Putin's Wars

From Chechnya to Ukraine

By: Mark Galeotti

Narrated by: David Sibley

Length: 15 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

The Financial Times – Best books of 2022: Politics

A new history of how Putin and his conflicts have inexorably reshaped Russia, including his devastating invasion of Ukraine.

Putin's Wars is a timely overview of the conflicts in which Russia has been involved since Vladimir Putin became prime minister and then president of Russia, from the First Chechen War to the two military incursions into Georgia, the annexation of Crimea and the eventual invasion of Ukraine itself. But it also looks more broadly at Putin's recreation of Russian military power and its expansion to include a range of new capabilities, from mercenaries to operatives in a relentless information war against Western powers. This is an engrossing strategic overview of the Russian military and the successes and failures on the battlefield.

Thanks to Dr Galeotti's wide-ranging contacts throughout Russia, it is also peppered with anecdotes of military life, personal snapshots of conflicts, and an extraordinary collection of first-hand accounts from serving and retired Russian officers. Russia continues to dominate the news cycle throughout the Western world. There is no better time to understand how and why Putin has involved his armed forces in a variety of conflicts for over two decades.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2022 Mark Galeotti (P)2022 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

Critic reviews

'The prolific military chronicler and analyst Mark Galeotti has produced exactly the right book at the right time.' The Times

Excellent

Interesting and well performed. As his other work, very easy to access and well researched.

Excellent book to read today

This book is detailed enough for the expert in international relations, but well written enough to be enjoyable to the occasional reader on the subjects

detailed

very thorough, listened to most of it, to many names and dates for me to remember. I would have enjoyed an executive summary, maybe 60 to 75 percent shorter

Another good work

Just one more good book about russia by Galeotti. Thorough work, fantastic detail, overall a good aquisition.

Essential Reading to better understand current eve

The author has an amazing understanding of Russian history and culture making this body of work an essential part of your library if you want to learn about the Russian military outlook along with their leadership.

Essential context

Offers essential historical context on Russian the military and its disposition at the beginning of Russia’s war in Ukraine. My only complaint is that the narrator mangles every Russian word and phrase - of which there are many. Please either give narrators pronunciation training or hire those who have expertise in the language.

Great reference

I consider this book one of the most scientific and analytic writings concerning Russian military raise.

Excellent non bias coverage of the war in Ukraine

I felt that the entire scope of what is going on in Ukraine not just from February 2022 was addressed and that respect was given to the invasion and the war which actually started in 2014 was given its dues. That being said the authors coverage of the main invasion was exceptional all the way down to the conscripts and how the minority populations of Russia are suffering as a result of Putins war. This was very non bias and well written book that I’m sure will have updated versions as this war drags on.

Solid background on putin’s decision making

Gives you an overview of Putin’s experiences with war and the pre-Ukraine war reforms. It gives you some information to better understand Russian decision making.

Very well written

Very well researched book with great insight. Great narrator as well which was very refreshing.