Silicon Curtain

2025-11-23 | Silicon Wafers 065 | Ukraine didn't just answer Moscow's “peace offensive” with a strongly worded press release, but with fire and fury. Before dawn, video from the small town of Shatura – about 120 kilometres east of Moscow – flooded Telegram and X: a black sky, a sudden flash, and then a roaring fireball rising over the Shaturskaya State District Power Plant, one of the largest and oldest power stations feeding the Moscow region. (United24 Media) Who has no cards Trump, remind me again, who has no cards? While diplomats in Geneva haggle over a 28-point “peace plan” that asks Ukraine to amputate its territory and its future, someone in Kyiv appears to have sent a different kind of answer: long-range drones hitting the power that keeps Moscow's imperial core lit and warm. The question for this episode is simple: Is turning the lights off in Moscow, Kyiv's answer to a surrender and capitulation ultimatum dressed as “peace plan”?----------SOURCES: Kyiv Independent – “Ukraine war latest: Ukraine downs Russian Mi-8 helicopter… Ukraine's military reportedly strikes power plant in Moscow Oblast” (Nov. 23, 2025) – overview of the reported Shatura attack and context for Ukraine's strikes on Russian energy infrastructure.United24 – “Drones strike Shatura power plant near Moscow, triggering massive blaze – video” – technical details on transformers, capacity and sanctions-hit turbines.Charter97 – “Fire at a Large Power Plant Near Moscow: New Details Have Emerged” – quotes of governor Vorobyov, damage estimates and capacity loss figures.EADaily – “Strong fire at Shaturskaya GRES after UAV attack — mass media” – confirmation of drone attack, local outages and plant history.Online.ua – “Shaturskaya GRES burns near Moscow due to drone attack” – summary of explosions, plant capacity and drone numbers.Wikipedia – “Timeline of the Russo-Ukrainian war (1 September 2025 – present)” – context on earlier strikes against Russian power plants and energy nodes.----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------

2025-11-22 | Silicon Wafers DAILY UPDATE 064 | Putin's ship has been taking on water for some time but has now hit an iceberg – it's called thirty-six dollars a barrel of Urals crude oil. Russia's flagship Urals crude has collapsed to its lowest price since early 2023 – just as U.S. sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil, the two giants of Putin's oil empire, are about to fully bite. India and China are backing away. Tankers full of Russian crude are circling with nowhere to go. And suddenly, “sanctions don't work” sounds a lot less clever on social media than it did six months ago. (United24 Media)Let's unpack how we got to $36 Urals, what it means for Russia's war machine, and why this looks less like a market blip and more like the first real oil-squeeze not only of the war, but of Putin's time in power. ----------SOURCES: United24 Media – “Russia's Urals Oil Crashes to 2.5-Year Low as Global Buyers Pull Back Ahead of US Sanctions” (Nov. 17, 2025)Kyiv Independent – “Russia's flagship oil price drops as buyers retreat ahead of US sanctions” (Nov. 17, 2025)The Moscow Times – “Russian Oil Revenues Slide to 2.5-Year Low as Sanctions Drive Asian Buyers Away” (Nov. 19, 2025)The Moscow Times – “What New U.S. Sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil Mean for Russia's Oil Trade” (Oct. 28, 2025)U.S. Department of the Treasury – “Treasury Sanctions Major Russian Oil Companies, Calls on Moscow to Immediately Agree to Ceasefire” (Press release, Oct. 22, 2025)Reuters – coverage on Chinese and Indian banks/refiners moving to comply with sanctions and on widening Urals discounts and stranded cargoes (Nov. 2025)AP / Associated Press – reports on U.S. sanctions on Russian oil and Lukoil's decision to sell international assets (Oct.–Nov. 2025)Economic Times / Business Standard – “US sanctions on Russian oil set to kick in with 48 million barrels of crude at sea” (Nov. 21, 2025)IntelliNews – “How oil price discounts became a barometer of the sanctions' effectiveness” (Nov. 2025)Chatham House – “Tightening the oil-price cap to increase the pressure on Russia” (Sept. 4, 2025)CEPA – “Europe Moves Toward Shadow Fleet Seizures” (Sept. 26, 2025)EU Commission – Press materials on the 18th and 19th sanctions packages targeting Russia's shadow fleet and LNG (July & Oct. 2025)----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------

Cormac Smith has worked in Public Relations and Corporate Communications for over three decades. In 2016 he traveled to Ukraine to take up a special appointment as the ‘Strategic Communication Advisor' to Pavlo Klimkin, then the Foreign Minister of Ukraine. He was attached to the British Embassy in Kyiv but was embedded in Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the first foreigner to hold such a position. While in Kyiv, he also advised and provided training for five other government ministries and worked directly with three other cabinet ministers: Health, Education and the Deputy Prime Minister. ----------LINKS:https://defencebrink.uk/https://x.com/CormacS63https://x.com/philipingmbe----------CHAPTERS:----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------

Livestream with Jonathan MS Pearce. ----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtainDonate and Receive - Collectable PatchAUTUMN HARVEST TRUCKS 2025. Part of our 2025 patch collection. Everyone who contributes €100 (~$115) or more will be able to receive it.For our Autumn patch, we present the Galician Lion. The rampant lion represents power and intelligence. It has represented Western Ukrainian people since the 1100s. The Ruthenian lion, also known as the Ukrainian lion or Galician lion, was featured on the historic coat of arms of: The Kingdom of Galicia-Volhynia (Ruthenia)1199-1349, The battle flag of the Lviv land in the Battle of Tannenberg, 1410 The Ruthenian Voivodeship (Administration) 1434-1772 and The Western Ukrainian People's Republic 1918-1919. The Ukrainian national liberation movement, 1948----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasWe need to scale up our support for Ukraine, and these events are designed to have a major impact. Your support in making it happen is greatly appreciated. All events will be recorded professionally and published for free on the Silicon Curtain channel. Where possible, we will also live-stream events.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyslhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/-----------

See the full interview here: https://youtu.be/OUdsZYYd3bo~~~~~~~~~Conversation about the advances in AI and their political and social consequences. Jacob Ward is an American journalist and author who has spent over 20 years covering science, technology, and their social consequences. He's been technology or science correspondent for Al Jazeera, NBC News, PBS, CNN and others, and former editor-in-chief of Popular Science magazine. Jacob Ward was a Berggruen Fellow at Stanford's Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences (CASBS) in 2018–19, where he began writing The Loop: How AI Is Creating a World Without Choices and How to Fight Back (Hachette, 2022). He also lectures at the Stanford school. He's now reporter-in-residence at the Omidyar Network, running long-form investigations into “unforeseen effects of breakthrough innovations” and writing about a “philosophy of restraint.” He also hosts the newsletter and podcast The Rip Current, on technology, politics, and “big hidden forces” such as Big Tech and venture capital. Ward co-wrote and hosted PBS's four-hour series “Hacking Your Mind” on decision science, bias, and political manipulation, and has written for The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, Wired, etc.~~~~~~~~~Links:https://substack.com/@byjacobwardhttps://theripcurrent.substack.com/https://www.jacobward.com/abouthttps://x.com/byjacobwardhttps://www.amazon.co.uk/Loop-Technology-Creating-Without-Choices/dp/0316487201~~~~~~~~~The Impact and Risks of AI: A Conversation with Jacob WardIn this engaging conversation, American journalist and author Jacob Ward discusses the profound effects of artificial intelligence on society, the risks of AI-driven decision making, and the dangers of losing human agency. As a science and technology correspondent with 20 years of experience and former editor-in-chief of Popular Science Magazine, Ward brings deep insights into how AI has the potential to both benefit and harm society. The discussion explores the philosophical and practical implications of AI, its role in digital propaganda, and the ethical responsibilities of AI developers.~~~~~~~~~Welcome to Future Perfect, a new Podcast that spans topics as diverse as history, architecture, archaeology, and culture, arts and sciences, technology, and futurology – and seeks to find connections between the past and present as well as all the potential futures. Please like, subscribe, and share links to the channel, and ‘Buy me a Coffee', if you like these videos and want to see more. ~~~~~~~~~

2025-11-21 | Silicon Wafers 063 | Tonight, Vladimir Putin has *apparently* welcomed Donald Trump's 28-point “peace plan” for Ukraine, though in guarded terms… if it had stopped there, it would have been worrying for Ukraine and its partners. But Putin then behaved exactly as I've been suggesting he would. Whenever he senses weakness, even if it is illusory and based on false information, he doubles down on violence, and demands more, more, more. True to form, the address to the nation quickly descended into him ranting and running through familiar grievances, while also threatening more conquest and doubling down on total victory.On paper, he says the plan can be “the basis” for peace. In practice, he's talking about Kupiansk as if it's fallen, warning that what he claims happened there will “inevitably be repeated” across the front if Ukraine doesn't submit. (Reuters) The only problem, is that he mentioned this a month ago, claiming Kupiansk was encircled and about to fall – and the reality is that it still has not been taken. Not even close. So, is he lying, deceived or deluded?----------SOURCES: Reutershttps://www.reuters.com/world/putin-says-us-peace-plan-can-be-basis-peace-ukraine-2025-11-21/AP Newshttps://apnews.com/article/0f90db569cf222e80cfb2c1eb5ea07e1Reutershttps://www.reuters.com/world/europe/europeans-push-back-us-plan-that-would-force-concessions-ukraine-2025-11-20/Reutershttps://www.reuters.com/world/europe/putin-met-with-russian-top-military-brass-kremlin-says-2025-11-20/Axioshttps://www.axios.com/2025/11/21/ukraine-security-guarantee-nato-article-5-trump----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------

Timothy Ash, who has been professional economist for more than 30 years, with two thirds of that in the banking industry. Timothy's specialism is emerging European economics, and he writes and blogs extensively on economic challenges for leading publications such as the Kyiv Post, Atlantic Council, the Financial Times, and the United Business Journal. He is also an Associate Fellow in the Russia and Eurasia programme at Chatham House and has advised various governments on Ukraine-Russia policy and specifically on the impact of sanctions.----------Tetyana Nesterchuk is Barrister and Arbitrator at Fountain Court Chambers. She is a UK expert at the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe, and a vocal Ukrainian in London. Nesterchuk is doing everything in her power to aid Ukraine's fight against Russia's invasion. For Nesterchuk, the war didn't start in 2022. The war began in 2014 when her hometown of Donetsk was overtaken by Russia-backed separatists before eventually being annexed two years ago. Some of her most vital work now centres on the seizure of Russian state assets, the funds from which she hopes can be redistributed to pay for vital services so sorely needed by the embattled Ukrainian population. She acknowledges that she won't be able to save Ukraine alone, but she won't ever stop doing her part to help.----------TETYANA NESTERCHUK LINKS:https://fountaincourt.uk/profile/tetyana-nesterchuk/https://www.linkedin.com/in/tetyana-nesterchuk-a4469a21/https://www.thelawyer.com/microeventpeople/tetyana-nesterchuk/TIMOTHY ASH LINKS:https://timothyash.substack.com/ https://www.chathamhouse.org/about-us/our-people/timothy-ashhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/timothy-ash-83a87158/https://cepa.org/author/timothy-ash/----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------DESCRIPTION:Analyzing the Controversial Ukraine-Russia Peace Plan with ExpertsJoin us in this critical discussion with Timothy Ash and Tetyana Nesterchuk as they delve into the recent developments around the so-called peace negotiation process between the US and Russia. The conversation focuses on the controversial peace plan, suspected to be influenced by Moscow, and its potential implications for Ukraine, Europe, and global security. Timothy Ash, an economist with extensive experience in Ukrainian affairs, and Tetyana Nesterchuk, a barrister and expert in European law, provide their insights on the complexities of the plan, the influence of Russian psychological operations, and the broader geopolitical stakes. They also highlight the importance of Europe leveraging frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine and push back against conceding to Russian demands. This episode emphasizes the urgent need for a principled stance on international law and the decisive action required from European leaders.----------

Livestream with Yuri Rashkin and Jonathan MS Pearce----------Partner on this video: KYIV OF MINE Watch the trailer now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arJUcE1rxY0'Kyiv of Mine' is a documentary series about Ukraine's beautiful capital, Kyiv. The film production began in 2018, and much has changed since then. It is now 2025, and this story is far from over.https://www.youtube.com/@UCz6UbVKfqutH-N7WXnC5Ykg https://www.kyivofmine.com/#theprojectKyiv of Mine is fast paced, beautifully filmed, humorous, fun, insightful, heartbreaking, moving, hopeful. The very antithesis in fact of a doom-laden and worthy wartime documentary. This is a work that is extraordinarily uplifting. My friend Operator Starsky says the film is “Made with so much love. The film series will make you laugh and cry.” ----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtainDonate and Receive - Collectable PatchAUTUMN HARVEST TRUCKS 2025. Part of our 2025 patch collection. Everyone who contributes €100 (~$115) or more will be able to receive it.For our Autumn patch, we present the Galician Lion. The rampant lion represents power and intelligence. It has represented Western Ukrainian people since the 1100s. The Ruthenian lion, also known as the Ukrainian lion or Galician lion, was featured on the historic coat of arms of: The Kingdom of Galicia-Volhynia (Ruthenia)1199-1349, The battle flag of the Lviv land in the Battle of Tannenberg, 1410 The Ruthenian Voivodeship (Administration) 1434-1772 and The Western Ukrainian People's Republic 1918-1919. The Ukrainian national liberation movement, 1948----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasWe need to scale up our support for Ukraine, and these events are designed to have a major impact. Your support in making it happen is greatly appreciated. All events will be recorded professionally and published for free on the Silicon Curtain channel. Where possible, we will also live-stream events.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyslhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/-----------

