inside russias military catastrophe

This episode contains strong language and descriptions of violence.

When Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, many believed the country’s army would quickly crush the Ukrainian forces. Instead, Russian military failures have defined the war.

Today, we hear from Russian soldiers, and explore why a military superpower keeps making the same mistakes and why, despite it all, its soldiers keep going back to fight.


Michael Schwirtz, an investigative reporter for The New York Times.

A damaged Russian tank in Kharkiv, Ukraine. This week, a major attack on Russian soldiers exemplified the country’s military failings.
Efrem Lukatsky/Associated Press

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Michael Schwirtz contributed reporting.

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