Battleground

This week, Saul and Patrick reflect on what has been a busy week both on and off the battlefield. They discuss the significance of Zelnsky’s statement that the Ukrainian counteroffensive may increase in tempo. They also reflect on Igor Girkin’s arrest and whether it could be part of a wider crack down by Putin on Russian ultra-nationalists.  If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them...

In this episode Saul and Patrick speak to Briton Aiden Aslin, who travelled to Ukraine in 2018 and enlisted with the Ukrainian 36th Naval Infantry Brigade. He describes his time on the frontlines in the Donbas before the full scale invasion was launched in February 2022, when he was deployed to Mariupol. Aiden was then surrounded by Russian forces in the Siege of Mariupol where he describes what i...

Analysing a notable week in the war in Ukraine, Saul and Patrick discuss the significance of Ukraines second spectacular attack on the Kerch Bridge, the unrest in the Russian military leadership that has led to multiple sackings and removals, and some further discussion on the use of cluster munitions - whether their effectiveness outweighs the questionable moral implications. If you have any thou...

This week Saul and Patrick speak to Dmytro Plieshakov - a Ukrainian tech entrepreneur, who currently runs a startup focused on countering disinformation, called Osavul. They work closely with the Ukrainian government providing them with AI technology that can identify Russian influence operations online and better counter them. Dmytro describes examples of Russian disinformation campaigns and what...

Reflecting on what has been news packed week, Patrick and Saul analyse the important developments. In Vilnius, the NATO summit has just ended with some signs that tensions are growing between leading Nato members and Kyiv, on the battlefield there are reports that Ukrainian forces are suffering heavy casualties as the counteroffensive grinds on, but there are indications that progress is being mad...

Joining Patrick and Saul for this week's big interview is Belgian journalist - Arnaud De Decker, Arnaud has been reporting from Ukraine for over a year now and has been right up to the front lines, including Bakhmut. He tells us about his close call with a missile strike in Kramatorsk, the changes in the public attitude towards the war in different parts of Ukraine, and more. You can check out his...

On this episode of Battleground: Ukraine, Saul and Patrick discuss the significant events that have come over the last seven days, both on and off the battlefield, including a warning from Ukraine’s President Zelensky that Russia may be planning to blow up the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. They also discuss some fascinating points and questions raised by listeners, including some highlighting...

Joining Saul for this week's big interview is American journalist Joe Lindsley, the escaped protégé of the founder of Fox News, who has not left Ukraine since March 2020, when the pandemic began. At the start of the Russian full scale invasion of Ukraine, Lindsley started Ukrainian Freedom News to bring truth to the world and supplies to Ukraine. He speaks to Saul about his work and experiences, a...

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 Wagn...

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...

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....

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...

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 civilian...

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 u...

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 Zaporizhzh...

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 - bat...

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...

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 i...

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 ca...

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-Kremli...

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 a...

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 geographica...

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...

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 a...

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...