Podcasts about Mariupol

Day after day, Russia pounds Ukraine as President Putin tries to claim he's winning this war - now in its fifth year. But increasingly audacious long-range Ukrainian strikes are challenging that narrative. This week, they struck an arms factory and an oil refinery deep inside Russia. Ukraine also hit the Russian-occupied port of Mariupol - a strategically important site that was taken by Russian forces early in the war after it was the setting for one of the first major sites of Russian horrors. Many people scrambling to survive the atrocity took refuge in a theatre, which was bombed on March 16th, 2022. This critical episode of the war is the subject of a new book, "The Theatre," by journalist James Verini and he joins the show from New York.   Also on today's show: actors Mark Strong and Lesley Manville discuss "Oedipus"; Rebecca Winthrop, Director, Brookings Institution Center for Universal Education    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Det som kändes som fantasier föra bara några år sen är idag verklighet och Sverige gör sig redo för att kunna evakuera sin befolkning. Lyssna på alla avsnitt i Sveriges Radios app. Våren 2022 är halvmiljonstaden Mariupol i sydöstra Ukraina omringad. Belägringen av staden pågår i två månader och är bland de blodigaste attackerna mot civila i Europa sedan andra världskriget.Röda Korset och FN förhandlar fram så kallade humanitära korridorer som invånarna ska kunna fly genom. Men gång på gång attackeras korridorerna och långt ifrån alla som vill lämna staden lyckas. Hundratusentals ukrainare är i dag fortfarande fast i Mariupol eller har deporterats till Ryssland. Belägringen är ett tydligt exempel på hur farligt det kan vara för civilbefolkningen i krig och visar på att man behöver en plan för hur man snabbt ska massevakuera.– Det var ju fullständigt kaos med en massa olika typer av ad hoc -lösningar, säger Henrik Larsson, tillförordnad chef för avdelningen för befolkningsskydd på Myndigheten för civilt försvar.Sverige har ingen landgräns till Ryssland, så för att ryska styrkor ska kunna slå en järnring runt en svensk stad måste det ha gått riktigt illa. Men det finns andra hot och scenarion där vi kan behöva evakuera.Sverige övar– Det är ändå så att det är inte mer än två och en halv minut ungefär i sju timmar för en Iskander-robot innan den dimper ner här i Blekinge från Kaliningrad. Det här är ett faktum vi behöver prata om, hantera och planera för att skydda oss emot. Det är det som ligger för ögonen och har gjort sen 2022, säger Peter Ryman, som är försvarsdirektör på Länsstyrelsen i Blekinge. Och flera myndigheter och kommuner planerar nu att öva skarpt för hur man ska kunna massevakuera människor i Sverige. I höst ska Gotland genomföra en stor övning och i Blekinge genomförde nyligen ett 100-tal tjänstemän en ledningsövning på hur man ska evakuera 100 000 Blekingebor.– Det här har varit väldigt lärorikt på många olika sätt för här tvingas man in av organisationerna och fatta beslut på. ett osäkert underlag och under tidspress, säger Peter Ryman.128 av Sveriges kommuner har platser som riskerar att attackeras, för dem görs nu upp planer.– I kommun A kanske du har ett objekt och i kommun C har du tio objekt som riskerar att förbekämpas. Den förfiningen håller på nu, säger Henrik Larsson.Övningar tillsammans med FinlandSverige och Finland har ett nära samarbete och planerar tillsammans för eventuella massevakueringar från öst till väst. Och framöver kommer det hållas stora övningar för att få svar på vissa frågor.– Hur skulle gränsövergången se ut, exempelvis mellan Haparanda och Torneå? Att vi övar tillsammans med svensk och finsk tull, finsk gränsbevakning. Hur registrerar vi invånarna som kommer över?Men benägenheten att flytta på oss är inte så stor och det blir inte alltid lyckad. Under andra världskriget anlände 70 000 barn ensamma till Sverige från krigsdrabbade Finland. Men det satte spår av rotlöshet och psykisk ohälsa hos en del av barnen.– Ska du förflytta människor bör det vara med sammanhållna familjer eller släkter så långt det bara är möjligt. Ska du förflytta barn, så ska det vara med en ansvarsfull vuxen. Om inte förälder, så med någon som de kan knyta an till och känner trygghet med, säger David Bergman,doktor i psykologi och arbetar vid Försvarsmakten. Han har forskat på hur människor agerar i krig och kris.Evakuering-sista utvägenI Sverige är det länsstyrelserna som fattar beslut om evakueringar vid höjd beredskap. Och där balanserar myndigheten på en tunn lina mellan att vänta för länge så att folk inte hinner iväg eller att trycka på knappen för tidigt så att folk evakueras i onödan.– Våra kommunikatörer är i det här läget vår första linjens soldater. Det är de som kommer få jobba med att hantera desinformation och se till att rätt information trycks ut till allmänheten om vart man ska ta vägen och vad som gäller just nu. Det är oerhört viktigt att den här informationen har tajming också så att det inte kommer för sent för då blir det kaos och inte för tidigt för då blir det kaos., säger Peter Ryman.Evakuering av människor ska alltså ses som den sista utvägen, för att vi inte mår så bra av det, och inte ens är så benägna att göra det. Då bör man i en del situationer överväga andra alternativ.– Det absolut bästa för både individer och samhälle är att förbereda sig och hantera ökade påfrestningar exakt där man är. och också veta att det är så människor tenderar att hantera det. Man ska så långt som möjligt fortsätta få samhället att fungera även under påfrestande situationer. Krig är ett maratonlopp, inte en sprinterdistanser, säger David Bergman, krigspsykolog vid Försvarsmakten.TEXT: Sylvia DahlénMedverkande:David Bergman, doktor i psykologi vid Försvarsmakten. Henrik Larsson, tillförordnad chef, avdelningen för befolkningsskydd på Myndigheten för civilt försvar.Peter Ryman, försvarsdirektör, Länsstyrelsen i Blekinge.Ljudkällor: SR, TV4, CNN, YLE

What happened at the Mariupol Drama Theater — and what does it reveal about the larger war between Russia and Ukraine?In this episode of Reckoning with Jason Herbert, historian Jason Herbert sits down with acclaimed journalist and author James Verini to discuss his powerful new book, The Theater, an intimate account of the bombing of the Mariupol Drama Theater during Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.Together, they explore the siege of Mariupol, the human cost of modern warfare, and the terrifying role propaganda plays in shaping reality during conflict. The conversation moves beyond headlines into the deeper history of Russian imperialism, the contested identity of the Donbas, the rise of Ukrainian nationalism, and why Vladimir Putin's war may ultimately have forged a stronger Ukrainian nation than ever before.Jason and James also discuss:Why the bombing of the theater became a defining atrocity of the warRussian propaganda and the global information warThe historical roots of the conflict going back to the Crimean WarVolodymyr Zelensky's transformation during the invasionNATO, the United States, and the future of global democracyWhether Putin can survive politically if Russia loses the warWhy Ukraine's fight resonates far beyond Eastern EuropePart war reporting, part historical reckoning, and part meditation on democracy itself, this episode examines one of the most consequential conflicts of the twenty-first century — and the people trapped inside it.

With convicted felon, six-time bankrupt trust fund kid Donald Trump illegally looting $1.8 billion of our tax-payer dollars for violent traitors who tried to overturn our democracy on January 6, it's time to dream big for our country. All ideas are on the table, including a Maidan-style revolution, as we must rebuild from the ashes. Gaslit Nation is here to tell you that a better world is possible.     This week's bonus show, available for Gaslit Nation supporters at the Truth-teller level and higher, continues our discussion with veteran war correspondent James Verini. He is the author of the powerful new book The Theater: Courage and Survival in the Defining Atrocity of the Ukraine War. In Part II of our discussion we discuss Palantir, owned by staunchly anti-democratic Peter Thiel, operating in Ukraine–the vanguard of democracy.    See you at the Gaslit Nation Salon Monday at 4pm ET – look out for the Zoom link to join the discussion then, and also the recording of this week's salon – on the AI-acapolyse trying to thrust millions of Americans into poverty, while the self-appointed tech gods hoard wealth and power, using our stolen copyrighted work. To join the salons, get bonus shows, all shows ad free, and more, subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit – discounted annual memberships are available, and you can give the gift of membership. Thank you to everyone who supports the show.  Want to hear Gaslit Nation ad-free? Join our community of listeners for bonus shows, exclusive Q&A sessions, our group chats, invites to live events like our Monday political salons at 4pm ET over Zoom, and more! Sign up at Patreon.com/Gaslit! Show Notes:   The Theater: Courage and Survival in the Defining Atrocity of the Ukraine War By James Verini https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Theater/James-Verini/9781668062203   'Dancing on bones': Mariupol theatre to reopen with staging of Russian fairytale https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/25/mariupol-bombed-theatre-reopen-russification-ukraine   Trump Wants a Repeat of Bush v. Gore. Amy Coney Barrett Might Make It Happen. https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2020/10/trump-wants-a-repeat-of-bush-v-gore-amy-coney-barrett-might-make-it-happen/   The Pro-Money Court: How the Roberts Supreme Court Dismantled Campaign Finance Law https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/pro-money-court-how-roberts-supreme-court-dismantled-campaign-finance-law   Gaslit Nation Read and Resist Book Club Featuring Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning: https://www.patreon.com/posts/read-and-resist-132804210?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link   Matt Taibbi's past comes back to haunt him https://www.cascadepbs.org/all/2017/10/matt-taibbis-past-comes-back-to-haunt-him/   Matt Taibbi filed a Trumpian, free speech-chilling lawsuit against me. A judge just threw it out https://www.ms.now/opinion/matt-taibbi-free-speech-defamation-lawsuit Opening clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMrNO6VjqiA&list=RDrMrNO6VjqiA&start_radio=1

Shaun Pinner is a former British soldier and Ukrainian Marine. He has written an extraordinary first-hand account of the war in Ukraine, his capture, imprisonment, and torture by the Russian invaders. Shaun was a retired and decorated British soldier, living peacefully in Mariupol with his Ukrainian family. But the full-scale war began, and after fighting alongside Ukrainian army colleagues, he found himself imprisoned in Russian-occupied Ukraine, and embarking on an unexpected and unimaginable fight for survival. After the horrors of frontline fighting, Shaun had to survive his capture by Russian soldiers, and his removal to a Black Site – an off-grid FSB prison operating outside all human rights conventions – where he was subjected to a campaign of torture by Putin's secret police.----------ACTIVE CAMPAIGN:We are raising funds for 5 of 15 Vampire DronesSilicon Curtain for Kupiansk Vampires. Dzyga's Paw, together with Jonathan Fink, is joining forces to raise $40,000 to provide the Khartiia Brigade with Vampire Drones.https://dzygaspaw.com/silicon-curtain-for-kupiansk-vampiresThese heavy bombers are designed to destroy manpower and equipment, as well as for remote mining. The Vampire UAV, manufactured by Skyfall, has proven itself to be one of the most effective weapons in the Kupiansk direction. Skyfall is one of Ukraine's largest defense tech companies, producing Vampire bomber drones, various modifications of Shrike FPV drones, P1-SUN, Shahed drone interceptors, communication systems, and components.----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------LINKS:https://twitter.com/olddog100uahttps://www.facebook.com/snowy5599https://www.instagram.com/snowy_ua/https://linktr.ee/old_dog_uahttps://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=GKJQYBPRV6YNL----------BOOKS:Live. Fight. Survive.: An ex-British soldier's account of courage, resistance and defiance fighting for Ukraine against Russia Paperback (2023)by Shaun Pinner (Author)----------PLATFORMS:Twitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSiliconInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/siliconcurtain/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqmLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/----------DESCRIPTION: Shaun Pinner on Captivity, Mariupol, and the Next Front: Russia's Cognitive War Against Ukraine and the WestJonathan Fink is joined by former Ukrainian marine POW Shaun Pinner, who fought for Mariupol, survived Russian captivity and torture, and now uses YouTube, Substack, and a book to inform both Western and Ukrainian audiences. Pinner describes shifting from combat to journalism after rehab, injury, and family commitments, and explains the “media wall” between Western narratives and Ukrainian realities, including the exclusion of pro-Ukrainian Russian-speaking Ukrainians. They promote a fundraiser to buy “vampire” drones for the Khartia unit and discuss sustaining and expanding pro-Ukraine engagement, especially among younger demographics. Pinner recounts efforts to reach North American media, warns about Russian propaganda and “neutrality,” and argues the war is increasingly cognitive and political, with Russia laundering its reputation internationally while destabilizing democracies. He outlines why a Russian victory would threaten NATO and highlights hope in a special tribunal and his lawsuit setting precedent for claims against the Russian state.----------CHAPTERS:01:05 From POW to Creator03:29 Breaking Media Narratives05:51 Vampire Drone Fundraiser07:06 Growing the Pro Ukraine Bubble09:20 Tours and Genocide Reality15:20 Soundbites and Propaganda21:17 Cognitive Warfare Front27:13 Debunking Ukraine Myths33:59 Why Russia Threatens All42:51 Justice and Tribunal Hope----------

