Controversy & Clarity #8--James Sladden and Ben Connable
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Oct 11, 2024 
James Sladden is a historian and conflict researcher, currently a PhD candidate at Cambridge, while Ben Connable is an expert in modern ground combat and an adjunct professor at Georgetown. They dive deep into the pivotal Battle of Irpin, revealing the three moments when Russian forces almost secured victory. They highlight the vital contributions of Ukrainian volunteers and small unit leaders, the intense artillery clashes, and the significant challenges in conducting on-ground conflict research. Their insights emphasize the importance of evolving narratives and firsthand accounts in military history.
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Hostomel: Air Assault, Counterattack, Civilian Surge
- Hostomel Airport was seized by Russian helicopters then counterattacked by Ukrainian forces overnight.
- Ukrainian artillery fired to deny the runway and a civilian volunteer surge helped retake and contest the area.
Deliberate Flooding As Strategic Defense
- Ukrainians deliberately breached dams to flood the Irpin and amplify the river as an obstacle.
- Flooding bought time and turned the river into a strategic barrier that impeded Russian reinforcements.
Three Near-Misses That Could Have Changed Kyiv
- The battle contained multiple near-misses where Kyiv could have fallen: Hostomel, initial thin lines, and March bridgehead probes.
- Small failures by Russians and determined Ukrainian resistance kept the city from being overrun.