an Honorary Professor, SSEES at UCL. He is a Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute. He has also been Professor of Global Affairs at New York University from 2009 to 2016. ---------- BOOKS: Downfall: Prigozhin, Putin, and the new fight for the future of Russia by Mark Galeotti and Anna Arutunyan (2024) Mark Galeotti: Putin's Wars: From Chechnya to Ukraine (2022) Mark Galeotti: The Weaponisation of Everything: A Field Guide to the New Way of War (2022) Mark Galeotti: A Short History of Russia: From the Pagans to Putin (2021) Mark Galeotti: Storm-333: KGB and Spetsnaz seize Kabul, Soviet-Afghan War 1979 (2021) Mark Galeotti: We Need to Talk About Putin: How the West gets him wrong (2019) Mark Galeotti: Russian Political War: Moving Beyond the Hybrid (2019) Mark Galeotti: The Vory: Russia's Super Mafia (2018) ---------- WAR STUDIES: Mark Galeotti: Russia’s Wars in Chechnya: 1994–2009 (2024) Mark Galeotti: Putin Takes Crimea 2014: Grey-zone warfare opens the Russia-Ukraine conflict (2023) Mark Galeotti: Russia's Five-Day War: The invasion of Georgia, August 2008 (2023) Mark Galeotti: Afghanistan 1979–88: Soviet air power against the mujahideen (2023) Mark Galeotti: Teutonic Knight vs Lithuanian Warrior: The Lithuanian Crusade 1283–1435 (2023) ---------- SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ---------- TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND: Save Ukraine https://www.saveukraineua.org/ Superhumans - Hospital for war traumas https://superhumans.com/en/ UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukraine https://unbroken.org.ua/ Come Back Alive https://savelife.in.ua/en/ Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchen https://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine UNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyy https://u24.gov.ua/ Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation https://prytulafoundation.org NGO “Herojam Slava” https://heroiamslava.org/ kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyśl https://kharpp.com/ NOR DOG Animal Rescue https://www.nor-dog.org/home/ ---------- PLATFORMS: Twitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSilicon Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/siliconcurtain/ Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqm Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ---------- Welcome to the Silicon Curtain podcast. Please like and subscribe if you like the content we produce. It will really help to increase the popularity of our content in YouTube’s algorithm. Our material is now being made available on popular podcasting platforms as well, such as Spotify and Apple Podcasts.