On March 16, 2022, the Russian army committed one of the gravest war crimes of its invasion of Ukraine. It dropped air bombs on the Mariupol Drama Theatre, knowing that around a thousand civilians were sheltering inside, seeking refuge from Russian shelling. It did so despite the huge inscriptions reading “Children” — written in Russian on both sides of the theatre — clearly visible from the air as a warning to any potential bomber. In this episode, we analyse this crime with the help of a journalist who spent several years speaking with dozens of survivors. You are listening to the Explaining Ukraine podcast. *** Explaining Ukraine is a podcast by UkraineWorld, an English-language media outlet run by Internews Ukraine. Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher, Chief Editor of UkraineWorld, and President of PEN Ukraine. Guest: James Verini, an American journalist and book writer who wrote for The New York Times and other papers. He recently published a book, The Theater: Courage and Survival in the Defining Atrocity of the Ukraine War. The book was published this year by Simon & Schuster. Link to the book: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Theater/James-Verini/9781668062203 *** Listen on various platforms: https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine UkraineWorld: https://ukraineworld.org/en *** SUPPORT: You can support our work on https://www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld Your help is crucial, as we rely heavily on crowdfunding. You can also contribute to our volunteer missions to frontline areas in Ukraine, where we deliver aid to both soldiers and civilians. Donations are welcome via PayPal at: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com. *** CONTENTS: 0:00 Intro 2:40 Why does the guest call the Mariupol drama theater bombing the "defining atrocity" of the Russian war against Ukraine? 5:48 What made Mariupol particularly vulnerable to the Russian siege and bombardment? 8:51 What were the devastating living conditions for civilians in Mariupol during the siege? 9:48 Why did people consider the Mariupol drama theater a safe shelter, and how was it designated as such? 13:05 How did the theater's staff and volunteers manage to transform it into a functioning refugee shelter for thousands? 15:50 When did the bombardment of the theater occur, and why is it significant that "Children" was clearly written outside? 21:28 What were the immediate consequences of the direct bomb hits on the theater, and how did they cause such lethality? 24:49 How did the journalist connect with and interview dozens of survivors to document their experiences? 31:32 How is Russia attempting to erase the memory and culture of Ukraine in occupied Mariupol? 35:10 What is the historical context of neglecting and building over the dead in Mariupol, and how does it relate to current events? 40:10 How has the Greek heritage of Mariupol been affected by the Russian invasion and occupation? 45:37 What was the significance of the defense of Azovstal in Mariupol's story, and how did it impact civilians? 47:29 What is the final message regarding the Mariupol drama theater bombing and its implications for the war? *** Photo credit (James Verini's portrait): Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.

Presiden Ukraina Volodymyr Zelenskyy mengumumkan tahap pertama pertukaran tawanan perang antara Ukraina dan Rusia telah dimulai. Sebanyak 205 prajurit Ukraina yang sebelumnya ditahan Rusia kini telah dibebaskan.Para prajurit tersebut berasal dari berbagai wilayah pertempuran seperti Mariupol, Donetsk, Kharkiv hingga Chernobyl. Pemerintah Ukraina menyebut langkah ini sebagai bagian penting dari upaya kemanusiaan di tengah konflik berkepanjangan dengan Rusia

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit smokeempodcast.substack.comNancy speaks with war correspondent James Verini, who reported from Ukraine about the devastating 2022 bombing of a theater in Mariupol housing 1500 refugees. James (and photographer Paolo Pellgrin) made his way to survivors of the bombing, and later tracked down every survivor he could find. The result is The Theater: Courage and Survival in the Defining Atrocity of the Ukraine War, a new book that tells stories of ordinary people—students, actors, metal workers, a doctor, a cook—called upon to do extraordinary things. The Theater is cinematic (calling Christopher Nolan!) and horrifying, beautiful and essential, a battle between freedom and authoritarianism that Russia is determined to win—and Ukraine more determined not to lose. “You had the fact that this theater represented Ukrainian culture and the dream of an independent Ukraine,” says James. “On the dark opposite side of that, it represented what Putin and Russia were trying to wipe out, the idea that there is such a thing as Ukrainian culture, that there is such thing as a Ukrainian language... The theater was, if not exactly a metaphor, then the perfect setting for this kind of story, of a young republic now barely more than 30 years old that was fighting for its life.”(Sarah was unable to sit in on this episode, but she'll be listening!) Also discussed:* On why first-person war books should be under 200 pages* A “glandular nostalgia” for the Soviet Union* When you're reporting overseas, “someone is always going to think you're CIA”* One advantage to not speaking the local language* “You can't do what I do and care about money”* Nancy gives thanks for Reason's editorial freedom* How James covered up the smell of pot smoke back in the day* Nancy: still not Jewish!* The Nazi high command was “a cabal of mediocrities”* Salad days at Vanity FairPlus, props for reporters William Langewiesche and Evan Wright, what to eat if you want to be a competitive eater, a great audiobook on New York City excesses in the ‘90s, and much more.Pre-order The Theater, out on May 19. Also on May 19, James will be in conversation with recent Smoke guest Sebastian Junger. Tickets here.Nancy note to self: Less ambition when flipping salmon will forestall another armpit burn

Day 1,534.Today, as President Zelensky said he "doesn't recommend" that foreign representatives attend tomorrow's May Day parade in Moscow, we report on the Kremlin's cool and measured response to the threat of Ukrainian strikes, with Russian State Duma deputies threatening the use of Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missiles against Kyiv whilst, for reasons known only to them, warning that these statements are Russia's “last warning to Brussels”. And, as the Azov Corps say they have returned to occupied Mariupol - albeit using strike drones - somewhat fittingly we have our regular update of resistance activity in the occupied areas. Help shape the future of Ukraine: The Latest. Share your thoughts in this quick survey:https://tinyurl.com/ukrainethelatestContributors:Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @adeliepjz on X. Dom Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.Dr Jade McGlynn (Occupied Territories Expert, King's College London).NOW IN FULL VIDEO WITH MAPS & BATTLEFIELD FOOTAGE:Every episode is now available on our YouTube channel shortly after the release of the audio version. You will find it here: https://www.youtube.com/@UkraineTheLatest CONTENT REFERENCED:Will Ukrainian drones spoil Putin's Victory Day parade? (The Spectator)https://spectator.com/article/will-ukrainian-drones-spoil-putins-victory-day-parade/Rosenberg: Russia's Victory Day parade with no tanks a sign Ukraine war not going to plan (BBC)https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwy2gj2jlr8oIs Frustration With Armenia's Pashinyan Enough to Bring the Pro-Russia Opposition to Power? (Carnegie Endowment)https://carnegieendowment.org/russia-eurasia/politika/2026/04/vojna-mir-i-socseti-kuda-vedet-predvybornaya-kampaniya-v-armenii'They are stealing the election': How Armenia became the next Russia-EU battlefieldhttps://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20260419-stealing-election-how-armenia-became-next-russia-eu-battlefieldEU prepares for ‘potential' talks with Vladimir Putin, says official (Financial Times) https://www.ft.com/content/b093dae1-939b-47b4-96e4-40f212e87430?shareType=nongift&syn-25a6b1a6=1Ukraine war 'led me to surrogacy' to earn money but a new law could end those plans (BBC)https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyp4kp687goEMAIL US:Contact the team on ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk . We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many on air and in our newsletter as possible.HIGHLIGHTS:Putin running scared with pared back V-Day parade plans Zelensky visits brigades on the frontline Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Verini is an American long-form journalist and author who writes for The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, National Geographic and other outlets. The Pulitzer Center describes him as a contributing writer at The New York Times Magazine and National Geographic whose work has won both a National Magazine Award and a George Polk Award. He is also the author of They Will Have to Die Now: Mosul and the Fall of the Caliphate, about the battle to retake Mosul from ISIS.On Ukraine, Verini's major reporting arc includes “In the Trenches of Ukraine's Forever War” from January 2022, “Surviving the Siege of Kharkiv” from May 2022, “The Theater” / “Witness to the Massacre in Mariupol” from September 2022, “The Collaborators” from November 2023, and a 2025 New Yorker essay on Alexander Dugin and the ideological roots of Russia's war. His own site describes the Donbas before the full-scale invasion as a “deadlocked, time-warped conflict,” Kharkiv as a city Russia battered but failed to take, and the Mariupol theater bombing as “the defining atrocity of the Ukraine War.” (James Verini)----------LINKS:https://jamesverini.com/books/https://www.amazon.co.uk/Theater-Courage-Survival-Defining-Atrocity/dp/1668062208/ref=sr_1_2https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Theater/James-Verini/9781668062203https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Verinihttps://www.newyorker.com/contributors/james-verinihttps://www.kcl.ac.uk/people/james-verinihttps://pulitzercenter.org/people/james-verini----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Car4Ukrainehttps://car4ukraine.com/en-US/campaignsDzyga's Pawhttps://dzygaspaw.com/projectsSuperhumans - 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/----------PLATFORMS:Substack: https://substack.com/@siliconcurtainTwitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSiliconLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqm----------

In der ukrainischen Hafenstadt Mariupol ticken die Uhren jetzt nach Moskauer Zeit. Das steht symbolisch für den radikalen Umbau der Stadt zu einer russischen Metropole. Dafür lässt Wladimir Putin Neubauviertel mit Wohnungen für Russinnen und Russen bauen, Schulen, viele Sportanlagen und eine Militärakademie für die russische Marine: Mit Hilfe eines Masterplans will der Kreml die Stadt neu ordnen. In dieser 11KM-Folge erzählt Alice Pesavento vom NDR-Verifikationsteam anhand von Satellitenbildern, Immobilienanzeigen und Daten zu Baufirmen, wie Putin Mariupol russifiziert – und warum der Wiederaufbau für Moskau so wichtig ist. Hier geht's zum NDR-Film von Alice Pesavento für das tagesschau-Format rabbit hole “Wie Putin Mariupol in eine russische Stadt verwandelt”: https://youtu.be/d4s4DiGIoDE?si=489ajaJMITt0Fcdz In dieser früheren 11KM-Folge erzählt die Kiew-Reporterin Rebecca Barth vom Vorgehen der russischen Behörden, ukrainische Kinder zu russischen Bürgern umzuerziehen: „Putins Strategie: Wie eine ukrainische Familie vor Russifizierung flieht”: https://1.ard.de/11KM_Russifizierung Hier geht's zu „Was tun, Herr General?“, unserem Podcast-Tipp: https://1.ard.de/general Diese und viele weitere Folgen von 11KM findet ihr überall da, wo es Podcasts gibt, auch hier in ARD Sounds: https://www.ardsounds.de/sendung/11km-der-tagesschau-podcast/urn:ard:show:4549910994dc2464/ 11KM ist am 9. Mai beim ARD Sounds Festival dabei. Alle Infos und Tickets hier: https://www.ardsoundsfestival.de/#/ An dieser Folge waren beteiligt: Folgenautorin: Nadja Mitzkat Mitarbeit: Claudia Schaffer Host: Elena Kuch Produktion: Konrad Winkler, Dennis Filimonow, Alexander Gerhardt und Marie-Noelle Svihla Planung: Nicole Dienemann und Hardy Funk Distribution: Kerstin Ammermann Redaktionsleitung: Yasemin Yüksel und Fumiko Lipp 11KM: der tagesschau-Podcast wird produziert von BR24 und NDR Info. Die redaktionelle Verantwortung für diese Episode liegt beim BR.

