Frank Gardner, BBC's Security correspondent, and Ukraine correspondent James Waterhouse discuss the impact of winter weather on troops in Ukraine. They also talk about who benefits from bad weather and Russia's largest drone attack on Kyiv. Ukrainian journalist Maria Romanenko shares her experiences and reflections on the ongoing war in Ukraine and the lack of support from the West. She also discusses her decision to organize walking tours for Ukrainian refugees in Manchester, exploring the city's history and its link to slavery abolition.
The harsh winter conditions in Ukraine make it difficult for troops to move and operate effectively, favoring the defenders, which in this case is Russia.
The weather conditions, coupled with inadequate supplies and equipment, take a toll on Russian soldiers, but Ukrainians exhibit unwavering determination to fight for their independence.
Deep dives
Impact of Extreme Weather on Soldiers
The podcast episode discusses the impact of extreme weather in Ukraine on soldiers stationed on the front line. Soldiers are shown walking through freezing water in the trenches, highlighting the challenges they face in the harsh conditions. The weather conditions, including severe snowstorms and power outages affecting millions of people, are causing devastation and further complicating military operations. The weather, particularly the colder temperatures and muddy conditions, make it difficult to move troops and equipment, favoring the defenders, which in this case is Russia. It is noted that Ukrainian forces are better equipped for winter warfare compared to the Russian forces.
Fighting Amidst Challenging Weather
The podcast also explores the impact of the weather on the ongoing fighting between Russia and Ukraine. It is acknowledged that the weather affects the morale and military operations of both sides. While the Russians are primarily attacking in certain areas, the Ukrainians are defending their territory. The weather conditions, coupled with inadequate supplies and equipment, take a toll on the Russian soldiers who have been conscripted into the conflict. However, despite the challenging conditions, Ukrainians continue to demonstrate a strong will to fight for their country's independence, viewing it as a binary choice between existing as an independent nation or succumbing to Russian control through a puppet regime.
Mine Clearance and Losses
The podcast episode touches upon the challenges of mine clearance due to weather conditions in Ukraine. The flooding of rivers and wet mud upended mines, making them harder to detect and diffuse. Furthermore, the snow is not expected to provide substantial assistance in reducing the threat of Russian landmines. The episode also mentions estimated casualties and losses from both sides, with the UK Defense Ministry deeming the figures plausible. The desire to keep fighting remains strong among Ukrainians, even as they suffer losses. The podcast emphasizes that while there may be periods of relative quiet, the conflict is far from dormant as both sides continue to vie for the initiative and prepare for possible future attacks.
As Ukraine and Russia are hit by “the storm of the century,” how does winter weather affect troops on the front line?
The BBC’s Security correspondent, Frank Gardner, and Ukraine correspondent James Waterhouse discuss who stands to benefit from bad weather - and Russia’s biggest drone attack on Kyiv yet.
And Ukrainian journalist Maria Romanenko, who fled Kyiv in March 2022, joins us from Manchester, where she hosts walking tours for newly arrived Ukrainian refugees.
Today’s episode is presented by Vitaly Shevchenko and Irena Taranyuk.
It was made by Keiligh Baker and the producers were Clare Williamson, Ivana Davidovic and Arsenii Sokolov. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Lucy Boast. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480
You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast’s Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord
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