Podcasts about Lviv

Tác giả người Úc Morris West (1916 – 1999) là một nhà văn tài năng xuất chúng. Ông đã viết hàng chục cuốn sách được đánh giá cao, đạt được thành công quốc tế và đã được dịch sang 27 ngôn ngữ. Sách của ông vẫn được tái bản, chủ yếu bằng tiếng Anh. Trong khoảng thời gian từ 1959 đến 1963, ông làm việc ở Vatican với tư cách là phóng viên cho tờ London Daily Mail. Kiến thức mà ông có được trong thời này này về hoạt động và nội bộ Vatican đã được phản ánh trong các tiểu thuyết của ông. Đặc biệt trong bộ ba tiểu thuyết « The Shoes of the fishman » (1963), « The Clowns of God » (1963) và « Lazarus » (1990). ----- ***** ----- Giorgio càu nhàu vẻ không vui rồi nhét tiền vào túi. « Mẹ tôi muốn tôi làm linh mục. Có lẽ bà ấy đúng. » - Linh mục cũng có vấn đề của họ, Kiril nhẹ nhàng nói. Ngay cả Giáo hoàng cũng có vài vấn đề, tôi nghe nói vậy. « Giáo hoàng ư ! Thật buồn cười ». Người bán báo thốt lên, vốn là người bán tin tức, nên cũng có quyền bình luận về nó. « Lần này họ đã thực sự làm chúng ta say mê. Một người Nga ở Vatican ! Có chuyện để kể cho anh nghe đây ! » Anh ta trải tờ báo lên bàn và chỉ tay một cách đầy ẩn ý vào bức chân dung Giáo hoàng chiếm gần nửa trang nhất. « Nói cho tôi biết liệu ông ta có phải là một người kỳ quặc để gán cho người Roma chúng ta không. Nhìn khuôn mặt đó và… » Anh ta ngừng lại và nhìn chằm chằm vào khuôn mặt râu ria của người mới đến. Giọng anh ta nhỏ dần, nhỏ dần. « Dio ! » Trông anh giống hệt ông ta. - Tôi là Giáo hoàng, anh nói với họ, và họ há hốc mồm nhìn anh như thể anh là một bóng ma. - Tôi không tin, Giorgio nói. Trông anh giống hệt ông ấy. Chắc chắn rồi ! Nhưng anh lại ngồi đây không một lira trong túi, uống cà phê, mà cà phê thì chẳng ngon chút nào. - Nó còn tốt hơn những gì tôi nhận được ở Vatican. ----- ***** ----- « Đôi giày của người ngư phủ – The Shoes of the fishman » Trên đây là trích đoạn từ tiểu thuyết « Đôi giày của người ngư phủ – The Shoes of the fishman » (1963) của nhà văn người Úc Morris L. West (1916-1999). Câu chuyện này cũng được đạo diễn Michael Anderson dựng thành phim vào năm 1968 với diễn viên Anthony Quinn trong vai giáo hoàng Kiril. Trong thời kỳ chiến tranh lạnh đạt đến đỉnh điểm, Kiril Pavlovich Lakota, Tổng giám mục Lviv, Liên Xô, bất ngờ được trả tự do sao 20 năm trong trại lao động ở Siberia bởi cựu quản giáo Piotr Ilyich Kamenev. Ông được sai đến Roma và được phong hồng y. Rồi Giáo hoàng đột ngột qua đời. Và tiến trình mật nghị bầu giáo hoàng mới bắt đầu. Hồng y Lakota tham gia với tư cách là một cử tri. Sau bảy vòng bỏ phiếu không kết quả, Lakota bất ngờ được bầu làm giáo hoàng và ông miễn cưỡng chấp nhận, lấy hiệu là Kiril. Trong khi đó, thế giới đang bên bờ vực chiến tranh hạt nhân do mối thù Trung-Xô, càng trở nên trầm trọng hơn bởi nạn đói do mất mùa lan rộng ở Trung Quốc. Tối hôm sau khi đắc cử, giáo hoàng Kiril lẻn ra khỏi Vatican để vi hành thành Roma trong trang phục của một linh mục bình thường. Và xảy ra chuyện như ta thấy ở trên. Trong những năm tháng trong trại, Kamenev là người thường xuyên thẩm vấn giám mục Kiril Lakota. Vào cuối thời gian cải tạo, Kamenev đã được thăng tiến và quyết định bí mật thả Kiril với ý định đòi tiền chuộc vào một thời điểm trong tương lai. Khi Kiril Lakota trở thành Giáo hoàng, Kamenev đã liên lạc với ông và nhờ giúp đỡ về các vấn đề quốc gia. Nhờ thế, giáo hoàng đắc cử trở về Liên Xô trong trang phục thường dân để gặp riêng Kamenev và chủ tịch Bành của Trung Quốc để thảo luận về cuộc khủng hoảng đang diễn ra. Giáo hoàng Kiril nhận ra rằng nếu những bất ổn ở Trung Quốc tiếp diễn, cái giá phải trả có thể là một cuộc chiến tranh tàn phá thế giới. Trong lễ đăng quang, Kiril đã cởi bỏ vương niệm của mình và cam kết bán tài sản của Giáo hội để giúp đỡ người dân Trung Quốc, trước sự hân hoan của đám đông tại Quảng trường thánh Phê-rô. Hành động mang tính cách mạng này mang đến cho thế giới một cơ hội hòa bình mới và quyết định của Kiril được quốc tế hoan nghênh. Tiểu thuyết không hẳn là câu chuyện hư cấu. Thực tế, « Đôi giày của người ngư phủ » đã tường thuật lại những gì xảy ra ở Vatican và thế giới trong những năm 1960. Thời điểm diễn ra Công đồng Vatican II (1962-1965), làm thay đổi sâu rộng Giáo hội Công giáo và thế giới chìm dưới bóng của cuộc chiến tranh lạnh với mối đe dọa hạt nhân. Cuốn tiểu thuyết đã tiên báo cho vị giáo hoàng người Ba Lan Karol Wojtyla – Gioan-Phaolô II. Người lên ngôi vào ngày 16 tháng 10 năm 1978. The Clowns of God – Les gouffons de Dieu – Những chú hề của Chúa (1981) Tiếp theo thành công của cuốn đầu tiên lấy bối cảnh Vatican và câu chuyện xung quanh Giáo hoàng, Morris West tiếp tục phần hai. Lần này, giáo hoàng của ông là một người Pháp 65 tuổi, ông cũng phải đối diện với một cuộc khủng hoảng hạt nhân nhưng trong bối cảnh khác. Câu chuyện mở đầu cũng bằng sự ra đi của một giáo hoàng, nhưng không phải là một tang lễ mà là một sự thoái vị. Giáo hoàng Gregory XVII tự nhận mình được Chúa báo cho biết là thế giới sắp tận thế. Các hồng y ở Vatican tin rằng ông bị điên và đe dọa tuyên bố ông mất trí nếu ông không chịu từ chức. Ngài đã phải ký vào văn kiện thoái vị trước sự chứng kiến của hồng y đoàn và chúc họ may mắn trong việc tìm kiếm một người tốt nhất để đeo chiếc nhẫn ngư phủ. Jean Marie Barette, giờ đây đã là giáo hoàng danh dự, lao vào cuộc hành trình đơn độc để tìm cách ngăn chặn thế giới rơi vào vòng xoáy hỗn loạn và cuồng bạo của ngày tận thế. Với tài kể chuyện khéo léo, Morris West đã xây dựng sự hồi hộp của chuyến phiêu lưu, bằng cách đặt bên cạnh cựu giáo hoàng người bạn thân Carl Mendelius. Nhưng liệu người này có đáng tin hay không ? Ông có phải là điệp viên của CIA và sẽ đóng vai trò gì ? Tiểu thuyết của West nổi bật giữa nhiều tác phẩm hư cấu ngày nay nhờ vào những nhân vật tử tế, tốt bụng và mối quan hệ mà ông xây dựng giữa họ chính là trọng tâm của tác phẩm này. Trong một cảnh cảm động, cậu con trai đang tuổi đại học của Mendelius thú nhận mình không còn giữ đạo nữa. « Cha rất tiếc khi nghe điều đó, con trai ạ » cha cậu đáp. « Nhưng cha mừng vì con đã nói với cha. » « Không ai, cha cậu tiếp tục, có thể sai khiến lương tâm của người khác », và nói thêm, « Nhưng hãy nhớ một điều, con trai ạ. Hãy giữ cho tâm trí con luôn rộng mở, để ánh sáng luôn chiếu rọi. Hãy giữ cho trái tim con luôn rộng mở để tình yêu không bao giờ bị ngăn cản. » West có niềm tin lớn lao vào sức mạnh của đức tin, nhưng không mấy khoan nhượng với những tranh cãi về học thuyết và phẩm trật nơi tôn giáo có tổ chức. Trong thời đại mà các giáo hội truyền thống đang mất dần giáo sĩ và các cộng đoàn, những phân tích đạo đức của ông về hệ thống phẩm trật của giáo hội lại rất đúng lúc. Lararus (1990) Trong phần ba, Morris West kể về Giáo hoàng Leo XIV hư cấu, một người bảo thủ kiên định, sản phẩm hoàn hảo của hệ thống phẩm trật Vatican. Với ngài, các học thuyết và tín điều quan trọng hơn các tiêu chuẩn con người. Ít nhất là cho đến khi ngài gặp vấn đề tim mạch và phải trải qua nhiều cuộc phẫu thuật bắc cầu động mạch vành. Bác sĩ phẫu thuật chính, người Do Thái, đã cảnh báo Giáo hoàng rằng một bệnh nhân cận kề cái chết có thể bước ra khỏi ca phẫu thuật với những quan điểm khác, thậm chí là những tính cách khác. Trong khi Giáo hoàng bước vào cuộc chiến sinh tử, thì bên ngoài những cuộc chiến khác cũng diễn ra một cách khốc liệt. Các hồng y âm thầm chuẩn bị cho một cuộc bầu giáo hoàng mới cho Giáo hội. Bên trong và bên ngoài bệnh viện, các nhân viên tình báo Mossad của Israel tăng cường an ninh, vì một tổ chức khủng bố Hồi giáo có tên « Thanh Gươm Hồi giáo » muốn lợi dụng cuộc phẫu thuật này để ám sát giáo hoàng. Tuy nhiên, Giáo hoàng Leo XIV ra khỏi phòng giải phẫu với cái nhìn ôn hòa hơn về đời sống tôn giáo trong Giáo hội. Ngài phải bước vào cuộc chiến khác khi đảo ngược lại mọi đường lối trước đây và ngài phải đối mặt với một Giáo hội mà ngài không còn nắm quyền điều hành. Căng thẳng và âm mưu, xung đột nội bộ và các mối đe dọa bên ngoài, tất cả cùng nhau gây ra một giáo hoàng suy yếu và một Giáo hội dễ bị tổn thương. Các cuộc đấu tranh của đức Leo XIV đề cập đến những chủ đề luôn luôn thời sự và phù hợp cho đến ngày hôm nay : vấn đề độc thân linh mục, vị trí của phụ nữ trong Giáo hội, kiểm soát sinh sản và phá thai. Những tiểu thuyết lấy bối cảnh Vatican của Morris West không chỉ là những câu chuyện trinh thám hư cấu, mà khi đọc qua, độc giả thấy được những sự kiện và những nhân vật đã xảy ra và dần được hiện thực. Chúng được kiểm chứng qua các giáo hoàng Gioan-Phaolô II, Benedicto XVI và Phanxicô. Đó chính là sự tài tình của nhà văn người Úc khiến chúng ta phải tìm đọc những tác phẩm của ông.

