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The History Bureau

BBC
Vladimir Putin
FSB
1999 Apartment Bombings
Chechen Militants
Alexander Litvinenko
Russian Apartment Bombings
Chechnya
Rizan
Boris Berezovsky
Russia
Kremlin
1999 Apartment Bombs
Media Coverage
Apartment Bombings
Mikhael Trepashkin
Volgodonsk
NTV
1990s Russian Apartment Bombings
Tony Blair
Bill Clinton

NEW in The History Bureau - Putin and the Apartment Bombs

In September 1999, just weeks after a 46-year-old Vladimir Putin became Prime Minister, four bombs blew up four apartment buildings across Russia, killing hundreds of people while they slept. The attacks plunged the country into panic. Families fled their homes. Residents patrolled their blocks around the clock. An entire nation paralyzed b... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes9Founded4 months ago
Number of ListenersCategory
History

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Artwork for The History Bureau

Latest Episodes

Now that you’ve finished Putin and the Apartment Bombs, we’re bringing you a listening recommendation: Cautionary Tales. In this episode, Helena Merriman joins Cautionary Tales host Tim Harford to discuss the 1999 apartment bombs and how our understa... more

Who bombed the four apartment buildings?

The reporters who covered this story look back with over 25 years of distance to answer a one question: who do they think bombed those four apartment buildings back in September 1999? Was it the Chechen mili... more

YouTube

A trial of two suspected bombers seems to offer closure – but is this really case closed?

As Mikhael Trepashkin prepares to present evidence that might shed light on what really happened in 1999, he's thrown into prison. And as the verdict looms fo... more

YouTube

A former KGB investigator steps forward, risking everything to get to the truth.

As Putin’s power grows, American journalist Scott Anderson returns to the story of the 1999 apartment bombings. Only one man will speak to him: Mikhail Trepashkin. Once... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Steven Lee Myers
Moscow Bureau Chief for The New York Times during the time of the trial.
The New York Times
Episode: Putin and the Apartment Bombs: 6. The Trial
Scott Anderson
American journalist who reported on the apartment bombings
The New York Times Magazine
Episode: Putin and the Apartment Bombs: 5. The Investigator
Mikhail Trepashkin
Former FSB investigator who uncovered evidence related to the bombings
Episode: Putin and the Apartment Bombs: 5. The Investigator
Boris Berezovsky
One of the first Russian oligarchs and a key political figure in the post-Soviet Russia.
Channel One
Episode: Putin and the Apartment Bombs: 4. The Poisoning
Alexander Litvinenko
Former FSB officer who investigated the apartment bombings and later became a dissident.
Episode: Putin and the Apartment Bombs: 4. The Poisoning
Gordon Corera
Journalist covering national security for the BBC.
BBC
Episode: Putin and the Apartment Bombs: 4. The Poisoning
Andrew Harding
A BBC foreign correspondent with extensive experience in Russia.
BBC
Episode: Putin and the Apartment Bombs: 1. The Four Bombs

Host

Helena Merriman
Host of The History Bureau, frequently presenting investigations into high-profile historical events and their modern-day implications.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 484 ratings
  • Putin and the Apartment Bombs is investigative journalism at its finest. The reporting is excellent and the BBC does a fantasic job with production and sound design. This podcast gives greater insight into how Putin came to power and the collateral damage. I strongly recommend you listen!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Ferocious Fairy
    21 days ago
  • Great podcast

    I devoured the podcast in a two day period. It is very interesting and there was another podcast that shed light on this in Russian podcast world. However, it would be good for an average listener to understand who Betezovskiy really was and how he came to fame and where his money came from. To me, he was somewhat glorified where an average Russian hates his guts. Bereovskiy was no better than any of them.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MaripaMD
    United States22 days ago
  • The podcast you’ve been looking for

    Such an excellent deep dive. Shining light on an event that is not well known. Love it! Can’t wait for the next installment.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PinkJellyfish80
    United Statesa month ago
  • Excellent podcast

    This program is fascinating, intriguing, excellently presented, impeccably researched - once you start you will definitely be in for all of it as intensively as you can.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mdxify
    United Statesa month ago
  • Thanks

    Great journalism, balanced, truth-seeking, critical. I learned a lot. Thanks from Germany!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ifighter lite
    Germanya month ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise rigorous, balanced journalism and thorough sourcing.
Guests and hosts are commended for thoughtful, careful questioning and non-sensational storytelling.
Some listeners note strong, persuasive cases that occasionally prompt discussions about alternative narratives.
Audiences value the front-line reporting and historical depth.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#102
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#71
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#78
Canada/History
Apple Podcasts
#63
Australia/History
Apple Podcasts
#139
Germany/History
Apple Podcasts
#206
France/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Putin and the Apartment Bombs: 5. The Investigator
Q: What were the initial reactions of the victims' families after the bombings?
Families of those who died come back every year to remember and honor the victims, highlighting the ongoing pain and desire for answers.
Putin and the Apartment Bombs: 3. The TV Show
Q: Did it have an effect on your reporting?
I'm proud to say that it did not seriously change our way of reporting. We were trying to do what we are supposed to do and to hell with everything that may follow.
Putin and the Apartment Bombs: 3. The TV Show
Q: What were you doing at the time? What was your job? And just how would you describe yourself?
In 1999, I was one of the top editorial managers of NTV.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The History Bureau

What is The History Bureau about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A tightly focused history/current affairs program that revisits pivotal, often under-explored events through the lens of the reporters who originally covered them. Episodes center on investigative journalism, debriefing initial narratives versus later findings, and the evolving understanding of political power, media control, and state actors in post-Soviet Russia. Notably, the show blends archival reporting with on-the-ground recollections to illuminate how coverage shapes public perception and historical memory, making it a thoughtful pick for listeners who crave rigorous storytelling and nuanced analysis without sensationalism. A standout trait is the consistent use of frontline reporters to unpack complex, high-stakes stories, often cha... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The History Bureau?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The History Bureau:

1. The Bomb
2. The History Podcast
3. Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford
4. History's Heroes
5. The Spy Who

How many episodes of The History Bureau are there?

The History Bureau launched 4 months ago and published 9 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The History Bureau?

Recent guests on The History Bureau include:

1. Steven Lee Myers
2. Scott Anderson
3. Mikhail Trepashkin
4. Boris Berezovsky
5. Alexander Litvinenko
6. Gordon Corera
7. Andrew Harding

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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