Podcasts about Crimea

SHOW 11-20-2025 CBS EYE ON THE WORLD WITH JOHN BATCHELOR THE SHOW BEGINS IN THE DOUBTS ABOUT PEACE IN EUROPE.. FIRST HOUR 9-915 Ukraine Envoy Keith Kellogg Quits After Plan for US Peace Leaked. Anatol Lieven discusses a leaked Ukraine peace plan involving potential US legal recognition of Russian annexation of Donbass and Crimea, which would pave the way for lifting US sanctions. The plan requires Ukraine to yield the remaining Donbass slice and accept limits on its army size, although Ukraine is not required to formally agree. Guest: Anatol Lieven. 915-930 continued 930-945 Professor George Is Right: Principle Sustains American Conservatism. Peter Berkowitz reviews Professor Robert George's assertion that American conservatism's core principle is the profound, inherent, and equal dignity of each human family member. George insisted that the movement must unequivocally reject white supremacists and anti-Semites, a rebuke directed at the Heritage Foundation president's defense of Tucker Carlson. This mirrors William F. Buckley's efforts to purge extremism from conservatism. Guest: Peter Berkowitz. 945-1000 US Adds 119,000 Jobs in September, but Unemployment Hits Four-Year Peak. Chris Regal discusses consumer liquidity challenges alongside the early impacts of AI on the workforce. AI is currently displacing white-collar jobs like consulting, but physical displacement via robotics is coming. He notes concerns about an AI investment bubble but affirms confidence in major companies like Amazon and Microsoft. Guest: Chris Regal. SECOND HOUR 10-1015 Upcoming Election in Honduras. Mary Anastasia O'Grady discusses Honduran fears that the current left-wing party, allied with Venezuela and Cuba, will attempt to steal the upcoming election. This follows a playbook where elected leaders consolidate power by seizing control of institutions like the military and courts to avoid subsequent fair elections. The OAS and US State Department have issued warnings against election theft. Guest: Mary Anastasia O'Grady. 1015-1030 Russia's Slowing Wartime Economy Pushes Kremlin to Increase Taxes and Fees. Michael Bernstam analyzes Russia's economic stagnation due to war expenditure and shortages, leading the Kremlin to raise taxes, including the VAT, to close the budget gap. Sanctions are biting deep, forcing Russia to offer huge discounts—up to $38 per barrel—to its primary oil customers: India, China, and Turkey. Guest: Michael Bernstam. 1030-1045 Launch of Blue Origin's New Glenn Rocket. Eric Berger describes the successful second launch and booster landing of Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket as thrilling and a huge step forward. New Glenn is the world's third largest rocket and is crucial for Amazon's LEO constellation and NASA's Artemis moon program. Berger also supports Jared Isaacman's nomination to lead NASA. Guest: Eric Berger. 1045-1100 THIRD HOUR 1100-1115 Autocrats Versus Democrats: China, Russia, America, and the New Global Disorder. Michael McFaul analyzes the Cold War, noting that the Cuban Missile Crisis taught the need for crisis management mechanisms with adversaries. He argues that the US was too complacent, first when engaging China after Tiananmen Square without stressing values, and later when failing to invest politically and economically to consolidate democracy in post-Soviet Russia. Guest: Michael McFaul. 1115-1130 1130-1145 1145-1200 FOURTH HOUR 12-1215 The New World Report. Professor Evan Ellis discusses increased US attention to the Americas, citing the Monroe Doctrine and the risks of intervention in Venezuela. He emphasizes that narco-terror is a complex criminal economy troubling the region. The conversation also highlights rightward political movements and citizen frustration with insecurity and violence in Chile, Ecuador, and Peru. Guest: Professor Evan Ellis. 1215-1230 1230-1245 1245-100 AM

Ukraine Envoy Keith Kellogg Quits After Plan for US Peace Leaked. Anatol Lieven discusses a leaked Ukraine peace plan involving potential US legal recognition of Russian annexation of Donbass and Crimea, which would pave the way for lifting US sanctions. The plan requires Ukraine to yield the remaining Donbass slice and accept limits on its army size, although Ukraine is not required to formally agree. Guest: Anatol Lieven. 1824

In this extremely enraged episode of Follow the Money, we ask the only question that actually matters in Trump's second crime spree through history: who is getting rich off of Trump chaos and the world's misery? Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman of Trump Tyranny Tracker and Andrea Chalupa of Gaslit Nation together trace a financial pipeline of blood money that runs from the Kremlin, through Qatar, through crypto, straight into Trump World and its favorite oligarch bagmen.  While Ukrainian kids are protesting, begging the world not to look away as Russia bombs their playgrounds and kindergartens, Trump's MAGA lackeys, like Matt Gaetz protege Rep. Anna Luna, are in Florida huddling with Putin's money man and messenger, Kirill Dmitriev, sketching out yet another fake "peace plan" that is nothing but a genocide plan for Ukraine and a launchpad for a larger war with Europe. In a blatant crime of access journalism that would make Michael Wolff jealous, Axios published Kremlin/MAGA disinformation by calling it a "peace proposal." In reality, it's a Kremlin bribe: sell off Ukraine's land, launder the theft through "diplomacy," and cash out in crypto for Trump and his longtime real estate buddy-turned-Kremlin fixer Steve Witkoff, and their sons.  Their plan is for Ukraine to give up Donbas and Crimea, which suffers under Soviet-style repression, disarm Ukraine' military, and expect the world to recognize stolen land as Russian. In exchange, Trump, Witkoff, and their sons would allegedly get crypto via Qatar and a chance to turn genocide into an investment opportunity. All of this is happening while Russia openly kidnaps Ukrainian children, erases their identities, and feeds them into a military pipeline of Putin's forever war, while half of Europe anxiously prepares for war with Moscow.  Follow the money, and you see the gaslighting of Trump once again being bribed to call the Kremlin's foreign policy his own.  Be sure to follow us on our new YouTube channel to help us get the word out about Follow the Money! https://www.youtube.com/@FollowTheMoneyTrail Want to hear bonus shows and listen to Gaslit Nation ad-free? Join our community of listeners for live events like our Monday 4pm ET salons over Zoom, bonus shows, exclusive Q&A sessions, our group chat, and more! Sign up at Patreon.com/Gaslit! Show Notes: Trump Tyranny Tracker: https://trumptyrannytracker.substack.com/ Putin ally suggests Seychelles meeting with Erik Prince more than chance encounter over a beer https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/putin-ally-seychelles-meeting-erik-prince-chance-encounter/story?id=55408942 The Story Behind Jared Kushner's Curious Acceptance Into Harvard https://www.propublica.org/article/the-story-behind-jared-kushners-curious-acceptance-into-harvard Kushner got emails about WikiLeaks, Russia in 2016, lawmakers say https://www.politico.com/story/2017/11/16/jared-kushner-wikileaks-emails-245197 Trump's Mideast Envoy Steve Witkoff & Sons Blur Peace & Profit, from Real Estate to Crypto Deals https://www.democracynow.org/2025/10/3/debra_kamin_steve_witkoff_real_estate Trump and special envoy Witkoff stand to reap rewards from official business https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/30/trump-steve-witkoff-envoy George Nader arrested on child pornography charges: Nader, a well-connected Middle East fixer, accused of having sexually explicit pictures of children on his mobile phone. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/6/4/george-nader-arrested-on-child-pornography-charges Former Trump lobbyist from Lake Norman charged with distribution of child porn https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/former-trump-lobbyist-lake-norman-193651678.html Maryland delegate for Trump charged with child pornography and possession of illegal gun and explosives https://www.cnn.com/2016/05/19/politics/trump-delegate-child-porn-gun-explosives Former Trump Commerce Department official and Turning Point USA ex-employee sentenced to 5.5 years in prison for child pornography possession https://www.businessinsider.com/former-trump-commerce-official-pleads-guilty-child-porn-charge-2022-10 Former GOP Hill aide pleads guilty in child porn case Ruben Verastigui, 27, faces 12 years or more in prison under a deal with prosecutors. https://www.politico.com/news/2021/07/09/former-hill-aide-pleads-guilty-child-porn-498937

In this week's episode of One Decision, hosts Kate McCann and Sir Ben Wallce, former UK Defence Secretary, sit down for a conversation with Andriy Zagorodnyuk, former Ukraine Minister of Defence. Zagorodnyuk reveals how Russia is revolutionizing warfare with rapid weapons innovation and how Ukraine is adjusting to these changes to stay in the fight. They discuss Vladimir Putin's motives for continued aggression, including his vision for Crimea and how Ukraine's defense technology has changed the landscape of modern warfare. They also question whether NATO is prepared for a Russian attack and explore the ramifications of the war on the West and its allies. Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Original music composed and produced by Leo Sidran. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stati Uniti e Russia starebbero lavorando a un piano articolato in 28 punti per porre fine alla guerra in Ucraina. Lo rivelano alcuni media statunitensi, citando fonti anonime interne all'amministrazione Trump. Il testo sottoposto a Volodymyr Zelensky prevederebbe cessioni territoriali (Crimea e l'intero Donbass in particolare) e un dimezzamento dell'esercito ucraino. Ne parliamo con Vittorio Emanuele Parsi, Direttore ASERI Università Cattolica, Antonella Scott, firma del Sole 24Ore, e con Beda Romano, corrispondente del Sole 24Ore a Bruxelles.

