The Daily

Ukraine Puts Putin’s Playbook to the Test

Mar 24, 2022

In this insightful discussion, Carlotta Gall, the Istanbul bureau chief for The New York Times and a veteran war correspondent, delves into the dark parallels between the Chechen wars and the current conflict in Ukraine. She reveals how Russian tactics, refined over decades, are echoed in today’s relentless bombardment strategies. Gall also discusses the harrowing targeting of civilians, the challenges faced by journalists in war zones, and Ukraine's resilient military response against Russian aggression. Her firsthand experiences enrich the conversation with stark realities of warfare.

29:52

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Episode guests

Carlotta Gall

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Episode notes

Intro

2min

Echoes of Conflict: Chechnya and Ukraine

12min

Echoes of Repression: Chechnya and Ukraine

6min

Civilian Targeting and the Systematic Kidnapping in Ukraine

2min

Tactics and Triumphs: Ukraine's Fight Against Russian Aggression

7min

A Historical Perspective on Ukraine's Fight and Reflections on Leadership

3min

From the outside, Russia’s relentless bombardment of Ukraine looks indiscriminate and improvised. But the approach is part of an approach devised decades ago in Chechnya.

The Times journalist Carlotta Gall, who covered the Chechen conflict, explains why wars fought by Russia some 30 years ago could inform what happens next in Ukraine.

Guest: Carlotta Gall, the Istanbul bureau chief for The New York Times.

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Background reading:

Russia’s experience in a string of wars led to the conclusion that attacking civilian populations was not only acceptable but militarily sound.

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