Explaining Ukraine

Although Russia claims to be waging a war against the so-called West, no other country has officially deployed its military to fight alongside Ukraine. Instead, thousands of individuals from across the globe have made the personal choice to join the Ukrainian defense. Who are these foreign volunteers risking their lives to fight the Russian invasion? What motivates them? What challenges do they face, both on the front lines and back home? How can international military cooperation be improved?
You are listening to the Explaining Ukraine podcast.

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Explaining Ukraine is a podcast by UkraineWorld, an English-language media outlet run by Internews Ukraine.

Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher, chief editor of UkraineWorld, and president of PEN Ukraine.

Guest: Colin Freeman, freelance foreign affairs reporter for the Daily Telegraph. Colin has reported widely on British fighters in Ukraine.

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Listen on various platforms: https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine
UkraineWorld: https://ukraineworld.org/en

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SUPPORT:
You can support our work on https://www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld
Your help is crucial, as we rely heavily on crowdfunding.

You can also contribute to our volunteer missions to frontline areas in Ukraine, where we deliver aid to both soldiers and civilians.
Donations are welcome via PayPal at: [email protected].

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CONTENTS:

00:03 Intro. The topic of the episode
01:43 Why studying the involvement of foreign soldiers in the Russian-Ukrainian war?
04:11 How many foreign soldiers are estimated to have fought for Ukraine, and why is it so difficult to get exact figures?
06:23 Do European governments encourage their citizens to fight in Ukraine, and how does their stance compare to Russia's recruitment of foreign fighters?
08:56 What is the primary motivation of foreign volunteers for fighting given their modest salary?
09:47 What different types of foreign volunteers exist, from professional soldiers seeking combat experience to "war tourists," and how useful were they on the battlefield?
14:08 Was the initial attempt to integrate foreign fighters through the International Legion largely a success or failure - or both?
15:29 What specific bureaucratic and logistical problems did the Ukrainian army face in integrating foreign volunteers, including language barriers and lack of preparation?
20:11 Why are home governments, like the British, seemingly hesitant to tap into the combat experience of their citizens returning from Ukraine?
26:54 Does the current "blindness" of European governments to this unique combat experience echo historical parallels, like the Spanish Civil War, with potential cultural and military consequences?
30:18 If Ukraine needs more soldiers, how can it improve its recruitment and integration of foreign volunteers to avoid the mistakes of 2022?
34:43 What crucial lessons should European militaries and governments learn from the foreign fighters' experiences in Ukraine for future conflicts?

On March 16, 2022, the Russian army committed one of the gravest war crimes of its invasion of Ukraine. It dropped air bombs on the Mariupol Drama Theatre, knowing that around a thousand civilians were sheltering inside, seeking refuge from Russian shelling. It did so despite the huge inscriptions reading “Children” — written in Russian on both sides of the theatre — clearly visible from the air as a warning to any potential bomber.

In this episode, we analyse this crime with the help of a journalist who spent several years speaking with dozens of survivors. You are listening to the Explaining Ukraine podcast.

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Explaining Ukraine is a podcast by UkraineWorld, an English-language media outlet run by Internews Ukraine.

Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher, Chief Editor of UkraineWorld, and President of PEN Ukraine.

Guest: James Verini, an American journalist and book writer who wrote for The New York Times and other papers. He recently published a book, The Theater: Courage and Survival in the Defining Atrocity of the Ukraine War. The book was published this year by Simon & Schuster.

Link to the book: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Theater/James-Verini/9781668062203

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Listen on various platforms: https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine
UkraineWorld: https://ukraineworld.org/en

***
SUPPORT:
You can support our work on https://www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld
Your help is crucial, as we rely heavily on crowdfunding.

You can also contribute to our volunteer missions to frontline areas in Ukraine, where we deliver aid to both soldiers and civilians.
Donations are welcome via PayPal at: [email protected].

***
CONTENTS:

0:00 Intro
2:40 Why does the guest call the Mariupol drama theater bombing the "defining atrocity" of the Russian war against Ukraine?
5:48 What made Mariupol particularly vulnerable to the Russian siege and bombardment?
8:51 What were the devastating living conditions for civilians in Mariupol during the siege?
9:48 Why did people consider the Mariupol drama theater a safe shelter, and how was it designated as such?
13:05 How did the theater's staff and volunteers manage to transform it into a functioning refugee shelter for thousands?
15:50 When did the bombardment of the theater occur, and why is it significant that "Children" was clearly written outside?
21:28 What were the immediate consequences of the direct bomb hits on the theater, and how did they cause such lethality?
24:49 How did the journalist connect with and interview dozens of survivors to document their experiences?
31:32 How is Russia attempting to erase the memory and culture of Ukraine in occupied Mariupol?
35:10 What is the historical context of neglecting and building over the dead in Mariupol, and how does it relate to current events?
40:10 How has the Greek heritage of Mariupol been affected by the Russian invasion and occupation?
45:37 What was the significance of the defense of Azovstal in Mariupol's story, and how did it impact civilians?
47:29 What is the final message regarding the Mariupol drama theater bombing and its implications for the war?

