Silicon Curtain

Edition No208 | 31-07-2025 - Today’s episode involves espionage, treachery, and heroism. The greatest examples of human bravery, and the lowest examples of treachery. * Recent cases of Ukrainians spying for Russia* The devastating moral cost of these betrayals* Profiles of Ukrainian air-force pilots who died serving their country* The lethal FSB agents tracked down and killed in Ukraine* Can Ukraine counter traitors and constant attempts to penetrate its security by Russia.Exposing the Spies - In July 2025, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) detained a Ukrainian Air Force major, working as a flight instructor, accused of spying for Russia’s FSB. The officer allegedly leaked coordinates of airfields, flight schedules, and departure orders—especially those hosting Western-supplied F‑16s, Mirage 2000s, and Su‑24s. The SBU described the leaks as tactical blueprints for Russian missile and drone strikes. He even provided an analytical report advising on strike tactics to ‘bypass Ukrainian air defences’ (Reuters, July 30, 2025).This is treachery of the highest order, not only his country, but the heroes he instructed. “In particular, the enemy’s priority targets were airfields where F‑16s, Mirage 2000s and Su‑24s were based … The agent collected the coordinates … schedules and … the order of their departure” This case mirrored a similar arrest reported earlier—recruitment via his ex-wife, a former military officer in occupied Melitopol. He allegedly provided Russia’s Aleksandr Belodedov from FSB’s Alpha unit with target data before Ukraine intercepted his transmissions and detained him in Lviv Oblast (Kyiv Independent), July 3, 2025).----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------DESCRIPTION:Heroes and Traitors: Stories of Ukrainian Bravery and BetrayalIn this gripping episode of Silicon Bites, we delve into the stark contrast between heroism and treachery in Ukraine amid its resistance against Russia. We explore recent cases of espionage by Ukrainians spying for Russia, detailing the devastating consequences and moral costs. Profiles of fallen Ukrainian Air Force pilots symbolize sacrifice and bravery, highlighting their significant contributions and ultimate sacrifices. The episode covers high-profile assassinations and the intense shadow war involving Ukrainian security forces and Russian operatives. We also discuss the motivations behind betrayal and the critical countermeasures Ukraine must take to safeguard its national security and unity.----------CHAPTERS:00:00 Introduction and Gratitude00:36 Cases of Treachery in Ukraine01:25 Exposing the Spies04:58 Profiles of Fallen Ukrainian Air Force Heroes09:35 Assassination of Colonel Ivan IC11:33 Motivations and Countermeasures Against Betrayal13:35 Conclusion: The Cost of Betrayal and the Resolve of Ukraine----------SOURCES: https://kyivindependent.com/ukrainian-air-force-officer-arrested-as-alleged-fsb-mole-sbu-says-06-2025/https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-crime/4011052-air-force-major-exposed-as-russian-agent-in-western-ukraine.htmlhttps://news.online.ua/en/sbu-prevented-fsb-plans-to-eliminate-the-commander-of-the-da-vinci-wolves-video-895636/https://unn.ua/en/news/sbu-detains-mole-of-elite-fsb-special-unit-in-air-forcehttps://united24media.com/latest-news/security-service-of-ukraine-uncovers-russian-fsb-agents-preparing-strikes-on-f-16-airfields-5421https://www.kyivpost.com/post/55631https://glavnoe.in.ua/en/news-en/ukrainian-air-force-officer-accused-of-spying-for-russia-arrested-in-major-security-breachhttps://www.newsweek.com/two-russian-fsb-agents-killed-after-assassinating-ukraine-spy-colonel-2098339https://english.nv.ua/nation/russian-spies-in-ukrainian-armed-forces-sbu-reports-detention-of-russian-mole-in-air-force-50526933.html----------

Theo Allthorpe-Mullis an NCTJ qualified journalist and author of the the Dictators v. Democrats SubStack. Prior to becoming a journalist he was a police officer in London. He is interested in conflict, human rights and the preservation of democracy. Prior to his service with the Police, he undertook a Masters Degree in International Security.----------LINKS:https://tamullis.substack.com/https://www.youtube.com/@TAMullis @TAMullis https://x.com/TheoAMullispatreon.com/DictatorsvDemocratscoff.ee/tamullis----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------PLATFORMS:Twitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSiliconInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/siliconcurtain/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqmLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------