Tác giả người Úc Morris West (1916 – 1999) là một nhà văn tài năng xuất chúng. Ông đã viết hàng chục cuốn sách được đánh giá cao, đạt được thành công quốc tế và đã được dịch sang 27 ngôn ngữ. Sách của ông vẫn được tái bản, chủ yếu bằng tiếng Anh. Trong khoảng thời gian từ 1959 đến 1963, ông làm việc ở Vatican với tư cách là phóng viên cho tờ London Daily Mail. Kiến thức mà ông có được trong thời này này về hoạt động và nội bộ Vatican đã được phản ánh trong các tiểu thuyết của ông. Đặc biệt trong bộ ba tiểu thuyết « The Shoes of the fishman » (1963), « The Clowns of God » (1963) và « Lazarus » (1990). ----- ***** ----- Giorgio càu nhàu vẻ không vui rồi nhét tiền vào túi. « Mẹ tôi muốn tôi làm linh mục. Có lẽ bà ấy đúng. » - Linh mục cũng có vấn đề của họ, Kiril nhẹ nhàng nói. Ngay cả Giáo hoàng cũng có vài vấn đề, tôi nghe nói vậy. « Giáo hoàng ư ! Thật buồn cười ». Người bán báo thốt lên, vốn là người bán tin tức, nên cũng có quyền bình luận về nó. « Lần này họ đã thực sự làm chúng ta say mê. Một người Nga ở Vatican ! Có chuyện để kể cho anh nghe đây ! » Anh ta trải tờ báo lên bàn và chỉ tay một cách đầy ẩn ý vào bức chân dung Giáo hoàng chiếm gần nửa trang nhất. « Nói cho tôi biết liệu ông ta có phải là một người kỳ quặc để gán cho người Roma chúng ta không. Nhìn khuôn mặt đó và… » Anh ta ngừng lại và nhìn chằm chằm vào khuôn mặt râu ria của người mới đến. Giọng anh ta nhỏ dần, nhỏ dần. « Dio ! » Trông anh giống hệt ông ta. - Tôi là Giáo hoàng, anh nói với họ, và họ há hốc mồm nhìn anh như thể anh là một bóng ma. - Tôi không tin, Giorgio nói. Trông anh giống hệt ông ấy. Chắc chắn rồi ! Nhưng anh lại ngồi đây không một lira trong túi, uống cà phê, mà cà phê thì chẳng ngon chút nào. - Nó còn tốt hơn những gì tôi nhận được ở Vatican. ----- ***** ----- « Đôi giày của người ngư phủ – The Shoes of the fishman » Trên đây là trích đoạn từ tiểu thuyết « Đôi giày của người ngư phủ – The Shoes of the fishman » (1963) của nhà văn người Úc Morris L. West (1916-1999). Câu chuyện này cũng được đạo diễn Michael Anderson dựng thành phim vào năm 1968 với diễn viên Anthony Quinn trong vai giáo hoàng Kiril. Trong thời kỳ chiến tranh lạnh đạt đến đỉnh điểm, Kiril Pavlovich Lakota, Tổng giám mục Lviv, Liên Xô, bất ngờ được trả tự do sao 20 năm trong trại lao động ở Siberia bởi cựu quản giáo Piotr Ilyich Kamenev. Ông được sai đến Roma và được phong hồng y. Rồi Giáo hoàng đột ngột qua đời. Và tiến trình mật nghị bầu giáo hoàng mới bắt đầu. Hồng y Lakota tham gia với tư cách là một cử tri. Sau bảy vòng bỏ phiếu không kết quả, Lakota bất ngờ được bầu làm giáo hoàng và ông miễn cưỡng chấp nhận, lấy hiệu là Kiril. Trong khi đó, thế giới đang bên bờ vực chiến tranh hạt nhân do mối thù Trung-Xô, càng trở nên trầm trọng hơn bởi nạn đói do mất mùa lan rộng ở Trung Quốc. Tối hôm sau khi đắc cử, giáo hoàng Kiril lẻn ra khỏi Vatican để vi hành thành Roma trong trang phục của một linh mục bình thường. Và xảy ra chuyện như ta thấy ở trên. Trong những năm tháng trong trại, Kamenev là người thường xuyên thẩm vấn giám mục Kiril Lakota. Vào cuối thời gian cải tạo, Kamenev đã được thăng tiến và quyết định bí mật thả Kiril với ý định đòi tiền chuộc vào một thời điểm trong tương lai. Khi Kiril Lakota trở thành Giáo hoàng, Kamenev đã liên lạc với ông và nhờ giúp đỡ về các vấn đề quốc gia. Nhờ thế, giáo hoàng đắc cử trở về Liên Xô trong trang phục thường dân để gặp riêng Kamenev và chủ tịch Bành của Trung Quốc để thảo luận về cuộc khủng hoảng đang diễn ra. Giáo hoàng Kiril nhận ra rằng nếu những bất ổn ở Trung Quốc tiếp diễn, cái giá phải trả có thể là một cuộc chiến tranh tàn phá thế giới. Trong lễ đăng quang, Kiril đã cởi bỏ vương niệm của mình và cam kết bán tài sản của Giáo hội để giúp đỡ người dân Trung Quốc, trước sự hân hoan của đám đông tại Quảng trường thánh Phê-rô. Hành động mang tính cách mạng này mang đến cho thế giới một cơ hội hòa bình mới và quyết định của Kiril được quốc tế hoan nghênh. Tiểu thuyết không hẳn là câu chuyện hư cấu. Thực tế, « Đôi giày của người ngư phủ » đã tường thuật lại những gì xảy ra ở Vatican và thế giới trong những năm 1960. Thời điểm diễn ra Công đồng Vatican II (1962-1965), làm thay đổi sâu rộng Giáo hội Công giáo và thế giới chìm dưới bóng của cuộc chiến tranh lạnh với mối đe dọa hạt nhân. Cuốn tiểu thuyết đã tiên báo cho vị giáo hoàng người Ba Lan Karol Wojtyla – Gioan-Phaolô II. Người lên ngôi vào ngày 16 tháng 10 năm 1978. The Clowns of God – Les gouffons de Dieu – Những chú hề của Chúa (1981) Tiếp theo thành công của cuốn đầu tiên lấy bối cảnh Vatican và câu chuyện xung quanh Giáo hoàng, Morris West tiếp tục phần hai. Lần này, giáo hoàng của ông là một người Pháp 65 tuổi, ông cũng phải đối diện với một cuộc khủng hoảng hạt nhân nhưng trong bối cảnh khác. Câu chuyện mở đầu cũng bằng sự ra đi của một giáo hoàng, nhưng không phải là một tang lễ mà là một sự thoái vị. Giáo hoàng Gregory XVII tự nhận mình được Chúa báo cho biết là thế giới sắp tận thế. Các hồng y ở Vatican tin rằng ông bị điên và đe dọa tuyên bố ông mất trí nếu ông không chịu từ chức. Ngài đã phải ký vào văn kiện thoái vị trước sự chứng kiến của hồng y đoàn và chúc họ may mắn trong việc tìm kiếm một người tốt nhất để đeo chiếc nhẫn ngư phủ. Jean Marie Barette, giờ đây đã là giáo hoàng danh dự, lao vào cuộc hành trình đơn độc để tìm cách ngăn chặn thế giới rơi vào vòng xoáy hỗn loạn và cuồng bạo của ngày tận thế. Với tài kể chuyện khéo léo, Morris West đã xây dựng sự hồi hộp của chuyến phiêu lưu, bằng cách đặt bên cạnh cựu giáo hoàng người bạn thân Carl Mendelius. Nhưng liệu người này có đáng tin hay không ? Ông có phải là điệp viên của CIA và sẽ đóng vai trò gì ? Tiểu thuyết của West nổi bật giữa nhiều tác phẩm hư cấu ngày nay nhờ vào những nhân vật tử tế, tốt bụng và mối quan hệ mà ông xây dựng giữa họ chính là trọng tâm của tác phẩm này. Trong một cảnh cảm động, cậu con trai đang tuổi đại học của Mendelius thú nhận mình không còn giữ đạo nữa. « Cha rất tiếc khi nghe điều đó, con trai ạ » cha cậu đáp. « Nhưng cha mừng vì con đã nói với cha. » « Không ai, cha cậu tiếp tục, có thể sai khiến lương tâm của người khác », và nói thêm, « Nhưng hãy nhớ một điều, con trai ạ. Hãy giữ cho tâm trí con luôn rộng mở, để ánh sáng luôn chiếu rọi. Hãy giữ cho trái tim con luôn rộng mở để tình yêu không bao giờ bị ngăn cản. » West có niềm tin lớn lao vào sức mạnh của đức tin, nhưng không mấy khoan nhượng với những tranh cãi về học thuyết và phẩm trật nơi tôn giáo có tổ chức. Trong thời đại mà các giáo hội truyền thống đang mất dần giáo sĩ và các cộng đoàn, những phân tích đạo đức của ông về hệ thống phẩm trật của giáo hội lại rất đúng lúc. Lararus (1990) Trong phần ba, Morris West kể về Giáo hoàng Leo XIV hư cấu, một người bảo thủ kiên định, sản phẩm hoàn hảo của hệ thống phẩm trật Vatican. Với ngài, các học thuyết và tín điều quan trọng hơn các tiêu chuẩn con người. Ít nhất là cho đến khi ngài gặp vấn đề tim mạch và phải trải qua nhiều cuộc phẫu thuật bắc cầu động mạch vành. Bác sĩ phẫu thuật chính, người Do Thái, đã cảnh báo Giáo hoàng rằng một bệnh nhân cận kề cái chết có thể bước ra khỏi ca phẫu thuật với những quan điểm khác, thậm chí là những tính cách khác. Trong khi Giáo hoàng bước vào cuộc chiến sinh tử, thì bên ngoài những cuộc chiến khác cũng diễn ra một cách khốc liệt. Các hồng y âm thầm chuẩn bị cho một cuộc bầu giáo hoàng mới cho Giáo hội. Bên trong và bên ngoài bệnh viện, các nhân viên tình báo Mossad của Israel tăng cường an ninh, vì một tổ chức khủng bố Hồi giáo có tên « Thanh Gươm Hồi giáo » muốn lợi dụng cuộc phẫu thuật này để ám sát giáo hoàng. Tuy nhiên, Giáo hoàng Leo XIV ra khỏi phòng giải phẫu với cái nhìn ôn hòa hơn về đời sống tôn giáo trong Giáo hội. Ngài phải bước vào cuộc chiến khác khi đảo ngược lại mọi đường lối trước đây và ngài phải đối mặt với một Giáo hội mà ngài không còn nắm quyền điều hành. Căng thẳng và âm mưu, xung đột nội bộ và các mối đe dọa bên ngoài, tất cả cùng nhau gây ra một giáo hoàng suy yếu và một Giáo hội dễ bị tổn thương. Các cuộc đấu tranh của đức Leo XIV đề cập đến những chủ đề luôn luôn thời sự và phù hợp cho đến ngày hôm nay : vấn đề độc thân linh mục, vị trí của phụ nữ trong Giáo hội, kiểm soát sinh sản và phá thai. Những tiểu thuyết lấy bối cảnh Vatican của Morris West không chỉ là những câu chuyện trinh thám hư cấu, mà khi đọc qua, độc giả thấy được những sự kiện và những nhân vật đã xảy ra và dần được hiện thực. Chúng được kiểm chứng qua các giáo hoàng Gioan-Phaolô II, Benedicto XVI và Phanxicô. Đó chính là sự tài tình của nhà văn người Úc khiến chúng ta phải tìm đọc những tác phẩm của ông.