2025-11-20 | Silicon Wafers 062 | When is peace not peace? What it's proposed by the Kremlin, as a pretext for more war, and a strategy to attempt to divide Ukraine from its allies and partners. This is what we are seeing now – a ‘brand-new' surrender plan cooked up in the Kremlin, which in fact contains nothing new, and has no chance of success. Shame on the media that are hyping this as a new development, with new proposals, which we are expected to take seriously. There's nothing in it that's new – it contains the same maximalist demands that Putin's been making throughout the war, and they are as unrealistic and unacceptable as they always were. We should not take it seriously, because the only serious aspect to this geopolitical farce, is that Ukrainians are still fighting and dying and being slaughtered in their homes and tortured across the occupied territories. The only new aspect to this surrender plan stitched together in secret, and without Ukraine's involvement by witless Steve Witkoff and Kiril Dmitriev, is that the language and framing are even more gross than before – even more transactional, and ludicrous. The intent to inflict humiliation on Ukraine even more palpable. ----------SOURCES: Axios – “Scoop: U.S. secretly drafting new plan to end Ukraine war” (19 Nov 2025)Reuters – “Ukraine expected to give up land, some arms under US peace plan, sources say” (20 Nov 2025)Reuters – “Kremlin plays down media report of new efforts on Ukraine peace” (19 Nov 2025)Reuters – “White House working with Russia on new Ukraine peace plan, Axios reports” (19 Nov 2025)The Guardian – “US and Russian officials have reportedly drafted 28-point plan to end Ukraine war” (20 Nov 2025)The Moscow Times – coverage of leaked terms including army cuts and weapons limits The Times (UK) – “US pushes Ukraine to halve army in secret peace plan with Kremlin” (20 Nov 2025)Kyiv Independent – “Kyiv alarmed as US pushes Ukraine peace framework aligning with Moscow's maximalist demands” (19–20 Nov 2025)Kyiv Independent – “Trump envoy Kellogg to depart White House, leaving Ukraine without key US champion in moment of crisis” (20 Nov 2025)Kyiv Post – “Kallas Rejects Any US-Russia Peace Plan That Sidelines Ukraine, Europe” (20 Nov 2025)Kyiv Post – “Witkoff Deleted Tweet Fuels Scramble as West Rejects Alleged Trump Ukraine Plan as ‘Kremlin Fantasy'” (20 Nov 2025)Kyiv Post – “US Peace Plan Would See Russia Keep Donbas in Exchange for ‘Rental Fee,' Sources Say” (20 Nov 2025)Kyiv Post – Timothy Snyder, “OPINION: How to Negotiate With Russia” (19 Nov 2025)The Economist – “A terrible American-Russian proposal to end the war in Ukraine” (19 Nov 2025) Sky News – “Steve Witkoff: Who is the real estate mogul tasked with brokering peace in Ukraine?” (24 Mar 2025)The Guardian – “Trump and special envoy Witkoff stand to reap rewards from official business” (30 May 2025)Reuters / FT profiles of Kirill Dmitriev and RDIFBiographical notes on Rustem Umerov – Wikipedia.org----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------

David DeBatto is host of the ‘No Delusion Zone' podcast @NoDelusionZone is a retired U.S. Army Counterintelligence Special Agent, a geopolitical analyst, writer, and podcaster. David is an Iraq war veteran who served as Team Leader of a Tactical Human Intelligence Team (THT) in operations within Iraq and is also a former police officer. David is considered too conservative for the progressive left and too independent minded for the radical right and seeks to challenge political dogma and the naked self-interest of politicians. ----------LINKS: @NoDelusionZone https://www.protectingtherepublic.com/podcasthttps://x.com/ddebattohttps://www.kyivpost.com/authors/743----------This is super important. There are so many Battalions in Ukraine, fighting to defend our freedoms, but lack basics such as vehicles. These are destroyed on a regular basis, and lack of transport is costs lives, and Ukrainian territory. Once again Silicon Curtain has teamed up with Car4Ukraine and a group of wonderful creators to provide much-needed assistance: https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtainAutumn Harvest: Silicon Curtain (Goal€22,000)We'll be supporting troops in Pokrovsk, Kharkiv, and other regions where the trucks are needed the most. 93rd Brigade "Kholodnyi Yar", Black Raven Unmanned Systems Battalionhttps://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtain----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------

2025-11-20 | Silicon Wafers 061 | When is peace not peace? What it's proposed by the Kremlin, as a pretext for more war, and a strategy to attempt to divide Ukraine from its allies and partners. This is what we are seeing now – a ‘brand-new' surrender plan cooked up in the Kremlin, which in fact contains nothing new, and has no chance of success. Shame on the media that are hyping this as a new development, with new proposals, which we are expected to take seriously. There's nothing in it that's new – it contains the same maximalist demands that Putin's been making throughout the war, and they are as unrealistic and unacceptable as they always were. We should not take it seriously, because the only serious aspect to this geopolitical farce, is that Ukrainians are still fighting and dying and being slaughtered in their homes and tortured across the occupied territories. The only new aspect to this surrender plan stitched together in secret, and without Ukraine's involvement by witless Steve Witkoff and Kiril Dmitriev, is that the language and framing are even more gross than before – even more transactional, and ludicrous. The intent to inflict humiliation on Ukraine even more palpable. ----------SOURCES: Axios – “Scoop: U.S. secretly drafting new plan to end Ukraine war” (19 Nov 2025)Reuters – “Ukraine expected to give up land, some arms under US peace plan, sources say” (20 Nov 2025)Reuters – “Kremlin plays down media report of new efforts on Ukraine peace” (19 Nov 2025)Reuters – “White House working with Russia on new Ukraine peace plan, Axios reports” (19 Nov 2025)The Guardian – “US and Russian officials have reportedly drafted 28-point plan to end Ukraine war” (20 Nov 2025)The Moscow Times – coverage of leaked terms including army cuts and weapons limits The Times (UK) – “US pushes Ukraine to halve army in secret peace plan with Kremlin” (20 Nov 2025)Kyiv Independent – “Kyiv alarmed as US pushes Ukraine peace framework aligning with Moscow's maximalist demands” (19–20 Nov 2025)Kyiv Independent – “Trump envoy Kellogg to depart White House, leaving Ukraine without key US champion in moment of crisis” (20 Nov 2025)Kyiv Post – “Kallas Rejects Any US-Russia Peace Plan That Sidelines Ukraine, Europe” (20 Nov 2025)Kyiv Post – “Witkoff Deleted Tweet Fuels Scramble as West Rejects Alleged Trump Ukraine Plan as ‘Kremlin Fantasy'” (20 Nov 2025)Kyiv Post – “US Peace Plan Would See Russia Keep Donbas in Exchange for ‘Rental Fee,' Sources Say” (20 Nov 2025)Kyiv Post – Timothy Snyder, “OPINION: How to Negotiate With Russia” (19 Nov 2025)The Economist – “A terrible American-Russian proposal to end the war in Ukraine” (19 Nov 2025) Sky News – “Steve Witkoff: Who is the real estate mogul tasked with brokering peace in Ukraine?” (24 Mar 2025)The Guardian – “Trump and special envoy Witkoff stand to reap rewards from official business” (30 May 2025)Reuters / FT profiles of Kirill Dmitriev and RDIFBiographical notes on Rustem Umerov – Wikipedia.org----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------

2025-11-19 | Silicon Wafers 060 | DAILY UPDATES | Yesterday we dipped our toes into the political storm engulfing Zelenskyy's administration. Today we dive into the eye of the storm. For the first time since the full-scale invasion began, it's not only Putin's missiles or Trump's tantrums that threaten peace in Ukraine, but also what's happening inside Zelensky's inner circle. And this threatens to divide Ukraine and create internal animosity in a way that neither Russia nor the US could hope to achieve. The scandal is now inching closer to a man often described as Ukraine's “other wartime leader”, Andriy Yermak. Rumours of his fall may be premature, but even the fact that there are rumours, and even open calls for him to go, tells you about the intensity of the crisis. “Zelensky's Top Aide Could Be Sacked Thursday”On Nov. 18, the Kyiv Post reported that President Volodymyr Zelensky “might fire Andriy Yermak, his close confidant and the head of the Presidential Office, as early as Thursday, according to lawmakers.” (Kyiv Post)The story is based on Ukrainska Pravda's sources inside Zelensky's own Servant of the People party, who say the president has been canvassing options amid a political crisis triggered by a gigantic corruption scandal in the energy sector. (Kyiv Post)One unnamed lawmaker told Ukrainska Pravda that almost everyone in the faction is pushing the same solution: fire Yermak — or risk the ruling party collapsing under the weight of scandal and public anger. (Kyiv Post)----------SOURCES: Kyiv Post – “Zelensky's Top Aide Yermak Could Be Sacked Thursday, Lawmaker Claims” (Nov. 18, 2025)Kyiv Independent – “Parliament fires justice, energy ministers implicated in Ukraine's biggest corruption scandal” (Nov. 19, 2025)Kyiv Independent – “Who is Andriy Yermak and can Ukraine's corruption scandal finally sink him?” (Nov. 19, 2025) Reuters – “Ukraine moves to quell $100 million energy corruption scandal” (Nov. 12, 2025)Washington Post – Andi Hoxhaj, “This threat from within Ukraine is as dangerous as Russian missiles” (Nov. 19, 2025) AP / international coverage on Tymur Mindich and Energoatom bribery scheme OSW – “Operation Midas: the largest corruption scandal within Zelensky's inner circle” (Nov. 13, 2025)Carnegie Endowment – “The Corruption Scandal Engulfing Ukraine Won't Die Down Anytime Soon” (Nov. 18, 2025) RFI – “€90m corruption scandal exposes ‘absolute impunity' in Ukraine's energy sector”bne IntelliNews – “Ukraine's Energoatom scandal escalates as Zelenskiy dithers on implementing a strong response”Asia Times – “Ukraine energy scandal imperils Zelensky's rule and war”Meduza – “They see journalists as pets: How the Ukrainian authorities are treating the media” (background on Yermak and Bankova's power) Razumkov Centre polls on trust in Zelensky, government and officials Daria Kaleniuk, Vitaliy Shabunin, and other X / social media commentary on Yermak and Operation Midas (X (formerly Twitter))----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------

Fundraiser mentioned in the video: https://www.givesendgo.com/familysupportuaKevin Leach is the main director for Sabre Training Advisory Group, a professional military training non-profit. Their aim is to give Ukrainian defenders the skills to come home alive. Kevin is a Canadian Armed Forces veteran, with a long history of working in Ukraine and in military affairs. He served as a sergeant from 2008-2018, specialising in armoured reconnaissance. ----------LINKS:https://x.com/SabreAdvisory https://www.sabretag.org/donate https://www.instagram.com/sabre_tag/ https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mriyareport/episodes/Kevin-Leach--Sabre-Advisory-Training-on-Key-Elements-of-Training---May-29--2024-e2kavap----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------

2025-11-18 | Silicon Wafers 059 | Kyiv has doubled down on the line: “He's on a planned trip, not a fugitive”. They are referring to former defence minister Rustem Umerov and the persistent rumours he has “left the country and refuses to return”. The government vehemently claims these rumours spreading like wildfire on social media, are ‘very explicitly' false. So, is this scandal or psyop? Ukraine's Center for Countering Disinformation (CPD) has now refuted the story of “Umerov fleeing and refusing to return”, but it's clear that Russian propaganda has been handed a gift that it won't let go of easily. The officially sanctioned story is that he is on a scheduled official trip, “working in the United States” and holding meetings “aimed at strengthening international support for Ukraine,” and that he “remains in constant working contact with the state leadership.”----------SOURCES: "The CCD refuted fake news about Umierov's escape What they say | Censor.NET"https://censor.net/en/news/3585492/the-ccd-refuted-fake-news-about-umierov-s-escape-what-they-say "Umerov to return to Ukraine, probably on Thursday - source | УНН"https://unn.ua/en/news/umerov-to-return-to-ukraine-probably-on-thursday-source "The NSDC officially announced the date of Umerov's return to Ukraine • ANTIKOR portal"https://antikor.ua/en/amp/articles/803699-snbo_ofitsialjno_nazval_datu_vozvrashchenija_umerova_v_ukrainu "Ukraine seeking exchange of 1,200 prisoners with Russia"https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-seeking-exchange-1200-prisoners-with-russia-2025-11-16/ "Top 7 most brazen facts and episodes from the Mindich case"https://english.nv.ua/nation/midas-case-reveals-corruption-influence-and-private-ties-in-ukraine-s-energy-and-defense-sectors-50561071.html"Umerov denies Mindic's influence in 2025 | Ukrainian News"https://news.liga.net/en/politics/news/the-sapo-reported-mindichs-alleged-influence-on-umerov-the-nsdc-secretary-responded "Corruption in the energy sector - the Midas scandal exposed the influence of Bankova Street and the escape of the main suspect - ZN.ua"https://zn.ua/eng/operation-midas-how-absolute-power-was-built-one-dollar-at-a-time.html "The Secretary of the NSDC of Ukraine is in no hurry to return"https://eadaily.com/en/news/2025/11/16/the-secretary-of-the-nsdc-of-ukraine-is-in-no-hurry-to-return-there-is-a-lot-of-work-on-prisoners----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------

