Putin's Wars

From Chechnya to Ukraine

De: Mark Galeotti

Narrado por: David Sibley

Bloomsbury presents Putin's Wars by Mark Galeotti, read by David Sibley.

THE FINANICAL TIMES – BEST BOOKS OF 2022

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

A 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

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

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.

Excellent

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

Deep dive into recent Russian history

This book contains a lot of details on recent Russian conflicts in Chechnya, Georgia, Syria, and Ukraine. It discusses military operations, leaders, armed forces, and weapons. It contains a lot of facts and figures. It seems suitable for someone performing research on recent Russian history.

Timely and Valuable

Mark Galeotti’s “Putin’s Wars: From Chechnya to Ukraine” is an incisive and comprehensive examination of the Russian military’s transformation under Vladimir Putin’s leadership, but this book presented a unique challenge. Galeotti had just finished his book when Putin unexpectedly invaded Ukraine in February 2022, making the book immediately outdated. Galeotti quickly added a new chapter to the end and made some revisions in various places throughout the rest of the book. One can only wonder how much better it could have been if written a bit later to allow all of the new data to be incorporated into his thinking from the beginning. Galeotti admits that the invasion was a surprise to him.
Far from being a mere chronicle of battles and strategies, the book delves deep into the mindset and motivations of Putin and the larger forces shaping modern Russia. Galeotti masterfully connects the dots between historical precedent, institutional reforms, and the failures and successes that have defined Russia’s military trajectory in the post-Soviet era.
The book begins with an expansive view, tracing Russia’s military history from the thirteenth century through the collapse of the Soviet Union. This historical grounding is not just context but a lens through which to understand how Russia’s defeats, victories, and narratives have shaped its self-perception and ambitions. Galeotti vividly illustrates how this sense of historical destiny fuels Putin’s worldview: Russia, in his mind, is perpetually at war—whether on the battlefield or in the realm of ideas and influence.
The second part of the book moves into the modern era. He examines the early years of Putin’s rule, including the brutal Second Chechen War and the 2008 conflict with Georgia. These episodes reveal the contours of Putin’s strategic thinking and his reliance on military strength to consolidate power domestically and project it internationally. The meticulous detailing of reforms—from restructuring the armed forces to embracing new doctrines and weapons systems—provides readers with a clear understanding of how the Russian military evolved in response to these conflicts.
The heart of the book lies in Galeotti’s analysis of the interplay between Russia’s military ambitions and its limitations. He paints a picture of a military that, despite reforms and modernization efforts, remains constrained by structural inefficiencies, corruption, and a selective approach to innovation. While Putin’s military achieved successes in Crimea and Syria, these victories created a dangerous overconfidence. Galeotti argues convincingly that this hubris—combined with Putin’s increasingly isolated decision-making—set the stage for the disastrous full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
One of the book’s strengths is Galeotti’s ability to weave personal anecdotes into the broader narrative to humanize the history and provide insight into the Russian psyche. For instance, his recounting of a down-and-out Soviet veteran’s prescient prediction about the rise of a strong leader offers a poignant glimpse into the collective nostalgia and resentment that Putin has so aptly harnessed.
However, Galeotti’s deep dive into Russia’s order of battle with its detailed enumeration of brigades, weapon systems, and unit structures, while valuable to some, can make the reading tedious at times. Still, these passages underscore the gap between Russia’s aspirations and its actual capabilities. Galeotti’s critique of Russia’s “green-water” navy and overreliance on rail-based logistics is particularly helpful, highlighting vulnerabilities that have been exposed in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The book’s most compelling insight lies in its exploration of the “why” behind Putin’s wars. Galeotti argues that Putin’s decisions are rooted not just in strategic calculations but in a narrative of resurgence—a belief that military power is central to restoring Russia’s greatness. The invasion of Ukraine, Galeotti suggests, was born of a dangerous combination of military overreach and political hubris. Putin’s reliance on the military as a tool of statecraft has, paradoxically, revealed its profound weaknesses.
"Putin’s Wars" is not just a book about Russia’s military; it is a book about Russia itself. Galeotti’s balanced and nuanced approach provides readers with a deeper understanding of the forces that drive Russian policy and the challenges it faces. His writing is both scholarly and accessible, making this work valuable for anyone seeking to understand the dynamics of modern warfare and the ambitions of a resurgent Russia.
For those looking to make sense of Putin’s miscalculations in Ukraine, Galeotti’s work offers a sobering reminder: even the most meticulously reformed and modernized military cannot compensate for flawed leadership and strategic overconfidence. In the end, it is a cautionary tale about the limits of power and the perils of believing one’s own myths.

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.

Another good work

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

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