Ukraine Conflict: French Arms Deal, Sabotage, and the Perilous Battle for Pokrovsk. Guest: John Hardie. John Hardie reported that Ukraine signed a letter of intent with France to obtain 100 Rafale warplanes over 10 years, along with air defense systems. While this partnership is encouraging, Hardy expressed concern that Ukraine is excessively over-diversifying its future air fleet (including F-16, Grippen, Mirage, and Rafale) which complicates long-term sustainment and maintenance. Simultaneously, alarming reports surfaced that sabotage was blamed for an explosion on a major railway line in Poland used to supply Ukraine, fitting a pattern of suspected Russian covert operations against European infrastructure. On the battlefield, fighting continues in Pokrovsk (Picro). Hardy warned that if Ukrainian forces prioritize a politically motivated hold, they risk the encirclement and destruction of troops in nearby areas. Poor weather, such as fog, plays a significant role in the conflict, as Russians often time assaults during these conditions to impede Ukrainian aerial reconnaissance and FPV drones.1855 CRIMEA

You're listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for November 17, 2025. 0:30 We dive into President Trump’s newly floated idea of a $2,000 “tariff dividend” for Americans earning under $100,000—and the heated debate it’s sparked. We break down the real numbers behind U.S. tariff revenues, the crushing weight of a $38 trillion national debt, and why handing out checks may feel good politically but won’t fix decades of fiscal irresponsibility. We explore who this proposal is aimed at, the working-class voters both parties are fighting to win back, and whether this is genuine relief or just another election-year strategy. 9:30 Plus, we cover the Top 3 Things You Need to Know. The Federal Aviation Administration lifted all restrictions on flights, airlines and airports over the weekend that were put in place during the Government Lockdown. Interim Director of FEMA David Richardson resigned Monday morning. Democrat Senator John Fetterman released a picture of himself on social media over the weekend, showing the bruising and scarring on his face after he took a fall on Friday. 12:30 Get Prodovite Plus from Victory Nutrition International for 20% off. Go to vni.life/agr and use the promo code AGR20. 13:30 We break down President Trump’s call for a full, no-holds-barred congressional vote to release every remaining Epstein file—and why the timing matters. We discuss Democrats’ attempts to weaponize selectively released emails, the media’s eagerness to push a narrative, and why even those emails ultimately undercut the left’s accusations rather than support them. The hosts explore Trump’s reasoning for demanding total transparency, including his belief that dragging out the Epstein saga has become yet another political distraction—“Russia hoax 3.0”—aimed at diverting voters from Democratic failures on the border, inflation, and public safety. 16:30 American Mamas respond to a listener’s question: “Why are you enforcing your beauty standards on Black women and forcing them to straighten their hair?” The discussion centers on recent comments from former First Lady Michelle Obama, who suggested at a public event that Black women often straighten their hair to conform to white beauty standards. The Mamas question whether hair maintenance is a racial issue or something all women deal with. And they point out that Michelle Obama has the right and platform to wear her hair however she wants, noting that she's been highly praised by media and public audiences. If you'd like to ask our American Mamas a question, go to our website, AmericanGroundRadio.com/mamas and click on the Ask the Mamas button. 23:00 Under Trump, the U.S. didn’t enter any new wars—unlike past administrations that oversaw conflicts in Iraq, Libya, and beyond. Trump’s foreign-policy wins, from the historic Abraham Accords to renewed regional cooperation in the Middle East, even citing Kazakhstan’s recent involvement as a sign of growing diplomatic momentum. 24:00 We sit down with three special guests from Ukraine—Alla Yatsentsuk, her son Daniello, and advocate Katya Pavlich—to share a firsthand account of Russia’s forced deportation of Ukrainian children. Alla recounts the terrifying moment Russian forces occupied her city and ordered children, including her 12-year-old son, to attend a so-called “rest camp” in Crimea. When the children weren’t returned, Alla learned the truth: the Russians had no intention of sending them home. With the help of the organization Save Ukraine, Alla embarked on a months-long, near-impossible journey to retrieve her child—navigating destroyed infrastructure, occupied territory, and deliberate obstruction from Russian forces. Daniello was one of the fortunate ones. Thousands of Ukrainian children are still missing, with fewer than 2,000 returned out of nearly 20,000 known abductions. Katya, representing Razom for Ukraine, explains how her organization is working to support hospitals, strengthen civil society, combat Russian disinformation, and advocate for abducted children on the world stage. She emphasizes a shared American and Ukrainian value: children are never bargaining chips. Visit razomforukraine.org to learn more. 32:00 Get TrimROX from Victory Nutrition International for 20% off. Go to vni.life/agr and use the promo code AGR20. 32:30 We break down fresh speculation surrounding Senator Ted Cruz and the possibility of a 2028 presidential run. Known for being anything but subtle, Cruz is doing little to quiet the rumors—allowing buzz about his intentions to build. We discuss Cruz’s political instincts, noting he has long kept one eye on his future ambitions. But whether he should run is another question. With JD Vance widely seen as the strongest Republican contender for 2028, we weigh whether Cruz would strengthen or divide the party. 36:00 Plus, Republican states stand by Biblical, pro-life values after the Dobbs decision, and that's a Bright Spot. We break down a new report from Americans United for Life ranking the most—and least—pro-life states in the country. With the Dobbs decision returning the issue to the states, the AUL assessment goes beyond abortion to examine each state's protections for life from conception to natural death, including bioethics, end-of-life care, conscience protections, and the legal status of the unborn. Their findings reveal a stark divide: the top 10 pro-life states—led by Arkansas, Louisiana, and Indiana—are overwhelmingly Republican, while the 10 least protective states, from Oregon to New Mexico, are all governed by Democrats. Stephen and Lewis argue this split highlights the deepest cultural divide in America today. 40:00 We unpack the escalating feud between Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and President Trump—a clash that finally erupted publicly over the weekend. Greene’s new slogan, “America First, America Only,” and her attacks on Trump over Israel policy and the Epstein files sparked a forceful response from the former president, who labeled her a “lightweight,” a “traitor,” and even a RINO. Right now Republuicans could be winning everything, but we're attacking one another instead. We've gotta say, "Whoa." 41:30 And we finish off with Michelle and Vaughn Pohl, a couple who decided who nearly doubled the size of their family when they decided to adopt four children in need. When the family's car broke down, and Secret Santa stepped in to help the family showing that the Christmas Spirit is alive and well. Follow us: americangroundradio.com Facebook: facebook.com / AmericanGroundRadio Instagram: instagram.com/americangroundradioSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Putin's Revisionist History and the 2014 Invasion of Crimea and Donbas. Professor Eugene Finkel analyzes how, isolated during the pandemic, Vladimir Putin wrote a historical essay in 2021 based on myths, asserting that Ukraine has always been Russia and must be fully subordinated. This vision clarified his expansionist goals. The 2014 Euromaidan uprising, which deposed the pro-Russian president, convinced Putin he had to act. He seized Crimea and fostered uprisings in Donbas using Russian infiltrators. Though many locals spoke Russian, most considered themselves Ukrainians wanting independence, not Russian rule. Guest: Professor Eugene Finkel. 1855

Volodymyr Zelenskyy: A Native Russian Speaker and the Evolution of Ukrainian National Identity. Professor Eugene Finkel notes that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has an unusual background: Jewish, a native Russian speaker, and a successful media entrepreneur and comedian. His election symbolizes Ukraine's evolving identity, moving from an ethnic definition to a national commitment to the state, regardless of language. Zelenskyy won as an outsider, hoping his background would enable him to negotiate a peaceful resolution regarding Donbas and Crimea directly with Vladimir Putin, bringing optimism to the new generation. Guest: Professor Eugene Finkel. 1855

Khrushchev, Crimea, and Putin's Perception of Ukraine as "Soviet Florida". Professor Eugene Finkel discusses Khrushchev's 1954 transfer of Crimea to Ukraine, undertaken for purely economic and practical reasons, though it remains a point of contention today. During the Soviet "golden period," Ukraine became vital, providing coal, industrial manufacturing, and ballistic missiles. Vladimir Putin's image of Ukraine was formed during this time, seeing it as an unquestioned extension of Russia. Due to forced Russification and its popularity as the "Soviet Florida," Putin saw Ukraine as part of Russia, a perception that was not up for debate. Guest: Professor Eugene Finkel. 1855 CRIMEA

