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Putin

Series

What is Putin’s endgame? And why do Russians get poisoned? We explain

In these Explainers we’ve delved into the machinations of the Kremlin and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, bringing context to new developments and the personalities behind them.

7 stories
Wagner explainer

The Ukraine invasion put a spotlight on Putin’s ‘shadow army’. Now its leader is dead. Who are the Wagner Group?

Putin’s “private army” is in the spotlight as Russia’s war in Ukraine grinds on. What’s the Wagner Group and what does it mean for the war (and Putin)?

  • Sherryn Groch
Putin explainer

What is Putin’s endgame in Ukraine?

The ex-KGB officer has launched the biggest attack in Europe since World War II. Why did Putin invade Ukraine – and how far could he go?

  • Sherryn Groch and Chris Zappone
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Vladimir Putin has cracked down on critics and opposition candidates ahead of latest Russian parliamentary elections
  • Explainer

‘You cross him at your peril’: How does Putin’s vertical of power work?

How does the President’s inner circle rule Russia? And where does Russia’s political system fit in?

  • Sherryn Groch
Nuclear explainer
  • Explainer

Who has nukes, and what do Russia’s threats mean?

What is the likelihood of Putin using nuclear weapons, what are the international laws on them, and how effective is “deterrence” today?

  • Sherryn Groch and Chris Zappone
CW explainer
  • Explainer

What are chemical weapons and how might Putin use them?

Poison gas conjures up the horrors of WWI but it’s been used since. What are the laws on chemical weapons and would Russia resort to using them?

  • Sherryn Groch and Chris Zappone
  • Explainer

Is anyone winning Putin’s war in Ukraine – and how might it end?

Russia is unleashing fresh troops in the war Putin has to win. Can Ukraine keep up its momentum? And could it spiral into a wider war?

  • Sherryn Groch
War crimes explainer
  • Explainer

What are war crimes and could Putin be put on trial?

What might a war crimes prosecution involve – and could Putin find himself on trial at the Hague?

  • Sherryn Groch and Chris Zappone

Other series

The Sydney Central Business District, Sydney Harbour and Eastern Suburbs and surrounds are seen on 18 February 2025, in Sydney, Australia from a commercial airliner. Picture - Sam Mooy / The Sydney Morning Herald

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