Newscast Old Newscast: Vladimir Putin elected Russian president for the first time, 2000 (Part 2)
Aug 9, 2025
Catherine Belton, an insightful author and Russia reporter for The Washington Post, and BBC's Russia editor Steve Rosenberg, explore the seismic shifts in Russia under Vladimir Putin. They discuss Putin's rise from KGB roots and how crises like the Kursk submarine disaster shaped his authoritarian grip. Their conversation covers Putin's perceptions of Ukraine as an integral part of Russia, the implications of recent coup attempts, and what a post-Putin Russia might look like amidst ongoing geopolitical tensions.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Kursk Crisis Humiliation
- Vladimir Putin disappeared for a week during the Kursk submarine disaster and returned only after public outrage.
- He faced bereaved relatives live on TV who criticised his slow response, which humiliated him and spurred change.
Media Control Became A Core Priority
- The Kursk episode taught Putin the political power of television and pushed him to control the media.
- Steve Rosenberg says that moment led him to reduce critical TV opposition quickly.
Oligarchs And Media Were Primary Targets
- Putin campaigned to dismantle the oligarchs as a class and quickly targeted independent media owners.
- Catherine Belton describes early raids on NTV and pressure on oligarch-owned channels as immediate moves.