Silicon Curtain

Silicon Bites Ep386 | 2026-08-19 | Russia cannot take Ukraine, cannot drive it to defeat. It cannot even achieve the minimal targets set by the Kremlin for a declaration of partial victory – occupation of all the Donbas. So, it is burning Ukraine's books — ten million of them since May 2026 and counting. This is not collateral damage. It is the oldest imperial policy Moscow has, if you cannot conquer, coerce and appropriate, then you erase. This time the cultural erasure is being delivered by ballistic projectiles. Millions of dollars of destructive hardware trained on the erasure of the written word. Burning books, language, identities. The Nazis burned books. Russia does the same. It claims to be fighting fascism but has itself become the instrument and character of fascism in the 21st century. A state built on aggression, illegality, hatred and erasure. ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.org----------SOURCES:Interfax-Ukraine — Russian shelling damages BookChef, RM publishing offices, warehouses near Pochaina station, 17 Aug 2026 — https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/1193829.htmlUkrinform — Publishing house office damaged in Kyiv as a result of nighttime attack (Nash Format), 16 Aug 2026 — https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/4154692-publishing-house-office-damaged-in-kyiv-as-a-result-of-nighttime-attack.htmlUNN — Russia's attack on Kyiv damaged the office of the Nash Format publishing house and destroyed the Petrivka book market (incl. Kazanskyi), 16 Aug 2026 — https://unn.ua/en/news/russias-attack-on-kyiv-damaged-the-office-of-the-nash-format-publishing-house-and-destroyed-the-petrivka-book-marketUNN — The office and part of the warehouses of the "Laboratoria" publishing house were damaged during Russia's attack on Kyiv, 16 Aug 2026 — https://unn.ua/en/news/the-office-and-part-of-the-warehouses-of-the-laboratory-publishing-house-were-damaged-during-russias-attack-on-kyivEuromaidan Press — Kyiv's largest book market hit by Russian missiles, 16 Aug 2026 — https://euromaidanpress.com/2026/08/16/russian-attack-pochaina-book-market/LIGA.net — The book market at Petrivka burned down on August 16 following the shelling of Kyiv (Kryvoruchko; Suspilne footage), 16 Aug 2026 — https://news.liga.net/en/war/news/book-market-at-pochaina-in-kyiv-burned-down-following-russian-attack-photosKyiv Post — Russian Attacks Destroy ArcelorMittal in Kryvyi Rih and Kyiv Book Market, 16 Aug 2026 — https://www.kyivpost.com/post/82456NPR — Ukraine launches one of its largest aerial attacks of the war… (Zelensky quote), 16 Aug 2026 — https://www.npr.org/2026/08/16/nx-s1-5933006/ukraine-aerial-attack-6-dead-russiaFrance 24 — Russian strike on Kyiv book market: 'An attempt to annihilate Ukrainian identity' (Emmanuelle Chaze), 17 Aug 2026 — https://www.france24.com/en/video/20260817-russian-strike-on-kyiv-book-market-an-attempt-to-annihilate-ukrainian-identity----------

Silicon Bites Ep385 | 2026-08-18 | The whole architecture of Russian military space power runs through one building, one cleanroom in Samara. This is a central node of the terror state and its illegal war, and Ukraine just hit it. The cleanroom is no longer so clean, and with this strike, Russia’s efforts to develop an alternative to Starlink may have been consigned to the trash bin. Good riddance. At around ten to three in the morning on the fifteenth of August, the missile alert went off across Samara oblast. Nine hundred kilometres from the Ukrainian border. Deep in the Russian interior, in a city that had gone four and a half years of full-scale war without a single strike of this kind on its industrial zone. Minutes later, residents heard a jet engine overhead, then the detonation. By dawn there was a column of black smoke over the eastern edge of the city. Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the target himself that Saturday. The Progress Rocket and Space Centre. A core enterprise of Roscosmos. Struck, in his words on X, with Flamingo missiles — "Flamingo missiles were used. A good achievement."----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.org----------SOURCES:Ukrainska Pravda (English) — "OSINT analysts show damage to plant in Russia's Samara where rockets for military satellite launches are equipped," 15 August 2026 Kyiv Post — "Zelensky Confirms Flamingo Missile Strikes in Samara and Savasleyka," 15 August 2026 Militarnyi — "Flamingo Missiles Strike Industrial Facility in Samara," 15 August 2026 Euromaidan Press — "Reported Flamingo strike hits Samara industrial area housing factory that builds rockets for Russia's Starlink rival," 15 August 2026UNITED24 Media — "Ukraine's Flamingo Missiles Strike Russia's Soyuz Rocket Factory Behind Its Starlink Rival," 15 August 2026Defense Express — "Ukraine's Defense Forces… Striking Progress Plant in Samara with FP-5 Flamingo Missiles," 15 August 2026 Defence Blog — "Ukraine strike hits Russia's main space rocket maker," 15 August 2026 Euronews — "Ukraine strikes rocket and space centre in Russia's Samara," 15 August 2026Charter97 — "At the Progress Rocket and Space Center in Samara… workshop may have been damaged," 15 August 2026 EU Today — "Ukrainian Flamingo Missiles Reportedly Hit Russia's Progress Space-Rocket Centre in Samara," 15 August 2026 Türkiye Today — "Ukraine strikes Russia's only Soyuz rocket plant with Flamingo missiles," 15 August 2026 SpacePolicyOnline — "Ukrainian Missiles Strike Russian Soyuz Rocket Factory," 16 August 2026 ----------

Silicon Bites Ep384 | 2026-08-17 | Trump hands Kim Jong Un the one concession he has demanded for thirty years — while Kim's shells, Kim's missiles and Kim's soldiers are killing Ukrainians. Sunday evening, Washington. Hours before eighteen thousand South Korean troops were due to begin the largest allied exercise on the Korean peninsula, the President of the United States went on social media and pulled the rug out from under them. He ordered the Pentagon to substantially reduce Ulchi Freedom Shield. He gave two reasons. The first was Seoul's refusal to join his war against Iran. The second was his personal relationship with Kim Jong Un.The first is geopolitical blackmail, that has no strategic logic to it. The second is treachery driven by his malignant narcissism – which is rapidly destroying American global influence and power and causing the order that bound the civilised world together since 1945 to unravel. ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.org----------SOURCES:Stars and Stripes — "Trump calls North Korea 'unthreatening,' orders reduction in South Korea military drills," 16 Aug 2026 — https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2026-08-16/trump-kim-jong-un-korea-military-exercises-22573400.htmlNPR — "Trump orders Pentagon to scale back joint exercises with South Korea," 17 Aug 2026 — https://www.npr.org/2026/08/17/g-s1-138969/trump-exercises-south-koreaNBC News — "Trump orders military to 'substantially reduce' joint exercises with South Korea," 17 Aug 2026 — https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/trump-orders-military-substantially-reduce-joint-exercises-south-korea-rcna592832CBS News — "Trump orders scale-back of military exercises with South Korea," 17 Aug 2026 — https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-scale-back-south-korea-military-exercises/Military.com — "Trump Orders Hegseth to 'Substantially Reduce' South Korea Military Drills," 17 Aug 2026 — https://www.military.com/trump-orders-hegseth-substantially-reduce-south-korea-military-drillsAFP via Yahoo News — "Bipartisan backlash as Trump scales back US-South Korea drills" (Tillis, Reed), 17 Aug 2026 — https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/bipartisan-backlash-trump-scales-back-155016102.htmlMS NOW via AOL — "After Trump gave North Korea what it wants, a key senator accuses him of 'appeasement,'" 17 Aug 2026 — https://www.aol.com/articles/trump-gave-north-korea-wants-184352000.htmlThe Hill — "Reed criticizes Trump's North Korea praise as 'delusional,'" 17 Aug 2026 — https://thehill.com/policy/defense/6033746-reed-criticizes-trump-north-korea/Al Jazeera — "Democrats rebuke Trump over scaling back military drills with South Korea," 17 Aug 2026 — https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/17/democrats-rebuke-trump-over-scaling-back-military-drills-with-south-koreaTIME — "Trump's South Korea Shift Tests a Key U.S. Alliance" (Col. Ryan Donald), 17 Aug 2026 — https://time.com/article/2026/08/17/trump-south-korea-joint-drills-kim-north-nuclear-iran-analysis/----------

Silicon Bites Ep383 | 2026-08-17 | Koledino is gone, Russia's consumer economy is being dismantled warehouse by warehouse. This is not a stalemate, but a systematic elimination of the modern economy that has lulled Muscovites into thinking the war is far away and does not affect them. That illusion has been demolished. At half past eight on Saturday evening, the drones started coming. They were still coming at half past six on Sunday morning. Ten hours. Six hundred of them, by Sobyanin's own count, headed for the Moscow region. Two hundred and one shot down over the oblast – is the claim. Eight hundred and twenty-two claimed downed nationwide by the Russian Defence Ministry — a number Moscow publishes to sound strong, but which reveal the incredible mass of offensive drones that were in the air. This is a modern-day Blitz but conducted with pinpoint accuracy and aligned with clear strategic objectives. ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.org----------SOURCES:The Moscow Times / Reuters — "Ukrainian Drones Strike Moscow Region, Killing One," 16 Aug 2026 — https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/08/16/ukrainian-drones-strike-moscow-region-killing-one-a93506RFE/RL — "Massive Overnight Ukrainian Drone Strikes Target Moscow Region," 16 Aug 2026 — https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-moscow-wildberries-facilities-drones/33831405.htmlKyiv Independent — "Ukrainian forces target Moscow Oblast, damaging Wildberries warehouse in major attack," 16 Aug 2026 — https://kyivindependent.com/ukrainian-forces-target-moscow-oblast-damaging-wildberries-warehouse-in-major-attack/Liga.net — "Hundreds of drones headed for Moscow; largest Wildberries warehouse and Domodedovo on fire," 16 Aug 2026 — https://news.liga.net/en/war/news/hundreds-of-drones-headed-for-moscow-largest-wildberries-warehouse-and-domodedovo-on-fire-photos-videoFrance 24 (live/AFP/AP/Reuters) — "Moscow targeted by 600 drones overnight, explosions heard in Kyiv," 16 Aug 2026 — https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20260816-live-moscow-targeted-by-600-drones-overnight-explosions-heard-in-kyivEA WorldView — "Ukraine War, Day 1,635: Kyiv Strikes More Wildberries Warehouses in Russia," 16 Aug 2026 — https://eaworldview.com/2026/08/ukraine-war-wildberries-kyiv-strikes-warehouses/UNITED24 Media — "Russian E-Commerce Giants Beg Kremlin for Bailout After Devastating Drone Strikes," 14 Aug 2026 — https://united24media.com/world/russian-e-commerce-giants-beg-kremlin-for-bailout-after-devastating-drone-strikes-21695Meduza — "Wildberries and sellers' combined losses… estimated at hundreds of billions of rubles," 13 Aug 2026 — https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/08/13/wildberries-and-sellers-combined-losses-from-ukrainian-drone-attacks-estimated-at-hundreds-of-billions-of-rublesThe Moscow Times — "Ad Spending on Wildberries Nosedives After Ukrainian Drone Attacks, Kommersant Reports," 12 Aug 2026 — https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/08/12/ad-spending-on-wildberries-nosedives-after-ukrainian-drone-attacks-kommersant-reports-a93472Byline Times — "How Ukraine Is Now Targeting the Russian Economy," 12 Aug 2026 — https://bylinetimes.com/2026/08/12/how-ukraine-is-now-targeting-the-russian-economy/----------

