Silicon Curtain

GUEST: Anna from Ukraine - Anna Danylchuk ---------- Anna Danylchuk has been creating a war diary since the early days of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia in 2022. Anna Danylchuk aims to tell the truth about Ukraine and Russia’s war and cut through the noise and propaganda. Anna is passionate about the beauty and independence of her country, and communicates this powerfully in her videos, in a clear and honest way. ---------- Although this is my fifth conversation with Anna on my channel, it’s the first in what I hope will be a series of monthly conversations with influential YouTubers and experts on Ukraine and Russia. ---------- My interview with Anna in Lviv - hosted on her excellent channel- https://youtu.be/daHcnsNQ1S0?si=yHbZ2kJZ3CTVRd8Z

Edition No18 | 26-09-2023 The status of many of Russia's elite is uncertain (are they alive or dead?). Ill-health, 'accidents', purges and targeted Ukrainian actions are taking their toll on Russia's elite. ~~~~~ SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ~~~~~ RUSSIAN RECRUITMENT ADS: https://twitter.com/yarotrof/status/1703762022582612247 https://twitter.com/Biz_Ukraine_Mag/status/1605314907418886145 ~~~~~ NEWS LINKS: The Moscow Times https://www.themoscowtimes.com/ https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2023/09/19/explainer-reports-of-kadyrovs-death-may-have-been-greatly-exaggerated-a82507 Explainer: Reports of Kadyrov’s Death May Have Been Greatly Exaggerated By Charlie Hancock | Sep. 20, 2023 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2023/09/18/the-cult-of-the-red-terror-executioner-lives-on-a82501 The Cult of the Red Terror Executioner Lives On By Polly Jones | Sep. 18, 2023 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2023/09/21/nagorno-karabakh-shows-russia-has-no-credibility-as-a-regional-peacekeeper-a82531 Nagorno-Karabakh Shows Russia Has No Credibility as a Regional Peacekeeper By Mikhail Turchenko | Sep. 21, 2023 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2023/09/21/russian-officials-fighting-in-ukraine-seek-profile-boost-career-advancement-a82532 Russian Officials Fighting in Ukraine Seek Profile Boost, Career Advancement By Leyla Latypova | Sep. 21, 2023 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2023/09/22/russia-is-preparing-the-next-generation-to-die-for-their-country-a82536 Russia is Preparing the Next Generation to Die for Their Country By Jade McGlynn | Sep. 22, 2023 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2023/09/21/scores-of-ukrainian-drones-downed-over-annexed-crimea-western-russia-a82529 Mobilized Russian Troops Endure Quick Losses in Ukraine War – Report Sep. 21, 2023 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2023/09/21/russia-curbs-gas-diesel-exports-to-stabilize-fuel-prices-a82534 Russia Curbs Gas, Diesel Exports to Stabilize Fuel Prices Sep. 21, 2023 ~~~~~ Kyiv Independent https://kyivindependent.com/ https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-comes-close-to-getting-atacms-how-will-it-change-the-war/ US will reportedly give ATACMS to Ukraine. Will it change the war? by Dinara Khalilova | Sep. 23, 2023 https://kyivindependent.com/zelensky-confirms-first-abrams-tanks-arrived-in-ukraine/ Zelensky confirms first Abrams tanks already in Ukraine by Dinara Khalilova | Sep. 25, 2023 https://kyivindependent.com/military-ukraine-has-achieved-a-breakthrough-in-verbove/ Military: Ukraine has achieved a breakthrough in Verbove Sep. 23, 2023 https://kyivindependent.com/russian-proxies-claim-missile-strike-on-black-sea-fleet-headquarters-in-sevastopol/ Ukrainian military strikes Russia's Black Sea Fleet headquarters by Dinara Khalilova | Sep. 22, 2023 https://kyivindependent.com/russia-steadily-loses-advanced-air-defense-systems-making-occupied-crimea-vulnerable/ Uncertain Triumph: Ukraine picks apart Russia's best air defenses in Crimea by Igor Kossov | Sep. 20, 2023 https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-war-latest-september-21/ WAR UPDATE: Ukraine war latest: Russia launches mass missile attack on energy infrastructure; Ukraine reportedly hits airbase in Crimea by Alexander Khrebet | Sep. 22, 2023 https://kyivindependent.com/bloomberg-russia-plans-massive-hike-in-defense-spending-in-2024/ Bloomberg: Russia plans massive hike in defense spending in 2024 by Martin Fornusek | Sep. 22, 2023 ~~~~~ Russian Media Monitor https://twitter.com/JuliaDavisNews ~~~~~