Anna Danylchuk has been creating a war diary since the early days of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia in 2022. Anna Danylchuk aims to tell the truth about Ukraine and Russia's war and cut through the noise and propaganda. Anna is passionate about the beauty and independence of her country, and communicates this powerfully in her videos, in a clear and honest way.----------LINKS: @AnnafromUkraine https://www.buymeacoffee.com/annafromukraineMy interview with Anna in Lviv - hosted on her excellent channel- https://youtu.be/daHcnsNQ1S0?si=yHbZ2kJZ3CTVRd8Z----------The Steel Porcupine https://www.thesteelporcupine.com/I'm proud to say that this series of ‘Ukrainian advent' interviews is supported by The Steel Porcupine – a unique and powerful film about a country that refuses to lie down, a people who turned themselves into a fortress of needles when Russian tanks rolled in. The Steel Porcupine is an unforgettable cinematic experience that exposes Russia's campaign of extermination in Ukraine, and the Ukrainian people's spirit to resist and prevail. It follows soldiers, volunteers and people who decided that survival meant resistance, not submission.Created by the makers of the acclaimed To the Zero Line, this is another film about humanity, that clearly states there is no such thing as neutrality when war crimes are being committed systematically by Russia, and on a scale in Europe only comparable to World War Two. Set to a haunting soundtrack featuring music by Philip Glass, and blending rare archival footage with original material, it is an impactful work of art and storytelling, as well as being informative.----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------

Silicon Bites Ep280 | 2025-12-23 | Is Putin losing his grip? His press event last week has generated reams of commentary – and from those not well disposed towards him, the verdict has been brutal. In this episode we cover his “Results of the Year” press spectacle, the glitches, the gaslighting, the challenging questions, or rather lack of them — and the regime's widening reality gap.----------Silicon Curtain is a part of the Christmas Tree Trucks 2025 campaign - an ambitious fundraiser led by a group of our wonderful team of information warriors raising 110,000 EUR for the Ukrainian army. https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/christmas-tree-trucks-2025-silicon-curtainThe Goal of the Campaign for the Silicon Curtain community:- 1 armoured battle-ready pickupWe are sourcing all vehicles around 2010-2017 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?https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/christmas-tree-trucks-2025-silicon-curtain- The 38th Marine Brigade, who alone held Krynki for 124 days, receiving the Military Cross of Honour.- The 1027th Anti-aircraft and artillery regiment. Honoured by NATO as Defender of the Year 2024 and recipient of the Military Cross of Honour.- 104th Separate Brigade, Infantry, who alone held Kherson for 100 days, establishing conditions for the liberation of the city.- 93rd Brigade "Kholodnyi Yar", Black Raven Unmanned Systems Battalion ----------SOURCES:Reuters (Dec 19, 2025): Rogue texts, aliens and a marriage proposal - welcome to Vladimir Putin's phone-in - https://www.reuters.com/world/sarcastic-messages-flash-up-big-screen-russias-putin-speaks-2025-12-19/Reuters (Dec 19, 2025): Russian central bank cuts key rate to 16% as Putin speaks - https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/russian-central-bank-cuts-key-rate-16-putin-speaks-2025-12-19/Reuters (Dec 19, 2025): Russia's Putin says cooling of economy in 2025 is a 'conscious' decision - https://www.reuters.com/business/russias-putin-says-cooling-economy-2025-is-conscious-decision-2025-12-19/AP News (Dec 19, 2025): Putin tells his annual news conference that the Kremlin's military goals in Ukraine will be met - https://apnews.com/article/39fd3f2670227545a6f9e684038ed59dThe Washington Post (Dec 19, 2025): Putin says Europe out of step with an increasingly Moscow-friendly U.S. - https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/12/19/russia-putin-callin-show-ukraine-peace/----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasWe need to scale up our support for Ukraine, and these events are designed to have a major impact. Your support in making it happen is greatly appreciated. All events will be recorded professionally and published for free on the Silicon Curtain channel. Where possible, we will also live-stream events.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------

Silicon Bites Ep279 | 2025-12-22 | Moscow car bomb kills Lt Gen Fanil Sarvarov: the covert war moves deeper into Russia. At least most analysts are suggesting this was a hit by Ukraine's fearsome intelligence services. But was it? Sarvarov may have had many more enemies than Ukraine only. This was not a drone strike at the front. This is a car bomb in Moscow — an operation in the capital — taking out a serving Russian lieutenant general, in daylight, on a weekday morning. It's the latest sign that the war Russia started in Ukraine is now fully metastasising into a shadow conflict on Russian soil.----------Silicon Curtain is a part of the Christmas Tree Trucks 2025 campaign - an ambitious fundraiser led by a group of our wonderful team of information warriors raising 110,000 EUR for the Ukrainian army. https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/christmas-tree-trucks-2025-silicon-curtainThe Goal of the Campaign for the Silicon Curtain community:- 1 armoured battle-ready pickupWe are sourcing all vehicles around 2010-2017 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?https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/christmas-tree-trucks-2025-silicon-curtain- The 38th Marine Brigade, who alone held Krynki for 124 days, receiving the Military Cross of Honour.- The 1027th Anti-aircraft and artillery regiment. Honoured by NATO as Defender of the Year 2024 and recipient of the Military Cross of Honour.- 104th Separate Brigade, Infantry, who alone held Kherson for 100 days, establishing conditions for the liberation of the city.- 93rd Brigade "Kholodnyi Yar", Black Raven Unmanned Systems Battalion ----------SOURCES:Reuters — “Car bomb kills Russian general in Moscow, investigators say” (Dec 22, 2025) - https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-general-killed-car-bomb-moscow-investigators-say-2025-12-22/Associated Press — “Russian general killed by bomb under his car in Moscow” (Dec 22, 2025) - https://apnews.com/article/73413ae5936609832f706ab26f864b3cFinancial Times — “Russian general killed in Moscow car bomb” (Dec 22, 2025) - https://www.ft.com/content/2976e516-262b-4ac8-b99d-b2c7cc93ef95The Guardian — “Russian general Fanil Sarvarov killed by car bomb in Moscow, investigators say” (Dec 22, 2025) - https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/22/russian-general-fanil-sarvarov-killed-car-bomb-moscow-investigators-sayMeduza — “Russian general killed by car bomb in Moscow” (Dec 22, 2025) - https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/12/22/russian-general-killed-by-car-bomb-in-moscowKyiv Independent — “High-ranking Russian general killed after car bombing in Moscow…” (Dec 22, 2025) - https://kyivindependent.com/high-ranking-russian-general-killed-after-car-bombing-in-moscow-russia-cites-possible-ukrainian-involvement/----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------

Silicon Bites Ep276 | 2025-12-19 | Tonight, a single number with regime-shaking implications: Urals crude at roughly thirty-five dollars a barrel — miles below global benchmarks, and catastrophically below what the Kremlin needs to fund its war-state on schedule. This is Russia's flagship export grade trading like a sanctioned pariah — because it is. Let's break it into three parts: what's happening, why it's happening, and why Putin's war finances are now on the clock.According to Argus Media price assessments cited by RBC and reported by The Moscow Times, Urals shipped from Novorossiysk fell to $34.52 per barrel as of December 16, with Primorsk around $36.07. Same oil, different port — same story: distress rate pricing. (The Moscow Times)----------Silicon Curtain is a part of the Christmas Tree Trucks 2025 campaign - an ambitious fundraiser led by a group of our wonderful team of information warriors raising 110,000 EUR for the Ukrainian army. https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/christmas-tree-trucks-2025-silicon-curtainThe Goal of the Campaign for the Silicon Curtain community:- 1 armoured battle-ready pickupWe are sourcing all vehicles around 2010-2017 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?https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/christmas-tree-trucks-2025-silicon-curtain- The 38th Marine Brigade, who alone held Krynki for 124 days, receiving the Military Cross of Honour.- The 1027th Anti-aircraft and artillery regiment. Honoured by NATO as Defender of the Year 2024 and recipient of the Military Cross of Honour.- 104th Separate Brigade, Infantry, who alone held Kherson for 100 days, establishing conditions for the liberation of the city.- 93rd Brigade "Kholodnyi Yar", Black Raven Unmanned Systems Battalion ----------SOURCES:Reuters (Dec 19, 2025) — Sanctions drive Russian Urals crude discounts to 2022 levels - https://www.tradingview.com/news/reuters.com%2C2025%3Anewsml_L8N3XO0PN%3A0-sanctions-drive-russian-urals-crude-discounts-to-2022-levels-reuters-calculations-show/Reuters (Dec 19, 2025) — Russia's tax proceeds from oil may fall in January to the lowest since 2022, Reuters calculations show - https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/russias-tax-proceeds-oil-may-fall-january-lowest-since-2022-reuters-calculations-2025-12-19/Reuters (Dec 19, 2025) — Oil prices climb as US blocks Venezuelan tankers, eyes on Russia-Ukraine talks (includes Brent/WTI settlements) - https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/oil-set-close-lower-second-straight-week-2025-12-19/Reuters (Dec 19, 2025) — Surging barrels at sea spook oil markets more than Russia or Venezuela (Kpler “on water” data) - https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/surging-barrels-sea-spook-oil-markets-more-than-russia-or-venezuela-2025-12-19/The Moscow Times (Dec 19, 2025) — Russian Oil Prices Sink Below $35 Per Barrel (citing Argus/RBC; includes Kluge quote) - https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/12/19/russian-oil-prices-sink-below-35-per-barrel-a91496----------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----------