Silicon Bites Ep270 | News Update - Day 1,363 - 2025-11-17 | A railway track in eastern Poland, that you've probably never heard of, has been the target of apparent Russia hybrid terror operations. This track would have remained a matter of limited awareness to the world at large, but somebody blew it up. Over the weekend, an explosion ripped through the Warsaw–Lublin line near the village of Mika — a line that doesn't just carry commuters and freight, but weapons and aid headed to Ukraine's front. Poland's prime minister is calling it “an unprecedented act of sabotage”. Investigators say it's almost certainly the work of “foreign state services”. And if you're thinking Russia, you are likely not alone.This isn't a one-off. It follows Russian drone incursions into Polish airspace, arson attacks, cyber-operations, and a steadily escalating hybrid war aimed at the logistics lifeline that keeps Ukraine fighting and Europe secure. Today's episode is about that shadow war – and what it means when the supply routes to Ukraine get blown apart, even though it's not Ukrainian territory and infrastructure, and how Russia is launching an unprecedented informational campaign to muddy the waters and try to turn Poles against supporting Ukraine.----------SOURCES: The Guardian – “Poland railway blast was unprecedented act of sabotage, says Donald Tusk” (17 Nov 2025)Reuters – “Poland faced one confirmed, one highly probable railway sabotage act” (17 Nov 2025)AP News – “Polish prime minister says rail line explosion was ‘sabotage'” (17 Nov 2025)The Washington Post – “Rail explosion in Poland was ‘sabotage,' prime minister says” (17 Nov 2025)Kyiv Independent – “‘Act of sabotage' — Explosion hits Polish railway track used for Ukraine aid shipments, Warsaw says” (17 Nov 2025)The Guardian (live blog) – “Foreign state services behind Polish rail sabotage, says minister – Europe live” (17 Nov 2025)Sky News – “Railway bombing an ‘unprecedented act of sabotage', Poland's PM says” (17 Nov 2025)The Guardian – “Russia accused of trying to hack border security cameras to disrupt Ukraine aid” (21 May 2025)The Washington Post – “Russia recruited operatives online to target weapons crossing Poland” (18 Aug 2023)AP / Reuters / local outlets – coverage of Marywilska 44 arson and attribution to Russian intelligence (May 2025)Al Jazeera, Euronews, Notes from Poland and others on recent arrests and sabotage plots in Poland (Oct 2025)NATO, UN, and media reporting on Russian drone incursions into Polish airspace (Sept 2025)Meduza and Euronews on earlier Russian missile and drone violations of Polish and Baltic airspace.----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasWe need to scale up our support for Ukraine, and these events are designed to have a major impact. Your support in making it happen is greatly appreciated. All events will be recorded professionally and published for free on the Silicon Curtain channel. Where possible, we will also live-stream events.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------

2025-11-17 | Silicon Wafers 058 | DAILY UPDATES | We're going straight to the heart of Putin's war machine: fuel. Overnight on 15 November 2025, Ukrainian drones hit one of Russia's biggest oil refineries in Ryazan, around 200 kilometres south-east of Moscow – and, as Kyiv's generals quietly noted, that wasn't the only target. This was part of a coordinated strike package that also hit a Nebo-U radar system in occupied Crimea, a military train near Tokmak, and Russian troop concentrations near the front. (The Kyiv Independent)You may think it's “just another drone attack.” But it's also one more turn of the screw in a campaign that is slowly transforming Russia into a petro-state that can't reliably refine its own petrol. Stikes like the one on Ryazan matters because they are reshaping both the Russian economy and the strategic map of the war.Ukraine's General Staff put out a terse statement on 15 November, saying: “Ukrainian forces struck an oil refinery in the Russian city of Ryazan and hit several other military targets.” (The Kyiv Independent) Those “other targets” included:- A Nebo-U long-range radar station in occupied Crimea,- A military train near Tokmak in occupied Zaporizhzhia,- And a concentration of Russian personnel near Vovchansk in Kharkiv region. (Ukrinform)----------SOURCES: Kyiv Independent – “Ukraine strikes Ryazan oil refinery, hits multiple other Russian military targets, General Staff says” (15 Nov 2025)Ukrinform – “Ukraine's Defense Forces strike Ryazan Oil Refinery, military train, several clusters of Russian personnel” (15 Nov 2025)Kyiv Post – “Ukraine Strikes Deep: Ryazan Oil Refinery Ablaze, Nebo-U Radar Destroyed, Echelon Hit” (15 Nov 2025)The Guardian – “Ukraine war briefing: Drones hit Russia's Ryazan oil refinery” (16 Nov 2025)Reuters – “Ukrainian drones hit big Russian oil refinery at Ryazan, sources say” (24 Jan 2025)----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------

Olesya Ostrovska-Lyuta is a Ukrainian cultural manager and curator of contemporary art. She is the director of the state enterprise Mystetskyi Arsenal National Art and Culture Museum Complex under the State Management of Affairs. In 2014, she served as the first Deputy Minister of Culture of Ukraine. In 2019, she was awarded the Women in Arts Award. Ostrovska-Lyuta was also a member of numerous professional organisations. Among them are the board of the Soros Center for Contemporary Art (SCCA), the jury of the Kazimir Malevich Artist Award established by the Polish Institute in Ukraine, the jury of the Molodist International Film Festival, the boards of the "I3" award program, and the Dynamic Museum project at the Ukrainian Development Foundation.----------LINKS:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olesya_Ostrovska-Lyutahttps://www.cecartslink.org/participant/olesia-ostrovska-liuta/https://conference.lvivmediaforum.com/speakers/olesia-ostrovska-liutaLVIV MEDIA FORUM:The NGO Lviv Media Forum strengthens media, institutions, and public figures capable of fostering healthy public dialogue in Ukraine and beyond. Our goal is an effective and democratic society united by healthy communication. The organization was founded in 2013 to bring together media professionals from Ukraine and around the world in Lviv for the annual LMF conference. Over the years, we have grown into an ecosystem of people, organizations, and projects that support the media, develop comprehensive solutions for them, and promote the best media practices in Ukraine and globally. We are moving from supporting and developing media and journalists to a broader strategic focus: empowering communication actors, including media, civil society organizations, government bodies, and more. https://lvivmediaforum.com/enhttps://conference.lvivmediaforum.com/----------Your support is massively appreciated! SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon CurtainNEXT EVENTS - LVIV, KYIV AND ODESA THIS MAY AND JUNE.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur first live events this year in Lviv and Kyiv were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. We may add more venues to the program, depending on the success of the fundraising campaign. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasWe need to scale up our support for Ukraine, and these events are designed to have a major impact. Your support in making it happen is greatly appreciated. All events will be recorded professionally and published for free on the Silicon Curtain channel. Where possible, we will also live-stream events.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------

2025-11-16 | Silicon Wafers 057 | DAILY UPDATES | Russia's war against Ukraine is being fought on a scale that few seem to imagine or comprehend, and that includes the scale of resources that are being consumed, from tanks to vehicles, people to artillery shells. The proportions are huge, and the scale is vast, so it should not come as a surprise that certain commodities essential to war are starting to run out. Artillery shells – the supply from North Korea that Russia depends on is running dry, but at the same time the wildly successful Czech initiative that supplies Ukraine is starting to fall apart. Today's episode is about shells – who has them, who doesn't, and how that may decide on whether Ukraine holds the line or is forced to cede more territory. Two stories:1. North Korea's shell pipeline to Russia is faltering – Ukraine's intelligence says Pyongyang has more than halved its artillery shipments as its own stockpiles run low. (The Kyiv Independent)2. Czechia's ammunition lifeline to Ukraine is in political limbo – a populist coalition led by Andrej Babiš walks into Prague promising “Czechia first” and casting doubt on the country's landmark shell initiative. (The Kyiv Independent)----------SOURCES: Kyiv Independent – report on North Korea cutting shell shipments to Russia (Nov 15, 2025)https://kyivindependent.com/north-korea-halves-arms-shipments-to-russia-as-its-own-stockpiles-run-low-ukraines-intelligence-says/Ukrinform – “North Korea cuts shell supplies to Russia, launches drone production – Ukrainian intelligence” (Nov 15, 2025)https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/4058997-north-korea-cuts-shell-supplies-to-russia-launches-drone-production-ukrainian-intelligence.htmlUkrainska Pravda – “North Korea has reduced shell supplies to Russia and is sending outdated ones” (Nov 15, 2025)https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2025/11/15/8007392/Defence Express – “North Korea's ammunition pipeline to Russia shows signs of exhaustion” (Nov 16, 2025)https://en.defence-ua.com/industries/north_koreas_ammunition_pipeline_to_russia_shows_signs_of_exhaustion_ukrainian_intelligence_says-16502.htmlReuters – coverage of Russian glide bomb and drone production and North Korean shell supplies (Nov 2025)https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/russia-plans-make-up-120000-glide-bombs-this-year-ukrainian-intelligence-says-2025-11-14/Reuters, AP, The Guardian, Le Monde – various pieces on North Korean troop deployment and casualties in Kurskhttps://apnews.com/article/cf71c682b57863e4e5207d2c86295738----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------

2025-11-15 | Silicon Wafers 056 | DAILY UPDATES | We follow the full spectrum of stories today, from Ukraine's legal and righteous fight to eject the invader and gain dominance of the Black Sea, to the unfolding illegality in the Caribbean, and examine whether war is becoming a likely option for an embattled US president, to deflect and distract from his domestic woes and scandals. In this episode we range from Odesa to Caracas, from Kyiv to Washington, and investigate the startling withdrawal of some intelligence support by the British for the US, once considered an staunch ally, fearing they'd become implicated in illegal and arbitrary acts of murder in the Caribbean as Trump's war against so-called traffickers and gangs ramps up in international waters. Today's episode is about three converging storms:1. The UK has quietly paused some intelligence sharing with the United States over lethal “drug boat” strikes near Venezuela.2. Moscow is talking about parking its new Oreshnik hypersonic missiles in Venezuela – “Americans may be in for surprises,” as one Russian lawmaker put it.3. And in Washington, the Epstein files scandal is detonating around Donald Trump – raising the grim question: would a weakened president start a foreign war as a distraction?All this loops back to Ukraine, Russia, and – lurking in the background – China.----------SOURCES: The Guardian - https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/nov/11/uk-suspends-intelligence-sharing-with-us-amid-airstikes-in-the-caribbeanFinancial Times - https://www.ft.com/content/4aa29d63-2daf-4cf8-aec4-dc6eb7b5f1efThe Washington Post - https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/11/11/britain-intelligence-sharing-boat-strikes-venezuela/Reuters - https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/rubio-denies-reporting-that-uk-cut-intel-sharing-over-boat-strikes-2025-11-12/Business Insider - https://www.businessinsider.com/russian-lawmaker-send-pantsir-buk-venezuela-air-defenses-ilyushin-2025-11El País - https://elpais.com/america/2025-11-08/venezuela-recibe-mas-ayuda-militar-rusa-en-medio-de-las-tensiones-con-washington.htmlThe Guardian - https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/13/epstein-files-key-takeawaysAP News - https://apnews.com/article/db7df1042a73e610fb5deddf2f90bd3aPolitico - https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/12/jeffrey-epstein-donald-trump-emails-00647447----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------

2025-11-14 | Silicon Wafers 055 | Flamingo Over Novorossiysk: Ukraine's Long-Range Energy War. In the early hours of November 14, Russia's biggest Black Sea oil hub, Novorossiysk, went dark in a way that brings a thrill to pro-Ukraine activists on social media. Giant fireballs, and mobile phone footage of Russian's exclaiming and swearing in the entertaining we have become familiar with. But is the strike of strategic importance, and does it tell us anything about how Ukraine's deep strike capabilities are changing? Drones over the water, fire at the Sheskharis terminal, and something Moscow really hates to see, which is tankers not loading oil.The next night, hundreds of kilometres to the north, explosions roll across the Russian city of Oryol. Local Telegram channels film glowing debris raining into courtyards. And for the first time, Ukraine officially says it's using its new home-grown deep-strike weapon: the Flamingo cruise missile. Tonight, we're going to connect those two things — the burning oil terminal and the cute-sounding missile with a 3,000-kilometre reach — and ask: How is Ukraine's second front of the war unfolding — not the territorial war, but the one against Russian energy, logistics, and the regime's balance sheet?----------SOURCES: Kyiv Post – “Novorossiysk Oil Shipments Suspended After Ukraine Drone Strike Sets Key Terminal Ablaze” (Nov. 14, 2025)Kyiv Post – “Explosions Rock Russia's Oryol – Ukraine's Use of ‘Flamingo' Long-Range Missiles Confirmed” (Nov. 13, 2025)Kyiv Post – “ANALYSIS: Ukraine's Bombardment of Russia – Not Just Oil Refineries, Warships Any More” by Stefan Korshak (Nov. 5, 2025)The Kyiv Independent – “Ukraine confirms use of Flamingo missiles in strikes on Crimea, Zaporizhzhia, targets inside Russia” (Nov. 13, 2025)Reuters – “Storms, drone attacks and record oil exports pile pressure on Russian port of Novorossiisk” (Oct. 15, 2025)Reuters – coverage on Novorossiysk oil export suspension after attack (Nov. 14, 2025) AP News – “Ukraine's long-range strikes cut Russia's oil refining capacity by 20%, Zelenskyy says” (late Oct. 2025)Chatham House – “Ukraine's best defence against Putin's energy war is more attacks on Russia's oil refining sector” (2025)Foundation for Defense of Democracies – “Ukraine conducts strikes on Russian targets using domestically produced missiles and drones” (Nov. 2025)The Guardian – “Ukraine war briefing: Flamingo flies into battle, Zelenskyy defers to commanders over Pokrovsk” (Nov. 14, 2025) ----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------

Anna Danylchuk has been creating a war diary since the early days of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia in 2022. Anna Danylchuk aims to tell the truth about Ukraine and Russia's war and cut through the noise and propaganda. Anna is passionate about the beauty and independence of her country, and communicates this powerfully in her videos, in a clear and honest way.----------LINKS: @AnnafromUkraine https://www.buymeacoffee.com/annafromukraineMy interview with Anna in Lviv - hosted on her excellent channel- https://youtu.be/daHcnsNQ1S0?si=yHbZ2kJZ3CTVRd8Z----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISER - A project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------DESCRIPTION:Ukraine's Fight: On-the-Ground Realities and Global Implications | In Conversation with Anna Danylchuk In this episode, Anna Danylchuk returns to discuss the ongoing situation in Ukraine. The video covers a new partnership with American Apparel to support Ukrainian defenders, the aftermath of a devastating Russian drone strike, and the resilience of the Ukrainian people. They delve into Russia's history, its imperial ambitions, and its propaganda tactics. Their discussion also touches on the psychological and cultural differences between Ukraine and Russia, illustrating why Ukraine's fight is about more than just territory. With a backdrop of recent attacks in Kyiv, Anna shares her experiences and sentiments on Russia's failing strategies and the international support Ukraine continues to receive.----------CHAPTERS:00:00 Introduction and Special Announcement01:42 Welcome Back, Anna!02:11 Life in Kyiv During the War04:29 Russian Attacks and Ukrainian Resilience06:37 Russian Propaganda and Misconceptions08:32 Historical Context and Russian Imperialism13:39 The Role of Russian Literature in Propaganda18:49 Western Perceptions and Misunderstandings37:22 The Importance of Ukrainian Unity and Support39:44 Conclusion and Future Plans----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasWe need to scale up our support for Ukraine, and these events are designed to have a major impact. Your support in making it happen is greatly appreciated. All events will be recorded professionally and published for free on the Silicon Curtain channel. Where possible, we will also live-stream events.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------

Livestream with Yuri Rashkin----------Partner on this video: KYIV OF MINE Watch the trailer now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arJUcE1rxY0'Kyiv of Mine' is a documentary series about Ukraine's beautiful capital, Kyiv. The film production began in 2018, and much has changed since then. It is now 2025, and this story is far from over.https://www.youtube.com/@UCz6UbVKfqutH-N7WXnC5Ykg https://www.kyivofmine.com/#theprojectKyiv of Mine is fast paced, beautifully filmed, humorous, fun, insightful, heartbreaking, moving, hopeful. The very antithesis in fact of a doom-laden and worthy wartime documentary. This is a work that is extraordinarily uplifting. My friend Operator Starsky says the film is “Made with so much love. The film series will make you laugh and cry.” ----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtainDonate and Receive - Collectable PatchAUTUMN HARVEST TRUCKS 2025. Part of our 2025 patch collection. Everyone who contributes €100 (~$115) or more will be able to receive it.For our Autumn patch, we present the Galician Lion. The rampant lion represents power and intelligence. It has represented Western Ukrainian people since the 1100s. The Ruthenian lion, also known as the Ukrainian lion or Galician lion, was featured on the historic coat of arms of: The Kingdom of Galicia-Volhynia (Ruthenia)1199-1349, The battle flag of the Lviv land in the Battle of Tannenberg, 1410 The Ruthenian Voivodeship (Administration) 1434-1772 and The Western Ukrainian People's Republic 1918-1919. The Ukrainian national liberation movement, 1948----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasWe need to scale up our support for Ukraine, and these events are designed to have a major impact. Your support in making it happen is greatly appreciated. All events will be recorded professionally and published for free on the Silicon Curtain channel. Where possible, we will also live-stream events.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyslhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/-----------

2025-11-13 | Silicon Wafers 054 | DAILY UPDATES | In today's episode we turn our focus to the Eastern front and try to tease out the truth from the tangled narratives emerging from the battle for Pokrovsk. This is a grinding struggle that seems to be entering its final stages, but the ever-shifting balance of the fight seems to be as much about controlling the narrative as it is about occupying territory. We're zeroing in on the contested city of Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast — still under Ukrainian control, but also still under relentless Russian pressure — and we'll cover the neglected frontline, in the neighbouring Zaporizhzhia Oblast, which is simultaneously seeing a push by Moscow's forces.These two theatres matter: because while all eyes are drawn to Pokrovsk, where Russia hopes to punch a breakthrough and Ukraine hopes to hold the line, Moscow is quietly advancing elsewhere, threatening to exploit the distraction. What, then, counts as “victory” for Russia when so much manpower and materiel is being expended to lay claim to a city that has essentially been reduced to rubble? In a way of attrition, can one side claim any kind of victory, when the price of defence is so high and the cost of attack so monstrously and irrationally large? ----------SOURCES: “Pokrovsk is not captured but remains Russia's main offensive target, Syrskyi says”, Kyiv Independent, 13 Nov 2025“Analysis: With all eyes on Pokrovsk, Russia drives forward in Zaporizhzhia Oblast”, Kyiv Independent, 12 Nov 2025“Ukraine withdraws from another settlement in Zaporizhzhia Oblast amid ongoing Russian offensive”, Kyiv Independent, 11 Nov 2025“Ukrainian forces pull back under fierce Russian pressure in Zaporizhzhia”, Al Jazeera, 12 Nov 2025“The situation is quite difficult — Russia captures 3 settlements in Zaporizhzhia Oblast amid ‘intense fighting'”, Kyiv Independent, 11 Nov 2025“War in Ukraine: Battle for Pokrovsk enters final phase”, Le Monde, 6 Nov 2025“Russia makes gains in southern Ukraine as it expands front-line attacks”, Associated Press, 12 Nov 2025“Ukraine deploys special forces to Pokrovsk in effort to hold key city”, The Guardian, 2 Nov 2025“Ukraine's top general denies encirclement claims in battle for Pokrovsk”, The Moscow Times, 13 Nov 2025“Ukraine withdraws from positions near five settlements in Zaporizhzhia region”, Ukrinform, 11 Nov 2025----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------

GUEST: Anders Puck Nielsen - YouTuber and military analyst. ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------Today I'm speaking with Anders Puck Nielsen, military analyst and influential YouTuber based in Denmark. He specialises in naval warfare and strategy; in today's video we are going to be talking about the Ukrainian withdrawal from Kursk, the state of NATO and repetition of Kremlin narratives coming from the White House and Trump's inner circle. ----------LINKS:https://www.youtube.com/@anderspuck https://twitter.com/anderspuckhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/anderspucknielsen/https://apnielsen.info/en/frontpage/----------DESCRIPTION: The Evolving Landscape of Modern Warfare: A Deep Dive with Anders Pat NielsenIn this episode, we welcome back Anders Pat Nielsen, a renowned military analyst based in Denmark, specializing in naval warfare and strategy. Together, we delve into the significant transformation of modern warfare tactics, focusing on the role of drones and their pervasive impact on the battlefield. We discuss the evolving situation in Ukraine, with specific reference to the town of Rosk, and address the technological advancements that have revolutionized both offensive and defensive strategies. Additionally, we explore the implications of hybrid warfare, NATO's preparedness, and the importance of sustaining military deterrence. Join us for an insightful discussion on the challenges and future directions for military strategy and technology in modern conflicts.CHAPTERS:00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome01:05 The Evolution of Warfare: Drones and Tactics05:46 Challenges and Adaptations in Modern Combat10:26 The Role of Technology in Future Conflicts10:59 Hybrid Warfare and Strategic Implications14:09 The Importance of Military Deterrence20:51 Western Military Preparedness and Innovation34:57 Concluding Thoughts and Future Discussions----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------

2025-11-12 | Silicon Wafers 053 | Ukraine's $100M Energy Graft Scandal. Ukraine's anti-graft agencies say they've cracked a $100 million kickback ring in the energy sector, centred on state nuclear operator Energoatom. Seven suspects, five in custody, two on the run — and the blast radius of this scandal now reaches cabinet level. President Volodymyr Zelensky has pushed for the ousting of two ministers as searches, arrests, and wiretaps spill into public view. All this while Ukraine gears up for EU accession and Russia pounds Ukraine's grid. (The Washington Post)What is “Operation Midas”? Ukraine's independent anti-corruption bodies — NABU and SAPO — unveiled a long-running probe alleging 10–15% “rebates” skimmed from Energoatom contractors by a “high-level criminal organization.” The alleged total: $100 million. (The Washington Post)Investigators say the scheme matured over 15 months and 1,000 hours of audio; 70 raids followed. (The Washington Post) Status as of today: NABU/SAPO say five detained, seven charged, two fugitives remain at large. We'll name who's who in a moment. (Reuters)----------SOURCES: Washington Post — Ukraine announces energy corruption probe… (Nov 11, 2025)Al Jazeera — Ukraine anticorruption agency alleges $100m energy kickback scheme (Nov 10, 2025)Interfax-Ukraine (EN) — During investigation… names of 4 ministers recorded – NABU detective (Nov 11, 2025)Reuters — Ukraine moves to quell $100 million energy corruption scandal (Nov 12, 2025)The Guardian — Ukraine's energy sector faces wide-scale investigation… (Nov 10, 2025)The Guardian — Zelenskyy fires ministers accused of involvement… (Nov 12, 2025)Kyiv Post — Ukraine Hit by Mega-Corruption Scandal: 7 Suspects, 2 Fugitives… (Nov 12, 2025)Kyiv Post — Zelensky Demands Ministers' Resignations as Energy Corruption Scandal Deepens (Nov 12, 2025)Euronews — NABU probe: 70 raids; 15-month investigation (Nov 11, 2025)The Irish Times — Kickback claims at Energoatom; safety unaffected (Nov 11, 2025)CEPA — Ukraine's Corruption Probe — Bad But Not Terminal (Nov 12, 2025)Mezha (ENG) — *Ukraine proposes new Energoatom supervisory board (with G7) (Nov 12, 2025)----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------

David DeBatto is host of the ‘No Delusion Zone' podcast @NoDelusionZone is a retired U.S. Army Counterintelligence Special Agent, a geopolitical analyst, writer, and podcaster. David is an Iraq war veteran who served as Team Leader of a Tactical Human Intelligence Team (THT) in operations within Iraq and is also a former police officer. David is considered too conservative for the progressive left and too independent minded for the radical right and seeks to challenge political dogma and the naked self-interest of politicians.----------LINKS: @NoDelusionZone https://www.protectingtherepublic.com/podcasthttps://x.com/ddebattohttps://www.kyivpost.com/authors/743----------This is super important. There are so many Battalions in Ukraine, fighting to defend our freedoms, but lack basics such as vehicles. These are destroyed on a regular basis, and lack of transport is costs lives, and Ukrainian territory. Once again Silicon Curtain has teamed up with Car4Ukraine and a group of wonderful creators to provide much-needed assistance: https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtainAutumn Harvest: Silicon Curtain (Goal€22,000)We'll be supporting troops in Pokrovsk, Kharkiv, and other regions where the trucks are needed the most. 93rd Brigade "Kholodnyi Yar", Black Raven Unmanned Systems Battalionhttps://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtain----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyslhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------

Down, but not out. American democracy in the 21st century.----------Marci Shore is an American professor at the Monk School Munk School of Global Affairs and previously professor of intellectual history at Yale University, where she specializes in the history of literary and political engagement with Marxism and phenomenology. Marci is author of Caviar and Ashes: A Warsaw Generation's Life and Death in Marxism, 1918–1968, and of The Taste of Ashes, a study of the presence of the communist and Nazi past in today's Eastern Europe. But today we will be discussing her most recent book, about the Revolution of Dignity – The Ukrainian Night: An Intimate History of Revolution. ----------LINKS:https://twitter.com/marci_shorehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marci_Shorehttps://jackson.yale.edu/person/marci-shore/https://history.yale.edu/people/marci-shorehttps://yalebooks.co.uk/book/9780300276831/the-ukrainian-night/https://www.ukrainianworldcongress.org/marci-shore-on-revolution-of-dignity/----------BOOKS:The Taste of AshesThe Ukrainian Night: An Intimate History of Revolution----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's frontline towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrashttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain/collections----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasWe need to scale up our support for Ukraine, and these events are designed to have a major impact. Your support in making it happen is greatly appreciated. All events will be recorded professionally and published for free on the Silicon Curtain channel. Where possible, we will also live-stream events.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------DESCRIPTION:The Dangers of Authoritarianism: In-Depth with Marcy ShawIn this compelling episode, Jonathan welcomes Marcy Shaw, a historian specializing in Marxism and phenomenology, to discuss the ongoing struggle in Ukraine and its implications. The conversation unveils crucial insights into the brutal realities of the Ukrainian conflict and the strategic manipulation by Russia under Putin. They explore the normalization of politics in abnormal times and the unsettling parallels between historical tyrannies and current authoritarian regimes. The discussion expands to the broader context of authoritarian tendencies, including those in the United States, revealing a worrying drift towards impunity, ritual humiliation, and performative sadism. The episode ends on a thought-provoking note, setting the stage for future discussions on resisting authoritarianism.----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/----------

