In Moscow's Shadows

In Moscow's Shadows

Mark Galeotti

Episodes 260
Avg. Duration 45m
Activity Highly Active
Since Apr 2020
Latest Episode Mar 2026

Publishing Details

Schedule
Weekly
Format
Episodic
Consistency
77%
Hosting
feeds.buzzsprout.com

About This Podcast

Russia, behind the headlines as well as in the shadows. This podcast is the audio counterpart to Mark Galeotti's blog of the same name, a place where "one of the most informed and provocative voices on modern Russia", can talk about Russia historical and (more often) contemporary, discuss new books and research, and sometimes talk to other Russia-watchers.

If you'd like to keep the podcast coming and generally support my work, or want to ask questions or suggest topics for me to cover, do please contribute to my Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/InMoscowsShadows

The podcast's corporate partner and sponsor is Conducttr, which provides software for innovative and immersive crisis exercises in hybrid warfare, counter-terrorism, civil affairs and similar situations.

Podcasting 2.0 Features

chapters funding transcript

Explore Statistics

Recent Episodes

In Moscow's Shadows 238: Bangers and Mish

Mar 01, 2026 52m Transcript

First, as the USA, Israel and Iran trade drone and missile strikes, how the war  may play out for Russia: my sense is that on balance it will give Moscow more opportunities than headaches. Then, from…

In Moscow's Shadows 237: How A 1552 Siege Explains A 2022 Invasion

Feb 22, 2026 1h 1m Transcript

A frozen river swallows cannons in 1550; a traffic jam of armour stalls outside Kyiv in 2022. Different centuries, same lesson: wars are won by planning, logistics, and the courage to listen to…

In Moscow's Shadows 236: What Is Russia?

Feb 15, 2026 52m Transcript

In the first half, I look at the latest news about Navalny's death, what a change in the composition of the Russian negotiation team in Geneva may mean, and why looking for a dubious Russian…

In Moscow's Shadows Bonus Minipod: Rebel Russia

Feb 10, 2026 27m Bonus

A mini-episode that paying Patrons heard as part of their Twelve Days of Shadowy Christmas bonuses. Forget the cliché that Russians accept power without protest, I sit down with author and analyst…

In Moscow's Shadows 235: From a GRU to a Kill

Feb 08, 2026 52m Transcript

Yes, that's a lame James Bond title wordplay. Lieutenant General Vladimir Alexeyev, second in command of Russian military intelligence (technically, GU; colloquially, still GRU) is gunned down in…

In Moscow's Shadows Bonus Minipod: How Putin Is Protected

Feb 03, 2026 22m Bonus

A mini-episode that paying Patrons heard as part of their Twelve Days of Shadowy Christmas bonuses, opening the gates on Vladimir Putin’s personal security. From rooftop snipers and sealed manholes…

In Moscow's Shadows 234: PACE’s Picks, Ukraine’s Grid, Russia’s Corruption

Feb 01, 2026 42m

Four stories with counter-intuitive implications:PACE’s new platform for dialogue with “Russian democratic forces” beg the question of whether a handpicked roster, quota politics, and delegates…

In Moscow's Shadows 233: News, from Abu Dhabi to Kamchatka; and Chechnya After Kadyrov

Jan 25, 2026 49m

First, a look at some of the news as this year starts hard and bizarre: trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi (with military intelligence chiefs to the fore), the Greenland crisis and the perils of Trump's…

In Moscow's Shadows 232: the Black Priest vs the Death Cult

Jan 18, 2026 45m Transcript

A tabloid brands Zelensky’s Christmas address a “black mass,” complete with glassy eyes, hidden codes, and a trance to “hack the noosphere” to cast a death curse on Putin. Huh? What? Why are occult…

In Moscow's Shadows 231: Real Guarantees for Ukraine

Jan 11, 2026 1h 4m Transcript

The talk of a military force provided by the 'Coalition of the Willing' to help secure Ukraine after a peace is a non-starter, not least as it would preclude any peace deal. But it's easy to snipe…

In Moscow's Shadows 230: The Rise and Fall of a Chechen Gang

Jan 04, 2026 1h 4m Transcript

Before the self-indulgence of a deep-dive into the rise and fall of the Chechen Lazanskaya Brigada in Moscow -- and why there are some worrying implications for the coming situation in Russia and…

In Moscow's Shadows 229: Heroes and Villains

Dec 28, 2025 44m Transcript

To end the year, instead of the grand sweep of geopolitics, let's look at a collection of people making the news, sometimes whether they like it or not.(PS: Listened to JD Vance at the Moscow…

In Moscow's Shadows 228: Blood & Soil versus Bread & Butter

Dec 21, 2025 48m Transcript

Putin's latest marathon press conference/call-in show Itogi Goda ('Results of the Year'), once Direct Line, has become an annual ritual. 4.5 hours, 3M submitted questions, but what can we learn?…

In Moscow's Shadows 227: It's War! (within the emigre opposition, at least)

Dec 14, 2025 53m Transcript

A demilitarised zone that invites armoured cars. A referendum that can’t be fairly run. A €210 billion pot that solves today’s bills but complicates tomorrow’s peace. We start with shuttle diplomacy…

In Moscow's Shadows 226: Monsters in the Woods

Nov 30, 2025 34m

There's not all that much to say about the Ukraine peace negotiations as delegations head to the USA and Russia, but I cover a few issues, from Trump's 'businessified' approach to geopolitics to the…

In Moscow's Shadows 225: A Chance for Peace in Ukraine?

Nov 23, 2025 51m

In the first half of the podcast, I look at the proposed Ukraine peace deal, which is only a foundation for proper negotiations, especially in terms of what it is not.In the second, I spin off…

In Moscow's Shadows 224: In Helsinki's (and Kyiv's) Shadows

Nov 16, 2025 44m

From where's Lavrov to whether it's time for Europe to speak to Putin directly, some questions with wider significance raised during my recent hectic trip to Finland. And, in the second half, how…

In Moscow's Shadows 223: After Putin, Who... or What?

Nov 09, 2025 42m

We need to talk about post-Putin. It's fruitless at this point to try and come up with names of potential successors -- but maybe we can identify potential archetypes, the kinds of people who might…

In Moscow's Shadows 222: Are We Seeing A New Putin?

Nov 02, 2025 47m

The forthcoming release of the updated version of my WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT PUTIN gives me an excuse to consider whether and how Putin has changed since I originally wrote the book in 2018. My…

In Moscow's Shadows 221: Is the Sun Rising over Russo-Japanese Relations?

Oct 26, 2025 39m

The new Japanese PM wants to conclude a long-delayed peace treaty with Russia - but that will mean selling a thorny territorial dispute. Will Moscow show the cunning and vision to try and undermine…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does In Moscow's Shadows have?

In Moscow's Shadows has published 260 episodes since April 2020, covering topics in Government, History.

Is In Moscow's Shadows still active?

In Moscow's Shadows is currently highly active with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 45m.

Similar Podcasts