Mark Galeotti
@markgaleotti.bsky.social
Analyst of murky topics from Russian politics to organised crime.
Out today!* The updated edition of WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT PUTIN from Ebury (@penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social), taking the story into the darker years since it was written in 2018
* Hardcopy in UK, ebook everywhere, hardcopies elsewhere in due course...
* Hardcopy in UK, ebook everywhere, hardcopies elsewhere in due course...
November 6, 2025 at 8:57 AM
Out today!* The updated edition of WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT PUTIN from Ebury (@penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social), taking the story into the darker years since it was written in 2018
* Hardcopy in UK, ebook everywhere, hardcopies elsewhere in due course...
* Hardcopy in UK, ebook everywhere, hardcopies elsewhere in due course...
Next week! The revised and updated WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT PUTIN from @penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social is out on 6/11. Ukraine, Prigozhin, COVID, Navalny's murder, a lot has happened since it was first written...
www.penguin.co.uk/books/439532...
www.penguin.co.uk/books/439532...
October 31, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Next week! The revised and updated WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT PUTIN from @penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social is out on 6/11. Ukraine, Prigozhin, COVID, Navalny's murder, a lot has happened since it was first written...
www.penguin.co.uk/books/439532...
www.penguin.co.uk/books/439532...
I'm doing a webinar on 'Understanding Russia's Strategy' for Wikistrat on 5 November. It's free, and if you want to 'attend', the sign-up form is here: i.wikistrat.com/ru-strtg
October 30, 2025 at 8:07 PM
I'm doing a webinar on 'Understanding Russia's Strategy' for Wikistrat on 5 November. It's free, and if you want to 'attend', the sign-up form is here: i.wikistrat.com/ru-strtg
We need to talk about WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT PUTIN! I've just received the advance copies of the revised and updated version of my 2019 book from @penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social, out in the UK 13 November. Ukraine, Navalny, Prigozhin - lots to include but the core takes hold true.
October 16, 2025 at 1:48 PM
We need to talk about WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT PUTIN! I've just received the advance copies of the revised and updated version of my 2019 book from @penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social, out in the UK 13 November. Ukraine, Navalny, Prigozhin - lots to include but the core takes hold true.
«La Russia di Putin è prigioniera del passato. Una popolazione plasmata dalla guerra»
Somehow, I doubt the Italian translation of my FORGED IN WAR will fall into Putin's hand, but I appreciate the image, and the chance to talk to Corriere della Sera about the book
www.corriere.it/esteri/25_ot...
Somehow, I doubt the Italian translation of my FORGED IN WAR will fall into Putin's hand, but I appreciate the image, and the chance to talk to Corriere della Sera about the book
www.corriere.it/esteri/25_ot...
October 14, 2025 at 2:36 PM
«La Russia di Putin è prigioniera del passato. Una popolazione plasmata dalla guerra»
Somehow, I doubt the Italian translation of my FORGED IN WAR will fall into Putin's hand, but I appreciate the image, and the chance to talk to Corriere della Sera about the book
www.corriere.it/esteri/25_ot...
Somehow, I doubt the Italian translation of my FORGED IN WAR will fall into Putin's hand, but I appreciate the image, and the chance to talk to Corriere della Sera about the book
www.corriere.it/esteri/25_ot...
What's that you say? You don't have the ebook of A SHORT HISTORY OF RUSSIA? Inconceivable! Fear not, though: it's on sale at Amazon.co.uk for a trivial 99p this month
October 7, 2025 at 3:34 PM
What's that you say? You don't have the ebook of A SHORT HISTORY OF RUSSIA? Inconceivable! Fear not, though: it's on sale at Amazon.co.uk for a trivial 99p this month
Obviously, there’s the war. He seems to have chosen to squander the chance to fix the current front line with a deal negotiated through Trump, so the meatgrinder continues. His gamble is clearly that he can get a better deal yet but… 2/
October 7, 2025 at 6:59 AM
Obviously, there’s the war. He seems to have chosen to squander the chance to fix the current front line with a deal negotiated through Trump, so the meatgrinder continues. His gamble is clearly that he can get a better deal yet but… 2/
7 October – Putin’s 73rd birthday. I won’t wish him many happy returns, but let’s just spend a moment pondering the dilemmas that will likely face him in the coming year 1/
October 7, 2025 at 6:59 AM
7 October – Putin’s 73rd birthday. I won’t wish him many happy returns, but let’s just spend a moment pondering the dilemmas that will likely face him in the coming year 1/
My first in-person book event for HOMO CRIMINALIS, at the ever-wonderful @waterstones.bsky.social Gower St is tonight, and I'm delighted to see it's sold out. Online events are one thing, but there's no substitute for three dimensions! Looking forward to the chance to talk all things criminal
September 4, 2025 at 7:26 AM
My first in-person book event for HOMO CRIMINALIS, at the ever-wonderful @waterstones.bsky.social Gower St is tonight, and I'm delighted to see it's sold out. Online events are one thing, but there's no substitute for three dimensions! Looking forward to the chance to talk all things criminal
6:30pm, Thursday 4 September, I'll be talking about my latest book, HOMO CRIMINALIS, at the inimitable @waterstones.bsky.social Gower Street, London. Mafiosi as state-builders, how Marconi was hacked, what gangsters can do with drones, and lots more criminality. Do come along!