This Knyzka Corner Book Review features Kidnapped from Ukraine: Under Attack, Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch's novel about 12‑year‑old twins Rada and Dariia Popkova from Mariupol and the impact of Russia's full‑scale invasion of Ukraine on their lives. The story follows their separation during the bombing of Mariupol, the desperate search for safety, and Dariia's ordeal in a Russian filtration camp for Ukrainian children. The novel incorporates real historical events and includes an Author's Note and a Five Questions section that address the factual context of this period. The review also highlights Skrypuch's background as an acclaimed Ukrainian Canadian writer whose work focuses on historical truth and the experiences of young people in wartime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cormac Smith has worked in Public Relations and Corporate Communications for over three decades. In 2016 he traveled to Ukraine to take up a special appointment as the ‘Strategic Communication Advisor' to Pavlo Klimkin, then the Foreign Minister of Ukraine. He was attached to the British Embassy in Kyiv but was embedded in Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the first foreigner to hold such a position. While in Kyiv, he also advised and provided training for five other government ministries and worked directly with three other cabinet ministers: Health, Education and the Deputy Prime Minister. ----------LINKS:https://defencebrink.uk/https://x.com/CormacS63https://x.com/philipingmbe----------ACTIVE CAMPAIGN:We are raising funds for 5 of 15 Vampire DronesSilicon Curtain for Kupiansk Vampires. Dzyga's Paw, together with Jonathan Fink, is joining forces to raise $40,000 to provide the Khartiia Brigade with Vampire Drones.https://dzygaspaw.com/silicon-curtain-for-kupiansk-vampiresThese heavy bombers are designed to destroy manpower and equipment, as well as for remote mining. The Vampire UAV, manufactured by Skyfall, has proven itself to be one of the most effective weapons in the Kupiansk direction. Skyfall is one of Ukraine's largest defense tech companies, producing Vampire bomber drones, various modifications of Shrike FPV drones, P1-SUN, Shahed drone interceptors, communication systems, and components.----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Car4Ukrainehttps://car4ukraine.com/en-US/campaignsDzyga's Pawhttps://dzygaspaw.com/projectsSuperhumans - 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/----------PLATFORMS:Substack: https://substack.com/@siliconcurtainTwitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSiliconLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqm----------

Er is weer een aflevering van Europa Draait Door en  de tv van Arend Jan heeft weer de hele nacht aangestaan. Maar dit keer niet met CNN, want niemand minder dan Thomas Erdbrink is te gast, de journalist die voor Videoland de vierdelige serie Onze Man bij de Vijand maakte. Thomas trok maandenlang door Rusland: van de clubs in Moskou waar het leven gewoon doorgaat, tot de armste regio's in de Kaukasus waar jonge mannen voor een paar duizend euro naar het front worden gelokt. En Thomas kent ook Iran als geen ander: is hij verbaasd dat het Iraanse regime stand lijkt te houden? Dat en véél meer in een nieuwe aflevering van Europa Draait Door! - Transcript: NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Face the Nation (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mark-rutte-nato-secretary-general-face-the-nation-transcrip  t-03-22-2026/)            - Onze Man bij de Vijand (https://v2.videoland.com/onze-man-bij-de-vijand-p_5417)    - Leven onder een autoritair regime: de emmer loopt een keer over (https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2026/03/20/leven-onder-een-autoritair-regime-de-emmer-loopt-ee  n-keer-over-a4923265)    - 20 Days in Mariupol (https://www.npodoc.nl/artikelen/20-days-in-mariupol)   - US warns EU to pass  trade deal or risk losing 'favourable' access to LNG (https://www.ft.com/content/6bf153e4-11af-44d5-9d1c-48b5c7ad26ef)                                      - The Drugs Don't Work - The Verve (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToQ0n3itoII)                                                                                                    

20 March 2026by Teresa CherfasWelcome to the second part of the 40th edition of the Russian-language podcast Then & Now with me, Teresa Cherfas Today, we continue Tanya's story from Mariupol. In the first part, we left her with her granddaughter in Krasnodar. Many moves lay ahead before they finally found a more permanent refuge in England.This podcast was recorded on 13 March 2026My questions:In the last episode, you told us how you and your granddaughter reached Krasnodar. How did you leave Russia? And how did you end up in England?Do you keep in touch with friends and neighbours who still live in Mariupol?Do you dream of ever returning home?What kind of future would you like to see for Ukraine?

Nobel laureate Oleksandra Matviichuk and Deputy Minister Alona Shkrum join Lisa Burke to discuss the Advocacy Coalition and the cost of silence for Europe My Guests: - Her Excellency Ambassador Barbara Karpetová, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg - Inna Yaramenko, the Representative of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, and Vice President at LUkraine - Oleksandra Matviichuk, Chairwoman of the Center for Civil Liberties, which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022. - Alona Shkrum, First Deputy Minister for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine. - Kristina Mikulova, Head of Regional Hub for Eastern Europe for the European Investment Bank In this powerful episode, the conversation shifts from the abstract concept of 'aid' to the urgent reality of strategic investment in European security. As Ukraine enters its fourth year of full-scale invasion, a new initiative has been developed by Ambassador Karpetová with the help of Inna Yaramenko. 'The Advocacy Coalition - Defending Our Future Now' has launched in Luxembourg to remind the continent that defending Ukraine is synonymous with defending the future of democracy itself. This year-long set of events will pass the baton between the founding embassies: Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, and the United Kingdom, to stand united in the conviction that defending Ukraine means defending Europe's future. Beyond Charity: A Strategic Investment Supporting Ukraine in 2026 is now viewed as a strategic investment in the infrastructure of European security. Alona Shkrum, Ukraine's First Deputy Minister for Reconstruction, explained that waiting for hostilities to cease before rebuilding is not an option. "If we do not reconstruct water, utilities, energy supply, schools, and hospitals, then people will leave," she noted, emphasising that keeping the economy functioning allows Ukraine to fund its own defence and protect the eastern borders of the European Union. The scale of destruction is staggering: the road damage alone is equivalent to the distance from Luxembourg to Iran, and the amount of housing destroyed, over 3 million units, exceeds the total housing stock of Denmark. Humanising the Numbers Whilst the statistics are overwhelming, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Oleksandra Matviichuk focuses on "humanising the numbers". She shared the harrowing story of 10-year-old Ilya from Mariupol, whose mother died in his arms in a frozen apartment after they were caught in Russian shelling. Matviichuk also recounted the experience of Professor Irak Kyvslovski, a philosopher who spent 700 days in captivity and gave lectures on philosophy to rats in his solitary cell just to hear a human voice. "Dignity is action," Matviichuk told the audience, asserting that the "accountability gap" in international law must be closed by establishing a Special Tribunal for the crime of aggression. A Year of Intensive Advocacy The Advocacy Coalition, a partnership between LUkraine, the European Commission, and nine resident embassies in Luxembourg (but they're open for more partners), will host monthly events throughout 2026. These events will tackle critical themes such as countering disinformation, reconstruction, and the role of the Ukrainian diaspora. The first event will take place at the European Parliament in Luxembourg on March 23, featuring a keynote address by Matviichuk, focussing on the abducted children. Unity as the Strongest Weapon The message from my guests underlines that unity is the strongest weapon against authoritarianism. As Ambassador Barbara Karpetová noted, even a small nation like Luxembourg can provide "shared inspiration" by standing together, mirroring the visionary leadership of historical figures like Pierre Werner, former Prime Minister of Luxembourg, whose home she now resides in. The Power of Ordinary People Matviichuk emphasises that "ordinary people can do extraordinary things". Inna cites the 700 Luxembourgish families who offered to host refugees within just three days after the invasion began. Digital Engagement: The Coalition is launching an Advocacy Platform, a digital ecosystem featuring authentic testimonies from diplomats, volunteers, and citizens to humanise the impact of solidarity.

War and resistance in UkraineJust over four years ago, as Putin launched Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, he expected the war to be over in a matter of days. But Putin's army would soon be shocked by the resistance they encountered, and today Ukraine still hasn't fallen. But it hasn't won either. This is now a complex, attritional war for endurance against an autocratic, imperial state that appears willing to absorb huge economic and human costs to fight on. If you're unsure of what to make of the war, its history, and some of the debates it throws up, then this is the show for you.Host Luke Cooper is joined by Roksolana Nesterenko, a researcher at the Kyiv School of Economics, and Taras Fedirko, an academic with positions at the University of Glasgow and the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna. In this episode:  Mood and situation in Ukraine as of early 2026 Historical context of the war, including the Maidan protests and the Revolution of Dignity A culture of active everyday citizenship  Revenue mobilisation for the war effort through crowdfunding, and how it's impacted the rise of drone warfare Russian propaganda and Steve Witkoff, Trump's special envoy A transition away from the “rally around the flag” stage of 2022 and where Ukraine is now Featured Organisation: Ukraine Solidarity Campaign BlueskyInstagramTwitter/XFacebookLinks to things we discussedCome Back Alive: a charitable foundation that comprehensively equips the Defence Forces of Ukraine with everything from vehicles to grenade launchers, as well as implementing educational projects for the military.Freefilmers: a cinemovement and NGO from Mariupol, UkraineSerhiy Prytula Charity Foundation: focused on strengthening the Defence Forces of Ukraine and providing assistance to the civilians affected by Russian aggression.Solidarity Collectives: a group of Ukrainian anarchists and anti-authoritarians who united in 2022 to support comrades fighting the Russian imperial aggression in Ukraine and help people affected by the war. Since then, they have built a mutual aid network for the anti-authoritarian movement in Ukraine.UNITED24: this platform allows one-click donations to Ukraine from anywhere. Why is this so important? Because Ukraine itself knows best what is needed and can deliver aid directly.ABOUT THE PODCASTCOUNTER•POWER is brought to you by Stop Trump Coalition, Another Europe Is Possible and Global Justice Now, three organisations at the centre of the new global resistance. This podcast isn't just about chatting and conversation — it's about turning ideas into action and building real community power. That's why we have a simple pledge to you, our audience. On every single episode we'll leave you with something you can do to catalyse change. Whether it's the latest big ideas or the movements you need to check out, you'll find them on COUNTER•POWER. But we need your help to launch this project. We need £8,000 to catapult COUNTER•POWER into the podcasting sphere with the aim of making it self-sustaining in the future.The funds will cover high-quality production – including sound and visuals – as well as consistent editorial quality, all of which are essential to creating the kind of impactful podcast we're aiming for.Any donation – big or small – can help us get there. Thank you for your support.DONATE HEREFollow Us Instagram@anothereuropeispossible@globaljusticenow @ukstoptrumpTikTok@global.justice.now@uk.stop.trump.coaTwitter / X @Another_Europe@GlobalJusticeUK@UKStopTrumpMusic(cc): Intro R&B instrumental loop, Mcgrogo (Freesound.org)

Welcome to the 40th edition of the Russian-language podcast Then & Now with me, Teresa CherfasOur latest episode is devoted to the story of a grandmother from Mariupol, who left her home three days after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. At that time she thought the bombing would end and she'd be back home in a couple of weeks. Four years and counting, she still hasn't been home. Our guest today will talk about those events and memories of her flight from Mariupol. Her name is Tanya. This podcast was recorded on 12 March 2026My Questions:When Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, you were living in Mariupol where you had spent your whole life. What happened that made you decide to leave your home of so many years?What are your most vivid memories of that time, after you left your home?

Efter invasionen i 2022 blev Bohdan Krotevych taget til fange af Rusland efter at have været med til at forsvare Azov-værket i Mariupol. Han meldte sig til Azov-bataljonen i 2022 og avancerede på 10 år til stabschef for Azov-brigaden. I dag er han i en alder af 35 år pensioneret fra den ukrainske hær, og nu bruger han tiden på at tale åbent om problemerne med en ledelse, som ifølge ham ikke er opgaven voksen.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send us Fan MailToday is the second of five episode previewing the 98th Academy Awards where I will be breaking down each and every category throughout the week. Today I am joined by Dan Pal from the PalCinema, Television, and Music newsletter to break down Best Animated Feature, Best International Feature, Best Documentary Feature, Best Original Score, and Best Original Song. I've listed the nominees below along with other films mentioned throughout the episode.Be sure to subscribe to the podcast to get all the preview episodes this week, and head over to my Substack to submit your guesses for my annual Oscar prediction contest.The nominees for each category are listed below.Best Animated Feature:ArcoElioKPop Demon HuntersLittle Amélie or the Character of RainZootopia 2Best International Feature:The Secret Agent (Brazil)It Was Just an Accident (France)Sentimental Value (Norway)Sirât (Spain)The Voice of Hind Rajab (Tunisia)Best Documentary Feature:The Alabama SolutionCome See Me in the Good LightCutting through RocksMr. Nobody against PutinThe Perfect NeighborBest Original Score:BugoniaFrankensteinHamnetOne Battle after AnotherSinnersBest Original Song:“Dear Me” from Diane Warren: Relentless“Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters“I Lied To You” from Sinners“Sweet Dreams Of Joy” from Viva Verdi!“Train Dreams” from Train DreamsOther films mentioned in this episode include:Flow directed by Gints ZilbalodisZootopia directed by Rich Moore and Byron HowardToy Story 3 directed by Lee UnkrichRango directed by Gore VerbinskiBrave directed by Brenda Chapman and Mark AndrewsFrozen directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris BuckBig Hero 6 directed by Don Hall and Chris WilliamsInside Out directed by Pete DocterCoco directed by Adrian Molina and Lee UnkrichSpider-Man: Into the Spiderverse directed by Peter Ramsey, Bob Persichetti, and Rodney RothmanGuillermo del Toro's Pinocchio directed by Guillermo del Toro and Mark GustafsonThe Boy and the Heron directed by Hayao MiyazakiDemon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba The Movie: Infinity Castle directed by Haruo SotozakiChainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc directed by Tatsuya YoshiharaLittle Miss Sunshine directed by Valerie Faris and Jonathan DaytonI'm Still Here directed by Walter SallesParasite directed by Bong Joon HoNavalny directed by Daniel Roher20 Days in Mariupol directed by Mstyslav ChernovAmerican Symphony directed by Matthew HeinemanStar Wars directed by George LucasJurassic Park directed by Steven SpielbergPsycho directed by Alfred HitchcockOppenheimer directed by Christopher NolanThe King's Speech directed by Tom HooperOther media mentioned in this episode include:"I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" by Diane Warren, performed by Aerosmith"How Do I Live Without You" by Diane Warren, performed by Leann Rimes or Tricia YearwoodSupport the show