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----------

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----------

A long war is unimaginable to people in the developed world. Since WWII, most states in Europe have not experienced conflict in their lands, barring the Balkans in the 1990s, and the US has never really lived through such a reality, apart from the bombing of Pearl Harbour in December 1941 and the attacks of 9/11. And while some parts of Africa are mired in conflict as indeed is the Middle East, it is the success of the postwar order that war is largely not an ongoing backdrop to life across the globe.And then there is Ukraine: invaded in 2014 by Russia, that illegally annexed the Crimea then sent its “little green men” into the Donbas, where there has been fighting ever since. Then came the full scale invasion on 24 February 2022. Incredibly, Ukraine repelled most of the Russian invaders, but a deadly front line was established alongside ongoing vicious Russian attacks on cities and civilian infrastructure across Ukraine.How do you understand these events as a journalist inside Ukraine, trying to report the truth while not exposing your state at war? How do you cover these events as an international journalist, seeking the real story without endangering people? And what happens to truth and journalism in a long war in which civil society is a strong player and corruption rears its head?To answer these and many other questions Ilana Bet-El is joined by Kristina Zeleniuk of website TSN and Kim Barker of the New York Times. A fluid, fascinating and funny conversation with passionate journalists.This episode was recorded on 13 November 2025ChaptersThe call for journalism: passion and purposeNavigating journalism in a war zoneThe current state in UkraineThe impact of corruption scandal on Western supportThe critical role of Ukrainian civil societyMentionsTSN websiteDmytro KhyliukThe Taliban Shuffle: Strange Days in Afghanistan and PakistanWhisky Tango FoxtrotArticles on the corruption scandal: NABU & CNNFollowKim Barker New York TimesKristina ZeleniukIlana Bet-ElInstagram @women_leaders_podcast & YouTube channelELN websiteCreditsProduction: Florence FerrandoMusic: Let Good Times Roll, RA from #UppbeatContribute to the conversation with a comment & a 5-⭐️Reach us on our Instagram and follow for updates @women_leaders_podcastWatch now our episode on Youtube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DE CASTRO: La ‘guerra civil' política de EEUU se exporta: la BBC vs Trump como batalla del wokismoJuan Antonio de Castro, exfuncionario de Naciones Unidas, analiza la creciente hegemonía de China frente a Estados Unidos, especialmente en sectores estratégicos como las tierras raras y la inteligencia artificial. Destaca que la posición de China ha fortalecido un modelo de comercio condicionado, donde los movimientos empresariales internacionales ya no se rigen por un libre mercado clásico, sino por intereses geoeconómicos y estratégicos. Europa y Estados Unidos reaccionan tardíamente, aplicando dirigismo industrial que busca contrarrestar la ventaja china, pero con menos eficacia y rapidez que Pekín. Este contexto refleja un reacomodo global en el que los modelos autoritarios y centralizados ganan terreno frente a los sistemas más abiertos y tradicionales.De Castro también aborda la polémica entre Donald Trump y la BBC, relacionada con la edición de su discurso del 6 de enero de 2021. Según él, la disputa no es solo mediática sino parte de un conflicto cultural más amplio entre globalistas y patriotas, que tiene repercusiones internacionales. Trump acusa a la BBC de tergiversar su mensaje, y la controversia evidencia cómo las divisiones políticas internas en Estados Unidos se reflejan globalmente, afectando alianzas y la percepción de los medios en Europa.En cuanto a Oriente Medio, De Castro describe un statu quo complejo en Gaza y Líbano. Señala que Hamas mantiene sus túneles y refuerza sus filas, mientras Israel conserva el control de su línea defensiva, logrando un equilibrio que beneficia temporalmente a ambos. Critica el fracaso del plan de paz de Trump y subraya la dificultad de gestionar rehenes, controlar milicias y contener la violencia en la región. La situación evidencia la persistencia de tensiones y la falta de soluciones duraderas, con actores locales e internacionales implicados en un entramado de poder y seguridad.Se aborda también la guerra en Ucrania y las relaciones entre Rusia y Estados Unidos. Destaca que el conflicto se originó en el contexto del Euromaidán de 2014 y la posterior anexión de Crimea, y que cualquier tratado de paz debe considerar la historia reciente y las demandas de Rusia. Critica la incapacidad de Europa para mediar y plantea la necesidad de un liderazgo internacional neutral que pueda facilitar negociaciones objetivas. Subraya que un enfoque equilibrado de Naciones Unidas, respaldado por ambas partes, podría ser clave para avanzar hacia un alto el fuego y sentar las bases de un acuerdo duradero.decastro #guerracivil #politica #eeuu #bbc #trump #woke #eeuu #ucrania #guerraucrania #ukraine #orientemedio #entrevista #negociostvSi quieres entrar en la Academia de Negocios TV, este es el enlace:   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwd8Byi93KbnsYmCcKLExvQ/join Síguenos en directo ➡️ https://bit.ly/2Ts9V3pSuscríbete a nuestro canal: https://bit.ly/3jsMzp2Suscríbete a nuestro segundo canal, másnegocios: https://n9.cl/4dca4Visita Negocios TV https://bit.ly/2Ts9V3pMás vídeos de Negocios TV: https://youtube.com/@NegociosTVSíguenos en Telegram: https://t.me/negociostvSíguenos en Instagram: https://bit.ly/3oytWndTwitter: https://bit.ly/3jz6LptFacebook: https://bit.ly/3e3kIuy

This episode features the inspiring story of Chris and Diana Twiggs, and their son Brendan Twiggs, who have relentlessly dedicated their time to relief work in Ukraine over the past few years, and perhaps more importantly built friendships of solidarity. Diana Twiggs, a practicing physician, started volunteering with International Medical Relief, providing essential medical care and support in urgent regions.Through Diana's initiative, Chris and Brendan have joined the cause. Chris, well known in the running community as the National Training Director for the Galloway Run-Walk-Run program, partners with Diana on trips to Ukraine, bringing medical supplies and supporting humanitarian efforts, and spreading the word. Their latest visit included both Lviv—a vital base for relief work close to the Polish border—and the capital Kyiv, where they participated in the Kyiv Marathon, standing in solidarity with Ukraine's resilient spirit and thousands of fellow runners. They also brought medical relief supplies most recently to Traveling Colonels, a group of military veterans providing critical medical relief to the front lines where through dedicated people across the country. Brendan Twiggs stands out for his ongoing commitment, joining us from the streets of Lviv as we hear the sounds of everyday life in his daily commute. Lviv Volunteer Kitchen—founded in 2014 when Russia invaded Crimea by caring individuals; serves as a place to connect relief workers to needs on the ground. The Twiggs' reflections in this episode emphasize how showing up for others can bridge divides and demonstrate in person that Ukrainians are not forgotten. They also the harrowing actions that everyday Ukrainians are taking to support their neighbors and countrymen as they fight to regain peace while striving to live a meaningful life each day. What can you do? ***Get Involved, Advocate, Give or Learn More***International Medical Relief: https://internationalmedicalrelief.org/Medical supplies were also brought to Kyiv through Traveling Colonels: https://thetravelingcolonels.com/Lviv Volunteer Kitchen Charity: Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/lvivkitchen/ or through local Ukrainian relief networks.Kyiv Marathon:Event info at https://kyivmarathon.org/ and through charity run directories.***Take Action: Contact Your Representatives***Your voice matters. Get informed and then urge continued support for Ukraine by contacting your US representatives!Find Your Elected Officials: https://www.usa.gov/elected-officialsDirect link for Senate and House contacts.For more inspiring stories and resources in the running community, visit and share: https://www.runninganthropologist.com

Die Themen in den Wissensnachrichten: +++ Schimpansen können rational denken +++ Neandertaler haben wohl mit Ocker-Stiften gemalt +++ Spinnennetze gibt es auch mit Zick-Zack-Fäden +++**********Weiterführende Quellen zu dieser Folge:Update ErdeChimpanzees rationally revise their beliefs, Science, 30.10.25Evidence for symbolic use of ochre by Micoquian Neanderthals in Crimea, Science Advances, 29.10.25The effect of different structural decoration geometries on vibration propagation in spider orb webs, PLOS One, 29.10.25Cost-neutral food tax reforms for healthier and more sustainable diets, Ecological Economics, 15.10.25Alle Quellen findet ihr hier.**********Ihr könnt uns auch auf diesen Kanälen folgen: TikTok und Instagram .

Ilya Ponomarev is a Russian-Ukrainian politician who was a member of the Russian State Duma from 2007 to 2016. After the 2022 Russian invasion, Ponomarev joined Ukraine's Territorial Defence Forces, and categorically denounced the invasion. While a member of the Russian State Duma, he was the only deputy not to vote in favour of the Russian gay propaganda law and to vote against Russia's annexation of Crimea in March 2014. He is now in exile in Ukraine and is a spokesman with insurgent Russian forces (National Republican Army) fighting on the side of Ukraine. ----------LINKS:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilya_Ponomarev https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002113qhttps://www.fpri.org/contributor/ilya-ponomarev/BOOKS:Does Putin Have to Die? The Story of How Russia Becomes a Democracy after Losing to Ukraine (Hardcover – 19 Jan. 2023)ARTICLES: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2024/01/19/ilya-ponomaryov-we-have-to-capture-the-kremlin-there-is-no-other-way-a83772 ----------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/----------

In this episode, we discuss how Russia destroys Ukrainian families, kidnaps Ukrainian children — including those who have parents — and reprograms them, changing their identity, their way of thinking, their lifestyle, their homes. *** Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher, editor-in-chief of UkraineWorld, and president of PEN Ukraine. Guest: Kateryna Rashevska, a Ukrainian human rights lawyer, expert at the Regional Centre for Human Rights, and a tireless fighter for the liberation of Ukrainian children. *** Explaining Ukraine is produced by UkraineWorld, an English-language media outlet about Ukraine run by Internews Ukraine. Listen on various platforms: https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine *** The podcast episode is produced by UkraineWorld with the support of the Askold and Dir Fund as a part of the Strong Civil Society of Ukraine - a Driver towards Reforms and Democracy project, implemented by ISAR Ednannia, funded by Norway and Sweden. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of UkraineWorld and can in no way be taken to reflect the views the Government of Norway, the Government of Sweden and ISAR *** SUPPORT: You can support our work on https://www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld Your help is crucial, as we rely heavily on crowdfunding. You can also contribute to our volunteer missions to frontline areas in Ukraine, where we deliver aid to both soldiers and civilians. Donations are welcome via PayPal at: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com. *** CONTENTS: 00:00 Kateryna Rashevska, a lawyer at the Regional Center for Human Rights 02:00 How many Ukrainian children were deported to Russia? 03:37 Why does Russia use words like "rescue" or "salvation" instead of "deportation"? 04:48 Ignoring the law: Why Russia refuses to return Ukrainian children 07:54 Militarizing Ukrainian children and the role of "UNARMIA" (Young Army) 08:25 Russia's plan to destroy the Ukrainian nation 10:36 Russia re-education: Children were taken to “camps” in Crimea and separated from their parents 15:33 The horror for parents: Losing contact and facing deprivation of parental rights as coercion 20:45 Will Putin or Lvova-Belova ever face justice? 25:33 Analysis of Melania Trump's letter to Putin 30:26 The humanitarian obligations Russia has failed to meet 35:05 Kateryna talks about her work: Submitting evidence to the ICC, proposing sanctions, and providing legal assistance

