Battleground

This week on Battleground: Saul and Patrick cast doubt over claims by the Wagner group that they have more or less taken Bakhmut, they take a look at the possible suspects behind the assassination of a Russian military blogger in St Petersburg, and they look at Finlands rapid accession to NATO which doubles NATO's border with Russia. They also delve into a fascinating haul 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

Joining Patrick and Saul for this week's interview is Matteo Patrone - the Managing Director of Eastern Europe and the Caucasus (EEC) at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). He discusses the work the EBRD has done in Ukraine both since the collapse of communism in the 1990's and more recently since Russia's full scale invasion last year. He also sets out how much Ukraine will need in the process of reconstruction once the war is over. 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 on Battleground: Ukraine, Saul and Patrick take a look at the latest changes in the Russian high command following their unsuccessful recent offensive, Putin's decision to deploy tactical nukes in Belarus, and celebrity visits to Kyiv. They also answer some of the many listeners questions that have been sent in this past week.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 and Patrick for this week's big interview, is the current Director-General of the Royal United Services Institute - Dr Karin von Hippel. In this brilliant and wide ranging interview, she talks in depth about China Russia relations, their growing influence in Africa, and the difficulties the West faces in the future. 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

In this Friday's episode of Battleground: Ukraine, Saul and Patrick take a look away from the battlefield, at the big news this week - the visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Moscow. Also discussed is the decision by the International Criminal Court in The Hague to charge Vladimir Putin with war crimes, and Britain’s decision to include depleted uranium shells with the Challenger 2 tanks it is sending to Ukraine. They also spend time as ever, answering a great selection 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

Joining Patrick for this week’s interview is Mark Urban, the diplomatic editor for BBC Newsnight, Military Historian, and former Tank Officer. He discusses a range of topics including: the Russian airborne assault on Hostomel airport, why Infantry Fighting Vehicles are significant, and how artillery remains critically important in modern warfare.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

In the latest episode of Battleground Ukraine, Saul and Patrick consider the logic of Ukraine’s decision to continue fighting for the city of Bakhmut, and they discuss reports that elements of the Russian armed forces – including the elite Spetsnaz special forces - are suffering high desertions rates and, in some instances, are mutinying in the face of certain death. They also discuss listeners thoughts and 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 and Patrick in this weeks interview is leading cyber expert David Alexander, who tells us about the latest developments playing out in the cyber front of the war. He also shares his knowledge from his time as a fast jet pilot, about the role of drones in the conflict, and why you still need manned aircraft in conflicts today. 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

As the Battle for Bakhmut looks as if it is reaching its climax, Saul and Patrick - equipped with information from a specialist insider briefing by Western officials, delve into the latest developments and look at where the Battle is likely to go. They also explore some rare details of Putin's personal life, and answer a multitude 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

What can we learn about Putin's motivations for this war and how the conflict is likely to continue, by looking into Russian history? In our first in-depth interview, we hear from the brilliant historian, Simon Sebag Montefiore, the author of multiple prizewinning books on Russia. Sebag explains the historical relationship between Ukraine and Russia, how Putin fits into a long line of Russian autocratic rulers, and his assessment on how the conflict will play out. 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