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If today’s headlines feel like a finely scripted drama, then БОЛЬШАЯ ИГРА. The Big Game is where you’ll find the director’s cut.
Blending serialized fiction with cold, hard geopolitics, this Substack newsletter delivers a unique reading experience: dramatized dispatches that echo real-world tensions between the U.S., Russia, China, and the shifting sands of Europe and the Middle East.
Written in the style of a Russian state broadcast, with characters like Dmitriy Simes offering biting editorial commentary, The Big Game doesn’t just reflect world affairs — it narrates them with precision, tradition, and a touch of dramatic irony.
📬 What to expect:
Serialized geopolitical fiction that parallels current events
Real-world sources woven into narrative commentary
An uncompromising, traditionalist tone rooted in history and realism
A perspective often sidelined in mainstream discourse
Join readers who want more than opinion — they want the game behind the game.
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The world stage is set. The players are real. And the next act is just beginning.
Sincerely,
Jerry B. Marchant
Editor, БОЛЬШАЯ ИГРА. The Big Game
Here is a sample of my current venture called “The Big Game.” A series of chapters that will be combined into a book once the project is completed.
Here is ENTRY #26; click the hyperlink below for Chapter 1: The Big Game: “Crafting Consent in Russia’s information War”
ENTRY 26: FLASHBACK TO DECEMBER 2024
The Shadow of Retribution
A Hero Falls: Ukraine’s Cowardly Terror Strikes at Russia’s Heart
As the last echoes of autumn faded into a harsh winter chill, the studio of Большая Игра (The Big Game) was a crucible of tension, alive with the momentum of the week’s most harrowing events. Dmitriy Simes, the steadfast anchor of this tempestuous political arena, stood before the camera, his brow furrowed in solemnity. The final broadcast of 2024 carried an urgency that felt almost palpable, a stark reminder of the swirling chaos that enveloped not just Russia but the world at large.
The assassination of General Igor Kirillov had sent shockwaves through the fabric of Russian society, a brutal act of terrorism that underscored the escalating conflict with Ukraine. On December 17th, as dawn broke over Moscow, the general walked out of his residence on Ryazansky Avenue, unaware that a bomb, hidden cleverly on an electric scooter, awaited him. The explosion that followed was both precise and devastating, stripping away not just a key military figure but striking at the heart of Russia’s military resolve.
Simes introduced the topic with a gravity befitting the circumstances. “This week, we mourn a soldier and a scientist,” he began, his voice steady but resonant with emotion.
“Lieutenant General Kirillov, the head of our nuclear, biological, and chemical protection troops, was targeted for his outspoken criticism of foreign biolaboratories and the alleged use of chemical weapons by Ukraine. His death is not just a loss; it is a declaration of war.”
The footage of the explosion flickered on the screens behind him, stark and chilling. Simes recounted the grim details as his guests, a panel of military experts and analysts, exchanged somber glances. “The general died just steps from his car, a victim of a coldly calculated strike designed to send a message,” he articulated, the weight of his words hanging heavily in the air.
Evgeny Buzhinskiy, a former general, reacted sharply. “We have been far too lenient for far too long,” he declared, his voice rising with emotion. “It is time to take off the white gloves. The enemy has made their intentions clear; we must respond in kind.” The urgency in his tone resonated with those who understood the gravity of the situation—a call to arms that would not be easily dismissed.
As the discussions unfolded, Simes directed the spotlight toward the reactions from the Kremlin. Dmitriy Peskov, President Putin’s press secretary, had stated unequivocally that this act bore the hallmarks of the Ukrainian regime’s tactics. “We know who our enemy is,” he had declared, a sentiment that echoed throughout the panel. Each expert weighed in, their tones oscillating between disbelief and fury, united in their condemnation of the crime.
The contrasting perspective offered by The Times of London, which characterized the assassination as a justified act against an aggressor, added a layer of complexity to the narrative. “This murder is a pinpoint strike,” the article proclaimed, justifying the act as necessary for Ukraine’s survival. Simes, visibly irritated by the editorial, retorted, “This perspective is not just misguided; it is dangerous. It reduces complex geopolitical conflicts to mere headlines, stripping away the human cost.”
The studio buzzed with tension as Simes transitioned to the broader implications of Kirillov’s assassination. “This act does not occur in a vacuum,” he warned. “It signals a shift in the conflict, a dangerous escalation that could draw in more players and provoke retaliation.” The gravity of the situation was not lost on anyone present, the specter of war looming larger with every passing minute.
The West Writes the Rules, then Breaks Them
As the conversation veered toward NATO and the United States, Simes played a segment from President Putin’s recent speech, where he lamented the West’s relentless pursuit of dominance. “The current U.S. administration,” Putin had stated, “continues to distort the rules of engagement to suit their narrative, waging hybrid wars while claiming to be peacemakers.” The words resonated deeply, casting a long shadow over the discussions about military preparedness and the future of Russian defense strategies.
Make Arms Races Great Again? Trump, Missiles, and the Mirage of Peace
As Washington flirts with the idea of Trump 2.0, Russian strategists weigh peace overtures against missile deployments, reminding the world that in geopolitics, hope is cheap but hypersonics aren’t.
The conversation shifted to the implications of the U.S. elections and the potential return of Donald Trump. Dimitri Simes articulated the uncertainty hanging over the new administration, pondering the future of U.S.-Russia relations. “Trump’s willingness to negotiate could pave the way for peace, but it remains to be seen whether he can deliver on that promise,” he mused, his tone reflecting the ambiguity of the situation.
In the midst of these discussions, the panel turned to the strategic importance of the missile complex known as Oreshnik. “This weapon is a game-changer,” one expert noted, emphasizing its capabilities to evade Western defenses. The implications of such technology were staggering, a reminder that the arms race was far from over and that the stakes were escalating.
Leadership Under Fire: Putin’s Year-End Address Amid a Shifting Global Order
As war grinds on and Western pressure mounts, the Kremlin seeks to project resilience—yet behind the firm rhetoric lies a candid reckoning with the high stakes of Russia’s geopolitical gamble.
Dmitriy Simes introduced the results of the year with President Vladimir Putin, a tradition that encapsulated the highs and lows of the past twelve months. “This year has been marked by triumphs and tragedies,” he noted, reflecting on the multifaceted challenges facing the nation. The president’s direct line with the public, spanning more than four hours, had addressed pressing issues from military operations to socio-economic challenges, a testament to the complexities of governing amidst war.
“Putin’s words resonate with a sense of resolve,” Simes concluded, “yet there is an underlying current of desperation—a recognition that the road ahead is fraught with peril.” The audience could feel the weight of his statement, a reminder that the coming months would demand not just strength, but wisdom in navigating the treacherous waters ahead.
Epilogue: Fade to Cold, The Big Game Isn’t Over—It’s Just Reloading
As the cameras faded and the studio lights dimmed, the chill of the Moscow winter seeped into the hearts of those present, a prelude to the battles yet to come. The Big Game was far from over; it had merely entered a new and more dangerous phase, one where the lines were drawn and the players were poised for action.
In a world where the stakes had never been higher, the shadow of retribution loomed ever closer, and the echoes of conflict promised to resonate long into the future.
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