Battleground

In this episode of Battleground Ukraine, hosts Saul David and Roger Moorhouse break down the latest developments in the war, the complexities of international diplomacy, and critical frontline updates.

The episode begins by analysing the recent 90-minute phone call between Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, and Vladimir Putin, which quickly devolved into a lecture on medieval Slavic history with zero mention of a ceasefire.

Moving to the front lines, the hosts examine Operation Velesh, detailing how Ukrainian forces from the Khartiia Corps successfully utilised old gas pipelines to push back Russian troops by 15 kilometres on the Kupiansk front.

The conversation also covers updates on the brief Starshield throttling controversy, Elon Musk's role, and the ongoing digital and cybersecurity challenges facing Ukraine.

Additionally, Saul and Roger look at Melania Trump’s brokered ceasefire in Oleshky alongside lingering concerns over civilian safety and deportations.

Finally, the listener Q&A segment features discussions on WWII leadership comparisons involving Churchill, Putin, and Trump, the UK’s tactical nuclear ambitions with F-35s, nuclear non-proliferation, and broader European political resolve.

Join the Conversation: If you have a question about the war in Ukraine or any of the conflicts we cover, email us at podbattleground@gmail.com

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Producer: James Hodgson

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In this episode of Battleground, host Saul David is joined by acclaimed historian and Pulitzer Prize finalist James M. Scott to discuss his brilliant new book, Empire of Ashes: Truman, Hirohito, and the Descent into Total War.

Completing his gripping decade-long trilogy on the American aerial bombardment of Japan (following Target Tokyo and Black Snow), James delves into the dramatic final four months of the Second World War in the East. Together, Saul and James explore:

• The Scientific & Political Genesis: The massive secret undertaking of the Manhattan Project, the building of secretive atomic cities, and the heavy burden placed on President Harry Truman as he assumed office.
• Emperor Hirohito’s Delicate Peace Push: How the isolated Japanese leader navigated a military desperate for a catastrophic mainland showdown, ultimately pulling his nation back from total destruction.
• The Debate Over Use: The fierce moral and scientific opposition led by figures like Leo Szilard, the calculation of staggering potential invasion casualties, and whether Japan would have surrendered without the atomic bombs.

In the second half of the conversation, the discussion pivots from 1945 to the modern day, examining the ongoing shadow of nuclear proliferation, the threat posed by reckless actors like Putin's Russia, the future of non-proliferation frameworks following actions regarding Iran, and how the existence of nuclear weapons uniquely reshapes global conflict. Finally, James shares his candid perspective on recent geopolitical developments surrounding Ukraine, shifting US policies, and how upcoming midterm elections could completely alter the political landscape.

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Producer: James Hodgson

A Goalhanger Podcast

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If you're interested in supporting Sebastian and Ethan's Driving Ukraine initiative you can find their donation page here: https://donorbox.org/sebastianandethan

And you can find more information about the charity here: https://drivingukraine.org/

In this episode of Battleground Ukraine, Patrick Bishop and Roger Moorhouse examine the shifting geopolitical landscape, rising political turbulence in Europe, and escalating hostility from Washington toward Ukraine.

• French Unrest & Le Pen's Programme: The hosts analyse the political consequences of recent mass disturbances across France, Marine Le Pen's pledge to phase out French bilateral assistance to Ukraine within six months, and comparisons to Italy's Giorgia Meloni and Germany's AfD.
• Washington's Strategic Pivot: A deep dive into Donald Trump's sharp rhetoric against President Zelensky, his decision to bypass the Lindsey Graham sanctions package, pursue a diesel deal with Moscow, and effectively align with Russia.
• Starlink Restrictions & Cyber Update: Reviewing cyber expert David Alexander's report on how speed limits introduced on Starlink/Starshield severely hampered Ukrainian drone defence and military operations.
• A Modern Yalta & St Petersburg Fallout: Discussion surrounding the alarming proposal for a tripartite meeting between Trump, Putin, and Xi Jinping, alongside Steve Witkoff's controversial diplomatic visit to St Petersburg.
• Listener Q&A: Patrick and Roger answer listener questions regarding the true motivations behind the diesel deal, Ukrainian targeting strategies and the Kerch Bridge, why the UK is providing jets to support Saudi Arabia against the Houthis, and whether upcoming US midterms will restrict Trump's foreign policy manoeuvres.