This week historians John McManus and Waitman Beorn drop in to talk about the history behind Hamburger Hill, arguably the greatest war film we ever forgot.About our guests:John C. McManus is Curators' Distinguished Professor of U.S. military history at the Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T). This professorship is bestowed by the University of Missouri Board of Curators on the most outstanding scholars in the University of Missouri system. McManus is the first ever Missouri S&T faculty member in the humanities to be named Curators' Distinguished Professor. As one of the nation's leading military historians, and the author of fifteen well received books on the topic, he is in frequent demand as a speaker and expert commentator. In addition to dozens of local and national radio programs, he has appeared on Cnn.com, Fox News, C-Span, the Military Channel, the Discovery Channel, the National Geographic Channel, Netflix, the Smithsonian Network, the History Channel and PBS, among others. He also served as historical advisor for the bestselling book and documentary Salinger, the latter of which appeared nationwide in theaters and on PBS's American Masters Series. During the 2018-2019 academic year, he was in residence at the U.S. Naval Academy as the Leo A. Shifrin Chair of Naval and Military History, a distinguished visiting professorship. His current project is a major three volume history of the U.S. Army in the Pacific/Asia theater during World War II. He is the host of two podcasts, Someone Talked! in tandem with the National D-Day Memorial, and We Have Ways of Making You Talk in the USA alongside Al Murray and James Holland. Dr. Waitman Wade Beorn is an associate professor in History at Northumbria University in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK.  Dr. Beorn was previously the Director of the Virginia Holocaust Museum in Richmond, VA and the inaugural Blumkin Professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies at the University of Nebraska-Omaha.  His first book, Marching Into Darkness: The Wehrmacht and the Holocaust in Belarus (Harvard University Press) Dr. Beorn is also the author of The Holocaust in Eastern Europe: At the Epicenter of the Final Solution (Bloomsbury Press, 2018) and has recently finished a book on the Janowska concentration camp outside of Lviv, Ukraine. That book Between the Wires: The Janowska Camp and the Holocaust in Lviv was released in August 2024 from Nebraska University Press.  Between the Wires was recognised as a Finalist for the National Jewish Book Award in the United States.He is currently on research leave thanks to an AHRC Research, Development, and Engagement Fellowship.  This fellowship supports his work on a project entitled Visualizing Janowska: Creating a Digital Architectural Model of a Nazi Concentration Camp.  This interdisciplinary project will build a digital reconstruction of the Janowska concentration camp based on historical sources as most of the site is gone today.  Dr. Beorn is managing a team of architects and digital modellers to accomplish this and is partnered with the Holocaust Education Trust, the Wiener Holocaust Library, the Lviv Center for Urban History, the Duke Digital Art History and Visual Culture Lab, and the Holocaust Center North. Dr. Beorn has published work in Holocaust and Genocide Studies, Central European History, German Studie

Olena Kuzhym is a representative of Brussels-based Ukrainian civil society and a member of the Ukrainian–European Civil Society Initiative Frozen Assets Action. Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, she has been actively engaged in civic advocacy, public campaigning, and street actions in Brussels in support of Ukraine. An urbanist by training, Olena holds an MSc in Urban Studies from the Free University of Brussels.----------Serhiy Onyshchenko is a Ukrainian civic activist and IT professional, now active within Belgium's civil society in support of Ukraine. His engagement began as a schoolboy during the Orange Revolution and continued through the Euromaidan, where he was attacked in Kharkiv for his activism. After relocating to Lviv in 2015, he helped build and organise his residential community. Following the full-scale invasion in 2022, Serhiy moved to Brussels, where he has co-organised demonstrations and advocates for sustained European support for Ukraine.----------The Steel Porcupine https://www.thesteelporcupine.com/I'm proud to say that this series of ‘Ukrainian advent' interviews is supported by The Steel Porcupine – a unique and powerful film about a country that refuses to lie down, a people who turned themselves into a fortress of needles when Russian tanks rolled in. The Steel Porcupine is an unforgettable cinematic experience that exposes Russia's campaign of extermination in Ukraine, and the Ukrainian people's spirit to resist and prevail. It follows soldiers, volunteers and people who decided that survival meant resistance, not submission.Created by the makers of the acclaimed To the Zero Line, this is another film about humanity, that clearly states there is no such thing as neutrality when war crimes are being committed systematically by Russia, and on a scale in Europe only comparable to World War Two. Set to a haunting soundtrack featuring music by Philip Glass, and blending rare archival footage with original material, it is an impactful work of art and storytelling, as well as being informative.----------WORKS NOMINATED BY: Olena Kuzhym and Serhiy Onyshchenko BOOKSIvan Bahriany - Tiger Trappers https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_TrappersFILMSDmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk - Pamfirhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PamfirWORKS OF ARTMykola Pymonenko - Easter morning liturgy or Easter Matinshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mykola_Pymonenko(Actually stolen by the Russian army from the Kherson Art Museum)----------LINKS:https://frozen-assets.eu/https://war-sanctions.gur.gov.ua/en/stolen/objects/1764----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------

2025-12-17 | UPDATES #081 | The clock is ticking for Abramovich and his Chelsea Billions. How much, why now and what it means. Three and a half years. That's how long £2.5 billion — money publicly promised for Ukraine — has sat frozen in a UK bank account after Roman Abramovich's forced sale of Chelsea. Today, Keir Starmer has finally stopped treating it like an awkward footnote and started treating it like what it is: a test of state power in a full-scale hybrid war. (Reuters)----------SOURCES: UK Government (GOV.UK), “Government gives Abramovich final chance…” (17 Dec 2025)Reuters, “UK tells Abramovich to give Chelsea sale cash…” (17 Dec 2025)Financial Times, “Starmer moves to transfer £2.5bn…” (17 Dec 2025)The Guardian, “UK gives Abramovich final warning…” (17 Dec 2025)UK Parliament written statements portal (Reeves statement referenced), licence/foundation description (17 Dec 2025)Sky News explainer, legal mechanics and delay risk (17 Dec 2025)Bond (UK NGO network) reaction statement (17 Dec 2025)Ben Jacobs (social post highlighting legal/sanctions context) (17 Dec 2025)----------Silicon Curtain is a part of the Christmas Tree Trucks 2025 campaign - an ambitious fundraiser led by a group of our wonderful team of information warriors raising 110,000 EUR for the Ukrainian army. https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/christmas-tree-trucks-2025-silicon-curtainThe Goal of the Campaign for the Silicon Curtain community:- 1 armoured battle-ready pickupWe are sourcing all vehicles around 2010-2017 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?https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/christmas-tree-trucks-2025-silicon-curtain- The 38th Marine Brigade, who alone held Krynki for 124 days, receiving the Military Cross of Honour.- The 1027th Anti-aircraft and artillery regiment. Honoured by NATO as Defender of the Year 2024 and recipient of the Military Cross of Honour.- 104th Separate Brigade, Infantry, who alone held Kherson for 100 days, establishing conditions for the liberation of the city.- 93rd Brigade "Kholodnyi Yar", Black Raven Unmanned Systems Battalion ----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------

David DeBatto is host of the ‘No Delusion Zone' podcast @NoDelusionZone is a retired U.S. Army Counterintelligence Special Agent, a geopolitical analyst, writer, and podcaster. David is an Iraq war veteran who served as Team Leader of a Tactical Human Intelligence Team (THT) in operations within Iraq and is also a former police officer. David is considered too conservative for the progressive left and too independent minded for the radical right and seeks to challenge political dogma and the naked self-interest of politicians. DAVID DEBATTO LINKS: @NoDelusionZone https://www.protectingtherepublic.com/podcasthttps://x.com/ddebattohttps://www.kyivpost.com/authors/743----------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/----------

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/----------

2025-12-16 | UPDATES #080 | A post on X caught my eye, the gist of which was “Only a Russian official can invade and bomb you while simultaneously calling themselves a peacemaker and the victim a warmonger.” The author is referring to Kiril Dmitriev, one of the key so-called ‘negotiators' from the Russian side, and it highlights the absurdity of trying to build a peace process with the same regime that initiated the aggression and committed untold war crimes in Ukraine. Any such process pre-supposes that the aggressor has seen the error of their ways, in some sense recanted for their mistakes, even if not admitting culpability for the crimes themselves or any contrition. But the reality is so far from this. Russia seems to want a temporary “ceasefire,” because it is exhausted, and needs time to rearm and internalise the lessons of failure – the failure of its military strategy, that is, so it can come back again with greater lethality and success. As we'll see in this episode, Russia has disavowed none of its maximalist aims, and indeed keeps adding to the list of demands, and when the regime minions are honest with us, they are clearly saying that they do not want peace, but the capitulation and humiliation of Ukraine. ----------SOURCES: Reuters - https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/european-leaders-agree-ukraine-security-guarantees-should-include-european-led-2025-12-15/Financial Times - https://www.ft.com/content/24b9f90f-ee39-4fde-9efb-559c0cc8596cThe Guardian - https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/16/ukraine-russia-peace-plans-zelenskyy-berlin-talks-putinReuters - https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/vast-majority-ukrainians-reject-major-peace-concessions-poll-finds-2025-12-15/Reuters - https://www.reuters.com/world/eu-foreign-ministers-adopt-sanctions-targeting-russian-shadow-fleet-eu-official-2025-12-15/AP News - https://apnews.com/article/d80d64aa719ddc60575866f2c29e868eAP News - https://apnews.com/article/6a4c78360c51021bdb8c251bc230de38----------Silicon Curtain is a part of the Christmas Tree Trucks 2025 campaign - an ambitious fundraiser led by a group of our wonderful team of information warriors raising 110,000 EUR for the Ukrainian army. https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/christmas-tree-trucks-2025-silicon-curtainThe Goal of the Campaign for the Silicon Curtain community:- 1 armoured battle-ready pickupWe are sourcing all vehicles around 2010-2017 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?https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/christmas-tree-trucks-2025-silicon-curtain- The 38th Marine Brigade, who alone held Krynki for 124 days, receiving the Military Cross of Honour.- The 1027th Anti-aircraft and artillery regiment. Honoured by NATO as Defender of the Year 2024 and recipient of the Military Cross of Honour.- 104th Separate Brigade, Infantry, who alone held Kherson for 100 days, establishing conditions for the liberation of the city.- 93rd Brigade "Kholodnyi Yar", Black Raven Unmanned Systems Battalion ----------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----------

Livestream with Jonathan MS Pearce. ----------Silicon Curtain is a part of the Christmas Tree Trucks 2025 campaign - an ambitious fundraiser led by a group of our wonderful team of information warriors raising 110,000 EUR for the Ukrainian army. https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/christmas-tree-trucks-2025-silicon-curtainThe Goal of the Campaign for the Silicon Curtain community:- 1 armoured battle-ready pickupWe are sourcing all vehicles around 2010-2017 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?https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/christmas-tree-trucks-2025-silicon-curtain- The 38th Marine Brigade, who alone held Krynki for 124 days, receiving the Military Cross of Honour.- The 1027th Anti-aircraft and artillery regiment. Honoured by NATO as Defender of the Year 2024 and recipient of the Military Cross of Honour.- 104th Separate Brigade, Infantry, who alone held Kherson for 100 days, establishing conditions for the liberation of the city.- 93rd Brigade "Kholodnyi Yar", Black Raven Unmanned Systems Battalion ----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasWe need to scale up our support for Ukraine, and these events are designed to have a major impact. Your support in making it happen is greatly appreciated. All events will be recorded professionally and published for free on the Silicon Curtain channel. Where possible, we will also live-stream events.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyslhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/-----------

