Battleground 367. The Screaming Banshee and the Ukrainian 'Dad’s Army'
Jan 30, 2026
Boldizsár Győri, Hungarian war reporter who visits Zaporizhzhia, Kramatorsk and Kyiv. Askold Krushelnycky, Ukrainian-American journalist who survived a drone strike in Odesa. They describe the terrifying scream of Shahed drones, civilian life under blackout and shelling, a pickup-mounted “dad’s army” of men over 60 who took up rockets, and firefighters and trains facing renewed risks.
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Close Call In Odessa Drone Strike
- Askold Krushelnycky described waking to explosions and the “screaming banshee” of Shahed drones as his hotel windows shattered.
- He sheltered with 11 others in a hotel basement while nearby buildings burned and casualties mounted.
Peace Talks Seen As Illusion
- Ukrainians broadly distrust the trilateral peace talks and see Russian attacks during talks as proof of bad faith.
- Most expect to keep fighting rather than accept surrender terms they view as capitulation.
Energy Attacks Hurt Civilian Life Deeply
- Attacks on Ukraine's energy create prolonged cold, school closures, and mental-health strain across cities.
- Community-run 'points of resilience' provide warmth, charging, and social support during outages.
