Battleground

This week Saul and Patrick discuss the main news coming from the battlefield, which is the growing possibility that the fighting to control the town of Bakhmut may be reaching a climax. Furthermore, they discuss the big diplomatic news from last week, the Chinese announcement of a 12 point plan to bring the war to an end. Saul and Patrick also take a deeper dive into listeners questions, and Saul tells us about his exciting new project the Content Club - http://www.content-club.xyzIf 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

Marking a grim anniversary - one year since Russia's invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, Saul and Patrick reflect over what has happened in the past 12 months, and assess how the war and the commentary around it has evolved. Additionally, Lieutenant Colonel Pavlo Khazan makes a return to the podcast, speaking from his base on the frontlines around Zaporizhzhia.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 Russian military incompetence which has resulted in, according to the British MoD, the heaviest rate of casualties for the Russians since the start of the war. They also talk to a remarkable woman Melania Podolyak who works for the Serhiy Prytula charity foundation, which delivers not only humanitarian aid to Ukrainian civilians but military kit and hardware including drones Ukrainian soldiers.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 we spoke to the brilliant documentary filmmaker Olly Lambert, who discusses his experiences and takeaways from filming the incredible on-the-ground documentary - Ukraine: The People's Fight. Patrick and Saul also delve into the latest news and developments, and answer 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

Returning to the podcast this week is friend of the podcast Julius Strauss. He discusses the recent Russian advances and the impact this is having on Ukrainian morale, plus he gives his eyewitness account of a Russian jet being shot down by a Ukrainian Missile. Saul and Patrick also delve into the latest news, including the latest US military aid package and answer some listeners questions.If you are interested in supporting Julius in his project to help injured and traumatised Ukrainian soldiers, then you can contact him at julius@wildbearlodge.caProducer: 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 react to the huge development that Germany is finally releasing its Leopard II Tank's, and that the US is following suit by sending their M1 Abrams Tanks as well. Patrick also speaks to old friend and experienced war reporter Julius Strauss, who gives an excellent report from in and around the front linesnear Bakhmut.If you have any questions you'd like to ask Patrick and Saul, please send them to - battlegroundukraine@gmail.comDisclaimer - episode contains some graphic descriptions over the handling of dead bodies, and is not suitable for children.Producer: James HodgsonTwitter: @PodBattleground Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With Britain now sending Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine, Patrick and Saul discuss what impact this decision could have, and ask why other military equipment such as German made Leopard tanks have been held back. They also speak to Ukrainian historian and writer Dr Olesya Khromeychuk - author of The Death of a Soldier, Told by His Sister, who shares her experiences and gives her thoughts on the reaction of the western world to this conflict. Any questions? - 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 speak to perhaps the most high profile British Army officer since the Second World War - the former head of the British Army - Sir Mike Jackson. Sir Mike shared his views on the institutional weaknesses in the Russian Military, why he won't rule out Russia turning the tide, and his reaction to recent comments by Prince Harry about his time in Afghanistan. Saul and Patrick also discuss the big announcement by the US, France, and Germany that they are sending armoured fighting vehicles to Ukraine, and the latest battlefield developments on the ground near Bakhmut. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The unseen conflict happening in cyberspace is a key battleground in the war in Ukraine. So to tell us in detail about a relatively unknown area of the conflict, we spoke to one of Britain’s greatest experts, David Alexander - an academic who has worked at very senior level on the development of both national cyber policy and operational capability for both the UK Government and Ministry of Defence. Patrick and Saul also discuss Putin's New Year's speech, the Ukrainian HIMARS strike in Makiivka, and answer some listeners questions.Producer: James HodgsonTwitter: @PodBattleground Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are peace talks on the table? On this episode of Battleground: Ukraine, Saul and Patrick discuss the latest peace murmurings, the suspicious death of a Russian sausage magnate, and answer listeners questions. They also speak to the brilliant Mark MacKinnon, senior international correspondent for the Globe and Mail, Canada’s leading newspaper, who gave some fascinating insight into the early days of the conflict and China's stance on the war. Producer: James HodgsonTwitter: @PodBattleground Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices