From the time he became president of Russia, Vladimir Putin has sought to establish control over the region, overseeing the Second Chechen War, the two military incursions into Georgia, the annexation of Crimea, and the invasion of Ukraine. Providing a strategic overview of the Russian military, Mark Galeotti comments on battlefield tactics as well as its use of mercenaries and operatives in a relentless information war. Galeotti also speaks with active and retired Russian officers, and shares their anecdotes of life on the frontlines.