Udo Lielischkies

About Udo Lielischkies

Since the bloody war in Ukraine began the whole world is asking: ´Who is Vladimir Putin and what does he really want?´ This question worries Udo Lielischkies since he reported from Russia for the first time in 1999. He is known as one of the most experienced experts for Russia. Udo lived and worked in Moscow for 12 years and followed Vladimir Putins evolution from an unexperienced newcomer into an embittered autocrat from the very beginning.

Lielischkies lived the dream of many journalists: covering Europe, Russia and the USA for Germanys biggest TV-channel for nearly 25 years, he became a well-known and familiar face for many Germans. Breathlessly reporting revolutions, disasters, wars, calmly analyzing and commenting political leaders and exploring moods in the population. His many reportages and documentaries were praised and decorated. His insights and experiences provide for profound judgement and analysis, his TV-experience guarantees a vivid and authentic performance.

Lielischkies lived for five years in Brussels and for six in Washington D.C., looking behind the sceneries of ´Eurocracy´ and White House, following the shift of power from Bush to Obama. His focus was on European and American perceptions of Putins Kremlin. When Udo returned from Washington to Moscow he already arrived in an full-blown authoritarian police state which, in the night of February 24^th, abruptly changed the world.

After retiring 2018, Lielischkies wrote the book “In the shades of Kremlin – travelling Putins Russia”, essence of many trips in the endless expanses of Russia and testimony of Putins rise to nearly absolute power. The book meanwhile saw its fourth edition and is commonly read as a dire prophecy of what we are witnessing these days. Lielischkies is frequently invited to German TV talk shows or to give keynotes. His unique combination of profound political analysis and plastic descriptions of real life in Russia make him an authentic key witness in this historic moment: when the West is redefining itself and when Udo´ adopted homeland Russia is facing dramatic punishment.