August 18, 2025 at 3:35 PM
6:30pm, Thursday 4 September, I'll be talking about my latest book, HOMO CRIMINALIS, at the inimitable @waterstones.bsky.social Gower Street, London. Mafiosi as state-builders, how Marconi was hacked, what gangsters can do with drones, and lots more criminality. Do come along!
Not yet read DOWNFALL, my and @scrawnya's book about #Prigozhin's rise and fall, and what this says about the evolution of #Putin's #Russia? It's on sale on Amazon.co.uk's Kindle site for a trivial 99p!
August 8, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Not yet read DOWNFALL, my and @scrawnya's book about #Prigozhin's rise and fall, and what this says about the evolution of #Putin's #Russia? It's on sale on Amazon.co.uk's Kindle site for a trivial 99p!
Publication day!
HOMO CRIMINALIS, part history, part rumination on the place of organised crime in the evolution of 'upperworld' society, part look to the future. From art and antiquities crime to modern people trafficking and 17thC Chinese eunuch gangs...
@penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social
HOMO CRIMINALIS, part history, part rumination on the place of organised crime in the evolution of 'upperworld' society, part look to the future. From art and antiquities crime to modern people trafficking and 17thC Chinese eunuch gangs...
@penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social
August 7, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Publication day!
HOMO CRIMINALIS, part history, part rumination on the place of organised crime in the evolution of 'upperworld' society, part look to the future. From art and antiquities crime to modern people trafficking and 17thC Chinese eunuch gangs...
@penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social
HOMO CRIMINALIS, part history, part rumination on the place of organised crime in the evolution of 'upperworld' society, part look to the future. From art and antiquities crime to modern people trafficking and 17thC Chinese eunuch gangs...
@penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social
'Prescient and often witty' 'A tour-de-force across the centuries' 'Combining captivating storytelling with incisive analysis' (Yes, genuine praise!)
My forthcoming book HOMO CRIMINALIS is on a whopping 25% discount from @waterstones.bsky.social to the end of the month.
My forthcoming book HOMO CRIMINALIS is on a whopping 25% discount from @waterstones.bsky.social to the end of the month.
July 28, 2025 at 9:55 AM
'Prescient and often witty' 'A tour-de-force across the centuries' 'Combining captivating storytelling with incisive analysis' (Yes, genuine praise!)
My forthcoming book HOMO CRIMINALIS is on a whopping 25% discount from @waterstones.bsky.social to the end of the month.
My forthcoming book HOMO CRIMINALIS is on a whopping 25% discount from @waterstones.bsky.social to the end of the month.
Ten years ago, paying homage... of sorts... to the grave of Vyacheslav 'Yaponchik' Ivankov, arguably the last of the true vory v zakone old school gangster kingpins.
July 26, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Ten years ago, paying homage... of sorts... to the grave of Vyacheslav 'Yaponchik' Ivankov, arguably the last of the true vory v zakone old school gangster kingpins.
If you don't already have my PUTIN'S WARS, the paperback and ebook are 30% off in the @ospreypublishing.bsky.social summer sale...
www.ospreypublishing.com/uk/putins-wa...
www.ospreypublishing.com/uk/putins-wa...
July 24, 2025 at 12:47 PM
If you don't already have my PUTIN'S WARS, the paperback and ebook are 30% off in the @ospreypublishing.bsky.social summer sale...
www.ospreypublishing.com/uk/putins-wa...
www.ospreypublishing.com/uk/putins-wa...
