Battleground

This week Saul and Patrick take a look at the latest developments surrounding the war in Ukraine, including the scaled-back Victory Day parade in Moscow that featured just a single tank, Wagner PMC boss Yevgeny Prigozhin's latest expletive-laden rant, and the recent developments coming out of the battle for Bakhmut.They also answer a host of fascinating questions from our listeners.If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - battlegroundukraine@gmail.comProducer: James HodgsonTwitter: @PodBattleground Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joining Saul for this week's Big Interview is award winning British photographer Mark Neville. He emotionally describes his personal experience of the war as a resident of Ukraine in Kyiv, his recent book project - Stop Tanks With Books - released a matter of days before the full scale invasion, and his work helping those most in need, with the charity - postcode Ukraine.If you would like to know more about Mark's charity or help out with donations, you can find more information at www.postcodeukraine.com If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - battlegroundukraine@gmail.comProducer: James HodgsonTwitter: @PodBattleground Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week Saul and Patrick gave their immediate reaction to the drone attack on the Kremlin, as news broke during the recording of this episode. They also analyse the huge losses that the Russians have suffered since the turn of the year, a peace proposal brought forward by Pope Francis, and answer some of the many listeners questions.If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - battlegroundukraine@gmail.comProducer: James HodgsonTwitter: @PodBattleground Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joining Saul to discuss a wide range of topics - from the Nord Stream pipeline sabotage - to Russia's failure to learn from its mistakes, is one of the most incisive commentators on the war - Professor Phillips O’Brien, head of the School of International Relations at the University of St Andrews. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - battlegroundukraine@gmail.comProducer: James HodgsonTwitter: @PodBattleground Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week Patrick and Saul discuss the latest developments as Russia prepares to defend the territory it holds in eastern Ukraine against Ukraine’s expected counteroffensive. This includes the latest round of sackings and promotions at the top, and an announcement that T-14 Armata tanks – the most sophisticated that the Russians have – are being sent to the battlefield. They also answer a host of fascinating listeners questions. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - battlegroundukraine@gmail.comProducer: James HodgsonTwitter: @PodBattleground Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's big interview, Patrick ad Saul are joined by veteran reporter Philip Ittner - who at the outbreak of the full scale invasion headed straight to Ukraine - where he has remained since. He describes the situation on the ground in Ukraine and the palpable sense of suspense surrounding the much discussed upcoming Ukrainian counter-offensive.If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - battlegroundukraine@gmail.comProducer: James HodgsonTwitter: @PodBattleground Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week Saul and Patrick discuss the latest twist in the extraordinary story of Wagner group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin. Only a few weeks ago it seemed that his star was waning – instead it seems he’s back in favour with the man who matters – Vladimir Putin. They also discuss the ongoing fallout from the US intelligence leak, and answer a wide variety of listeners questions.If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - battlegroundukraine@gmail.comProducer: James HodgsonTwitter: @PodBattleground Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Julius Strauss returns to the podcast in this week's interview, he's back in Ukraine and has been traveling across the country from Lviv in the the west, to close to the frontline in the East. He discusses some of the realities and tensions inside Ukraine - from the rift in the Orthodox Church to the use of Russian language by sections of the population. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode Saul and Patrick review the US intelligence leak and what this tells us about the reach of US intelligence, the state of the Ukrainian armed forces, and the consequences of the leak for the upcoming Ukrainian counter-offensive. They also discuss a couple of interesting developments within Russia: including reports that Wagner group boss Yevgeny Prigozhin is advancing his political aspirations by seeking to gain control of a Russian political party.If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - battlegroundukraine@gmail.comProducer: James HodgsonTwitter: @PodBattleground Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week's interview discusses the decision by ICC judges to issue arrest warrants against Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova. Joining Saul and Patrick to delve into the topic are two Hague based journalists and hosts of international justice podcast Asymmetrical Haircuts - Janet Anderson and Stephanie van den Berg. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - battlegroundukraine@gmail.comProducer: James HodgsonTwitter: @PodBattleground Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices