Shaun Pinner on Mariupol, Captivity, and Russian Propaganda

This episode features former British and Ukrainian military serviceman Shaun Pinner, who recounts his experience fighting in Mariupol during the initial Russian invasion and surviving months of brutal captivity. Shaun describes the intense seven-week battle that preceded his capture, the torture he endured, and the propaganda mechanisms used by Russian state media to portray him as a mercenary and terrorist.

The conversation also covers the resilience of the Ukrainian society, the evolution of drone warfare, the shifting balance of power, and the role of NATO and Western support. Shaun also breaks down how misinformation targets Western audiences and why Russia invests heavily in online influence. He closes by discussing his book, Live Fight Survive, which recounts his captivity and counters the false narratives created about him while he was imprisoned.

Follow Shaun on X: https://x.com/olddog100ua

Live. Fight. Survive. The International Bestseller by Shaun Pinner: https://shaunpinner.com/bookCrypto Voices: Episode 192Show Sponsor: Debifi - https://debifi.com/Donations to Porkopolis Economics via BTCPay are appreciated: https://donations.porkopolis.io/Show support appreciated: donations.cryptovoices.comChapters:00:00:00 - Intro

00:03:31 - Torture and Captivity in Russian Prison

00:07:26 - Systemic War Crimes in Russian Military

00:09:53 - Torture, False Confessions, and War Crimes

00:14:14 - Russian Intelligence Recruitment and POW Treatment Disparities

00:20:45 - Pokrovsk: Russia's Hollow Military Victory

00:33:32 - Ukraine's Hidden Power Shift Against Russia

00:35:49 - Living Under Constant Drone Attacks in Kharkiv

00:40:11 - Russian Economy Collapse and Putin's Failed Goals

00:43:00 - Putin's Paranoia and Oligarch Pressure

00:48:48 - Republican Support for Ukraine Explained

00:52:00 - NATO Spending and Modern Drone Warfare

00:56:34 - Ukraine's Training Edge Over Russian Forces

00:59:45 - Russia's Sanitation Crisis and Poverty

01:03:58 - Decoding Russian Propaganda and Media Control

01:07:04 - Russian Propaganda and Misuse of Free Speech

01:10:27 - Russian Propaganda and Disinformation War

01:15:11 - Ground Sources and Detecting Propaganda

01:16:48 - Supporting Ukraine: Donations and Legal ActionHost: Matthew MezinskisMusic: New Friend Music newfriendmusic.com/Podcast & videosBitcoin, privacy, crypto, economics & libertyThanks for watching!#ukraine #russia #unitedstates