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Producer: James Hodgson

A Goalhanger Podcast

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Around 95% of international internet traffic, as well as vast amounts of energy and data, travels through fibre-optic cables and pipelines resting silently on the ocean floor. Despite being the invisible backbone of modern civilisation, this critical infrastructure remains largely unprotected and increasingly vulnerable to hybrid warfare and deliberate sabotage.

In this episode of The Big Picture, host Roger welcomes Elisabeth Braw, Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council and author of The Undersea War: Ancient Law, Modern Sabotage, and the Struggle for the Ocean Floor.

Together, they dive deep into the hidden vulnerabilities of our global maritime order, discussing:

• The Invisible Backbone: How a network of subsea cables—dating back to Victorian-era telegraph lines—powers our modern daily existence.
• Modern Sabotage & Shadow Fleets: Real-world case studies of subsea damage, including the cutting of Taiwan’s Matsu Islands cables and the "Christmas Day Massacre" in the Gulf of Finland involving the Russian-linked vessel Eagle S.
• Legal Grey Zones: Why UNCLOS (UN Convention on the Law of the Sea) and current international maritime law struggle to hold bad actors accountable in Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs).
• Private Tech Giants as Cable Owners: The geopolitical implications of tech giants like Meta, Google, and Amazon owning subsea infrastructure—and the risks of private cyber-retaliation.
• A Path Forward: Braw’s proposal for an International Seabed Protection Alliance and a tribute to the "cable surgeons" who repair damaged infrastructure under extreme conditions.

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Producer: James Hodgson

A Goalhanger Podcast

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As winter approaches, Ukraine faces escalating pressure on both the battlefield and the diplomatic front. In this episode, Patrick Bishop and Saul David unpack alarming allegations from Kyiv that the U.S. government—via Starshield speed restrictions—temporarily crippled Ukraine's ability to track fast-moving ballistic missiles and coordinate frontline operations.

The hosts analyse President Trump’s campaign to pressure President Zelenskyy into halting deep strikes on Russian energy infrastructure, alongside field reports on the grim conditions inside the fortress city of Sloviansk and the relentless drone threat in Kyiv.

Also in this episode:

• Cyber Warfare Update: David Alexander breaks down recent Ukrainian drone strikes hitting Russia's primary cloud service provider, Yandex, and the arrest of a pro-Kremlin disinformation blogger in Montenegro.
• Listener Q&A: Patrick and Saul answer questions on whether Europe can ever truly bridge the massive intelligence and satellite gap left by the U.S., and examine how Russia is steadily losing its geopolitical hegemony in the South Caucasus and Central Asia.

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Producer: James Hodgson

A Goalhanger Podcast

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In this episode of Battleground The Big Picture, host Patrick Bishop is joined by Oleksandra Matviichuk, head of the Centre for Civil Liberties and recipient of the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize.

Oleksandra discusses the immense human toll of Russia's war on Ukraine, detailing how her team has documented over 100,000 war crimes while striving to return names and dignity to the victims. The conversation explores the urgent push to establish a special international tribunal for the crime of aggression to hold Vladimir Putin and his leadership accountable, the limitations and failures of existing global structures like the International Criminal Court and the United Nations, and the profound resilience of ordinary people in the face of global turbulence.

Tune in for a powerful and thought-provoking discussion on how we can forge a new architecture of international justice, why Europe must move beyond "the weakness of the powerful," and why the defence of human rights matters for the future of the entire world.

Join the Conversation: If you have a question about the war in Ukraine or any of the conflicts we cover, email us at podbattleground@gmail.com

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Producer: James Hodgson

A Goalhanger Podcast

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In this special edition of the Battleground podcast, host Saul David catches up with intrepid Hungarian war reporter Boldizsár Győri following his recent three-week, cross-country journey through Ukraine.