Silicon Bites Ep269 | News Update - Day 1,357 - 2025-11-11 | Robots at the Pier: Ukraine's Sea War Moves Ashore. Tonight: Ukrainian robot boats slam into Russia's Black Sea energy lifeline. We'll break down what got hit, why Tuapse matters, and how Sea Baby and Magura drones, plus the Flamingo long-range missile program, fit into a winter of attrition against the Kremlin's oil cashflow and logistics.What happened last night in the Black Sea? Overnight, multiple Ukrainian unmanned surface vessels—call them USVs, call them robot boats — surged into Tuapse, one of Russia's critical Black Sea oil export hubs. Local videos showed at least two heavy blasts and fires inside the harbour area. The Kyiv Independent reports: “Russia's port town of Tuapse… was rocked by explosions… local Telegram channels reported an attack by Ukrainian sea drones,” adding that regional authorities later confirmed an attack and claimed they destroyed four USVs. They also admitted: “One of the unmanned boats detonated near the shoreline… the shock wave damaged the second-floor windows… a garage and a boat shed.” Though we suspect that much more stuff than this went boom. (Nov. 10, The Kyiv Independent)----------SOURCES: https://kyivindependent.com/explosion-in-russian-black-sea-port-of-tuapse-amid-reported-sea-drone-attack/ - "Explosion in Russian Black Sea port of Tuapse amid reported sea drone attack"https://www.kyivpost.com/post/63972 - "Ukrainian Robot Boats Hit Russian Black Sea Oil Terminal"https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/russias-tuapse-halted-fuel-exports-after-drone-attacks-refinery-stopped-sources-2025-11-05/ - "Russia's Tuapse halted fuel exports after drone attacks ..."https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/11/04/spill-discovered-in-black-sea-after-ukrainian-strike-on-tuapse-oil-terminal-bbc-a91030 - "Spill Discovered in Black Sea After Ukrainian Strike on ..."https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-09-25/oil-loadings-resume-at-russian-black-sea-terminals-after-attacks - "Oil Loadings Resume at Black Sea Terminals After Attacks"https://theins.ru/en/news/285238 - "Two terminals at Russia's key Black Sea port of Novorossiysk ..."https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuapse_oil_terminal - "Tuapse oil terminal"https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraines-sea-baby-drones-are-growing-up-with-longer-range-bigger-payload-2025-10-22/ "Ukraine's 'sea baby' drones are growing up with longer range, bigger payload | Reuters"https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2025/10/ukraine-unveils-sea-baby-usv-armed-with-rockets-and-machine-gun/ - "Ukraine unveils Sea Baby USV armed with rockets and ..."https://apnews.com/article/0719211dd0314f2b9d15422e81ca66e3 - "Ukraine unveils upgraded sea drone it says can strike anywhere in the Black Sea"https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2025/september/ukraines-magura-naval-drones-black-sea-equalizers - "Ukraine's Magura Naval Drones: Black Sea Equalizers"https://kyivindependent.com/sbu-releases-new-baby-sea-drones-confirms-it-was-used-in-an-attack-on-sea-bridge/ - "SBU reveals next-gen Sea Baby naval drones, confirms ..."----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------

Adam P. Dixon has extensive experience in Central Europe and the Former Soviet Union as a consultant, businessman and entrepreneur, working mostly in aviation and telecommunications. He is currently working on a range of innovative military technologies, including a platform for the removal of landmines. Mr. Dixon studied at Harvard, Oxford, and Leningrad State University.----------LINKS:https://nationalinterest.org/feature/the-men-behind-vladimir-putins-forever-warhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-dixon-ba9758238/----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------PLATFORMS:Twitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSiliconInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/siliconcurtain/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqmLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------Welcome to the Silicon Curtain podcast. Please like and subscribe if you like the content we produce. It will really help to increase the popularity of our content in YouTube's algorithm. Our material is now being made available on popular podcasting platforms as well, such as Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

2025-11-10 | Silicon Wafers 052 | DAILY UPDATES | Russia hurls one of the biggest mixed salvos of the war at Ukraine's power system; Kyiv is hit by emergency blackouts; Ukraine says Russia hit substations that feed nuclear plants; and Moscow pushes a fresh Zaporizhzhia “nuclear plot” narrative. We'll separate facts from threats, fearmongering from the terrifying reality.The strike: one of the largest against Ukraine's energy grid. Overnight into Nov 8, Russia launched 45 missiles and 450 drones at Ukrainian targets, damaging energy infrastructure across multiple regions and sparking fires in Kyiv. At least seven people were killed overall, including in Dnipro and Zaporizhzhia, with widespread outages reported. (The Guardian)----------SOURCES: Kyiv Independent — “Kyiv faces over 12 hours of emergency power cuts…” (Nov. 8, 2025)Kyiv Independent — “Russia targeted substations powering nuclear plants…” (Nov. 8, 2025)The Guardian — “Russian missile attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities kill at least seven” (Nov. 8, 2025)Reuters — “Russia hits several key Ukraine energy facilities…” (Nov. 8, 2025)Financial Times — “Ukraine accuses Russia of targeting nuclear substations” (Nov. 9, 2025)Kyiv Post — “Moscow Claims Ukraine, NATO Plot Nuclear Disaster…” (Nov. 6, 2025)IAEA — Updates on ZNPP safety status, power vulnerability (Updates 308–310)Reuters — “Repairs begin on Zaporizhzhia power plant lines…” (Oct. 18, 2025)----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------

Silicon Bites Ep268 | News Update - Day 1,356 - 2025-11-10 | ----------SOURCES: Monetary policy & macro* Bank of Russia key rate cut to 16.5% (Oct 24, 2025), official release. (Central Bank of Russia)* Reuters explainer on the cut and inflation backdrop. (Reuters)* Manufacturing PMI contraction (Aug 1, 2025). (Reuters)Budget, debt, NWF* Debt-service share and 2026 increase. (Reuters)* Siluanov on liquid NWF ~3.3–4 trln rubles. (Reuters)* VAT to 22% in 2026; tax package and SME pushback; phased VAT-threshold changes. (Reuters)Industry, labor, rail* Six industrial giants shorten workweeks; RZD unpaid days; AvtoVAZ 4-day week through 2025; UVZ restructuring. (Reuters)* RZD cargo shortfall document; investment cuts. (Reuters)Retail & households* Grocery volumes and margin collapse. (The Moscow Times)War-energy feedback* Refinery hits, diesel export slump. (Financial Times)* Volgograd refinery re-hit. (AP News)* National fuel shortage after strikes (context). (The Washington Post)Mobilization payouts* Regions slashing sign-on bonuses. (The Moscow Times)* Shift to 400–800k rubles. (Eurasia Review)Additional viewing:* Michael Naki and Vladimir Milov's macro economic brief (budget, debt, inflation, rate dynamics).----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasWe need to scale up our support for Ukraine, and these events are designed to have a major impact. Your support in making it happen is greatly appreciated. All events will be recorded professionally and published for free on the Silicon Curtain channel. Where possible, we will also live-stream events.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------

Joe Lindsley is a traveller and a writer, and American reporting on Chicago's WGN Radio from Ukraine each and every weekday of Russia's full-scale war. He once was protégé to Fox News founder Roger Ailes, but Lindsley escaped that frenzied world where power mattered more than truth. He came to Lviv for a Ukrainian Catholic University journalism conference on Information Overload, AI, and Responsibility. Then the Coronavirus shut down world travel, and he stayed to build a better vision for the media industry.----------LINKS:https://www.ukrainianfreedomnews.com/donation/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Lindsleyhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-lindsley-60087618/https://www.youtube.com/@jplindsleyhttps://twitter.com/JPLindsleyhttps://www.instagram.com/jplindsley/https://www.facebook.com/josephlindsleyhttps://www.ukrainianfreedomnews.com/ ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasWe need to scale up our support for Ukraine, and these events are designed to have a major impact. Your support in making it happen is greatly appreciated. All events will be recorded professionally and published for free on the Silicon Curtain channel. Where possible, we will also live-stream events.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------PLATFORMS:Twitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSiliconInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/siliconcurtain/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqmLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------Welcome to the Silicon Curtain podcast. Please like and subscribe if you like the content we produce. It will really help to increase the popularity of our content in YouTube's algorithm. Our material is now being made available on popular podcasting platforms as well, such as Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

2025-11-09 | Silicon Wafers 051 | DAILY UPDATES | Despite the profusion of stories we've covered, the battle for Pokrovsk, energy sanctions, and so on, the most important strategic angle on the war this winter is the attritional energy war. And it's unlike the Western attitude to the war throughout all these four years – to cede the escalation dominance to Russia, always pulling punches, in support for Ukraine, and never allowing its ally to land a decisive blow on Russia. Now Ukraine is takin off the gloves, because below the nuclear threshold, there is nothing holding back Russia's viciousness and violence. Ukraine is seeking to inflict greater costs on Russia in the energy war, than it can impose upon Ukraine. This ‘escalation' is the only way to make it clear to Putin he cannot win and is the only way to inflict economic and social costs that start to make Putin's brittle regime appear vulnerable to its internal audience. Nothing else will get through to Putin. Nothing at all. Ukraine's “doomsday lever”? Hitting the Yamal network — myth vs. math. There is an inescapable logic to the course of this existential escalation for Ukraine's existence. It starts with testing the theory of imposing blackouts and heating denial to smaller, non-strategic Russian towns. Belgorod, Vladimir, Voronezh. And this is happening now. The next stage is to test supporting infrastructure around Moscow – electricity substations, energy supply routes for fuel, gas and oil products. This is happening. Beyond that, are substantial and extended blackouts in smaller towns, then Moscow and St. Petersburg. But that's not the final arrow in Ukraine's quiver. It has a doomsday option – hitting Yamal Cross. If none of the other escalatory steps lead to an unconditional ceasefire, then I suggest it's a near certainly that we'll reach the doomsday stage for Moscow by end of this winter. ----------Partner on this video: KYIV OF MINE Watch the trailer now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arJUcE1rxY0'Kyiv of Mine' is a documentary series about Ukraine's beautiful capital, Kyiv. The film production began in 2018, and much has changed since then. It is now 2025, and this story is far from over.https://www.youtube.com/@UCz6UbVKfqutH-N7WXnC5Ykg https://www.kyivofmine.com/#theprojectKyiv of Mine is fast paced, beautifully filmed, humorous, fun, insightful, heartbreaking, moving, hopeful. The very antithesis in fact of a doom-laden and worthy wartime documentary. This is a work that is extraordinarily uplifting. My friend Operator Starsky says the film is “Made with so much love. The film series will make you laugh and cry.” ----------SOURCES: Ukrainian attacks in Russia's Belgorod, Kursk oblasts leave ≥20,000 without power — The Moscow Times/AFP, Nov. 9, 2025‘A powerful secondary detonation' — Donetsk airport Shahed hub strike — Kyiv Independent, Nov. 6, 2025Volgograd refinery halted after drone strike — Reuters, Nov. 6, 2025Crimea oil depot fire (Simferopol/Hvardiiske) after drone attacks — Ukrinform, Nov. 6, 2025Bashkortostan: Sterlitamak petrochemical plant struck — Kyiv Independent, Nov. 7, 2025Russian rebel group sabotages locomotives — Kyiv Post, Nov. 6, 2025ORLEN–Naftogaz: three U.S. LNG cargoes in Q1 2026 (≥300 mcm) — ORLEN press release; Naftogaz release; Polish Radio; Kyiv Independent, Nov. 7–8, 2025Energy attrition context: Reuters refinery capacity tally, Sept. 1, 2025. (Reuters)Gas flows & the Yamal reality check — Bruegel (end of transit via Ukraine, Jan. 1, 2025); Gas Strategies (financial impact); Oxford Energy (transit mechanics)Operational/tech framing of the strike campaign — CSIS analyses, 2025----------

