Palladium Correspondent Fin DePencier joined Ash Milton from the northeastern city of Kharkiv, Ukraine, where he has been reporting on the ongoing Russian invasion. In addition to events on the ground, they discussed the wider implications of this war for Russia's sphere of influence, given its recent history of frozen conflict and continuing involvement in Central Asia and the Middle East.

One recent example of this influence occurred in Kazakhstan during its widespread protests and riots in January 2022. A Russian-led intervention by the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) quelled these protests and secured the position of its new president against his own predecessor. Fin reported on these events for Palladium.

Fin has left Kharkiv since this podcast was recorded. The city has come under escalated assault. Follow on Twitter and Instagram for ongoing updates and for his other work.