From the shifting, higher-risk atmosphere in Kyiv under new high-speed drone and ballistic threats to a rare media visit inside a Western Ukrainian prisoner of war camp, Boldizsár shares firsthand accounts of what life looks like on the ground. They also dive deep into the brutal conditions in the eastern fortress belt—discussing the intense realities of Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, and an extraordinary visit to the historic Sviatohirsk Monastery caught in the crossfire—alongside a sober look at the latest international diplomatic efforts and the realities of modern artillery and electronic warfare.

Key Topics Covered:

• The New Face of Air Defence & Drones in Kyiv: How faster, AI-assisted Geran drones and new weapon systems have changed the atmosphere and caution levels in the capital.
• POW Camps vs. Russian Prisons: A stark contrast between conditions for Russian POWs in a Western Ukrainian facility and the harrowing imprisonment experienced by a Ukrainian journalist held in Russia.
• Life in the East: The perilous conditions in Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, dwindling civilian populations, and the frontline work of signal intelligence, Caesar howitzers, and HIMARS units.
• The Sviatohirsk Monastery: Visiting centuries-old Orthodox monks and nuns living and surviving amid the ongoing frontline crossfire.
• Geopolitics & Ceasefires: Evaluating the feasibility of proposed energy ceasefires and the current outlook on international support.

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Producer: James Hodgson

A Goalhanger Podcast

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Ukraine’s war with Russia continues to evolve. Roger Moorhouse and Saul David examine Ukraine’s latest gains around Lyman, Russia’s increasingly aggressive “grey-zone” tactics, and the growing threat of the conflict spreading beyond Ukraine.

They also discuss a major German spy scandal, the possibility of a new front in the Baltics, Russia’s costly “meat assaults”, Ukraine’s rapidly developing drone warfare, and whether the war could continue beyond Trump’s presidency.

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Producer: James Hodgson

A Goalhanger Podcast

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In this episode of Battleground: The Big Picture, host Patrick Bishop sits down with veteran international affairs journalist and Economist editor-at-large Xan Smiley to reflect on the shifting geopolitical landscape between Europe, Moscow, and Washington.

Drawing on his years as a former Moscow and Washington bureau chief, Xan reflects on:

• The Fall of the Soviet Order: What life was like inside late-1980s Moscow during the eras of glasnost and perestroika, the sudden collapse of the USSR, and how ordinary Russians fared through the turbulent 1990s privatisation.
• The Evolution of US-Russia Dynamics: From Ronald Reagan’s pivotal shift on Moscow’s "evil empire" to Donald Trump’s unprecedented posture toward Vladimir Putin.
• NATO and Kremlin Narratives: Unpacking the deep-seated Russian psyche of encirclement, the debate around NATO expansion, and the impact on the war in Ukraine.
• The Rise of Global Populism: The forces driving political polarisation and the rise of right-wing populist parties across Europe and America.
• Bright Spots of Progress: Why the economic and democratic transformation of Eastern and Central Europe remains one of the greatest success stories of the post-Cold War era.

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Producer: James Hodgson

A Goalhanger Podcast

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Want to support Matt's charity cycle raising money for SuperHumans? You can find his donation page here. http://www.justgiving.com/page/u2u

In this episode of Battleground, hosts Patrick Bishop and Roger Moorhouse dive into the latest developments from the front lines in Ukraine, featuring a deep dive into the successful "Operation Vivaldi" counteroffensive in the Donbas. Later, Belgian war correspondent Arnaud De Decker joins to share insights from his exclusive, behind-the-scenes interview with Robert Brovdi (aka "Magyar"), head of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces.

Key Topics Covered:

• Operation Vivaldi: How Ukraine liberated over 250 square kilometres in the Donbas using ground-dropping robots, heavy bomber drones, and clever deception tactics (Maskirovka).
• Inside the Underground Command: Journalist Arnaud De Decker describes his high-security journey to a secret command centre monitoring live battlefield feeds across hundreds of screens.
• Exclusive Interview Insights with "Magyar": Robert Brovdi’s take on why deep-strike drone attacks in Russia are only 5% of daily missions, the strategic goal of replacing infantry with unmanned systems, and the chilling prospects of autonomous AI warfare.
• Life in Kyiv & Winter Expectations: Frontline realities versus civil resilience in Kyiv as winter approaches under changing Russian drone tactics.
• Cyber Warfare & Mailbag: A report on Poland's Cyber Legion initiative and listener questions on the future of tanks and European missile defence systems.

Join the Conversation: If you have a question about the war in Ukraine or any of the conflicts we cover, email us at podbattleground@gmail.com

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Producer: James Hodgson

A Goalhanger Podcast

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In this episode of Battleground: The Big Picture, host Julius Strauss is joined by prominent Canadian political columnist and author Andrew Coyne to analyse the escalating trade tensions and unprecedented strain on Canada–US relations.

The discussion covers the political shift in Canada following Mark Carney's election, the collapse of recent trade negotiations, the impact of US tariffs, and the broader threat posed to Canadian economic sovereignty.

Julius Strauss writes the blog Back from the Front and also owns and runs Wild Bear Lodge, a bear-viewing lodge, in Canada. Check out both in the links below:

Substack: https://backfromthefront.substack.com/

Wild Bear Lodge: https://wildbearlodge.ca/

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Producer: James Hodgson

A Goalhanger Podcast

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In this episode of Battleground Ukraine, Saul David and Roger Moorhouse analyse the geopolitical fallout of Donald Trump signing the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, his push for Ukraine to halt refinery strikes, and President Volodymyr Zelensky’s proposal for a mutual energy ceasefire. They break down actual battlefield numbers versus Moscow’s exaggerated claims, how Australia’s Slinger counter-drone system is helping return armour to the front line, and a dire humanitarian situation in Russian-occupied Oleshky.

Plus, a deep dive into the latest cyber warfare—from the UK’s new National Centre for Information Defence to high-profile election hacks and state-sponsored cyber operations—followed by listener questions on striking Russian infrastructure, national resilience, and UK defence procurement reform.

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A Goalhanger Podcast

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In this episode of Battleground: The Big Picture, host Saul David sits down with prize-winning, internationally bestselling historian Simon Sebag Montefiore to discuss his book, The Cauldron: The Making of the Modern Middle East.

Montefiore shares the intense, challenging process behind crafting a fact-based, source-grounded history of the region from 1900 to the present day—a project designed to cut through modern social media disinformation, anti-factual discourse, and toxic polarisation. He highlights the importance of moving beyond a narrow, traditional lens to recognise neglected humanitarian crises in North Africa, Syria, and Sudan, emphasising that every human life carries equal moral weight.

The conversation explores key historical turning points across four distinct phases of modern Middle Eastern history:

• The agency of local regional leaders, contrasting self-made figures like King Abdulaziz Al Saud with traditional top-down imperial narratives.
• The complex collapse of the Ottoman Empire, early nationalist movements, and the tragic targeting of minorities such as the Armenians.
• Strategic military lessons drawn from historical operations like the 1976 Entebbe raid and why lasting security requires political compromise alongside military capability.
• The deeper, overarching battle of ideas within Islam, contrasting radical revolutionary Islamism with more open-minded, cosmopolitan visions.
• The forgotten origin story of the region's modern borders, explaining how most Middle Eastern nation-states were created in the wake of the two World Wars.

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Producer: James Hodgson

A Goalhanger Podcast

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In this episode of Battleground Ukraine, Saul David and Patrick Bishop examine the latest geopolitical fallout following Jared Kushner’s controversial peace deal statements and Donald Trump’s calls for Ukraine to halt energy strikes. They unpack the domestic political implications—including the passing of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act—and analyse whether the administration's stance crosses the line into treason.