Livestream with Yuri Rashkin----------Silicon Curtain is a part of the Christmas Tree Trucks 2025 campaign - an ambitious fundraiser led by a group of our wonderful team of information warriors raising 110,000 EUR for the Ukrainian army. https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/christmas-tree-trucks-2025-silicon-curtainThe Goal of the Campaign for the Silicon Curtain community:- 1 armoured battle-ready pickupWe are sourcing all vehicles around 2010-2017 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?https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/christmas-tree-trucks-2025-silicon-curtain- The 38th Marine Brigade, who alone held Krynki for 124 days, receiving the Military Cross of Honour.- The 1027th Anti-aircraft and artillery regiment. Honoured by NATO as Defender of the Year 2024 and recipient of the Military Cross of Honour.- 104th Separate Brigade, Infantry, who alone held Kherson for 100 days, establishing conditions for the liberation of the city.- 93rd Brigade "Kholodnyi Yar", Black Raven Unmanned Systems Battalion ----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasWe need to scale up our support for Ukraine, and these events are designed to have a major impact. Your support in making it happen is greatly appreciated. All events will be recorded professionally and published for free on the Silicon Curtain channel. Where possible, we will also live-stream events.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyslhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/-----------

Ostap Ukrainets was born in 1994 in Kalush, Ivano-Frankivsk in western Ukraine. He graduated from the National Kyiv-Mohyla University with BA and MA degrees in comparative literature. He made his debut as a writer in 2017 with the novel "Malchut", which was hailed the "debut of the year" by Village magazine. Since then, his novels „Trance” and „Crusade Chancellery” were well received by readers. Ostap writes in the genre of historical and peculiar fiction, often referring to cultural heritage and history of anecdotes. He lives in Lviv. Of his four novels, three are dedicated to historical events and explore Ukrainian identity through the prism of postcolonial and trauma studies. A year before the invasion, he opened a publishing house specializing in humanities with his wife and their colleague.----------The Steel Porcupine https://www.thesteelporcupine.com/I'm proud to say that this series of ‘Ukrainian advent' interviews is supported by The Steel Porcupine – a unique and powerful film about a country that refuses to lie down, a people who turned themselves into a fortress of needles when Russian tanks rolled in. The Steel Porcupine is an unforgettable cinematic experience that exposes Russia's campaign of extermination in Ukraine, and the Ukrainian people's spirit to resist and prevail. It follows soldiers, volunteers and people who decided that survival meant resistance, not submission.Created by the makers of the acclaimed To the Zero Line, this is another film about humanity, that clearly states there is no such thing as neutrality when war crimes are being committed systematically by Russia, and on a scale in Europe only comparable to World War Two. Set to a haunting soundtrack featuring music by Philip Glass, and blending rare archival footage with original material, it is an impactful work of art and storytelling, as well as being informative.----------WORKS NOMINATED BY: Ostap Ukrainets BOOKSMaik Yohansen - Dr. Leonardo's Journey to Sloboda Switzerland with his Future Lover, the Beautiful AlcestaIvan Nechuy-Levytskyi - The CloudsFILMSSergei Parajanov - Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors (1965)Borys Ivchenko - The Lost Letter (1972)Viktor Ivanov - Chasing Two Hares (1961)WORKS OF ARTYakiv Yakovych HnizdovskyDavid Chichkan----------LINKS:https://willadecjusza.pl/en/ostap-ukrainets-ostap-ukrayinets-1https://lareviewofbooks.org/contributor/ostap-ukrainets/https://www.instagram.com/ukrostap/https://bookforum.ua/en/participants/9131https://lareviewofbooks.org/short-takes/dont-touch-my-corner-the-war-from-ivano-frankivsk/----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN 12 Events in 12 months - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur first live events this year in Lviv and Kyiv were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run 10 events in 10 months (at a minimum). We may add more venues to the program, depending on the success of the fundraising campaign. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasWe need to scale up our support for Ukraine, and these events are designed to have a major impact. Your support in making it happen is greatly appreciated. All events will be recorded professionally and published for free on the Silicon Curtain channel. Where possible, we will also live-stream events.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------

2025-12-15 | UPDATES #079 | “Pax Americana is over.” We've known this for a while, but Chancellor Merz's speech still dropped like a bomb going off. And it was a warning flare from the centre of Europe's security architecture. In this episode we cover Chancellor Merz's speech, the Berlin peace push, and the emerging European fear that Washington is no longer an ally — possibly even adversary.This weekend, Chancellor Friedrich Merz told a party congress in Munich that Europe must brace for a fundamental shift in its relationship with the United States — because the American-guaranteed peace that defined Europe's postwar order is, in his words, “largely over.” (Reuters)----------SOURCES: Reuters (Dec 13–14, 2025): Merz “Pax Americana” quote; Berlin ceasefire talks; U.S. plan terms.Reuters (Dec 9, 2025): U.S. NSS attack on European democracies; “cultivating resistance” inside EU; Merz response. Reuters (Dec 14, 2025): AfD lawmaker calls for U.S.–German nationalist alliance at MAGA gala.The Guardian (Dec 15, 2025): Berlin summit framing; European fears U.S. plan favours Russia. Ulrich Speck (Substack, Dec 14, 2025): European reaction, “shock” and hostility perception.----------Silicon Curtain is a part of the Christmas Tree Trucks 2025 campaign - an ambitious fundraiser led by a group of our wonderful team of information warriors raising 110,000 EUR for the Ukrainian army. https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/christmas-tree-trucks-2025-silicon-curtainThe Goal of the Campaign for the Silicon Curtain community:- 1 armoured battle-ready pickupWe are sourcing all vehicles around 2010-2017 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?https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/christmas-tree-trucks-2025-silicon-curtain- The 38th Marine Brigade, who alone held Krynki for 124 days, receiving the Military Cross of Honour.- The 1027th Anti-aircraft and artillery regiment. Honoured by NATO as Defender of the Year 2024 and recipient of the Military Cross of Honour.- 104th Separate Brigade, Infantry, who alone held Kherson for 100 days, establishing conditions for the liberation of the city.- 93rd Brigade "Kholodnyi Yar", Black Raven Unmanned Systems Battalion ----------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----------

The Steel Porcupine https://www.thesteelporcupine.com/I'm proud to say that this series of ‘Ukrainian advent' interviews is supported by The Steel Porcupine – a unique and powerful film about a country that refuses to lie down, a people who turned themselves into a fortress of needles when Russian tanks rolled in. The Steel Porcupine is an unforgettable cinematic experience that exposes Russia's campaign of extermination in Ukraine, and the Ukrainian people's spirit to resist and prevail. It follows soldiers, volunteers and people who decided that survival meant resistance, not submission.Created by the makers of the acclaimed To the Zero Line, this is another film about humanity, that clearly states there is no such thing as neutrality when war crimes are being committed systematically by Russia, and on a scale in Europe only comparable to World War Two. Set to a haunting soundtrack featuring music by Philip Glass, and blending rare archival footage with original material, it is an impactful work of art and storytelling, as well as being informative.----------LINKS: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anastasiiagavryliuk/----------WORKS NOMINATED BY: Anastasiia GavryliukBOOKSPavlo Kazarin - The Wild West of Eastern EuropeGarry Kasparov - Winter is comingTimothy Snyder - The Road to unfreedomAnne Applebaum - Red Famine: Stalin's War on UkraineSerhii Plokhy - The Gates of EuropeFILMSMstyslav Chernov - 2000 Meters to Andriivka (2024)Myroslav Slaboshpytskiy - The Tribe (2014)Eduard Nazarov - Once Upon a Dog (1982)WORKS OF ARTOleksandr Murashko----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN 12 Events in 12 months - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur first live events this year in Lviv and Kyiv were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run 10 events in 10 months (at a minimum). We may add more venues to the program, depending on the success of the fundraising campaign. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasWe need to scale up our support for Ukraine, and these events are designed to have a major impact. Your support in making it happen is greatly appreciated. All events will be recorded professionally and published for free on the Silicon Curtain channel. Where possible, we will also live-stream events.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------

2025-12-14 | UPDATES #078 | A Russian drone hits Turkish cargo vessel VIVA in the Black Sea. This matters for Turkey, maritime security, and Ukraine's campaign against Russia's “shadow fleet.” We look at the increased risk for shipping in the black sea, both those that serve Ukraine's legitimate and legal export needs, and those that form part of Russia grey fleet trading illegally in oil. Ukraine says Russia hit a Turkish civilian cargo ship with a drone — a vessel carrying sunflower oil to Egypt — inside what Ukraine describes as a protected coastal “grain corridor.” And it happened within hours of Erdoğan raising port strikes with Putin. On Saturday, 13 December 2025, Ukraine's navy accused Russia of a deliberate drone strike on the Turkish vessel VIVA, describing it as a “targeted strike” on a civilian ship heading to Egypt with sunflower oil. (Reuters)----------SOURCES: Reuters (Dec 13, 2025): Ukraine says Russian drone attack hit civilian Turkish vessel The Moscow Times / AFP (Dec 14, 2025): Ukraine says Russian drone hit Turkish cargo vessel VIVAReuters (Dec 12, 2025): Vessel on fire after Russian attack on Ukraine's Odesa region, sources sayReuters (Dec 13, 2025): Erdoğan comments after Putin meeting; calls to protect ports/energy facilities Turkey MFA statement (Dec 12, 2025): Chornomorsk port attack; maritime security/freedom of navigation Ukrinform (Dec 13, 2025): Turkey urges halt to attacks on energy and port infrastructureKyiv Independent (Dec 14, 2025): Mentions *VIVA* incident amid broader strikes Ukrainian Pravda (Dec 13, 2025): Ukraine Navy statement on “targeted strike” against VIVAReuters (Dec 10, 2025) background: Ukraine disables “shadow fleet” tanker Dashan with sea dronesBackground (outside 48h): Beşiktaş Shipping halts Russia-linked voyages after explosions----------Silicon Curtain is a part of the Christmas Tree Trucks 2025 campaign - an ambitious fundraiser led by a group of our wonderful team of information warriors raising 110,000 EUR for the Ukrainian army. https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/christmas-tree-trucks-2025-silicon-curtainThe Goal of the Campaign for the Silicon Curtain community:- 1 armoured battle-ready pickupWe are sourcing all vehicles around 2010-2017 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?https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/christmas-tree-trucks-2025-silicon-curtain- The 38th Marine Brigade, who alone held Krynki for 124 days, receiving the Military Cross of Honour.- The 1027th Anti-aircraft and artillery regiment. Honoured by NATO as Defender of the Year 2024 and recipient of the Military Cross of Honour.- 104th Separate Brigade, Infantry, who alone held Kherson for 100 days, establishing conditions for the liberation of the city.- 93rd Brigade "Kholodnyi Yar", Black Raven Unmanned Systems Battalion ----------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----------