Dr. Douglas J. Davis, MD, PhD is MCW Office of Global Health Liaison, Department of Radiology, Medical College of Wisconsin----------Ukraine's Winter War Is the World's Test — and America Can't Afford to BlinkOPINION — Two weeks ago, my colleagues and I stood in Dnipro while warning sirens cut across the city and Shahed drones screamed overhead. We had come as a medical-humanitarian delegation to inspect [...] More----------LINKS: https://www.thecipherbrief.com/experts/dr-douglas-j-davis-md-phd https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglas-davis-md-phd-86a9bb3/ ----------DESCRIPTION:The Geopolitical and Strategic Impacts of Russia's War in Ukraine: An Expert AnalysisDr. Douglas Davis, a Ukrainian by marriage and a noted medical professional, delves deep into the geopolitical and strategic significance of Russia's war in Ukraine. With Jonathan as the host, Dr. Davis discusses his personal connection to Ukraine and the broad range of activities he is involved in to support the nation. The conversation spans several key topics including the criticality of defending Karska, the evolving dynamics of authoritarian regimes, the implications of an intensified war in Ukraine, and the potential geopolitical maneuvers by Russia. This episode also touches on the innovative cycles in military technology and the broader implications for global security. Dr. Davis provides an insightful analysis into both historical and contemporary strategies employed by Russia and its allies, laying bare the complexities of modern warfare and the political landscape.----------CHAPTERS:00:00 Introduction to Dr. Douglas Davis and His Connection to Ukraine00:51 Douglas Davis' Personal and Professional Background03:01 Historical Context and Geopolitical Insights04:48 The Ideological and Strategic Threat of Russia19:09 The Critical Battle for Kursk and Its Implications30:29 The Broader Geopolitical Landscape and Authoritarian Alliances42:42 Technological Warfare and Innovation Cycles50:40 Conclusion and Final Thoughts----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------

Silicon Bites Ep267 | News Update - Day 1,354 - 2025-11-08 | AI fakes try to poison Ukraine's mobilization debate; Washington grants Budapest a carve-out on Russian energy; Kyiv's defence industry talks up its potential with $30–35 billion in long-range output for 2026; the EU tightens visa screws on Russian nationals; Pokrovsk hangs in the balance; mysterious drones snarl Belgian airspace; and Germany's AfD faces “sleeper cell” accusations on the Bundestag floor. Let's try to anchor ourselves amidst the apparent chaos. “AI soldiers” and the mobilization disinfo surge. A new wave of AI-generated “soldier” videos — young men pleading that they're being “forced” to the front — has flooded TikTok, X, and Telegram in multiple languages this week. The goal: erode trust in Ukraine's leadership, spook families, and fracture Western support. (The Kyiv Independent) Despite the crudity and absurdity of many of the videos, some will be fooled, and it provides fodder for Kremlin assets and useful idiots to ‘flood the zone'.----------SOURCES: Kyiv Independent — “AI soldiers: How deepfakes are manipulating Ukraine's mobilization narrative” (Nov. 7, 2025)Kyiv Independent — “Zelensky blames ex-energy chief…” (Nov. 7, 2025)Kyiv Independent — “Ukraine estimates its long-range weapon production at over $30 billion in 2026” (Nov. 7, 2025)Interfax-Ukraine (summary of the same briefing) (Nov. 7, 2025)AP News — “Orbán says Trump will not punish Hungary for buying Russian energy…” (Nov. 7, 2025)The Guardian — “Trump–Orbán meeting: US gives Hungary exemption from sanctions on Russian oil and gas” (Nov. 7, 2025)European Commission (DG HOME) — Implementing decision on multiple-entry visas for Russian nationals (Nov. 7, 2025). ([Migration and Home Affairs)Reuters — “EU toughens visa rules for Russians” (Nov. 7, 2025)Kyiv Independent — “Ukraine's defense of Pokrovsk on a knife-edge…” (Nov. 6, 2025)AP News — “Drone sightings halt flights at major European cargo airport in Belgium” (Nov. 8, 2025)Al Jazeera — “Belgium's Liège airport temporarily halts flights after new drone sighting” (Nov. 7, 2025)The Guardian — “Belgium to hold security meeting after drone sightings… (source says Russia ‘very probably' responsible)” (Nov. 6, 2025)Euronews — “Lawmakers accuse AfD of spying… ‘sleeper cell loyal to Russia'” (Nov. 6, 2025)----------This is super important. There are so many Battalions in Ukraine, fighting to defend our freedoms, but lack basics such as vehicles. These are destroyed on a regular basis, and lack of transport is costs lives, and Ukrainian territory. Autumn Harvest: Silicon Curtain (Goal€22,000)https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtain----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasWe need to scale up our support for Ukraine, and these events are designed to have a major impact. Your support in making it happen is greatly appreciated. All events will be recorded professionally and published for free on the Silicon Curtain channel. Where possible, we will also live-stream events.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------

2025-11-07 | Silicon Wafers 050 | Is Sergei Lavrov on the way out? After that embarrassment of the non-summit in Budapest, and the cold treatment of Kirill Dmitriev in Washington, it looks like Lavrov is falling out of favour with the Kremlin. But will he also be falling out with those square shaped and glazed objects, designed to let light into tall buildings? Budapest blows up, G20 gets awkward – it looks like Lavrov's star is waning. How we will miss his disingenuous horse-face. Not. Plans for the Budapest were a bust. Washington bailed on the Trump–Putin summit after a hardline Russian approach to the negotiations. The inflexibility of the Kremlin and its main foreign policy minion Lavrov went down badly with Secretary of State Rubio. Now it seems Lavrov is taking the blame, or so it seems from Moscow's rumour mill, as the Kremlin quietly swaps him out for the upcoming G20 summit. There are few confirmed facts but let that not stop us from diving into the fevered world of Kremlinology. It might also help to have a jocular reminder of happens to officials who fall from Putin's grace — from soft landings to prison cells, to altitude cancer and very hard landings.----------SOURCES: “The U.S. then cancelled the summit following a call between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.” — Reuters, Oct 31, 2025“radically changed under European influence” — The Moscow Times, Oct 27, 2025“will be led by Presidential Administration Deputy Chief of Staff Maxim Oreshkin.” — TASS, Nov 4, 2025“has ordered government officials to evaluate the feasibility of restarting Russia's own nuclear tests.” — AP News, Nov 5, 2025“was demoted but remains an advisor in the Kremlin.” — RAND, Jun 27, 2024“removed Sergei Surovikin… as head of the air force” — Reuters, Aug 23, 2023“sentenced to eight years in jail” — Reuters, Dec 15, 2017 (Ulyukayev)----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasWe need to scale up our support for Ukraine, and these events are designed to have a major impact. Your support in making it happen is greatly appreciated. All events will be recorded professionally and published for free on the Silicon Curtain channel. Where possible, we will also live-stream events.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------

Silicon Bites Ep266 - Day 1,353 - 2025-11-07 | Civil War is Kremlin's #1 Fear, according to the Kremlin's own chief sociologist. If I was asked this question, I'd have said it's a low probability, as is the fragmentation of Russia into myriad smaller states. Not impossible, but very unlikely, even after the conclusion of Putin's disastrous war in Ukraine. On this channel, we have speculated extensively that a palace coup is more likely, or a kind of oligarch civil war, for a limited period and with limited scope. But Alexander Kharichev has put in black and white what Moscow usually whispers— the number one threat to Russia is… civil war, he writes. So, do they know something we don't? Or is this classic paranoia from the minion of a tyrannical and geriatric dictator? Is this Kremlin syndrome that sees enemies and calamity around every corner? Let's explore this question. “Who Are We?”: The Kremlin's early warning system. Alexander Kharichev, the powerful head of the Presidential Directorate for Monitoring and Analysis of Social Processes, published an essay called “Кто мы?” (Who Are We?) in the journal Gosudarstvo. In it, he lists five “civilizational challenges,” facing Russia, and more specifically the Kremlin, and tops the list with civil war / internal split. Russian business daily Vedomosti reviewed the piece and confirmed the framing and source.----------SOURCES: Michael Naki: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wn1HBcsrwDA&t=941s https://www.gazeta.ru/social/news/2025/11/05/27105038.shtml https://sia.ru/?section=410&action=show_news&id=16821490 https://www.moscowtimes.ru/2025/11/05/v-kremle-uvideli-ugrozu-grazhdanskoi-voini-v-rossii-a179190 https://deita.ru/article/577119 https://charter97.org/ru/news/2025/11/5/661891/----------This is super important. There are so many Battalions in Ukraine, fighting to defend our freedoms, but lack basics such as vehicles. These are destroyed on a regular basis, and lack of transport is costs lives, and Ukrainian territory. Autumn Harvest: Silicon Curtain (Goal€22,000)https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtain----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------DESCRIPTION:Is Russia Facing Civil War? Kremlin's Top Threat RevealedIn this episode of Silicon Bites, the host discusses a recent article by Alexander Karachi, a senior Kremlin sociologist, which reveals that the Kremlin's number one fear is civil war in Russia. The episode delves into the five civilizational challenges listed in the article and argues that a palace coup or elite conflict over resources is a more likely scenario than a full-blown civil war. The script also examines the economic strains, rising living costs, and extreme military spending that are exacerbating Russia's vulnerabilities. The episode ends by highlighting the Kremlin's flawed solutions of increased militarization and ideological indoctrination, which may accelerate the fragmentation and collapse of the Russian state.----------CHAPTERS:00:00 Introduction and Gratitude00:58 The Kremlin's Greatest Fear: Civil War02:17 Analyzing the Article: Five Civilizational Challenges11:59 Economic Strain and War Spending18:25 Corruption and Internal Conflict23:44 Potential Regime Collapse and Future Outlook26:27 Conclusion: The Kremlin's Paranoia and Future----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------

Livestream with Yuri Rashkin----------Partner on this video: KYIV OF MINE Watch the trailer now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arJUcE1rxY0'Kyiv of Mine' is a documentary series about Ukraine's beautiful capital, Kyiv. The film production began in 2018, and much has changed since then. It is now 2025, and this story is far from over.https://www.youtube.com/@UCz6UbVKfqutH-N7WXnC5Ykg https://www.kyivofmine.com/#theprojectKyiv of Mine is fast paced, beautifully filmed, humorous, fun, insightful, heartbreaking, moving, hopeful. The very antithesis in fact of a doom-laden and worthy wartime documentary. This is a work that is extraordinarily uplifting. My friend Operator Starsky says the film is “Made with so much love. The film series will make you laugh and cry.” ----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtainDonate and Receive - Collectable PatchAUTUMN HARVEST TRUCKS 2025. Part of our 2025 patch collection. Everyone who contributes €100 (~$115) or more will be able to receive it.For our Autumn patch, we present the Galician Lion. The rampant lion represents power and intelligence. It has represented Western Ukrainian people since the 1100s. The Ruthenian lion, also known as the Ukrainian lion or Galician lion, was featured on the historic coat of arms of: The Kingdom of Galicia-Volhynia (Ruthenia)1199-1349, The battle flag of the Lviv land in the Battle of Tannenberg, 1410 The Ruthenian Voivodeship (Administration) 1434-1772 and The Western Ukrainian People's Republic 1918-1919. The Ukrainian national liberation movement, 1948----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasWe need to scale up our support for Ukraine, and these events are designed to have a major impact. Your support in making it happen is greatly appreciated. All events will be recorded professionally and published for free on the Silicon Curtain channel. Where possible, we will also live-stream events.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyslhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/-----------

Steven Moore is a political strategist, who spent seven years as a chief of staff and senior leadership aide in the United States Congress, developing relationships with senior policymakers across the United States and around the world. He worked on Capitol Hill in the House of Representatives mostly as chief of staff for former Rep. Pete Roskam (R-Ill.), the former chief deputy GOP whip. In that role, Moore was one of the most influential staff members on the Republican side of the aisle. ----------LINKS:https://x.com/MooreUSAhttps://x.com/UKRAINEFREEDOM7https://www.ukrainer.net/ukraine-through-the-eyes-of-steven-moore/https://stevenmoore.substack.com/https://substack.com/@steveninkyiv----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------This is super important. There are so many Battalions in Ukraine, fighting to defend our freedoms, but lack basics such as vehicles. These are destroyed on a regular basis, and lack of transport is costs lives, and Ukrainian territory. Autumn Harvest: Silicon Curtain (Goal€22,000)https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtain----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasWe need to scale up our support for Ukraine, and these events are designed to have a major impact. Your support in making it happen is greatly appreciated. All events will be recorded professionally and published for free on the Silicon Curtain channel. Where possible, we will also live-stream events.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUkrainian Freedom Newshttps://www.ukrainianfreedomnews.com/donation/UNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------PLATFORMS:Twitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSiliconInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/siliconcurtain/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqmLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------Welcome to the Silicon Curtain podcast. Please like and subscribe if you like the content we produce. It will really help to increase the popularity of our content in YouTube's algorithm. Our material is now being made available on popular podcasting platforms as well, such as Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