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Photo credit (James Verini’s portrait): Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.

The Russian army is hunting people in Kherson, a major city in the southern part of Ukraine. It is estimated that 700 Russian drones attack Kherson region every day. Russian soldiers are targeting Ukrainian civilians, their cars, and their homes, as if they were on a safari.

On the occupied lands of the Kherson region, on the left bank of the Dnipro River, the situation is even worse. There, the Russian army is implementing the tactics of a 'drone blockade.' People cannot leave their villages, they cannot buy food, and they cannot even bury their dead. The situation is catastrophic, and Russia is continuously breaking international humanitarian law. These people must be rescued urgently.

You’re listening to the Explaining Ukraine podcast.

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Explaining Ukraine is brought to you by UkraineWorld, an English-language media outlet run by Internews Ukraine.

Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher, Chief Editor of UkraineWorld, and President of PEN Ukraine.

Guest: Zarina Zabrisky, an American journalist and writer who now lives in Kherson. She is the author of the documentary 'Kherson. Human Safari,' which explores Russia’s continuous tactics of exterminating the population of the city. You can find our previous conversation about this film here on this podcast: https://ukraineworld.org/en/podcasts/ep-384

Now, she is also working to draw attention to the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding on the Russian-occupied lands of the Kherson region.

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Listen on various platforms: https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine
UkraineWorld: https://ukraineworld.org/en

***
SUPPORT:
You can support our work on https://www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld
Your help is crucial, as we rely heavily on crowdfunding.
You can also contribute to our volunteer missions to frontline areas in Ukraine, where we deliver aid to both soldiers and civilians.
Donations are welcome via PayPal at: [email protected].

***
CONTENTS:

00:03 What is the current catastrophic situation in Kherson and Kherson region, with continuous Russian drone attacks and violations of international humanitarian law?
04:54 How has the situation in Kherson deteriorated with constant drone attacks, and what does the term "human safari" imply?
06:34 What are the new and undetectable fiber optic drones being used by Russians, and how do they pose an increased threat?
09:59 How significantly have drone attacks intensified in the Kherson region, with alarming daily and hourly statistics?
13:01 What extreme safety measures do Kherson residents employ to navigate a city constantly under threat from drones, mines, and falling debris?
15:06 How does Kherson continue to function with public transportation, taxis, and even food delivery?
18:36 Are Russian forces deliberately using guided bombs and training drone pilots by targeting Ukrainian civilians in Kherson?
23:27 What is the "drone blockade" tactic implemented by Russians in the occupied territories of the Kherson region?
36:35 What are the unbearable living conditions in Russian-occupied towns and villages of the Kherson region, including lack of food, heating, medical care, and the tragic "burial crisis"?
40:14 What evacuation options are being considered for the people trapped in the occupied territories, and what are the challenges involved?
41:53 Why are Russians intentionally creating such horrific conditions in occupied territories, from using civilians as human shields to property seizure and ethnic cleansing?
46:16 What actions can the international community, including NGOs, governments, and individuals, take to address the genocide unfolding in occupied Kherson?
49:11 What gives Zarina Zabrisky hope amidst the difficult and horrific conditions she witnesses daily in Kherson?

Ukraine has won time for Europe. A vast amount of time. But the price of this time has been tremendous. It is measured not in money, but in human lives. Dozens of towns and hundreds of villages have been destroyed. Occupied territories, occupied people, occupied lives—an occupied future.

Europe helps, and it helps a lot. The Ukrainian economy would be in a far more difficult situation without European financial aid. Europe has also provided armaments and political support. Yet, many in Ukraine feel that the time we won for Europe is not being used properly—or is even being wasted. It seems Europe has yet to learn from the Ukrainian experience, our successes, and our mistakes. The continent remains far from becoming a true security union, and its defense industries still behave as if we are living in a time of peace—or as if they are preparing for the wars of the past, not the future.

Is this diagnosis correct? And what must Europe do to respond to these challenges more effectively?
You’re listening to the Explaining Ukraine podcast.

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Explaining Ukraine is a project by UkraineWorld, an English-language media outlet run by Internews Ukraine.

Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher, Chief Editor of UkraineWorld, and President of PEN Ukraine.