Nobel laureate Oleksandra Matviichuk and Deputy Minister Alona Shkrum join Lisa Burke to discuss the Advocacy Coalition and the cost of silence for Europe My Guests: - Her Excellency Ambassador Barbara Karpetová, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg - Inna Yaramenko, the Representative of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, and Vice President at LUkraine - Oleksandra Matviichuk, Chairwoman of the Center for Civil Liberties, which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022. - Alona Shkrum, First Deputy Minister for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine. - Kristina Mikulova, Head of Regional Hub for Eastern Europe for the European Investment Bank In this powerful episode, the conversation shifts from the abstract concept of 'aid' to the urgent reality of strategic investment in European security. As Ukraine enters its fourth year of full-scale invasion, a new initiative has been developed by Ambassador Karpetová with the help of Inna Yaramenko. 'The Advocacy Coalition - Defending Our Future Now' has launched in Luxembourg to remind the continent that defending Ukraine is synonymous with defending the future of democracy itself. This year-long set of events will pass the baton between the founding embassies: Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, and the United Kingdom, to stand united in the conviction that defending Ukraine means defending Europe's future. Beyond Charity: A Strategic Investment Supporting Ukraine in 2026 is now viewed as a strategic investment in the infrastructure of European security. Alona Shkrum, Ukraine's First Deputy Minister for Reconstruction, explained that waiting for hostilities to cease before rebuilding is not an option. "If we do not reconstruct water, utilities, energy supply, schools, and hospitals, then people will leave," she noted, emphasising that keeping the economy functioning allows Ukraine to fund its own defence and protect the eastern borders of the European Union. The scale of destruction is staggering: the road damage alone is equivalent to the distance from Luxembourg to Iran, and the amount of housing destroyed, over 3 million units, exceeds the total housing stock of Denmark. Humanising the Numbers Whilst the statistics are overwhelming, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Oleksandra Matviichuk focuses on "humanising the numbers". She shared the harrowing story of 10-year-old Ilya from Mariupol, whose mother died in his arms in a frozen apartment after they were caught in Russian shelling. Matviichuk also recounted the experience of Professor Irak Kyvslovski, a philosopher who spent 700 days in captivity and gave lectures on philosophy to rats in his solitary cell just to hear a human voice. "Dignity is action," Matviichuk told the audience, asserting that the "accountability gap" in international law must be closed by establishing a Special Tribunal for the crime of aggression. A Year of Intensive Advocacy The Advocacy Coalition, a partnership between LUkraine, the European Commission, and nine resident embassies in Luxembourg (but they're open for more partners), will host monthly events throughout 2026. These events will tackle critical themes such as countering disinformation, reconstruction, and the role of the Ukrainian diaspora. The first event will take place at the European Parliament in Luxembourg on March 23, featuring a keynote address by Matviichuk, focussing on the abducted children. Unity as the Strongest Weapon The message from my guests underlines that unity is the strongest weapon against authoritarianism. As Ambassador Barbara Karpetová noted, even a small nation like Luxembourg can provide "shared inspiration" by standing together, mirroring the visionary leadership of historical figures like Pierre Werner, former Prime Minister of Luxembourg, whose home she now resides in. The Power of Ordinary People Matviichuk emphasises that "ordinary people can do extraordinary things". Inna cites the 700 Luxembourgish families who offered to host refugees within just three days after the invasion began. Digital Engagement: The Coalition is launching an Advocacy Platform, a digital ecosystem featuring authentic testimonies from diplomats, volunteers, and citizens to humanise the impact of solidarity.

This podcast features a review of the first book in a trilogy by Canadian author Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch titled Kidnapped from Ukraine. The trilogy brings to light the horrific human impact of Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began on February 24, 2022. His first invasion occurred in 2014 when he took Crimea and portions of Eastern Ukraine.Skrypuch's trilogy portrays the lived experience of Russia's assault on Mariupol through the story of 12‑year‑old twins Rada and Dariia Popkova, and how this invasion turned their lives upside down when the first bombs fell on Mariupol. In her review, Myra Junyk discusses the book's portrayal of the collapse of civilian life, the separation of families, and the documented abduction and “re‑education” of Ukrainian children in russian filtration campsKidnapped from Ukraine: Under Attack is the first in the series and tells the story of Dariia and her mother, who are out shopping when their apartment is bombed. In the ensuing chaos, they are separated from Rada and the twins' father, and Dariia ends up abducted and "adopted" by a russian family. Grounded in real events and supported by an Author's Note and historical Q&A, the novel offers younger and adult readers a clear, accessible account of the real-life difficulties and dangers of civilians caught up in this unprovoked war. Reviewed by Myra Junyk for Nash Holos Ukrainian Roots Radio.Full transcript here.Book here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Award‑winning Canadian author Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch returns to discuss her newly completed Kidnapped From Ukraine trilogy, set in Mariupol and grounded in the lived realities of Russia's war on Ukraine. Her work continues to illuminate the human cost of this war for young readers at a time when few authors are writing into this space.This follow‑up conversation builds on last year's Nash Holos interview discussing the first book in her trilogy. In this conversation, we discuss how she wove real‑world events into the storylines and how those events impacted her personally as well as professionally through the craft of writing the books.For the transcript of this interview, visit the Nash Holos blog.You can find our previous conversation — with the full transcript and embedded player — on the Nash Holos blog here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In episode 255 of Talk Eastern Europe, Alexandra, Adam and Nina discuss the week's key developments across the region, from Olympic results to the latest from the Munich Security Conference, including EU calls related to Russia–Ukraine regotiations and a high-level US visit to the countries of theregion.The second half features the first instalment of our special series commemorating the fourth anniversary of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. For this episode, Nina sat down with Ukrainian-Canadian singer, folklorist and activist Marichka. She reflects on her journey from musician to activist, medic and war journalist and speaks about her musical project Daughters of Donbas, where she collaborates with international artists and amplifies survivor voices, including Lisa, a young woman who survived filtration camps in Mariupol.In the bonus episode, Marichka stays on to speak about Ukrainian folk music traditions and briefly sings in the “open voice” polyphonic singing technique. She also speaks about her digital archive, Folk Songs of Ukraine. Our patrons can listen to that here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/bonus-255-folk-151154003Check out Daughters of Donbas Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/p/Daughters-of-Donbas-61572669756771/Check out Daughters of Donbas Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/daughtersofdonbas/

Deze week in de Bright Podcast onder meer de nieuwe AirTag, de minst betrouwbare Android-telefoons, een nieuwe gadget van Sonos en een listige truc van Microsoft. Verder in deze aflevering: weer twee streamingdiensten die de prijzen verhogen, een Amerikaanse staat die e-bikes verbant en dubbel goed nieuws over groene stroom en EV's. Tips uit deze aflevering: App: Blybahn: een Nederlandse social media app die vol in de maak is. Het is eerder een soort BeReal, in plaats van TikTok of Instagram. Je kunt iedere dag 1 keer posten en je hebt een beperkt aantal likes. Zo worden die hopelijk waardevoller. Doomscrollen kan ook niet, want je swipet maximaal 25 keer, en wordt dan vriendelijk verzocht iets te doen wat je echt leuk vindt. Film: 2000 Meters to Andriivka van Mstyslav Chernov, die eerder 20 Days in Mariupol maakte. Een indringende documentaire over een slag om een verwoest gehucht in oostelijk Oekraïne. Bodycams, mortiergranten en drones vliegen in het rond. In filmhuizen te zien maar spoedig ook in diverse Pathé bioscopen. Film: The Phoenician Scheme van Wes Anderson staat op SkyShowtime. Uiteraard weer gewoon ouderwetse Wes Anderson want dat is gelukkig alles dat hij maakt, maar toch weer anders dan zijn andere films. De shots zijn weer prachtig uitgedacht, de sets zijn geweldig en de attributen zijn het best van allemaal: ingepakte doosjes, ouderwetse bommen, rare dolken. Soms lijken de films van Anderson gewoon een smoesje om een soort school-toneelstuk met een gigantisch budget te maken. En een sterrencast natuurlijk: Benicio del Toro speelt de hoofdrol van een rijke zakenman die constant aanslagen overleeft. Mia Threapleton, de dochter van Kate Winslet, speelt in de film de dochter van die zakenman. Verder geweldige rollen voor Miceahl Sera, Benedict Cumberbatch, Bryan Cranston, Tom Hanks en natuurlijk Bill Murray.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An incredible Mea Culpa special episode takes you to the gates of hell; inside the city of Mariupol. Later Sons of Liberty founder Matt Van Dyke joins from an undisclosed bunker near the front to give an unvarnished report. A must listen! 

A Ukrainian battalion fights to reach and reclaim a Russian-held village in 2000 Meters to Andriivka, the new documentary from the Oscar-winning team behind 20 Days in Mariupol. Host and filmmaker Raney Aronson-Rath speaks with filmmakers Mstyslav Chernov and Michelle Mizner about this unflinching, intimate portrait of modern warfare and the human cost of every advance.

2026-01-16 | UPDATES #102 | Kadyrov's Mafia Dynasty Wobbles. Car crash, failing kidneys and a gunfight in Mariupol – this episode has it all – intriguing, violence and drama. This is a dangerous time for Putin – a failed succession process in Chechnya could cause massive problems for him, and regime instability. The Kadyrov clan is wobbling, their brand is faltering, and Moscow is watching in trepidation. Chechnya's ruler Ramzan Kadyrov is back at the centre of a storm of health rumours — kidney failure, dialysis, “hospitalized in Moscow,” succession panic — while his 18-year-old son Adam, the one being groomed like a crown prince, is reportedly in serious condition after a motorcade crash in Grozny. (RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty) All a coincidence? We must be wary to jump to that conclusion, as freak accidents that occur to the powerful and influential in both Moscow and Grozny rarely turn out to be coincidental. ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------SOURCES: RFE/RL (North Caucasus Service), Jan 16, 2026 — Adam Kadyrov hospitalized after crash; sources on ICU/roads/“barrier”; NIYSO “obstacle” claim. Ukrainska Pravda, Jan 16, 2026 — Echoes Kavkaz.Realii / NIYSO reporting; includes source quote and “obstacle” wording. The Moscow Times, Jan 14, 2026 — What's known on Kadyrov health rumors; denials; Ukrinform/HUR-linked dialysis claim context. FDD (Foundation for Defense of Democracies), Jan 14, 2026 — Analysis of HUR-sourced hospitalization claim and succession destabilization; notes appointment of son Akhmat. Caucasian Knot, Jan 14, 2026 — Compiles Kadyrov's repeated health denials and quotes. Newdosh, Jan 15, 2026 — Translated denial quote (“I swear by God…”) and recap of repeated denials.OC Media, Jan 13, 2026 (background) — Kadyrov video response; “fake information” framing; quote about “kidneys have failed” rumor. UNITED24 Media, Jan 14, 2026 — Mariupol shootout report, citing Atesh; casualty claims and “Year of Friendship” embarrassment framing. Kyiv Independent, Jan 8, 2026 (background) — Zelensky “Why not Kadyrov?” remark context. ----------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----------

Russlands Staatsmedien feiern die Wiedereröffnung des Theaters in Mariupol. Sie leugnen, dass es 2022 bei einem russischen Luftangriff zerstört wurde. Hinter der Fassade von Nationalismus bleibt die Erinnerung an ein mutmaßliches Kriegsverbrechen. Ein Kommentar von Mariia Fedorova www.deutschlandfunk.de, Kommentare und Themen der Woche

Dornblüth, Gesine www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de, Fazit