Edition No207 | 30-07-2025 - Drones, assassinations, and fear stalk the Kremlin—and a weapon called Yolka provides an insight into the paranoid frame of mind of Vladimir Putin, in the fourth year of his senseless war against Ukraine.* What is the Yolka anti-drone interceptor?* What evidence do we have that Putin fears drone attacks, and that paranoia defines life in the Kremlin.* What past assassination attempts suggest about Putin’s mindset—and whether he believes he is safe.----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------SOURCES: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/vladimir-putin-assassination-fears-highlighted-35635872 https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/07/30/putin-s-security-team-spotted-carrying-handheld-interceptor-drones https://www.businessinsider.com/vladimir-putin-bodyguard-interceptor-drone-victory-day-parade-video-2025-7 https://www.kyivpost.com/post/57190 https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/world/ukraine-drone-attacks-instill-fear-in-vladimir-putin-russian-president-feels-unsafe-in-moscow-s-red-square-walks-with-anti-drone-launcher/ar-AA1JwQCe ----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------

Olena Halushka is a is a board member of the Ukrainian NGO “Anti-corruption Action Centre”, and co-founder of the International Centre for Ukrainian Victory. She has also worked as a chief of international advocacy at the post-Maidan coalition of 80 CSOs “Reanimation Package of Reforms”. Olena is a contributor to the Atlantic Council, Kyiv Independent. She has also written op-eds for the Washington Post, the Foreign Policy, and the EU Observer – but it’s a major article she wrote for the UK’s Guardian newspaper that we’ll be discussing today.----------DESCRIPTION: Understanding Kyiv Protests: An In-Depth Discussion with Anti-Corruption Advocate Olena Halushka Jonathan speaks with Olena Halushka, a board member of the Ukrainian NGO Anti-Corruption Action Center and co-founder of the International Center for Ukrainian Victory. The conversation covers the ongoing protests in Kyiv, the role of Russian aggression, the significance of EU integration for Ukraine, and the internal challenges of anti-corruption and judicial reforms. Elena clarifies the nature of the protests, expressing that they are in favor of Ukraine's EU integration and not against the government. The discussion also delves into the horizontal strength of Ukrainian society, the impact of Western misconceptions, and the broader implications of these reforms on Ukraine's resilience during wartime. Lastly, Olena provides insights into how Western misunderstanding of Ukraine's decentralized but resilient structure and the importance of maintaining justice and anti-corruption measures, even during the war, are crucial for Ukraine's future.----------CHAPTERS: 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome01:22 Current Situation in Ukraine02:11 Understanding the Protests04:03 EU Integration and Democratic Reforms05:24 The Role of Civil Society and Media13:48 Russian Occupation and Humanitarian Crisis21:04 Global Implications and Support for Ukraine25:34 Anti-Corruption Reforms and Internal Challenges51:31 Conclusion and Final Thoughts----------LINKS:https://twitter.com/OlenaHalushka https://twitter.com/AntAC_ua https://twitter.com/ICUVua https://www.linkedin.com/in/olena-halushka-b7342259/?originalSubdomain=ua https://ukrainianvictory.org/experts/olena-halushka/ https://www.fpri.org/contributor/olena-halushka/https://cepa.org/author/olena-halushka/https://archive.kyivpost.com/author/olena-halushkahttps://foreignpolicy.com/author/olena-halushka/----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------PLATFORMS:Twitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSiliconInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/siliconcurtain/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqmLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------

Edition No204 | 28-07-2025 - Russia cancelled Navy Day parades for the first time – which is a deep embarrassment to the Kremlin, as it’s the first time this significant military holiday has been canned. This follows closely on the heels of the airport shutdowns, after drone swarms forced their closure. What does this says about Putin’s naval myth colliding with battlefield reality. Well we already knew that the tsar’s navy isn’t immune from Ukrainian drones.Navy Day (“Day of the VMF”) was revived in 2017 by Putin, transforming Russia’s fleet into a centerpiece of national pride. The main event in St. Petersburg featured grand naval reviews on the Neva, with warships parading past Kronstadt, foreign delegations, military bands, and tens of thousands of spectators—major PR theater for the Kremlin (AP News).But this year, the parade was scrapped entirely. British intelligence declared:"It is almost certain that Day of the Russian Navy parades… originally expected… July 27, 2025, have been cancelled… due to force protection concerns." (Українська правда)----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------SOURCES: https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2025/07/27/7523638/ https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/putin-cancels-navy-day-parade-says-frontline-1753624674.html https://unn.ua/en/news/british-intelligence-russia-canceled-navy-day-parade-for-the-first-time-due-to-security-concerns https://kyivindependent.com/moscow-says-nearly-100-drones-shot-down-as-strikes-disrupt-airports-and-railways-across-western-russia/ ----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------

Edition No205 | 29-07-2025 - It’s dawn on Monday, July 28, 2025, and at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport a wearily familiar scene is unfolding—departure boards frozen, passengers stranded, irate people being denied refunds. Yet this time it was not drones that had caused the grounding of planes, the inconvenience and discomfort to passengers. It was one of the most effective hacks in history. Aeroflot, Russia’s state‐owned flag carrier was grounded by a major cyberattack. Flights cancelled, chaos at ticket counters, confusion everywhere. This was no glitch, as the Kremlin propagandists initially tried to claim. It is a digital war. And the Kremlin is terrified of the implications of such attacks for its war economy. The hacker groups Silent Crow and Belarus Cyber‑Partisans emerged to claim responsibility. But something on this scale cannot just have been a private initiative. Ukraine is fighting back, and the Russian Goliath is falling and hitting the ground hard. This is part of a concerted strategy to hit the economy, so expect more. ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------DESCRIPTION:Chaos in Russian Aviation: Unprecedented Cyber Attack on Aeroflot SystemsIn this gripping episode of Silicon Bites, we delve into the catastrophic cyber attack on systems that ground Russia's state-owned airline Aeroflot, causing unprecedented travel chaos. The hack, executed by the hacker groups Silent Crow and Belarus Cyber Partisans, significantly disrupted Russia’s transport network and inflicted tens of millions of dollars in damages. The incident reveals vulnerabilities in Russia’s critical infrastructure and highlights Ukraine's robust cyber offensive strategies amidst ongoing conflicts. Learn about the strategic implications, the role of volunteer hacker groups, and the potential for future cyber disruptions.----------CHAPTERS: 00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview00:51 The Hack Unfolds: Chaos at Moscow's Airport01:50 The Scale and Impact of the Cyber Attack03:09 Financial and Operational Fallout11:20 Broader Implications for Russia's Infrastructure12:31 Ukraine's Cyber Offensive Strategy17:35 Historical Context and Future Outlook21:01 Conclusion: The Cyber Battlefield----------SOURCES: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/07/28/completely-compromised https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-opens-criminal-case-over-aeroflot-cyberattack-2025-07-28/ https://english.nv.ua/nation/belarusian-hackers-claim-aeroflot-cyberattack-that-grounded-42-flights-on-july-28-50532950.html https://news.online.ua/en/cyberattack-on-aeroflot-the-company-lost-up-to-50-million-895625/ https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/1091217.html https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/jul/28/russia-aeroflot-cancels-flights-pro-ukraine-hackers-cyber-attack https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2025/07/28/7523738/ https://www.reuters.com/en/pro-ukrainian-hackers-claim-massive-cyberattack-russias-aeroflot-2025-07-28/ https://english.nv.ua/nation/aeroflot-hackers-reveal-details-of-operation-against-russian-airline-50533022.htmlhttps://www.ft.com/content/9114257b-94cf-4726-b8cc-7e71b3304c8a----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------

Live stream with Yuri Rashkin. ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------

Edition No206 | 30-07-2025 - This is Silicon Bites first travel review episode. Well not really, it’s about the dwindling number of places available to Russians for mass tourism, as they are excluded from many countries, and the declining value of the rouble makes more destinations financially unattainable. The question Russians are now asking themselves in greater numbers is where should we holiday this year? Occupied Ukraine, a War Zone, of North Korea, the Hermit Kingdom. We also should ask, should Russians even be getting visa to holiday in Europe, in the context of the full-scale genocidal war it has launched against Ukraine, and hybrid attacks on Europe? ----------Today: holidays reshaped by occupation, isolation, and sanctions—where Russian tourism also serves as a chilling propaganda tool. We’re diving into four related stories:1. Beaches in occupied Ukrainian territories turned into Russian holiday zones.2. The emergence of Russian tourism in North Korea via new direct flights.3. Russia intensifying travel to places like Afghanistan and Iran.4. The controversies over Russian tourists seeking European visas.It’s not all sun, sand and fun. These holidays contain some anxiety, trauma and are based on a complete moral bankruptcy not only of the Russian government, but also its people. ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------DESCRIPTION:Russian Tourism's Dark Side: Occupation, Isolation, and Moral BankruptcyIn this first travel review episode of Silicon Bites, we explore the limited holiday options available to Russian tourists amidst the ongoing war in Ukraine and international sanctions. The episode is broken into four segments: Russian holidays in occupied Ukrainian territories, new direct flights to North Korea, unusual destinations like Afghanistan and Iran, and the controversy over Russian tourists seeking European visas. We discuss the moral implications of these travels and how Russian tourism is being used as a geopolitical tool to normalize occupation and build alliances with rogue states.----------CHAPTERS: 00:00 Introduction and Channel Support00:45 The Dilemma of Russian Tourism02:10 Russian Holidays in Occupied Ukraine05:16 North Korea: The New Russian Tourist Destination07:09 Exploring Unusual Destinations: Afghanistan and Iran08:34 The Controversy Over Russian Visas in Europe09:46 Conclusion and Moral Reflections----------SOURCES: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/07/25/sun-sea-and-the-russian-flag-inside-vacation-season-on-the-beaches-of-occupied-ukraine-a89973 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/28/moscow-pyongyang-direct-flights-russia-to-north-korea-tourists https://www.thedailybeast.com/russian-tourists-get-a-nightmare-new-vacation-destination-as-flight-choices-dwindle/ https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwyrk588dlro https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2025/0619/russia-tourism-vacation-iran-korea-afghanistan ----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------

