BFBS Radio Sitrep

Commander Alan West was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his pivotal role in the Falklands war.His ship HMS Ardent was sunk with the loss of 22 lives – but it helped the thousands of troops who liberated the islands get safely ashore.Even as the crew battled fires and tended the wounded the ship sailed to more open waters, to draw out the Argentine fighter jets.Now Admiral Lord West, the former First Sea Lord, tells BFBS Sitrep the full story of that day, the responsibility he still feels to his ship’s company, his pride at their bravery, and how 40 years on he still has occasional nightmares about it.

Finland has entered a ‘grey zone’, defying Russia to apply for NATO membership, but not yet covered by the alliance’s mutual defence guarantees.Hours before the announcement the UK signed a mutual security agreement with Finland – so what is the risk we’ll be called on to defend the country before it becomes a NATO member?As we analyse the latest developments in the Ukraine war we’ll explain why the tiny Snake Island, in the Black Sea, has become a key battlefront.France is pulling its military mission out of Mali after 9 years, but what does that mean for the 300 British peacekeepers deployed there with the UN.And we go training with Commando Gunners of the future as the regiment marks its 60th anniversary.

We know all too well what Russia’s invasion is doing to Ukraine – the catastrophic loss of lives, the physical devastation, and also the national resolve to fight back.But what is this war doing to Russia?BFBS Sitrep assesses the UK’s latest claim that Russia’s military is now significantly weaker for the long term.We also look at the financial hit to its economy and how could that affect the Kremlin’s ‘special military operation’And what of the political consequences – could significant military losses eventually fuel a palace-coup at the Kremlin?

Boris Johnson has just done a new defence deal with India – which imports most of its military hardware from Russia and won’t condemn the invasion of Ukraine.BFBS Sitrep examines why India’s sitting on the fence over Europe’s biggest conflict since WW2, and asks why it’s worth the UK making this deal.Professor of Defence Studies Michael Clarke assesses whether the Ukraine conflict could be spreading to neighbouring Moldova.And the leader of Iraq’s new all-female de-mining team tells us how the death of her brother, in an explosion, drives her work.

The Ukraine war has moved into phase 2, but will it be a turning point for a Russian campaign that’s had no real success so far?Instead of trying to take the whole country at once, Moscow’s forces are now concentrated on taking the East.We’ll hear from close to the new 300 mile battlefront and explain why the Donbas region has always been at the very heart of this war.And Marine Le Pen is in touching distance of becoming France’s next president – but what would victory for the far right candidate mean for our defence and security?

From the size and location of massive Russian convoys, to the serial numbers of missiles used in strikes, we all have access to unprecedented detail of the Ukraine war.An army of amateur analysts are gathering, checking and sharing OSINT - Open Source Intelligence - which details the fight as it happens. One of them tells us how and why he does it.Finland and Sweden could be weeks away from applying for NATO membership – but would that be good for the alliance, or an extra burden?And we talk to the Falklands veteran who’s telling the story of that war in real time on Twitter.

By day Kyle Glen works an office job for a clinical research company.By night he gathers and analyses intelligence that can reveal the truth about wars around the world, and debunk fake news.Kyle is one of a growing army of amateur analysts working on OSINT (open-source intelligence) – which he shares on the @ConflictNews twitter account, and the OSINT Bunker podcast.In this extra edition of BFBS Sitrep he explains how it was OSINT that successfully warned the world of Russia’s plan to invade Ukraine, and tells Kate Gerbeau how and why he became an amateur intelligence analyst.

A catalogue of atrocities is emerging where Russian forces have withdrawn from parts of Ukraine. Film-maker Emile Ghessen tells us about the harrowing scenes he’s witnessed in Bucha.The evidence of war crimes appears compelling – mass graves, bodies of people whose hands have been tied lying in streets. But how do you prove who is responsible?A former war crimes prosecutor explains to us how investigators are already gathering evidence in the midst of conflict, and how social media could prove crucial.And 40 years since Britain’s task force sailed to retake the Falkland Islands a veteran journalist gives us an extraordinary insight into the Argentinian dictatorship that had invaded – a regime that nearly murdered him, then treated him as an honoured guest.

Julian Manyon experienced the start of the Falklands war from enemy territory.He’d been despatched to Argentina to report on the military dictatorship that had invaded a British overseas territory.First the regime kidnapped him at gunpoint – but hours later he was being treated as an honoured guest by the country’s leader, then wined and dined by top brass.He recounts his story, and his unique insights into Argentina’s leader, to Kate Gerbeau.

On this week’s Sitrep there’s been much talk of the weaknesses in the Russian Army, one of the reasons being suggested is their lack of a Non Commissioned Officer rank. We’ll hear from one well know former NCO in the British Army ‘Big’ Phil Campion and Russian military historian Chris BellamyAlso, what is it with Russians and alleged poisoning plots? With claims that individuals have recently been a victim of poisoning, we’ll talk to a chemical weapons expert Hamish De Bretton Gordon who’ll look at the history and effectiveness of poisoning.The US has been showing off its latest high tech aircraft. The Growler is designed The jets jam and destroy enemy air defence radar. We have a special report from Simon NewtonAn we’ll hear about a new and probably final home for the RAF’s ‘celebrity chinook’ Bravo November..