This week Saul and Patrick reflect on what was perhaps the most dramatic event since the full scale invasion began sixteen long months ago. The Wagner mutiny has exposed weaknesses in Putin's regime and some are predicting it may well mark the beginning of the end of his long rule. They look into how likely that is, how the end might come about, and also what happens next to Prigozhin and his Wagner group. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - battlegroundukraine@gmail.co...
Jun 30, 2023•43 min
Joining Patrick and Saul on this week's Big Interview is Alan Philps, who has worked as a reporter in Moscow on and off since he was the Reuters trainee there in 1979. He has a deep knowledge of the country and provides some fascinating insight into the senior Russian military leadership, the internal power struggles within the Russian hierarchy, and the way Russia has conducted itself in the past 30 years. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - battlegroundukraine@gmail.c...
Jun 28, 2023•40 min
In this special emergency podcast Saul and Patrick react to an extraordinary 36 hours, where Prigozhin's Wagner forces went into outright rebellion against the Russian Military and by association Putin himself. They talk through what has happened and discuss what all this means for Putin, The Russian Military, and the war in Ukraine. This emergency podcast was recorded on Sunday morning 25th June. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - battlegroundukraine@gmail.com Produce...
Jun 25, 2023•20 min
This week Saul and Patrick assess the second week of Ukrainian offensive operations, where progress is slow, and coming at a cost. They also discuss some concerning developments in Russia's electronic warfare capability, Russia's increasing utilisation of their air superiority, and look at some fascinating input from our listeners - which sheds some more light on the Nord Stream pipeline sabotage attack. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - battlegroundukraine@gmail.com ...
Jun 23, 2023•43 min
What's the current situation in the frontlines in Ukraine? Well this week's guest is Colin Freeman, who is expertly placed to tell us - he spoke to Patrick from near the frontlines in the Donetsk region, giving some valuable insight into what has been happening on the ground, the recent incursions by Ukrainian backed fighters over the Russian border, and the morale of Ukrainian troops and civilians. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - battlegroundukraine@gmail.com Produ...
Jun 21, 2023•34 min
This week on Battleground Ukraine: Saul and Patrick look back on a very eventful week, with the Ukrainian’s launching attacks at several points along the front with some success, retaking up to a 100 square kilometres of occupied territory. They also look at the latest coming out of Moscow - with Vladimir Putin taking the unusual step of summoning journalists and milbloggers in order to reassure ultra nationalists about the Ukrainian counteroffensive. They also answer listeners questions from ar...
Jun 16, 2023•39 min
Colonel Hamish de Bretton-Gordon joins Saul and Patrick for this week's big interview. Hamish brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from his time as commanding officer of the UK's Joint Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Regiment and from his active service during the first Gulf War. Among other things Hamish discusses his concern over what the Russians may do with the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant following their destruction of the Kakhovka Dam, and the potential If you hav...
Jun 14, 2023•34 min
In a week with much to discuss, Saul and Patrick take a look at the latest developments including the two stories that have been dominating the news: the probable start of the much-anticipated Ukrainian counter-offensive which, in turn, has panicked Russia into the deliberate destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam on the Dnipro River. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - battlegroundukraine@gmail.com Producer: James Hodgson Twitter: @PodBattleground Hosted on Acast. See ac...
Jun 09, 2023•42 min
Joining Patrick and Saul on this week's Big Interview, is military analyst and author Frank Ledwidge. Frank is also a former barrister and Military Intelligence Officer and has recently returned from a trip to Ukraine with a high level delegation - where he spoke to senior Ukrainian officials and had rare access to a Ukrainian prisoner of war camp. He also discussed the recent changes in Ukrainian strategy, with the recent cross border raids into Russia and drone attacks on Moscow. If you have a...
Jun 07, 2023•37 min
This week on Battleground: Ukraine, Saul and Patrick discuss the increasing instances of strikes within Russia's borders, with drone attacks in Moscow in the past week, and whether this indicates a change in Ukrainian strategy. They also reflect on what appeared to be the largest drone attack on the Kyiv since the start of the war, and the effectiveness of Ukrainian air defences. They also delve into some fascinating information shared by listeners and answer some of their questions. If you have...
Jun 02, 2023•40 min
In this week's Big Interview, Saul and Patrick welcome back friend of the show Lieutenant Colonel Pavlo Khazan of the Ukrainian Army to the podcast. Originally an environmental scientist from the Dnipro region of Eastern Ukraine, Pavlo gives us an update on what his team has been up to, the impact of western aid, and his current perspective on the war. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - battlegroundukraine@gmail.com Producer: James Hodgson Twitter: @PodBattleground Hos...
May 31, 2023•39 min
This week on Battleground: Ukraine, Saul and Patrick dissect an eventful week of news surrounding the ongoing war in Ukraine. Bakhmut has fallen to Prigozhin’s Wagner PMC - but is it a Pyrrhic victory that will ultimately cost the Russians dear? How significant is the momentous news that Ukraine will be provided with F-16 fighter jets? And they discuss the extraordinary events that saw anti-Kremlin fighters from the so-called Russian Freedom Legion capture a cluster of villages in Russia’s Belgo...
May 26, 2023•51 min
On this week's Big Interview, Saul and Patrick speak to British journalist and policy analyst - Anatol Lieven, who has recently returned from a trip to Ukraine. In a thought provoking and intriguing interview Anatol challenges some of the established positions and narratives surrounding the conflict, and raised concern about the prospect of Ukraine launching an offensive into Crimea. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - battlegroundukraine@gmail.com Producer: James Hodgs...
May 24, 2023•40 min
This week on Battleground: Ukraine - Saul and Patrick discuss all the latest developments in the past week, including the latest new weaponry the west has provided to the Ukrainians, the unfolding situation on the frontlines, and the evolving situation in the skies. They also discuss a wide array of listeners points and questions, from Ukrainian challenges and countersigns to the sheer geographical scale of Ukraine. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - battlegroundukrain...
May 19, 2023•36 min
In this week's big interview Saul and Patrick speak to journalist and former lecturer of history at Oxford University - Dr Richard Lofthouse - who's recently returned from his second trip to Ukraine since the full scale invasion last year. He spoke to numerous people about their experiences, including the founder of the Georgian National Legion in Ukraine, Mamuka Mamulashvili. He also explains his volunteer work with the charity car4ukraine.com which sources vehicles across Europe and the UK, mo...
May 17, 2023•47 min
This week Saul and Patrick take a look at the latest developments surrounding the war in Ukraine, including the scaled-back Victory Day parade in Moscow that featured just a single tank, Wagner PMC boss Yevgeny Prigozhin's latest expletive-laden rant, and the recent developments coming out of the battle for Bakhmut. They also answer a host of fascinating questions from our listeners. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - battlegroundukraine@gmail.com Producer: James Hodgs...
May 12, 2023•42 min
Joining Saul for this week's Big Interview is award winning British photographer Mark Neville. He emotionally describes his personal experience of the war as a resident of Ukraine in Kyiv, his recent book project - Stop Tanks With Books - released a matter of days before the full scale invasion, and his work helping those most in need, with the charity - postcode Ukraine. If you would like to know more about Mark's charity or help out with donations, you can find more information at www.postcode...
May 10, 2023•42 min
This week Saul and Patrick gave their immediate reaction to the drone attack on the Kremlin, as news broke during the recording of this episode. They also analyse the huge losses that the Russians have suffered since the turn of the year, a peace proposal brought forward by Pope Francis, and answer some of the many listeners questions. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - battlegroundukraine@gmail.com Producer: James Hodgson Twitter: @PodBattleground Hosted on Acast. See...
May 05, 2023•40 min
Joining Saul to discuss a wide range of topics - from the Nord Stream pipeline sabotage - to Russia's failure to learn from its mistakes, is one of the most incisive commentators on the war - Professor Phillips O’Brien, head of the School of International Relations at the University of St Andrews. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - battlegroundukraine@gmail.com Producer: James Hodgson Twitter: @PodBattleground Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information...
May 03, 2023•40 min
This week Patrick and Saul discuss the latest developments as Russia prepares to defend the territory it holds in eastern Ukraine against Ukraine’s expected counteroffensive. This includes the latest round of sackings and promotions at the top, and an announcement that T-14 Armata tanks – the most sophisticated that the Russians have – are being sent to the battlefield. They also answer a host of fascinating listeners questions. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - battl...
Apr 28, 2023•32 min
On this week's big interview, Patrick ad Saul are joined by veteran reporter Philip Ittner - who at the outbreak of the full scale invasion headed straight to Ukraine - where he has remained since. He describes the situation on the ground in Ukraine and the palpable sense of suspense surrounding the much discussed upcoming Ukrainian counter-offensive. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - battlegroundukraine@gmail.com Producer: James Hodgson Twitter: @PodBattleground Host...
Apr 26, 2023•45 min
This week Saul and Patrick discuss the latest twist in the extraordinary story of Wagner group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin. Only a few weeks ago it seemed that his star was waning – instead it seems he’s back in favour with the man who matters – Vladimir Putin. They also discuss the ongoing fallout from the US intelligence leak, and answer a wide variety of listeners questions. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - battlegroundukraine@gmail.com Producer: James Hodgson Twitter...
Apr 21, 2023•41 min
Julius Strauss returns to the podcast in this week's interview, he's back in Ukraine and has been traveling across the country from Lviv in the the west, to close to the frontline in the East. He discusses some of the realities and tensions inside Ukraine - from the rift in the Orthodox Church to the use of Russian language by sections of the population. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Apr 19, 2023•40 min
In this episode Saul and Patrick review the US intelligence leak and what this tells us about the reach of US intelligence, the state of the Ukrainian armed forces, and the consequences of the leak for the upcoming Ukrainian counter-offensive. They also discuss a couple of interesting developments within Russia: including reports that Wagner group boss Yevgeny Prigozhin is advancing his political aspirations by seeking to gain control of a Russian political party. If you have any thoughts or que...
Apr 14, 2023•39 min
This week's interview discusses the decision by ICC judges to issue arrest warrants against Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova. Joining Saul and Patrick to delve into the topic are two Hague based journalists and hosts of international justice podcast Asymmetrical Haircuts - Janet Anderson and Stephanie van den Berg. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - battlegroundukraine@gmail.com Producer: James Hodgson Twitter: @PodBattleground Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priva...
Apr 12, 2023•34 min
This week on Battleground: Saul and Patrick cast doubt over claims by the Wagner group that they have more or less taken Bakhmut, they take a look at the possible suspects behind the assassination of a Russian military blogger in St Petersburg, and they look at Finlands rapid accession to NATO which doubles NATO's border with Russia. They also delve into a fascinating haul of listeners questions. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - battlegroundukraine@gmail.com Producer...
Apr 07, 2023•38 min
Joining Patrick and Saul for this week's interview is Matteo Patrone - the Managing Director of Eastern Europe and the Caucasus (EEC) at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). He discusses the work the EBRD has done in Ukraine both since the collapse of communism in the 1990's and more recently since Russia's full scale invasion last year. He also sets out how much Ukraine will need in the process of reconstruction once the war is over. If you have any thoughts or questions...
Apr 05, 2023•28 min
This week on Battleground: Ukraine, Saul and Patrick take a look at the latest changes in the Russian high command following their unsuccessful recent offensive, Putin's decision to deploy tactical nukes in Belarus, and celebrity visits to Kyiv. They also answer some of the many listeners questions that have been sent in this past week. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - battlegroundukraine@gmail.com Producer: James Hodgson Twitter: @PodBattleground Hosted on Acast. Se...
Mar 31, 2023•40 min
Joining Saul and Patrick for this week's big interview, is the current Director-General of the Royal United Services Institute - Dr Karin von Hippel. In this brilliant and wide ranging interview, she talks in depth about China Russia relations, their growing influence in Africa, and the difficulties the West faces in the future. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - battlegroundukraine@gmail.com Producer: James Hodgson Twitter: @PodBattleground Hosted on Acast. See acast....
Mar 29, 2023•38 min
In this Friday's episode of Battleground: Ukraine, Saul and Patrick take a look away from the battlefield, at the big news this week - the visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Moscow. Also discussed is the decision by the International Criminal Court in The Hague to charge Vladimir Putin with war crimes, and Britain’s decision to include depleted uranium shells with the Challenger 2 tanks it is sending to Ukraine. They also spend time as ever, answering a great selection of listeners’ questi...
Mar 24, 2023•46 min