Day 1,391.Today, we assess what some are calling a “breakthrough” in talks between Europe, Ukraine, and the United States, after reports that Washington is offering Kyiv security guarantees equivalent to NATO's Article 5. But is the proposal all it appears to be – and would Vladimir Putin ever accept it? We then report a first in military history: the sinking of a submarine in port by a drone, before examining internal pressures within Russian society, and reflecting on what Moscow has done to the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, reopening its destroyed theatre with a performance many see as shockingly insensitive.ContributorsFrancis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.Roland Oliphant (Chief Foreign Analyst). @RolandOliphant on X.James Kilner (Russian Analyst). @jkjourno on X.SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST' WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It's free for everyone, including non-subscribers.CONTENT REFERENCED:US tells Ukraine: Take our ‘platinum' security guarantees or lose them (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/15/germany-witkoff-and-kushner-far-from-ideal-negotiators/ Ukraine ‘blows up £300m Russian submarine' with underwater drones (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/15/ukraine-blows-up-300m-russian-submarine-underwater-drones/ The bedroom farce at the centre of a Russian war-crime propaganda plot (Roland Oliphant on Maruipol in The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/12/11/mariupol-theatre-putin-ukraine-plans/ LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST IN NEW LANGUAGES:The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them. Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatestSubscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join us for a special screening of the new documentary 2000 Meters to Andriivka, followed by a conversation with acclaimed Ukrainian filmmaker and war correspondent Mstyslav Chernov. From the Oscar-winning team behind 20 Days In Mariupol, 2000 Meters to Andriivka documents the toll of the Russia-Ukraine war from a personal and devastating vantage point. Following his historic account of the civilian toll in Mariupol, Chernov turns his lens toward Ukrainian soldiers—who they are, where they came from, and the impossible decisions they face in the trenches as they fight for every inch of their land.  Amid a failing counteroffensive in 2023, Chernov and his AP colleague Alex Babenko follow a Ukrainian brigade battling through approximately one mile of a heavily fortified forest on their mission to liberate the Russian-occupied village of Andriivka. Weaving together original footage, intensive Ukrainian Army bodycam video and powerful moments of reflection, 2000 Meters to Andriivka reveals, with haunting intimacy, the farther the soldiers advance through their destroyed homeland, the more they realize that, for them, this might never end. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris is joined by journalist Tom Mutch to discuss The Dogs of Mariupol and the realities of reporting from Ukraine's front lines. Tom shares what it takes to work inside an active war zone—from the decision to stay during the invasion to the daily logistics of moving, sourcing, and staying alive. They dig into the resilience of Ukrainians under fire, the reach of Russian propaganda, and the social fractures between those who fought and those who fled. Tom also reflects on why documenting these stories matters and how Ukraine's future could be shaped by the ingenuity and grit he's seen on the ground. Subscribe and share to stay ahead in the world of intelligence, global issues, and current affairs. Order The Dogs of Mariupol: https://www.bitebackpublishing.com/books/the-dogs-of-mariupol Please share this episode using these links Audio: https://pod.fo/e/35a2eb YouTube: https://youtu.be/yZQz7bUms3E Send in audience questions for the next Espresso Martini by December 4th! Email secretsandspiespodcast@gmail.com, or reach out on social media via the links below. Please include your first name and general location if you're comfortable. Support Secrets and Spies Become a “Friend of the Podcast” on Patreon for £3/$4: https://www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies Buy merchandise from our shop: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/60934996 Buy us a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/secretsandspies Subscribe to our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVB23lrHr3KFeXq4VU36dg For more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.com Connect with us on social media Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/secretsandspies.bsky.social Instagram: https://instagram.com/secretsandspies Facebook: https://facebook.com/secretsandspies Spoutible: https://spoutible.com/SecretsAndSpies Follow Chris and Matt on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/chriscarrfilm.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/mattfulton.net Secrets and Spies is produced by F & P LTD. Music by Andrew R. Bird Photos by AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka, AFP & Madison Tuff Secrets and Spies sits at the intersection of intelligence, covert action, real-world espionage, and broader geopolitics in a way that is digestible but serious. Hosted by filmmaker Chris Carr and writer Matt Fulton, each episode examines the very topics that real intelligence officers and analysts consider on a daily basis through the lens of global events and geopolitics, featuring expert insights from former spies, authors, and journalists.

Diese Low Budget Kurzfilmdoku von Anna Zhukovets & Karen Abel wurde zwischen 2021 ( Karen hatte gerade die Untersuchungsergebnisse bekommen 3 Jahre mit einem Medikament stabil zu sein) und 2022 ( mitten im 2. Progress, das heißt der Tumor und die Metastasierung breiten sich aufgrund der Resistenz gegenüber der Behandlung aus) gefilmt. Inzwischen hat Karen schon den 4. Progress hinter sich:Die Regisseurin, Editorin, Fotografin und Journalistin Anna Zhukovets (Geboren 1997 in Mariupol; Vita unter https://www.hff-muc.de/de_DE/studente... ) schafft es innerhalb eines Jahres das Leben einer Frau – die niemals aufgibt - mit dem Lungenkrebs einzufangen. Dabei unterstützt Karen Anna inhaltlich und auch kreativ im gesamten Filmprozess.Wissbegierde, Offenheit, Loyalität und eine unermüdliche Selbstarbeit: Das ist Karen Abel. Gerade im Dokumentarfilm lernt man von jedem Menschen etwas. Von Karen lerne ich, mich mehr in Dankbarkeit und Optimismus zu üben. Von Anfang an, lehnt Karen Mitleid ab. Mitgefühl statt Mitleid. Das wünscht sie sich. Offene Fragen statt Stille. Zuhören. Wie hört man empathisch zu? Wie wird man einem persönlichen Portrait gerecht? Indem ich mich als Filmemacherin zurücknehme. Nur so kann man zuhören. Lungenkrebs, das ist die Krankheit der Zukunft. Sie betrifft uns alle. Familie, Freunde und Partner: Die Stigmata des rauchenden alten Mannes hemmt oft einen offenen Diskurs. Und es stimmt nicht. Immer mehr junge Nicht- und Nie Raucher sind betroffen. Ein Film, der die Vorurteile über Lungenkrebs entkräftet. Und gleichzeitig sichtbar macht. Nämlich: Die Geschichte von Karens und Vesnas '' Wie Phönix aus der Asche'' soll sich der eigenen Lebenskraft und Endlichkeit nähern.''Wie Phönix aus der Asche'' ist eine Film-Odyssee. Anna Zhukovets und Karen Abel machen sich auf die Suche nach den Tiefen der Krebsforschung. Sprechen mit Experten und Betroffenen, ohne zu erahnen, dass es sich bei dieser Reise durch die Wissenschaft um die eigene Reflexion dreht. Um den Tod und das Leben. ''Wie Phönix aus der Asche'' ist eine Erzählung einer Frau, die scheinbar dem Tod geweiht ist. Und dennoch: Nicht aufhören will die bestehenden Regeln der Medizin zu hinterfragen. Die Geschichte von Karen Abel, sie zeigt, wie sehr es sich lohnt, zu hinterfragen. Nach anderen Wegen zu suchen. Die Geschichte trägt die Erkenntnis mit sich, dass die Krebsforschung mehr kann als nur Strahlen- und Chemotherapie. Für Karen Abel muss sie ganzheitlich sein. Sie muss den Menschen im Kern mitdenken. Dafür muss die Ärzte-Patient: innen-Kommunikation auf Augenhöhe bleiben.Chapters00:00 Der Weg zur Selbstakzeptanz02:38 Stigmatisierung und die Realität von Lungenkrebs06:11 Die Entstehung von Lungenkrebs08:45 Die Herausforderungen der Diagnose12:03 Die Bedeutung von Lebensqualität und Achtsamkeit14:49 Der Umgang mit dem Tod und die Rolle der Ärzte

Dive into the ongoing war with Cormac Smith today. Dominic and Cormac discuss Mariupol, whether the war can be considered genocide, the disinformation war, the reality of Russian aggression, war crimes, hybrid warfare, the need for unity, and more!Today we are joined by Cormac Smith. Cormac works at the intersection of authentic leadership & effective communication. He travelled to Ukraine in 2016 to take up a special appointment as the ‘Strategic Communication Advisor' to Pavlo Klimkin, the then Foreign Minister of Ukraine. Cormac was attached to the British Embassy in Kyiv but was embedded in Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the first foreigner to hold such a position. There he worked for the cabinet ministers of Health, Education and the Deputy Prime Minister. In addition, he worked with The National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine and the NATO mission to the country. In 2018, Cormac joined the National Security Communication Team in the Cabinet Office, specifically to advise on Russian Disinformation / Hybrid Warfare tactics, in the wake of the Skripal poisoning in Salisbury. In addition, Cormac is a communication coach & charity leader & Bobsleigh veteran!The International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical volatility and organised crime, to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you're a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter.Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe's leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe's leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe's business leaders. Dominic is the go-to business advisor for leaders navigating risk, crisis, and strategy; trusted for his clarity, calmness under pressure, and ability to turn volatility into competitive advantage. Dominic equips today's business leaders with the insight and confidence to lead through disruption and deliver sustained strategic advantage.The International Risk Podcast – Reducing risk by increasing knowledge.Follow us on LinkedIn and Subscribe for all our updates!Tell us what you liked!

Recorded live on August 27, 2025: Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen joins Warren Olney for War, Peace and the American Future, a wide-ranging conversation on U.S. leadership, global security, and the challenges ahead.

Lt. Col. (Ret.) Alexander Vindman joins journalist Madeleine Brand for an America at a Crossroads conversation on U.S. foreign policy, democracy, and global security. Subscribe for more conversations.

Last time we spoke about the Soviet invasion of Manchuria. Following the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki amidst relentless Allied aerial campaigns, chaos engulfed Japan. Prime Minister Suzuki's cabinet debated surrendering to avoid annihilation while fearing for the imperial family's future. Meanwhile, the Soviet Union launched an unexpected invasion of Manchuria, rapidly advancing and catching Japanese forces off guard. As negotiations unfolded, a group of military conspirators, led by Major Hatanaka, attempted a coup to halt the surrender, believing they could rally support. They seized the Imperial Palace but failed to find the Emperor's recorded surrender speech amid the chaos. In a decisive moment, Emperor Hirohito accepted the Potsdam Declaration, stipulating the emperor's continuation, thus sealing Japan's fate. That same day, the world learned of Japan's capitulation, marking the end of the Pacific War. The once powerful nation now lay in ruins, yet the Emperor's decision bore the weight of a nation saved from further destruction, embodying a fragile hope for the future amidst the horrors of war. This episode is the Battle for South Sakhalin and the Kurile Islands Welcome to the Pacific War Podcast Week by Week, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about world war two? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on world war two and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel you can find a few videos all the way from the Opium Wars of the 1800's until the end of the Pacific War in 1945.  As we previously discussed, the Japanese Empire made the difficult decision to surrender on August 14, amid the turmoil of the Soviet invasion of Manchuria and South Sakhalin. The following day, this decision was announced to the world. However, in Manchuria, General Yamada's Kwantung Army chose to continue fighting until they received a clear ceasefire order. At this moment, several developments unfolded. General Hongo's 44th Army was on a forced retreat toward the Hsinking-Mukden line under General Ushiroku's command, leaving their 107th Division trapped behind Soviet lines. Meanwhile, General Iida's 30th Army was redeploying to Hsinking, which was starting to be evacuated, while General Uemura's 4th Army had orders to withdraw to Meihokou, taking over positions left by the 30th Army.  The advance of enemy armored columns in the west was severely hindering the evacuation of Japanese nationals. On the 10th, the Kwantung Army requested the Manchukuoan Government to facilitate the evacuation of Japanese residents in Hainking and its surroundings. They directed the Continental Railway Command to prepare ten trains for this purpose, with the first train scheduled to depart from Hsinking that same day. However, the Manchukuoan Government found it nearly impossible to carry out the withdrawal swiftly. They managed to transport only the families of officers and civilians linked to the army, and these families had to flee with just a few hours' notice, taking almost nothing but the clothes on their backs. By the 12th, Hsinking was in a state of chaos. The advance of enemy armored units, coupled with the retreat of the main force of the 44th Army, led to the evacuation of the capital by the Kwantung Army General Headquarters. This turmoil coincided with the arrival of the first refugee trains, carrying Japanese evacuees from the western border areas, causing widespread panic among local residents. Many hurried to the already overcrowded train station, desperate to escape the unfolding crisis. In the face of enemy pressure, the 80th Independent Mixed Brigade and the 119th Division continued to resist assaults at Hailar and Pokotu, respectively. The 123rd Division and the 135th Independent Mixed Brigade were heavily engaged in the fortified regions of Sunwu and Aihun, and the 136th Independent Mixed Brigade was directed to reinforce Tsitsihar, while the 134th Division retreated to Fangcheng. General Shimizu's 5th Army prepared for a last stand at Mutanchiang, while the isolated 124th Division made plans to withdraw. The 132nd Independent Mixed Brigade had already retreated to Tachienchang, and the 128th Division was getting ready to confront the enemy advance at Lotzokou, with General Murakami's 3rd Army holding strong in the Tumen fortified region. Meanwhile, the Nanam Divisional District Unit successfully repelled an amphibious invasion in Chongjin, and the 88th Division's 125th Regiment staunchly defended Furuton on South Sakhalin. In a desperate bid to avoid further disaster, Yamada finally instructed Ushiroku to adhere to their original plan and prepare for a withdrawal to the Hunjen area, even if it meant leaving Japanese citizens and their cities vulnerable to the approaching Soviets. Ushiroku hesitantly agreed to the order but never got the chance to act on it. On August 15, Marshal Vasilevsky's offensive advanced much like the previous days, facing an enemy that continued to resist fiercely. To counter this, orders came to intensify the assault to gain control of key operational and strategic points as quickly as possible. In Marshal Malinovsky's Transbaikal Front, General Pliyev's cavalry-mechanized units encountered heavy opposition from the Inner Mongolian 3rd, 5th, and 7th Cavalry Divisions at Kanbao. Meanwhile, General Danilov's 17th Army pressed toward Chihfeng but was hindered by water shortages, intense heat, and challenging sandy terrain. General Managarov's 53rd Army began its advance toward Kailu, while General Kravchenko's 6th Guards Tank Army continued its march along two fronts. The 7th Guards Mechanized Corps moved east toward Changchun, while both the 9th Guards Mechanized Corps and the 5th Guards Tank Corps advanced southeast toward Mukden. Notably, General Lyudnikov's 39th Army finally captured Tepossi and Wangyemiao.  Heavy Japanese resistance persisted in the sector of the 36th Army, notably in the Hailar Fortified Region and along the road and rail line through the Grand Khingan Mountains leading to Pokotu. The Japanese 119th Infantry Division put up a determined defense of Pokotu, successfully delaying the Soviet forces of the 2nd Rifle Corps from August 15 to 17, despite heavy rainfall. Meanwhile, in the rear of the 36th Army, the fighting in Hailar remained intense. The 86th Rifle Corps employed heavy artillery to systematically dismantle enemy strongholds in the hills to the northwest and southwest of the city. Position after position fell to relentless artillery bombardments, combined with sapper and infantry assaults. Ultimately, the Soviets extinguished the last vestiges of Japanese resistance in Hailar on August 18 when the remaining garrison of 3,827 men surrendered. Concurrently, in Marshal Meretskov's 1st Far Eastern Front, forward detachments of General Zakhvatayev's 35th Army secured Poli. General Beloborodov's 1st Red Banner Army broke through the frontline of the 135th Division and initiated an assault on the last Japanese positions just outside Yehho. Meanwhile, General Krylov's 5th Army, having successfully breached the Ssutaoling heights the previous evening, launched attacks against the 126th Division's positions at Aiho but was ultimately repelled by the defenders. In light of these developments, Generals Kita and Shimizu decided to order a withdrawal toward Hengtaohotzu, which they executed successfully after sunset, leaving behind some units to cover the retreat. Further south, General Chistyakov's 25th Army split into two columns at Heitosai. The 17th Rifle Corps and the 72nd Mechanized Brigade advanced west toward the Taipingling Pass, while the 39th Rifle Corps, along with the 72nd and 257th Tank Brigades, headed southwest toward Wangching. The 17th Rifle Corps effectively breached the main defenses of the Japanese 128th Division, forcing it to retreat to second-line positions southwest of Taipingling. On the morning of August 15, enemy air activity against Army Headquarters intensified significantly. Meanwhile, the Army Commander and several staff officers set out via Pataohotzu to inspect the defenses in the Hoeryong area, where the 101st Regiment was retreating from the Chonghak sector. At noon, while at the headquarters of the 127th Division in Pataohotzu, General Murakami and his accompanying staff listened to the Emperor's broadcast announcing the termination of the war. Opinions among the officers were divided regarding the veracity of this broadcast. After a brief discussion, they decided to continue military operations as per existing instructions until they received a formal cessation order. Later that night, a formal order arrived from First Area Army Headquarters, directing that all active resistance be halted, though self-defense measures were still to be implemented if necessary. Around the same time, a report came in from the 1st Mobile Brigade indicating that their positions in the Wangching area, about 25 miles northeast of Army Headquarters at Yenchi, were under attack by a sizable Soviet tank force. In response, a counterattack force was hastily assembled, consisting of two infantry battalions from the 127th Division. They were directed to advance to Wangching along the Yenchi-Chiulungping road to confront the enemy tanks. These battalions likely included the 3rd Battalion of the 280th Regiment and the 3rd Battalion of the 281st Regiment. Additionally, the 88th Rifle Corps took control of Hunchun and crossed the Inanho River, where they encountered well-entrenched Japanese forces from the 112th Division. To further pressure the enemy, the 258th Rifle Division crossed the Tumen River at Hunyong to attack the Japanese right flank. In General Purkayev's 2nd Far Eastern Front, General Mamonov's 15th Army continued its two-pronged advance toward Chiamussu, while General Pashkov's 5th Rifle Corps pushed forward to Poli. Meanwhile, General Teryokhin's 2nd Red Banner Army assigned some elements to maintain the siege of Sunwu and Aihun while forward detachments bypassed these fortified regions, moving south toward Nencheng and Peian. In South Sakhalin, General Cheremisov's 16th Army faced fierce resistance from Japanese forces at Furuton. Admiral Andreyev's Northern Pacific Flotilla prepared for an amphibious landing at Toro, while the Pacific Fleet, under Admiral Yumashev, successfully landed Major-General Vasily Trushin's 13th Naval Infantry Brigade at Chongjin in the early hours of August 15. This effort aimed to relieve the besieged Soviet naval units and gradually push back against the defending Japanese forces. On August 16, the entire Soviet force, commanded by Lieutenant-General Sergey Kabanov, secured Chongjin city and its port after overcoming strong resistance, just as the 393rd Rifle Division was arriving in the area. Simultaneously, Andreyev's fleet departed from Sovetskaya Gavan and approached Toro in the early hours of the day. At 05:17, 141 marines from the initial reconnaissance detachment successfully landed ashore quietly, and by 06:00, they had taken the port with virtually no opposition. The reconnaissance group then advanced about three kilometers east, where they encountered heavy resistance; meanwhile, the rest of the marine battalion landed successfully by 10:00. After securing Shakhtyorsk at midday, the Soviet marines began their push south toward Esutoru, their main objective, while a supporting infantry battalion landed behind them. To the north, the 56th Rifle Corps managed to break through and capture Furuton, though it failed to seize the strategically significant Happo Mountain. In Manchuria, the 88th Rifle Corps continued its attacks on the 112th and 79th Divisions but was unsuccessful. The 39th Rifle Corps column advanced toward Tumen and Yenchi, while the 17th Rifle Corps column effectively expelled Japanese forces from the Taipingling area to secure the pass. By evening, units from the 1st Red Banner Army cleared Mutanchiang, and the 5th Army units moved south of the city to continue their southwest advance toward Ningan. The 15th Army executed a coordinated amphibious assault, successfully capturing Chiamussu. The 39th Army advanced along the railroad from Wangyemiao to Changchun, with its main force ultimately securing Taonan by the end of the day, while other units reduced the Halung-Arshaan fortified region. Finally, forward detachments of the 5th Guards Tank Corps and the 9th Guards Mechanized Corps secured Tungliao and Kaitung, respectively. On August 17, Prince Takeda Tsuneyoshi, on behalf of the Emperor, arrived at Hsinking to deliver the official ceasefire order. However, this did not cancel ongoing operational missions, as the order stipulated that the cessation of hostilities did not apply to unavoidable acts of self-defense during enemy attacks made before the completion of armistice negotiations. Tokyo's orders demonstrated that Yamada was authorized to conduct on-the-spot negotiations for an armistice with the Soviets. Consequently, the Manchurian Campaign continued amidst the negotiations. Pliyev's Soviet-Mongolian units successfully defeated the Inner Mongolians at Kanbao; the 17th Army overcame light opposition from the 108th Division to occupy Chihfeng; the 39th Army concentrated its forces at Taonan while the 94th Rifle Corps mopped up rear areas; and the 36th Army defeated the 119th Division to capture Pokotu. Simultaneously, the 2nd Red Banner Army directed heavy artillery and air strikes to reduce the Aihun and Sunwu Fortified Regions, while the 15th Army initiated a push south along the Sungari River toward Sansing. The 363rd Rifle Division passed through Chihsi, with the 66th Rifle Division focusing on Poli. Units from the 1st Red Banner Army advanced northwest toward Harbin, and the 72nd Rifle Corps marched southward along the east bank of the Mutan River, attempting unsuccessfully to cross the river north of Ningan. The 17th Rifle Corps pursued the 128th Division, and forward elements of the 10th Mechanized Corps moved sixty kilometers from the Taipingling Pass to secure the critical rail and road junction at Tahsingkou. Additionally, the reinforced 72nd Tank Brigade intercepted the counterattacking force of the 127th Division at Nianyantsun. The 39th Rifle Corps broke through the northern defenses of the 79th Division to seize the outskirts of Tumen, while the 88th Rifle Corps successfully pushed aside enemy defenders at Mayusan to occupy Onsang. At South Sakhalin, as the marine force surrounded Esutoru, the 22nd Independent Machinegun Company was deployed to support the marine assault, which quickly penetrated the urban area and secured the city by midday. Meanwhile, fighting continued around Mount Happo, where the 214th Tank Brigade was dispatched south toward the ultimate objective of Toyohara. However, given the distance involved, it was decided to conduct a second amphibious assault on the port of Maoka. On August 18, Yamada finally issued the ceasefire orders to the 1st, 3rd, and 17th Area Armies, as well as to the 4th Army and the 2nd Air Army. His chief of staff, Lieutenant-General Hata Hikosaburo, met with Marshal Vasilevsky in Harbin to discuss procedures for disarmament, the protection of Japanese nationals in Manchuria, and related matters. Meanwhile, the Kwantung Army Headquarters made extensive efforts to relay as much information as possible about the termination of hostilities and disarmament to its subordinate commands using all available communication methods. However, these efforts were hindered by the wide dispersal of forces, many of which initially refused to surrender. General Higuchi's 5th Area Army received the ceasefire orders on August 17. Although he quickly notified his units—particularly those in Sakhalin and the Kuriles, war continued in these islands for a short period as he sought to prevent a potential invasion of Hokkaido. In Sakhalin, Major Yoshio Suzuki, the Chief of Staff of the 88th Division, received Higuchi's combat order on the afternoon of August 16, preparations for ceasefire were already underway, such as the disbandment of mobilized units, the discharge of some troops, and the disposal of the regimental flag. The division had no tanks or aircraft, and certainly no anti-tank or anti-aircraft weapons that could withstand Soviet forces. In light of this, Suzuki quickly ordered the re-arming of units and the occupation of positions, in accordance with the desire of Mineki and Higuchi to prevent the fall of South Sakhalin and a possible invasion of Hokkaido. Civilians, at this point, were already voicing complaints, wondering if the military was still going to continue fighting. After the surrender of the 125th Infantry Regiment, the Japanese command in the Northern District was effectively assumed by the staff of the 88th Division stationed at Kamishikika. During the fighting on the central military road, by the morning of August 17, evacuation of the civilian population from Kamishikika had been completed, and the town was burned to the ground by Japanese forces' scorched earth tactics, along with an air raid by 20 Soviet aircraft. Kamishikika was abandoned on August 20, marking the start of a full retreat. The construction of a defensive line involving the destruction of the Uro Bridge and the Chidori River Bridge was considered but ultimately abandoned due to the presence of evacuees. Meanwhile, in the Kuriles, a new operation was unfolding. According to Vasilevsky's orders, once operations against Manchuria and South Sakhalin were sufficiently advanced, a small force from the Kamchatka Defense Region, supported by naval units from the Petropavlovsk Naval Base, was to conduct amphibious assaults on the Kuril Islands in preparation for a future landing at the port of Rumoi on Hokkaido's west coast On August 15, President Truman and Soviet Premier Stalin agreed that Japanese forces north of the 38th Parallel would surrender to the Soviets, while those to the south would surrender to the Americans. Stalin's agreement surprised the US, as there was little chance of American forces landing on the Korean peninsula at that time. In what many scholars interpret as an attempt to achieve reciprocal generosity from Truman, Stalin proposed amending the order to include the northern half of Hokkaido and all of the Kuril Islands in the region of surrender to Soviet forces. This northern portion, he stated, should be demarcated by a line drawn ‘from the town of Kushiro on the eastern coast . . . to the town of Rumoe (Rumoi) on the western coast . . .', with both towns included in the occupation area However, Truman only acquiesced concerning the Kuriles, honoring the pact reached at Yalta, while specifying that all the islands of mainland Japan were to surrender to General MacArthur. Nonetheless, concerned by the exclusion of the Kuriles from the original agreement, Stalin instructed Vasilevsky to organize landings to occupy the islands. This mission was assigned to Purkayev's 2nd Far Eastern Front and Yumashev's Pacific Fleet, which, in turn, designated Major-General Aleksei Gnechko's Kamchatka Defense Region and Captain Dmitri Ponomarev's Petropavlovsk Naval Base to execute the first landings on Shumshu and Paramushir, followed by a subsequent amphibious assault on Onekotan. These inexperienced commanders had limited time to plan for their operations, assemble the necessary commercial vessels for transportation, and hurriedly gather the army units dispersed across Kamchatka. Ultimately, the primary unit chosen for the landings was Major-General Porfiry Dyakov's 101st Rifle Division, supplemented by a battalion of marines. Meanwhile, Ponomarev managed to gather an invasion flotilla of 64 vessels. Although the Soviets had air superiority, it was unreliable due to the peculiar climatic conditions. “There were very peculiar climatic conditions in the Far East and Sakhalin; almost every airfield had its own special microclimate. In the coastal zone, frequent outbursts of moist sea air, forming a curtain of thick fog, caused a lot of trouble.”. The limited firepower of Ponomarev's flotilla forced the Soviets to land on the northeast corner of Shumshu, which could be targeted by the coastal guns at Cape Lopatka. Additionally, Gnechko planned a diversionary landing on the southeast side of the island. Opposing the Soviets, Higuchi had Lieutenant-General Tsutsumi Fusaki's 91st Division garrisoning the northern islands of Shumshu and Paramushir, the 41st Independent Mixed Regiment on Matsuwa Island, the 129th Independent Mixed Brigade on Uruppu Island, and Lieutenant-General Ogawa Gonosuke's 89th Division stationed on the southern islands of Etorofu, Shikotan, and Kunashiri.  Shumshu is the northernmost island in the Kuril chain, separated from Cape Lopatka, the southernmost tip of the Kamchatka Peninsula, by the 11-kilometer-wide First Kuril Strait. Covering an area of approximately 388 square kilometers and roughly oval in shape , Shumshu's proximity to Soviet territory, similar to its larger neighbor to the south, Paramushir, ensured that it was strongly defended. The garrison on Shumshu comprised about 8,500 troops, whereas the larger island boasted a garrison of approximately 14,500. The strait between the two islands narrows to about 2.5 kilometers at its smallest point, thus allowing these garrisons to provide mutual support. As Slavinsky notes: “Shumshu and Paramushir, with their naval bases located opposite each other on both sides of the Second Kuril Strait, were, in essence, a single key position.” The capture of Shumshu was crucial to the success of subsequent island operations. While there were several airfields on these islands, they housed very few aircraft, which had been withdrawn earlier to the Japanese main islands in preparation for the anticipated “final battle” with the Americans. However, Shumshu was defended by a tank force from the 11th Tank Regiment, commanded by Colonel Sueo Ikeda. This force consisted of thirty-nine medium tanks, including nineteen Type-97 Chi-Ha tanks and twenty Type-97 ShinHoTo Chi-Ha (improved Type-97) tanks, alongside twenty-five Type-95 Ha-Go light tanks. Both Shumshu and Paramushir were equipped with permanent defensive works along the coast and inland. On Shumshu, these defenses included 34 bunkers and 24 pillboxes within several powerful strongpoints, featuring around 100 guns of varying calibers, some reaching up to 100mm. Approximately 300 prepared firing points were established for both heavy and light machine guns. Most of Shumshu's coast is bordered by cliffs, leading to a concentration of the strongest defenses in areas deemed vulnerable to amphibious assault. Notably, a battery was installed in the wreck of the Soviet tanker Mariupol, which had become stranded on the beach between Cape Kokutan and Cape Kotomari in 1943. Although the island is relatively flat, it possesses several hills with sides that are nearly bare of trees, and these heights also housed additional strongpoints. Shumshu features 120 kilometers of roads, which facilitated terrestrial communication between various points. Additionally, the garrison constructed numerous dummy installations to mislead reconnaissance efforts. Nevertheless, Ponomarev's flotilla departed from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky at approximately 05:00 on August 17, moving slowly and stealthily toward their objective in foggy conditions. This weather ultimately forced Gnechko to cancel the planned diversionary landing. In any event, the first landing craft approached the beach at 04:22 hours on 18 August still hidden in the murk, but were forced to halt some 100–150m from shore in water up to 2m deep; they had been overloaded which prevented them getting closer in. The troops of the advanced detachment (two companies of marines, a maritime border guard company, and a submachine gun company) had then to wade, heavily burdened, to dry land. This went on undisturbed until personnel on one of the landing craft opened fire; this, spreading to the other ships, alerted the defenders, who replied with ‘promiscuous' machine-gun fire. Nevertheless, by 05:00 hours, and having suffered only ‘insignificant' losses, the advanced detachment was ashore and its main force, under Major Pyotr Shutov, was moving off the beach into the interior of the island. Two groups of marines moved left and right to deal with enemy positions on the capes flanking the landing ground. They managed to destroy several firing points, but were too few to overcome the stronger resistance nests protecting the gun positions. A series of hills inland formed the initial objective of the advance. Behind them, Dyatlov's first wave faced heavy bombardment from Japanese artillery, suffering significant casualties as the troops struggled to scramble ashore by 09:00. The second wave experienced a similar fate but managed to disembark by 13:00, joining the first wave in advancing on the high ground to the southwest. This second wave successfully repelled a series of Japanese tank counterattacks, resulting in the loss of Colonel Sueo. Despite being pushed back somewhat, the Soviets held their position while their aircraft targeted the naval bases on the island's southern side, aiming to hinder reinforcements from Paramushir. By nightfall, Gnechko's forces had secured a beachhead approximately 4 kilometers wide and 5 kilometers deep, while assault groups successfully destroyed Japanese artillery positions on Cape Kokutan and Cape Kotomari. Meanwhile, Kabanov's new Southern Defense Region command was ordered to quickly land naval units at Odaejin and Gensan to prevent the Japanese from evacuating their forces from Korea to the Home Islands. Consequently, a small naval force from the 13th Naval Infantry Brigade departed from Chongjin, successfully landing unopposed at Odaejin at 08:00 on August 18. Elsewhere in eastern Manchuria, the 25th Army consolidated its hold on northeastern Korea, dispatching the 10th Mechanized Corps west toward Tunhua and Kirin and northwest toward Tungchingcheng amidst the surrender of Murakami's 3rd Army. The 72nd Rifle Corps successfully crossed the Mutan River north of Ningan, while units from the 1st Red Banner Army and the 5th Army were deployed to receive and process surrendering Japanese units of Shimizu's 5th Army. To the north, the 2nd Red Banner Army maintained pressure on the Aihun and Sunwu Fortified Regions, leading to the surrender of the 123rd Division, although the 135th Independent Mixed Brigade continued to resist at Aihun. Be that as it may, the Japanese artillery positioned at Cape Kokutan and Cape Kotomari wreaked havoc on the second echelon, which was comprised of the 373rd Rifle Regiment. During this engagement, a patrol boat and four landing craft were lost, while eight others sustained serious damage. Once again, Soviet troops were forced to improvise ways to reach dry land; however, this time, the echelon's commander, Colonel P.A. Artyushen, along with his headquarters, managed to land via a torpedo boat. It took until 13:00 hours to fully disembark the second echelon, by which point its forward units had linked up with those forces advancing on the high ground to the southwest. By then, Artyushen had assumed command of all the forces ashore. While the number of troops was considerable, they still lacked heavy weapons, with only four 45mm anti-tank guns having been landed. Unsurprisingly, the Japanese counterattacked as soon as possible, with the advanced forward units under Shutov bearing the brunt of the assault. In a reversal of the combat situations previously encountered throughout the war with Japan, Soviet infantry now found themselves facing several tank attacks from the Japanese. One of these assaults was personally led by Colonel Sueo Ikeda, the commander of the 11th Tank Regiment, who was reported to be waving a samurai sword and Japanese flag from the turret, according to some accounts. Fortunately for the Soviets, these Japanese tanks were relatively weak compared to the T-34. While they posed a threat to unsupported infantry, they proved vulnerable to Degtyarev PTRD-41 anti-tank rifles and RPG-43 anti-tank grenades. The tank-led attacks were ultimately repelled, with Colonel Sueo perishing in the fighting. Despite being pushed back somewhat, the Soviets managed to withstand the onslaught. For his heroism during this challenging combat situation, in which he was wounded three times, Shutov was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, along with the Order of Lenin and the Golden Star medal. Despite being somewhat pushed back, the Soviets held their ground while their aircraft targeted the naval bases on the southern side of the island to hinder reinforcements from Paramushir. The weather cleared sufficiently in the late morning, allowing Soviet air strikes to commence that afternoon. These strikes involved groups of eight to sixteen aircraft and were primarily directed at the Kataoka and Kashiwabar naval bases, successfully preventing the transfer of Japanese reinforcements from Paramushir. However, the sky remained cloudy enough to hinder any close battlefield support. As Zakharov et al. described it, the situation on the ground “remained tense.” The thinning fog later allowed seven Japanese aircraft to appear at 10:30 hours, attempting to strike at the shipping gathered off the landing beach. Their first strike targeted the Kirov, but it was unsuccessful, and the attackers were driven off by anti-aircraft fire. A second attempt at 12:00 hours focused on the minesweeper T-525, which also failed, resulting in two of the attacking aircraft being shot down by gunfire.  By nightfall on 18 August, it was evident that the Soviet landing had succeeded to the point where the forces would not be driven back into the sea. The invasion force had established a beachhead approximately 4 kilometers wide and 5 kilometers deep, and they were capable of defending this position against any immediate Japanese counterattacks, despite most of their artillery still being stuck offshore. Gnechko, stationed at Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, ordered that enough artillery be transported ashore overnight to resume the offensive, with the goal of occupying the island by the end of 19 August. He also dispatched several self-propelled barges and kungas (shallow-draft boats used for fishing or transport) to assist with the unloading, although these vessels could not arrive until the following morning. To eliminate further artillery attacks on shipping, assault groups were formed to attack and destroy the Japanese strongpoints on Cape Kokutan and Cape Kotomari during the hours of darkness. Shortly after midnight on 17 August, a second order regarding the cessation of hostilities was received from the First Area Army, directing that all fighting be stopped. At daybreak, General Murakami dispatched his intelligence chief, Lt. Col. Fujimoto, to Chiulungping to inform the Soviet tank battalion commander of the end of hostilities. Simultaneously, he ordered all divisions under his command to cease all combat operations. At approximately 16:00 hours, the Soviet tank battalion commander arrived at the Army Officers Club in Yenchi, where he conferred with Major General Hanjiro Iketani, the Army Chief of Staff. The following day, General Iketani traveled to Wangching to conduct armistice negotiations. The 72nd Rifle Corps finally crossed the Mutan River north of Ningan, while units from the 1st Red Banner Army and the 5th Army were deployed to receive and process the surrendering Japanese units of Shimizu's 5th Army. Since the Army began its withdrawal, communications with Area Army Headquarters in Tunhua had been completely disrupted. On the morning of the 17th, a member of the Manchurian Telegraph and Telephone Company's Harbin office sent a message via railway telephone concerning disarmament, stating that he had been asked by the First Area Army Headquarters to relay the information. The Army Commander and his staff, however, suspected it might be another ruse from the enemy's fifth column. They agreed to exercise caution in addressing the matter and decided to send Staff Officer Maeda to Area Army Headquarters in Tunhua by railway gasoline engine car to verify the truth. Colonel Maeda proceeded to the railway station, and while preparing to depart, he received a railway telephone call from Staff Officer Tsumori at Area Army Headquarters regarding the cease-fire order. Subsequently, around 14:00 hours, the Army convened a meeting with representatives from each unit to announce the cease-fire orders. That evening, Soviet forces began entering Hengtaohotzu and immediately started disarming Japanese forces.  Looking west, the bulk of the 36th Army advanced southward and seized the railroad station at Chalantun amid the surrender of the 119th Division. The 86th Rifle Corps, after several days of intense artillery bombardment, finally extinguished the last remnants of Japanese resistance at Hailar, forcing the 80th Independent Mixed Brigade to surrender. Meanwhile, the 39th Army forces prepared for transport to Changchun and then on to the Liaotung Peninsula. The 17th Army moved toward the coast, capturing Pingchuan and Linguan before reaching the coastline at Shanhaiguan, directly across from the Liaotung Peninsula. Additionally, Pliyev's Soviet-Mongolian forces approached the outskirts of Kalgan, where they encountered a small contingent of the China Expeditionary Army. Indeed, with the surrender of the Kwantung Army, the war was coming to an end. However, several independent units, including the one mentioned, would continue to resist into the last days of August, thereby prolonging the Pacific War by another week. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. In August 1945, amidst Japan's turmoil, the Soviet Union surprisingly invaded Manchuria. As chaos ensued, Japanese forces in South Sakhalin faced robust Soviet resistance. Ultimately, Japan's surrender shattered its imperial power, marking a historic end to the Pacific War, leaving a nation in ruins yet igniting a fragile hope for the future beyond the horrors of conflict.

On this edition of Parallax Views, journalist and war correspondent Tom Mutch, author of The Dogs of Mariupol: The Invasion of Ukraine and the Future of War, joins the show to discuss his frontline reporting on the Russia–Ukraine war and the hard lessons of a conflict that continues to reshape global politics. We begin by revisiting the shocking first days of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, when many in Moscow and the West assumed Ukraine would collapse within days. Why did so many analysts underestimate Ukraine's resilience, and what explains the country's remarkable ability to withstand Vladimir Putin's assault? From there, we examine how the war has evolved between 2022 and 2025—highlighting acts of courage by Ukrainian civilians and soldiers, but also the immense human cost of the conflict. Tom reflects on mistakes made by Ukraine and the West, including the absence of a coherent U.S. strategy for aiding Kyiv, and whether Washington's focus has sometimes been more about weakening Russia than guaranteeing Ukraine's territorial sovereignty. We also address difficult questions such as the controversial defense of Bakhmut, whether Ukraine committed critical tactical errors, and what the future may hold: negotiations, diplomacy, or total victory. The conversation goes beyond Ukraine as well. We discuss the significance of Nagorno-Karabakh in understanding today's revived great-power politics, and how the war in Gaza has negatively impacted Ukraine, especially as Israel's actions have come under scrutiny and undermined U.S. moral credibility as an arbiter of the global order. Finally, Tom speaks to audiences split on the war—those skeptical of Ukraine's continued fight and U.S. military aid, and those who strongly defend Kyiv's efforts. While Mutch comes from a firmly pro-Ukraine perspective, he offers a nuanced and critical edge that challenges simplistic narratives on both sides of the debate. He also offers criticisms of the American right-wing's views on Ukraine, addresses controversies around the Azov Battalion and the cultural significance of WWII-era far-right figure Stepan Bandera in modern Ukraine, and more.

