
In Moscow's Shadows 239: Wars Foreign and Domestic
From In Moscow's Shadows by Mark Galeotti
March 8, 2026 · 50 min · Episode 239
About this episode
The episode discusses Russia's view on the Iran war and the dynamics of Moscow's criminal underworld.
How does the Iran war look to Russia, at once a potential morass for the USA (and Europe) and a case study, many in policy circles feel, on why not to trust Washington. It's also a laboratory for what one Russian military theorist called "non-contact war," and may help shape Moscow's notions of the future of conflict. Then it’s home to Moscow’s underworld, where a fragile peace holds between Shakro Molodoi and Badri Kutaissky, while younger “thieves‑in‑law” turn old grudges into proxy fights....
People in this episode
Host: Mark Galeotti
Topics covered
- Russia's perspective on the Iran war
- non-contact warfare
- Moscow's underworld
- conflict and peace
- proxy fights
Keywords
- Iran war
- Russia
- non-contact war
- Moscow underworld
- Shakro Molodoi
- Badri Kutaissky
- thieves-in-law
- conflict
- proxy fights
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: In Moscow's Shadows
Places: Iran, USA, Europe
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