Battleground
773 episodes — Page 1 of 16
413. Trump’s G7 Bombshell, the Battle for Kostiantynivka, and Russia’s Desperate Draft Raids
412. The Superhumans of Ukraine with Eddie Scott
411. The Squeeze on Crimea, Lukashenko’s Apology & Inside the Kherson 'Human Safari'
410. The Artery of the Nation & The War on Corruption
409. Gaining Dominance: Ukraine Shifts the Momentum
408. Geopolitical Shifts, Strategic Autonomy, and the 'Fantastic Kingdom' with Dr. Helene von Bismarck
407. Black Smoke Over St Petersburg: Ukraine Targets Putin’s "Russian Davos"
407. Black Smoke Over St Petersburg: Ukraine Targets Putin’s "Russian Davos"
406. Fighting the War Within – Ukraine’s Anti-Corruption Battle
406. Fighting the War Within – Ukraine’s Anti-Corruption Battle
405. Escalation, Ambiguity, and the Ghost of Katyn
405. Escalation, Ambiguity, and the Ghost of Katyn
404. The Reinforced Character of Kharkiv
404. The Reinforced Character of Kharkiv
403. The Unimaginable: Will Nuclear Weapons Be Used Again in Our Lifetime?
403. The Unimaginable: Will Nuclear Weapons Be Used Again in Our Lifetime?
Friends in High Places: Putin’s Lifelines and Britain’s Sanction U-Turn
Friends in High Places: Putin’s Lifelines and Britain’s Sanction U-Turn
401. The Battle for Kupiansk: Inside Ukraine's Comeback
401. The Battle for Kupiansk: Inside Ukraine's Comeback
400. Human Safari in Kherson & Drone Interceptors at Chernobyl
400. Human Safari in Kherson & Drone Interceptors at Chernobyl
399. Is This the Beginning of the End?
399. Is This the Beginning of the End?
398. Katya’s War: The Last Night in Avdiivka
398. Katya’s War: The Last Night in Avdiivka
397. Is the Kremlin Crumbling? Putin’s Bunkers, Coup Fears, and the Shoigu Suspicion
397. Is the Kremlin Crumbling? Putin’s Bunkers, Coup Fears, and the Shoigu Suspicion
396. Katya’s War: From Kharkiv to Bakhmut
396. Katya’s War: From Kharkiv to Bakhmut
395. Kinetic Sanctions
395. Kinetic Sanctions
394. Kharkiv: Flowers, Sunshine, and the Shadow of War
394. Kharkiv: Flowers, Sunshine, and the Shadow of War
393. The Druzhba Pipeline Deal: Hungary’s New PM & Russia’s Hidden Inflation
393. The Druzhba Pipeline Deal: Hungary’s New PM & Russia’s Hidden Inflation
392. Lessons for the West: The Most Experienced Army in Europe
392. Lessons for the West: The Most Experienced Army in Europe
391. The Hungarian Earthquake: The Fall of the Orbán Era
391. The Hungarian Earthquake: The Fall of the Orbán Era
390. The Invisible Frontline: Power, Trauma, and Resilience in Odesa
390. The Invisible Frontline: Power, Trauma, and Resilience in Odesa
389. Drone Breakthroughs, Russian Oil Strikes, and JD Vance in Budapest
389. Drone Breakthroughs, Russian Oil Strikes, and JD Vance in Budapest
388. Hungary’s High-Stakes Election
388. Hungary’s High-Stakes Election
387. The Baltic Blitz: Dismantling Putin’s War Chest
387. The Baltic Blitz: Dismantling Putin’s War Chest
In this edition of Battleground Ukraine, Roger Moorhouse and Patrick Bishop explore a week where the geography of the war has expanded significantly—both through daring long-range strikes and complex global diplomacy. We begin with an analysis of Ukraine’s concerted offensive against Russian oil infrastructure in the Baltic. With repeated strikes on the Primorsk and Ust-Luga terminals, Kyiv is hitting the Kremlin where it hurts most: the wallet. We examine how these attacks are effectively neutralising the financial "boon" Putin hoped to reap from rising global oil prices following recent escalations in the Persian Gulf. Later in the program, Patrick Bishop interviews author Julian Evans about his acclaimed book, Undefeatable: Odesa in Love and War. Join the Conversation: If you have a question about the war in Ukraine or any of the conflicts we cover, email us at [email protected] Follow us on: X - @PodBattleground Instagram - podbattleground TikTok - battlegroundukraine Producer: James Hodgson A Goalhanger Podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
386. Otto Skorzeny and the Gran Sasso Raid
386. Otto Skorzeny and the Gran Sasso Raid
In this instalment of our Special Forces series, Patrick Bishop and Saul David pivot from Allied triumphs to examine a daring operation from the "enemy" perspective: the 1943 rescue of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini. Following the Allied invasion of Sicily and a vote of no confidence from his own council, Mussolini was arrested and whisked away to a remote ski resort 2,112 meters high in the Apennine Mountains. While the new Italian government hoped to use him as a bargaining chip, Adolf Hitler had other plans—ordering his "favourite commando," the scarred and imposing Otto Skorzeny, to spring his old ally from captivity. In this episode, we deconstruct Operation Oak, exploring: The Myth vs. The Reality: How Skorzeny, a master of self-promotion, elbowed his way into the limelight and took credit for an operation primarily executed by German paratroopers (Fallschirmjäger). The Silent Approach: Why the Germans chose high-risk glider landings over traditional parachutes to achieve total silence and surprise. A Propaganda Masterstroke: Why the rescue was ultimately a "damp squib" militarily, serving as a desperate PR stunt for a Nazi regime facing defeat on all fronts. The Shadowy Afterlife: Skorzeny’s post-war exploits, from escaping internment to advising world leaders in Egypt and Argentina, and the chilling allegations of his work for Mossad. Join us as we unmask the "most dangerous man in Europe" and reveal how a "special operation" was born more out of vanity and propaganda than strategic necessity. Join the Conversation: If you have a question about the war in Ukraine or any of the conflicts we cover, email us at [email protected] Follow us on: X - @PodBattleground Instagram - podbattleground TikTok - battlegroundukraine Producer: James Hodgson A Goalhanger Podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices