War and Punishment, Mikhail Zygar
War and Punishment, Mikhail Zygar
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War and Punishment
Putin, Zelensky, and the Path to Russia's Invasion of Ukraine

Author: Mikhail Zygar

Narrator: Richard Attlee

Unabridged: 15 hr 47 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 07/25/2023


Synopsis

A NEW YORKER BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

From “one of Russia’s smartest and best-sourced” (The New York Times) reporters—the first work by a Russian author to reveal his country’s history of oppressing Ukraine, providing an unprecedented overview of the war for Ukrainian independence that affects us all.

As soon as the Russian invasion of Ukraine began, prominent independent Russian journalist Mikhail Zygar circulated a Facebook petition signed first by hundreds of his cultural and journalistic contacts and then by thousands of others. That act led to a new law in Russia criminalizing criticism of the war, and Zygar fled Russia. In his time as a journalist, Zygar has interviewed President Zelensky and had access to many of the major players—from politicians to oligarchs. As an expert on Putin’s moods and behavior, he has spent years studying the Kremlin’s plan regarding Ukraine, and here, in clear, chronological order he explains how we got here.

In 1996 to 2004, Ukraine became an independent post-Soviet country where everyone was connected to the former empire at all levels, financially, culturally, psychologically. However, the elite anticipated that the empire would be back and punish them. From 2004 to 2018, there were many states inside one state, each with its own rulers/oligarchs and its own interests—some of them directly connected with Russia. In 2018, a new generation of Ukrainians arrive, and having grown in an independent country, they do not consider themselves to be part of Russia—and that was the moment when the war began, as Putin could not tolerate losing Ukraine forever.

Authoritative, timely, and vitally important, this is an unique overview of the war that continues to threaten the future of the entire world as we know it.

About Mikhail Zygar

Mikhail Zygar is a journalist, writer, and filmmaker, and the founding editor-in-chief of Russian news channel Dozhd, which provided an alternative to Kremlin-controlled federal TV channels by giving a platform to opposition voices. The recipient of a CPJ International Press Freedom Award, Zygar writes a weekly column on Russia and the war for DerSpiegel and also writes for The New York Times, Time, Vanity Fair, and Foreign Affairs. He is also the author of All the Kremlin’s Men, The Empire Must Die, and War and Punishment. Currently a guest lecturer at Columbia University, he lives in New York with his husband.


Reviews

Goodreads review by James on July 06, 2023

For most people in the West, the country of Ukraine is an unknown place - many have probably only heard of it in connection to the insanity of US politics and now the war. And as Zygar makes clear - many people in Russia are not even aware of the true, long history of Ukraine. While I am sure he wou......more

Goodreads review by Anatoly on July 29, 2023

In his insightful summary of Ukraine's and Russia's history over the last several centuries, with the focus on the post-Soviet era and particularly the events of the last ten years, Mikhail Zygar tracks the sources of Putin's inferiority complex and his twisted historical beliefs, as well as the eff......more

Goodreads review by Matas on April 13, 2024

Paprastai ir aiškiai visa Ukrainos istorija iki Rusijos isiveržimo 2022 metai. Kartu su the Gates of Europe tai dvi knygos kurias perskaičius suprasi viską ką reikia žinoti apie Ukrainą ir Rusijos fetišus jos atžvilgiu.......more

Goodreads review by Viktória on December 14, 2023

Russian war in Ukraine is an imperial war, and it’s refreshing to find this judgement in a popular-scientific format. I’ve been studying the colonial discourse in Eastern Europe for 4 months now, so this was more of a light reading on the side, which nevertheless explained many historical references......more

Goodreads review by Daniil on October 19, 2023

This book takes you on centuries-long journey through history of relationship between Russia and Ukraine. As borders shift, alliances and rulers change, wars erupt - one thing remain unchanged - there is always a quest for recognition of Ukrainian national identity and establishment of an independen......more