Russian Roulette

By Center for Strategic and International Studies

What's Russian Roulette about?

Hosted by Max Bergmann and Dr. Maria Snegovaya of the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program at CSIS, Russian Roulette explores the politics, history, and complex societies of Russia and Eurasia. Tune in for fascinating interviews and discussions on some of the biggest questions facing the broader post-Soviet space. Produced by Tina Dolbaia and Nick Fenton.

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Russian Roulette episodes:

04.18.2024
A New Investigative Report on the "Havana Syndrome" Phenomenon with Roman Dobrokhotov
On this week's episode, Max and Maria sat down with Roman Dobrokhotov, the founder and editor-in-chief of the Russia-focused investigative media outlet, The Insider. Roman's team, along with colleagues at CBS's 60 Minutes and the German outlet Der Spiegel, recently...
04.04.2024
Innovations on the Battlefield in Ukraine with Paul Schwartz and Samuel Bendett
Max and Maria sat down with Paul Schwartz and Sam Bendett to discuss the different technological and tactical battlefield innovations taking place in Ukraine today, and what they mean for military analysts studying the war. Disclaimer: Paul and Sam's views as...
03.21.2024
Nicolas Véron and the Continued Debate Over Russia's Frozen Central Bank Reserves
Nicolas Véron of Bruegel and the Peterson Institute for International Economics joined Max to discuss the ongoing debate over Russia's frozen central bank reserves. This conversation was recorded on March 15, 2024. See "The European Union should do better than confiscate...
03.07.2024
Liana Fix and Nikolay Petrov on Russia's March 2024 Presidential Election
This week, Maria was joined once again by Liana Fix and Nikolay Petrov to discuss Russia's March 2024 presidential election, and what "politics" looks like in the country today. Be sure to read the new paper written by Maria and Liana,...
02.22.2024
The Death of Alexei Navalny with Miriam Lanskoy
This week, Max and Maria are joined again by Miriam Lanskoy from the National Endowment for Democracy to discuss the recent news of Alexei Navalny's death in a Russian penal colony.
02.08.2024
Maria's New Book: "When Left Moves Right"
On this week's episode, listen to Max interview Maria on her new book, "When Left Moves Right: The Decline of the Left and the Rise of the Populist Right in Postcommunist Europe." Max and Maria were joined by Dan Kelemen,...
01.25.2024
Russian Influence Operations in 2024 with Catherine Belton
This week, Max and Maria were joined by acclaimed reporter, Catherine Belton. Catherine currently writes for the Washington Post, and has written extensively on the Russian elite and security services. Max, Maria, and Catherine discussed ongoing Russian efforts to influence...
01.11.2024
Aid to Ukraine and the Future of the War with Michael Kofman
Michael Kofman, a leading expert on the Russian military and a Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace joined Max, Maria, and Michael Kimmage, to discuss the status of further Western military and financial aid to Ukraine, and...
12.14.2023
Russia, Ukraine, and the Question of Containment
This week, Max and Maria were joined again by Michael Kimmage, and Michael's frequent co-author and a fellow for Europe at the Council on Foreign Relations, Liana Fix. Recently, Michael and Liana published a piece in Foreign Affairs titled, "A...
11.30.2023
Maria Reports Back After a Trip to Ukraine
On this week's episode, Maria fills in Max and Michael Kimmage after her recent trip to Kyiv. The three of them then discuss the current state of the war with Russia, and examine some of the key questions facing Ukraine...
11.16.2023
The Ideology of Putinism with Sergei Guriev
On October 31st, Max moderated a conversation between Maria and Sergei Guriev on the ideology of Putinism. Does Vladimir Putin have an ideology? If so, will this ideology help him retain power in Russia? Maria recently co-authored a report on...
11.02.2023
Russia and the Global South with Hanna Notte
On this week's episode, tune into a conversation Max had on October 24, 2023 with CSIS Senior Associate non-resident fellows, Michael Kimmage and Hanna Notte. Hanna, based in Berlin, is an expert on Russian foreign policy, the Middle East, and...