Oggi torniamo a Gaza, perché Israele si prepara all'offensiva finale per prendere il controllo di tutto il territorio, poi c'è una novità sul caso Almasri, quindi andiamo in Ucraina per una storia che arriva da Mariupol, e infine parliamo di Jannik Sinner. ... Qui il link per iscriversi al canale Whatsapp di Notizie a colazione: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va7X7C4DjiOmdBGtOL3z Per iscriverti al canale Telegram: https://t.me/notizieacolazione ... Qui gli altri podcast di Class Editori: https://milanofinanza.it/podcast Musica https://www.bensound.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The war in Ukraine started in February 2022 when Russia launched a full-scale invasion. We watched as civilians sheltered from airstrikes and buildings became ruins in the Oscar award-winning documentary ‘20 Days in Mariupol’, just as the Russians took siege of one of Ukraine’s largest metropolitan areas. Now, three years after the Russian invasion and two years after that film's release, writer, director and producer, Mstyslav Chernov’s follow up documentary, ‘2000 Meters to Andriivka’ takes us back to the frontline as we follow Ukrainian soldiers on a mission to liberate the small town of Andriivka. Austin Cross sat down with Chernov to talk about the documentary and the importance of capturing the war on camera. Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency!

Oscar-winning director Mstyslav Chernov's follow-up to “20 Days in Mariupol” is another masterful portrait of the war in Ukraine, titled “2000 Meters to Andriivka.” This film captures a Ukrainian platoon's mission: traverse a heavily fortified mile of forest to liberate a strategic village from Russian forces. Mstyslav shares with Tiller his experience capturing the harrowing search for humanity through the lens in a war zone (2:00), removing his bias as a Ukrainian so the film doesn't feel like propaganda (13:00), crafting the score with his composer (20:00), editing the rhythm of battlefield scenes like a musical album (29:00), and how he remains centered while making these films (37:00).  Produced by: Jacob Miller Executive Producer: Tiller Russell Music by: James Carroll, Graham Tracey & Zydepunk Distributed by: Jake Brennan & Brady Sadler, Double Elvis Productions

Day 1,253.Today, after a quieter night in the skies, we turn our focus to renewed tank movements on the ground and covert operations at sea – before sitting down with the director of the Oscar-winning ‘20 Days in Mariupol' to discuss his new film, ‘2000 Metres to Andriivka'. Plus we share how Elon Musk reportedly stopped Starlink operations during an important Ukrainian counterattack.Contributors:Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.Hamish de Bretton Gordon (Former Tank Commander). @HamishDBG on X.Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjz on X.With thanks to our guest, Mstyslav Chernov.Content Referenced:Learn More' About 2000 Meters To Andriivka':https://releasing.dogwoof.com/2000-meters-to-andriivka Musk ordered shutdown of Starlink satellite service as Ukraine retook territory from Russia (Reuters):https://www.reuters.com/investigations/musk-ordered-shutdown-starlink-satellite-service-ukraine-retook-territory-russia-2025-07-25/ Why Ukraine can't afford to demobilize its soldiers (Kyiv Independent):https://kyivindependent.com/why-ukraine-cant-afford-to-demobilize-its-soldiers/ Understanding Russia's Black Sea strategy (Chatham House):https://www.chathamhouse.org/2025/07/understanding-russias-black-sea-strategy 100 years of Telegraph Puzzles: Can you complete our first ever crossword?:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/07/28/100-years-the-telegraph-crossword-week-long-celebration/ Puzzles Main Page:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/puzzles/ SIGN UP TO THE NEW ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST' WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:https://secure.telegraph.co.uk/customer/secure/newsletter/ukraine/ Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It's free for everyone, including non-subscribers.Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AP correspondent Emma Burrows reports the UK is slapping sanctions on Russian intelligence officers who targeted a Mariupol theater and the family of a poisoned spy.

Prospects for negotiations between the United States and Iran on nuclear proliferation have dimmed significantly.Just a few days ago, it seemed the two sides were ready to return to negotiations. But US President Donald Trump then said he was not speaking to Iran and was not offering Tehran anything. Iran's deputy foreign minister has told the BBC his country won't enter into talks on its nuclear programme. Also in the programme: We'll get a rare glimpse at life inside the Ukrainian city of Mariupol after three years of Russian occupation; and after calling the shots for 148 years, tennis tournament Wimbledon says goodbye to human line judges.(Photo: Iran's deputy foreign minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi in an interview with the BBC's Lyse Doucet. Credit: BBC)

Israel has carried out waves of airstrikes and artillery fire in Gaza, reportedly killing at least 60 people, some of them while queuing for aid. Medical officials say about 20 people were killed in an airstrike on a beachfront site in Gaza City. One eyewitness said women and children were present when a warplane fired. What is the strategy of Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, when it comes to the war in Gaza? Also in the programme: We get a rare glimpse of life in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, under Russian occupation for three years; and we hear from a Norwegian lottery winner who was a millionaire for 15 minutes. (File photo: Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gives a statement during a visit to the site of the Weizmann Institute of Science, which was hit by an Iranian missile barrage, in the central city of Rehovot, Israel June 20, 2025. Credit: Jack Guez/Pool via Reuters)

Day 1,192.Today, while missiles and drones ran down on Ukraine, and especially on Kharkiv, Ukraine and its allies are still waiting for Russia's memo on their terms for a potential ceasefire and peace talks next week in Istanbul. We also discuss the increase of electronic warfare on the battlefield and share an exclusive interview with former deputy assistant to the US president and senior director for European and Russian affairs on the U.S. National Security Council, Fiona Hill. Contributors:Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjz on X.Hamish De Bretton-Gordon (Former British Army Tank Commander). @HamishDBG on XWith thanks to Fiona Hill (Former deputy assistant to the US president and senior director for European and Russian affairs on the U.S. National Security Council) and Cameron Henderson (US Reporter at the Telegraph). @CamHenderson98 on X.SIGN UP TO THE NEW ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST' WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:https://secure.telegraph.co.uk/customer/secure/newsletter/ukraine/ Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It's free for everyone, including non-subscribers.Content Referenced:Fiona Hill: Trump is terrified of Putin, I've seen it first hand, The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/2025/05/25/fiona-hill-interview-trump-terrified-putin-seen-firsthand/Lessons of Ukraine: Properly equipped modern tanks will still rule the battlefield, The Telegraphhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/05/29/main-battle-tanks-ads-active-defence-ew-ukraine-drone-war/Moscow is now a target for Ukraine's Western missileshttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/05/28/moscow-target-ukraine-missiles-kremlin-putin-merz-taurus/Ukraine Drone Carriers Launch First Long-Range Autonomous Strikeshttps://www.forbes.com/sites/davidhambling/2025/05/26/ukraine-drone-carriers-launch-first-long-range-autonomous-strikes/China Cut Drone Sales to West But Supplies Them to Russia, Ukraine Sayshttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-05-29/china-cut-drone-sales-to-west-but-supplies-them-to-russia-ukraine-saysNOW AVAILABLE IN NEW LANGUAGES:The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them.Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatestSubscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Israel conspicuously absent from Trump's first major Middle East trip, Christiane speaks with Biden's former Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman about the ethical concerns surrounding his overseas deals and meetings, the U.S. role in the war in Gaza, and new revelations about efforts by Biden's inner circle to conceal his decline ahead of the election. Then, Ukraine's former Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, speaks to Christiane about what the country should reasonably expect and where the crisis stands now after Putin was a no-show for ceasefire talks in Turkey. Clare Sebastian reports on Russia's propaganda campaign to maintain its grip on the occupied Ukrainian port city of Mariupol. And, as the war in Gaza continues with no ceasefire in sight, Israeli Alon Lee-Green and Palestinian citizen of Israel, Rula Daood, co-directors of "Standing Together", a Jewish-Arab movement for peace, discuss their hopes for ending the conflict, and shared activism. Also, as the first group of white South Africans landed as welcome refugees in the U.S. this week, from Christiane's archive, her 1997 report on the long post-apartheid path to reconciliation in the country.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Day 1,160.Today, as Vladimir Putin announces a sudden three-day ceasefire in May, we assess just how meaningful it really is, and ask: why now? Then we analyse another extraordinary weekend of diplomacy at Pope Francis's funeral, before learning more about the history of the Donbas: a region where much of the war's fiercest fighting has taken place.Contributors:Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on XWith thanks to Victoria Donovan (Professor of Ukrainian and East European Studies at the University of St Andrews). @vsdonovan on X.Content Referenced:Victoria's Book: ‘Life in Spite of Everything: Tales from the Ukrainian East':https://www.amazon.co.uk/Life-Spite-Everything-Tales-Ukrainian/dp/1917092148Freefilmers - a collective of filmmakers and artists, originally from Mariupol:https://help-freefilmers.network/ Behind the scenes at Trump's most extraordinary meeting yet (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/04/28/russia-ukraine-zelensky-putin-war-ceasefire-latest-news529/ The Russian Military Moves That Have Europe on Edge (Wall Street Journal):https://www.wsj.com/world/russia/russia-military-nato-europe-finland-ff53b912 The ugly task of Putin-proofing your border (The Economist):https://www.economist.com/international/2025/04/22/the-ugly-task-of-putin-proofing-your-borderNOW AVAILABLE IN NEW LANGUAGES:The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them, or click the links below.Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatestLearn more about the tech: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/02/24/ukraine-the-latest-podcast-russian-ukrainian-ai-translation/Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,106.We cover Zelensky's letter to Trump, aiming to mend their relationship after Friday's heated exchange. We also explore the incoming German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's plan to boost defense and infrastructure spending. In addition, Trump bans the UK from sharing Washington's intelligence with Ukraine, and reports surface of Ukrainian soldiers resorting to throwing beehives after running out of grenades.Contributors:Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjz on X.Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.Tom Mutch (War & Human Rights Journalist). @Tomthescribe on X.NOW AVAILABLE IN NEW LANGUAGES:The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them, or click the links below.Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatestLearn more about the tech: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/02/24/ukraine-the-latest-podcast-russian-ukrainian-ai-translation/Content Referenced:Pre-Order Tom Mutch's Book, The Dogs of Mariupol:https://www.bitebackpublishing.com/books/the-dogs-of-mariupol European rearmament is going to turn the world upside down (Ambrose Evans Pritchard in The Telegraph:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/03/04/european-rearmament-is-going-to-turn-the-world-upside-down/Telegraph Ukraine Live Blog:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/03/05/russia-ukraine-trump-zelensky-putin-war-live-news/China says it is ‘ready for war' with Americahttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/03/05/china-ready-war-america-raises-defence-spending-72-per-cent/Watch: Ukrainian soldiers throw beehive at Russians after running out of grenadeshttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/03/05/ukrainian-soldiers-throw-beehive-at-russians/Ukraine Without America: How Kyiv Can Persist In the Face of a Hostile Washington (Foreign Affairs):https://www.foreignaffairs.com/ukraine/ukraine-without-americaSubscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.