Chain Reaction Kyiv Dispatch
Sep 12, 2025
Fabrice Deprez, a journalist based in France and contributor to the Financial Times, shares his insights from the frontline in Ukraine. He discusses the slow but steady Russian advances and the exhausting toll on Ukrainian troops. The podcast also tackles the ongoing diplomatic efforts and notable public protests regarding anti-corruption measures. Deprez paints a vivid picture of daily life in Ukraine, highlighting the stark contrast between routine indifference and the sudden fears that arise in wartime.
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Porous Frontlines And Gray Zones
- The frontline has become porous with many small contested positions rather than a clear continuous line.
- Russia exploits gaps with drones and infiltration while Ukraine stretches battle-experienced units to plug crises.
Manpower Limits Shape Combat Options
- Manpower shortages are a persistent structural problem and monthly mobilization rates (~20–24k) do not replenish front-line brigades.
- Ukraine compensates with technology like drones but risks fatigue and exhausted units facing repeated crises.
Exhaustion Plus Resolve
- Public mood is defined by exhaustion combined with resilience and a sense that there is no acceptable alternative to continuing resistance.
- People resist territorial concessions partly out of respect for huge wartime sacrifices and the dead.