10.19.2023
Russia as a Strategic Threat: Ukraine, NATO, and Beyond Europe
This conversation was recorded as a CSIS event on September 18, 2023. Max sat down with Lisa Aronsson, John Deni, and Paul Schwartz, to examine how sanctions-induced limits on Russia's defense industrial capacity have been impacting, and will continue to...
10.05.2023
Security Assistance to Ukraine Under Threat
This week, Maria interviews Max about the emerging crisis around the future of U.S. security assistance to Ukraine. Max deep dives into the mechanics of how U.S. funding for Ukraine's war effort actually works, the impact of the ouster of...
09.21.2023
Eric Ciaramella and Ukrainian Security Outside of NATO
On this week's episode, Max is joined by Eric Ciaramella of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, to discuss his recent writing on possible long-term security arrangements for Ukraine while the country remains outside of the NATO alliance. Learn More: "How the...
09.07.2023
Prigozhin's Death, the Ukrainian Counteroffensive, and a Summer Update on Sanctions
After a few weeks off for the summer, Max and Maria are back, and are joined again this week by Professor Michael Kimmage. Max, Maria, and Michael discuss all the biggest headlines coming out of Russia and Ukraine since our...
08.10.2023
An Interview with Rose Gottemoeller: Ukraine, NATO, and the State of the Russian Regime
On this week's episode, Max and Maria are joined by long-time Russia hand and national security specialist, Rose Gottemoeller, for a wide-ranging conversation on Russian politics, the war in Ukraine, NATO, and nuclear non-proliferation. A former Deputy Secretary General of NATO...
07.27.2023
An Update on the Russian Economy with Elina Ribakova and Sergey Aleksashenko
In this week's episode, Max and Maria are joined by economists Elina Ribakova and Sergey Aleksashenko to discuss the current state of the Russian economy. Learn More: "Sanctions Evaporate with Time" by Sergey Aleksashenko | Substack "Russia's War Machine Is Still Running on...
07.18.2023
The Sea in Russian Strategy with Andrew Monaghan and Richard Connolly
In this episode, Max and Maria are joined by Andrew Monaghan and Richard Connolly to discuss their most recent work, "The Sea in Russian Strategy," a new edited volume on the growing importance of naval and maritime concerns in Moscow's...
06.27.2023
Prigozhin's Uprising
Max and Maria recently sat down with Jeffrey Mankoff and Catrina Doxsee to discuss how Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the mercenary Wagner Group, marched his troops towards Moscow in a direct challenge to the Russian leadership. Prigozhin's actions and...
06.15.2023
"Russia's War" with Jade McGlynn
In this week's episode, Max and Maria sit down with CSIS Senior Associates Jade McGlynn and Michael Kimmage to discuss Jade's latest book, "Russia's War." The book explores the domestic political approval for Russia's ongoing invasion and occupation of Ukraine...
06.01.2023
Russia's Frozen Reserves with Martin Sandbu
On this week's episode, Max and Maria are joined by Federico Steinberg, a CSIS Visiting Fellow and economist, and Martin Sandbu of the Financial Times. Martin has closely followed the debate around sanctions, with a particular focus on Russian financial...
05.18.2023
Ukraine's Coming Counteroffensive
Max and Maria are joined again by CSIS Senior Associate Michael Kimmage to discuss Ukraine's impending counteroffensive, and what it could mean for global politics going forward. Learn More: The Eurofile | Tories Battered in UK Local Elections, A Rant about the...
05.04.2023
Escalating Waves of Repression
Today's episode is about the escalating waves of repression in Russia, and what they mean for both the regime and what remains of the organized domestic opposition. Maria sat down with Natalia Arno, the founder and president of the Free...
04.20.2023
Sanctions and Russia's Defense Industry
Today's episode is a recording of an event Max and Maria held on April 14, 2023 to discuss the findings of a new CSIS report, "Out of Stock? Assessing the Impact of Sanctions on Russia's Defense Industry." Joined by Samuel...
04.07.2023
The Russian Elite Today -- with Michael Nacke and Nikolai Petrov
On this week's episode, Max and Maria sit down with Russian journalist Michael Nacke, and scholar Nikolai Petrov, to talk about the state of the Russian elite today. Topics include the recently leaked phone call between Iosif Progozhin and Farkhad...
03.23.2023
Aliona Verbitskaya and the Rights of Ukrainian POWs
In this special episode, Max and Maria sit down with President Zelenskyy's Commissioner for the Protection of the Rights of Military Personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Aliona Verbitskaya. As you will hear, this conversation was conducted in Russian,...
03.16.2023
Special Episode: A Conversation with Kakha Gogolashvili on Georgia’s Foreign Agents Law
This week’s special episode of Russian Roulette features an interview on Georgia’s foreign agents law conducted by our sister podcast, The Eurofile. Max Bergmann and Donatienne Ruy from the CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia program sit down with Kakha Gogolashvili,...
03.09.2023
Empires of Eurasia with Dr. Jeffrey Mankoff
In this week's episode, you will hear a conversation Max had in December 2022 with Dr. Jeffrey Mankoff, discussing Jeff's book, Empires of Eurasia: How Imperial Legacies Shape International Security. Jeff argues that the imperial histories of contemporary China, Iran, Russia,...
02.23.2023
Russia After a Year of War
In this episode, Max and Maria are joined by Michael Kimmage to discuss the state of affairs in Russia after a year of war in Ukraine, and where the country may be headed in 2023. Max, Maria, and Michael all highlight their...
02.21.2023
The War in Ukraine, One Year On
Listen to the audio from an event our team hosted at CSIS on February 15, 2023. Max Bergmann moderated a panel comprised of Maria Snegovaya, Michael Kimmage, and the RAND Corporation's Dara Massicot, a Senior Policy Researcher and expert on...
02.09.2023
Sino-Russian Military Cooperation
On this episode of Russian Roulette, listen to Max Bergmann interview Brian Hart and Meia Nouwens about a recent report from the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program at CSIS, titled "Understanding the Broader Transatlantic Security Implications of Greater Sino-Russian Military...
01.26.2023
Sanctions and the Russian Economy
After a long hiatus, Russian Roulette is back! For our first episode after our time away, listen in to a conversation Max and Maria recently had at CSIS in Washington, DC. Following Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, The US, EU,...
01.19.2023
Russian Roulette is Back!
After a long hiatus, Russian Roulette is back! Hosted by Max Bergmann and Dr. Maria Snegovaya of the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program at CSIS, Russian Roulette explores the politics, history, and complex societies of Russia and Eurasia. Tune in for fascinating...
12.21.2021
Of the State and Future of Russian Journalism and Society – Russian Roulette Episode 118
In this final episode of the year, Heather sits down Masha Gessen, a Russian-American journalist, author, translator and activist, and staff writer for The New Yorker. They discuss Masha’s piece “Can Russia’s Press Ever Be Free?” as well as the...
12.20.2021
Of UK-Russia Relations: Its History and Future – Russian Roulette Episode 117
In this episode of Russian Roulette, Heather sits down with David Owen, former UK Foreign Secretary from 1977 until 1979 and author of a new book: Riddle, Mystery, and Enigma: Two Hundred Years of British-Russian Relations. They discuss the state...
10.08.2021
Of Russia’s Climate Gamble and the Northern Sea Route – Russian Roulette Episode 116
In this episode of Russian Roulette, Heather provides a brief overview of a new CSIS report, “Russia’s Climate Gamble: The Pursuit and Contradictions of its Arctic Ambitions,” which examines the implications of climate impacts for Russia’s economy, internal political dynamics, and...
09.29.2021
Of The Tale of Two Russian Occupations: Georgia and Ukraine – Russian Roulette Episode 115
In this episode of Russian Roulette, Heather sits down with Mykola Bielieskov, Ph.D. student at the National Institute for Strategic Studies (NISS), Ukraine, and Natia Seskuria, associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI). We discuss the effectiveness and shortcomings...
07.12.2021
Of Sino-Russian Military Cooperation: Alliance or Alignment? - Russian Roulette Episode 114