2025-11-05 | Silicon Wafers 049 | DAILY UPDATES | Pokrovsk, the contested Donetsk rail-and-road hub has become the most consequential urban fight since Avdiivka, and the outcome of that fight may turn out to be instrumental for the outcome of the war, not only against Ukraine, but Russia's war against Western democracy. In today's episode, we are zooming in on the battle for Pokrovsk. We'll explain why Russia is so desperate to take it, what Ukraine is doing to hold it, the claims and counterclaims on the ground, and what happens next if Russia's offensive stalls — or if it succeeds.On Sunday, Valery Gerasimov, Russian chief of staff, told President Vladimir Putin his 2nd and 51st Combined Arms Armies were "advancing along converging axes" and "have completed the encirclement of the enemy" in Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad. He claimed 5,500 Ukrainian troops were surrounded. But Russian military reporters contradicted these claims, with one named "Military Informant" telling 621,000 Telegram subscribers, "There is simply no encirclement". Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi was categorical last Saturday: while the situation in Pokrovsk remains "hardest" for Ukrainian forces, there is no encirclement or blockade as Russia has claimed. He insisted a comprehensive operation to destroy and dislodge enemy forces from Pokrovsk is ongoing.----------Partner on this video: KYIV OF MINE Watch the trailer now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arJUcE1rxY0'Kyiv of Mine' is a documentary series about Ukraine's beautiful capital, Kyiv. The film production began in 2018, and much has changed since then. It is now 2025, and this story is far from over.https://www.youtube.com/@UCz6UbVKfqutH-N7WXnC5Ykg https://www.kyivofmine.com/#theprojectKyiv of Mine is fast paced, beautifully filmed, humorous, fun, insightful, heartbreaking, moving, hopeful. The very antithesis in fact of a doom-laden and worthy wartime documentary. This is a work that is extraordinarily uplifting. My friend Operator Starsky says the film is “Made with so much love. The film series will make you laugh and cry.” ----------SOURCES: Explosions at refineries/petrochemicals; blackouts: Kyiv Independent, “Explosions rock Russian ammunition depot… amid mass Ukrainian drone strike” (Nov. 4, 2025)Kstovo refinery/petrochemicals: Ukrainska Pravda (Nov. 4, 2025)Round-up of eight regions hit: UNITED24 (Nov. 4, 2025)Tuapse tanker/terminal strike: Reuters (Nov. 2, 2025)Tuapse oil spill: The Moscow Times (Nov. 4, 2025) Pokrovsk live/warlatest: Kyiv Independent (Nov. 3–4, 2025) ----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasWe need to scale up our support for Ukraine, and these events are designed to have a major impact. Your support in making it happen is greatly appreciated. All events will be recorded professionally and published for free on the Silicon Curtain channel. Where possible, we will also live-stream events.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------

David DeBatto is host of the ‘No Delusion Zone' podcast @NoDelusionZone is a retired U.S. Army Counterintelligence Special Agent, a geopolitical analyst, writer, and podcaster. David is an Iraq war veteran who served as Team Leader of a Tactical Human Intelligence Team (THT) in operations within Iraq and is also a former police officer. David is considered too conservative for the progressive left and too independent minded for the radical right and seeks to challenge political dogma and the naked self-interest of politicians. ----------LINKS: @NoDelusionZone https://www.protectingtherepublic.com/podcasthttps://x.com/ddebattohttps://www.kyivpost.com/authors/743----------This is super important. There are so many Battalions in Ukraine, fighting to defend our freedoms, but lack basics such as vehicles. These are destroyed on a regular basis, and lack of transport is costs lives, and Ukrainian territory. Once again Silicon Curtain has teamed up with Car4Ukraine and a group of wonderful creators to provide much-needed assistance: https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtainAutumn Harvest: Silicon Curtain (Goal€22,000)We'll be supporting troops in Pokrovsk, Kharkiv, and other regions where the trucks are needed the most. 93rd Brigade "Kholodnyi Yar", Black Raven Unmanned Systems Battalionhttps://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtain----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------

Silicon Bites Ep265 - Day 1,351 - 2025-11-05 | Donetsk, the contested Donetsk rail-and-road hub has become the most consequential urban fight since Avdiivka, and the outcome of that fight may turn out to be instrumental for the outcome of the war, not only against Ukraine, but Russia's war against Western democracy. In today's episode, we are zooming in on the battle for Pokrovsk. We'll explain why Russia is so desperate to take it, what Ukraine is doing to hold it, the claims and counterclaims on the ground, and what happens next if Russia's offensive stalls — or if it succeeds.On Sunday, Valery Gerasimov, Russian chief of staff, told President Vladimir Putin his 2nd and 51st Combined Arms Armies were "advancing along converging axes" and "have completed the encirclement of the enemy" in Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad. He claimed 5,500 Ukrainian troops were surrounded. But Russian military reporters contradicted these claims, with one named "Military Informant" telling 621,000 Telegram subscribers, "There is simply no encirclement". Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi was categorical last Saturday: while the situation in Pokrovsk remains "hardest" for Ukrainian forces, there is no encirclement or blockade as Russia has claimed. He insisted a comprehensive operation to destroy and dislodge enemy forces from Pokrovsk is ongoing.----------SOURCES: The Guardian — Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskyy visits troops near embattled Pokrovsk (Nov 5, 2025) The Guardian — Ukraine deploys special forces to Pokrovsk in effort to hold key city (Nov 2, 2025)Reuters — Ukraine says its troops still holding out in Pokrovsk as Moscow says pincer closing (Nov 1, 2025)The Moscow Times/AFP — Zelensky Visits Troops Near Threatened Pokrovsk (Nov 4, 2025)Kyiv Independent — Russia claims HUR special forces raid… Ukraine denies, Syrskyi insists ‘no encirclement' (Nov 1, 2025)Kyiv Independent — Russian ‘sabotage' unit that killed civilians in Pokrovsk later eliminated (Oct 20, 2025)----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------This is super important. There are so many Battalions in Ukraine, fighting to defend our freedoms, but lack basics such as vehicles. These are destroyed on a regular basis, and lack of transport is costs lives, and Ukrainian territory. Autumn Harvest: Silicon Curtain (Goal€22,000)https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtain----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasWe need to scale up our support for Ukraine, and these events are designed to have a major impact. Your support in making it happen is greatly appreciated. All events will be recorded professionally and published for free on the Silicon Curtain channel. Where possible, we will also live-stream events.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------

Noel Tock has been in Ukraine since 2023, part-time running frontline evacuations. He has founded and participated in several charities to support Ukraine, and to pioneer work on the ground that is transparent in funding sources and effective in action. He is Director of Strategy at KLYN Drones and Dog Help Kharkiv and Co-Founder - Volara Foundation. ----------Director of Strategy – KLYN DronesNon-profit assembling FPV drones sent to AFU Special Operations Forces and other units / brigades. 95% of components are Ukrainian, making this charity unique in its sourcing and with donations going back into the Ukrainian economy. Volunteer-powered. Director of Strategy at Dog Help KharkivPart of the core team (in co-operation with NOR DOG), and part-time on-site in Kharkiv with trips around eastern Ukraine. Various work around fundraising, brand development, marketing, digital, and the occasional wrestling with uncooperative animals near frontlines. Accidental connoisseur of Ukrainian gas station food. Co-Founder - Volara Foundation Kharkiv, UkraineFoundation that supports multiple frontline micro-charities — they are high impact & direct-action teams. The need for this arose from my own experiences living in Kharkiv and experiencing the huge disconnect between on-the-ground teams which are not visible to western supporters. This is my highest leverage play as a direct result of my frontline experiences. DM me to support.----------LINKS:https://www.linkedin.com/in/noeltock/https://www.instagram.com/noeltock/https://volara.org/KLYN Drones, made in Ukraine - https://klyn.io/Dog Help Kharkiv - Volunteer-powered, complex animal evacuations from the front lines -https://dog-help-kharkiv.org/----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------PLATFORMS:Twitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSiliconInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/siliconcurtain/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqmLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------Welcome to the Silicon Curtain podcast. Please like and subscribe if you like the content we produce. It will really help to increase the popularity of our content in YouTube's algorithm. Our material is now being made available on popular podcasting platforms as well, such as Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

2025-11-04 | Silicon Wafers 048 | DAILY UPDATES | We're zeroing in on the Black Sea in today's episode, much like Ukrainian drones. Ukraine's sea-drone campaign has lit up Russia's oil hub at Tuapse, with a tanker fire, damaged loading gear, and — as per independent analysis — apparently creating an oil slick stretching several kilometres into open water. We'll unpack the strike, the satellite evidence, the logistics pain for Moscow, and why this energy war matters for Ukraine's survival through a tough winter campaign. (Reuters)What happened at Tuapse — the night of Nov. 1–2? In the early hours of Nov. 2, long-range Ukrainian drones hit the Tuapse oil terminal on Russia's Black Sea coast. Russian regional authorities acknowledged two foreign-flag vessels were damaged and that fires broke out at the terminal; footage showed a tanker ablaze alongside port infrastructure. The latest tally puts the damage higher than the admitted losses. Reuters summed it bluntly: “A Ukrainian drone attack struck one of Russia's main Black Sea oil ports… causing a fire and damaging at least one ship.” (Nov. 2). (Reuters)----------Partner on this video: KYIV OF MINE Watch the trailer now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arJUcE1rxY0'Kyiv of Mine' is a documentary series about Ukraine's beautiful capital, Kyiv. The film production began in 2018, and much has changed since then. It is now 2025, and this story is far from over.https://www.youtube.com/@UCz6UbVKfqutH-N7WXnC5Ykg https://www.kyivofmine.com/#theprojectKyiv of Mine is fast paced, beautifully filmed, humorous, fun, insightful, heartbreaking, moving, hopeful. The very antithesis in fact of a doom-laden and worthy wartime documentary. This is a work that is extraordinarily uplifting. My friend Operator Starsky says the film is “Made with so much love. The film series will make you laugh and cry.” ----------SOURCES: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukrainian-drone-attack-damages-russias-tuapse-port-sparks-fire-russia-says-2025-11-01/https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-drone-strike-russia-tuapse-oil-terminal/33579429.htmlhttps://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-reportedly-strikes-oil-terminal-in-russias-krasnodar-krai/https://www.kyivpost.com/post/63457https://united24media.com/latest-news/satellite-images-reveal-pipeline-rupture-and-tanker-fire-at-russian-tuapse-oil-terminal-13043https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/11/04/spill-discovered-in-black-sea-after-ukrainian-strike-on-tuapse-oil-terminal-bbc-a91030https://maritime-executive.com/article/satellite-imaging-confirms-oil-spill-at-port-of-tuapsehttps://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/8/10/875https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-paralyzes-russias-key-black-sea-oil-terminals-with-drone-strikes-hur-source-claims/https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/russian-energy-facilities-targeted-drone-attacks-2025-08-22/----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------

Silicon Bites Ep264 - Day 1,349 - 2025-11-03 | Washington trims forces in NATO's front line member state, causing concern in some quarters, and signalling weakness and withdrawal in the face of a revanchist Russia. This broad geopolitical canvas unfolds as Moscow hammers Ukraine's grid and Kyiv hits back, deep and hard, at Russia's fuel arteries. Drones stalk a base in Belgian thought to host U.S. nukes, China's refiners blink on Russian oil, and Brussels looks for a way to keep Ukraine's accession moving — whether Orbán tries to throw a spanner in the works or not. Is the U.S. easing off Europe's front line? Romania confirmed the first cut of U.S. troops on NATO's eastern flank — ending a rotating brigade spread across several countries and lowering numbers at Mihail Kogălniceanu air base to 1,000. (Reuters)----------SOURCES: EU Council – 19th Russia sanctions package (Oct 23, 2025)https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2025/10/23/19th-package-of-sanctions-against-russia-eu-targets-russian-energy-third-country-banks-and-crypto-providers/U.S. Treasury – Russia oil sanctions press release (Oct 2025)https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sb0290AP – Belgium: drones near Kleine-Brogel likely espionage (Nov 3, 2025)https://apnews.com/article/f58ee237a6b2f28e011391ff7fcaa8deReuters – Belgium probes drone sightings over military base (Oct 29, 2025)https://www.reuters.com/world/belgium-investigates-new-drone-sightings-over-military-base-2025-10-29/Kyiv Independent – EU Commission seeks to sustain Ukraine's accession momentum (Nov 3, 2025)https://kyivindependent.com/european-commission-seeks-political-signal-to-bypass-hungary-to-progress-technical-accession-work-with-ukraine/NV – Crimean Bridge bans EVs/hybrids (Nov 1, 2025)https://english.nv.ua/nation/russia-bans-electric-vehicles-from-crimean-bridge-50557189.htmlKyiv Independent – Mazda loses right to reclaim Russian assets (Nov 3, 2025)https://kyivindependent.com/mazda-first-automaker-to-lose-right-to-reclaim-russian-assets/----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------This is super important. There are so many Battalions in Ukraine, fighting to defend our freedoms, but lack basics such as vehicles. These are destroyed on a regular basis, and lack of transport is costs lives, and Ukrainian territory. Autumn Harvest: Silicon Curtain (Goal€22,000)https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtain----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasWe need to scale up our support for Ukraine, and these events are designed to have a major impact. Your support in making it happen is greatly appreciated. All events will be recorded professionally and published for free on the Silicon Curtain channel. Where possible, we will also live-stream events.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------

2025-11-03 | Silicon Wafers 047 | DAILY UPDATES | Putin wants everyone to think he's a tough nut – uncrackable in fact. And the Oreshnik missile system is an extension of his threat and bluster, one might even say symbolic of his authority and virility. But the Oreshnik appears to have been cracked by Ukraine. Let's explore this! “Oreshnik” (the hazel nut), is one of the Kremlin's latest so-called wonder weapons. A hypersonic, nuclear-capable, intermediate-range ballistic missile that Vladimir Putin has hyped as “unstoppable.” But much to his annoyance, OI presume, Ukraine says its security and intelligence services—the SBU, HUR, and foreign intelligence — located it, reached it, and destroyed it deep inside Russia. Not on the frontline or while being transported. This apparently happened at the Kapustin Yar missile range in Astrakhan Oblast. And they claim to have achieved this months ago — quietly, surreptitiously — then revealed it at a Kyiv briefing late last week. (The Kyiv Independent)It raises so many questions. How they did it. Why operational silence with regards to the achievement, and of course Russia has chosen silence, for perhaps more obvious reasons. ----------Partner on this video: KYIV OF MINE Watch the trailer now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arJUcE1rxY0'Kyiv of Mine' is a documentary series about Ukraine's beautiful capital, Kyiv. The film production began in 2018, and much has changed since then. It is now 2025, and this story is far from over.https://www.youtube.com/@UCz6UbVKfqutH-N7WXnC5Ykg https://www.kyivofmine.com/#theprojectKyiv of Mine is fast paced, beautifully filmed, humorous, fun, insightful, heartbreaking, moving, hopeful. The very antithesis in fact of a doom-laden and worthy wartime documentary. This is a work that is extraordinarily uplifting. My friend Operator Starsky says the film is “Made with so much love. The film series will make you laugh and cry.” ----------SOURCES: The Moscow Times — “Ukraine Says It Destroyed Oreshnik Missile Inside Russia” (Oct. 31, 2025): * Kyiv Independent — “Ukraine's spy agencies destroyed Putin's vaunted ‘Oreshnik' missile deep inside Russian territory, Zelensky says” (Oct. 31, 2025)UNITED24 — “Russia Still Holds Six ‘Oreshnik' Missiles With 5,000-km Range, Zelenskyy Warns” (Oct. 31, 2025)Ukrainska Pravda — “Belarusian leader warns he may use Oreshnik missiles…” (Nov. 1, 2025)Ukrainska Pravda — “Russia used Oreshnik medium-range missile to attack Ukraine, Putin says” (Nov. 21, 2024)Reuters — “New Russian missile fired at Ukraine carried warheads without explosives, sources say” (Nov. 26, 2024)Reuters graphic explainer — “Inside Russia's new missile, ‘Oreshnik'” (Nov. 27–28, 2024)----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------

Phil Ittner is a veteran broadcast journalist now working independently in Ukraine. Currently he's based in Kyiv and produces a weekly interview podcast "On the Edge". Disillusioned with how mainstream media was covering the historic war in Ukraine, Phil decided he had to step in and bring a professional and credible perspective to reporting from Ukraine. ----------LINKS: @PhilipIttner https://x.com/IttnerPhiliphttps://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-ittner-4180271a/https://philipittner.com/about/https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/45-the-big-interview-philip-ittner-on-the-realities/id1617276298?i=1000610636024----------This is super important. There are so many Battalions in Ukraine, fighting to defend our freedoms, but lack basics such as vehicles. These are destroyed on a regular basis, and lack of transport is costs lives, and Ukrainian territory. Once again Silicon Curtain has teamed up with Car4Ukraine and a group of wonderful creators to provide much-needed assistance: https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtainAutumn Harvest: Silicon Curtain (Goal€22,000)We'll be supporting troops in Pokrovsk, Kharkiv, and other regions where the trucks are needed the most. 93rd Brigade "Kholodnyi Yar", Black Raven Unmanned Systems Battalionhttps://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtain----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------

2025-11-02 | Silicon Wafers 046 | DAILY UPDATES | Deep strikes: HUR says it hit a military fuel pipeline near Moscow. Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) says it struck the Koltsevoy pipeline — a 400-km ring feeding Russian forces — in the Moscow Oblast on Oct. 31, calling it a disruption to the supply of jet fuel and diesel flow. Local authorities in Zhukovsky cited “automatic equipment shutdowns” for the blackout — consistent with grid protection behaviour after a shock to the system. We've not seen Russian official confirmation of pipeline damage, but of course, the greater the damage and more strategic the impact, the less likely the Kremlin regime is to comment. (Kyiv Independent, Nov. 1)Overnight on October 31, 2025, Ukraine's military intelligence — HUR — took a swing not at the now familiar Russian oil refining facilities, but at the circulatory system that keeps Moscow's military logistics pumping. They hit the Koltsevoy petroleum-products pipeline — “koltsevoy” literally means ring — in Moscow Oblast's Ramensky district and blew out all three lines in a coordinated attack. HUR says the line is about 400 km long and moves gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel from refineries in Ryazan, Nizhny Novgorod, and Moscow to military consumers. Ukrainian officials called it a “serious blow” to Russian logistics. The implication is that a new, and highly strategic campaign has begun against the Russian war machine, and this fight is being taken deep into the home front. (AP News)----------Partner on this video: KYIV OF MINE Watch the trailer now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arJUcE1rxY0'Kyiv of Mine' is a documentary series about Ukraine's beautiful capital, Kyiv. The film production began in 2018, and much has changed since then. It is now 2025, and this story is far from over.https://www.youtube.com/@UCz6UbVKfqutH-N7WXnC5Ykg https://www.kyivofmine.com/#theprojectKyiv of Mine is fast paced, beautifully filmed, humorous, fun, insightful, heartbreaking, moving, hopeful. The very antithesis in fact of a doom-laden and worthy wartime documentary. This is a work that is extraordinarily uplifting. My friend Operator Starsky says the film is “Made with so much love. The film series will make you laugh and cry.” ----------SOURCES: "…paralyzing large areas of the Russian capital.” — The New Voice of Ukraine, Nov. 1, 2025"Emergency situation in the power system.” — Zhukovsky administration via NV, Nov. 1, 2025“Cripple power supplies as winter approaches.” — PM Yulia Svyrydenko via Reuters, Oct. 30, 2025“This is not a nuclear test.” — Dmitry Peskov, The Moscow Times, Oct. 30, 2025“Deeply concerned.” — PACE monitors on Georgia bans, Oct. 29, 2025----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasWe need to scale up our support for Ukraine, and these events are designed to have a major impact. Your support in making it happen is greatly appreciated. All events will be recorded professionally and published for free on the Silicon Curtain channel. Where possible, we will also live-stream events.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------

Silicon Bites Ep263 - Day 1,348 - 2025-11-02 | Moscow goes dark. Trains stall, pumps stop, traffic snarls — and the Kremlin scrambles for a credible cover story. Let's unpack what failed, who's blaming whom, and why it matters for the winter energy war. – the attritional struggle to disrupt and destroy resources and energy logistics that will determine which side eventually prevails in the war. What's happened in the last 72 hours: Ukraine hits a key military fuel pipeline near Moscow, Russia slams Ukraine's grid again, the Kremlin seems to backtrack over “nuclear tests”. Moscow's big blackout — what happened; why it matters. Overnight on Oct. 31, a widespread power outage hit Moscow and parts of the Moscow Oblast. According to NV (citing Russian sources), “a widespread power outage left parts of Moscow without electricity… paralyzing large areas of the Russian capital” and disrupted water supply, trolleybus and tram lines, while 43 metro trains were halted in tunnels — early estimates put the number at 20,000 passengers stranded on trains. NV also reports the Paveletsky rail terminal was disrupted while other airports and stations largely kept operating. (The New Voice of Ukraine, Nov. 1, 10:24 a.m.)----------SOURCES: "…paralyzing large areas of the Russian capital.” — The New Voice of Ukraine, Nov. 1, 2025"Emergency situation in the power system.” — Zhukovsky administration via NV, Nov. 1, 2025“Cripple power supplies as winter approaches.” — PM Yulia Svyrydenko via Reuters, Oct. 30, 2025“This is not a nuclear test.” — Dmitry Peskov, The Moscow Times, Oct. 30, 2025“Deeply concerned.” — PACE monitors on Georgia bans, Oct. 29, 2025----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------This is super important. There are so many Battalions in Ukraine, fighting to defend our freedoms, but lack basics such as vehicles. These are destroyed on a regular basis, and lack of transport is costs lives, and Ukrainian territory. Autumn Harvest: Silicon Curtain (Goal€22,000)https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtain----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasWe need to scale up our support for Ukraine, and these events are designed to have a major impact. Your support in making it happen is greatly appreciated. All events will be recorded professionally and published for free on the Silicon Curtain channel. Where possible, we will also live-stream events.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Car4Ukraine - Providing 4x4 vehicles to Ukrainian warriors https://car4ukraine.com/campaignsSave Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Volunteer-run, US non-profit and UK charity supporting survival and recovery of Ukrainehttps://www.ukrainianaction.com/-----------

2025-11-01 | Silicon Wafers 045 | DAILY UPDATES | His Putin blown his advantage? Through his addition to war, his obsession with the erasure of Ukraine, and the relentless tricks and lying, has he turned Trump against him? Or is this merely a spat between presumptive monarchs? A tussle of tyrants? A clash of unroyal kings? This episode, Tomahawks, deterrence, and whether Putin has misplayed the long game, to his detriment, forcing Trump, against his will, to side with Ukraine to take Russia down a peg. In this episode, we're tackling the “will they / won't they” saga of U.S. Tomahawk cruise missiles for Ukraine — what it would take to get them delivered, what they could hit, and why even the debate, let alone delivery, is already shaping behaviour in Moscow. We'll track the decision timeline, decode the tech, weigh the escalation risks, and answer the bigger question: did Putin overplay his hand with Trump, forcing Washington to take harder options? ----------Partner on this video: KYIV OF MINE Watch the trailer now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arJUcE1rxY0'Kyiv of Mine' is a documentary series about Ukraine's beautiful capital, Kyiv. The film production began in 2018, and much has changed since then. It is now 2025, and this story is far from over.https://www.youtube.com/@UCz6UbVKfqutH-N7WXnC5Ykg https://www.kyivofmine.com/#theprojectKyiv of Mine is fast paced, beautifully filmed, humorous, fun, insightful, heartbreaking, moving, hopeful. The very antithesis in fact of a doom-laden and worthy wartime documentary. This is a work that is extraordinarily uplifting. My friend Operator Starsky says the film is “Made with so much love. The film series will make you laugh and cry.” ----------SOURCES: https://www.reuters.com/world/sending-tomahawk-missiles-ukraine-remains-under-review-says-natos-rutte-2025-10-24/https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/us-tomahawk-missile-shipments-ukraine-unlikely-sources-say-2025-10-02/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/putin-says-tomahawk-supply-ukraine-would-destroy-us-relations-2025-10-05/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russias-medvedev-says-supplying-us-tomahawks-ukraine-could-end-badly-all-2025-10-13/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-curbs-power-supplies-after-attack-energy-facilities-kyiv-says-2025-10-30/https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/russian-attack-cuts-power-hundreds-thousands-northern-ukraine-2025-10-21/https://www.reuters.com/world/russia-strikes-ukraine-dwellings-targets-energy-sites-mass-attack-2025-10-10/https://www.reuters.com/world/ukraine-introduces-power-cuts-across-all-regions-after-recent-russian-attacks-2025-10-15/https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/russia-uses-missile-ukraine-that-led-trump-quit-nuclear-treaty-kyiv-says-2025-10-31/----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------

Silicon Bites Ep262 - Day 1,346 - 2025-10-31 | Russia's War Economy Is Eating Itself. The Kremlin's “military-Keynesian” sugar high is fading. The budget is creaking, sovereign reserves are thin, taxes are going up, and Russia's elites are grumbling – but are they plotting? Given the risks of being found out, and the unfortunate consequences of that, probably not. As one economist put it: the state is pouring money into things “destined to be burned on the battlefield.” We ask: is the crunch now worse—politically, if not statistically—than the 1990s? And how long can Putin keep the elites onside while the economy consumes itself?----------SOURCES: Carnegie Politika — Alexandra Prokopenko, “New Budget Confirms the Russian Public Is Paying for the War,” Oct 1, 2025Reuters — “Russian finance ministry proposes raising VAT…” Sept 24, 2025Financial Times — “Russia to raise value added tax rate to 22%…” Sept 2025Reuters — “Russia's budget deficit… Jan–May 2025 1.5% of GDP,” June 10, 2025Reuters — Central bank rate cut 50 bps to 16.5%, Oct 24, 2025Meduza — “Raising the pressure: Trump is hitting Russia with sanctions…,” Oct 28, 2025Meduza — “We expected the war to end” (elite attitudes), Jan 9, 2025The Moscow Times — “Russia's Labor Shortage Persists…,” July 31, 2025The Moscow Times (wire/Reuters) — “Russia plans debut sovereign yuan bond,” Oct 31, 2025----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------This is super important. There are so many Battalions in Ukraine, fighting to defend our freedoms, but lack basics such as vehicles. These are destroyed on a regular basis, and lack of transport is costs lives, and Ukrainian territory. Autumn Harvest: Silicon Curtain (Goal€22,000)https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtain----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasWe need to scale up our support for Ukraine, and these events are designed to have a major impact. Your support in making it happen is greatly appreciated. All events will be recorded professionally and published for free on the Silicon Curtain channel. Where possible, we will also live-stream events.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Car4Ukraine - Providing 4x4 vehicles to Ukrainian warriors https://car4ukraine.com/campaignsSave Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Volunteer-run, US non-profit and UK charity supporting survival and recovery of Ukrainehttps://www.ukrainianaction.com/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/-----------