Ben Hodges is a retired United States Army officer, who became commander of United States Army Europe in November 2014, and held that position for three years until retiring from the United States Army in January 2018. Until recently he was the Pershing Chair in Strategic Studies, at the Centre for European Policy Analysis, specialising in NATO, Transatlantic relationship and international security. ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Car4Ukrainehttps://car4ukraine.com/en-US/campaignsDzyga's Pawhttps://dzygaspaw.com/projectsSuperhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/----------PLATFORMS:Substack: https://substack.com/@siliconcurtainTwitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSiliconLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqm----------DESCRIPTION:Ben Hodges: Russia Is Already at War With Europe | Leipzig Drone Attack, NATO Readiness & Interceptor CrisisJonathan interviews retired US Lieutenant General Ben Hodges about Russia’s escalating sabotage campaign in Europe, arguing the West is already under attack and citing the failed explosive drone incident in Leipzig near an Antonov reportedly loaded with ammunition for Ukraine alongside Lavrov’s statements about destroying support for Ukraine. They discuss confusion and reluctance among European leaders to attribute attacks to Russia and the need for consequences, better airspace protection, and using technology and intelligence to trace drone launch networks. The conversation also covers Trump’s remarks about Kim Jong Un and implications for South Korea, growing doubts about US reliability for Europe and Taiwan, overstretched US naval forces, China’s opportunism, and the shortage of interceptors and munitions. They conclude that political will and industrial prioritization are central as Ukraine faces a difficult winter.----------CHAPTERS: 00:00 Russia At War With Us00:25 Meet Ben Hodges01:52 Trump And South Korea04:03 North Korea In Europe05:37 Europe Must Defend Itself08:22 Leipzig Drone Wakeup11:36 Hybrid War Reality16:05 Lavrov Threats And NATO17:47 Hunting Drone Launchers19:29 Ukraine Interceptors Crisis23:12 Taiwan And China Signals27:08 Drone Age Training Lessons34:09 Missiles Versus Interceptors----------

Andriy Kusyy is a Ukrainian machine-learning specialist and the CEO/co-founder of LetsData, a company built around detecting coordinated information operations. Before founding LetsData with Ksenia Iliuk in 2022, he led a machine-learning platform team at Grammarly. His perspective is therefore somewhat different from that of a traditional disinformation researcher: he approaches propaganda as an adversarial system that can be detected through data, networks, timing and anomalous behaviour, rather than primarily through fact-checking individual claims.----------LetsData gives organizations an earlier detection point for emerging threats. Its narrative intelligence platform, Vantage, identifies the behavioral signals behind narrative threats — impersonation, synthetic amplification, manufactured narratives — before they produce the infrastructure, IOCs, and downstream damage that conventional tools are built to find.----------LINKS:https://www.linkedin.com/in/andriy-kusyy/https://www.linkedin.com/in/ksenia-iliuk/https://letsdata.net/https://datainnovation.org/2025/10/5-qs-with-ksenia-iluik-co-founder-of-letsdata/----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Car4Ukrainehttps://car4ukraine.com/en-US/campaignsDzyga's Pawhttps://dzygaspaw.com/projectsSuperhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/----------PLATFORMS:Substack: https://substack.com/@siliconcurtainTwitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSiliconLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqm----------

Silicon Bites Ep382 | 2026-08-15 | Putin has multiple fears now. Known knowns – Ukrainian drones. Known unknowns – Foreign intelligence services. Unknown unknowns – internal rivals and opponents within the system. The drones are the fear he can name. But the others also feed his rampant paranoia. On 22 December 2025, a car bomb in a Moscow car park killed Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov, head of the General Staff's Operational Training Directorate. Three days later Putin convened the heads of the security services. According to a European intelligence dossier obtained by CNN, the Financial Times and iStories in May, that meeting degenerated into a brawl. Chief of the General Staff Gerasimov attacked FSB director Bortnikov for failing to protect senior officers. Bortnikov pleaded shortage of resources and manpower. Putin ended it by demanding concrete solutions within a week.----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.org----------SOURCES:Novaya Gazeta Europe — Novosibirsk residents told to stay indoors and away from windows, 11 August 2026Novaya Gazeta Europe — Eyewitness accounts of the Novosibirsk visit, road resurfacing and traffic closures, 11 August 20267x7 Horizontal Russia — Security services barred students and residents from windows, dormitory checks, 11 August 2026Agentstvo — Putin has stopped travelling around Russia; record isolation, 21 May 2026The Moscow Times (Russian service) — Putin halts public regional travel due to Ukrainian strikes, 21 May 2026Novaya Gazeta Europe / Agentstvo — Putin avoiding European-Russia regions regularly hit by drones, 8 August 2026The Moscow Times / AFP — Putin makes first visit to disputed Kuril Islands amid Japanese protests, 13 August 2026NPR / AP — Putin's first Kuril visit draws Tokyo protest; Pacific Fleet drills, 13 August 2026Al Jazeera — Japan protests as Putin visits disputed Kuril Islands, 13 August 2026Ukrainska Pravda / Radio Svoboda — Seven new Pantsir towers at Valdai, total 27, 12 April 2026Meduza — 27 air-defence positions around Putin's Valdai residence; 26 Pantsir plus S-400, 13 April 2026Militarnyi — Russia builds seven new Pantsir towers around Putin's residence, 12 April 2026----------

Silicon Bites Ep381 | 2026-08-15 | The whole apparatus of a nuclear-armed state, bent to one purpose: keeping a frightened 73-year-old man alive and in power. On the morning of 11 August, residents of apartment blocks along one road in Novosibirsk received a notice from their management company. It cited instructions from the security organs. Do not go outside. Do not approach your windows. Do not use electronic or optical devices.Students at Novosibirsk State University got their own version. Draw the curtains. Stay away from the glass. In Dormitory Four, a room-by-room inspection, and every resident required to register with the warden by eight in the morning. The canteen closed. The swimming pool closed. Electric scooter rentals switched off across most of Akademgorodok. Metal barriers of the kind normally used to pen in protesters erected around the new university buildings. Police posted along the motorcade route every fifty metres from eight o'clock the previous evening. ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.org----------SOURCES:Novaya Gazeta Europe — Novosibirsk residents told to stay indoors and away from windows, 11 August 2026Novaya Gazeta Europe — Eyewitness accounts of the Novosibirsk visit, road resurfacing and traffic closures, 11 August 20267x7 Horizontal Russia — Security services barred students and residents from windows, dormitory checks, 11 August 2026Agentstvo — Putin has stopped travelling around Russia; record isolation, 21 May 2026The Moscow Times (Russian service) — Putin halts public regional travel due to Ukrainian strikes, 21 May 2026Novaya Gazeta Europe / Agentstvo — Putin avoiding European-Russia regions regularly hit by drones, 8 August 2026The Moscow Times / AFP — Putin makes first visit to disputed Kuril Islands amid Japanese protests, 13 August 2026NPR / AP — Putin's first Kuril visit draws Tokyo protest; Pacific Fleet drills, 13 August 2026Al Jazeera — Japan protests as Putin visits disputed Kuril Islands, 13 August 2026Ukrainska Pravda / Radio Svoboda — Seven new Pantsir towers at Valdai, total 27, 12 April 2026Meduza — 27 air-defence positions around Putin's Valdai residence; 26 Pantsir plus S-400, 13 April 2026Militarnyi — Russia builds seven new Pantsir towers around Putin's residence, 12 April 2026----------

Dr Yuri Felshtinsky is a prominent author, historian, and journalist, and expert on Russia and the former Soviet Union. He has appeared in hundreds of print, TV, and radio interviews worldwide, and is widely known as co-author of the book “Blowing Up Russia” with Alexander Litvinenko, a former Lieutenant Colonel in the FSB who was poisoned with radioactive polonium in London in 2006. His latest book – “Blowing up Ukraine: The Return of Russian Terror and The Threat of World War III”, was researched before the invasion of Ukraine, and is the first comprehensive investigation into the lethal methods Russia has used since 1999 to take over Ukraine – culminating in the full-blown unprovoked war in 2022 and mounting atrocities.----------BOOKS:From Red Terror to Terrorist State: Russia’s Secret Intelligence Services and Their Fight for World Domination from Felix Dzerzhinsky to Vladimir Putin Hardcover – 4 Nov. 2023by Yuri Felshtinsky (Author), Vladimir Popov (Author)Publisher: Gibson House ----------LINKS: https://twitter.com/yfelshtinskyhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/yuri-felshtinsky-55497940/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuri_Felshtinskyhttps://www.spectator.co.uk/writer/yuri-felshtinsky/----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Car4Ukrainehttps://car4ukraine.com/en-US/campaignsDzyga's Pawhttps://dzygaspaw.com/projectsSuperhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/----------PLATFORMS:Substack: https://substack.com/@siliconcurtainTwitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSiliconLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqm----------

Simon Smith is Chair of the Ukraine Forum Steering Committee at Chatham House. He served as British Ambassador to Ukraine (2012–2015) during the Euromaidan Revolution, Russia's annexation of Crimea, and the outbreak of the Donbas war. Before Kyiv, he was Director for Russia, South Caucasus and Central Asia at the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office (2005–2007), giving him extensive experience in British policy toward Russia and the post-Soviet region. Smith is regarded as one of the UK's most experienced diplomats on Eastern Europe. ----------John Lough is an Associate Fellow in the Russia and Eurasia Programme at Chatham House (since 2009) and Head of Foreign Policy at the New Eurasian Strategies Centre, a London- and Washington-based think tank. He began his career at the Soviet Studies (later Conflict Studies) Research Centre, specialising in Soviet and Russian security policy. John has had a long career spanning government, diplomacy, business and academia. He previously served as the first NATO representative based in Moscow following the end of the Cold War, where he worked on NATO–Russia relations during a formative period. ----------LINKS:https://www.chathamhouse.org/2026/05/how-russia-ukraine-ceasefire-could-imperil-ukrainian-and-european-securityhttps://www.chathamhouse.org/about-us/our-people/orysia-lutsevychhttps://www.chathamhouse.org/about-us/our-people/keir-gileshttps://icds.ee/en/the-russian-way-of-ceasefires-and-the-traps-it-sets-for-europe/----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Car4Ukrainehttps://car4ukraine.com/en-US/campaignsDzyga's Pawhttps://dzygaspaw.com/projectsSuperhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/----------PLATFORMS:Substack: https://substack.com/@siliconcurtainTwitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSiliconLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqm----------DESCRIPTION:Why a Ceasefire Isn’t Peace: Russia’s War Aims, Negotiation Traps, and Western Complacency | Simon Smith & John LoughThe host interviews Chatham House’s Simon Smith and John Lough about why a ceasefire in Ukraine would not equal peace, citing the Korean Armistice as a warning that unresolved issues can harden into decades of confrontation. They argue Putin’s objectives—subjugating Ukraine, blocking its integration with Western or European security structures, enforcing demilitarization and political change in Kyiv—have not changed, making any pause potentially a chance for Russia to regroup. The discussion covers Ukraine’s strikes inside Russia, economic and recruitment pressures on Moscow, and risks of escalation against Ukrainian infrastructure. They stress Western political complacency, incremental support, and the danger that electorates may find a Russian victory “palatable,” arguing enforcement matters more than signatures in any talks. John Lough outlines likely Russian minimum demands, including full control of Donbas and removing Zelensky.----------

Silicon Bites Ep380 | 2026-08-14 | In December 2025, Vladimir Putin stood in front of Russia's military command and complained that European leaders were "stoking up hysteria" about the Russian threat. That was the public performance, reported from the Russian record by RBC-Ukraine. Is this just a clear-cut case of projection, or is there something more to this performative, fake outrage?Misunderstood Moscow. Warmongering Europeans. This narrative turns the world on its head. Not unusual for Russian geopolitical games though. ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.org----------SOURCES:The New York Times, 14 Aug 2026 — https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/14/world/europe/russia-moldova-putin.htmlThe New Voice of Ukraine — https://english.nv.ua/nation/putin-ordered-russia-to-undermine-nato-and-eu-from-within-in-2026-nyt-reports-50632708.htmlKyiv Post, 14 Aug 2026 — https://www.kyivpost.com/post/82357UNN, 14 Aug 2026 — https://unn.ua/en/news/putin-wants-to-destroy-nato-and-the-eu-from-within-he-has-assigned-moldova-a-key-role-nytRBC-Ukraine, 14 Aug 2026 — https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/putin-gives-russian-military-objective-for-1786713992.htmlCharter97, 14 Aug 2026 — https://charter97.org/en/news/2026/8/14/694762UA.NEWS (Peskov denial), 14 Aug 2026 — https://ua.news/en/world/u-kremli-bachat-moldovu-platsdarmom-dlia-novoyi-agresiyi-nytAround Prague (GRU camps, payments), 14 Aug 2026 — https://aroundprague.cz/en/news/putin-s-2026-target-undermining-nato-and-the-eu-from-within-through-moldovaKyiv Independent (Tusk), 13 Aug 2026 — https://kyivindependent.com/poland-arrests-russian-man-for-alleged-assassination-plot-against-us-ukrainian-national-pm-tusk-says/NBC News / Reuters, 13 Aug 2026 — https://www.nbcnews.com/world/europe/poland-thwarted-russian-plot-kill-american-citizen-warsaw-rcna592337CNN, 14 Aug 2026 — https://www.cnn.com/2026/08/14/europe/poland-russian-plot-american-intlThe Washington Post, 14 Aug 2026 — https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/08/14/poland-says-it-thwarted-russian-assassination-attempt-us-citizen-warsaw/----------

Welcome to our monthly conversation with Konstantin, who is one of the most respected voices on YouTube about what is happening Inside Russia. Konstantin Samoilov is a well-known YouTuber whose channel ‘Inside Russia’ comments insightfully on Russia’s decent into authoritarianism over the last few years. But now, like many others, he’s outside Russia, with no idea of when he can return there. ----------LINKS: @INSIDERUSSIA https://www.patreon.com/insiderussiaINSIDE RUSSIA is a source of current news on Russia - Konstantin carefully selects 9 news stories that are important and really matter, with commentaries and analyses by Konstantin delivered daily to channel patrons at Patreon.comGet your access to daily news updates at patreon.com/INSIDERUSSIA----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Car4Ukrainehttps://car4ukraine.com/en-US/campaignsDzyga's Pawhttps://dzygaspaw.com/projectsSuperhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/----------PLATFORMS:Substack: https://substack.com/@siliconcurtainTwitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSiliconLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqm----------DESCRIPTION:Konstantin Samoilov on Being Targeted, Russia’s Rising Repression, and the Power Struggle Behind PutinJonathan speaks with exiled Russian YouTuber Konstantin Samoilov, who describes escalating intimidation he attributes to Russian security services after he became more prominent for opposing the war and Putin’s regime. Samoilov recounts being hospitalized with worsening stomach pain, receiving a call from Moscow urging him to cooperate and come to Russia, and later being followed; he says the campaign has made him fear for his family’s safety and stop showing them publicly. The discussion broadens to intensified repression in Russia, comparisons to pre-war “clearing the decks” and 1930s-style terror dynamics, and a sharpening struggle between siloviki and other elite clans. Samoilov argues Putin is increasingly a figurehead fed curated information, amid economic strain, fuel crises, arrests, and instability, with possible outcomes ranging from internal conflict to a frozen war and deeper Chinese leverage over Russia.----------CHAPTERS:02:49 Exile And Rising Profile05:00 Hospital Call From Moscow07:41 Support And Gratitude09:22 Mobilization And Crackdown11:39 Russia At A Crossroads16:32 Volcano Signs And Oligarchs19:21 Two Clans Power Struggle24:38 Putin Visits Fuel Crisis27:48 Putin In The Dark28:53 Puppet And Puppeteers30:47 1930s Terror Parallels33:33 Stalin Rotated Secret Police35:22 Khrushchev Checks And Balances37:18 Two Paths To Collapse38:01 Private Armies And Civil War39:30 Siloviki Shadow Takeover42:37 Economic Strain And Drone Siege43:51 World War Three Fears45:53 China Bleeding Strategy51:19 Putin Near The End----------

Nigel Gould-Davies is a senior fellow for Russia and Eurasia at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in London. Between 2010 and 2013 he held senior government relations roles in the international energy industry. Previously he has also served in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, where his roles included head of the Economic Section in Moscow, ambassador to Belarus, and project director in the Policy Planning Unit. He is author of Tectonic Politics: Global Political Risk in an Age of Transformation (Brookings, 2019).----------LINKS:https://twitter.com/Nigelgd1https://www.linkedin.com/in/nigel-gould-davies-5347b51a?originalSubdomain=ukhttps://www.iiss.org/people/russia-and-eurasia/dr-nigel-gould-davies/https://gsas.harvard.edu/person/nigel-gould-daviesBOOKS:Tectonic Politics: Global Political Risk in an Age of Transformation (2019)https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tectonic-Politics-Insights-Critical-International/dp/0815737130https://www.chathamhouse.org/2019/05/tectonic-politics-global-political-risk-age-transformationARTICLES:https://spectator.com/article/does-russias-exiled-opposition-want-whats-best-for-europe/https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/08/11/soviet-dissidents-understood-what-russias-exiled-opposition-has-forgotten-a93458https://www.iiss.org/research-paper/2026/05/the-coming-crisis-in-russias-political-economy/https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00396338.2024.2332057https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/12/09/biden-putin-ukraine-appeasement-deterrence-donbass/----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Car4Ukrainehttps://car4ukraine.com/en-US/campaignsDzyga's Pawhttps://dzygaspaw.com/projectsSuperhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/----------PLATFORMS:Substack: https://substack.com/@siliconcurtainTwitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSiliconLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqm----------

David DeBatto is host of the ‘No Delusion Zone’ podcast @NoDelusionZone is a retired U.S. Army Counterintelligence Special Agent, a geopolitical analyst, writer, and podcaster. David is an Iraq war veteran who served as Team Leader of a Tactical Human Intelligence Team (THT) in operations within Iraq and is also a former police officer. David is considered too conservative for the progressive left and too independent minded for the radical right and seeks to challenge political dogma and the naked self-interest of politicians. ----------LINKS:@NoDelusionZone https://www.protectingtherepublic.com/podcasthttps://www.protectingtherepublic.com/https://substack.com/@protectingtherepublichttps://x.com/ddebattohttps://www.kyivpost.com/authors/743----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------

Cormac Smith has worked in Public Relations and Corporate Communications for over three decades. In 2016 he traveled to Ukraine to take up a special appointment as the ‘Strategic Communication Advisor’ to Pavlo Klimkin, then the Foreign Minister of Ukraine. He was attached to the British Embassy in Kyiv but was embedded in Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the first foreigner to hold such a position. While in Kyiv, he also advised and provided training for five other government ministries and worked directly with three other cabinet ministers: Health, Education and the Deputy Prime Minister. ----------LINKS:https://defencebrink.uk/https://x.com/CormacS63https://x.com/philipingmbe----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Car4Ukrainehttps://car4ukraine.com/en-US/campaignsDzyga's Pawhttps://dzygaspaw.com/projectsSuperhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/----------PLATFORMS:Substack: https://substack.com/@siliconcurtainTwitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSiliconLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqm----------

Today I’m speaking with Operator Starsky, a former Ukrainian National Guardian, blogger, and inspiration for everyone who is following the war, and supporting a Ukrainian victory. He has created one of the most popular and original YouTube channels dedicated to the international community. I’m not sure you need an introduction – I’m sure most people watching this channel will have seen your videos! ----------LINKS:https://www.youtube.com/@PropagandaStudyInstitutehttp://psi-eu.org/https://www.youtube.com/@StarskyUA----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Car4Ukrainehttps://car4ukraine.com/en-US/campaignsDzyga's Pawhttps://dzygaspaw.com/projectsSuperhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/----------PLATFORMS:Substack: https://substack.com/@siliconcurtainTwitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSiliconLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqm----------

Silicon Bites Ep377 | 2026-07-31 | ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.org----------SOURCES:----------