• Geopolitical & Diplomatic Turbulence: The hosts discuss Jared Kushner's claims that an agreement has been reached on all issues except territorial ones, why his logic is fundamentally flawed, and how Russian officials contradicted his claims. They also examine the funding behind Donald Trump Jr.'s wedding by a Russian oligarch.
• US Legislative Action: A look at the Senate and House passing aggressive new sanctions against Russia's energy, defence, and shadow fleet sectors, overriding opposition despite pressure on Ukraine.
• Front-line Dynamics & Deep Strikes: According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Ukrainian forces have contested the initiative and launched successful counter-attacks in Kupiansk, Oleksandrivka, and Lyman. Meanwhile, Ukraine launched its deepest strike yet—hitting gas facilities nearly 3,000 kilometres inside Russia.
• Escalations Near NATO Borders: Analysis of Russian hybrid warfare, including a drone downed in Lithuania by Italian NATO jets, a strike on a Ukrainian train station just after Boris Johnson passed through, and a Russian frigate firing flares at a Danish helicopter.
• Russian High Command Losses: The elimination of two more senior Russian officers—Lt. Gen. Sergei Milshukov and Maj. Gen. Anton Grunis—bringing the total to 24 generals lost in the conflict.
• Cyber Updates & Disinformation: How pro-Ukrainian operations hit Russian networks with massive DDoS attacks, and how the Russian group Matryoshka launched targeted disinformation campaigns following German regional elections.
• Listener Questions: Saul and Patrick answer questions about EU-China trade tit-for-tats over sanctions, the military and ethical pitfalls of targeting Russian oligarchs, Ukraine's growing domestic ballistic missile capabilities, and why casualty figures haven't sparked a domestic uprising in Russia.

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Producer: James Hodgson

A Goalhanger Podcast

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In this episode of Battleground: The Big Picture, host Patrick Bishop is joined by publisher and military historian Iain MacGregor to explore how the past illuminates the present and future of warfare. Drawing from his book Battle: The Moments That Transformed Warfare From Ancient Greece to Ukraine, MacGregor discusses the enduring principles of war—morale, leadership, innovation, subterfuge, and numbers—across history's pivotal conflicts.

Key Highlights

• The Human Element & Family History: MacGregor shares how his family's military lineage inspired his focus on the lived experiences of ordinary soldiers rather than just high-level strategy.
• Morale on the Battlefield: A comparative look at the Ukrainian defence of Kyiv versus Russian public sentiment. MacGregor offers first-hand insights into how ordinary Russians endure conflict and view state patriotism.
• Leadership in Modern Conflict: The conversation examines modern political and military leadership, contrasting domestic command structures with international coalition responses.
• Game-Changing Innovation: MacGregor discusses the evolution of war-altering tech—from historical turning points like radar and armour to the cost-effective, high-impact role of drones on the modern battlefield.
• Subterfuge & Satellite Surveillance: Why traditional mass-scale military deceptions are yielding to modern intelligence, drone technology, and digital information warfare.
• Democracies and Casualty Tolerances: An exploration of how public information and civilian backing shape military capabilities in Western democracies compared to authoritarian regimes.

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A Goalhanger Podcast

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In this special standalone edition, host Roger Moorhouse and co-host Patrick Bishop speak with intrepid war reporter Boldizsár "Boldi" Győri following his latest trip to Ukraine. Boldi provides a vivid look into the current atmosphere in Kyiv, where residents face modified S-300 and S-400 Russian missile strikes with minimal warning and a shortage of Patriot interceptor missiles. Despite the air campaign, he highlights that civilian morale remains intact, supported by local preparations for the coming winter and a deep connection to those serving at the front.

Boldi recounts his experiences on the front line in the east, detailing the extreme isolation of infantrymen supplied by expendable, Mars-rover-like ground drones in the grey zone. He describes travelling with the 24th Brigade near Kramatorsk, following middle-aged green recruits—former miners, taxi drivers, and salesmen—as veteran "reconnaissance infantrymen" give them crash courses before navigating heavily targeted, drone-saturated terrain.

The episode also covers the gradual evacuation of Kramatorsk under the threat of Russian FPV drones and glide bombs, the harsh economic realities for internally displaced families and pensioners, and the inspiring story of former Mariupol POWs who survived captivity and returned to Kyiv to build their own veteran-run clothing brand.

