This is the second part on Yevgeniy Prigozhin covering his private military company, the Wagner Group. I discuss the origins of the group, their operations across the Middle East, Africa, and Ukraine, as well as their notorious brutality. I also talk about Prigozhin's political ambitions and his escalating conflict with the Russian Ministry of Defe…

This is the first part of the story of the man behind the Wagner private military group, also known as Putin's chef, Yevgeniy Prigozhin. It covers his youth in prison, successful restaurant businesses, and subsequent huge government contracts in catering, which made him a billionaire. We will also discuss his infamous troll farm and media empire, w…

Nursultan Nazarbayev, the first president of independent Kazakhstan, was the most powerful person in the country. For decades, his family controlled the most lucrative sectors of the country's economy. But in 2019, he suddenly stepped down. He picked his successor and hoped that he would be able to maintain his influence through various lifelong ti…

Who is Ukrainian president Zelensky and how did he turn from comedian to war-time leader fighting off Putin's Russia, one of the most powerful militaries in the world? A famous Russian-speaking actor and comedian, Volodymyr Zelensky, won the Ukrainian presidential race in 2019. In February 2022, his country was invaded by Russia. While Russian spec…

Introduction to Post-Soviet Chronicles, a podcast on Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and other former Soviet Union members exploring notable historical and political events that have shaped these countries since 1991. Subscribe via e-mail and access our social media: https://linktr.ee/postsoviet_chronicles…

In this ninth episode, we cover Kazakhstan – the biggest land-locked country in the world. MA students at the UCL School of Slavonic and East European Studies (SSEES), Tom King and Kristina Tsabala, talk about the current, historical, and cultural affairs of the Central Asian giant while sampling some Kazakh pelmeni (dumplings). Find out more and v…

In the eight episode, we turn our attention to Uzbekistan. In this handy primer, MA students at the UCL School of Slavonic and East European Studies (SSEES), James Bolton-Jones and Sophia Burna-Asefi, introduce you to some basic facts about Uzbekistan followed by a discussion of its history, culture, and current affairs, all while enjoying some del…

In this seventh episode, we look at Latvia, the final of the Baltic countries to be covered in this series. MA students at the UCL School of Slavonic and East European Studies (SSEES), Natalie Sauer and Tom King, discuss quirky Latvian idioms, battles for independence, and contemporary economic and environmental optimism in the region – all whilst …

Welcome to the Post-Soviet Press Pod’s "10 Minutes on…" series, which condenses the key information you need to know about each of the 15 countries of the former USSR into a bitesize 10 minutes. In this sixth episode, we look at Lithuania – a country at the geographical centre of Europe. MA students at the UCL School of Slavonic and East European S…

Welcome to the Post-Soviet Press Pod’s "10 Minutes on…" series, which condenses the key information you need to know about each of the 15 countries of the former USSR into a bitesize 10 minutes. In this fifth episode, we cover Estonia: a North-East European country with a strong national identity. MA students at the UCL School of Slavonic and East …

Welcome to the Post-Soviet Press Pod’s "10 Minutes on…" series, which condenses the key information you need to know about each of the 15 countries of the former USSR into a bitesize 10 minutes. In this fourth episode, we discuss Ukraine. MA students at the UCL School of Slavonic and East European Studies (SSEES), James Bolton-Jones and Eleanor Eva…

Welcome to the Post-Soviet Press Pod’s "10 Minutes on…" series, which condenses the key information you need to know about each of the 15 countries of the former USSR into a bitesize 10 minutes. In this third episode, we will discuss Moldova, which is usually labelled as Europe’s poorest country and least visited country. MA students at the UCL Sch…

Welcome to the Post-Soviet Press Pod’s "10 minutes on…" series, which condenses the key information you need to know about each of the 15 countries of the former USSR into a bitesize 10 minutes(ish). In our second episode, we look at Russia – the largest country in the world. MA students at the UCL School of Slavonic and East European Studies (SSEE…

In this first episode, we look at Belarus, which has been in the headlines since August 2020, when rigged elections led to mass protests against the rule of the “last dictator in Europe”, Alyaksandr Lukashenka. MA students at the UCL School of Slavonic and East European Studies (SSEES), Alex Figurski and James Bolton-Jones, discuss Belarusian cultu…