It’s my pleasure today to welcome back onto the channel Vlad Vexler, Social Philosopher, and unique YouTuber. Our previous video conversations proved to be extremely popular, and a lot has happened since we last spoke. Please do check out Vlad’s channel on YouTube, as it has a collection of the most thought-provoking and insightful videos on the Russian mindset and the roots of this war.----------LINKS:https://www.youtube.com/@VladVexlerhttps://www.vladvexler.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/vlad-vexler/https://www.instagram.com/vladvexler/?hl=enhttps://www.resilience.org/resilience-author/vlad-vexler/----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Car4Ukrainehttps://car4ukraine.com/en-US/campaignsDzyga's Pawhttps://dzygaspaw.com/projectsSuperhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/----------PLATFORMS:Substack: https://substack.com/@siliconcurtainTwitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSiliconLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqm----------DESCRIPTION:Vlad Vexler on Western Democratic Decline, Ukraine’s Agency, Trump’s Stance, and Russia’s War TrajectoryJohn welcomes back social philosopher Vlad Vexler to discuss Western democratic decline and the inability of Western allies to align resources with strategic purpose amid major Russian strikes on Kyiv. Vexler argues citizens must recognize negative historical trends while still acting—especially by defeating anti-democratic figures at the ballot box—and links healthier domestic discourse to foreign-policy capacity, noting NATO is vital but insufficient long-term. They compare Ukrainian wartime civic agency to Western apathy, emphasizing people act only when they perceive viable alternatives, and explore how social forces, information environments, and economic alienation shape politics. Vexler frames Putin’s Russia as an extreme hard-right regime closer to fascism than Soviet communism, critiques “Soviet” institutional legacies like punitive hierarchy, assesses Trump’s begrudging engagement with Ukraine, evaluates Ukraine’s strikes inside Russia as economic/elite-pressure “spring-loading,” and concludes mobilization in Russia looks increasingly likely while no viable peace path exists without major events.----------CHAPTERS:00:39 Kyiv Strikes And Western Drift01:41 Irreversible Decline And Agency07:36 Ukraine Protests And Democracy08:48 Why People Act Or Don't13:26 Social Forces Behind Populism20:09 Russia As Extreme Case24:34 Soviet Legacy In Institutions29:05 Trump And Ukraine Policy37:55 Nuclear Risk And Red Lines39:53 Wildberries Strikes Explained44:11 Russian Public Reaction48:20 Elite Fissures Melnichenko53:39 Mobilization Odds And Design57:47 Casualties And No Peace Path01:01:56 Putin's Mindset And Wrap Up----------

Silicon Bites Ep379 | 2026-08-05 | Twenty-eight ballistic missiles over Kyiv. Zero stopped. Seventeen dead. And a West that has run out of interceptors, run out of urgency, and run out of excuses. Have we also run out of compassion? Run out of political capacity to defend ourselves and our allies, run dry of strategic clarity to see and oppose our enemies – those that would seek to destroy is – and run out of any sense of geopolitical morality enough to care? There is a slaughter taking place daily, nightly in Ukraine, on our watch, enabled by our inaction and weakness. And the consequences may soon be a full-scale genocide and ecocide that we are allowing, enabling. ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.org----------SOURCES:Euronews — Russian overnight barrage on Ukraine kills at least 17 in Kyiv and surrounding region (5 Aug 2026)NPR / Associated Press — Russian missile and drone barrage in Ukrainian capital region kills 17 (5 Aug 2026)ABC News — 'Massive' Russian strikes kill 17 in Kyiv, Zelenskyy says, as no missiles intercepted (5 Aug 2026)CNN — Russian attack kills 17 in Kyiv region, Zelensky says (5 Aug 2026)UNITED24 Media — 17 Killed as Russia Hammers Kyiv and Region With 24 Ballistic Missiles and 115 Drones (5 Aug 2026)Kyiv Independent — 2 rescued from rubble as Russian ballistic missile attack damages Kyiv (5 Aug 2026)Meduza — Russian missile strike destroys largest warehouse of Ukrainian marketplace Rozetka (5 Aug 2026)Interfax-Ukraine — Overnight strike destroys Nova Poshta sorting center in Kyiv, kills 3, wounds 8 (5 Aug 2026)Interfax-Ukraine — Rozetka's Brovary warehouse destroyed by Russian strike (5 Aug 2026)RBC-Ukraine — Ukraine's biggest retailers under fire: what Russia's attack on Kyiv destroyed (5 Aug 2026)----------

This interview is like a thick, hearty and warming Borscht - a concentrated explosion of Ukrainian character, flavour and goodness. Enjoy!----------Yevhen Klopotenko is one of Ukraine’s best-known chefs- iconic, iconoclastic, original and inventive. But as a leading figure within Ukraine’s resurgent culture, his interests go beyond food. Over the past decade—and especially since 2022—he has become a cultural strategist, public intellectual and practitioner of what might be called gastronomic statecraft: using food as a vehicle for national identity, historical memory, soft power and resistance to Russian imperial narratives. His successful campaign to have Ukrainian borshch recognised by UNESCO became one of the defining examples of cultural diplomacy and resistance during wartime. ----------RESTAURANTS:https://www.100rokiv.com.ua/ukhttps://www.instagram.com/100rokiv?igsh=bWZodHV2Znc2Ymtjhttps://expz.menu/a16c8955-ee3e-46c4-bcb6-dbe17edaa63ehttps://www.cultfood.info/ukLINKS:https://klopotenko.com/en/https://klopotenko.com/en/cuisine/ukrainian/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yevhen_Klopotenkohttps://www.instagram.com/klopotenko_chef/?hl=enhttps://www.youtube.com/@klopotenkochefhttps://x.com/klopotenko_chef?lang=enhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/klopotenko/----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Car4Ukrainehttps://car4ukraine.com/en-US/campaignsDzyga's Pawhttps://dzygaspaw.com/projectsSuperhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/----------PLATFORMS:Substack: https://substack.com/@siliconcurtainTwitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSiliconLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqm----------

Yuriy Kryvosheya is a Kyiv-based entrepreneur and investor. He is president and managing partner of the Toronto–Kyiv property complex, a co-founder and shareholder of the online bookseller Yakaboo, chair of the supervisory board of the Promprylad innovation centre, and vice-president of the Canada–Ukraine Chamber of Commerce. His business interests include hospitality, impact investment, veteran reintegration and support for families of fallen Ukrainian servicemen and women. A central thread running through his work and commentary is that Ukraine cannot preserve political freedom without building the economic, cultural and institutional capacity to defend it. For Yuriy, business activity during wartime is therefore not separate from resistance. Investment, employment, tax revenues, cultural production, veteran support and functioning urban life all contribute to Ukraine’s ability to remain sovereign.----------LINKS:https://cucc.ca/about/board-of-directors/yuriy-kryvosheya/https://www.instagram.com/yuriykryvosheya/?hl=enhttps://www.facebook.com/yuriy.kryvosheya.5/https://www.property-forum.eu/people/details/yuriy-kryvosheya/1367https://www.cucc-rebuildukraine24.com/speakers/yuriy-kryvosheyahttps://promprylad.ua/en/board/ ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Car4Ukrainehttps://car4ukraine.com/en-US/campaignsDzyga's Pawhttps://dzygaspaw.com/projectsSuperhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/----------PLATFORMS:Substack: https://substack.com/@siliconcurtainTwitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSiliconLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqm----------

Jason Jay Smart is a political adviser who has lived and worked in Ukraine, Moldova, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Latin America. Due to his work with the democratic opposition to Vladimir Putin, Smart was made persona non grata for life by Russia in 2010. Jason is a Special Correspondent at the Kyiv Post. It’s the state of US support for Ukraine that we will discuss today.----------LINKS:https://jasonjaysmart.com/ https://www.kyivpost.com/authors/5 https://americanpoliticalservices.com/https://www.facebook.com/jasonjaysmarthttps://twitter.com/officejjsmart ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------ACTIVE CAMPAIGN:We are raising funds for 5 of 15 Vampire DronesSilicon Curtain for Kupiansk Vampires. Dzyga’s Paw, together with Jonathan Fink, is joining forces to raise $40,000 to provide the Khartiia Brigade with Vampire Drones.https://dzygaspaw.com/silicon-curtain-for-kupiansk-vampiresThese heavy bombers are designed to destroy manpower and equipment, as well as for remote mining. The Vampire UAV, manufactured by Skyfall, has proven itself to be one of the most effective weapons in the Kupiansk direction. Skyfall is one of Ukraine’s largest defense tech companies, producing Vampire bomber drones, various modifications of Shrike FPV drones, P1-SUN, Shahed drone interceptors, communication systems, and components.----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Car4Ukrainehttps://car4ukraine.com/en-US/campaignsDzyga's Pawhttps://dzygaspaw.com/projectsSuperhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/----------PLATFORMS:Substack: https://substack.com/@siliconcurtainTwitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSiliconLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqm----------

Silicon Bites Ep376 | 2026-07-29 | ----------ACTIVE CAMPAIGN:We are raising funds for 5 of 15 Vampire DronesSilicon Curtain for Kupiansk Vampires. Dzyga’s Paw, together with Jonathan Fink, is joining forces to raise $40,000 to provide the Khartiia Brigade with Vampire Drones.https://dzygaspaw.com/silicon-curtain-for-kupiansk-vampiresThese heavy bombers are designed to destroy manpower and equipment, as well as for remote mining. The Vampire UAV, manufactured by Skyfall, has proven itself to be one of the most effective weapons in the Kupiansk direction. Skyfall is one of Ukraine’s largest defense tech companies, producing Vampire bomber drones, various modifications of Shrike FPV drones, P1-SUN, Shahed drone interceptors, communication systems, and components.----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.org----------SOURCES:----------

SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Car4Ukrainehttps://car4ukraine.com/en-US/campaignsDzyga's Pawhttps://dzygaspaw.com/projectsSuperhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/----------PLATFORMS:Substack: https://substack.com/@siliconcurtainTwitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSiliconLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqm----------

