The Importance of Morale on the Ground

2min Snip

00:00

Play full episode

Summary

Transcript

Episode notes

Soldiers say they knew this was not going to be a quick offensive like the Harkiv one. They're angry with people who built up expectations, so it would all be over by summer. Combat medics are now saying that most of the casualties today are from mines. And as one man told me, where you don't step on a mine, you hit a tripwire and that sets off a chain of mines along a whole line.

As diplomatic efforts played out in Saudi Arabia our correspondent recounts travels along the nearly unbroken front line of the war—finding frustrated but determined soldiers and exhausted, fearful civilians. We examine the row around Japan’s plan to release wastewater from the Fukushima disaster (09:21). And how rosé wine became summertime’s go-to tipple (15:39).

For full access to print, digital and audio editions of The Economist, try a free 30-day digital subscription by going to www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer