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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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All Russian Roulette Podcast Episodes

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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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Russian Roulette

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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Russian Roulette

The History of Russian Feminism with Julia Ioffe

Max and Maria are joined by journalist and author Julia Ioffe to discuss her recent book, Motherland: A Feminist History of Modern Russia, from Revolution to Autocracy.

Podcast Episode by Max Bergmann, Maria Snegovaya, and Julia Ioffe — April 16, 2026

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Russian Roulette

How the Iran War and the Price of Oil Impact the Kremlin's Calculus

Max and Maria are joined by Hanna Notte and Janis Kluge for a deep dive on how the Iran war and turmoil in global energy markets continue to impact Russian foreign policy.

Podcast Episode by Max Bergmann, Maria Snegovaya, Hanna Notte, and Janis Kluge — April 2, 2026

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Russian Roulette

Transnational Corruption in Foreign Policy Today

Max and Maria spoke with Alexander Cooley and Daniel Nexon about how authoritarian and illiberal governments leverage transnational corruption as part of their foreign policies and global strategies.

Podcast Episode by Max Bergmann, Maria Snegovaya, Daniel Nexon, and Alexander Cooley — March 20, 2026

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Russian Roulette

BONUS EPISODE: What the Iran War Means for Russia

Max sat down with Michael Kimmage for a rapid fire session running over the potential implications of the ongoing war in the Middle East for Russian foreign policy.

Podcast Episode by Max Bergmann and Michael Kimmage — March 20, 2026

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Russian Roulette

Eric Ciaramella on How Europe Can Arm Ukraine

Eric Ciaramella of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace returned to the show to discuss his recent article with Sophia Besch on the ways that European states can support Ukraine militarily without the involvement of the U.S. Max and Maria asked him about his piece, the funding questions behind its ideas, and Eric's overall assessment on peace negotiations with Russia.

Podcast Episode by Max Bergmann, Maria Snegovaya, and Eric Ciaramella — March 5, 2026

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