2025-12-12 | UPDATES #076 | The financial battlefield is intensifying — the hidden front where the Kremlin is taking blow after blow, and where Europe may finally, belatedly, be rediscovering its spine. Talk about leaving it to the last minute as well. We must ask whether it's Ukraine's financial issues, their budgetary gap, that spurred Europe on, or the prospect of Trump getting his hands on the Russian Central Bank assets. Because this week, the European Union has done something extraordinary — something that has Vladimir Putin rattled. The EU has triggered emergency powers to permanently immobilize Russian state assets, edging toward using them to arm and rebuild Ukraine. Meanwhile, Moscow's central bank is screaming “illegal!”, Russia threatens to sue Euroclear, Japan backs away, France hesitates, Orbán obstructs, and Washington quietly manoeuvres for leverage. Meanwhile Moscow is activating all its embedded assets, agents and useful idiots to try and fight the permanent seizure of its former assets. ----------SOURCES: https://kyivindependent.com/https://www.kyivpost.com/https://meduza.io/enhttps://www.themoscowtimes.com/https://www.theguardian.com/ukhttps://theins.ru/enPublic statements by:European Commission, Russian Central Bank, Vladimir Putin, EuroclearAdditional reporting from:Politico EU, Reuters, Bloomberg (paraphrased references)----------Silicon Curtain is a part of the Christmas Tree Trucks 2025 campaign - an ambitious fundraiser led by a group of our wonderful team of information warriors raising 110,000 EUR for the Ukrainian army. https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/christmas-tree-trucks-2025-silicon-curtainThe Goal of the Campaign for the Silicon Curtain community:- 1 armoured battle-ready pickupWe are sourcing all vehicles around 2010-2017 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?https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/christmas-tree-trucks-2025-silicon-curtain- The 38th Marine Brigade, who alone held Krynki for 124 days, receiving the Military Cross of Honour.- The 1027th Anti-aircraft and artillery regiment. Honoured by NATO as Defender of the Year 2024 and recipient of the Military Cross of Honour.- 104th Separate Brigade, Infantry, who alone held Kherson for 100 days, establishing conditions for the liberation of the city.- 93rd Brigade "Kholodnyi Yar", Black Raven Unmanned Systems Battalion ----------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----------

Today I'm speaking with Operator Starsky, a former Ukrainian National Guardian, blogger, and inspiration for everyone who is following the war, and supporting a Ukrainian victory. He has created one of the most popular and original YouTube channels dedicated to the international community. I'm not sure you need an introduction – I'm sure most people watching this channel will have seen your videos! ----------LINKS:https://www.youtube.com/@PropagandaStudyInstitutehttp://psi-eu.org/https://www.youtube.com/@StarskyUA----------The Steel Porcupine https://www.thesteelporcupine.com/I'm proud to say that this series of ‘Ukrainian advent' interviews is supported by The Steel Porcupine – a unique and powerful film about a country that refuses to lie down, a people who turned themselves into a fortress of needles when Russian tanks rolled in. The Steel Porcupine is an unforgettable cinematic experience that exposes Russia's campaign of extermination in Ukraine, and the Ukrainian people's spirit to resist and prevail. It follows soldiers, volunteers and people who decided that survival meant resistance, not submission.Created by the makers of the acclaimed To the Zero Line, this is another film about humanity, that clearly states there is no such thing as neutrality when war crimes are being committed systematically by Russia, and on a scale in Europe only comparable to World War Two. Set to a haunting soundtrack featuring music by Philip Glass, and blending rare archival footage with original material, it is an impactful work of art and storytelling, as well as being informative.----------Silicon Curtain is a part of the Christmas Tree Trucks 2025 campaign - an ambitious fundraiser led by a group of our wonderful team of information warriors raising 110,000 EUR for the Ukrainian army. https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/christmas-tree-trucks-2025-silicon-curtainThe Goal of the Campaign for the Silicon Curtain community:- 1 armoured battle-ready pickupWe are sourcing all vehicles around 2010-2017 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?https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/christmas-tree-trucks-2025-silicon-curtain- The 38th Marine Brigade, who alone held Krynki for 124 days, receiving the Military Cross of Honour.- The 1027th Anti-aircraft and artillery regiment. Honoured by NATO as Defender of the Year 2024 and recipient of the Military Cross of Honour.- 104th Separate Brigade, Infantry, who alone held Kherson for 100 days, establishing conditions for the liberation of the city.- 93rd Brigade "Kholodnyi Yar", Black Raven Unmanned Systems Battalion ----------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 first live events this year in Lviv and Kyiv were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. We may add more venues to the program, depending on the success of the fundraising campaign. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------

December 19, 2025 Mykola Leliovskyi,Professor of Biblical Theology &Hermeneutics @ Ukrainian BaptistTheological Seminary, pastor of LvivCentra Baptist Church in Lviv,Ukraine, & founder & director ofJourney Christian Publishing, whowill address:“UPDATES FROM A UKRAINIANCHRISTIAN on ADVANCEMENTSin the SPREAD of the GOSPEL inthat WAR-TORN COUNTRY”special co-host:RON JONES,an American businessman &missionary to Ukraine, where hemoved with his wife & children in2018, & established BusinessLabUkraine, but evacuated with hisfamily in 2022 just 3 weeks beforethe full-scale invasion by Russiabegan. Subscribe: iTunes TuneIn Android RSS Feed Listen:

This video is part of a Ukrainian Advert series, celebrating Ukrainian voices, culture and resilience, ahead of Christmas Day. The project is kindly supported by maker of the film: The Steel Porcupine.#ONE: Andrew Chakhoyan is a Ukrainian American based in the Netherlands and is a vocal and articulate champion of Ukraine and its cause. ----------The Steel Porcupine https://www.thesteelporcupine.com/I'm proud to say that this series of ‘Ukrainian advent' interviews is supported by The Steel Porcupine – a unique and powerful film about a country that refuses to lie down, a people who turned themselves into a fortress of needles when Russian tanks rolled in. The Steel Porcupine is an unforgettable cinematic experience that exposes Russia's campaign of extermination in Ukraine, and the Ukrainian people's spirit to resist and prevail. It follows soldiers, volunteers and people who decided that survival meant resistance, not submission.Created by the makers of the acclaimed To the Zero Line, this is another film about humanity, that clearly states there is no such thing as neutrality when war crimes are being committed systematically by Russia, and on a scale in Europe only comparable to World War Two. Set to a haunting soundtrack featuring music by Philip Glass, and blending rare archival footage with original material, it is an impactful work of art and storytelling, as well as being informative.----------LINKS:https://x.com/ChakhoyanAndrewhttps://www.weforum.org/agenda/authors/andrew-chakhoyan/https://www.politico.eu/article/ukraine-incrementalism-russia-war-president-volodymyr-zelenskyy-truth/ ----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN 12 Events in 12 months - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur first live events this year in Lviv and Kyiv were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run 10 events in 10 months (at a minimum). We may add more venues to the program, depending on the success of the fundraising campaign. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasWe need to scale up our support for Ukraine, and these events are designed to have a major impact. Your support in making it happen is greatly appreciated. All events will be recorded professionally and published for free on the Silicon Curtain channel. Where possible, we will also live-stream events.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------

2025-12-07 | DAILY UPDATES #073 | Tonight, we're in Brussels, breaking down the comments of a pusillanimous and pathetic excuse for a leader, that's holding the financial keys to a war he claims can't be won. Yet he's not prepared to take a risk for the sake of Ukraine's or Europe's freedom. It's clowns like this that will destroy the European project and contribute to shattering of peace on the continent.Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever has just told the world that “Who seriously believes Russia is going to lose in Ukraine? It's a fable – a total illusion… not even desirable for Russia to lose.” (Kyiv Post) I wonder if he speaks Russian. If not, he better start learning it. ----------SOURCES: Kyiv Post – “‘Not Even Desirable for Russia to Lose': Belgian PM Opposes Asset Confiscation” (Dec. 4, 2025)Kyiv Independent – “The key to ending the war is in Brussels — Ukrainians react to Belgium's Russian asset loan opposition.” Kyiv Independent – “Belgian PM renews opposition to Russian frozen-assets reparations loan.” Kyiv Independent – “The EU's ambitious plan for frozen Russian assets, explained.” Le Monde – “Belgium resists unfreezing Russian assets held in Brussels.” Brussels Institute for Geopolitics – “The poisoned chalice of Russia's frozen assets” by Luuk van Middelaar. AP News – “The EU lays out a plan to fund Ukraine using frozen Russian assets but Belgium says it's too risky.” Financial Times – “ECB refuses to provide backstop for €140bn Ukraine loan.” Reuters – Coverage of De Wever–von der Leyen–Merz talks, and Russian Duma and Medvedev threats over asset seizure. The Guardian – “European Commission plans ‘reparations loan' to Ukraine using frozen Russian assets” and follow-up pieces on Ukraine funding negotiations. Washington Post – Opinion on “The European Union's hypocrisies on Ukraine.” ----------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----------

2025-12-06 | DAILY UPDATES #072 | We continue our analysis of the National Security Strategy of the Trump regime, a document that claims to defend the West, by turning its guns on Europe. It's a malign document, that fleshes out Vance's speech at the 2025 Munich Security Forum. In that speech, Vance argued that Europe's principal danger came from erosion of democratic norms — especially censorship, suppression of dissent, and exclusion, widely interpreted as an attack on the structure of the European Union and its institutions. This NSS goes further and effectively declares that Europe's systems of governance are antithetical to America's interests. It's a mandate for malign interference, leans in to overtly support the far right and extremist groups, libertarian absolutists, oligarchical interests and is a mandate for regime change. ----------SOURCES: National Security Strategy of the United States of America, White House, December 2025 (PDF).https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/NSS-2025.pdfMichelle L. Price, “Trump's security strategy slams European allies and asserts US power in Western Hemisphere,” AP News / WFTV, 5 Dec 2025.https://apnews.com/article/trump-security-strategy-europe-russia-america-first-068488ca7e6d1c92ccaddd1649958218James Mackenzie, “US strategy document says Europe risks ‘civilisational erasure',” Reuters, 5 Dec 2025.https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/us-strategy-document-says-europe-risks-civilisational-erasure-2025-12-05/Gram Slattery & Humeyra Pamuk, “Exclusive: US sets 2027 deadline for Europe-led NATO defense, officials say,” Reuters, 5 Dec 2025.https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/us-sets-2027-deadline-europe-led-nato-defense-officials-say-2025-12-05/Martin Fornusek, “New US strategy document takes hard line on Europe's ‘trajectory,' NATO enlargement,” Kyiv Independent, 5 Dec 2025.https://kyivindependent.com/new-us-strategy-document-takes-hard-line-on-europes-trajectory-nato-expansion/Jon Henley, “‘Cultivate resistance': policy paper lays bare Trump support for Europe's far right,” The Guardian, 5 Dec 2025.https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/05/civilisational-erasure-us-strategy-document-appears-to-echo-far-right-conspiracy-theories-about-europe----------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----------

