Russian Roulette

Center for Strategic and International Studies

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. Produced by David Lotfi, Lexi Linafelter, and Nicholas Fenton

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20 episodes
Updated July 27
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Episodes20

Newest first

July 27 · 46 min
Has the War Come Home to Russia?
Max Bergmann sits down with Maria Snegovaya and Jade McGlynn, senior associate (non-resident) with the CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program and senior research fellow / head of the Ukraine and Russia Program at King's College London, to discuss how Russians have responded to major shocks over the past four years, and whether polling data in Russia truly indicates shifting attitudes toward the war.
July 10 · 48 min
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.
June 26 · 39 min
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
June 11 · 43 min
Dr. Nina Khrushcheva: History, Evolution, and a View from Inside Russia
Max and Maria sit down with Dr. Nina Khrushcheva, Professor of International Affairs at the New School and one of the world’s leading experts on Russia, to discuss her new Russian‑language book Nikita Khrushchev: Vozhd vne sistemy (“Nikita Khrushchev: An Outlier of the System”) and her experience as one of the few scholars still traveling to and from Russia. As Nikita Khrushchev’s great‑granddaughter and adoptive granddaughter, she offers a rare, personal view of how Russian culture, politics, a
May 29 · 33 min
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.
May 14 · 41 min
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.
April 30 · 42 min
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.
April 23 · 43 min
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.
April 2 · 48 min
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.
March 20 · 18 min
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.
March 20 · 53 min
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.
March 5 · 47 min
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.
February 26 · 1 hr 6 min
Four Years of the War in Ukraine (Live Event)
Max and Maria spoke with Hanna Notte, JP Gresh, and Michael Kimmage at a live CSIS event marking the four-year anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
February 12 · 48 min
Ukraine's Ongoing Energy Crisis
Max and Maria were joined by Andrian Prokip and Tim McDonnell to discuss the relentless Russian bombardment of Ukraine's energy infrastructure, and what this means for average Ukrainians trying to survive the winter months.
January 22 · 45 min
Thresholds of Survival: The Latest Report on Ukrainian Resistance to Russian Occupation by Jade McGlynn
Max and Maria spoke with Jade McGlynn about her latest report on Ukrainian resistance in the Russian occupied territories of Ukraine.
January 8 · 1 hr 20 min
Adam Entous on U.S.-Ukraine Relations in 2025
Adam Entous of The New York Times shares his in-depth investigation exploring the Trump Administration's policies towards Ukraine in 2025.
Dec 18, 2025 · 47 min
Sergey Radchenko on Ukraine Peace Negotiations
Max and Maria spoke with Sergey Radchenko about the state of affairs in peace negotiations over Ukraine as we come to the close of 2025. They discuss the different parties' goals and positions, and how this current round of negotiations compares to the talks in Istanbul at the start of the full-scale invasion back in 2022.
Dec 1, 2025 · 26 min
The Latest 28-Point Peace Plan for Ukraine
Max speaks with Michael Kimmage about his immediate reactions to the new 28-point peace plan for Ukraine, and the rapid-fire diplomacy taking place in response to its release.
Nov 20, 2025 · 45 min
The Increased Level of Repressions Within the Russian Elite
Max and Maria spoke with Nikolay Petrov and Mikhail Troitskiy, two leading experts on the contemporary Russian elite, to discuss the current status of this ruling group inside Russia today, and why it finds itself increasingly under pressure from state security organs.
Nov 10, 2025 · 1 hr 4 min
Russian and Ukrainian Battlefield Adaptations with Dara Massicot and Kateryna Bondar
Max and Maria had a livestreamed conversation in the CSIS Brack Studio with Dara Massicot and Kateryna Bondar to discuss Russian and Ukrainian battlefield adaptations and technological innovations.