Turnaround, as they say, is fair play. We now live in a world where Ukraine has invaded Russia and controls territory roughly the size of New York City.
Ukraine’s bold incursion into Kursk Oblast, the first time foreign troops have taken Russian territory since World War II, has changed the narrative of the war overnight.
It has boosted the morale of Ukrainians. It gives Kyiv more military options at a time when its troops are struggling on the frontlines in Donbas. And it forces Vladimir Putin’s regime to make some very hard choices.
So what does it all mean? On The Power Vertical Podcast this week, host Brian Whitmore speaks with Aleksandr Khara, a former official with the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council who is currently a Fellow at the Center for Defense Strategies, and Mykola Bielieskov, a senior analyst at Come Back Alive, which provides support to service members in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Enjoy…
SHOW NOTES
The audio clip opening the podcast came from a speech by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on August 12. The translation is as follows:
“It is only fair to destroy Russian terrorists where they are, where they launch their strikes from. Russian military airfields, Russian logistics. We see how useful this can be for bringing peace closer.”
The audio clip opening the second half of the podcast came from a speech by Zelensky on August 16. The translation is as follows:
“We see that the occupier is suffering losses, and this is helpful, very helpful for our defense. It is about destroying the logistics of the Russian army and draining their reserves. We must inflict maximum damage on all Russian positions, and we are doing that.”
You can learn more about the Come Back Alive Foundation here. Mykola Bielieskov’s recent publications can be accessed here, here, and here.
You can learn more about the Center for Defense Strategies here. Aleksander Khara’s recent publications can be accessed here.
The Power Vertical Newsletter on Substack can be accessed here. Recently published work by Brian Whitmore can be accessed here and here. Brian Whitmore’s article on the Kursk offensive, which was referenced in the podcast, can be accessed here.