Episodes

  • 384. Hubris at the Gates: The Fall of Russia's Elite

    384. Hubris at the Gates: The Fall of Russia's Elite
    Mar 25 2026
    If you would like to watch this podcast you can watch it on Spotify or you can find it on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/@BattlegroundUkraine In this special on-the-ground edition of Battleground Special Forces, Saul David and Julius Strauss travel to the outskirts of Kharkiv and Kyiv to examine the catastrophic opening hours of the 2022 Russian invasion. Through eyewitness accounts and visits to the sites of intense urban combat, they reconstruct how Russia’s most elite units—the GRU-trained Spetsnaz and the VDV Airborne—faced fierce resistance that derailed the Kremlin’s "two-day" victory plan. This episode features: • The Siege of School 134: A detailed look at the 13-hour gun battle in Kharkiv where dozens of elite Spetsnaz soldiers made a final, hubristic stand before the building was destroyed by a gas explosion. • The Battle for Hostomel (Antonov) Airport: The strategic "linchpin" operation involving helicopter assaults and a desperate back-and-forth struggle for the gateway to Kyiv. • The Human Cost in Bucha: A somber visit to the Bucha cemetery, where the rows of civilian victims bear witness to the 32-day Russian occupation. Join Saul and Julius as they explore the "battlefield detritus" and the layers of history in a region still caught between recovery and the ongoing realities of war. Julius Strauss writes the blog Back from the Front and also owns and runs Wild Bear Lodge, a bear-viewing lodge, in Canada. Here are the hyperlinks: Substack: https://backfromthefront.substack.com/ Wild Bear Lodge: https://wildbearlodge.ca/ Join the Conversation: If you have a question about the war in Ukraine or any of the conflicts we cover, email us at podbattleground@gmail.com Follow us on: X - @PodBattleground Instagram - podbattleground Producer: James Hodgson A Goalhanger Podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    29 mins
  • 383. Odesa Mama, Port of War & Surviving Russian Occupation

    383. Odesa Mama, Port of War & Surviving Russian Occupation
    Mar 23 2026
    The Battleground team returns to Ukraine to witness how a whirlwind year of shifting geopolitics and a brutal winter have transformed the nation. On our first day in Odesa, hosts Saul David and Julius Strauss explore a city that remains a stunning architectural gateway to the country, despite being a primary target for Russian drones and missiles. In this episode, we sit down with friend of the podcast, Boldizsar Gyori, to discuss Odesa’s complex history and its critical role as the port that keeps the Ukrainian economy afloat through the grain corridor. We also hear two deeply moving firsthand accounts from two young Ukrainian women, Katerina and Tatyana, who share their harrowing experiences living under occupation in Kherson and Bucha. If you would like to watch this podcast you can watch it on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/@BattlegroundUkraine Julius Strauss writes the blog Back from the Front and also owns and runs Wild Bear Lodge, a bear-viewing lodge, in Canada. Here are the hyperlinks: Substack: https://backfromthefront.substack.com/ Wild Bear Lodge: https://wildbearlodge.ca/ Join the Conversation: If you have a question about the war in Ukraine or any of the conflicts we cover, email us at podbattleground@gmail.com Follow us on: X - @PodBattleground Instagram - podbattleground Producer: James Hodgson A Goalhanger Podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    40 mins
  • 382. Putin’s Windfall, Gerasimov’s Fictions, and Moral Equivalence

    382. Putin’s Windfall, Gerasimov’s Fictions, and Moral Equivalence
    Mar 20 2026
    As the war between America, Israel, and Iran escalates, the ripple effects are being felt acutely in Ukraine. In this episode, Patrick and Saul analyse the "extraordinary diplomatic developments" emerging from the White House, where President Trump appears to be equating Western support for Ukraine with Russian support for a repressive Iranian theocracy. Meanwhile, Saul provides a firsthand update following his recent trip to the front lines, and on the ground in Ukraine, we separate fact from fiction regarding General Gerasimov’s latest claims of Russian breakthroughs, contrasting them with the reality of "kill zones" and the successful liberation of territory in Zaporizhzhya. Finally, we answer your questions on the persistent rumours of Yevgeny Prigozhin’s survival, whether the West can truly bankrupt Russia’s "shadow fleet" as oil prices soar, and more. Join the Conversation: If you have a question about the war in Ukraine or any of the conflicts we cover, email us at podbattleground@gmail.com Follow us on: X - @PodBattleground Instagram - podbattleground Producer: James Hodgson A Goalhanger Podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    46 mins
  • 381. Battleground: Special Forces — The Listener Mailbag

    381. Battleground: Special Forces — The Listener Mailbag
    Mar 18 2026
    In this episode of Battleground, Saul David and Patrick Bishop dive into a packed mailbag to answer your thoughts and questions on the elite units and daring raids that defined 20th-century special operations. Among the topics of discussion in today's episode are: operations by Norwegian SOFs during WW2, the daring Italian manned-torpedo raids on the British fleet at Alexandria in 1941, and Operation Jaywick - the audacious 1943 raid on Singapore Harbour. Join the Conversation: If you have a question about the history of special forces or any of the conflicts we cover, email us at podbattleground@gmail.com or follow us on X @PodBattleground. Producer: James Hodgson A Goalhanger Podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    41 mins
  • 380. Tragedy, Resilience, and Defiance: Reflections from a Week Across Ukraine

