Economist Podcasts Home truths: Ukraine’s internal strains
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Sep 25, 2025 
Chris Lockwood, Europe editor at The Economist, sheds light on Ukraine's ongoing military stalemate and the dire impact of manpower shortages, highlighting the nation's increasing reliance on drones. He also discusses Ukraine’s strained economy and democratic challenges under martial law. Meanwhile, Shailesh Chitnes, global business writer, analyzes the potential consequences of proposed H-1B visa fee hikes, emphasizing the risk to U.S. tech firms and Indian IT companies, and how they might adapt their hiring strategies in response.
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Stalemate On The Frontline
- The frontline has been largely static since late 2022 with Russia making only small territorial gains.
- Russia still conducts intense aerial bombardment but has not captured major cities like Kharkiv.
Manpower Shortfall And Drone Shift
- Ukraine faces a chronic manpower shortage while Russia can mobilise large numbers of troops.
- Ukraine is compensating by relying more on drones than ground troops.
Economy On Life Support
- Ukraine's wartime economy cannot fund the war from tax receipts and is accruing large debt.
- Western pledges currently cover only about half of the roughly $45bn shortfall.