In this episode of Russian Roulette, Heather sits down with Paul Schwartz, research scientist in the Russia Studies Program at the Center for Naval Analyses, and Richard Weitz, senior fellow and director of the Center for Political-Military Analysis at Hudson...
07.09.2021
Of Russia’s Arctic Council Chairmanship and Sino-Russian Collaboration in the Arctic - Russian Roulette Episode 113
In this episode of Russian Roulette, Heather sits down with Andrei Zagorski, Head of Department for Disarmament and Conflict Resolution Studies at the Primakov National Research Institute of World Economy and International Relations (IMEMO), and Elizabeth Buchanan, Lecturer of Strategic Studies...
04.12.2021
Of Politics in Moldova and Diversity in Russia and Eurasia Studies Field - Russian Roulette Episode 112
In this episode of Russian Roulette, Heather sits down with Ambassador Dereck J. Hogan, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova, who previously served as the Deputy Executive Secretary of the U.S. Department of State, and Deputy Chief of Mission...
04.02.2021
Of the Quad and Russia’s Role in the Indo-Pacific - Russian Roulette Episode 111
In this episode of Russian Roulette, Heather sits down with Michael J. Green, senior vice president for Asia and Japan Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and director of Asian Studies at the Edmund A. Walsh School...
03.26.2021
Of Russia’s Energy Markets, Transitions, and Future - Russian Roulette Episode 110
In this episode of Russian Roulette, Heather sits down Georgy Safonov, visiting fellow with our program and director at the Center for Environmental and Natural Resource Economics at the Higher School of Economics in Moscow; and Nikos Tsafos, deputy director and...
01.28.2021
Of The Dawn of a New Era in Arms Control?: Extending the New Start Treaty - Russian Roulette Episode 109
In this episode of Russian Roulette, Heather sits down Rebecca Hersman, Director of the Project on Nuclear Issues (or PONI), and Senior Adviser, International Security Program at CSIS, and Dmitry Stefanovich, Research Fellow at the Center for International Security, Primakov Institute of World Economy...
12.30.2020
Of The End of a Very Long Year for U.S.-Russian Relations - Russian Roulette Episode 108
In this last Russian Roulette episode of the year, Heather sits down with Ambassador John J. Sullivan, the U.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation and former Deputy Secretary of State. They discuss the highlights (the power of hockey diplomacy) and...
10.08.2020
Of The Cost of Engineering Victory: Russia's September Elections and Impact of Team Navalny - Russian Roulette Episode 107
In this episode of Russian Roulette, Heather and Cyrus Newlin, associate fellow with the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia program, sit down with Masha Lipman, Senior Associate at the Institute of European, Eurasian and Russian Studies at George Washington University, Ben...
09.25.2020
Of Russia’s Politics of Memory – Russian Roulette Episode 106
In this episode of Russian Roulette, Heather sits down with Hannah Alberts, analyst with U.S. European Command based in the United Kingdom, and Jade McGlynn, researcher and lecturer at the University of Oxford. They were participants in CSIS’s Understanding the Russian...
08.26.2020
Of A ‘Pause’ in the Belarusian “Democratic Revolution” - Russian Roulette Episode 105
In this episode of Russian Roulette, Heather sits down with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania, Linas Linkevičius, and David J. Kramer, Senior Fellow in the Václav Havel Program for Human Rights and Diplomacy at the Florida...
08.11.2020
Of Russian Influence in Germany - Russian Roulette Episode 104
In this episode of Russian Roulette, Heather Conley sits down with Dr. Jeffrey Mankoff and Tabea Wilke to discuss elements of Jeff’s report “With Friends Like These: Assessing Russian Influence in Germany.” This report is the Germany case study of...
08.11.2020
Of Improvisation and Adaptability in the Russian Military, Part II - Russian Roulette Episode 103
In this episode of Russian Roulette, Jeff sits down with Andreas Turunen and Joe Cheravitch to discuss the Russian military's electronic and psychological operations, and the roles they play in Russian doctrine and strategy. Andreas and Joe contributed chapters to...

