Battleground

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In this special episode from Ukraine, the Battleground team visits Odesa to document the devastating impact of Russia’s winter strategy on the city's critical infrastructure.

We go inside a key electrical substation—one of over 40 hit by drone attacks—to witness firsthand the "horrendous" damage caused by waves of Shaheed drones and speak with the resilient workers keeping the lights on in freezing conditions.

The episode also explores the war's "harder to see" wounds through a visit to a discreet clinic in Odesa. There, we meet Olga, a former London-based professional who returned home to establish a unique rehabilitation centre.

She shares her mission to treat the psychological trauma and physical scars of returning soldiers and their families, operating under extreme conditions where even the clinic’s location must remain a secret for safety.

If you would like to support Olga and her team you can do so here - https://www.caresukraine.com/vsesylini_donate/

Join the Conversation: If you have a question about the war in Ukraine or any of the conflicts we cover, email us at [email protected]

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Producer: James Hodgson

A Goalhanger Podcast
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In this episode of Battleground Ukraine, hosts Saul David and Roger Morehouse explore a series of significant developments that suggest a shifting tide in the conflict.

Political Controversy in Budapest: A look at US Vice President JD Vance’s recent speech in Hungary, his support for Victor Orbán, and the implications of his "outrageous" claims regarding foreign electoral interference.

Revolutionary Drone Warfare: For the first time in history, a drone-led operation—using the British-made Malloy T150—successfully brought down a Russian-held bridge over a tributary of the Dnipro River.

Strategic Strikes on Russian Oil: Despite calls from allies to stop, Ukraine continues its precision strikes on Russian oil hubs and refineries, including targets near Moscow and the Baltic port of Primorsk, to choke off Russian war profits.

MI6 Assessment & Frontline Success: With reports indicating that Ukraine’s defenses are at their most secure in 10 months, we analyze recent gains near Avdiivka and the impact of the stalling Russian spring-summer offensive.

Systemic Brutality in the Russian Ranks: A deep dive into reports from The Economist regarding the horrific conditions, corruption, and exploitation faced by Russian soldiers at the front.

Cybersecurity & "Cat Feeder" Comms: How Russian citizens are using creative methods—from Duolingo to video-enabled cat feeders—to bypass the Kremlin’s crackdown on VPNs and messaging apps.

Saul and Roger also answer listener questions regarding the security of the Baltic states and the potential impact of a change in US administration on military aid.

Join the Conversation: If you have a question about the war in Ukraine or any of the conflicts we cover, email us at [email protected]

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Producer: James Hodgson

A Goalhanger Podcast
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In this special episode, Saul David is joined by joined from Budapest by friends of the show Julius Strauss and Boldizsár Győri to analyse the high-stakes Hungarian election taking place this Sunday, April 12.

With Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s 16-year grip on power facing a severe threat from challenger Péter Magyar and the Tisa party, the team investigates a "cemetery of skeletons" emerging from the ruling government.

The discussion uncovers explosive revelations, including hard evidence that the Hungarian Foreign Minister has acted as a Russian asset by leaking EU secrets directly to Moscow and lobbying for the removal of Russian oligarchs from sanctions lists. The hosts also explore reports of a thwarted Russian "false flag" assassination plot against Orbán and the discovery of explosives near the Serbian border designed to stir voter fear.

As the polls show the ruling Fidesz party trailing, the episode evaluates potential post-election scenarios, from the possibility of civil unrest and splits within the security forces to the broader implications for NATO and the EU. Finally, the team examines the global context of the race, including the impact of U.S. figures like JD Vance and how the escalating conflict in the Middle East is inadvertently bolstering Russia’s war chest through rising oil prices.

Join the Conversation: If you have a question about the war in Ukraine or any of the conflicts we cover, email us at [email protected]

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Producer: James Hodgson

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In this edition of Battleground Ukraine, Roger Moorhouse and Patrick Bishop explore a week where the geography of the war has expanded significantly—both through daring long-range strikes and complex global diplomacy.

We begin with an analysis of Ukraine’s concerted offensive against Russian oil infrastructure in the Baltic. With repeated strikes on the Primorsk and Ust-Luga terminals, Kyiv is hitting the Kremlin where it hurts most: the wallet. We examine how these attacks are effectively neutralising the financial "boon" Putin hoped to reap from rising global oil prices following recent escalations in the Persian Gulf.

Later in the program, Patrick Bishop interviews author Julian Evans about his acclaimed book, Undefeatable: Odesa in Love and War.

Join the Conversation: If you have a question about the war in Ukraine or any of the conflicts we cover, email us at [email protected]

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Producer: James Hodgson

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In this instalment of our Special Forces series, Patrick Bishop and Saul David pivot from Allied triumphs to examine a daring operation from the "enemy" perspective: the 1943 rescue of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini.

Following the Allied invasion of Sicily and a vote of no confidence from his own council, Mussolini was arrested and whisked away to a remote ski resort 2,112 meters high in the Apennine Mountains. While the new Italian government hoped to use him as a bargaining chip, Adolf Hitler had other plans—ordering his "favourite commando," the scarred and imposing Otto Skorzeny, to spring his old ally from captivity.

In this episode, we deconstruct Operation Oak, exploring:


The Myth vs. The Reality: How Skorzeny, a master of self-promotion, elbowed his way into the limelight and took credit for an operation primarily executed by German paratroopers (Fallschirmjäger).


The Silent Approach: Why the Germans chose high-risk glider landings over traditional parachutes to achieve total silence and surprise.


A Propaganda Masterstroke: Why the rescue was ultimately a "damp squib" militarily, serving as a desperate PR stunt for a Nazi regime facing defeat on all fronts.


The Shadowy Afterlife: Skorzeny’s post-war exploits, from escaping internment to advising world leaders in Egypt and Argentina, and the chilling allegations of his work for Mossad.

Join us as we unmask the "most dangerous man in Europe" and reveal how a "special operation" was born more out of vanity and propaganda than strategic necessity.

Join the Conversation: If you have a question about the war in Ukraine or any of the conflicts we cover, email us at [email protected]

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Producer: James Hodgson

A Goalhanger Podcast
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