October 27th 2025 Yuriy returns to his childhood apartment in Kharkiv, reflecting on memories and the stark changes brought by war. Amidst the remnants of the past, he finds solace in small comforts and prepare the space for fellow Ukrainian soldiers passing through. Send Yuriy your letter of support fightingtherussianbeast@gmail.com  Yuriy's Podbean Patron sign-up to give once or regularly: https://patron.podbean.com/yuriy   Buy Yuriy a coffee here: https://bmc.link/yuriymat  Subscribe to his substack: https://yuriymatsarsky.substack.com/  ----more---- TRANSCRIPT: (Apple Podcasts & Podbean app users can enjoy accurate closed captions)   It is 27th of October. I'm recording this episode sitting in the kitchen of my apartment in Kharkiv. I came here for, just a few hours and almost as soon as I finish this story, I'll be living again. This apartment belonged to several generations of my family. I grew up here, as did my cousins, my daughter, and my nephews. There were always a lot of people here, always noisy and cheerful, you know those silly comedies where stereotypical Italian families all cram into a tiny kitchen and everyone talks at once, it was kind of like that here too. But for almost four years now, it hasn't been like that. The Russian border is less than 20 miles away and constant sharing has destroyed much of the civilian infrastructure. There is no heat in the apartment and electricity is often cut off. I look out the window and see almost the same view I saw all my childhood- trees with yellow, autumn leaves a few people walking by dogs, pigeons perched on the wires, waiting for my elderly neighbor to come out and feed them bread crumbs. Of course, many things in the courtyard have changed. The big, beautiful riping willow is gone, only the stump remains. A few weeks before the full scale war, it was struck by lightning and burned completely. If I believed in omens, I would have taken that as a very bad sign. Next to the stump, there is something else that was not here when I was a child, a green military van. It's mine. It's large and fairly comfortable though, it's already 20 years old. It could easily fit my whole family and we could drive somewhere to the sea, to Crimea where it is still warm, even if swimming in the sea is no longer possible. But there is no one to go with, and Crimea has long been occupied. My family is scattered across the world. The once noisy apartment now stands silent and slowly falls apart. I'm not selling it or renting it out- not only for sentimental reasons, but also because I use it as a place to rest during my trips. There is still gas here so I can hit some water and take a shower. When the power's on, I can even do laundry in the washing machine. You can't imagine what a luxury that is for a soldier. I made several sets of keys to this apartment and gave them to friends who serve nearby or occasionally pass through Kharkiv. I can tell that someone was here recently. There is a bottle of water and a can of food on the table just in case someone arrives late when the stores are closed, so they'll have something to eat and something to make tea or coffee with. Someone also spent the night in my daughter's former room and read books from her little library, Sherlock Holmes, and some modern science fiction. It's time for me to go. I'll check if I've turned off all the lights, leave some fresh water and a bit of cookies on the table for people who can come here in the future and head out from my childhood home once again. I don't know when or if I'll come back, but I really hope I will.  

In Western Europe, we typically associate Vikings with the storm-tossed waters of the North Sea and the North Atlantic, the deep Scandinavian fjords and the attacks on the monasteries and settlements of north-western Europe. This popular image rarely includes the river systems of Russia and Ukraine, the wide sweep of the Eurasian steppe, the far shores of the Caspian Sea, the incense and rituals of the Eastern Orthodox Church and the high walls and towers of the city of Constantinople. Yet for many Viking raiders, traders and settlers, it was the road to the East that beckoned. These Viking adventurers founded the Norse–Slavic dynasties of the Rus, which are entangled in the bitterly contested origin myths of Russia and Ukraine. The Rus were the first community in the region to convert to Christianity – in its Eastern Orthodox form – and so they are at the heart of the concept of ‘Holy Russia'. Russian rulers have frequently referenced these Norse origins when trying to enhance their power and secure control over the Ukrainian lands, most recently demonstrated by Vladimir Putin as his justification for seizing Crimea and invading Ukraine. In Vikings in the East: From Vladimir the Great to Vladimir Putin – The Origins of a Contested Legacy in Russia and Ukraine (BiteBack Publishing, 2025), historian Martyn Whittock explores the important but often misunderstood and manipulated role played by the Vikings in the origins of Russian power, the deadly consequences of which we are still living with today. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history

4. Khrushchev, Putin's Perceptions, and the Soviet Golden Age in Ukraine The Soviet period saw Ukraine rise to crucial importance; leaders like Khrushchev and Brezhnev spent large parts of their careers in the Ukrainian Communist Party apparatus. In 1954, Khrushchev transferred Crimea from the Russian Federation to Ukraine for practical reasons, as Kyiv was better positioned to manage it than Moscow. During the 1960s, Ukraine became a critical industrial manufacturing center, producing coal, military ballistic missiles, and space-related equipment, reinforcing its centrality to the Soviet state. Vladimir Putin, born in 1953, formed his understanding of Ukraine during this relatively calm period. For his generation, it was implicit and taken for granted that Ukraine was merely an extension of Russia—a source of industry, grain, and the beloved vacation spot of Crimea, the "Soviet Florida." Russians became emotionally attached to Ukraine as "ours," making the idea of Ukrainian independence not even a question for debate in the Russian mindset. 1855 CRIMEA

6. Volodymyr Zelenskyy: The Evolution of Ukrainian National Identity Volodymyr Zelenskyy, born in 1978, represents a modern, non-ethnic definition of Ukrainian identity. Zelenskyy is a Jewish, native Russian-speaking former comedian and successful media entrepreneur who spent a substantial part of his career in Moscow. His identity showcases that being Ukrainian is now primarily a national affiliation based on commitment to the state, transcending language or ethnic background. Zelenskyy entered politics as an outsider because the old guard had failed to bring prosperity or resolve the war in Donbas and the Crimea crisis. Russian propaganda attempts to label him as a neo-Nazi, but his background contradicts this. He initially believed that his native Russian language and past work in Moscow would enable him to successfully negotiate a peace treaty or resolution with Vladimir Putin.

8. The West's 2014 Appeasement: The Failure to Respond to Crimean Annexation. Serhii Plokhy (Professor of Ukrainian History at Harvard University) focuses on the annexation of Crimea in 2014 via "brute force" and the Western response. Professor Plokhy suggests that if NATO's reaction to Crimea had been commensurate with its response to the 2022 invasion, the current large-scale war might have been avoided. Instead, the West treated the annexation as an exception, comparing it to the 1930s Anschluss of Austria, believing Putin would cease aggression after securing the Russian-majority region. This thinking was a mistake; for example, Germany continued pursuing Nord Stream 2, based on the failed premise that economic ties guaranteed peace. NATO's overall policy was designed to pacify Russia and avoid placing military units near its borders, resulting in NATO having "very little to respond with" when the annexation occurred. Russia quickly moved beyond Crimea, concocting uprisings in Donbas, leading to a massive Russian counterattack against Ukrainian forces in the summer of 2014. This led to the Minsk II agreements, which NATO backed. However, Russia exploited Minsk II by insisting on holding elections first under its military control—a plan intended to insert a "Trojan horse" into Ukraine's political body to destabilize it and block its Euro-Atlantic integration. This resembled the policies of appeasement seen in the 1930s. 1855 BRITISH ARMY CRIMEA

6. The Dictatorial Power of Putin and the Unification of Ukraine Post-2014. Serhii Plokhy (Professor of Ukrainian History at Harvard University) focuses on the unilateral nature of decision-making in the Kremlin regarding the 2014 invasion. The decision to annex Crimea and fragment Ukraine was made by Vladimir Putin and his security chiefs during an all-night meeting on February 23–24, 2014. This process confirmed that Russia operates as a dictatorship, transitioning from the hope of Russian democracy under Yeltsin to the current reality where Putin's power is rooted in the super-presidential constitution established in 1993. Putin initially gained public support through brutality in Chechnya. While Ukraine was traditionally viewed as split between Eastern and Western orientations, Russia actively exploited these linguistic, cultural, and religious divisions in 2014 to justify the takeover of Crimea and the initiation of hybrid warfare in Donbas. Crucially, the professor emphasizes that the shock of the 2014 conflict had the opposite effect desired by Moscow: it unified Ukrainian society far more than it had ever been before. Moscow's biggest error in planning the 2022 invasion was proceeding under the assumption that Ukraine was still the divided country it had been in 2014.

1. Khmelnytsky and the Russian Imperial Project The discussion begins with the 1888 statue of Bohdan Khmelnytsky in Kyiv, symbolizing the 200-year quest to dominate Ukraine. Khmelnytsky, a 17th-century Orthodox nobleman, led a rebellion against the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth to protect the Orthodox Church and create a proto-Ukrainian state. Unable to win against Poland, he swore allegiance to the Tsar of Moscow, leading Russians to celebrate him as the unifier of Ukraine and Russia. Khmelnytsky intended a military alliance, but the Tsars viewed it as Ukraine fully joining Russia, gradually dismantling Cossack freedoms. By 1783, coinciding with the US Peace of Paris, Catherine the Great formalized Russia's imperial project, expanding to the Black Sea and integrating Crimea. Russia treated Ukraine as a colonial project, calling it "New Russia" and inviting diverse European settlers, seeking to force these people to become Russian, which Ukrainians resisted, forming the core of ongoing conflict. 1859 ODESSA

4. The 2014 Kremlin Decision and Ukrainian Unity Against Russian Imperialism. Serhii Plokhy (Professor of Ukrainian History at Harvard University) discusses the all-night Kremlin meeting on February 23–24, 2014, where Vladimir Putin and his state security chiefs unilaterally decided to annex Crimea and fragment Ukraine. This scene exemplifies modern Russia's nature as a dictatorship, where critical decisions are made by one man—Putin, a former FSB chekist—without democratic oversight. Putin's dictatorial powers are legally based on the super-presidential constitution approved in 1993, following Boris Yeltsin's actions against the parliament. Previously, Putin built credibility by being brutal during the conquest of Chechnya in 1999. A longstanding stereotype divided Ukraine between westward (often Roman Catholic/cosmopolitan) and eastward (Orthodox/Russian-speaking) orientations. While Russia exploited these existing linguistic, cultural, and religious tensions in 2014 to facilitate the seizure of Crimea and initiate hybrid warfare in Donbas, the ultimate effect of the 2014 aggression was the creation of a much more unified Ukrainian society than had ever existed before. Moscow's failure to recognize this post-2014 change was a fundamental miscalculation when invading in 2022.

