Frontline: The War in Ukraine and Global Security Putin’s Kremlin tearing itself apart | Mark Galeotti
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Oct 2, 2025 
Mark Galeotti, a seasoned Russia expert and author, dives into the internal struggles within Putin's Kremlin. He discusses Igor Girkin's critical remarks about military mismanagement and their implications for the regime's stability. Galeotti outlines how Girkin's critiques resonate with Russian nationalists. He also touches on Ukraine's strategic strikes impacting Russian fuel supplies and the challenges of Western intelligence support. Lastly, Galeotti highlights the necessity for Ukraine to keep Europe and the US engaged amid ongoing conflicts.
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Shadow Fleet Is Market-Driven, Not Stealthy
- The 'shadow fleet' mainly reflects market demand for cheap Russian oil, not a magical stealth armada.
- Galeotti warns the fleet's dubious registration and insurance increase environmental and legal risks.
Putin's Blunders, Not Grand Strategy
- Putin's decisions often stem from misreading Ukraine and ignoring military counsel, producing avoidable blunders.
- Galeotti suggests focusing on Putin's blind spots and mistakes to predict future actions, not mythic strategic genius.
Strelkov's Role In Donbass And Fall From Grace
- Igor Girkin (Strelkov) led volunteers into Slavyansk in 2014 and helped spark the Donbass conflict.
- He later became a tolerated nationalist critic before his 2023 arrest after Prigozhin's mutiny made the Kremlin nervous.
