Battleground

Four years and three months into a "five-day special military operation" that has dragged on as long as the First World War, Vladimir Putin continues to display a troubling resilience. In this episode of Battleground Ukraine, hosts Patrick Bishop and Saul David peel back the diplomatic theatre surrounding Putin’s high-profile summit in Beijing.

While the body language suggests genuine warmth between Putin and Xi Jinping , the hosts expose the stark reality: a deeply unequal partnership where an economically dominant China treats Russia as a junior partner—and an asset to upend the global order.

The team breaks down the geopolitical and economic survival strategies keeping Moscow afloat, from massive natural gas pipeline breakthroughs to unexpected lifelines handed over by Western nations.



The Yamal-to-China Pipeline: A deep dive into the resurrected, 50-billion-cubic-meter gas project cutting through Mongolia—a long-term economic fallback that cements Russia's reliance on selling off its natural resources to Asia.



The UK's "Shameful" Sanctions Shift: An analysis of Britain's controversial decision to officially loosen strict sanctions on Russian energy imports. Driven by soaring energy costs and blockades in the Strait of Hormuz, the UK's indefinite waiver on refined Russian crude sends a dangerous signal to the Kremlin.



G7 Hypocrisy: How the British government managed to sign an unwavering G7 pledge to impose "severe costs" on Russia , while simultaneously backtracking on vital sanctions at home.

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

In our latest on-the-ground episode of Battleground Ukraine, hosts Saul and Boldi take you directly behind the front lines of a major tactical breakthrough. Traveling down a high-priority supply highway newly shrouded under miles of anti-drone netting , the team infiltrates a hidden, highly secured battalion command post directing the live battle for Kupiansk.

Disguised as a civilian building to evade Russian surveillance , the bunker functions like a miniature, high-tech NASA centre. From inside, Saul and Boldi watch live video feeds from a wall of 60 screens , witnessing the exact moment Ukrainian forces employ specialised "Vampire" bomber drones and fibre-optic ambushes to systematically dismantle the Russian advance.

Featuring Exclusive Interviews from the Front Line:


The Deputy Battalion Commander breaks down the meticulous northern flank counteroffensive that blindsided the enemy , resulting in over 500 Russian casualties and the successful reoccupation of the city.


"Positive," Head of Intelligence, details the psychological drone and phone operations used to safely capture roughly 50 Russian defectors —and the grim reality of Russian forces shooting their own men who try to surrender.


An Assault Company Commander explains their critical mission to block Russian access to Kupiansk and exposes how Russia is deploying poorly trained "infiltrators" merely to draw fire and map targets.

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

In this special edition of Battleground Ukraine, Saul David and Patrick Bishop catch up with friend of the show - intrepid Hungarian war reporter Boldi Gyori, who has just returned from the front lines and the deeply scarred landscapes of Ukraine.

Boldi paints a vivid, surreal, and at times dystopian picture of a conflict that has evolved into a "forever war" for those living through it.


The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone Today: Forty years after the nuclear catastrophe, Boldi explores a lush but heavily militarised zone where thousands of workers and soldiers monitor radiation and guard against a repeat of the 2022 Russian invasion. He shares a chilling look inside a Pripyat hospital basement where the clothing of the original first responders remains too radioactive to touch.


The "Human Safari" of Kherson: A brutal look at a besieged city where Russian FPV drones explicitly target civilians on the street. Boldi details how locals use Telegram channels to duck from shadow to shadow, how a brave Hungarian volunteer smuggles in life-saving baby formula, and why thousands of citizens simply cannot afford to leave.


The Tech Battleground: An inside look at the high-tech, 3D-printed interceptor drones deployed by Ukrainians from ordinary minivans to knock out Russian Shahed and Molniya drones mid-air with an astonishing 85–90% success rate.


A Shift in Budapest: Following a major election victory in Hungary, Boldi breaks down why the Kremlin has stopped pulling its punches in the western region of Transcarpathia—and how Hungary's new government is finally pushing back against Russian aggression.

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

In this week’s episode, Saul David and Patrick Bishop explore whether the tide has finally turned in the four-year conflict.

Following a series of strategic and symbolic blows to the Kremlin, the team asks: Are we witnessing the beginning of the end for Vladimir Putin’s "Special Military Operation"?

The Humiliation of Red Square: We break down Putin’s "feeble" May 9th Victory Parade. From the bizarre request for a two-day truce to the total absence of tanks and modern hardware, what does this scaled-back spectacle reveal about the current state of the Russian military?

The Drone Revolution: Ukraine’s "mid-range" dominance is changing the math on the front lines. We look at how AI-integrated drones and Starlink are bypassing Russian EW systems to strike deep into logistics hubs, specifically targeting the vital H-20 highway.

Cracks in the Kremlin: With reports of a shrinking Russian economy and Putin’s increasing reliance on bunkers and bodyguards, we discuss the rumours of internal paranoia and a potential coup.

The Road to Istanbul: For the first time since 2019, a face-to-face meeting between Zelensky and Putin looks possible. Encouraged by Donald Trump and facilitated by Turkey, could this be the breakthrough the world has been waiting for—or is it another tactical stall?

Operation Midas: Domestically, Zelensky faces a political firestorm as his former Chief of Staff, Andriy Yermak, is charged in a massive £76m energy corruption scandal. We examine what this means for Ukraine’s EU ambitions and why "no one being above the law" might actually be a sign of democratic strength.

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

In the second part of our interview with Katya Ratushna, she recounts the harrowing final days of Avdiivka and shares her strategic vision for the future of the Ukrainian defence.

Following her account of Bakhmut in Part 1, Katya offers a raw perspective on the "fate" of being among the last to leave a city on its final night.

She offers an unfiltered look at:


The Avdiivka Evacuation: A gripping account of a midnight escape where a loose piece of thermal gear saved her from a Russian drone grenade that hit her group.


Leadership and Gender: How she earned authority over eight years to command men in the Special Operation Forces and why she believes women bring a unique, "idea-driven" motivation to the front lines.


The UAV Revolution: The challenges of scaling drone units and why she believes the military must move beyond technical piloting to a comprehensive system of tactical education.


The "Kill Zone" Reality: A candid discussion on manpower, revealing that only an estimated 15% of the army is physically holding the most dangerous front-line positions.


A Divided Kharkiv: A deeply personal reflection on the pro-Russian sentiments within her own family and the enduring Ukrainian roots of her home city.

Join us for the conclusion of this powerful interview as Katya explores how rational thinking saves lives and why the time bought by defending these cities is Ukraine's most precious resource

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