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

Silicon Bites Ep273 | News Update - Day 1,382 - 2025-12-06 | Zelenskyy was flying into Dublin for his first official state visit to Ireland on a cold December night this last week. The red carpet had been rolled out, the cameras were ready, but out over the Irish Sea, four — or maybe five — large, military-grade drones quietly slip into a declared no-fly zone and headed towards his flight path.----------SOURCES:The Journal (Ireland) – “Four unidentified military-style drones breached no-fly zone to target Zelenskyy's arrival in Dublin,” Dec 4, 2025.Reuters / NDTV – “Drones were spotted near Zelenskiy flight path to Dublin, Irish media report,” Dec 4, 2025; “5 Mysterious Drones Spotted Near Zelensky's Jet As He Lands In Dublin,” Dec 5, 2025.Kyiv Independent – “Unidentified drones reported near Zelensky's arrival route in Dublin, Irish media say,” Dec 4, 2025.CBS News – “Unidentified drones breached Ireland's airspace during visit by Ukraine's Zelenskyy,” Dec 5, 2025.RBC-Ukraine / NV / UNIAN – Coverage of Irish investigation and quotes from Dmytro Lytvyn confirming the drones did not alter Zelenskyy's visit.UK Defence Journal – “Unidentified drones breach Irish airspace on Zelenskyy visit,” Dec 5, 2025 (including commentary on Irish capabilities and reader reactions).The Guardian (Ukraine war briefing) – Section on drones near Zelenskyy's flight path in Dublin, Dec 5, 2025.Wikipedia / European reporting – “2025 European drone sightings” and coverage of drone incursions over Belgium, Netherlands and Sweden; Irish events listing for Zelenskyy's state visit to Ireland, Dec 1–2, 2025.Axios / Kyiv Post – Reports on French military firing on drones over the Île Longue nuclear submarine base, Dec 5, 2025.----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasWe need to scale up our support for Ukraine, and these events are designed to have a major impact. Your support in making it happen is greatly appreciated. All events will be recorded professionally and published for free on the Silicon Curtain channel. Where possible, we will also live-stream events.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------

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

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. DAVID DEBATTO LINKS: @NoDelusionZone https://www.protectingtherepublic.com/podcasthttps://x.com/ddebattohttps://www.kyivpost.com/authors/743----------Chuck Pfarrer is an American writer, film producer and former navy SEAL. He'll be a familiar and trusted presence to many who have tuned in to the Mriya Report on ‘X' over the course of the war. As an author, Chuck has penned screenplays, novels and comic books, as well as non-fiction works. His works feature themes relating to the military, and of course is a strong advocate for Ukrainian victory. ----------Timothy Ash, who has been professional economist for more than 30 years, with two thirds of that in the banking industry. Timothy's specialism is emerging European economics, and he writes and blogs extensively on economic challenges for leading publications such as the Kyiv Post, Atlantic Council, the Financial Times, and the United Business Journal. He is also an Associate Fellow in the Russia and Eurasia programme at Chatham House and has advised various governments on Ukraine-Russia policy and specifically on the impact of sanctions.TIMOTHY ASH LINKS:https://timothyash.substack.com/ https://www.chathamhouse.org/about-us/our-people/timothy-ashhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/timothy-ash-83a87158/https://cepa.org/author/timothy-ash/----------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/----------

863,405 views Streamed live on Nov 24, 2025 #inukraine #russiaukraine #tcc#arestovych #rustle #zelensky #umerov #war⛑️ Help for children of the Donetsk region. SYNERGY OF LIFE Charitable Foundation

Silicon Bites Ep272 | News Update - Day 1,377 - 2025-12-01 | Two things went boom, but not in Crimea. Not Sevastopol. We're 30–40 nautical miles off Turkey's coast, in supposedly “safe” waters, watching two aging oil tankers from Russia's sanctions-busting shadow fleet burn in the dark. Beautiful, in a sinister kind of way. Ukraine does not deny it. Sea Baby naval drones. Precision hits. A deliberate punch to the Kremlin's oil lifeline. But a moral dilemma for Western states that are nominally pro-Ukraine but get squeamish when it treats this like the existential conflict that it is and takes actions it must. Ukraine embraces tough, challenging, dirty, and morally messy problems, and owns the decision and their impacts. The hypocritical and squeamish west labels this escalation. It's not, but our view on this reality exudes weakness and hypocrisy, as well as a shirking of duty. ----------SOURCES: Kyiv Independent – “‘Successful' Ukrainian naval drone strike disables 2 Russian shadow fleet tankers, source says” (Nov. 29, 2025)Kyiv Post – “SBU Drones Hit Sanctioned Oil Tankers Off Black Sea Coast” (Nov. 29, 2025)Reuters – “Ukrainian naval drones strike two Russian oil tankers in Black Sea” (Nov. 30, 2025)Associated Press – “Ukraine's Sea Baby drones hit Russian oil tankers in Black Sea off Turkish coast” & “Turkey condemns Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil tankers off Black Sea coast” (Nov. 29–30, 2025) RBC-Ukraine / UNN – coverage of Turkish Foreign Ministry and Transport Ministry reactions to the Kairos and Virat strikes Lloyd's List – Oleh Dunda & Ian Ralby, “Shadow ports: how cutting off Russia's access to maritime trade could help sanctions have real impact” (Nov. 27, 2025) gCaptain – “Two Sanctioned Tankers Catch Fire in Black Sea After Suspected Mine Strikes” (Nov. 28, 2025)Kyiv Post – analysis on Ukraine's campaign against Russian energy infrastructure and Zelensky's comments on striking energy facilitiesNaval News / H. I. Sutton – “Vital Russian Supply Lines in Black Sea Cut by Ukrainian Drones” (Mar. 10, 2024) Kyiv Independent, Kyiv Post, RBC-Ukraine, NV – reporting on earlier explosions involving the shadow-fleet tanker Vilamoura in the Mediterranean (June–July 2025) (Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine)----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasWe need to scale up our support for Ukraine, and these events are designed to have a major impact. Your support in making it happen is greatly appreciated. All events will be recorded professionally and published for free on the Silicon Curtain channel. Where possible, we will also live-stream events.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------

2025-11-30 | DAILY UPDATES #069 | The civil war has broken out in Russia – but not the one you perhaps imagined. It's a weird civil war between objectionable characters – one happening inside the pro-war camp. Z-Patriots and propagandists are turning on each other.The Z-patriots, “turbo-patriots,” Telegram war-bloggers and Kremlin talking heads who cheered on the invasion… are now denouncing, arresting and in some cases literally killing each other. Foreign-agent lists. “Terrorist” labels. Extremism charges. Car bombs, gunshots on occupied territory, and Chechen generals promising that troublesome bloggers will be “destroyed legally”. They also hint at illegal methods. But is ‘law' a redundant concept in Russia, in any case – where strength, status, brutality and connections define everything. This isn't dissent versus the regime. This is the regime's own shock-troops turning their knives inward – and the minions of the security state happily twisting the blade. Let's unpack how we got to the point where, as one Ukrainian adviser put it during an earlier bombing of a Russian war-blogger, “the spiders are eating each other in a jar.” (Reuters)----------SOURCES: The Guardian – “Putin's repressive machinery turns inward to target pro-war figures,” 6 Nov 2025Meduza – “‘Eating their own': What the latest scandal among Russia's pro-war pundits says about the Z-blogosphere's future,” 14 Nov 2025Novaya Gazeta Europe – “Falling foul: Who is Roman Alyokhin, the first pro-war blogger to be deemed a ‘foreign agent'?” 25 Sept 2025Meduza – “Russia changes military recruitment tactics… Russia's financial watchdog adds Tatyana Montyan to its list of terrorists and extremists,” 28 Oct 2025EADaily / Izvestia – “Blogger Montyan added to Rosfinmonitoring extremist list,” 27 Oct 2025United24 – “They'll Be Destroyed Legally: Russia Cracks Down on Its Own Pro-War Bloggers,” Nov 2025United24 – “Putin's Purge Turns Inward: Kremlin Targets Its Own Pro-War Propagandists,” 2025Hindustan Times / The Economist – “Russia's militant bloggers are clashing with their own regime,” 18 Nov 2025Meduza / BBC Monitoring – reports on the detention of pro-war blogger Oksana Kobeleva, Nov 2025Reuters – reports on the killing of Darya Dugina, Aug 2022Reuters – “Bomb kills Russian war blogger in St Petersburg café,” 3 Apr 2023RFERL / The Moscow Times – on the assassination of Igor Mangushev in occupied Luhansk, Feb 2023Reuters / AP – on the car-bomb attack on Zakhar Prilepin and subsequent life sentence for the bomber, May 2023–Sept 2024----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------

Jason Jay Smart is a political adviser who has lived and worked in Ukraine, Moldova, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Latin America. Due to his work with the democratic opposition to Vladimir Putin, Smart was made persona non grata for life by Russia in 2010. Jason is a Special Correspondent at the Kyiv Post. It's the state of US support for Ukraine that we will discuss today.----------LINKS:https://jasonjaysmart.com/ https://www.kyivpost.com/authors/5 https://americanpoliticalservices.com/https://www.facebook.com/jasonjaysmarthttps://twitter.com/officejjsmart ----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN 10 Events in 10 months - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur first live events this year in Lviv and Kyiv were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run 10 events in 10 months (at a minimum). We may add more venues to the program, depending on the success of the fundraising campaign. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasWe need to scale up our support for Ukraine, and these events are designed to have a major impact. Your support in making it happen is greatly appreciated. All events will be recorded professionally and published for free on the Silicon Curtain channel. Where possible, we will also live-stream events.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------

EUA, Rússia e Europa procuram desenhar um plano de paz para a Ucrânia, com cedências à vista para Kiev. Rui Pedro Antunes e Teresa Abecasis, a partir de Lviv, descrevem a perspetiva dos ucranianos.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2025-11-27 | DAILY UPDATES #068 | The civil war has broken out in Russia – but not the one you perhaps imagined. It's a weird civil war between objectionable characters – one happening inside the pro-war camp. Z-Patriots and propagandists are turning on each other.The Z-patriots, “turbo-patriots,” Telegram war-bloggers and Kremlin talking heads who cheered on the invasion… are now denouncing, arresting and in some cases literally killing each other. Foreign-agent lists. “Terrorist” labels. Extremism charges. Car bombs, gunshots on occupied territory, and Chechen generals promising that troublesome bloggers will be “destroyed legally”. They also hint at illegal methods. But is ‘law' a redundant concept in Russia, in any case – where strength, status, brutality and connections define everything. This isn't dissent versus the regime. This is the regime's own shock-troops turning their knives inward – and the minions of the security state happily twisting the blade. Let's unpack how we got to the point where, as one Ukrainian adviser put it during an earlier bombing of a Russian war-blogger, “the spiders are eating each other in a jar.” (Reuters)----------SOURCES: The Guardian – “Putin's repressive machinery turns inward to target pro-war figures,” 6 Nov 2025Meduza – “‘Eating their own': What the latest scandal among Russia's pro-war pundits says about the Z-blogosphere's future,” 14 Nov 2025Novaya Gazeta Europe – “Falling foul: Who is Roman Alyokhin, the first pro-war blogger to be deemed a ‘foreign agent'?” 25 Sept 2025Meduza – “Russia changes military recruitment tactics… Russia's financial watchdog adds Tatyana Montyan to its list of terrorists and extremists,” 28 Oct 2025EADaily / Izvestia – “Blogger Montyan added to Rosfinmonitoring extremist list,” 27 Oct 2025United24 – “They'll Be Destroyed Legally: Russia Cracks Down on Its Own Pro-War Bloggers,” Nov 2025United24 – “Putin's Purge Turns Inward: Kremlin Targets Its Own Pro-War Propagandists,” 2025Hindustan Times / The Economist – “Russia's militant bloggers are clashing with their own regime,” 18 Nov 2025Meduza / BBC Monitoring – reports on the detention of pro-war blogger Oksana Kobeleva, Nov 2025Reuters – reports on the killing of Darya Dugina, Aug 2022Reuters – “Bomb kills Russian war blogger in St Petersburg café,” 3 Apr 2023RFERL / The Moscow Times – on the assassination of Igor Mangushev in occupied Luhansk, Feb 2023Reuters / AP – on the car-bomb attack on Zakhar Prilepin and subsequent life sentence for the bomber, May 2023–Sept 2024----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------