1. The Roots of the Russo-Ukrainian War: Putin's Power and the Failure of the 2008 NATO Summit. Serhii Plokhy (Professor of Ukrainian History at Harvard University) analyzes the origins of the Russo-Ukrainian War, highlighting Vladimir Putin's authority, which is derived from Russia's super-presidential constitution. This power allowed him to move toward dictating who could align with the West. The 2008 NATO summit in Bucharest proved critical: the alliance split, with the US favoring membership for Ukraine and Georgia, and Germany leading opposition. This resulted in a failure to agree, leaving Ukraine and Georgia exposed to future Russian attacks without military guarantees. Putin responded by starting the war in Georgia later that year, effectively annexing territory and rendering Georgia ineligible for NATO. In Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych, backed by Putin, lost the 2004 election due to the Orange Revolution, which Putin viewed as a serious threat to his authority in Russia. Yanukovych returned in 2010 and, pressured by Russia, refused to sign an association agreement with the European Union in 2013, triggering the Euromaidan Revolution. This protest against Moscow's influence was a direct prelude to the annexation of Crimea and the start of the 2014 war. 1855 TATARS CRIMEA

5. Western Appeasement of 2014: Crimea Annexation and the Flawed Minsk Accords. Serhii Plokhy (Professor of Ukrainian History at Harvard University) examines the Western reaction to the annexation of Crimea in February 2014, following the appearance of "little green men." Professor Plokhy asserts that had the West reacted to the Crimean annexation with the same severity as they did to the 2022 invasion, the major war might have been avoided. Instead, the collective West treated Crimea as an isolated exception, drawing a historical parallel to the 1930s Anschluss of Austria, and mistakenly believed that Putin would stop there. This flawed assumption led Germany to pursue economic ties like Nord Stream 2, hoping escalation would be less likely. Moreover, NATO's policy was to pacify Russia by not placing military units close to its borders, leaving the alliance with "very little to respond with" in 2014. Although the annexation was quickly followed by Russian-concocted violence in Donbas, leading to a massive Russian counterattack in summer 2014, the West pursued the Minsk II agreements. These agreements were often implemented according to Russia's interpretation: requiring elections first under Russian military control, intended to create a "Trojan horse" to destabilize Ukraine and preclude its movement toward the EU or NATO. This approach was closely related to the "policies of appeasement of the 1930s." 1840 KHIV

5. Putin's 2021 Essay and the Road to Annexation: Myths Versus Reality Isolated during the COVID-19 pandemic, Vladimir Putin read history and published an essay in 2021 that was revelatory of his expansionist, revisionist thinking. This document, based on historical myths, asserts that Ukrainians are essentially Russians, that Ukraine has always been Russia, and that its future must be fully subordinated to Moscow. Experts often misjudged Putin, seeing him as utterly cynical and rational, failing to recognize his ideological commitment to turning these myths into reality. The annexation of Crimea in 2014 was a reaction to the Euromaidan uprising, which deposed the pro-Russian president Yanukovych. Putin saw Ukraine's pivot to the West as an immediate threat, necessitating the seizure of Crimea and the Donbas industrial areas before it was "too late." In Donbas, initial local protests were quickly bolstered by Russian infiltrators, mercenaries, and funding, escalating the situation into a mix of local dissent and invasion.

Elena Kirillova was Australia's Senior Trade Commissioner in Russia from April 2013 to October 2015. We talked about trade between Australia and Russia before 2014 and how the annexation of Crimea, sanctions, counter-sanctions and the downing of a Malaysian Boeing affected it. - Елена Кириллова была старшим торговым представителем Австралии в России в период с апреля 2013 по октябрь 2015 года. Мы поговорили о том, какой была торговля между Австралией и Россией до 2014 года и как аннексия Крыма, санкции, контрсанкции и сбитие малайзийского боинга повлияли на нее.

In Western Europe, we typically associate Vikings with the storm-tossed waters of the North Sea and the North Atlantic, the deep Scandinavian fjords and the attacks on the monasteries and settlements of north-western Europe. This popular image rarely includes the river systems of Russia and Ukraine, the wide sweep of the Eurasian steppe, the far shores of the Caspian Sea, the incense and rituals of the Eastern Orthodox Church and the high walls and towers of the city of Constantinople. Yet for many Viking raiders, traders and settlers, it was the road to the East that beckoned. These Viking adventurers founded the Norse–Slavic dynasties of the Rus, which are entangled in the bitterly contested origin myths of Russia and Ukraine. The Rus were the first community in the region to convert to Christianity – in its Eastern Orthodox form – and so they are at the heart of the concept of ‘Holy Russia'. Russian rulers have frequently referenced these Norse origins when trying to enhance their power and secure control over the Ukrainian lands, most recently demonstrated by Vladimir Putin as his justification for seizing Crimea and invading Ukraine. In Vikings in the East: From Vladimir the Great to Vladimir Putin – The Origins of a Contested Legacy in Russia and Ukraine (BiteBack Publishing, 2025), historian Martyn Whittock explores the important but often misunderstood and manipulated role played by the Vikings in the origins of Russian power, the deadly consequences of which we are still living with today. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

In Western Europe, we typically associate Vikings with the storm-tossed waters of the North Sea and the North Atlantic, the deep Scandinavian fjords and the attacks on the monasteries and settlements of north-western Europe. This popular image rarely includes the river systems of Russia and Ukraine, the wide sweep of the Eurasian steppe, the far shores of the Caspian Sea, the incense and rituals of the Eastern Orthodox Church and the high walls and towers of the city of Constantinople. Yet for many Viking raiders, traders and settlers, it was the road to the East that beckoned. These Viking adventurers founded the Norse–Slavic dynasties of the Rus, which are entangled in the bitterly contested origin myths of Russia and Ukraine. The Rus were the first community in the region to convert to Christianity – in its Eastern Orthodox form – and so they are at the heart of the concept of ‘Holy Russia'. Russian rulers have frequently referenced these Norse origins when trying to enhance their power and secure control over the Ukrainian lands, most recently demonstrated by Vladimir Putin as his justification for seizing Crimea and invading Ukraine. In Vikings in the East: From Vladimir the Great to Vladimir Putin – The Origins of a Contested Legacy in Russia and Ukraine (BiteBack Publishing, 2025), historian Martyn Whittock explores the important but often misunderstood and manipulated role played by the Vikings in the origins of Russian power, the deadly consequences of which we are still living with today. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/central-asian-studies

In Western Europe, we typically associate Vikings with the storm-tossed waters of the North Sea and the North Atlantic, the deep Scandinavian fjords and the attacks on the monasteries and settlements of north-western Europe. This popular image rarely includes the river systems of Russia and Ukraine, the wide sweep of the Eurasian steppe, the far shores of the Caspian Sea, the incense and rituals of the Eastern Orthodox Church and the high walls and towers of the city of Constantinople. Yet for many Viking raiders, traders and settlers, it was the road to the East that beckoned. These Viking adventurers founded the Norse–Slavic dynasties of the Rus, which are entangled in the bitterly contested origin myths of Russia and Ukraine. The Rus were the first community in the region to convert to Christianity – in its Eastern Orthodox form – and so they are at the heart of the concept of ‘Holy Russia'. Russian rulers have frequently referenced these Norse origins when trying to enhance their power and secure control over the Ukrainian lands, most recently demonstrated by Vladimir Putin as his justification for seizing Crimea and invading Ukraine. In Vikings in the East: From Vladimir the Great to Vladimir Putin – The Origins of a Contested Legacy in Russia and Ukraine (BiteBack Publishing, 2025), historian Martyn Whittock explores the important but often misunderstood and manipulated role played by the Vikings in the origins of Russian power, the deadly consequences of which we are still living with today. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/russian-studies

In Western Europe, we typically associate Vikings with the storm-tossed waters of the North Sea and the North Atlantic, the deep Scandinavian fjords and the attacks on the monasteries and settlements of north-western Europe. This popular image rarely includes the river systems of Russia and Ukraine, the wide sweep of the Eurasian steppe, the far shores of the Caspian Sea, the incense and rituals of the Eastern Orthodox Church and the high walls and towers of the city of Constantinople. Yet for many Viking raiders, traders and settlers, it was the road to the East that beckoned. These Viking adventurers founded the Norse–Slavic dynasties of the Rus, which are entangled in the bitterly contested origin myths of Russia and Ukraine. The Rus were the first community in the region to convert to Christianity – in its Eastern Orthodox form – and so they are at the heart of the concept of ‘Holy Russia'. Russian rulers have frequently referenced these Norse origins when trying to enhance their power and secure control over the Ukrainian lands, most recently demonstrated by Vladimir Putin as his justification for seizing Crimea and invading Ukraine. In Vikings in the East: From Vladimir the Great to Vladimir Putin – The Origins of a Contested Legacy in Russia and Ukraine (BiteBack Publishing, 2025), historian Martyn Whittock explores the important but often misunderstood and manipulated role played by the Vikings in the origins of Russian power, the deadly consequences of which we are still living with today. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/eastern-european-studies

In Western Europe, we typically associate Vikings with the storm-tossed waters of the North Sea and the North Atlantic, the deep Scandinavian fjords and the attacks on the monasteries and settlements of north-western Europe. This popular image rarely includes the river systems of Russia and Ukraine, the wide sweep of the Eurasian steppe, the far shores of the Caspian Sea, the incense and rituals of the Eastern Orthodox Church and the high walls and towers of the city of Constantinople. Yet for many Viking raiders, traders and settlers, it was the road to the East that beckoned. These Viking adventurers founded the Norse–Slavic dynasties of the Rus, which are entangled in the bitterly contested origin myths of Russia and Ukraine. The Rus were the first community in the region to convert to Christianity – in its Eastern Orthodox form – and so they are at the heart of the concept of ‘Holy Russia'. Russian rulers have frequently referenced these Norse origins when trying to enhance their power and secure control over the Ukrainian lands, most recently demonstrated by Vladimir Putin as his justification for seizing Crimea and invading Ukraine. In Vikings in the East: From Vladimir the Great to Vladimir Putin – The Origins of a Contested Legacy in Russia and Ukraine (BiteBack Publishing, 2025), historian Martyn Whittock explores the important but often misunderstood and manipulated role played by the Vikings in the origins of Russian power, the deadly consequences of which we are still living with today. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2025-10-17 | Silicon Wafers 031 | DAILY UPDATES | Today: Why Russia's War Machine Is Cracking, and it fails to fundamentally reform. Is the Russian military failing? What systemic, strategic, technical, and economic fractures are eating it from within? And what does that mean for Ukraine and Russia's imperial dreams? Here are the angles we'll explore: 1. Strategic misalignment & flawed doctrine2. Structural weaknesses in the military‑industrial complex3. Logistics, supply chains, and chokepoints4. Technology, drones, and innovation shortfalls5. Economic strain, manpower, and corruption6. Recent battlefield case study + outlook----------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: Russia's War Machine Runs Out of Resources — Reddit discussion, citing military spending dataComparing the Size and Capabilities of the Russian and Ukrainian Militaries — Council on Foreign RelationsRussia's Struggle to Modernize Its Military Industry — Chatham House Russia Analytical Report, Oct. 6–14, 2025 — RussiaMatters Disassembling the Russian War Machine: Logistics, Procurement, Constraints — KSE Institute Russia Has the Resources for a Long War in Ukraine — Carnegie Endowment Economic impact of the Russo‑Ukrainian war — Wikipedia & referencesRussian arms industry overview — WikipediaBattle of Avdiivka (2023–2024) — Wikipedia & open sources Forecasting Russian Equipment Losses Using Time Series and Deep Learning Models (ArXiv)“Russia's coal miners buckle under sanctions…” — Financial Times (2025) “Russian high military recruitment bonuses…” — Business Insider (2025)“New report says Russia is better able to withstand heavy battlefield losses…” — AP News“Ukraine war briefing: Crimea oil depot burns…” — The Guardian“The key to success is in the sky” — The Guardian on Russia's air assault“Power restored to 800,000 in Kyiv…” — AP News“Russian tycoon body count … mysterious deaths” — NY Post“Russia is unleashing a new surge of exploding drone attacks on Ukraine's rail network” — Business Insider“The ‘Deathonomics' Powering Russia's War Machine” — Wall Street JournalThe Economic Costs of the Russia‑Ukraine War: A Synthetic Control Study of (Lost) Entrepreneurship — Audretsch et al. (arXiv)----------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----------

Today, Host Esty Dinur speaks with cultural anthropologist and professor Greta Uehling about her book Decolonizing Ukraine: the Indigenous People of Crimea and Pathways to Freedom. The post The Struggle and Triumph of the Crimean Indigenous People appeared first on WORT-FM 89.9.

This week Roger Moorhouse and Saul David analyse a week of potential shifts in the conflict. On the frontline: Ukrainian civilians evacuate Kupiansk as security deteriorates; a UN humanitarian convoy is deliberately attacked in Kherson; and a strike hits a Kharkiv hospital. Ukraine continues hitting back, targeting the Feodosia oil terminal in Crimea amidst a potential chemical threat from a ruptured ammonia pipeline. In the diplomatic sphere, Donald Trump rattles the Kremlin by suggesting he might send Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine, prompting intense Russian warnings. Meanwhile, signs of Putin's diplomatic discomfort appear as he is forced to apologize to Azerbaijan, and early whispers of internal dissent surface in Russia's major cities. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com Producer: James Hodgson X (Twitter): @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Day 1,328.Today, as we learn the Donald Trump administration has been sharing intelligence enabling Kyiv to strike at Russian energy facilities, we reflect on the likelihood that Tomahawk missiles are incoming, and the fallout from the US President not receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. Then we hear live from the country of Georgia, where protests continue and tensions remain high, before Francis ends with an appeal on a neglected subject: animals in war.Contributors:Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Marika Mikia-shvili (Foreign affairs, Droa Party - Georgia). @Mikiashvili_M on X.MORE TICKETS JUST RELEASED FOR 'UKRAINE: THE LATEST' LIVE, IN-PERSON:Join us for an in-person discussion and Q&A at the distinguished Honourable Artillery Company in London on 22nd October starting at 7pm.Our panel includes General Sir Richard Barrons, former head of UK Joint Forces Command and latterly one of the authors of Britain's Strategic Defence Review, and Orysia Lutsevych, head of the Ukraine Forum at the Chatham House think tank. Tickets are open to everybody and can be purchased at: https://www.squadup.com/events/ukrainelive SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST' WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It's free for everyone, including non-subscribers.CONTENT REFERENCED:Learn more about the Dickin Medal - the animals' Victoria Cross:https://www.pdsa.org.uk/what-we-do/animal-awards-programme/pdsa-dickin-medal Trump gave specific intelligence to Ukraine for strikes on Russian energy (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/10/12/trump-shares-intelligence-ukraine-strike-russian-energy/ Putin: Trump's too good for the Nobel Peace Prize (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/10/10/donald-trump-loses-out-on-nobel-peace-prize-2025/ Melania Trump: I convinced Putin to send Ukrainian children home (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/2025/10/10/melania-trump-putin-children-families/ Senate Passes Bipartisan $925 Billion Defense Policy Bill (New York Times):https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/09/us/senate-passes-bipartisan-925-billion-defense-policy-bill.html Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

015 Reflexiona Hoy | Un Soldado en la Guerra de Crimea by Ministerios Hebron

Day 1,321.Today, we break down Ukraine's escalating drone war targeting Russian industry and examine how Ukrainian intelligence claims China supplied satellite imagery of US-funded factories. We also cover the latest riots in Georgia and election results in Czechia, analysing what they reveal about European political stability. Later, following a weekend of explosions across Russia and occupied Crimea, a RAND Corporation analyst joins us to assess Putin's weakening oil industry, the potential breaking point for Russia's energy sector, and how a proposed European “drone wall” could reshape the continent's defences.Contributors:Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.With thanks to RAND Analyst Michael Bohnert.CONTENT REFERENCED:‘The Battle for Odesa: Ukraine's Culture War' (Francis & Dom Video Documentary):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28HqbQLYGMM Europe is facing its ‘Pearl Harbor moment' (Landbergis in The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/10/05/europe-faces-pearl-harbor-moment/ Georgia's presidential palace ‘attacked' after pro-Russia party's win (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/10/05/georgia-protests-presidential-palace-georgian-dream-tbilisi/ Santander hires former head of British Army (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/10/06/santander-hires-former-head-of-british-army/ BOOK NOW: 'UKRAINE: THE LATEST' LIVE, IN-PERSON:Join us for an in-person discussion and Q&A at the distinguished Honourable Artillery Company in London on 22nd October at 7pm.Our panel includes General Sir Richard Barrons, former head of UK Joint Forces Command and latterly one of the authors of Britain's Strategic Defence Review, and Orysia Lutsevych, head of the Ukraine Forum at the Chatham House think tank. Tickets are open to everybody and can be purchased at:https://www.squadup.com/events/ukraineliveThey are going fast, so don't delay!SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST' WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It's free for everyone, including non-subscribers.Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

RANKOPAN6.mp3 - The Great Divergence, Coal Location, and Global Climate Shocks Peter Frankopan | The Earth Transformed: An Untold History The Great Divergence seeks to explain how Europe accelerated scientifically and technologically after 1500 to dominate global empires. A key factor was location: England benefited from coal fields situated close to London and easily transportable by sea, unlike China's distant resources. Climate shocks created opportunities for European powers. Severe famines and droughts in India (such as the 1770s Bengal famine that killed 30 million) shattered the Mughal state's ability to collect revenue, facilitating British control. Additionally, the 1783 Laki volcanic eruption caused a climate shock affecting Egypt's Nile, diverting Ottoman focus southward and enabling Catherine the Great to annex Crimea.

