Ukraine: The Latest

Hunting Russian soldiers with Ukraine's ace drone unit & tank brigade goes AWOL in France

Jan 3, 2025

Francis Farrell, a reporter for The Kyiv Independent, shares riveting insights from the front lines of Ukraine. He discusses cutting-edge drones that are transforming the battlefield, along with the ethical questions they raise. The conversation also highlights troubling reports of soldiers going AWOL, impacting military discipline, and the implications for Ukraine’s manpower crisis. Additionally, the podcast touches on the Russian economy's struggles and the geopolitical shifts in energy sources as Europe seeks alternatives.

53:54

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Episode guests

Francis Farrell

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

The integration of drones into warfare has enhanced Ukraine's operational capabilities but raises significant ethical questions regarding targeting wounded soldiers.

Manpower challenges within Ukraine's military were highlighted by the AWOL incident of the 155th Mechanized Brigade, reflecting deeper morale issues.

The cessation of Ukrainian gas pipeline deals signals a major geopolitical shift for Europe, increasing dependency on alternative energy sources and affecting market dynamics.

Deep dives

The Impact of Drone Warfare

Drone warfare has transformed combat dynamics, significantly influencing military strategies on both sides of the conflict. The effective use of first-person view (FPV) drones has allowed Ukrainian forces to target enemy soldiers and equipment with unprecedented precision. For instance, skilled drone operators were able to track and eliminate multiple Russian troops in a single day, underscoring the advantage drones provide in reconnaissance and attack. However, this shift has also raised ethical concerns regarding the targeting of wounded soldiers and the implications for international humanitarian law.

Intro

2min

Ukraine's Ongoing Conflict: Military and Humanitarian Concerns

7min

Shifts in Energy and Geopolitics

14min

Challenges in Ukrainian Military and Drone Warfare

24min

Navigating the Legal Landscape of Drone Warfare

4min

Russian Propaganda and Political Rhetoric in Times of Crisis

5min

Engagement and Sponsorship Highlights

2min

Day 1,045.

Today, after the latest updates from the battlefield, we hear about the cutting edge drones being used to wage war against Moscow's forces, and the moral conundrums they raise. Plus, we consider the state of the Russian economy as we enter 2025.

Contributors:

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Francis Farrell (Report, The Kyiv Independent). @francisjfarrell on X.

Content referenced:

‘We’re in the end game’: Why Kyiv’s blow to Russian gas threatens a European energy war (Matt Oliver in The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/01/03/why-ukraine-gas-pipeline-closure-moscow-biggest-defeat/

Donald Trump will be no friend of the Kremlin (Ambrose Evans Pritchard in The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/01/03/the-biggest-threat-to-putins-regime-is-donald-trump/

With Ukraine's ace drone unit hunting Russians (Francis Farrell in The Kyiv Independent):

https://youtu.be/s4uaKynSRx4?feature=shared

The Invisible Battles of Ukrainian Military Medics (Full-Length Kyiv Independent Documentary):