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

Andriy Borovik is Executive Director of Transparency International Ukraine.NOTE: The first half of the video is audio only (with a still image of the guest) - apologies, this is due to a corrupted video file. ----------LINKS:https://acrec.org.ua/en/news/the-first-in-ukraine-master-s-program-anti-corruption-studies-is-open/LVIV MEDIA FORUM:The NGO Lviv Media Forum strengthens media, institutions, and public figures capable of fostering healthy public dialogue in Ukraine and beyond. Our goal is an effective and democratic society united by healthy communication. The organization was founded in 2013 to bring together media professionals from Ukraine and around the world in Lviv for the annual LMF conference. Over the years, we have grown into an ecosystem of people, organizations, and projects that support the media, develop comprehensive solutions for them, and promote the best media practices in Ukraine and globally. We are moving from supporting and developing media and journalists to a broader strategic focus: empowering communication actors, including media, civil society organizations, government bodies, and more. https://lvivmediaforum.com/enhttps://conference.lvivmediaforum.com/----------Your support is massively appreciated! SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon CurtainNEXT EVENTS - LVIV, KYIV AND ODESA THIS MAY AND JUNE.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur first live events this year in Lviv and Kyiv were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. We may add more venues to the program, depending on the success of the fundraising campaign. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasWe need to scale up our support for Ukraine, and these events are designed to have a major impact. Your support in making it happen is greatly appreciated. All events will be recorded professionally and published for free on the Silicon Curtain channel. Where possible, we will also live-stream events.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------PLATFORMS:Twitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSiliconInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/siliconcurtain/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqmLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------Welcome to the Silicon Curtain podcast. Please like and subscribe if you like the content we produce. It will really help to increase the popularity of our content in YouTube's algorithm. Our material is now being made available on popular podcasting platforms as well, such as Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

2025-11-26 | Silicon Wafers #067 | The man sent to sell peace in Russia's war against Ukraine turns out to have been helping the competition polish their sales pitch. He's gone from witless and hapless amateur diplomat to become Witkoff the Kremlin whisperer. On the surface this appears to be a treasonous act – but it seems that Trump doesn't really care, one way of another. It's at this point we must ask some important questions and start to draw conclusions. - Putin's envoy would hardly go to all this trouble behind the scenes, to plant the idea of the 28 points in the minds of the US administration, if Trump were simply an agent of the Kremlin. Surely, they could snap their fingers and he'd get it done? It suggests they do not control him and perhaps find his actions as ‘wayward' and capricious as we do. - This episode also gives an insight into many on the Trump side -they may not be assets or agents, but they are quite happy to align with the Kremlin on certain points, and not at all deterred when this comes to light. We must conclude that they just don't care – get peace done is something Trump wants, but he does not care how. The detail of ‘how', values, morality, sensitivity, justice are just so much white noise to him. - And finally, we must conclude something obvious, and yet overlooked, that Putin wants to make peace directly with the US, completely exclusion the European and British, and preferably with Ukraine a bit player, with no visible agency in the process.----------SOURCES: Reuters – “Russia rules out big concessions on Ukraine as leak shows Witkoff advised Moscow”Reuters – “Russia says leak of Witkoff call recording is unacceptable, amounts to hybrid warfare”Associated Press – “Kremlin confirms US envoy will visit as talks on ending war in Ukraine gain momentum”The Guardian – “‘Traitor': US representatives call for Trump envoy Witkoff to be fired after leaked Kremlin call”Meduza – “Leaked calls between Steve Witkoff and Putin's advisers raise new questions about Trump's ‘peace plan.' Here's how the world is reacting.”Kyiv Independent – “How Steve Witkoff pushed Ukraine sympathizers out of White House, and led the US into Russia's arms” Kyiv Independent – “Trump's peace plan undermines Europe's security, experts warn”Kyiv Independent – “Trump walks back deadline for Ukraine peace deal”Kyiv Independent – “Witkoff to meet Putin as US sends delegations to Ukraine, Russia in hopes of finalizing peace plan” Babel – “Either 28 difficult points, or an extremely difficult winter. Zelensky addressed Ukrainians amid news of the peace plan” NV – coverage of Ukrainian and public reaction to the 28-point planAtlantic Council – “Putin's new Ukraine essay reveals imperial ambitions” OSW (Centre for Eastern Studies) – “Putin's article: ‘On the Historical Unity of Russians and Ukrainians'”Washington Post – “Putin is an open book. U.S. leaders have refused to read it.” Le Monde – “Putin's eternally inscrutable diplomacy” (English edition) ----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------

2025-11-25 | DAILY UPDATES #065 | As we record, U.S. and Ukrainian delegations are in Geneva working on an “updated” or “refined” version of the plan – with Marco Rubio talking about “tremendous progress” and Ukrainian officials quietly insisting that their red lines are being taken on board. All of this shows weakness, tremendous weakness and delusion. It signals to Moscow that we are divided, disorganised, lack any sense of a common outcome, and that we do not have the will to support our partner Ukraine for survival let alone victory. They are the ones fighting with extraordinary tenacity and innovation, yet apparently, it's us who are exhausted. In this episode we will look at the two numbers that explain everything, and topics associated with them that would crush Moscow, if systematically adopted by America and Europe. Spoilers, they won't, and Russian cognitive warfare plays a big role in why this won't happen. It's the weakness of Trump's political position, and Putin's economy that define why this barrage of fake diplomacy has broken out now, and why it's so irrationally ferocious. ----------SOURCES: Axioshttps://www.axios.com/2025/11/20/trump-ukraine-peace-plan-28-points-russiaReutershttps://www.reuters.com/world/europe/draft-us-backed-peace-proposal-ukraine-2025-11-21/Reutershttps://www.reuters.com/business/finance/full-text-european-counter-proposal-us-ukraine-peace-plan-2025-11-23/AP Newshttps://apnews.com/article/1f22a02dda9adff079383370ee69f95cThe Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/22/zelenskyy-approves-bill-weakening-anti-corruption-bodies-despite-big-protestsAP Newshttps://apnews.com/article/6766134c963f0423d88c2ac1749f8c11----------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----------

Welcome to our monthly conversation with Konstantin, who is one of the most respected voices on YouTube about what is happening Inside Russia. Konstantin Samoilov is a well-known YouTuber whose channel ‘Inside Russia' comments insightfully on Russia's decent into authoritarianism over the last few years. But now, like many others, he's outside Russia, with no idea of when he can return there. ----------DESCRIPTION: Inside Russia: The Realities of War, Economy, and Internal StrugglesIn this episode, Jonathan hosts Konstantin Samoilov for a profound discussion on the current situation inside Russia. The conversation delves into Konstantin's experiences as a truth-teller on Russian affairs, the dangers associated with being on Alexander Dugin's radar, and the implications of the ongoing Ukraine conflict. They also explore Russia's internal economic struggles, the potential for Putin to rebuild Russia's military might if given a reprieve, and the emerging civil war among the Z-Patriot community. The episode concludes with a discussion on the need for Russia to address its Soviet and imperial past for a stable future.----------CHAPTERS:01:35 Discussing Alexander Dugin's Influence04:09 Personal Safety Concerns06:57 The Dubious Peace Process09:34 Economic Troubles in Russia25:22 Potential Outcomes and Historical Parallels29:29 Economic Strategies in Modern Russia31:17 The Hybrid Economy Model32:49 Challenges and Adaptations33:51 Historical Parallels and Lessons40:05 The Z Patriot Civil War44:01 Corruption and Fundraising Scams50:45 The Legacy of Power and Influence55:05 The Need for Systemic Change----------LINKS: @INSIDERUSSIA https://www.patreon.com/insiderussiaINSIDE RUSSIA is a source of current news on Russia - Konstantin carefully selects 9 news stories that are important and really matter, with commentaries and analyses by Konstantin delivered daily to channel patrons at Patreon.comGet your access to daily news updates at patreon.com/INSIDERUSSIA----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasWe need to scale up our support for Ukraine, and these events are designed to have a major impact. Your support in making it happen is greatly appreciated. All events will be recorded professionally and published for free on the Silicon Curtain channel. Where possible, we will also live-stream events.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SILICON 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----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------

Dorka Takácsy is a researcher specializing in disinformation and propaganda across Central-Eastern Europe and Russia. She currently serves as a visiting fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States and a research fellow at the Centre for Euro-Atlantic Integration and Democracy. As a PhD candidate at Corvinus University of Budapest, she explores Russian domestic disinformation targeting the West. Her recent roles include a Denton Transatlantic Fellowship at the Center for European Policy Analysis in Washington, a Visegrad-Taiwan Scholarship in 2024, and a Think Visegrad Fellowship in 2023 from the International Visegrad Fund. Dorka has built a robust professional background with experience at the European Parliament, the Political Capital Institute in Budapest, the National Defense University in Washington, and other institutions. She earned an MA in international relations from Central European University and a BA in international business from the Budapest Business School and the University of Picardy Jules Verne.----------LINKS:https://ceid.hu/about-3/dorka-takacsy/https://cepa.org/author/dorka-takacsy/https://www.gmfus.org/find-experts/dorka-takacsyhttps://conference.lvivmediaforum.com/speakers/dorka-takacsyLVIV MEDIA FORUM:The NGO Lviv Media Forum strengthens media, institutions, and public figures capable of fostering healthy public dialogue in Ukraine and beyond. Our goal is an effective and democratic society united by healthy communication. The organization was founded in 2013 to bring together media professionals from Ukraine and around the world in Lviv for the annual LMF conference. Over the years, we have grown into an ecosystem of people, organizations, and projects that support the media, develop comprehensive solutions for them, and promote the best media practices in Ukraine and globally. We are moving from supporting and developing media and journalists to a broader strategic focus: empowering communication actors, including media, civil society organizations, government bodies, and more. https://lvivmediaforum.com/enhttps://conference.lvivmediaforum.com/----------Your support is massively appreciated! SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon CurtainNEXT EVENTS - LVIV, KYIV AND ODESA THIS MAY AND JUNE.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur first live events this year in Lviv and Kyiv were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. We may add more venues to the program, depending on the success of the fundraising campaign. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasWe need to scale up our support for Ukraine, and these events are designed to have a major impact. Your support in making it happen is greatly appreciated. All events will be recorded professionally and published for free on the Silicon Curtain channel. Where possible, we will also live-stream events.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/----------

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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