SUMMARY: Moscow’s war of reconquest against Ukraine has confirmed in the most brutal terms how Russia rejects the values underpinning European security – the same values agreed between Moscow and the West at the end of the Cold War. As a revisionist power, Russia has made itself the primary obstacle to peace and security in Europe and beyond. For stability to be restored and protected, it is essential that the outcome of the war in Ukraine leads to a situation in which – in addition to the expulsion of occupying forces – the exercise of Russian power is contained rather than encouraged. Over time, Russia’s leadership must also be persuaded to renounce its expansionist ambitions. It’s now or never for Ukraine. A protracted or frozen conflict benefits Russia and hurts Ukraine, as does a ceasefire or negotiated settlement on Russia’s terms. If Ukraine is to avoid these outcomes and turn tenacious defence and incremental battlefield gains into outright victory, it needs far more ambitious international military assistance than it has received to date. This report presents the case for an immediate and decisive increase in such support, seeks to dispel overhyped concerns about provoking Russia, and counsels against accommodating Moscow’s demands. ---------- WATCH NEXT: James Nixey https://youtu.be/xokGSejENPU Orysia Lutsevych https://youtu.be/Pq9AOxBvBlA Simon Smith https://youtu.be/QGh4YSs71cU John Lough https://youtu.be/DI3fdMp2pRE Timothy Ash https://youtu.be/UDAdyBgPwfk Keir Giles https://youtu.be/6qwNNs5ukMY Kateryna Busol https://youtu.be/ctRbhbANCvU ----------

GUEST: Iryna Kopanytsia - Women's rights advocate and public speaker, CEO and Advisory Board Member of White Ribbon, Ukraine. ---------- SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ---------- INTRO: Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians have had to evacuate through Russia or were forcibly deported there. They have experienced terrible things like the “filtration” camps on the borders, separation from families, cruel interrogations by Russians, and being forced to live in another country (the enemy country) without money or documents in many cases. Left stranded and struggling to leave Russia by themselves. Some, like children do not even have the option to try to return home or go to Europe. Ukraine been able to find and return a few hundred children – but for victory to be achieved, must locate, and return many thousands. Even when the fighting ends, victory will not be achieved until all the children return home to Ukraine. #IrynaKopanytsia #ukraine #ukrainewar #russia #zelensky #putin #propaganda #war #disinformation #hybridwarfare #foreignpolicy #communism #sovietunion #ussr ---------- SPEAKER: Iryna Kopanytsia is a women rights advocate and public speaker, CEO and Advisory Board Member of White Ribbon Ukraine an organisation that campaigns against domestic violence, and woman rights. Iryna was CEO of Miss Ukraine and is a successful TV presenter of numerous shows on Ukrainian TV channels. She is an acclaimed human rights advocate and psychologist actively supporting different charities including David Lynch Foundation in Ukraine, One Hope Foundation, children hospitals and medical facilities, and has participated in developing a number of laws about women’s rights and other causes. White Ribbon has campaigned in Ukraine since 2017 for a new law criminalizing domestic violence and coordinating with European Parliament members on women rights. ---------- LINKS: https://www.linkedin.com/in/irina-kopanytsia/ https://whiteribbonukraine.org/en/teameng/

Volodymyr Kukharenko, an expert in translation automation and advocate of Russia's imperial history, discusses the impact of Russian imperialism on Ukraine and neighboring countries, highlighting the erasure of cultures and suppression of identities. They also explore the manipulation tactics used by Russia, the difficulty of educating the misinformed, and the importance of countering Russia's informational war through education.

GUEST: Nolan Peterson - Consultant, award-winning journalist, war correspondent, and author. ---------- Nolan Peterson is a non-resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Centre. He is an independent defence consultant, award-winning journalist, war correspondent, and author who has lived in Ukraine since 2014. As an international correspondent, Peterson has covered conflicts around the world. Apart from his work in Ukraine, he has been embedded with US armed forces in Iraq and Afghanistan and with the Kurdish Peshmerga during the battle for Mosul in Iraq. Peterson is a former US Air Force special operations pilot and a veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. After leaving the US Air Force in 2011, Peterson completed a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, where he was a McCormick Foundation fellow. Peterson’s work has been published by numerous news outlets including the Wall Street Journal, CNN, Fox News, BBC, Newsweek, the Heritage Foundation, and Coffee or Die Magazine. He is the author of Why Soldiers Miss War: The Journey Home and several fiction collections. #NolanPeterson #warjournalism #ukraine #ukrainewar #russia #zelensky #putin #propaganda #war #disinformation #hybridwarfare #foreignpolicy #communism #sovietunion #postsoviet ---------- LINKS: https://twitter.com/nolanwpeterson https://www.linkedin.com/in/nolanwpeterson/ https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/expert/nolan-peterson/ https://coffeeordie.com/nolan-peterson https://ukrainer.net/nolan-peterson/ https://archive.kyivpost.com/author/nolan-peterson ----------