Orysia Lutsevych OBE is deputy director of the Russia and Eurasia Programme and head of the Ukraine Forum at Chatham House. Orysia’s research focuses on social change, the role of civil society in democratic transition in Eastern Europe and, most recently, democratic resilience to foreign encroachment. She is the author of several Chatham House research publications, including Resilient Ukraine: Safeguarding Society from Russian Aggression (with Mathieu Boulègue, 2020). Her media work includes contributions for the BBC, CNN, the Guardian, The Times, the Financial Times and the New York Times.----------Keir Giles is an associate fellow of the Russia and Eurasia Programme. Keir has supported the institute in its Russia-focused research since 2013. Previously, he worked with the BBC Monitoring Service and the UK Defence Academy, where he wrote and advised on Russian military, defence and security issues including human factors influencing Russian security policy, Russian strategy and doctrine, the Russian view of cyber and information security, and Russia’s relations with its neighbours in Northern Europe.----------LINKS:https://www.chathamhouse.org/2026/05/how-russia-ukraine-ceasefire-could-imperil-ukrainian-and-european-securityhttps://www.chathamhouse.org/about-us/our-people/orysia-lutsevychhttps://www.chathamhouse.org/about-us/our-people/keir-giles----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Car4Ukrainehttps://car4ukraine.com/en-US/campaignsDzyga's Pawhttps://dzygaspaw.com/projectsSuperhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/----------PLATFORMS:Substack: https://substack.com/@siliconcurtainTwitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSiliconLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqm----------

SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Car4Ukrainehttps://car4ukraine.com/en-US/campaignsDzyga's Pawhttps://dzygaspaw.com/projectsSuperhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/----------PLATFORMS:Substack: https://substack.com/@siliconcurtainTwitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSiliconLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqm----------

Livestream with Jonathan MS Pearce. Fundraising for equipment through Dzyga's Paw, and trucks for Car4Ukraine, and to support Silicon Curtain trips to Ukraine, to record interviews on the ground.Donate to help out:https://dzygaspaw.com/projectshttps://car4ukraine.com/en-US/campaigns----------ACTIVE CAMPAIGN:We are raising funds for 5 of 15 Vampire DronesSilicon Curtain for Kupiansk Vampires. Dzyga’s Paw, together with Jonathan Fink, is joining forces to raise $40,000 to provide the Khartiia Brigade with Vampire Drones.https://dzygaspaw.com/silicon-curtain-for-kupiansk-vampiresThese heavy bombers are designed to destroy manpower and equipment, as well as for remote mining. The Vampire UAV, manufactured by Skyfall, has proven itself to be one of the most effective weapons in the Kupiansk direction. Skyfall is one of Ukraine’s largest defense tech companies, producing Vampire bomber drones, various modifications of Shrike FPV drones, P1-SUN, Shahed drone interceptors, communication systems, and components.----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyslhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/-----------

Today I’m speaking with Operator Starsky, a former Ukrainian National Guardian, blogger, and inspiration for everyone who is following the war, and supporting a Ukrainian victory. He has created one of the most popular and original YouTube channels dedicated to the international community. I’m not sure you need an introduction – I’m sure most people watching this channel will have seen your videos! ----------LINKS:https://www.youtube.com/@PropagandaStudyInstitutehttp://psi-eu.org/https://www.youtube.com/@StarskyUA----------ACTIVE CAMPAIGN:We are raising funds for 5 of 15 Vampire DronesSilicon Curtain for Kupiansk Vampires. Dzyga’s Paw, together with Jonathan Fink, is joining forces to raise $40,000 to provide the Khartiia Brigade with Vampire Drones.https://dzygaspaw.com/silicon-curtain-for-kupiansk-vampiresThese heavy bombers are designed to destroy manpower and equipment, as well as for remote mining. The Vampire UAV, manufactured by Skyfall, has proven itself to be one of the most effective weapons in the Kupiansk direction. Skyfall is one of Ukraine’s largest defense tech companies, producing Vampire bomber drones, various modifications of Shrike FPV drones, P1-SUN, Shahed drone interceptors, communication systems, and components.----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Car4Ukrainehttps://car4ukraine.com/en-US/campaignsDzyga's Pawhttps://dzygaspaw.com/projectsSuperhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/----------PLATFORMS:Substack: https://substack.com/@siliconcurtainTwitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSiliconLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqm----------

Silicon Bites Ep374 | 2026-07-25 | THE MOBILISATION TRAP: Russia under Putin has become a cage. Sure, the door is half open at present but could slam shut at any moment. At a moment of Putin’s choosing. Putin has built the cage the trap Russians for the slaughter — but it still won't save him.In the space of an intense four days, and over the preceding months, the Russian state has quietly assembled every component of a mass call-up — the laws, the registries, the internal-security powers, the exit controls — without saying the word "mobilisation" out loud once. The decision has been made in all but name. And here is the thing the Kremlin will not tell the men it is about to feed into the zero line, the meat grinder: this mobilisation is engineered to fail. It will be the largest deliberate transfer of Russian men into a drone-saturated kill zone in the history of this war. Putin has no choice. And no chance of success, if this is his delusion.----------ACTIVE CAMPAIGN:We are raising funds for 5 of 15 Vampire DronesSilicon Curtain for Kupiansk Vampires. Dzyga’s Paw, together with Jonathan Fink, is joining forces to raise $40,000 to provide the Khartiia Brigade with Vampire Drones.https://dzygaspaw.com/silicon-curtain-for-kupiansk-vampiresThese heavy bombers are designed to destroy manpower and equipment, as well as for remote mining. The Vampire UAV, manufactured by Skyfall, has proven itself to be one of the most effective weapons in the Kupiansk direction. Skyfall is one of Ukraine’s largest defense tech companies, producing Vampire bomber drones, various modifications of Shrike FPV drones, P1-SUN, Shahed drone interceptors, communication systems, and components.----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.org----------SOURCES:ISW-based reporting on mobilisation preparations and Rosgvardia amendments (22 July 2026)TVP World — Duma law on unexpunged criminal records; Goremykin; November 2025 reservist lawThe Moscow Times — "civic death" bills pass Duma second/third readings, 22 July 2026The Barents Observer — register mechanics; First Department characterisationKyiv Post — scope of restrictions on exiled RussiansAmnesty International — draft law "On temporary restrictive measures…", 20–22 July timelineKyiv Post — Kovalenko: 500,000 autumn mobilisation; SZRU contract and casualty figures (18 July 2026)Euromaidan Press — 500,000 warning; SZRU figures; Syrskyi's 409,000 / 20-million-pool assessmentLIGA.net — Kovalenko on Kiriyenko and Gerasimov's assurances to PutinRBC-Ukraine — Zelensky, 24 July 2026, "clear intelligence" of autumn mobilisationDagens — Mozhem Obyasnit passport-search data (+221%); exit panicUNN / Centre for Countering Disinformation — passport appointment obstructionUNITED24 Media — digital draft registry, automatic restrictions, 2022 exodus figuresMyAttorneyUSA legal survey — electronic summons regime, 30-day departure ban, "crypto-mobilisation"Escudo Digital / DigitalShield — CIA life-expectancy assessment; Frontelligence desertion estimate; recruitment-flow declineFeygin–Osechkin livestream, 24 July 2026 (YouTube, Mark Feygin channel) — Osechkin on FSB detention centres, airport processing upgrades, FSB analytical warnings, frontline self-mutilation accounts.----------

Jamison R. Firestone is an American lawyer and businessman, born in Los Angeles in 1966, raised in New York, educated at Tulane University and Tulane Law School, and admitted to the New York Bar. He moved to Moscow in 1991, during the collapse of the Soviet Union, and co-founded Firestone Duncan, the first independent foreign law firm in Russia. He lived and worked in Russia for eighteen years, serving foreign investors and companies during the chaotic transition from late Soviet collapse to gangster capitalism, Yeltsin-era oligarchy, and Putin’s consolidation of state power. He was also a director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia for six years. Firestone was the employer and colleague of Sergei Magnitsky, the Russian tax adviser who uncovered a massive tax-refund fraud involving corrupt officials and criminal networks, was arrested after exposing it, and died in custody in 2009. Firestone later became one of the public campaigners for Magnitsky sanctions, working with Bill Browder and others. He now lives in London and works on efforts to seize Russian state assets for Ukraine.----------LINKS:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamison_Firestonehttps://www.amazon.co.uk/Rule-Lies-Corruption-Murder-Putins/dp/0008753237----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Car4Ukrainehttps://car4ukraine.com/en-US/campaignsDzyga's Pawhttps://dzygaspaw.com/projectsSuperhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/----------PLATFORMS:Substack: https://substack.com/@siliconcurtainTwitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSiliconLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqm----------

Livestream with Yuri RashkinLINKS:https://rashkinreport.substack.com/https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/rashkin-report/id1183073638----------ACTIVE CAMPAIGN:https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/50foruahttps://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/summer-sunshine-trucks-2026-silicon-curtain----------We are raising funds for 5 of 15 Vampire DronesSilicon Curtain for Kupiansk Vampires. Dzyga’s Paw, together with Jonathan Fink, is joining forces to raise $40,000 to provide the Khartiia Brigade with Vampire Drones.https://dzygaspaw.com/silicon-curtain-for-kupiansk-vampiresThese heavy bombers are designed to destroy manpower and equipment, as well as for remote mining. The Vampire UAV, manufactured by Skyfall, has proven itself to be one of the most effective weapons in the Kupiansk direction. Skyfall is one of Ukraine’s largest defense tech companies, producing Vampire bomber drones, various modifications of Shrike FPV drones, P1-SUN, Shahed drone interceptors, communication systems, and components.----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyslhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/-----------

As the UK Defence Attache to the Russian Federation from 2019 to 2022, John Foreman advised senior UK officials and ministers on Russian military and security affairs and represented the UK Chief of Defence Staff to the Russian General Staff. He had a front-row seat for the tense meetings and negotiations that immediately preceded Russia’s full-scale assault on Ukraine in February 2022.John Foreman is an independent consultant specialising in Russia, Ukraine, and international security, with over 20 years of diplomatic, operational, and corporate experience in the defence and security sector. He facilitated the largest UK ministerial/defence visit to Moscow since 1944, negotiated a bilateral treaty to reduce operational risk, and informed UK Russia policy and strategy. Currently, he is a visiting lecturer to King's College London, a mentor to future UK defence attaches and advisors, and a RAND Europe associate. He has a lifelong interest in Russia, Ukraine, their languages, peoples, cultures, and histories. He was appointed CBE in the 2023 New Year's Honours for his service.----------LINKS:https://twitter.com/exexpat19https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-l-foreman/https://www.spectator.co.uk/writer/john-foreman/https://www.ambassadorllp.com/who-we-are/john-foreman----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Car4Ukrainehttps://car4ukraine.com/en-US/campaignsDzyga's Pawhttps://dzygaspaw.com/projectsSuperhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/----------PLATFORMS:Substack: https://substack.com/@siliconcurtainTwitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSiliconLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqm----------

