Silicon Curtain

Valeriia Voshchevska, a Ukrainian human rights activist and digital strategist with a rich background in global digital engagement, discusses her impactful projects. She reveals how Russian warfare is financed through a shadow fleet of oil tankers and elaborates on her campaign that led Unilever to exit Russia. Valeriia emphasizes the need for effective communication strategies that address the larger narrative of Ukraine's struggles and the interconnectedness of global activism, environmental concerns, and corporate morality.

Edition No70 | 27-12-2024 - It’s a tragedy that politicians can’t seem to act on warnings alone, and the public can’t be moved to outrage, passion or action by an impending disaster or crime. Last week we had a case in point where it’s the images of thick, viscous oil washing up on the Black Sea coast. ---------- SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISER A 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 frontline towns. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras ---------- Stricken oil tankers show the risks of Russia's ageing 'shadow fleet', which it uses to bypass sanctions. Although the vessel that split apart was covered by Russian insurer VSK, it’s doubtful whether the costs of the cleanup operations will be covered. The full scale of the various incidents, as well as their long-term impact on the environment are so far unknown. One crew member was killed after the Volgoneft 212 split in half, with 12 rescued, while authorities said all 14 crew aboard the Volgoneft 239, which ran aground 80 metres from the shore near the port of Taman, were also rescued. Russian authorities sought to limit the damage from oil spilled into the Kerch Strait by two ageing tankers that were damaged during a heavy weekend storm – though part of the campaign was informational, seeking to deny the seriousness, and not only focused on the physical clean-up. The ships are on average more than 50-year-old, and were carrying some 9,200 metric tons (62,000 barrels) of oil products in total. Volgoneft 212 was constructed in 1969 and Volgoneft 239 in 1973. The spill is likely to become one of the largest environmental disasters to affect the region in recent years. The Kerch Strait, which separates mainland Russia from the Moscow-annexed Crimea region, is a key route for exports of its grain and fuel products. ---------- NEWS SOURCES: https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-polytics/3939182-estonian-pm-names-two-options-facing-russian-shadow-fleet-vessels-caught-without-insurance.html https://www.ft.com/content/8a485a6b-477e-4087-83f4-eca357082d71 https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-tankers-damaged-kerch-strait-were-carrying-62000-barrels-oil-products-2024-12-16/ https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/16/ukraine-calls-for-sanctions-against-russia-oil-tankers-over-black-sea-spill https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2024/12/16/russian-tankers-caught-in-storm-may-have-leaked-3k-tons-of-oil-products-state-media-a87359 https://kyivindependent.com/sinking-of-two-russian-oil-tankers-may-cause-significant-environmental-impacts-greenpeace-warns/ https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-economy-shadow-dark-oil-tankers-sanctions-navy-warships-escort-2024-12 ---------- SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ---------- TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND: Save Ukraine https://www.saveukraineua.org/ Superhumans - Hospital for war traumas https://superhumans.com/en/ UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukraine https://unbroken.org.ua/ Come Back Alive https://savelife.in.ua/en/ Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchen https://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine UNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyy https://u24.gov.ua/ Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation https://prytulafoundation.org NGO “Herojam Slava” https://heroiamslava.org/ kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemysl https://kharpp.com/ NOR DOG Animal Rescue https://www.nor-dog.org/home/ ----------

