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Putin's Wars

From Chechnya to Ukraine

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Putin's Wars

By: Mark Galeotti
Narrated by: David Sibley
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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.©2022 Mark Galeotti (P)2022 Bloomsbury Publishing PLC 21st Century Armed Forces Military Modern Russia Special & Elite Forces War Ukraine War
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Critic Reviews

The prolific military chronicler and analyst Mark Galeotti has produced exactly the right book at the right time.
Galeotti’s work is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand current events in Ukraine. (Gillian Tett)
Putin’s Wars is essential reading for anyone with an interest in Russia’s military.
The definitive work on this subject to date.
Mark Galeotti is one of the most insightful and incisive analysts on Russia’s past, present, and future. Russia’s February 2022 expanded invasion of Ukraine tragically highlights the critical importance of understanding the connection between politics and war. Galeotti vividly shows how Russia has waged its wars... [and] how those wars shaped the country’s politics and, in turn, how politics shaped Moscow’s military campaigns.
This is a vivid account of how Putin has used armed force during his time in power, culminating in the deadly war in Ukraine.
An accessible, lucid and vivid comprehensive contemporary account of the inner workings, logic and rationales of the central military pillar of Putinism. I unreservedly recommend this gem.
Putin’s Wars is Galeotti at his finest: writing that moves like a spy novel and enough information for the student or professional reader … An excellent and accessible contribution to the field for seasoned Russian observers and those interested in the larger sweep of how it all transpired.
All stars
Most relevant
Misleading title as the book barely even touches on Putin, the book is a basic overview of the conflicts under his rule and the many incompetent and corrupt Russian generals who have bundled Russia's attempts at imperial rule in their sphere of influence. As well as exceptionally brief overviews of those who opposed the Russians.

Very banal and throws no real punches, decent general overview that will likely be of no interest to anyone who already has even a basic understanding of the events in question. Easy to lose focus if you struggle to recall countless desk/political generals with excessively Slavic names.

Good performance by the narrator but can't really say I recommend it in any way. You might as well go read the Wikipedia articles on these conflicts and you'd probably get more info there as much of the books content is very surface level. There is no real in depth analysis taking place and the author cares more for dates and places, a real empty academic snooze fest. Feels like this book only exists as a way to cash in on renewed western interest in Russia. A book as bland as Putin's personality, that barely even discusses him despite the title literally being 'Putin's wars'.

I would also recommend the myriad of youtube video essayists who have been focusing on Russia and the war over this book. Or more academically a man like Stephen Kotkin over this. Overall a waste of time, much better stuff out there. If you are an academic looking for easy reference material then it might interest you, otherwise a real repetitive bore of a book.

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