Ukraine’s defenses in the Donbas are buckling in the face of a ferocious Russian assault as the strategic town of Vuhledar falls following months of resistance.
President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to the United States does not appear — at least for the moment — to have secured American permission to use Western weapons to strike inside Russia.
Russian aerial bombardment of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and civilian targets continue as the country braces for its third winter of war, amid rolling blackouts and energy shortages.
How is Ukrainian society reacting and holding up? Is the fabled Ukrainian resilience, unity, and determination cracking as the war approaches its thousand-day mark? Or is it holding steady?
On The Power Vertical this week, host Brian Whitmore speaks with Serhiy Kudelia, an Associate Professor of Political Science at Baylor University and author of the forthcoming book Seize the City, Undo the State: The Inception of Russia’s War on Ukraine, which will be published by Oxford University Press in February.
SHOW NOTES
The audio clip opening the podcast came from a speech by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on October 2, 2024. The translation is as follows:
“Every week, in spite of everything, our warriors ensure really tangible damage to the occupier, and this is the most important thing – to exhaust the enemy and secure Ukraine’s ability to convince our partners of the steps that can radically, strategically change the military situation.”
The audio clip opening the second segment of the podcast came from a speech by Zelensky on September 28, 2024. The translation is as follows:
“Life is based on principles and law when it cannot be destroyed by violence. That is why unity is so necessary. Unity of the allies, unity of the world to stop Russia, this war, and to ensure a real fair peace. The peace that Ukraine wants more than anyone else in the world, and that will definitely come.”
Public opinion polls referenced in the podcast by Serhiy Kudelia can be accessed here and here.
You can view Serhiy Kudelia discussing his forthcoming book, Seize the City, Undo the State: The Inception of Russia’s War on Ukraine, here. Serhiy Kudelia’s published works 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.