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Russian Roulette

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. Russian Roulette is produced by David Lotfi,Tina Dolbaia and Nick Fenton.

 

Podcast Series by Max Bergmann and Maria Snegovaya

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Russian Roulette

Russia's Classrooms Face Putin’s Propaganda Machine

Maria Snegovaya sits down with Pavel Talankin –– a Russian schoolteacher who became an unlikely lens into the Russian propaganda machine.

Podcast Episode by Maria Snegovaya — August 28, 2026

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Russian Roulette

How Ukraine Fights: Reflections from the Front Lines feat. Nate Vance

Maria Snegovaya sits down with Nate Vance —a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who enlisted in the Ukrainian Armed Forces after the 2022 invasion — to discuss Ukrainian and Russian military tactics, life as an infantryman, and the impact of Soviet legacies on military culture.

Podcast Episode by Maria Snegovaya — August 14, 2026

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Russian Roulette

Has the War Come Home to Russia?

Max Bergmann speaks with Maria Snegovaya and Jade McGlynn about how Russians have reacted to major shocks in recent years and whether current polling truly reflects changing attitudes toward the war.

Podcast Episode by Max Bergmann, Maria Snegovaya, and Jade McGlynn — July 27, 2026

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Russian Roulette

Ukraine's Dynamic Defense Sector: Combat Hubs, Air Defense, and Non-Stop Innovation

Investigative journalist Tim Mak, who has been stationed in Ukraine since 2022, joins Max and Maria for a discussion about life in Kyiv, the processes and challenges driving innovation in Ukraine’s dynamic civilian defense combat hubs, and the impact of AI and information integration on the battlefield.

Podcast Episode by Max Bergmann, Maria Snegovaya, and Tim Mak — July 10, 2026

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Russian Roulette

How Drone Innovation Reshapes the Battlefield in Ukraine with Kate Bondar

Max and Maria sit down with Kate Bondar, Senior Fellow at CSIS’s Wadhwani AI Center and expert on autonomous warfare, to discuss the role of drones in combat in Ukraine, including Russia’s innovation tactics and takeaways from the recent increase in strikes on Moscow and Kyiv. 

Podcast Episode by Max Bergmann, Maria Snegovaya, and Kateryna Bondar — June 26, 2026

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Russian Roulette

Dr. Nina Khrushcheva: History, Evolution, and a View from Inside Russia

Max and Maria talk with Dr. Nina Khrushcheva about her new book on Nikita Khrushchev and her rare firsthand insights from traveling to Russia, offering a unique view of its shifting politics and culture.

Podcast Episode by Max Bergmann, Maria Snegovaya, and Nina Khrushcheva — June 11, 2026

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Russian Roulette

Shifting Tides in Ukraine - Lawrence Freedman on the Future of the War

Max and Maria welcome Sir Lawrence Freedman, historian, author, and Emeritus Professor of War Studies, King's College London, to discuss the future of the war in Ukraine, how he sees the conflict evolving, and what to expect in the critical months ahead

Podcast Episode by Max Bergmann, Maria Snegovaya, and Lawrence Freedman — May 29, 2026

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Russian Roulette

War, Inflation, and Putin's Paranoia: has Russian Public Opinion Begun to Shift?

Max and Maria welcome back Dr. Sam Greene, professor of Russian Politics at King's College London, to discuss the state of Russian public opinion today, and whether domestic conditions have begun change given the state of the economy, war, and ⁠reports⁠ of increasing paranoia in the Kremlin. 

Podcast Episode by Max Bergmann, Maria Snegovaya, and Dr. Sam Greene — May 14, 2026

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The Ukrainian Defense Industry and Europe’s Untapped Arsenal

Max and Maria welcome back Elina Ribakova to discuss her latest piece in Foreign Affairs, exploring the Ukrainian defense industry and its potential capacity to help Europe secure its own defense. 

Podcast Episode by Max Bergmann, Maria Snegovaya, and Elina Ribakova  — April 30, 2026

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