In Mali , Russian forces have been pushed out of the northern town of Kidal, a place Moscow once showcased as proof of its growing reach in Africa. The setback comes as Russia’s war in Ukraine absorbs vast military, political and economic resources. What does this moment reveal about Russia’s true power — and its limits? DW speaks with Mark Galeotti, professor at University College London and one of the leading Western experts on Russia and Vladimir Putin ’s system of power.