This Is Not A Drill with Gavin Esler
Update: Russia after the Crocus Hall massacre
Mar 28, 2024
Gavin Esler chats with Russian journalist Andrei Soldatov about the intelligence failures leading to the Crocus City Hall massacre by ISIS in Moscow. They discuss Putin's blame-game, FSB negligence, and potential consequences of the attack. Soldatov sheds light on the Russian system's challenges and the brutality faced by Tajikistan men in Russia, revealing a message from the Kremlin. Putin's response to Ukraine and domestic security issues is also analyzed, along with the manipulation of narratives by Russian authorities. The episode also touches on the 'Paper Cuts' podcast, offering a humorous take on tabloid news.
15:25
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Quick takeaways
- Russian FSB disregarded Western intelligence warnings leading to fatalities in Crocus Hall attack.
- Publicized torture of Tajikistan suspects signals increased state-sponsored violence and intimidation tactics in Russia.
Deep dives
Russian Intelligence Failure in Response to Attack
The FSB, Russia's primary counterterrorism agency, failed in their response to the Crocus concert hall attack resulting in more deaths from fire than from the terrorists. This failure is recurrent and indicative of systemic issues in Russian counterterrorism measures as highlighted by a Russian intelligence expert with over 20 years of experience. Despite warnings from Western intelligence agencies, particularly the CIA, about the imminent attack in Russia, the FSB ignored these alerts, underscoring a significant breakdown in communication and preparedness.
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