Book Review | Putin’s Wars: From Chechnya to Ukraine

Putin’s Wars: From Chechnya to Ukraine. By Mark Galeotti. Osprey Publishing, 2022. ISBN: 978-1472847546. Pp. 384. $22.00.

Summary

Mark Galeotti’s Putin’s Wars offers a detailed analysis of how Vladimir Putin has employed military force, including regular and special operations units, as well as the Federal Security Service (FSB), to shape Russia’s political system, consolidate domestic power, and advance the country’s global position. Galeotti, an internationally recognized expert on Russian security affairs, demonstrates that Putin’s wars – from Chechnya in the 1990s to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 – follow a consistent pattern, with methods of warfare continuously refined and adapted to both immediate adversaries and the evolving global politico-economic environment. The book serves as both a historical chronicle and a warning to democratic world leaders about how military power is employed by authoritarian regimes, particularly those with nuclear capabilities and substantial financial resources. Galeotti’s central thesis is that Putin’s wars are carefully calculated moves within a long-term strategy to maintain Russia’s status as a “great power.” At times, war reinforces Putin’s domestic authority by combating separatist movements or diverting public attention from internal problems; at other times, war extends influence abroad or sends strategic signals to the West. Galeotti elucidates how each conflict—Chechnya, Georgia, Crimea, Syria, and Ukraine—fits into this overarching strategic framework.

The book begins with the First Chechen War (1994–1996), during which the Russian military was still recovering from the collapse of the Soviet Union. It then moves to the Second Chechen War (1999–2009), marked by extreme brutality and bloodshed but instrumental in propelling Putin to power. By employing ruthless force alongside unconventional tactics, Putin not only reestablished control over Chechnya but also crafted his image as a strong and decisive leader. The Russo-Georgian War of 2008 demonstrated Russia’s growing military capabilities and willingness to use force to assert its interests in its near abroad. The annexation of Crimea in 2014 further exemplified Putin’s strategy of employing limited military intervention combined with political manipulation to achieve strategic objectives. Russia’s involvement in Syria allowed it to test its air force, evaluate new weaponry, develop special forces tactics in localized operations, and demonstrate its capacity to project power far from its borders. The final section of the book is dedicated to the 2022 invasion of Ukraine—the most significant armed conflict in Europe since World War II. Galeotti explains that Russia anticipated a swift victory but encountered fierce Ukrainian resistance. The war revealed numerous vulnerabilities within the Russian military, including poor planning, logistical failures, corruption, and unrealistic objectives. Galeotti emphasizes that this failure does not imply Putin will abandon the use of military force, warning that an excessive concentration of power in the hands of a single individual leads to perilous decision-making and poses enduring risks, as defeat could equate to both the political and literal demise of the leader.

Authoritarian leaders often surround themselves with loyalists who reinforce their biases instead of offering critical perspectives. This leads to flawed intelligence assessments, unrealistic military ambitions, and policies driven by personal survival rather than national interest. Russia’s miscalculations in Ukraine can be seen as a direct consequence of such insulated decision-making, where Putin relied on distorted assumptions about Ukrainian resistance and Western unity instead of pragmatic assessments. Many authoritarian leaders equate military defeat with both their political and physical downfall, driving them to escalate conflicts in desperate attempts to secure their power. This dynamic increases the likelihood of prolonged wars, reckless strategies, and further destabilization. Unfortunately, this creates the idea that there is no way for Putin to stop the current war in Ukraine.

Analysis

Hybrid Warfare

Galeotti’s analysis of “hybrid warfare” is one of the book’s most compelling aspects. He illustrates how Russia has learned to integrate unconventional warfare into regular military forces, e.g., fake news, social media propaganda, cyberattacks, and private military contractors, particularly the Wagner Group. This multifaceted approach complicates efforts to counter Russia’s military strategies and allows operations to be conducted covertly or without formal attribution. Galeotti contends that this method reflects Russia’s anxiety about being marginalized in the contemporary global order and its desire to act in ways distinct from Western norms. Utilizing all available methods that democratic nations cannot access due to legal or ethical constraints, Russia aims to establish itself as a fully-fledged actor on the global stage.

Comparative Perspectives

Galeotti’s work provides valuable insights into Putin’s strategic thinking. His detailed examination of Russia’s military operations offers a clear understanding of the evolution of Russian military doctrine and its adaptation to various geopolitical contexts. To fully appreciate Galeotti’s contribution, it is helpful to consider his work in the context of other analyses of Russian military history and the broader study of authoritarian warfare. Scholars such as Catlin Talmadge, in The Dictator’s Army, have explored military power dynamics in authoritarian regimes, highlighting how personalist dictatorships can shape military effectiveness and strategic decision-making. These works often emphasize the risks of centralized control and the potential for miscalculation, themes that resonate with Galeotti’s analysis of Putin’s leadership. Furthermore, studies of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) approach to military power, which emphasizes a different blend of economic, diplomatic, and military tools, provide a comparative perspective.

Russia’s dependence on direct military aggression and hybrid warfare creates instability and immediate confrontation, while the CCP’s focus on economic leverage and technological dominance enables long-term systemic influence without resorting to direct military conflict. This contrast underscores the varying degrees of sustainability and global acceptance of authoritarian power projection. While Russia’s strategy often provokes significant resistance and sanctions, China’s approach promotes deeper integration into global markets and institutions, making its influence more enduring.

Limitations

Putin’s Wars is a timely and significant contribution to understanding contemporary authoritarian warfare. The book is well-written and balanced. Galeotti renders complex military and political concepts understandable to readers without a background in security studies. He refrains from depicting Russia as purely malevolent or Putin as a caricatured villain; instead, he provides a nuanced analysis of decision-making processes while maintaining a critical stance. However, some shortcomings should be noted. First, the coverage of the earlier conflicts, particularly the conclusion of the Second Chechen War, is somewhat superficial. Second, the book devotes considerable attention to the leadership of security agencies and their influence on the development (or degradation) of the Russian armed forces, as well as detailed descriptions of the structure and composition of various Russian military units, which might feel excessive to some readers.

Considering the events after 2022, Galeotti’s analysis essentially holds up. The 2022 invasion of Ukraine has tragically validated his warnings about the dangers of unchecked authoritarian power and the potential for devastating conflict. As a member of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, I can attest to the accuracy of his assessment of Russia’s military vulnerabilities, particularly regarding planning and logistics. However, the scale and intensity of the Ukrainian resistance may have exceeded Galeotti’s initial expectations, highlighting the importance of national will and resilience in modern warfare.

Conclusion

Putin’s Wars offers critical insights into the wars themselves and the strategic thinking behind them. The book is especially valuable for military professionals, political analysts, policymakers, and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of modern international relations, the worldview of Russian elites, and Russia’s approach to global politics.

Several key ideas are worth emphasizing: Russia and its foreign policy should not be seen as straightforward, transparent, or honest. The wisest approach is to interpret all official statements in the exact opposite manner. For instance, when they declare, “We do not seek war,” it serves as a signal to prepare for defense. The second and more crucial point concerns external interference and the destabilizing influence exerted on the political systems of other nations and alliances through hybrid methods, as previously discussed. Unfortunately, bureaucratic systems in democratic countries lack effective countermeasures against this particular threat.

Written in Ukrainian and translated into English with Grammarly.