Out on 7 August, my new book HOMO CRIMINALIS, an organised crime history of the world, with @penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social Everything you needed to know about Aztec cocoa bean counterfeiting, how beaches become smuggled commodities, and the crimes of the future…
July 16, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Out on 7 August, my new book HOMO CRIMINALIS, an organised crime history of the world, with @penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social Everything you needed to know about Aztec cocoa bean counterfeiting, how beaches become smuggled commodities, and the crimes of the future…
Out this week! My latest slender book for @ospreypublishing.bsky.social, TANKS IN UKRAINE 2022 on, well, exactly what it says
July 14, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Out this week! My latest slender book for @ospreypublishing.bsky.social, TANKS IN UKRAINE 2022 on, well, exactly what it says
My current nest, recording the audiobook of HOMO CRIMINALIS (out in August, already open for pre-order!) in the Random Penguin tower…
June 5, 2025 at 10:25 AM
My current nest, recording the audiobook of HOMO CRIMINALIS (out in August, already open for pre-order!) in the Random Penguin tower…
I'll be in Prague 14-16 May for the launch of the Czech translation of FORGED IN WAR by @bourdoncz.bsky.social on the 15th
While I'm there will be speaking (different topics) at...
CEVRO Uni on the 14th
www.pctr.cz/2025/04/29/f...
and @iirprague.bsky.social on the 15th
www.iir.cz/russia-and-e...
While I'm there will be speaking (different topics) at...
CEVRO Uni on the 14th
www.pctr.cz/2025/04/29/f...
and @iirprague.bsky.social on the 15th
www.iir.cz/russia-and-e...
May 1, 2025 at 3:26 PM
I'll be in Prague 14-16 May for the launch of the Czech translation of FORGED IN WAR by @bourdoncz.bsky.social on the 15th
While I'm there will be speaking (different topics) at...
CEVRO Uni on the 14th
www.pctr.cz/2025/04/29/f...
and @iirprague.bsky.social on the 15th
www.iir.cz/russia-and-e...
While I'm there will be speaking (different topics) at...
CEVRO Uni on the 14th
www.pctr.cz/2025/04/29/f...
and @iirprague.bsky.social on the 15th
www.iir.cz/russia-and-e...
Always fun to break into a new language: my SHORT HISTORY OF RUSSIA is now out in Turkish with a new version of the infamous bear!
timas.com.tr/rusya-pagan-...
timas.com.tr/rusya-pagan-...
April 14, 2025 at 10:11 AM
Always fun to break into a new language: my SHORT HISTORY OF RUSSIA is now out in Turkish with a new version of the infamous bear!
timas.com.tr/rusya-pagan-...
timas.com.tr/rusya-pagan-...
Rather depressing to discover that when I wrote this in my @YaleBooks book THE WEAPONISATION OF EVERYTHING (2022), it turns out I wasn't being overly pessimistic...
yalebooks.co.uk/book/9780300...
yalebooks.co.uk/book/9780300...
February 20, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Rather depressing to discover that when I wrote this in my @YaleBooks book THE WEAPONISATION OF EVERYTHING (2022), it turns out I wasn't being overly pessimistic...
yalebooks.co.uk/book/9780300...
yalebooks.co.uk/book/9780300...
January 14, 2025 at 3:31 PM
My man Nicky P, Nikolai Patrushev, is giving interviews again (lots of spare time to fill, I suspect), this time in Komsomolskaya Pravda. A thread 1/
www.kp.ru/daily/27651/...
www.kp.ru/daily/27651/...
January 14, 2025 at 3:28 PM
My man Nicky P, Nikolai Patrushev, is giving interviews again (lots of spare time to fill, I suspect), this time in Komsomolskaya Pravda. A thread 1/
www.kp.ru/daily/27651/...
www.kp.ru/daily/27651/...
Putin knows that hints of nuclear missile use and wonderweapons will get the Western media's attention and help amplify his status as a dangerous threat who needs to be placated. And the media duly oblige by taking his empty bombast seriously. Every. Damn. Time.
December 20, 2024 at 8:16 AM
Putin knows that hints of nuclear missile use and wonderweapons will get the Western media's attention and help amplify his status as a dangerous threat who needs to be placated. And the media duly oblige by taking his empty bombast seriously. Every. Damn. Time.
That's a lovely surprise! My 'In Moscow's Shadows' podcast is in @Buzzsprout's Top 1%, with 1.69M downloads in the past year. Thanks to each and every listener!
December 15, 2024 at 3:57 PM
That's a lovely surprise! My 'In Moscow's Shadows' podcast is in @Buzzsprout's Top 1%, with 1.69M downloads in the past year. Thanks to each and every listener!