Ukraine Without Hype

Latest Episodes:

Episode 66: The Russian Hand Behind the Polish Trucking Blockade Nov 30, 2023

Show notes

In this episodes...

02:30 - The Kyiv Independent releases a new documentary (which I narrated) on the torture of Ukrainian POWs in Russian custody

03:41 - In the Start of Winter, a huge storm hits the Black Sea while Russia ups its drone attacks on Kyiv in the early phases of an expected winter campaign against energy infrastructure.

10:03 - Putin gives a speech reaffirming his maximalist goals of reforging the Russian Empire while the Russian Supreme Court declares LGBT people to be extremists

20:52 - In the headline story, the Polish trucker blockade on the Ukrainian border, which is blocking Ukrainian humanitarian goods, has clear Russian influence behind it.

31:00 - The "Scythian Gold" that had been locked in legal limbo after the illegal annexation of Crimea has finally returned home to Kyiv.

Links

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XQxveVhfuI&ab_channel=KyivIndependent

Twitter

Anthony: @Bartaway

Romeo: @RomeoKokriatski

Ukraine Without Hype: @HypeUkraine

Patreon

https://www.patreon.com/UkraineWithoutHype

Resources and Charities

https://linktr.ee/ukrainewithouthype

Music

Hey Sokoli (Traditional)

Episode 65: Ten Years of Revolution, the Anniversary of Euromaidan with Olga Tokariuk Nov 24, 2023

Show notes

Olga Tokariuk is a Ukrainian journalist and Chatham Fellow who was there when the history of Ukraine - and the world - changed forever on the night of November 21, 2013. Former President Yanukovych had gone back on his promises of European Association, and fully chose Russia. What followed was protests turned into Revolution, and Revolution turned into a war to defend the very existence of the Ukrainian people.

We look back at that time 10 years ago, and what it means now.

Olga's Links

Twitter: @olgatokariuk

https://www.linkedin.com/in/olga-tokariuk/

Twitter

Anthony: @Bartaway

Romeo: @RomeoKokriatski

Ukraine Without Hype: @HypeUkraine

Patreon

https://www.patreon.com/UkraineWithoutHype

Resources and Charities

https://linktr.ee/ukrainewithouthype

Music

Hey Sokoli (Traditional)

Episode 64: A Russian Pogrom Nov 18, 2023

Show notes

In this episode...

00:01:11 - Combat update - Avdiivka will be the focal point of the war for at least the rest of the year.

00:07:26 - General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Commander in Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, writes an article in the Economist about what Ukraine needs to break out of attritional "positional" war.

00:27:11 - Russian soldiers slaughter a family for not giving up their home.

00:30:50 - A pogrom at an airport in Dagestan shows where the Russian government would prefer internal frustrations be pointed.

00:46:48 - Ukraine is set to take a step forward with its EU candidate status next month.

Links

Zaluzhniy's Article: https://infographics.economist.com/2023/ExternalContent/ZALUZHNYI_FULL_VERSION.pdf

Twitter

Anthony: @Bartaway

Romeo: @RomeoKokriatski

Ukraine Without Hype: @HypeUkraine

Patreon

https://www.patreon.com/UkraineWithoutHype

Resources and Charities

https://linktr.ee/ukrainewithouthype

Music

Hey Sokoli (Traditional)

Episode 63: Why There Won't Be Elections, But What If There Were? Nov 04, 2023

Show notes

Some outside pressure is asking why Ukraine won't be having wartime elections. We start by going over why that would be impossible, then dig deeper into Ukrainian electoral politics and would would come of an election.

00:01:24 - Holding elections in Ukraine would be illegal, dangerous, and logistically insurmountable.

00:14:53 - A pretty confusing bill is in the works to allow for elections anyway.

00:30:51 - Ukrainian civics lesson 101

00:37:43 - What are Ukraine's political parties?

00:56:08 - What happens with the formerly "pro-Russian" vote?

01:03:31 - Would Zelensky win re-election?

01:07:25 - Might Zelensky not run for re-election?

01:12:00 - The controversial character Oleksiy Arestovych has announced his Presidential campaign.

Twitter

Anthony: @Bartaway

Romeo: @RomeoKokriatski

Ukraine Without Hype: @HypeUkraine

Patreon

https://www.patreon.com/UkraineWithoutHype

Resources and Charities

https://linktr.ee/ukrainewithouthype

Music

Hey Sokoli (Traditional)

Episode 62: Assault on the Fortress-City of Avdiivka Oct 25, 2023

Show notes

In this episode...

00:42 - Anthony recounts a reporting trip to Kharkiv and back to the former Kakhovka Reservoir

07:42 - Russia launches a massive assault on Avdiivka, and takes massive casualties in the process. Meanwhile, Ukraine launched a large but secretive incursion across the Dnipro River.

22:12 - The newly arrived ATACMS missiles from the US devastate Russia's helicopter fleet stationed at Berdyansk, but they still aren't quite what was wanted.

26:43 - The trial of five police officers involved in brutally suppressing Euromaidan reaches an unsatisfying conclusion.

36:30 - Ukraine moves forward with legislation that could allow for same-sex partnerships.

41:20 - The Polish elections look like a win for the opposition, but either way, it looks good for Ukraine.

Twitter

Anthony: @Bartaway

Romeo: @RomeoKokriatski

Ukraine Without Hype: @HypeUkraine

Patreon

https://www.patreon.com/UkraineWithoutHype

Resources and Charities

https://linktr.ee/ukrainewithouthype

Music

Hey Sokoli (Traditional)

Episode 61: Gaza War - Understanding An Unfolding Tragedy With Joey Ayoub Oct 18, 2023

Show notes

We are joined by Joey Ayoub, PhD, host of The Fire These Times, about the recent massacre by Hamas in southern Israel and Israel's subsequent retaliation against Gaza's civilian population. The ferocity of Hamas' attack was unprecedented, but so was the systemic weakness and dysfunction of the Israeli state. Why did it happen, and is there any solution to Israel's ongoing siege of Gaza?

