Dara Massicot, an expert on the Russian military, discusses how Russia's treatment of its soldiers is affecting the war in Ukraine. The podcast covers topics such as Russia's perception of the conflict, their military objectives, potential missile launches, recruitment strategies, and understanding an adversary's military power.

Michael Kofman, an expert on Russian military affairs, and Dara Massicot from the Carnegie Endowment delve into Ukraine's recent incursion into Kursk. They assess Ukrainian territorial gains and the complexities of urban warfare dynamics. The discussion highlights logistical challenges and the implications of Russian POWs' unexpected surrender behaviors. They analyze how these factors could shift the conflict's landscape, emphasizing the evolving nature of military operations as objectives become more fluid.

The podcast features Ihor Terekhov, Kharkiv's mayor, and Dara Massicot discussing Russia's targeting of Kharkiv, the city's resilience amidst bombardment, rebuilding efforts, urgency for air defense, and Russia's disturbing double tap attacks tactic. They analyze Russia's potential military strategy in the region.