Guest: Dr. Moritz Schularick, President of the Kiel Institute for the World Economy in Germany and Professor of Economics at Sciences Po in France.

A report by Kiel Institute that we discuss in this podcast: https://www.kielinstitut.de/publications/time-to-spend-smart-19558/

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This episode was produced in cooperation with Politeia, a Ukrainian NGO.

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Listen on various platforms: https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine
UkraineWorld: https://ukraineworld.org/en

***
SUPPORT:
You can support our work on https://www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld
Your help is crucial, as we rely heavily on crowdfunding.

You can also contribute to our volunteer missions to frontline areas in Ukraine, where we deliver aid to both soldiers and civilians.

Donations are welcome via PayPal at: [email protected].

***
CONTENTS:
00:03 - Intro. Ukraine has won time for Europe, but is Europe using this time properly?
03:59 - Is Europe's financial support for Ukraine growing, and why does its defense potential not match its perceived strength?
07:59 - What are the fundamental inefficiencies undermining Europe's significant defense spending?
11:59 - How can Europe "spend smarter" by leveraging its economic strengths in defense?
15:59 - How can Europe overcome national protectionism and unify its fragmented defense industry? The challenge is to move beyond expensive national procurement and "interoperability" to achieve true "interchangeability" and standardization across European militaries.
19:59 - Why is Europe's procurement process so slow, and how does it hinder adaptation to wartime needs?
23:59 - Can promoting horizontal cooperation and flexible funding overcome bureaucratic hurdles in European defense? Suggestions include establishing fast-track wartime procedures and promoting direct, horizontal relations between European startups and Ukrainian military units, possibly with flexible funds managed by private entities.
27:59 - What is the economic rationale for joint European defense financing through shared borrowing and assets?
31:59 - How has Russia financed its war effort, and what short-term mechanisms has it relied upon?
35:59 - What are the current vulnerabilities and long-term economic fragilities facing Russia's war economy?

In recent months, Ukrainian deep strikes into Russia have outnumbered Russian strikes on Ukraine. Ukraine has managed to build its military capacities practically from scratch, while Russia has made very little technological progress since 2022. Furthermore, Russia is losing more and more people on the frontline, even as the pace of its advance slows down. Does this mean Ukraine can win the war?

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This is the “Explaining Ukraine” podcast.

Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher, chief editor of UkraineWorld, and president of PEN Ukraine.

Guest: Lesia Ogryzko, a Ukrainian expert in international relations and security, the co-founder and director of the Sahaidachnyi Security Centre, a Ukrainian think tank. She is also the head of the reforms support office of Ukraine’s defence ministry.

Sahaidachnyi Security Centre: https://sahasec.org

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Explaining Ukraine is produced by UkraineWorld and brought to you by Internews Ukraine.

This episode is also produced in cooperation with Politeia, a Ukrainian NGO.

***
Listen on various platforms: https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine
UkraineWorld: https://ukraineworld.org/en

***
SUPPORT:
You can support our work on https://www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld
Your help is crucial, as we rely heavily on crowdfunding.

You can also contribute to our volunteer missions to frontline areas in Ukraine, where we deliver aid to both soldiers and civilians.
Donations are welcome via PayPal at: [email protected].

***
CONTENTS:

0:03 - Introduction: Ukraine's recent military successes, including deep strikes and self-built capacities, raise the question: can Ukraine win the war?
2:05 - Why Ukrainians believe Russia can be defeated: a historical perspective of Russia’s previous collapses
5:01 - How warfare innovation on the front line is rapidly accelerating, with a 6-8 week feedback loop for technology deployment.
9:09 - Why Ukraine has to adopt an asymmetric strategy for Russia's "terminal defeat," dismantling its war-waging capacity, rather than fighting a symmetrical "small Soviet army against a big Soviet army" war.
10:36 - Asymmetric pillars include next-generation deep strikes over 3,000 km into Russia and scaled special operations/cognitive warfare within Russian territory.
13:02 - How Western partners show surprising hesitancy despite NATO's 2022 concept identifying Russia as the primary threat, and Russia's systemic sub-threshold warfare across Europe is often met with non-responsive actions.
16:34 - Why ignoring Russian hybrid attacks won't deter them; Russia, acting on "Gopnik logic," only retreats when forcefully confronted.
21:01 - Risks of a broader conflict and Euroscepticism in Ukraine
24:10 - Ukraine's deep strikes outnumbered Russia's in March 2026, significantly decreasing Russia's oil refining and export capabilities.
31:26 - A "golden opportunity" exists for Ukraine and Europe to partner, when Ukraine would provide battlefield innovation, and Europe would scale production.