By naming its Covid-19 vaccine Sputnik V, Russia did not even attempt to disguise the fact that it views the race for a vaccine as integral to its broader efforts to secure international prestige and a geopolitical edge. Cutting corners in the way it conducted the clinical trials is dangerous, however, and it could well backfire. If the vaccine is safe and effective, as it could well be, then Russia’s actions could undermine the global ethics associated with clinical trials. Many will be wary, though, until the vaccine is sanctioned by an independent authority, which could push Sputnik V down rather than up the pecking order.