Silicon Bites Ep365 | 2026-07-10 | Why Chernobyl? Of all the targets available to Russian planners, why does this state return, again and again, to the site of the 1986 catastrophe? Because Chernobyl is not just a place. It is the single most potent symbol in the Ukrainian national story — the lie that killed the Soviet Union, the wound out of which, as the liquidators themselves say, Ukrainian independence was born. Striking it is not targeting. It is messaging.----------ACTIVE CAMPAIGN:We are raising funds for 5 of 15 Vampire DronesSilicon Curtain for Kupiansk Vampires. Dzyga’s Paw, together with Jonathan Fink, is joining forces to raise $40,000 to provide the Khartiia Brigade with Vampire Drones.https://dzygaspaw.com/silicon-curtain-for-kupiansk-vampiresThese heavy bombers are designed to destroy manpower and equipment, as well as for remote mining. The Vampire UAV, manufactured by Skyfall, has proven itself to be one of the most effective weapons in the Kupiansk direction. Skyfall is one of Ukraine’s largest defense tech companies, producing Vampire bomber drones, various modifications of Shrike FPV drones, P1-SUN, Shahed drone interceptors, communication systems, and components.----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.org----------SOURCES:----------

Silicon Bites SW26-220 | 2026-07-24 | ----------ACTIVE CAMPAIGN:We are raising funds for 5 of 15 Vampire DronesSilicon Curtain for Kupiansk Vampires. Dzyga’s Paw, together with Jonathan Fink, is joining forces to raise $40,000 to provide the Khartiia Brigade with Vampire Drones.https://dzygaspaw.com/silicon-curtain-for-kupiansk-vampiresThese heavy bombers are designed to destroy manpower and equipment, as well as for remote mining. The Vampire UAV, manufactured by Skyfall, has proven itself to be one of the most effective weapons in the Kupiansk direction. Skyfall is one of Ukraine’s largest defense tech companies, producing Vampire bomber drones, various modifications of Shrike FPV drones, P1-SUN, Shahed drone interceptors, communication systems, and components.----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.org----------SOURCES:----------

Silicon Bites Ep373 | 2026-07-24 | ----------ACTIVE CAMPAIGN:We are raising funds for 5 of 15 Vampire DronesSilicon Curtain for Kupiansk Vampires. Dzyga’s Paw, together with Jonathan Fink, is joining forces to raise $40,000 to provide the Khartiia Brigade with Vampire Drones.https://dzygaspaw.com/silicon-curtain-for-kupiansk-vampiresThese heavy bombers are designed to destroy manpower and equipment, as well as for remote mining. The Vampire UAV, manufactured by Skyfall, has proven itself to be one of the most effective weapons in the Kupiansk direction. Skyfall is one of Ukraine’s largest defense tech companies, producing Vampire bomber drones, various modifications of Shrike FPV drones, P1-SUN, Shahed drone interceptors, communication systems, and components.----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.org----------SOURCES:----------

Kevin Leach is the main director for Sabre Training Advisory Group, a professional military training non-profit. Their aim is to give Ukrainian defenders the skills to come home alive. Kevin is a Canadian Armed Forces veteran, with a long history of working in Ukraine and in military affairs. He served as a sergeant from 2008-2018, specialising in armoured reconnaissance. He leads a weekly segment on the Mriya Report called “Come Home Alive” covering the Key Elements of Training for the Ukrainian army. ----------LINKS:https://x.com/SabreAdvisory https://www.sabretag.org/donate https://www.instagram.com/sabre_tag/ https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mriyareport/episodes/Kevin-Leach--Sabre-Advisory-Training-on-Key-Elements-of-Training---May-29--2024-e2kavap----------ACTIVE CAMPAIGN:We are raising funds for 5 of 15 Vampire DronesSilicon Curtain for Kupiansk Vampires. Dzyga’s Paw, together with Jonathan Fink, is joining forces to raise $40,000 to provide the Khartiia Brigade with Vampire Drones.https://dzygaspaw.com/silicon-curtain-for-kupiansk-vampiresThese heavy bombers are designed to destroy manpower and equipment, as well as for remote mining. The Vampire UAV, manufactured by Skyfall, has proven itself to be one of the most effective weapons in the Kupiansk direction. Skyfall is one of Ukraine’s largest defense tech companies, producing Vampire bomber drones, various modifications of Shrike FPV drones, P1-SUN, Shahed drone interceptors, communication systems, and components.----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Car4Ukrainehttps://car4ukraine.com/en-US/campaignsDzyga's Pawhttps://dzygaspaw.com/projectsSuperhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/----------PLATFORMS:Substack: https://substack.com/@siliconcurtainTwitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSiliconLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqm----------

Anna Danylchuk has been creating a war diary since the early days of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia in 2022. Anna Danylchuk aims to tell the truth about Ukraine and Russia’s war and cut through the noise and propaganda. Anna is passionate about the beauty and independence of her country, and communicates this powerfully in her videos, in a clear and honest way.----------LINKS: @AnnafromUkraine https://www.buymeacoffee.com/annafromukraineMy interview with Anna in Lviv - hosted on her excellent channel- https://youtu.be/daHcnsNQ1S0?si=yHbZ2kJZ3CTVRd8Z----------ACTIVE CAMPAIGN:We are raising funds for 5 of 15 Vampire DronesSilicon Curtain for Kupiansk Vampires. Dzyga’s Paw, together with Jonathan Fink, is joining forces to raise $40,000 to provide the Khartiia Brigade with Vampire Drones.https://dzygaspaw.com/silicon-curtain-for-kupiansk-vampiresThese heavy bombers are designed to destroy manpower and equipment, as well as for remote mining. The Vampire UAV, manufactured by Skyfall, has proven itself to be one of the most effective weapons in the Kupiansk direction. Skyfall is one of Ukraine’s largest defense tech companies, producing Vampire bomber drones, various modifications of Shrike FPV drones, P1-SUN, Shahed drone interceptors, communication systems, and components.----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Car4Ukrainehttps://car4ukraine.com/en-US/campaignsDzyga's Pawhttps://dzygaspaw.com/projectsSuperhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/----------PLATFORMS:Substack: https://substack.com/@siliconcurtainTwitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSiliconLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqm----------DESCRIPTION:Wildberries Burns, Russia’s War Economy Wobbles, and Ukraine’s Protests Force Reform | Anna Danylchuk Jonathan Fink welcomes Anna Danylchuk back to discuss why the Wildberries logistics-hub fires in Russia matter strategically: such hubs support the Russian war economy and drone supply chains, amplify economic strain already worsened by internet shutdowns and a gasoline crisis, and expose Russian vulnerability while prompting dissatisfaction among businesses and oligarchs. They contrast Ukraine’s targeted strikes and adherence to rules of war with Russia’s intensified ballistic-only attacks designed to maximize terror and deny sleep in Kyiv. Anna Danylchuk argues these attacks unify Ukrainians and increase support for leadership, while Russian society reacts oppositely—becoming more anti-war and anti-Putin as costs rise and myths of safety collapse. They then cover Ukraine’s calm, civic-minded protests and Zelensky’s responsiveness, linking them to military reform, soldier motivation, rotation and demobilization concerns, and the appointment of General Drapaty as a credible, combat-experienced, reform-minded commander amid a rapidly changing drone-driven war.----------

Today I’m speaking with Anders Puck Nielsen, military analyst and influential YouTuber based in Denmark. He specialises in naval warfare and strategy. His public project now spans a YouTube channel, the Logic of War newsletter, and the book The Logic of War, which he describes as an accessible introduction to modern warfare.----------LINKS:https://www.youtube.com/@UCPPfK7Nq_yQR84rn1wcTXBg https://www.youtube.com/@UCmNyUERdr5gaSsZVNY7O12A https://www.anderspucknielsen.dk/home/https://www.linkedin.com/in/anderspucknielsen/https://www.logicofwar.com/----------ACTIVE CAMPAIGN:We are raising funds for 5 of 15 Vampire DronesSilicon Curtain for Kupiansk Vampires. Dzyga’s Paw, together with Jonathan Fink, is joining forces to raise $40,000 to provide the Khartiia Brigade with Vampire Drones.https://dzygaspaw.com/silicon-curtain-for-kupiansk-vampiresThese heavy bombers are designed to destroy manpower and equipment, as well as for remote mining. The Vampire UAV, manufactured by Skyfall, has proven itself to be one of the most effective weapons in the Kupiansk direction. Skyfall is one of Ukraine’s largest defense tech companies, producing Vampire bomber drones, various modifications of Shrike FPV drones, P1-SUN, Shahed drone interceptors, communication systems, and components.----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Car4Ukrainehttps://car4ukraine.com/en-US/campaignsDzyga's Pawhttps://dzygaspaw.com/projectsSuperhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/----------PLATFORMS:Substack: https://substack.com/@siliconcurtainTwitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSiliconLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqm----------

Kevin Leach is the main director for Sabre Training Advisory Group, a professional military training non-profit. Their aim is to give Ukrainian defenders the skills to come home alive. Kevin is a Canadian Armed Forces veteran, with a long history of working in Ukraine and in military affairs. He served as a sergeant from 2008-2018, specialising in armoured reconnaissance. He leads a weekly segment on the Mriya Report called “Come Home Alive” covering the Key Elements of Training for the Ukrainian army. ----------LINKS:https://x.com/SabreAdvisory https://www.sabretag.org/donate https://www.instagram.com/sabre_tag/ https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mriyareport/episodes/Kevin-Leach--Sabre-Advisory-Training-on-Key-Elements-of-Training---May-29--2024-e2kavap----------ACTIVE CAMPAIGN:We are raising funds for 5 of 15 Vampire DronesSilicon Curtain for Kupiansk Vampires. Dzyga’s Paw, together with Jonathan Fink, is joining forces to raise $40,000 to provide the Khartiia Brigade with Vampire Drones.https://dzygaspaw.com/silicon-curtain-for-kupiansk-vampiresThese heavy bombers are designed to destroy manpower and equipment, as well as for remote mining. The Vampire UAV, manufactured by Skyfall, has proven itself to be one of the most effective weapons in the Kupiansk direction. Skyfall is one of Ukraine’s largest defense tech companies, producing Vampire bomber drones, various modifications of Shrike FPV drones, P1-SUN, Shahed drone interceptors, communication systems, and components.----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Car4Ukrainehttps://car4ukraine.com/en-US/campaignsDzyga's Pawhttps://dzygaspaw.com/projectsSuperhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/----------PLATFORMS:Substack: https://substack.com/@siliconcurtainTwitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSiliconLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqm----------