Edition No69 | 26-12-2024 - What is Christmas like, when your neighbour is a terrorist state, run without challenge or hindrance by a delusional imperialist and pervert, hooked on aggression and suffering? Russia launched a massive Christmas day attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, and civilian residential targets in numerous cities, leaving more than half a million people without heating, water and electricity. Temperatures across Ukraine are around freezing point. ---------- SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISER A 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 frontline towns. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras ---------- Zelenskyy, President of Ukrainian spoke with direct moral clarity when he condemned the attack as ‘inhuman’. This was the 13th large-scale assault in 2024, on the energy grid of Ukraine, in what Zelenskyy said was a deliberate series of strikes. “This was not a coincidence. What could be more inhuman?” He wrote on X. But it’s also entirely predictable. Putin always lashes out after press conferences, or visits to his court by foreign dignitaries, and of course, special dates such as Christmas hold a special fascination for his perverse mind. Attacks at Christmas and New Year as well as on significant anniversaries are entirely predictable, as is Russia’s raging desire to instil fear in its enemies, and those it seeks to control and plunder. About 50 of the 70 missiles fired were intercepted, as well as a ‘significant’ number of more than 100 attack drones launched by Russia, on this, the celebration of Christ’s birth. Oleh Syniehubov, governor of Ukraine’s eastern Kharkiv region, explained that the attack had left more than 500,000 people without heating, water and electricity at Christmas. Russia is not just a terrorist state, but also, it’s claims to be Christian one is barely plausible, given its actions of the last three years, and the genocidal character of its regime, which is enthusiastically supported and sanctified by the Moscow Patriarch, and former KGB agent. President Joe Biden said in a statement “The Ukrainian people deserve to live in peace and safety, and the United States and the international community must continue to stand with Ukraine until it triumphs over Russia’s aggression.” Biden also reaffirmed his instruction to the Department of Defence “to continue its surge of weapons deliveries to Ukraine”. ---------- NEWS SOURCES: https://www.ft.com/content/b7b2c8d9-8eed-4620-adfe-a99e696a1dd4 https://kyivindependent.com/russia-terrorizes-ukraine-with-mass-missile-drone-attack-on-christmas-morning/ https://kyivindependent.com/the-west-is-pushing-ukraine-toward-concessions-that-will-backfire/ https://kyivindependent.com/kellogg-condemns-russias-mass-attack-against-ukraine-on-christmas-day/ ---------- SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ---------- TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND: Save Ukraine https://www.saveukraineua.org/ Superhumans - Hospital for war traumas https://superhumans.com/en/ UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukraine https://unbroken.org.ua/ Come Back Alive https://savelife.in.ua/en/ Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchen https://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine UNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyy https://u24.gov.ua/ Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation https://prytulafoundation.org NGO “Herojam Slava” https://heroiamslava.org/ kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemysl https://kharpp.com/ NOR DOG Animal Rescue https://www.nor-dog.org/home/ ----------

Anna Danylchuk, a Ukrainian creator known for her poignant war diary, discusses the intricate realities of life in Ukraine amidst the ongoing conflict. She shares fascinating insights into Ukrainian Christmas traditions, connecting them to the nation's current struggles. The episode delves into the complexities of identity shaped by Russian propaganda, highlighting the cultural resilience of Ukrainians. Anna also sheds light on misconceptions surrounding Russia's societal dynamics and the challenges of democratic change in the region, blending personal anecdotes with profound reflections.

Ukrainians know Russia better than anyone. Ukrainians know Russia's strengths and weaknesses. Ukrainians know what deters Russia and what doesn't. Ukrainians therefore know best how to secure peace. Today I’m speaking to a rare breed of politician, one that understands the scale of threat to Europe Russia represents and is not afraid of expressing these truths to power in an impactful way. ---------- Gabrielius Landsbergis is a Lithuanian politician and diplomat who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania from December 2020 until November 2024. He is also a former Member of the European Parliament (2014–2016), where he served on the Committee on International Trade and the Subcommittee on Security and Defence. As Minister of Foreign Affairs, Landsbergis was a vocal advocate for European integration, NATO solidarity, and democratic values. His tenure was characterized by Lithuania's firm support for Ukraine during the ongoing Russian invasion, as well as efforts to counter Russian influence in the region. ---------- LINKS: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabrielius_Landsbergis https://x.com/GLandsbergis https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/124759/GABRIELIUS_LANDSBERGIS/history/8 https://cepa.org/author/gabrielus-landsbergis/ https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/-/cm-president-landsbergis-collective-effort-needed-to-ensure-sustainable-peace-and-respect-for-human-rights https://www.politico.eu/article/lithuania-gabrielius-landsbergis-resign-election-parliament-defeat/ ---------- SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISER A 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 frontline towns. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras ---------- SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ---------- TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND: Save Ukraine https://www.saveukraineua.org/ Superhumans - Hospital for war traumas https://superhumans.com/en/ UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukraine https://unbroken.org.ua/ Come Back Alive https://savelife.in.ua/en/ Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchen https://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine UNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyy https://u24.gov.ua/ Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation https://prytulafoundation.org NGO “Herojam Slava” https://heroiamslava.org/ kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyśl https://kharpp.com/ NOR DOG Animal Rescue https://www.nor-dog.org/home/ ---------- PLATFORMS: Twitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSilicon Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/siliconcurtain/ Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqm Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ---------- Welcome to the Silicon Curtain podcast. Please like and subscribe if you like the content we produce. It will really help to increase the popularity of our content in YouTube’s algorithm. Our material is now being made available on popular podcasting platforms as well, such as Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