Send us a textToday, we discuss the histories of the remnants of the Golden Horde and the Mongol Invasion, the khanates of Astrakhan, Kazan, and Crimea. Support the show

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, thousands of children have disappeared from their homes. Separated from their families, many were sent to ‘re-education' camps in Crimea, others, deep into the heart of Russia. So just what is it like for those children?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/thestoryWARNING: This episode contains reference to sexual violence, torture, and suicide. Listener discretion is advised. Written and read by: Jane Mulkerrins, Associate Editor of The Times Magazine.Producer: Dave Creasey.Clips: ITV News, France24, Sky News, DRM News, BBC News, Russian National Anthem. Photo: Eva Pentel for The Times Magazine.Read more: I was kidnapped by Russia at 16 — like so many Ukrainian kids Watch the film.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2025-10-02 | Silicon Wafers 017 | Today's episode focuses on a blistering new front of the war in Ukraine — energy warfare inside Russia — and what this means for Putin's war machine and his regime. We'll walk through four interlinked stories:1. Ukraine's strikes on Russian refineries and the fuel shock inside Russia2. Russia's pivot to Asian gasoline imports as its refining base crumbles3. Trump's green-light for U.S. intelligence sharing aimed at Russian energy targets4. What all this reveals about Putin's war, domestic repression, and regime brittleness. Ukraine's strikes on Russian refineries: fuel lines, export bans, price shockFor four years, Ukraine's military campaign has largely focused on military sites — barracks, command posts, supply lines. But in recent weeks, a new vector has burst into view: the decapitation of Russia's refining and fuel infrastructure.According to the Kyiv Independent, “Ukraine's sustained campaign of strikes on refineries is now causing havoc at gas stations in Russia and occupied Crimea, with prices skyrocketing and short-term shortages widely reported.” (Karol Luczka, Oct. 1, 2025) (The Kyiv Independent)----------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.” ----------Autumn Harvest: Silicon Curtain (Goal €22,000)This is super important. We'll be supporting troops in Pokrovsk, Kharkiv, and other regions where the trucks are needed the most. 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-curtain----------SOURCES: Ukraine: The Latest by The Telegraph team ---https://open.spotify.com/show/6cnkk1J0I1UqtxTYVUL4Fe?si=fb9c151d2f21405a In Moscow's Shadows, hosted by Mark Galeotti ---https://open.spotify.com/show/1NKCazxYstY6o8vhpGQSjF?si=4215e2d786a44d64 Russian Roulette hosted by Max Bergmann and Dr. Maria Snegovaya ---https://podcasts.apple.com/tw/podcast/russian-roulette/id1112258664?l=en-GB Hosted by Michael Naki ---https://www.youtube.com/@MackNack Faygin Live channel ---https://www.youtube.com/@FeyginLive Hromadske channel ---https://www.youtube.com/@hromadske_ua Hosted by Vitaly Portnikov ---https://www.youtube.com/@portnikov Hosted by Vladimir Milov ---https://www.youtube.com/@Vladimir_Milov Sternenko channel ---https://www.youtube.com/@STERNENKO The Power Vertical with Brian Whitmore https://www.powervertical.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----------

Day 1,317.Today, as Donald Trump reportedly provides Ukraine with intelligence for long-range missile strikes against Russia, we assess just how serious the economic situation is becoming amid reports of gas shortages. Then, as European leaders join President Zelensky in Copenhagen, we hear about the new 'drone wall' and how Moscow has upgraded its missiles to better evade Patriot air defense systems.Contributors:Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.James Kilner (Foreign Correspondent). @jkjourno on X.BOOK NOW: 'UKRAINE: THE LATEST' LIVE, IN-PERSON:Join us for an in-person discussion and Q&A at the distinguished Honourable Artillery Company in London on 22nd October at 7pm.Our panel includes General Sir Richard Barrons, former head of UK Joint Forces Command and latterly one of the authors of Britain's Strategic Defence Review, and Orysia Lutsevych, head of the Ukraine Forum at the Chatham House think tank. Tickets are open to everybody and can be purchased at: https://www.squadup.com/events/ukraineliveThey are going fast, so don't delay!SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST' WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It's free for everyone, including non-subscribers.CONTENT REFERENCED:Adelie's interview with mother of Ukrainian child adopted by Putin ally:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nato-and-russia-edge-closer-to-standoff-exclusive/id1612424182?i=1000728072996Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/episode/5qaTQOZyq5jVUK1B2U7CqhUS ‘to provide Ukraine with intelligence for long-range strikes in Russia' (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025/10/02/us-ukraine-intelligence-long-range-strikes-russia/Russian missile upgrade outpaces Ukraine's Patriot defences (Financial Times):https://www.ft.com/content/078b8e70-a58c-47cc-b573-598850dd5685 Baltic Defences Compared (Eesti Ekspress):https://ekspress.delfi.ee/artikkel/120403794/baltic-defences-compared-the-enemy-is-the-same-but-the-preparations-and-considerations-very-differentUkraine hacks Crimea proxy head, uncovers child abduction files, intelligence source says (Kyiv Independent):https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-hacks-crimea-proxy-uncovers-child-abduction-files/LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST IN NEW LANGUAGES:The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them. Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatestSubscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we talk about Article 4, big sticks, and spheres of influence.We also discuss Moldova, super powers, and new fronts.Recommended Book: More Everything Forever by Adam BeckerTranscriptThe North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO, was originally formed in 1949 in the wake of World War 2 and at the beginning of the Cold War.At that moment, the world was beginning to orient toward what we might think of as the modern global order, which at the time was predicated on having two superpowers—the US and the Soviet Union—and the world being carved up into their respective spheres of influence.NATO was formed as the military component of that protection effort, as the Soviets (and other powers who had occupied that land in the past) had a history of turning their neighbors into client states, because their territory provides little in the way of natural borders. Their inclination, then, was to either invade or overthrow neighboring governments so they could function as buffers between the Soviet Union and its potential enemies.The theory behind NATO is collective security: if anyone attacks one of the member nations, the others will come to their aid. Article 5 of the NATO treaty says that an attack against one member is considered an attack against all members, and while this theoretically would be applied against any would-be attacker, it was 100% created so that the Soviets and their Warsaw Pact allies knew that if they attacked, for instance, Norway, the other NATO nations—including, importantly, the United States, which again, was one of just two superpowers in the world at that point, all the other powers, like the UK and France having been devastated by WWII—would join in their defense.NATO, today, is quite a bit bigger than it was originally: it started out with just 12 countries in Europe and North America, and as of 2025, there are 32, alongside a handful of nations that are hoping to join, and are at various points along the way to possibly someday becoming member states.What I'd like to talk about today are recent provocations by the Soviet Union's successor state, Russia, against NATO, and what these provocations might portend for the future of the region.—In early 2014, Russia invaded—in a somewhat deniable way, initially funding local rabble-rousers and using unmarked soldiers and weapons—the eastern portion of Ukraine, and then annexed an important Black Sea region called Crimea. Then in early 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, massing hundreds of thousands of military assets on their shared border before plunging toward Ukraine's capitol and other vital strategic areas.Against the odds, as Ukraine is small and poor compared to Russia, and has a far smaller military, as well, Ukrainians managed to hold off the Russian assault, and today, about 3.5 years later, Ukraine continues to hold Russia off, though Russian forces have been making incremental gains in the eastern portion of the country over the past year, and Russian President Putin seems convinced he can hold the Donbas region, in particular, even if peace is eventually declared.At the moment, though, peace seems unlikely, as Russian forces continue to grind against increasingly sophisticated and automated Ukrainian defenses, the invading force, in turn, bolstered by North Korean ammunition and troops. Ukraine's exhausted soldiery is periodically and irregularly bulwarked by resources from regional and far-flung allies, helping them stay in the game, and they're fleshing out their locally grown defense industry, which has specialized in asymmetric weaponry like drones and rockets, but Russia still has the advantage by pretty much any metric we might use to gauge such things.Over the past three weeks, concerns that this conflict might spill over into the rest of Europe have been heightened by Russian provocations along the eastern edge of the NATO alliance.Russia flew drones into Poland and Romania, fighter jets into Estonia, and aggressively flew fighters over a Germany Navy frigate in the Baltic Sea. Article 4 of the NATO treaty was invoked, which is the lead-up invocation to an eventual invocation of Article 5, which would be a full-fledged defense, by the bloc, against someone who attacked a NATO member.And that's on top of Russia's persistent and ongoing efforts to influence politics in Moldova, which held an election over the weekend that could serve as a foot in the door for Russian influence campaigns and Russia-stoked coups within the EU, or could become one more hardened border against such aggressions, depending on how the election pans out. The final results aren't in as of the day I'm recording this episode, but there are fears that if the pro-Russian parties win, they'll turn the country—which is located on Ukraine's borders, opposite Russia—into another Russian puppet state, similar to Belarus, but if the pro-Russian parties don't do well, they'll try to launch a coup, because Russian disinformation in the country has been so thorough, and has indicated, in essence, if they lose, the process was rigged.All of which is occurring at a moment in which NATO's most powerful and spendy member, by far, the US, is near-universally pulling out of international activities, the second Trump administration proving even more antagonistic toward allies than the first one, and even more overt in its disdain for alliances like NATO, as well. It's probably worth noting here, too, that part of why things are so hectic in Moldova is that the US government has stopped pressuring social networks to tamp down on overt misinformation and propaganda from Russia-aligned groups, and that's led to significant fog of war for this most recent election.Considering the US's recent unreliability, and in some cases complete absence regarding NATO and similar alliances and pacts, it's perhaps prudent that NATO member states have recently agreed to up their individual spending on defense, all of these states meeting or exceeding their pre-2025-summit goal of 2% of GDP, that target increasing to 5% by 2035.This is notable in part because it's something Trump demanded, and that demand seems to have worked and probably been a good idea, but this is also notable because of what it represents: a cessation of leadership by the US in this alliance.The US has long been the big stick wielded by its European allies, and this administration basically said, hey, you need to make your own big sticks, you may not have access to our weapons and support anymore. And while it will still take a while to both get their funding up to snuff and to spend those funds appropriately, outfitting their defenses and shoring up their numbers, this would seem to be a step in that direction—though there's simmering concern that it might be too little, too late.That concern is mostly held by Russia-watchers who have noted a big pivot by Russia's leadership, and in the Russian economy.Over the past 3.5 years since it invaded Ukraine, that invasion taking a lot longer than they thought it would, Russia has shifted into a total war stance, its entire economy becoming reliant on its continued invasion of Ukraine.Should that invasion end or ebb, or should it continue to fail to give the Russian government enough successes, so it can brag about how well it's doing to its citizenry and oligarchs, it would probably need another target—another front in the war that it can open to justify the continued churning-out of weapons and soldiers, and the continued spending of a huge chunk of its GDP toward the military. Lacking that churn, it's economy would be in even worse straits than it's in, today, and lacking that cause, it's possible support for the government could collapse.It's also been posited that it could be a disaster Putin's regime if too many Russian veterans, wounded and traumatized from their time on the front lines in Ukraine, were to arrive back in Russia all at once. That's the sort of situation that could lead to an uprising against the government, or bare minimum a lot of turmoil that they don't want to deal with. Having another front, another battle to send them to, would solve that problem; it would be an excuse to keep them fighting external enemies, rather than looking for internal ones.Russia's Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, recently said that NATO and the EU have declared a “real war” against Russia by participating in the conflict; by providing arms and financial support for Ukraine.This is, of course, a silly thing to say, though it is the kind of statement an aggressor makes when they want to make themselves sound like the victim, and want to justify moving on to victimize someone else. You attacked us for no reason! We are thus completely within our rights to defend ourselves by attacking you; we are in the right here, you're the bad guys.This could be just saber-rattling, and it usually is. Lavrov says things like this all the time, and it's almost always state-sanctioned bluster. The drone and jet flyovers, likewise, could be meant to send a signal to the EU and NATO: back off, this is not your fight, but if you continue supporting Ukraine, we'll make it your fight, and we think we can beat you.It's also possible, though, that these actions are meant to test NATO defenses at a moment in which the US is largely absent from the region, China and Russia have never been tighter, including in supporting each other's regional goals and militaries, and in which Russia seemingly has many reasons, mostly internal, to expand the scope of the conflict.Show Noteshttps://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/pistorius-russian-jet-flew-over-142629311.html?guccounter=1https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/19/world/europe/russian-fighter-jets-estonia-nato.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/07/business/russia-disinformation-trump.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/20/world/europe/poland-drones-russia-nato.htmlhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prelude_to_the_Russian_invasion_of_Ukrainehttps://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5ygjv0r2myohttps://thehill.com/policy/international/5522862-lavrov-nato-eu-russia/https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/27/europe/putin-hybrid-war-europe-risks-intlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/27/world/europe/russia-europe-poland-drones-moldova-election.htmlhttps://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-poland-drones-sanctions-rafale-429ff46431a916feff629f26a5d0c0dahttps://www.reuters.com/world/europe/denmark-has-no-plans-invoke-natos-article-4-foreign-minister-says-2025-09-26/https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2025/09/27/More-drones-spotted-Denmark/4031758983759/https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-poland-drones-defense-kyiv-ec284922b946737b98a28f179ac0c5a0https://apnews.com/article/poland-airspace-drones-russia-airport-closed-cf7236040d8c7858104a29122aa1bd57https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-poland-drones-fa2d5d8981454499fa611a1468a5de8bhttps://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-poland-drones-1232774279039f9e5c5b78bd58686cb9https://apnews.com/article/british-intelligence-mi6-russia-war-443df0c37ff2254fcc33d5425e3beaa6https://apnews.com/article/nato-article-4-explainer-russia-poland-estonia-26415920dfb8458725bda517337adb12https://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/nato-article-4-russia/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/28/world/europe/moldova-election-russia-eu.htmlhttps://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_49187.htmhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATOhttps://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_52044.htm This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit letsknowthings.substack.com/subscribe