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Hosts Patrick Bishop and Roger Moorhouse examine the latest US-led diplomatic efforts following meetings between Donald Trump's envoys—Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff—and leaders in Moscow and Kyiv. They unpack the lack of concrete diplomatic breakthroughs, Witkoff's controversial comments to Vladimir Putin, and Volodymyr Zelensky's calls for winter air defence support.

The hosts also analyse Owen Matthews’ bleak assessment of Ukraine's war efforts in The Spectator, contrasting his pessimistic outlook with tactical Ukrainian successes around Lyman, where forces liberated 200 square kilometres. They discuss the "pervasive culture of lying" within the Russian military identified by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), $27 billion in unexpected budget shortfalls reported by Kyiv, and potential mass mobilisation rumours driving young Russian men to flee.

Finally, marking the 25th anniversary of 9/11, Patrick and Roger reflect on how global perception of US leadership has transformed since 2001. In the Q&A section, they respond to listener inquiries regarding the rise of far-right political parties in Europe and their stance on Ukraine, the current status of the military campaign in Crimea, escalation risks in cyber warfare, and shifting youth attitudes towards military service and national defence.

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In this episode of Battleground: The Big Picture, Roger Moorhouse is joined by Bojan Pancevski, Chief Political Correspondent for Europe at The Wall Street Journal and author of The Nord Stream Conspiracy. Together, they unravel the audacious plot behind the autumn 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines, examining how a small team of operatives allegedly carried out the most significant act of modern industrial sabotage on a shoestring budget. Pancevski reveals details from inside both the Ukrainian team and the German investigation, exploring how the CIA caught wind of the plan, why Western allies tried to stop it, and how Poland attempted to derail the German probe.

They also break down the collapse of Germany’s long-standing Wandel durch Handel energy policy, analyse the upcoming high-stakes trial in Hamburg, and confront the wild conspiracy theories—from Seymour Hersh to Russian false-flag narratives—that surrounded the attack. Finally, Pancevski offers his sharp assessment of Donald Trump's diplomatic stance toward Putin and Zelenskyy, and discusses what this dangerous precedent means for the future of global critical infrastructure.

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In this episode, Saul David and Roger Moorhouse analyze the recent escalation in long-range aerial strikes, including Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian logistics sites, as well as severe Russian missile raids on Kyiv and Odesa's power infrastructure. They discuss Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s direct comments to Vladimir Putin at the BRICS summit, Germany's official findings on the Russian hybrid drone attack at Leipzig/Halle airport, and the complex legal parallel of the upcoming Nord Stream trial in Hamburg. They also examine Ukraine's significant counterattack near Lyman and report on heavy Russian military losses in Donetsk.

Later, cybersecurity expert David Alexander joins the podcast to explore the history of state-sponsored cyber operations—from the 2007 attack on Estonia to pre-positioned malware in critical infrastructure. He discusses NATO's legal frameworks under the Tallinn Manual, the realities of offensive cyber capabilities, and the emerging risks posed by AI-driven tools like Mythos. Finally, Saul and Roger answer listener questions regarding thermobaric weapons, civilian evacuations, and Belarus’s precarious strategic position.

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In this episode of The Big Picture, host Patrick Bishop is joined by former soldier, military entrepreneur, and author Tim Spicer.

Patrick and Tim discuss Tim’s latest book, An Axe and Four Balloons, which tells the story of Brian Franks—the former Etonian and hotel manager who became a wartime commando and is credited with saving the SAS from extinction after the Second World War. Tim explores Franks’s military career, from his early days in the Middlesex Yeomanry and commando raids in the desert, to leading 2 SAS during the perilous Operation Loyton in the Vosges Mountains and his post-war hunt for German war criminals.

The discussion broadens into big-picture concepts of military philosophy and modern society. Tim reflects on the nature of leadership and shares his definition of courage as "the management of fear." They also examine the qualities of historical mavericks, whether modern political leadership is lacking, and whether the youth of today would step up to defend their country if called upon.

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Producer: James Hodgson

A Goalhanger Podcast

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