With his playbook of brutal invasion, cyberwar and intimidation, Vladimir Putin is the nightmare neighbour of every country that borders Russia. Beyond his crimes in Ukraine, could Putin’s ambitions run wider – into the heart of Europe? Gavin Esler explores how Russia is using weak spots along its border from Estonia to the Balkans to fan feuds, create chaos and tear at the fabric of the global order.

Jasmin Mujanović explains how Russia is pushing to reignite the simmering Serbia/Kosovo dispute. And Putin-watcher Mark Galeotti explains that while the brutal system that the Russian tyrant has built looks invulnerable, behind the façade it is worryingly brittle.

• “For most of Putin’s reign Russia has been at declared or undeclared war with someone. What he likes is a certain low level of chaos.” – Mark Galeotti

• “Russia saw Serbia as a really cheap opportunity to invest in low-level chaos… which is now becoming more serious.” – Jasmin Mujanović

• “Putin is going to look at what will be politically bloody, hard-fought American Presidential election and see how he can use it to tear the United States apart.” – Mark Galeotti

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Written and presented by Gavin Esler. Produced by Robin Leeburn. Original theme music by Paul Hartnoll – https://www.orbitalofficial.com. Executive Producer Martin Bojtos. Group Editor Andrew Harrison. This Is Not A Drill is a Podmasters production

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