GUEST: Henry J. Hendrix - Retired US Navy captain, defence analyst, historian and curator. ---------- SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ---------- INTRO: Russia has apparently routed thin-hulled oil tankers through Arctic for first time. But the use of unreinforced vessels raises risks of environmental disaster. Is Moscow taking greater risks in its desperation to divert sanctions-hit exports. The arctic region has previously been explored and governed by international cooperation and treaties. As Moscow behaves in a way that is ever more at variance to international rule of law, how might its long-term ambitions play out in the Arctic? #jerryhendrix #seadrones #blackseafleet #moskva #ukraine #ukrainewar #russia #zelensky #putin #propaganda #war #disinformation #hybridwarfare #foreignpolicy #communism #sovietunion #ussr ---------- SPEAKER: Henry J. Hendrix is a retired United States Navy captain. He has served as an American defence analyst, an official historian and curator of the Navy and an author. His written work has focused on the composition of the United States Navy force, the structure of the Navy, the role of the aircraft carrier in modern strategic environments and the structure of the carrier air wing. He also publicly supported a recent plan to build a 350-ship Navy. Jerry Hendrix is President of Hendrix and Associates. ---------- LINKS: https://twitter.com/JerryHendrixII https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_J._Hendrix https://sagamoreinstitute.org/dr-jerry-hendrix/ https://www.usni.org/people/jerry-hendrix https://www.cnas.org/people/dr-jerry-hendrix https://www.linkedin.com/in/jerry-hendrix-9599684/ ---------- ARTICLES: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2023/04/us-navy-oceanic-trade-impact-russia-china/673090/

GUEST: Ian Garner, historian and expert on Russian war propaganda ---------- INTRO: Russia’s slide into authoritarianism has also seen an acceleration to extreme militarism, or perhaps one could characterise it as a regression to a highly militarised society, media, and education system. One of the most disturbing aspects is the indoctrination of youth. Ian Garner wrote with empathy and insight on this topic in his terrifying book Z Generation: Into the Heart of Russia’s Fascist Youth. #iangarner #zgeneration #ukraine #ukrainewar #russia #zelensky #putin #propaganda #war #disinformation #hybrid warfare #foreign policy #communism #sovietunion #postsoviet ---------- SPEAKER: Ian Garner is an historian and analyst of Russian culture and war propaganda. He is motivated by two questions: what drives Russia’s obsession with war, and why have so many Russians in the past and present fallen for militarism. Ian Garner is also a world leading authority on the myths and propaganda surrounding the second world war battle of Stalingrad in Soviet & Russian Literature. Ian has been interviewed for the Washington Post, Rolling Stone, New York Times, BBC, VICE News, Mashable, and many other media channels. ---------- BOOKS: Z Generation: Into the Heart of Russia's Fascist Youth (2023) Stalingrad Lives: Stories of Combat and Survival (2022) Read more at: https://www.igarner.net/ Follow Ian at: https://twitter.com/irgarner ----------

GUEST: Ada Wordsworth - Writer and co-founder of charity operating in Ukraine KHARPP ---------- SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ---------- INTRO: Today we’ll especially be focusing on the fascinating and moving article Ada Wordsworth wrote for Granta, entitled: The Soundscape of War. #ukraine #ukrainewar #russia #zelensky #putin #propaganda #war #disinformation #hybridwarfare #foreignpolicy #communism #sovietunion #ussr ---------- SPEAKER: Ada Wordsworth is a writer from London with a focus on Ukraine and other areas which have suffered under Russian imperialism, particularly Uzbekistan. She is also the co-founder and director of KHARPP, a UK registered charity which supports reconstruction efforts in eastern Ukraine, particularly the Kharkiv region. She holds an undergraduate degree from UCL in Russian Studies, and an MSt in Slavonic Studies, specialising in Ukrainian, from Oxford University. She has been published in Granta, the NYRB, the LRB Blog, and 1843 among other publications. ---------- LINKS: https://twitter.com/padochka https://kharpp.substack.com/ ---------- ARTICLES: https://granta.com/soundscape-of-war/ https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2022/12/08/ukrainian-lessons-at-the-train-station-ada-wordsworth/ https://www.theoldie.co.uk/article/language-lessons-in-ukraine-ada-wordsworth ----------

GUEST: John Foreman CBE - Adviser to UK government on Russian military and security affairs. ---------- SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ---------- INTRO: As the UK Defence Attache to the Russian Federation from 2019 to 2022, John Foreman CBE advised senior UK officials and ministers on Russian military and security affairs and represented the UK Chief of Defence Staff to the Russian General Staff. He had a front-row seat for the tense meetings and negotiations that immediately preceded Russia’s full-scale assault on Ukraine in February 2022. #johnforeman #TonyRadakin #ukraine #ukrainewar #russia #zelensky #putin #propaganda #war #disinformation #hybridwarfare #foreignpolicy #communism #sovietunion #ussr ---------- SPEAKER: John Foreman CBE is an independent consultant specialising in Russia, Ukraine, and international security, with over 20 years of diplomatic, operational, and corporate experience in the defence and security sector. He facilitated the largest UK ministerial/defence visit to Moscow since 1944, negotiated a bilateral treaty to reduce operational risk, and informed UK Russia policy and strategy. Currently, he is a visiting lecturer to King's College London, a mentor to future UK defence attaches and advisors, and a RAND Europe associate. He has a lifelong interest in Russia, Ukraine, their languages, peoples, cultures, and histories. He was appointed CBE in the 2023 New Year's Honours for his service. ---------- LINKS: https://twitter.com/exexpat19 https://www.ambassadorllp.com/who-we-are/john-foreman