SEE FULL VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/gidNFLqTqdE An Emotional Ukrainian - format with Lesia Dubenko - Episode 2 - 2024-12-17 Is Putin's war all about territory, control, or geopolitics? ---------- Lesia Dubenko is a Ukrainian journalist and analyst featured in the Financial Times, Politico Europe, New Eastern Europe, Washington Times, and more. She’s currently affiliated with Ukraine’s media outlet Euromaidan Press. You can follow her on Substack for a dose of good and satirical commentary https://lesiadubenko.substack.com ---------- LINKS https://x.com/lesialvd https://lesiadubenko.substack.com/ https://archive.kyivpost.com/author/lesia-dubenko https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesiadubenko/ https://euromaidanpress.com/author/lesiadubenko/ ---------- SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISER A 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 frontline towns. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras ---------- SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ---------- TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND: Save Ukraine https://www.saveukraineua.org/ Superhumans - Hospital for war traumas https://superhumans.com/en/ UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukraine https://unbroken.org.ua/ Come Back Alive https://savelife.in.ua/en/ Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchen https://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine UNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyy https://u24.gov.ua/ Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation https://prytulafoundation.org NGO “Herojam Slava” https://heroiamslava.org/ kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyśl https://kharpp.com/ NOR DOG Animal Rescue https://www.nor-dog.org/home/ ---------- PLATFORMS: Twitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSilicon Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/siliconcurtain/ Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqm Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ---------- Welcome to the Silicon Curtain podcast. Please like and subscribe if you like the content we produce. It will really help to increase the popularity of our content in YouTube’s algorithm. Our material is now being made available on popular podcasting platforms as well, such as Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Trucks under Christmas Tree Since 2022 an extraordinary group of people have been fighting the information war for Ukraine in the global arena. Car for Ukraine has now joined with a group of these special people and their communities to bring Christmas to the frontline in the toughest areas where the fight is happening right now. https://donorbox.org/trucks-under-christmas-tree/fundraiser/silicon-curtain The Goal of the Campaign for Silicon Curtain: € 10,000 to purchase 1 truck to save Ukrainian lives. With this campaign, we will raise funds for 1 truck to help brave warriors from the 237th battalion, 129th brigade who leverage technology and manage to hold russian advance at the very edge of the frontline. Who will receive the vehicle? 237 battalion 129 brigade aerial reconnaissance unit. https://donorbox.org/trucks-under-christmas-tree/fundraiser/silicon-curtain Donate and get: Pins. Everyone who contributes with €100 (~$110) or more will get a limited collection pin - THE INNOVATOR. This pin serves as a sign of Ukrainians' ingenuity in this fight. Custom branding: For €2,500 we will place your custom sticker on one side of a truck. It could be your logo, name, or maybe your country's flag. "Your truck" at the frontline: The average cost of an armored pickup we deploy to the frontline is €10,000. If you contribute with that amount all the custom branding options will be yours. Plus you'll receive a personalized reporting about the truck, where it ends up as well as some surprise gifts from us. About Car for Ukraine (as of November 30, 2024): - 510+ Vehicles Delivered to the Frontline, mainly armored pickups - 1,000,000+ Kilometers Covered Across Europe - €4,000,000 worth of vehicles delivered to the frontline https://donorbox.org/trucks-under-christmas-tree/fundraiser/silicon-curtain

