Russia fires a ‘Killjoy’ hypersonic missile at Ukraine, Britain increases naval support & electoral fraud accusations in Serbia
Dec 19, 2023
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In this podcast, the guests discuss topics such as Russia firing a hypersonic missile at Ukraine, Britain's naval support for Ukraine, and allegations of electoral fraud in Serbia. They also analyze the impact of recent developments on negotiating a peaceful resolution in Ukraine and the political challenges in Serbia. Additionally, they explore the concept of visibility in military contexts and predict eventful events in the Western Balkans in 2024. Overall, a podcast full of current affairs and insightful discussions.
Russia fired a hypersonic missile at Ukraine, highlighting the ongoing conflict between the two nations.
Ukraine is increasing its production of drones to compensate for a shortage of artillery shells.
Ukrainian President Zelensky is cracking down on corruption within the army, leading to the dismissal of army recruitment chiefs.
Deep dives
Updates from across the front lines and naval support for Ukraine
The podcast discusses updates from across the front lines in Ukraine and Britain's naval support for Ukraine. It mentions the firing of a missile by Russia at a Ukrainian military base, the shooting down of a Ukrainian drone near Moscow, and the superiority of Russian forces in manpower and weaponry on three fronts in Ukraine.
Increased production of drones in Ukraine
The podcast highlights Ukraine's efforts to increase its production of drones due to dwindling supplies of Western artillery shells. Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister Ivan Havreluk mentions the creation of a powerful UAV production system to address the challenges caused by the shortage of artillery ammunition. He also mentions plans to work with Western arms companies to increase domestic production.
Personnel removals in Ukraine's armed forces
The podcast discusses the recent sackings of regional army recruitment chiefs by Ukrainian President Zelensky as part of his anti-corruption drive. General Zelusni, Ukraine's army commander-in-chief, describes the sacked officials as professionals but explains they are no longer working in their positions. The sackings were carried out due to an inquiry that revealed bribery and irregular practices in exempting individuals from fighting.
Accusation of attempting to recruit cannon fodder
The podcast mentions Moldova's prime minister accusing Putin of attempting to recruit cannon fodder for the war in Ukraine by making it easier for citizens of Moldova, Belarus, and Kazakhstan to become Russian citizens. The prime minister condemns this move as an attempt to support the brutal war launched by Russia in Ukraine.
Regional context and implications
The podcast explores the regional context and implications of the events in Serbia for Russia and Ukraine. It mentions the efforts of Putin to challenge NATO and weaken the West through conflicts in weak link areas like the Balkans. It also highlights the importance of Serbia in Russia's playbook for disruptive actions below the threshold of war. The podcast emphasizes the need for continued Western support for Ukraine and warns of potential future escalations in Kosovo.
Today, we bring you the news from across the front lines, discuss Britain’s naval support for Ukraine and we analyse developments in Serbia, as protestors march in Belgrade following a disputed snap election.
Contributors:
David Knowles (Head of Audio Development). @DJKnowles22 on Twitter.
Dom Nicholls (Associate Editor, Defence). @DomNicholls on Twitter.
Joe Barnes (Brussels Correspondent). @Barnes_Joe on Twitter.
Ivana Stradner (Research Fellow at the Foundation for Defence of Democracies). @ivanastradner on Twitter.
Charities: We have spoken to many charities this year - from Vans Without Borders, to GP Now, to KHARPP - and we receive many messages from listeners asking for recommendations of charities they can support. We include a link to the Ukrainian Institute of London's list of charities and organisations they recommend:
Many of our listeners have raised concerns over the potential sale of Telegraph Media Group to the Abu Dhabi-linked Redbird IMI. We are inviting the submission of comments on the process. Email salecomments@telegraph.co.ukor dtletters@telegraph.co.uk to have your say.