Silicon Bites Ep371 | 2026-07-20 | ----------ACTIVE CAMPAIGN:We are raising funds for 5 of 15 Vampire DronesSilicon Curtain for Kupiansk Vampires. Dzyga’s Paw, together with Jonathan Fink, is joining forces to raise $40,000 to provide the Khartiia Brigade with Vampire Drones.https://dzygaspaw.com/silicon-curtain-for-kupiansk-vampiresThese heavy bombers are designed to destroy manpower and equipment, as well as for remote mining. The Vampire UAV, manufactured by Skyfall, has proven itself to be one of the most effective weapons in the Kupiansk direction. Skyfall is one of Ukraine’s largest defense tech companies, producing Vampire bomber drones, various modifications of Shrike FPV drones, P1-SUN, Shahed drone interceptors, communication systems, and components.----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.org----------SOURCES:----------

Silicon Bites Ep372 | 2026-07-21 | They've Started Burying Putin Alive. The oligarchs are running, Beijing is hedging, the ratings are collapsing — every group that holds this regime up is quietly preparing for the world after Putin. They have not yet moved against him, but the life support for his regime is being switched off one input at a time. Soon the plug will be pulled, as Putin’s relentless war is dragging Russia down the abyss and taking everyone in a benighted, failing empire with him. In a single week in July 2026, Bloomberg documented the oligarchs stampeding for the exits with tens of billions of dollars; the Wall Street Journal revealed that Xi Jinping now treats Putin as a supplicant and is quietly building relationships with the people who will run Russia after him; the Kremlin's own pollsters recorded the steepest one-week collapse in Putin's approval since the mobilisation panic of 2022; and Russia's Defence Ministry admitted its flagship drone force has recruited barely a quarter of its plan. Four pillars. One message. The people who know this regime best have stopped believing in it.----------ACTIVE CAMPAIGN:We are raising funds for 5 of 15 Vampire DronesSilicon Curtain for Kupiansk Vampires. Dzyga’s Paw, together with Jonathan Fink, is joining forces to raise $40,000 to provide the Khartiia Brigade with Vampire Drones.https://dzygaspaw.com/silicon-curtain-for-kupiansk-vampiresThese heavy bombers are designed to destroy manpower and equipment, as well as for remote mining. The Vampire UAV, manufactured by Skyfall, has proven itself to be one of the most effective weapons in the Kupiansk direction. Skyfall is one of Ukraine’s largest defense tech companies, producing Vampire bomber drones, various modifications of Shrike FPV drones, P1-SUN, Shahed drone interceptors, communication systems, and components.----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.org----------SOURCES:Bloomberg — "Russia's Elite Are Moving Billions Beyond Putin's Wartime Grasp" (16 July 2026), via Yahoo FinanceMeduza — "Russia's richest businessmen are moving billions abroad amid fears of asset seizures, Bloomberg reports" (16 July 2026)Ukrainska Pravda — "Russian oligarchs move billions abroad for fear of asset confiscation" (16 July 2026)The Wall Street Journal — "Putin Was Xi's Role Model. Now He's the Junior Partner." (14–15 July 2026), via tovima.comMeduza — recap of the WSJ report on Power of Siberia 2 and Putin's supplicant status (15 July 2026)RBC-Ukraine — "Xi preparing for power shift in Russia as Putin losing China's trust — WSJ" (15 July 2026)Meduza — "Putin's approval rating just posted its steepest drop since Russia invaded Ukraine" (17 July 2026)Kyiv Post — "Putin's Approval Rating Sees Biggest Weekly Drop Since 2022 Amid Fuel Crisis" (17 July 2026)Charter97 — "Putin's Approval Rating In Russia Has Fallen To A Record Low" (17 July 2026)Kyiv Post — "Russia Struggles to Staff New Drone Force as Military Recruitment Falters – Report" (20 July 2026, citing CIT and Ukraine's SZRU)Janis Kluge — "Federal budget data shows 71,216 new contract soldiers in Q1 2026, lowest in 3 years" (9 June 2026)----------

SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Car4Ukrainehttps://car4ukraine.com/en-US/campaignsDzyga's Pawhttps://dzygaspaw.com/projectsSuperhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/----------PLATFORMS:Substack: https://substack.com/@siliconcurtainTwitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSiliconLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqm----------

Livestream with Yuri RashkinLINKS:https://rashkinreport.substack.com/https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/rashkin-report/id1183073638----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------Silicon Curtain is a part of the Christmas Tree Trucks 2025 campaign - an ambitious fundraiser led by a group of our wonderful team of information warriors raising 110,000 EUR for the Ukrainian army. https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/christmas-tree-trucks-2025-silicon-curtainThe Goal of the Campaign for the Silicon Curtain community:- 1 armoured battle-ready pickupWe are sourcing all vehicles around 2010-2017 or newer, mainly Toyota Hilux or Mitsubishi L200, with low mileage and fully serviced. These are some of the greatest and the most reliable pickups possible to be on the frontline in Ukraine. Who will receive the vehicles?https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/christmas-tree-trucks-2025-silicon-curtain- The 38th Marine Brigade, who alone held Krynki for 124 days, receiving the Military Cross of Honour.- The 1027th Anti-aircraft and artillery regiment. Honoured by NATO as Defender of the Year 2024 and recipient of the Military Cross of Honour.- 104th Separate Brigade, Infantry, who alone held Kherson for 100 days, establishing conditions for the liberation of the city.- 93rd Brigade "Kholodnyi Yar", Black Raven Unmanned Systems Battalion ----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasWe need to scale up our support for Ukraine, and these events are designed to have a major impact. Your support in making it happen is greatly appreciated. All events will be recorded professionally and published for free on the Silicon Curtain channel. Where possible, we will also live-stream events.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyslhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/-----------

David DeBatto is host of the ‘No Delusion Zone’ podcast @NoDelusionZone is a retired U.S. Army Counterintelligence Special Agent, a geopolitical analyst, writer, and podcaster. David is an Iraq war veteran who served as Team Leader of a Tactical Human Intelligence Team (THT) in operations within Iraq and is also a former police officer. David is considered too conservative for the progressive left and too independent minded for the radical right and seeks to challenge political dogma and the naked self-interest of politicians. ----------LINKS:@NoDelusionZone https://www.protectingtherepublic.com/podcasthttps://www.protectingtherepublic.com/https://substack.com/@protectingtherepublichttps://x.com/ddebattohttps://www.kyivpost.com/authors/743----------This is super important. There are so many Battalions in Ukraine, fighting to defend our freedoms, but lack basics such as vehicles. These are destroyed on a regular basis, and lack of transport is costs lives, and Ukrainian territory. Once again Silicon Curtain has teamed up with Car4Ukraine and a group of wonderful creators to provide much-needed assistance: https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtainAutumn Harvest: Silicon Curtain (Goal€22,000)We'll be supporting troops in Pokrovsk, Kharkiv, and other regions where the trucks are needed the most. 93rd Brigade "Kholodnyi Yar", Black Raven Unmanned Systems Battalionhttps://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtain----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------

Silicon Bites Ep369 | 2026-07-18 | Why Russians can't have nice things — Ukraine burns the warehouses of the "Russian Amazon", and the war finally arrives at the Muscovite front door- challenging the comfort, convenience and privilege of the Russia elite population. On the morning of Saturday 18 July 2026, Muscovites woke to a black pall hanging over their capital. Not refineries this time, though those fires have become a familiar site to Russians. From the burning logistics empire of Wildberries — the "Russian Amazon" — struck by Ukrainian long-range drones in Elektrostal and in Kotovsk, alongside a blazing oil depot in Noginsk. Zelensky calls it "long-range sanctions." We call it the moment the consumer economy of the Muscovite heartland discovered that Putin's war has a return address. Strike Nova Poshta depots in Ukraine, well, there are consequences, Russians. ----------ACTIVE CAMPAIGN:We are raising funds for 5 of 15 Vampire DronesSilicon Curtain for Kupiansk Vampires. Dzyga’s Paw, together with Jonathan Fink, is joining forces to raise $40,000 to provide the Khartiia Brigade with Vampire Drones.https://dzygaspaw.com/silicon-curtain-for-kupiansk-vampiresThese heavy bombers are designed to destroy manpower and equipment, as well as for remote mining. The Vampire UAV, manufactured by Skyfall, has proven itself to be one of the most effective weapons in the Kupiansk direction. Skyfall is one of Ukraine’s largest defense tech companies, producing Vampire bomber drones, various modifications of Shrike FPV drones, P1-SUN, Shahed drone interceptors, communication systems, and components.----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.org----------SOURCES:Kyiv Independent — "2 Russian logistics centers, oil depot hit as Kyiv launches hundreds of drones towards Moscow" (18 July 2026)Militarnyi — "Retaliatory Strikes Against Russia's Warehouse Infrastructure Have Begun: Wildberries Terminals in Moscow and Tambov Regions are on Fire" (18 July 2026)Ukrinform — "USF confirm strike on Wildberries warehouse in Moscow region" (18 July 2026)UNITED24 Media — "Ukraine Brings the War to Russia's Amazon as Wildberries Hubs Go Up in Flames" (18 July 2026)Ukrainska Pravda — "Large-scale drone attack on Moscow and Moscow Oblast: oil depot and Wildberries warehouse on fire" (18 July 2026)UNN — "Wildberries warehouses, hit by Ukrainian UAVs, were used to supply sanctioned drone parts" (18 July 2026)UNN — "OSINT analysis confirmed a fire at the Wildberries warehouse in the Moscow region after a UAV attack – Astra" (18 July 2026)CNN — "Eight warehouse workers killed in deadliest Ukrainian attacks inside Russia for two years" (18 July 2026)CBS News — "Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian warehouses and oil depot kill at least 8, injure over 60" (18 July 2026)Euronews — "Ukrainian forces strike 'major' logistics hubs in central Russia" (18 July 2026)Defense Express / defence-ua.com — "Moscow Region on Fire — Ukraine Attacked Warehouses and Refineries in Several Cities Near Capital of russia" (18 July 2026)Mezha/Bukvy — "Ukraine strikes Russian Wildberries warehouses" (18 July 2026)----------

Silicon Bites Ep370 | 2026-07-19 | At half past one this morning, Sunday the 19th of July, the explosions started again in Kyiv. Forty-one missiles and 125 drones launched across Ukraine overnight — twenty-five of them ballistic — and most of the missiles, in Zelensky's own assessment, aimed at the capital. Three people killed in Kyiv at a minimum – 20 or more across the country. At least sixteen wounded – though the tally is rising through the day as rescue efforts continue. Fires burning in five districts of the city. Residential buildings, offices, a student dormitory, industrial premises — hit and ablaze, per the State Emergency Service.Has Putin lost his mind? Can he really think that this kind of mass terror strike is effective? The terror is real — but look closer: this is the logistics war, scaling up in real time, and Russia's vertical empire is losing it. ----------ACTIVE CAMPAIGN:We are raising funds for 5 of 15 Vampire DronesSilicon Curtain for Kupiansk Vampires. Dzyga’s Paw, together with Jonathan Fink, is joining forces to raise $40,000 to provide the Khartiia Brigade with Vampire Drones.https://dzygaspaw.com/silicon-curtain-for-kupiansk-vampiresThese heavy bombers are designed to destroy manpower and equipment, as well as for remote mining. The Vampire UAV, manufactured by Skyfall, has proven itself to be one of the most effective weapons in the Kupiansk direction. Skyfall is one of Ukraine’s largest defense tech companies, producing Vampire bomber drones, various modifications of Shrike FPV drones, P1-SUN, Shahed drone interceptors, communication systems, and components.----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.org----------SOURCES:AP (via WSLS/KRMG), "1 killed, 16 wounded in an overnight Russian attack on Kyiv," 19 July 2026Kyiv Independent, live news feed, 19 July 2026 (Kyiv ballistic attack; Tambov Oblast warehouse strike)Kyiv Independent, "2 Russian logistics centers, oil depot hit as Kyiv launches hundreds of drones towards Moscow," 18 July 2026 NPR, "8 killed and more than 60 wounded in Ukrainian drone attack on Russian regions," 18 July 2026Washington Post, "Russia rocks Kyiv with massive missile, drone attack," 2 July 2026 NPR, "Russia's missile and drone attacks on Ukraine kill at least 22," 6 July 2026 (interceptor shortage; Zelensky quote) CNN, "Deadly Russian strikes hammer Kyiv on eve of critical NATO summit," 5–6 July 2026 (UN HRMMU casualty finding; third-deadliest attack) ABC News, "Russian overnight bombardment of Kyiv kills 22," 6 July 2026 (Russian MoD claims; district damage)Euromaidan Press, "Russia has hit over 200 Ukrainian locomotives this year," 4 July 2026 RailwayNews EU, "Russia's Attacks Targeting Ukrainian Locomotives," July 2026 (1,000+ rail attacks since early 2026) ISW / Critical Threats, "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, July 7, 2026" (shadow-fleet tanker strikes; Crimea electrical facilities; Kinburn Spit)ISW via Kyiv Post, "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, July 13, 2026" (Crimea isolation campaign; Oleksandrivka liberations)----------

Antonina Ria - Public Relations and Communications specialist, consultant, mentor and producer of Cyber Smart City. Before the full-scale war, she worked on commercial projects in the tech industry. In particular, she started the development of the YouControl brand, founded the social direction there, and created the company’s PR department. She helped Ukrainian startups implement PR strategies. From the first hours of the full-scale invasion, she joined the PR Army as a volunteer. She worked with UNITED24, helping with its international launch. She was a host and presenter of the ‘In the World of IT” section on Polish Radio for Ukraine. Now she helps foreign media with Ukrainian context and stories. ----------LINKS:https://www.linkedin.com/in/antonina-ria/https://conference-2024.lvivmediaforum.com/en/speakers/antonina-riahttps://x.com/antonina_riahttps://www.instagram.com/antonina.ria.pr/https://cybersmartcity.org/#home----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Car4Ukrainehttps://car4ukraine.com/en-US/campaignsDzyga's Pawhttps://dzygaspaw.com/projectsSuperhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/----------PLATFORMS:Substack: https://substack.com/@siliconcurtainTwitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSiliconLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqm----------

Silicon Bites Ep368 | 2026-07-16 | Could sacking Fedorov be one of the worst self-inflicted wounds of Ukraine's war? Russia is celebrating the move, which means it can’t be good, and how the decision by Zelenskyy has brought the cardboard protests back on to the streets. THE SYSTEM STRIKES BACK: Zelensky fires Mykhailo Fedorov — the most effective defence minister of the full-scale war — after six months, sides with the Soviet-schooled general, whose family it must be noted, still live in Russia, though apparently have cut him off. ----------ACTIVE CAMPAIGN:We are raising funds for 5 of 15 Vampire DronesSilicon Curtain for Kupiansk Vampires. Dzyga’s Paw, together with Jonathan Fink, is joining forces to raise $40,000 to provide the Khartiia Brigade with Vampire Drones.https://dzygaspaw.com/silicon-curtain-for-kupiansk-vampiresThese heavy bombers are designed to destroy manpower and equipment, as well as for remote mining. The Vampire UAV, manufactured by Skyfall, has proven itself to be one of the most effective weapons in the Kupiansk direction. Skyfall is one of Ukraine’s largest defense tech companies, producing Vampire bomber drones, various modifications of Shrike FPV drones, P1-SUN, Shahed drone interceptors, communication systems, and components.----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.org----------SOURCES:Reuters (via US News) — Factbox: Who Is Ukraine's Mykhailo Fedorov, the Dismissed Defence Minister? (16 July 2026)Kyiv Independent — Zelensky dismisses Defense Minister Fedorov, deepening turmoil in Ukraine's military leadership (15–16 July 2026) Kyiv Independent — 'Utterly baffling': Ukrainians outraged, call for protest after Zelensky ousts Fedorov (16 July 2026)Ukrainska Pravda — Zelenskyy could no longer tolerate ongoing conflict between Defence Minister Fedorov and Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi – UP sources (16 July 2026)Ukrainska Pravda — Protesters in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities call for Fedorov to be kept on as defence minister (16 July 2026) Euromaidan Press — "Cardboard" protests against Zelenskyy's firing of Fedorov erupt across Ukraine (16 July 2026) Euronews — Ukrainians hold rare wartime protest over defence minister's dismissal (16 July 2026) Euronews — Zelenskyy dismisses Ukraine's popular Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov (15 July 2026)Bloomberg — Protests Flare in Kyiv Over Ouster of Popular Defense Minister (16 July 2026) AP (via ABC News) — Protesters rally in Kyiv as Zelenskyy moves to oust Ukraine's defense minister (16 July 2026)----------

Bert Watson is an American government-relations consultant, U.S. Navy veteran and long-standing advocate for stronger U.S.–Ukraine relations who has travelled to Ukraine repeatedly, including eight visits by June 2026. His perspective is unusual because it combines political communications, defence and energy experience with repeated exposure to Ukrainian military units, command posts, special-forces headquarters, hospitals, humanitarian organisations and defence innovators. ----------LINKS:https://www.thecipherbrief.com/experts/bert-watsonhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/bertwatson/https://www.watsonandco.us/team----------ACTIVE CAMPAIGN:We are raising funds for 5 of 15 Vampire DronesSilicon Curtain for Kupiansk Vampires. Dzyga’s Paw, together with Jonathan Fink, is joining forces to raise $40,000 to provide the Khartiia Brigade with Vampire Drones.https://dzygaspaw.com/silicon-curtain-for-kupiansk-vampiresThese heavy bombers are designed to destroy manpower and equipment, as well as for remote mining. The Vampire UAV, manufactured by Skyfall, has proven itself to be one of the most effective weapons in the Kupiansk direction. Skyfall is one of Ukraine’s largest defense tech companies, producing Vampire bomber drones, various modifications of Shrike FPV drones, P1-SUN, Shahed drone interceptors, communication systems, and components.----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Car4Ukrainehttps://car4ukraine.com/en-US/campaignsDzyga's Pawhttps://dzygaspaw.com/projectsSuperhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/----------PLATFORMS:Substack: https://substack.com/@siliconcurtainTwitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSiliconLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqm----------

Silicon Bites Ep367 | 2026-07-14 | This episode: The Butcher's Bill. 1.4 million casualties, up to 450,000 dead — Russia is bleeding at World War Two scale for a war that isn't moving. Mobilization is now the Kremlin's only card. And it's a losing one. The numbers are now in, cross-confirmed by Washington think tanks, British intelligence, independent Russian journalists counting graves, and Ukraine's own commander-in-chief. Russia has suffered around 1.4 million battlefield casualties. As many as 450,000 of its soldiers are dead. No major power has lost anything like this in any war since 1945. And here is the part the Kremlin cannot fix – Russia is now losing men faster than it can recruit them. The war machine is consuming itself. Mobilization is coming — and mobilization will not save Putin. ----------ACTIVE CAMPAIGN:We are raising funds for 5 of 15 Vampire DronesSilicon Curtain for Kupiansk Vampires. Dzyga’s Paw, together with Jonathan Fink, is joining forces to raise $40,000 to provide the Khartiia Brigade with Vampire Drones.https://dzygaspaw.com/silicon-curtain-for-kupiansk-vampiresThese heavy bombers are designed to destroy manpower and equipment, as well as for remote mining. The Vampire UAV, manufactured by Skyfall, has proven itself to be one of the most effective weapons in the Kupiansk direction. Skyfall is one of Ukraine’s largest defense tech companies, producing Vampire bomber drones, various modifications of Shrike FPV drones, P1-SUN, Shahed drone interceptors, communication systems, and components.----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.org----------SOURCES:CSIS — "Russian Blood and Treasure: The Ballooning Costs of Putin's War" (Seth G. Jones & Riley McCabe)CNN — "Bloodier than Stalingrad: Number of casualties in Russia's war on Ukraine reaches 2 million" (2 July 2026)Kyiv Post — "US Think Tank: WWI-Scale Casualties, Civil Unrest Undermine Russia's War in Ukraine"The New Voice of Ukraine — "Russian losses nearly 8-to-1: CSIS"Mediazona (with BBC Russian) — "Russian losses in the war with Ukraine. Mediazona count, updated" (230,624 confirmed, 3 July 2026)Mediazona & Meduza — "352,000 deaths in four years" (probate registry estimate, 9 May 2026)Kyiv Independent — "Over 230,000 Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine identified by media investigation"Ukrainska Pravda — "Ukraine's commander-in-chief: pace of Russian advance has more than halved" (10 July 2026)Euromaidan Press — "With a 2-to-1 edge, Russia shrank its offensive from 13 fronts to 6, Syrskyi says"Kyiv Independent — "Ukraine war latest: Russian territorial advances slowed by more than half in 2026, Syrskyi says"Kyiv Post — "Syrsky Says Russia's 2026 Offensive Failed Despite Nearly 2-to-1 Troop Advantage" (incl. Zelensky Ankara remarks)Wikipedia (aggregating BBC/GCHQ, The Telegraph, Novaya Gazeta, Ukrainian General Staff) — "Casualties of the Russo-Ukrainian war"----------