World Model · podcast knowledge graph

Explosives or Sugar? The Deadly Art of Distraction in Putin’s Russia - with Helena Merriman

2026-03-06 · 42 min · episode 10 · 8 entities

episode page audio

Asserted relationships

  • → appeared on Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford podcast
    0.68
    evidence rules-v5
    Explosives or Sugar? The Deadly Art of Distraction in Putin’s Russia - with Helena Merriman
  • → hosted by Pushkin Industries person
    0.55
    evidence rules-v5
    Feed author/publisher: Pushkin Industries
  • → discusses Society & Culture concept
    0.40
    evidence rules-v5
    Feed category: Society & Culture
  • → discusses History website
    0.40
    evidence rules-v5
    Feed category: History

Entities found in this episode

persons 3

  • mentioned Helena Merriman person
    0.72
    evidence rules-v5
    Explosives or Sugar? The Deadly Art of Distraction in Putin’s Russia - with Helena Merriman
  • mentioned Pushkin Industries person
    0.70
    evidence rules-v5
    Feed author/publisher: Pushkin Industries
  • hosted by Pushkin Industries person
    0.55
    evidence rules-v5
    Feed author/publisher: Pushkin Industries

concepts 2

  • mentioned Society & Culture concept
    0.50
    evidence rules-v5
    Feed category: Society & Culture
  • discusses Society & Culture concept
    0.40
    evidence rules-v5
    Feed category: Society & Culture

websites 2

  • mentioned History website
    0.50
    evidence rules-v5
    Feed category: History
  • discusses History website
    0.40
    evidence rules-v5
    Feed category: History

podcasts 1

  • appeared on Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford podcast
    0.68
    evidence rules-v5
    Explosives or Sugar? The Deadly Art of Distraction in Putin’s Russia - with Helena Merriman
Episode description as stored
In 1999, a series of bombs explode in Russian apartments, killing hundreds and spreading panic. No one knows who is behind it. But when one device is spotted before it detonates, troubling questions emerge. Was it really a bomb? Why is the country's security service changing its story? And why are the people who probe too closely turning up dead? Tim Harford is joined by Helena Merriman, host of new BBC podcast The History Bureau - Putin and the Apartment Bombs, which charts the mysterious events surrounding the rise of Vladimir Putin, and asks why the real story sometimes gets missed. For a full list of show notes, see timharford.com . See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.