Trucks under Christmas Tree Since 2022 an extraordinary group of people have been fighting the information war for Ukraine in the global arena. Car for Ukraine has now joined with a group of these special people and their communities to bring Christmas to the frontline in the toughest areas where the fight is happening right now. https://donorbox.org/trucks-under-christmas-tree/fundraiser/silicon-curtain The Goal of the Campaign for Silicon Curtain: € 10,000 to purchase 1 truck to save Ukrainian lives. With this campaign, we will raise funds for 1 truck to help brave warriors from the 237th battalion, 129th brigade who leverage technology and manage to hold russian advance at the very edge of the frontline. Who will receive the vehicle? 237 battalion 129 brigade aerial reconnaissance unit. https://donorbox.org/trucks-under-christmas-tree/fundraiser/silicon-curtain Donate and get: Pins. Everyone who contributes with €100 (~$110) or more will get a limited collection pin - THE INNOVATOR. This pin serves as a sign of Ukrainians' ingenuity in this fight. Custom branding: For €2,500 we will place your custom sticker on one side of a truck. It could be your logo, name, or maybe your country's flag. "Your truck" at the frontline: The average cost of an armored pickup we deploy to the frontline is €10,000. If you contribute with that amount all the custom branding options will be yours. Plus you'll receive a personalized reporting about the truck, where it ends up as well as some surprise gifts from us. About Car for Ukraine (as of November 30, 2024): - 510+ Vehicles Delivered to the Frontline, mainly armored pickups - 1,000,000+ Kilometers Covered Across Europe - €4,000,000 worth of vehicles delivered to the frontline https://donorbox.org/trucks-under-christmas-tree/fundraiser/silicon-curtain

Tinatin Japaridze, an expert in Eurasian geopolitics and author of "Stalin’s Millennials," shares insights on the complex political landscape of Georgia. She compares grassroots movements in Tbilisi to Ukraine's Maidan protests, emphasizing their leaderless nature and the push for democracy. Tinatin discusses the Georgian government’s struggles against rising authoritarianism and critiques the West's lukewarm response. She underscores the resilience of protesters and the urgent need for meaningful international support to foster political change.

Barely a week goes by without things occurring that would have been inconceivable three years ago. Russian territory being hit by American made munitions, history’s most substantial sanctions in place against Russia, a near coup against the Kremlin, and Putin going cap-in-hand to Kim-Jong-Un to prop up his ailing military. What more can happen before these tensions and conflicts coalesce into World War 3 – especially the expectations that Korea troops will soon be fighting on the territory of Europe. ---------- Richard Shirreff is Co-founder and Managing Partner at Strategia Worldwide. After graduating from Oxford, he served in the British Army for 37 years commanding soldiers on operations or in combat at every level from platoon to division and rising to the highest rank before retiring from the Army as NATO’s Deputy Supreme Commander Europe. Richard is co-Founder and Managing Partner of Strategia Worldwide. In 2016 his novel ‘2017: War with Russia’ was published in the UK, USA, and Poland. He is an honorary Fellow of Exeter College, Oxford. ---------- SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISER A 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 frontline towns. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain/collections ---------- SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ---------- LINKS: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Shirreff https://twitter.com/RichardShirreff https://www.strategiaworldwide.com/our-people/sir-richard-shirreff https://www.globsec.org/who-we-are/our-people/gen-ret-sir-richard-shirreff https://www.brookings.edu/events/is-armed-conflict-with-russia-a-real-possibility/ ---------- PLATFORMS: Twitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSilicon Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/siliconcurtain/ Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqm Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/ ---------- TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND: Save Ukraine https://www.saveukraineua.org/ Superhumans - Hospital for war traumas https://superhumans.com/en/ UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukraine https://unbroken.org.ua/ Come Back Alive https://savelife.in.ua/en/ Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchen https://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine UNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyy https://u24.gov.ua/ Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation https://prytulafoundation.org NGO “Herojam Slava” https://heroiamslava.org/ kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyśl https://kharpp.com/ NOR DOG Animal Rescue https://www.nor-dog.org/home/ ---------- PLATFORMS: Twitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSilicon Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/siliconcurtain/ Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqm Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ---------- Welcome to the Silicon Curtain podcast. Please like and subscribe if you like the content we produce. It will really help to increase the popularity of our content in YouTube’s algorithm. Our material is now being made available on popular podca