Joey Ayoub's Links

https://thefirethesetimes.com/

https://www.patreon.com/firethesetimes

https://twitter.com/FireTheseTimes

Twitter

Anthony: @Bartaway

Romeo: @RomeoKokriatski

Ukraine Without Hype: @HypeUkraine

Patreon

https://www.patreon.com/UkraineWithoutHype

Resources and Charities

https://linktr.ee/ukrainewithouthype

Music

Hey Sokoli (Traditional)

Episode 60: Ukraine Breaks the Black Sea Blockade Oct 05, 2023

Show notes

In this episode...

00:49 - Russia hits a grocery store and cafe holding a wake for a deceased community member in a village in Kharkiv region, killing over 50 people.

03:15 - Ukraine advances beyond the second line of defenses in the Tokmak direction

05:17 - After heavy attacks on the Russian Black Sea Fleet, including its headquarters in Sevastopol, the Russian Navy retreated away from Crimea to other Black Sea ports. This opened up trade lanes out of Odesa, which are once again in use.

15:06 - The first Abrams tanks arrive in Ukraine to aid the counter-offensive, with ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) missiles finally on their way as well.

18:52 - USA Congressional infighting leaves Ukraine funding in question

26:48 - Anti-Ukrainian political party comes out ahead in Slovak elections

29:35 - Nearly the entire Armenian population of Nagrono-Karabakh has been driven from their homes.

38:51 - Serb militants carry out a short uprising in northern Kosovo with either the support or blessing of the Serbian government.

47:24 - Reflection on the unwinding of the international order

Links

"Bullet Holes" by the Kyiv Independent: https://youtu.be/E-coT5t70Tg?si=LQRYdJfgJdudQvta

Twitter

Anthony: @Bartaway

Romeo: @RomeoKokriatski

Ukraine Without Hype: @HypeUkraine

Patreon

https://www.patreon.com/UkraineWithoutHype

Resources and Charities

https://linktr.ee/ukrainewithouthype

Music

Hey Sokoli (Traditional)

Episode 59: Azerbaijan invades Nagorno-Karabakh Sep 22, 2023

Show notes

In this episode...

00:01:20 - Visiting a Hungarian-speaking town in the Zakarpattia region

00:18:40 - The anniversary of the assassination of Ukrainian journalist Georgiy Gongadze in 2000, and how the protest movement against it helped form Ukraine's democratic path.

00:33:11 - A trade dispute over agricultural goods stirs diplomatic row between Poland and Ukraine.

00:41:48 - Azerbaijan invades the Nagorno-Karabakh region to take full control of the area. News of war crimes by the Azerbaijani army pour in.

Twitter

Anthony: @Bartaway

Romeo: @RomeoKokriatski

Ukraine Without Hype: @HypeUkraine

Patreon

https://www.patreon.com/UkraineWithoutHype

Resources and Charities

https://linktr.ee/ukrainewithouthype

Music

Hey Sokoli (Traditional)

Episode 58: The Defense Ministry Gets a New - Crimean - Boss Sep 11, 2023

Show notes

In this episode...

00:01:21 - Ukrainian forces begin to pierce Russia's second line of defense in the south, and retake positions near Donetsk city.

00:08:35 - Russia caught by the Cuban authorities illegally trafficking potential soldiers.

00:11:51 - Russia looks to North Korea as a source of arms.

00:16:10 - Russia holds elections, including in the occupied territories.

00:21:07 - Elon Musk interfered with a Ukrainian operation to sink the Russian Black Sea Fleet by cutting off the attack drone's internet connection.

00:29:35 - Ukraine's new Defense Minister is a Crimean Tatar community leader with a record as a diplomat and administrator.

00:50:18 - Igor Kolomoisky finds himself in legal trouble on fraud charges.

00:58:56 - Armenia uses a diplomatic event in Kyiv to announce aid to Ukraine...to the scorn of its Russian treaty allies

Twitter

Anthony: @Bartaway

Romeo: @RomeoKokriatski

Ukraine Without Hype: @HypeUkraine

Patreon

https://www.patreon.com/UkraineWithoutHype

Resources and Charities

https://linktr.ee/ukrainewithouthype

Music

Hey Sokoli (Traditional)

Episode 57: The Death of Yevgeny Prigozhin Aug 31, 2023

Show notes

In this episode...

00:01:16 - Despite naysaying in the Western press, the Southern offensive makes a major breakthrough by taking Robotyne and pushing forward.

00:25:32 - How Ukraine, the country that barely has a navy, is taking the fight to the Russians in the Black Sea and Dnipro River

00:43:00 - Three Ukrainian pilots die in a training accident, including the famous ace known as "Juice"

00:47:20 - Anti-corruption news: The heads of all recruitment offices are sacked after discovering widespread corruption, and investigative journalists look at a bad deal on coats by the MOD

1:09:21 - Yevgeny Prigozhin, leader of the Wagner group and failed insurrectionist, is eliminated via an exploding airplane along with much of the rest of the mercenary company's leadership. What now?

Links

"Uprooted" by the Kyiv Independent: https://youtu.be/cq2gEMhuDpsMy

Twitter

Anthony: @Bartaway

Romeo: @RomeoKokriatski

Ukraine Without Hype: @HypeUkraine

Patreon

https://www.patreon.com/UkraineWithoutHype

Resources and Charities

https://linktr.ee/ukrainewithouthype

Music

Hey Sokoli (Traditional)