Ukraine

YouTube version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHWvKHZBx_g

Day 1,073.

Today, we hear the latest acts of resistance in the occupied territories, report on new deep strikes into Russia – reaching as far as the city formerly called Stalingrad – and discuss deficiencies in military training, and how it needs to change.

Contributors:

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X

Roland Oliphant (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @RolandOliphant on X.

Hamish De Bretton-Gordon (Former British Army Tank Commander). @HamishDBG on X

With thanks to Dr. Jade McGlynn (War Studies Department of King's College). @DrJadeMcGlynn on X.

Content Referenced:

Battle Lines, our sister podcast, exploring wider global affairs:

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/trump-edition-americas-ai-war-with-china-what-his/id1712903296?i=1000687394662

Kyiv Independent launches fundraiser to support front-line media after US aid freeze:

https://kyivindependent.com/kyiv-independent-launches-fundraiser-to-support-ukrainian-front-line-media-after-us-aid-freeze

North Korean Troops No Longer Seen on Front Lines Fighting Ukraine (New York Times):

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/30/world/europe/north-korea-troops-ukraine-russia.html

https://archive.is/SDPOB

YouTube version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6LhjP-4ocU

Day 1,070.

Today, we analyse Russian attempts at encirclement around Pokrovsk, hear of a North Korean retreat in Kursk, discuss new stories of Russian activities in the occupied territories, and hear how the landscape of Ukraine has been forever transformed by the violence of war.

Contributors:

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor, Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

With thanks to Dr. Emily Channell-Justice, Director of the Temerty Contemporary Ukraine Program at Harvard.

Content Referenced:

Harvard Conference:

Landscapes of War, Landscapes of Victory: Ukraine’s Changing Environment

https://www.huri.harvard.edu/tcup-conference

Russia introduces history textbook that redefines war against Ukraine as justified defense (Kyiv Independent):

https://kyivindependent.com/russia-introduces-history-textbook-that-redefines-ukraine-war-as-justified-defense/?mc_cid=f937bbdadf&mc_eid=08d0680a95

The battle for the soul of Serbia (New Statesman):

https://www.newstatesman.com/international-content/2025/01/serbia-mining-protest-environment-lithium

YouTube version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPiZB_WUdDQ

Day 1,069.

Today, on the 80th International Holocaust Remembrance Day, we report on an operation in Kursk Oblast last week that apparently saw a large number of Russian troops lured into a trap, and we look at the literally unbelievable election win for Lukashenko in Belarus - returned to power with, we are expected to believe, 87% of the vote.

Contributors:

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor, Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

With thanks to Shashank Yoshi (Defence editor at The Economist). @shashj on X.

Articles Referenced:

Israel ‘sends weapons captured in Lebanon to Ukraine’ (The Telegraph)

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/01/26/israel-sends-weapons-captured-from-lebanon-to-ukraine/

Zelensky says allies should work on ‘format’ for peace talks with Russia (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/01/25/russia-ukraine-war-zelensky-format-for-peace-talks-putin/

Why is Ukraine struggling to mobilise its citizens to fight? (AlJazeera):

https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2025/1/23/why-is-ukraine-struggling-to-mobilise-its-citizens-to-fight

Russia focuses on Soviet victims of WW2 as officials not invited to Auschwitz ceremony (BBC):

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwyw0vkzkzdo

Archive: https://archive.is/PdEbu