Putin flies in for final shots of Zapad 25, but where’s Gerasimov?

Day 817.Today is a bank holiday in the United Kingdom, so we pre-recorded an interview with one of our most requested guests: Professor Sir Lawrence Freedman of the department of War Studies at King's College London. A world-renowned expert on international history and strategic theory, he is a well-known commentator on security issues, and the author of many books, including most recently: ‘Command: The Politics of Military Operations from Korea to Ukraine.’David Knowles sat down with him to discuss which country has the strategic initiative in the war, the ways the battlefront is likely to evolve over the coming months, and what experts have got right, and wrong, about the way the war has progressed.Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

27 Maj 202430min

Day 814.Today, we discuss whether more Ukrainian strikes in Crimea and Russia have pushed Putin to start talking about negotiations, and hear of another senior Russian military official sacked, in what is starting to look like a purge of the top echelons of Russia’s defence establishment.Contributors:Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor, Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X.With thanks to Jen Stout (Freelance Journalist and author) @jm_stout on X. Her new book 'Night train to Odesa' is out now: https://birlinn.co.uk/product/night-train-to-odesa/Articles Referenced:'Exclusive: Putin wants Ukraine ceasefire on current frontlines' (Reuters)https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/putin-wants-ukraine-ceasefire-current-frontlines-sources-say-2024-05-24/'Ukraine starts sending convicts to fight Russia' (The Telegraph)https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/05/23/ukraine-starts-sending-convicts-to-fight-russia/'Migrating eagles are avoiding war-torn Ukraine' (The Telegraph)https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/05/20/greater-spotted-eagle-avoid-ukraine-russia-war/Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

24 Maj 202450min

Day 813.Today, we discuss the latest from the Kharkiv battlefield, hear warnings from Norwegian intelligence of Russian sabotage operations across Europe, ask whether there’s about to be a shift in US policy over the use of western weapons inside Russia. Later, we hear about a new film exploring the soldiers road to redemption.Contributors:Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor, Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X.Levison Wood (Former paratrooper turned writer, photographer and documentary film maker). @Levisonwood on X.Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

23 Maj 202442min

Day 812.Today, further to the fast-evolving situation on the front lines, we reflect on how Ukraine might win the war, the ‘theatrical’ nuclear weapons drills being carried out by Moscow, and look deeper on the political fault-lines of Central and Eastern Europe.Contributors:Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X.James Rothwell (Berlin Correspondent). @JamesERothwell on X.Hamish De Bretton-Gordon (Former Tank Commander and Chemical Weapons Expert). @HamishDBG on X.Dalibor Rohac (Senior Fellow AEI) @DaliborRohac on X.'The villages near Kharkiv were recovering. Fleeing again, their people feel betrayed by the west – and I understand why' (Ada Wordsworth in The Guardian)https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/may/22/kharkiv-betrayed-west-ukraine-russia-war'A Theory of Victory for Ukraine' (Andriy Zagorodnyuk and Eliot A. Cohen, Foreign Affairs):https://www.foreignaffairs.com/ukraine/theory-victory-ukrainePutin targets German speakers in Russia in search for cannon fodder (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/05/19/putin-targets-germans-living-in-russia-in-search-for-troops/'The EU is failing Georgia, just as it failed Ukraine' (Dalibor Rohac in The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/05/21/the-eu-is-failing-georgia-just-as-it-failed-ukraine/'Exclusive: Pentagon's Russian Oil Red Line Questioned' (Newsweek)https://www.newsweek.com/pentagon-russia-ukraine-drone-attacks-oil-hubs-red-line-1902516Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

22 Maj 202458min

Day 811.Today, further to the fast-evolving situation on the front lines, we reflect on how Ukraine might win the war, the ‘theatrical’ nuclear weapons drills being carried out by Moscow, and look deeper on the political fault-lines of Central and Eastern Europe.Contributors:Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X.Joe Barnes (Brussels Correspondent). @Barnes_Joe on X.James Kilner (Editor of the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin). @jkjourno on X.With thanks to RAZOM'S Melinda Haring (@melindaharing), Ania Soloveiua (@AnnaSoloveiua), and Daniel Solchanyk (@DanielSolchanyk).To learn more about RAZOM's work, visit:https://www.razomforukraine.org/For their update on the Kharkiv humanitarian crisis, see:https://www.razomforukraine.org/kharkiv-under-siege-evacuations-resistance-and-the-plight-of-vovchansk-and-lyptsi/Articles Referenced:Putin targets German speakers in Russia in search for cannon fodder (Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/05/19/putin-targets-germans-living-in-russia-in-search-for-troops/ Roland and Joe's In-Depth analysis of the Battle for Kharkiv (plus maps) -https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/05/16/russia-new-offensive-kharkiv-border-donbas-kyiv-ukraine/ Report on the Russian sanctuary created in Kharkiv (Institute for the Study of War):https://understandingwar.org/backgrounder/putins-safe-space-defeating-russias-kharkiv-operation-requires-eliminating-russiasSubscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

21 Maj 202452min

Day 810.Today, we discuss the latest from the battlefields of Ukraine and Russia, take a brief look at the implications of the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, and talk to Foreign Correspondent Colin Freeman about his recent reporting tour in the Donbas. Contributors:Dom Nicholls (Associate Editor, Defence). @DomNicholls on X.RolandOliphant (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @RolandOliphant onX.Colin Freeman (Foreign Correspondent). @ColinFreeman on X.Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

20 Maj 202443min

Day 807.Today, as Putin updates the world about his plans for the Kharkiv offensive, we discuss Ukraine’s huge drone attack on Russian naval bases overnight. Plus, we hear from distinguished Ukrainian journalist Illia Ponomarenko and hear an update on demining battlefields. Finally, we hear an interview from David Knowles on the ground in Lviv.Contributors:Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor) @FrancisDearnley on X.Dom Nicholls (Associate Editor, Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Illia Ponomarenko (co-founder of the Kyiv Independent). @IAPonomarenko on X.James Cowan (CEO of HALO Trust). @TheHALOTrust on X.With thanks, too, to Andrew Todos (British Ukrainian Sports Journalist). @AndrewTodos on X.Article / Book Referenced:Roland and Joe's In-Depth analysis of the Battle for Kharkiv (plus maps) -https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/05/16/russia-new-offensive-kharkiv-border-donbas-kyiv-ukraine/'I Will Show You How It Was: The Story of Wartime Kyiv' by Illia Ponomarenkohttps://t.co/xefS6FAxq6Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

17 Maj 20241h 8min

Day 806.Today, we discuss the latest from the Kharkiv battlefield, Putin’s visit to China, and whether the assassination attempt on Robert Fico could be a Sarajevo-1949 moment. Plus, later, we hear a set of recordings from David Knowles on the ground in Ukraine. Contributors:Dom Nicholls (Associate Editor, Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor) @FrancisDearnley on X.James Rothwell (Berlin Correspondent). @JamesERothwell on X.David Knowles (Head of Audio Development). @DJKnowles on X.Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.ukHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

16 Maj 202451min