    380. Tragedy, Resilience, and Defiance: Reflections from a Week Across Ukraine
    Mar 13 2026
    Recording from an overnight train traveling across Ukraine, Saul David and Julius Strauss reflect on an intensive week-long journey from Odesa to Kyiv. In this episode, they bear witness to the jarring dualities of a country at war—reporting directly from the site of a devastating missile strike on a Kharkiv apartment block. They also share insights from Odesa on the repair of the electrical grid and the ongoing struggle against infrastructure attacks. And do an analysis of the ongoing dispute with Hungary and Ukraine’s growing diplomatic influence in the Gulf. Join Saul and Julius for an atmospheric debrief on the endurance of the Ukrainian spirit, captured in transit as they head toward the final leg of their tour. Join us as we conclude our deep dive into one of the most significant Special Forces operations in British history. If you would like to watch this podcast you can watch it on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/uaEu09gbu5k If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com Producer: James Hodgson X (Twitter): @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    55 mins
  • 379. The Raid: Inside the SAS Assault on the Iranian Embassy: Part 2

    379. The Raid: Inside the SAS Assault on the Iranian Embassy: Part 2
    Mar 11 2026
    At 7:07 p.m. on May 5, 1980, the Metropolitan Police officially handed control of the Iranian Embassy siege to the SAS. What followed were seventeen minutes of high-stakes drama that would change the reputation of the Special Air Service forever. In this episode, Patrick Bishop and Saul David break down the frantic tactical reality of Operation Nimrod. We explore the "Blue" and "Red" team assaults, the infamous moment an operative became entangled in his abseil rope, and the live television broadcast that captivated millions across the globe. Beyond the flashbangs and the smoke, they tackle the difficult questions: The Controversy: Was there a "shoot-to-kill" policy? We examine the accounts of hostages and the fate of the surviving terrorists. The Global Impact: How Margaret Thatcher used the success of the raid as diplomatic leverage to try and free American hostages in Tehran. The Legacy: How a "textbook" assault on the edge of Hyde Park transformed the SAS from a shadowy unit into a world-renowned anti-terrorist force. Join us as we conclude our deep dive into one of the most significant Special Forces operations in British history. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com Producer: James Hodgson X (Twitter): @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    31 mins
  • 378. Why Hungary and Iran Matter for Ukraine Right Now

    378. Why Hungary and Iran Matter for Ukraine Right Now
    Mar 8 2026
    If you are interested in reading more from Julius Strauss, you can find his substack here: https://backfromthefront.substack.com/ In a bonus edition of Battleground Ukraine, Saul David and Julius Strauss are joined by Boldizsar Gyori to discuss the recent surge in tensions between Hungary and Ukraine and assess why recent developments could be very significant for Ukraine going forward. Additionally, they discuss the implications of the latest developments in the ongoing conflict in Iran and the wider Middle East region and weigh up the potential impact they might have on Ukraine. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com Producer: James Hodgson X (Twitter): @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    33 mins
  • 377. The Iran Distraction: How the Middle East Mega-Drama Redraws the Map for Kyiv

    377. The Iran Distraction: How the Middle East Mega-Drama Redraws the Map for Kyiv
    Mar 6 2026
    While the world’s gaze is fixed on the "mega-drama" unfolding across Iran and the Middle East, the tremors are being felt on the battlefields of Ukraine. In this episode, Roger Moorhouse and Patrick Bishop dive into the high-stakes geopolitical fallout of a widening Middle Eastern conflict and what it means for Kyiv. As the U.S. and Israel burn through interceptor stocks, we ask the critical question: Is there enough room in the American arsenal for both the Middle East and Ukraine? With Donald Trump’s priorities shifting and production lines struggling to keep pace, Ukraine finds itself slipping further back in the queue for life-saving air defence. In this episode, we discuss: The Arsenal Drain: How the deployment of Patriot batteries across the Gulf and Israel’s "nitty-gritty" need for ammunition is creating a global scarcity that threatens Ukrainian airspace. The Shaheed Shift: Why the disruption of Iranian exports might not be the win for Ukraine it seems, as Russia ramps up domestic production of the Geran-2 drone. Trump’s "Forever War" Dilemma: The diplomatic consequences of a potential stalemate in Iran and why the U.S. President appears "out of the picture" regarding the Ukraine story. Europe’s Exposed Weakness: A look at the "divided and hesitant" response from the EU’s Big Three and the conspicuous silence of Kaja Kallas and Ursula von der Leyen. The Force de Frappe: France’s bold move to evolve its nuclear doctrine as Europe begins the painful process of weaning itself off U.S. dependency. Is Putin the ultimate beneficiary of the chaos in Tehran? Join us as we unpack a week where the sidelines of the conflict have never felt more consequential. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com Producer: James Hodgson X (Twitter): @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    39 mins