Subscribe: iTunes / Spotify There’s alot of talk about Western military support to Ukraine, but what about Ukraine’s own capabilities?To discuss that, I had on the show Arsen Zhumadilov, the head of the Defense Procurement Agency. Arsen discussed some critical developments in Ukraine’s ability to defend itself – with a particular focus on drones – while focusing on how the process works in terms of getting Ukrainian-produced military equipment from the producers to the appropriate brigade at the front. We also talked about the latest procurement innovation in the DOT-Chain Defense, which serves almost as an Amazon marketplace for brigades seeking drones for…
Author: Mark McNamee
Subscribe: iTunes / Spotify We’ve hit an inflection point in the so-called ceasefire talks: What will Trump do? “Walk away” as he has threatened, continue to provide some support to Ukraine, or even “arm Ukraine to the teeth” as he and others in his team have likewise threatened. Now that he has expressed some level of anger towards Putin just in the last few weeks, should we be more optimistic? Tune in to find out. We will know soon enough, but I figured it was time to give an overview of where we are, what I expect to happen, and where the US,…
Subscribe: iTunes / Spotify This is Part 2 of my interview with Svit, where we dive into exactly what happened in Bucha and Irpin—and uncover the real story behind the Ghost of Kyiv.If you haven’t already, make sure to listen to Part 1, where we explore the critical battles just north of Kyiv that helped save the city—and the country—during those pivotal early hours and days of the invasion.You can find more information about the live tour here – https://capitaltourskiev.com/ or on IG here – https://www.instagram.com/capital_tours_kiev/ Please also consider contributing to Svit’s close friends fighting at the front doing artillery reconnaissance. You can send via PayPal…
Subscribe: iTunes / Spotify Hostomel, Moschun, Bucha, Irpin – these suburbs just a few kilometers northwest of Kyiv have become known around the world given what happened there in the first month of the war. From the heroic battles defending Kyiv from the Russian invaders to the unspeakable war crimes the Russians committed, hear it all from a man dedicating his life to informing the world of these victories and atrocities, and in doing so winning this information war against Russian propaganda. I had the pleasure of joining Svit’s tour and would highly recommend to anyone in or visiting Kyiv to truly understand what…
Subscribe: iTunes / Spotify From Bucha to the Hague – hear the inspiring story of Yana Rudenko, a survivor of the Russian occupation in Bucha in February/March 2022, who then fled Ukraine and settled in The Hague, Netherlands. Understand what it’s like to live under Russian occupation, no contact with the outside world, no internet or phone connection, no power, 24-hour martial law and the constant uncertainty over your personal future. Hear her story of resilience and dedication to remember what Ukraine is fighting for. Yana Rudenko resides in The Netherlands where she is a co-founder of the DroneAid Collective, an initiative based that…
Subscribe: iTunes / Spotify Drones, Europe stepping up, Trump, ceasefire talks, George Orwell, why Trust is stranger than Fiction, the information war, the importance of the internet…we talked about nearly everything under the sun. My favorite quote – “Pacificism is a privilege” by a Bucha survivor commenting on the peaceniks in the West simply calling for “peace” at any cost in Ukraine. Enjoy the show with one of Ukraine’s most ardent and consistent supporters in Europe. Note: This was recorded on Tuesday, April 23 so some events have developed since then, though the remarks made are still relevant. Follow Marijn on LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/marijnmarkus/ He does…
Subscribe: iTunes / Spotify What is the outlook for Russia’s current offensive?Can the front be stabilized in the coming months?And if US support is stopped, what happens with Starlink and air defense? Will European support be adequate? Ukraine’s own drones? In this episode, Pavlo Narozhnyi – a renowned Ukrainian military expert – shared stories from the frontlines in the war, while also describing where the war is today and his vision of how the war develops in the coming months. Filled with detailed intel from the front, plus the broader picture of both Ukraine and Russia’s capabilities and vulnerabilities on land, in the sea,…
Subscribe: iTunes / Spotify Will Norway tap its massive Sovereign Wealth Fund and provide Ukraine what’s needed to win the war?Norway has enjoyed both higher volumes and prices of gas exports to Europe once Russia stopped sending gas to Europe in 2022. And as a founding NATO member with a border with Russia, Norway not only has the financial capacity to help Ukraine win the war, but also the political and security motivation to do so as well. With an isolationist US in the west and a threatening Russia in the east, look to Norway to help drive Europe’s defense in the coming…
Subscribe: iTunes / Spotify Please note that this episode was recorded on Saturday March 22, before ceasefire talks in Saudi ArabiaAs we enter talks between the US, Russia, and Ukraine (potentially among others), its worth stepping back and understanding the historical approach to talks by the Kremlin as well as the White House. What are some of the major continuities in foreign policy between the Soviet Union and Putin’s Russia?What impact will that have on the ongoing talks? Are we moving towards a “spheres of influence” world like Yalta set up?What is China’s role in all this? Dr. Sergey Radchenko is a Soviet-born British-Russian historian.…
Subscribe: iTunes / Spotify Please note that this episode was recorded on Saturday March 22, before ceasefire talks in Saudi ArabiaAs we enter talks between the US, Russia, and Ukraine (potentially among others), its worth stepping back and understanding the historical approach to talks by the Kremlin as well as the White House. What are some of the major continuities in foreign policy between the Soviet Union and Putin’s Russia?What impact will that have on the ongoing talks? Are we moving towards a “spheres of influence” world like Yalta set up?What is China’s role in all this? Dr. Sergey Radchenko is a Soviet-born British-Russian historian.…
Subscribe: iTunes / Spotify Please note that this was recorded on Tuesday evening, March 18 Kyiv time, so events could have developed significantly by the time of publication.Is NATO dead?Will Russia honor the ceasefire and work towards peace? Is Putin playing Trump? Can Europe protect Ukraine without the US?These are the questions of the day and the answers will define the next generation.General Sir Richard Shirreff, Former Deputy Supreme Allied Commander of NATO, provided his answer to these questions, and more. Listen in to hear more about what to expect in the coming days, months, and years. General Sir Richard Shirreff, Former Deputy Supreme Allied…
Subscribe: iTunes / Spotify Considering Trump’s hostility towards Ukraine and Europe, and consistent concessions to Russia, we’ve reached an extremely worrying point in the war. Where do talks go from here? Has Europe gotten the message that they must take care of their own security? Will Europe step up to protect Ukraine? Has the US done permanent damage to its standing in the world and in its relations with Europe?Listen in to hear from a long-time Ukraine expert, Peter Dickinson, as he shares his insights into the future of the Western order and Ukraine. Peter Dickinson, UkraineAlert Editor at Atlantic Council and Chief…