Welcome to our monthly conversation with Konstantin, who is one of the most respected voices on YouTube about what is happening Inside Russia. Konstantin Samoilov is a well-known YouTuber whose channel ‘Inside Russia’ comments insightfully on Russia’s decent into authoritarianism over the last few years. But now, like many others, he’s outside Russia, with no idea of when he can return there. ----------DESCRIPTION:Uncovering Russian Propaganda, Kyiv Protests, and the Russian Economy Collapse with KonstantinJoin us for an in-depth discussion with our guest, Konstantin, as we explore the efforts to debunk Russian propaganda and delve into the intricate details of the current state of the Russian economy. We begin by discussing the ongoing protests in Kyiv and their implications, before shifting focus to the deteriorating Russian economy. Learn about the internal conflicts within the Russian government, the impact on various industries, and how the Ukrainian strategy of economic disruption is influencing public perception in Russia. Stay tuned for insights on economic updates, current events, and the philosophical undertones behind these geopolitical tensions.----------CHAPTERS:00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:33 Protests in Kyiv: The Cardboard Revolution03:02 Russian Propaganda Struggles09:26 Ukrainian Democracy in Action11:23 Economic Collapse: High Interest Rates and Inflation20:30 Ukrainian Strategy: Targeting Russian Infrastructure26:27 Economic Crisis in Russia27:28 The Booming Funeral Industry28:31 Grotesque Vacation Resorts30:06 Russian Propaganda and Public Perception31:59 Vacationing in War Zones39:58 Upcoming Content on Inside Russia50:06 The Importance of Understanding Dynamics----------LINKS: @INSIDERUSSIA https://www.patreon.com/insiderussiaINSIDE RUSSIA is a source of current news on Russia - Konstantin carefully selects 9 news stories that are important and really matter, with commentaries and analyses by Konstantin delivered daily to channel patrons at Patreon.comGet your access to daily news updates at patreon.com/INSIDERUSSIA----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------

Edition No203 | 26-07-2025 - We are turning the spotlight inward—into Russia and Belarus—exploring courageous dissent rarely seen in mainstream coverage. Today, we unpack protests inside Russia (or the lack of them), sabotage of military assets, partisan rail warfare in Belarus, and the shifting lines between Russian anti‑Kremlin actors and Ukraine’s intelligence. Spoiler alert: Putin’s control is showing cracks, but probably not enough to bring the house down.----------Public protests in Russia remain rare—and now seem to be confined to places outside the capital, or even ethnically majority Russian places. 2022 was the high-water mark of protests that were explicitly anti-war, but after that an exodus of people fleeing mobilisation and the crack down on protests, there had been very little. People last went out in mass in defiance of the regime after Navalny died, and on the day of his funeral. But these were more implicit criticism of the regime rather than explicit or direct. ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------SOURCES: https://kyivindependent.com/russian-su-27ub-fighter-jet-catches-fire-in-apparent-act-of-resistance-ukraine-military-intelligence-says/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/04/23/ukraine-belarus-railway-saboteurs-russia/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail\_war\_in\_Belarus\_%282022%E2%80%93present%29https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stop\_the\_Wagonshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combat\_Organization\_of\_Anarcho-Communistshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machulishchy\_air\_base\_attack----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------