Ukraine: The Latest How Trump's purges weaken the CIA & Russian ship on fire after drone hit
Sep 12, 2025
Oleg Surhov, an investigative journalist from the Kyiv Independent, and Daria Kalinyuk, executive director of the Anti-Corruption Action Centre, dive deep into the political turmoil surrounding Trump’s attacks on the CIA and its implications for U.S. intelligence on Russia. They discuss the fallout of a drone attack on a Russian ship, revealing tensions in Eastern European waters. The conversation also delves into the challenges faced by Ukraine's anti-corruption efforts, highlighting the vital role of civil society in combating entrenched corruption during ongoing conflict.
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Europe's Immediate Military Response
- European states rapidly increased air-defence deployments and troop movements after the drone incursion into Polish airspace.
- Poland restricted civilian flights and moved 40,000 troops toward the Belarus border amid Zapad 2025 preparations.
Sanctions Target Shadow Fleet
- The UK targeted Russia's shadow fleet and suppliers with fresh sanctions to squeeze war revenues.
- Sanctions focused on ships, companies and individuals supplying electronics, chemicals and explosives.
Drone Strikes Hit Russian Ports
- Ukrainian drones struck vessels and infrastructure at Primorsk and Ust-Luga, causing fires and suspending oil shipments.
- Russian state media reported hundreds of drones engaged and many were shot down, with major disruption in Leningrad Oblast.