Day 1,310.Today, as drones once again cause alarm in Denmark, and Ukrainian strikes inside Russia add to Vladimir Putin's fuel woes, we report on President Zelensky's speech at the United Nations in New York, and hear from Dr Jade McGlynn in our latest fortnightly update on resistance activities in the occupied territories.Contributors:Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.Dr. Jade McGlynn (War Studies Department of King's College). @DrJadeMcGlynn on X.JOIN US FOR 'UKRAINE: THE LATEST' LIVE, IN-PERSON:Join us for an in-person discussion and Q&A at the distinguished Honourable Artillery Company in London on 22nd October starting at 7pm.Our panel includes General Sir Richard Barrons, former head of UK Joint Forces Command and latterly one of the authors of Britain's Strategic Defence Review, and Orysia Lutsevych, head of the Ukraine Forum at the Chatham House think tank.Tickets are open to everybody and can be purchased at: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainelive Content referenced:Zelensky's Speech at the UN:https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/vistup-prezidenta-pid-chas-zagalnih-debativ-generalnoyi-asam-100349 How Zelensky's Charm Offensive Reversed Trump's Skepticism on Ukraine (Wall Street Journal):https://www.wsj.com/world/how-zelenskys-charm-offensive-reversed-trumps-skepticism-on-ukraine-3818cab4?mod=hp_lead_pos9 Francis's Wiesbaden Panel on Drone Evolution and AI:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VL3bJO9Qsc Europe's defence giants rise by £8bn after Trump backs Ukraine (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/09/24/europe-defence-giants-rise-by-8bn-trump-backs-ukraine/MoU US-UK Regarding the Technology Prosperity Deal (White House):https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/09/memorandum-of-understanding-between-the-government-of-the-united-states-of-america-and-the-government-of-the-united-kingdom-of-great-britain-and-northern-ireland-regarding-the-technology-prosperity-de/ Sources Mentioned by Jade (Discretion Advised):https://t.me/ab3army/5961 https://ukraine.ohchr.org/en/civilian-detainees-subjected-to-troubling-patterns-of-torture-and-ill-treatment-since-russia-s-full-scale-attack-on-ukraine-un-report?utm_source=chatgpt.com SIGN UP TO THE NEW ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST' WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:https://secure.telegraph.co.uk/customer/secure/newsletter/ukraine/ Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It's free for everyone, including non-subscribers.NOW AVAILABLE IN NEW LANGUAGES:The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them. Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatest Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2025-09-25 | Silicon Wafers 010 | Ukrainian strikes are reaching deeper into Russian territory, a Russian fuel crisis is brewing on occupied territory, and the Kremlin expands censorship as the war's frontline shifts. We'll dig into what these events tell us about Russia's imperial logic, it's failures to exert control over Ukraine, vulnerabilities in the war economy, and the intensifying global contest between authoritarian states and forces of resistance.We'll break this episode into five parts:1. Strike on Novorossiysk and Tuapse2. Sea-drone paralysis of Black Sea oil hubs3. Destruction of An-26s and radar in Crimea4. Fuel crisis in occupied Crimea & export bans5. Moscow's censorship expansion & internal suppression----------SOURCES: “HUR naval drones strike oil facilities in Novorossiysk, Tuapse – source,” Ukrinform, Sept. 25, 2025‘Everyone Leave the Water!' – Ukraine's Sea Drones Hit Russian Hubs in Novorossiysk, Tuapse,” Kyiv Post, Sept. 25, 2025 “Ukraine's sea drones 'paralyze' Russian Black Sea oil hubs, HUR source says,” Kyiv Independent, Sept. 25, 2025 “Russia Considers Extending Gasoline Export Ban As Fuel Crisis Worsens,” OilPrice, Sept. 23, 2025 “Russia to partially ban diesel exports, extend gasoline export ban until end-2025,” Reuters, Sept. 25, 2025 “Refinery shutdowns hurt fuel supply in several Russian regions,” Reuters, Sept. 25, 2025 “Russian fuel exports drop as Ukraine intensifies its strikes on oil refineries,” Financial Times “Frustrated Russians grapple with fuel crisis as Ukraine attacks oil refineries,” The Guardian, Aug. 2025“Fuel crisis in occupied Crimea predicted for winter 2025/2026,” Me Zha.net (Bukvy), Sept. 2025“No octane 92 and 95 gasoline is on sale at a fuel station in the Russian-occupied region Crimea,” Kyiv Post, recent ----------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 are sourcing all vehicles around 2010-2012 or newer, mainly Toyota Hilux or Mitsubishi L200, with low mileage and fully serviced. These are some of the greatest and the most reliable pickups possible to be on the frontline in Ukraine. Who will receive the vehicles?93rd Brigade "Kholodnyi Yar", Black Raven Unmanned Systems Battalionhttps://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtain----------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----------

Day 1,307.Today, as the UN Security Council debates Russia's latest airspace violations, we ask why Estonia held fire – unlike Turkey in 2015 – before hearing frontline perspectives from Ukrainian soldiers with The Kyiv Independent's Francis Farrell, and exploring Russia's answer to the Eurovision Song Contest.Contributors:Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Francis Farrell (Report, The Kyiv Independent). @francisjfarrell on X.JOIN US FOR 'UKRAINE: THE LATEST' LIVE, IN-PERSON:Join us for an in-person discussion and Q&A at the distinguished Honourable Artillery Company in London on 22nd October starting at 7pm.Our panel includes General Sir Richard Barrons, former head of UK Joint Forces Command and latterly one of the authors of Britain's Strategic Defence Review, and Orysia Lutsevych, head of the Ukraine Forum at the Chatham House think tank.Tickets are open to everybody and can be purchased at: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainelive Content referenced:Francis Farrell's reporting at The Kyiv Independent:https://kyivindependent.com/author/francis-farrell/ Intervision: Putin's rival to Eurovision (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/09/20/intervision-putins-version-of-eurovision/ Putin prepares to tax Russia's rich as war chest runs dry (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/09/19/putin-prepares-tax-russias-rich-war-chest-runs-dry/ EU brings forward Russian gas ban after pressure from Trump (Joe Barnes in The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/09/19/eu-brings-forward-russian-gas-ban-after-pressure-from-trump/ SIGN UP TO THE NEW ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST' WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:https://secure.telegraph.co.uk/customer/secure/newsletter/ukraine/ Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It's free for everyone, including non-subscribers.NOW AVAILABLE IN NEW LANGUAGES:The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them. Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatest Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.