Of all the geopolitical works I've been digging into lately, Russian-themed ones constantly impress and awe me - likely due my being a slav.
I've previously done reviews of books about Russian politics, and the geography that weaves
its culture. This one examines the Soviet Union's and Russia's wars (Afghanistnan, First and second Chechen war, Georgian war) in a way that explains how and why the government does what it does.
The book describes the war crimes, backstage manipulation and strategic considerations that converge to create a fascinating and brutal geopolitical situation. Some attention is also paid to Vladimir Putin's life as well as his creation of the Eurasian union, which is where the book doesn't exactly shine.
The telling of the Georgian war was especially eye-opening, as it describes the break-away region of Abkhazia, and is my personal favourite part of the book. This is a great novice-to-intermediate
read for the Russia affocionado.
8/10