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

More episodes of In Moscow's Shadows

• In Moscow's Shadows 245: Belousov And The War Machine · April 26, 2026 · 44 min
• In Moscow's Shadows 244: The War Word And The Clickbait Trap · April 19, 2026 · 47 min
• In Moscow's Shadows 243: Who Controls The Story In Russia? · April 5, 2026 · 48 min
• In Moscow's Shadows 242: Igor Sechin, Sharpening Putin's Pencils for 30 Years · March 29, 2026 · 51 min
• In Moscow's Shadows 241: When Attack Dogs Turn · March 22, 2026 · 43 min
• In Moscow's Shadows 240: Frankenstein's Putinism · March 15, 2026 · 51 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the In Moscow's Shadows podcast page.