Karolina Hird

Karolina Hird, Russia Deputy Team Lead and Analyst at the Institute for the Study of War, shares her insights on the dramatically escalating conflict in Ukraine. She discusses the pressing diplomatic efforts for military support, amidst a backdrop of increasing drone strikes and troop movements from North Korea. The conversation highlights the ongoing humanitarian crisis, forced deportations, and the implications of stubborn Russian tactics. Hird also emphasizes the crucial need for adaptable military training in response to trench warfare realities.

Karolina Hird discusses Ukraine's weapon use debate, while Chris Cabrera highlights mental health challenges at the border. Topics include US policy shifts towards Ukraine, challenges faced by Ukraine against Russia, and the toll on Border Patrol agents. Also, North Korea's balloon tactics and information conflict are analyzed.

Karolina Hird, author of 'The Kremlin's Occupation Playbook,' exposes Russia's heartbreaking tactics in occupied Ukraine, including deporting Ukrainian children. They discuss delayed aid, Russia's media censorship, and the geopolitical implications of demographic manipulation. The conversation unveils Russia's coercive strategies and the challenges in monitoring military communications amidst a complex media landscape.

Experts discuss recent battlefield developments in Ukraine, including the fall of Avdiivka and US aid money. A Ukrainian soldier shares his reasons for joining the armed forces. Personal reflections on the impact of war and the repression of a Russian activist for criticizing the conflict.

Alexei Navalny, Russian opposition leader, and Karolina Hird, Russia Team Deputy Lead at the Institut, discuss the death of Navalny, the Kremlin's occupation playbook in Ukraine, and strategies such as Co-erced Rostification and ethnic cleansing. They also highlight the alarming statistics and challenges surrounding children affected by the conflict in Ukraine and emphasize the importance of Western support and aid.