Mykyta Zhuiko
Mark Galeotti’s Putin’s Wars offers a detailed analysis of how Vladimir Putin has employed military force, including regular and special operations units, as well as the Federal Security Service (FSB), to shape Russia’s political system, consolidate domestic power, and advance the country’s global position. Galeotti, an internationally recognized expert on Russian security affairs, demonstrates that Putin’s wars – from Chechnya in the 1990s to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 – follow a consistent pattern, with methods of warfare continuously refined and adapted to both immediate adversaries and the evolving global politico-economic environment. The book serves as both a historical chronicle and a warning to democratic world leaders about how military power is employed by authoritarian regimes, particularly those with nuclear capabilities and substantial financial resources. Galeotti’s central thesis is that Putin’s wars are carefully calculated moves within a long-term strategy to maintain Russia’s status as a “great power.” At times, war reinforces Putin’s domestic authority by combating separatist movements or diverting public attention from internal problems; at other times, war extends influence abroad or sends strategic signals to the West. Galeotti elucidates how each conflict—Chechnya, Georgia, Crimea, Syria, and Ukraine—fits into this overarching strategic framework.
The book begins with the First Chechen War (1994–1996), during which the Russian military was still recovering from the collapse of the Soviet Union. It then moves to the Second Chechen War (1999–2009), marked by extreme brutality and bloodshed but instrumental in propelling Putin to power. By employing ruthless force alongside unconventional tactics, Putin not only reestablished control over Chechnya but also crafted his image as a strong and decisive leader. The Russo-Georgian War of 2008 demonstrated Russia’s growing military capabilities and willingness to use force to assert its interests in its near abroad. The annexation of Crimea in 2014 further exemplified Putin’s strategy of employing limited military intervention combined with political manipulation to achieve strategic objectives. Russia’s involvement in Syria allowed it to test its air force, evaluate new weaponry, develop special forces tactics in localized operations, and demonstrate its capacity to project power far from its borders. r.
No comments:
Post a Comment