The Language of Power: Inside Russia

As Russia’s war against Ukraine drags on, its consequences are becoming increasingly visible at home. Ukrainian drone strikes on oil refineries and other targets have brought the conflict closer to ordinary Russians, while the Kremlin has intensified its crackdown on dissent ahead of parliamentary elections. In this episode of The Language of Power, host Paul Taylor is joined by Dr Sabine Fischer, Senior Fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), and Vitaly Shevchenko, Chief Russia Analyst at BBC Monitoring, to look inside Russia and assess how the war is reshaping the country. They discuss what Russians are being told about the war, its impact on daily life and public opinion, the limits of political and media debate, the state of Russia’s opposition, and what the parliamentary elections reveal about the country’s political system. They also explore the mood among Russia’s military bloggers and elites, the risks faced by those expressing dissent, and whether the prolonged war could ultimately weaken Vladimir Putin’s grip on power.