What's Russian Roulette about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Russian Roulette episodes:

A New Investigative Report on the "Havana Syndrome" Phenomenon with Roman Dobrokhotov

Innovations on the Battlefield in Ukraine with Paul Schwartz and Samuel Bendett

Nicolas Véron and the Continued Debate Over Russia's Frozen Central Bank Reserves

Liana Fix and Nikolay Petrov on Russia's March 2024 Presidential Election

The Death of Alexei Navalny with Miriam Lanskoy

Maria's New Book: "When Left Moves Right"

Russian Influence Operations in 2024 with Catherine Belton

Aid to Ukraine and the Future of the War with Michael Kofman

Russia, Ukraine, and the Question of Containment

Maria Reports Back After a Trip to Ukraine

The Ideology of Putinism with Sergei Guriev

Russia and the Global South with Hanna Notte

Russia as a Strategic Threat: Ukraine, NATO, and Beyond Europe

Security Assistance to Ukraine Under Threat

Eric Ciaramella and Ukrainian Security Outside of NATO

Prigozhin's Death, the Ukrainian Counteroffensive, and a Summer Update on Sanctions

An Interview with Rose Gottemoeller: Ukraine, NATO, and the State of the Russian Regime

An Update on the Russian Economy with Elina Ribakova and Sergey Aleksashenko

The Sea in Russian Strategy with Andrew Monaghan and Richard Connolly

Prigozhin's Uprising

"Russia's War" with Jade McGlynn

Russia's Frozen Reserves with Martin Sandbu

Ukraine's Coming Counteroffensive

Escalating Waves of Repression

Sanctions and Russia's Defense Industry

The Russian Elite Today -- with Michael Nacke and Nikolai Petrov

Aliona Verbitskaya and the Rights of Ukrainian POWs

Special Episode: A Conversation with Kakha Gogolashvili on Georgia’s Foreign Agents Law

Empires of Eurasia with Dr. Jeffrey Mankoff

Russia After a Year of War

The War in Ukraine, One Year On

Sino-Russian Military Cooperation

Sanctions and the Russian Economy

Russian Roulette is Back!

Of the State and Future of Russian Journalism and Society – Russian Roulette Episode 118

Of UK-Russia Relations: Its History and Future – Russian Roulette Episode 117

Of Russia’s Climate Gamble and the Northern Sea Route – Russian Roulette Episode 116

Of The Tale of Two Russian Occupations: Georgia and Ukraine – Russian Roulette Episode 115

Of Sino-Russian Military Cooperation: Alliance or Alignment? - Russian Roulette Episode 114

Of Russia’s Arctic Council Chairmanship and Sino-Russian Collaboration in the Arctic - Russian Roulette Episode 113

Of Politics in Moldova and Diversity in Russia and Eurasia Studies Field - Russian Roulette Episode 112

Of the Quad and Russia’s Role in the Indo-Pacific - Russian Roulette Episode 111

Of Russia’s Energy Markets, Transitions, and Future - Russian Roulette Episode 110

Of The Dawn of a New Era in Arms Control?: Extending the New Start Treaty - Russian Roulette Episode 109

Of The End of a Very Long Year for U.S.-Russian Relations - Russian Roulette Episode 108

Of The Cost of Engineering Victory: Russia's September Elections and Impact of Team Navalny - Russian Roulette Episode 107

Of Russia’s Politics of Memory – Russian Roulette Episode 106

Of A ‘Pause’ in the Belarusian “Democratic Revolution” - Russian Roulette Episode 105

Of Russian Influence in Germany - Russian Roulette Episode 104

Of Improvisation and Adaptability in the Russian Military, Part II - Russian Roulette Episode 103

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