Silicon Curtain

Edition No242 | 06-09-2025 - Europe gears up—again—for tougher sanctions on Russia but always seems to keep one foot on the brake at the same time as the accelerator. In Paris, the U.S. envoy, Witless Witkoff stormed in, then stormed out again, of a high stakes meeting with Zelenskyy and European leaders. And in Washington, the Trump White House talks tough, yet holds back on hitting Putin directly — every single time – while scolding Europe about Russian oil that still seeps in through economic cracks. Let’s connect the dots, call out the pressures, and say the quiet part out loud: neither Europe, nor the U.S. have done anything that has real deterrence power. No wonder Putin is intent on continuing his war, with a sense of complete impunity. Europe’s Sanctions Jitters, Paris Drama, and the Fine Art of Trump ManagementFirst the good news: Europe does understand the threat. After a Paris summit of the so-called “Coalition of the Willing,” European Council President António Costa confirmed that a team is flying to Washington to co-write a joint Russia sanctions package—explicitly including secondary sanctions in the draft. His words in Uzhhorod were unambiguous: “We are working with the U.S. and other partners to intensify our pressure through additional sanctions, both direct and secondary sanctions.” (Kyiv Independent, Sept. 5, 2025) Ukrainska Pravda reported the same: Brussels has already begun work on the next package and is sending a team to coordinate it with U.S. counterparts. (Українська правда)----------SOURCES: https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-delegation-us-prepare-joint-sanctions-russia-ukraine-war/https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2025/09/5/7529510/https://kyivindependent.com/zelensky-announces-upcoming-talks-with-trump-on-strengthening-sanctions-against-russia/https://kyivindependent.com/europe-sends-team-to-washington-to-work-on-russia-sanctions-eu-council-chief-says/https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/content-series/inflection-points/its-time-for-trump-to-put-maximum-pressure-on-putin/https://www.cnbc.com/2025/09/01/why-does-trump-hold-back-on-punishing-russia-and-putin.htmlhttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-09-02/us-holds-back-china-trade-threats-as-it-weighs-russia-sanctionshttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g7dze5n1vohttps://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/witkoff-walks-out-of-coalition-of-willing-1756986589.html----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------DESCRIPTION: Europe's Sanctions & America's Mixed Signals: The Real StoryIn this episode of Silicon Bites, we dissect the fraught geopolitical landscape between the US, Europe, and Russia. Explore how Europe prepares for tougher sanctions against Russia while simultaneously trying to avoid economic disruptions. Understand the discrepancy between the strong rhetoric from the Trump administration and its actual actions. Get insights into Paris meetings, American diplomatic stunts, and the rumored hidden agendas behind political maneuverings. Discover why Europe's cautious approach and Washington's indecisive stance might be giving Putin a strategic advantage in the ongoing war. Learn what actions are urgently needed to create a significant deterrent and pressure on Russia, and why Europe may need to take the lead without waiting for U.S. cooperation.----------CHAPTERS:00:00 Introduction and Channel Support00:28 Europe's Sanction Dilemma03:21 US and Europe's Mixed Signals04:55 Paris Drama and Diplomatic Tensions09:12 Washington's Paradox and Critique12:54 Europe's Strategy and Trump's Influence15:46 Conclusion and Future Steps----------

Live stream with Yuri Rashkin and Yuri Felshtinsky. ----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasWe need to scale up our support for Ukraine, and these events are designed to have a major impact. Your support in making it happen is greatly appreciated. All events will be recorded professionally and published for free on the Silicon Curtain channel. Where possible, we will also live-stream events.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------

Partner on this video: KYIV OF MINE Watch the trailer now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arJUcE1rxY0'Kyiv of Mine' is a documentary series about Ukraine’s beautiful capital, Kyiv. The film production began in 2018, and much has changed since then. It is now 2025, and this story is far from over.https://www.youtube.com/@UCz6UbVKfqutH-N7WXnC5Ykg https://www.kyivofmine.com/#theprojectKyiv of Mine is fast paced, beautifully filmed, humorous, fun, insightful, heartbreaking, moving, hopeful. The very antithesis in fact of a doom-laden and worthy wartime documentary. This is a work that is extraordinarily uplifting. My friend Operator Starsky says the film is “Made with so much love. The film series will make you laugh and cry.” ----------Anna Danylchuk has been creating a war diary since the early days of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia in 2022. Anna Danylchuk aims to tell the truth about Ukraine and Russia’s war and cut through the noise and propaganda. Anna is passionate about the beauty and independence of her country, and communicates this powerfully in her videos, in a clear and honest way.----------LINKS: @AnnafromUkraine  https://www.buymeacoffee.com/annafromukraineMy interview with Anna in Lviv - hosted on her excellent channel- https://youtu.be/daHcnsNQ1S0?si=yHbZ2kJZ3CTVRd8Z----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasWe need to scale up our support for Ukraine, and these events are designed to have a major impact. Your support in making it happen is greatly appreciated. All events will be recorded professionally and published for free on the Silicon Curtain channel. Where possible, we will also live-stream events.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------ch as Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Edition No241 | 04-09-2025 - This summer Putin expected thunder and damnation, the smiting of Ukrainian forces and major advances on the frontlines in all directions. What he got and mud and blood, twisted armour and incremental gains in some places, and humiliating retreats in others. Ukraine of course has eyes on a maximalist prize, the recovery of all its sovereign land and people, but at a minimum, it can count as a success just holding the invaders at bay for another year, fighting them to a standstill and exacting a huge price in bodies and treasure. For Putin it’s different. Whereas his maximalist aims might be delusional, his minimum success, to satisfy the baying Z-Patriot mob and propagandists, is so much more than his armies managed to achieve. Russia launched big fighting talk and bigger bombardments from Sumy to Pokrovsk, sought kilometres of gains, but ran into a wall of Ukrainian resilience. Modern warfare does not favour manoeuvre, with drones to observe, ambush, drop ordnance and undertake kamikaze strikes. A transparent battlefield where forces are massing means a target rich environment is massing. This is partly why Russia’s summer offensives have failed to meet their strategic objectives; how both sides can still plausibly claim to have momentum dominance; why 2025 is shaping up as stasis on the ground that favours Ukraine, and disfavours Russia. It’s also why Putin needs photo-ops in Alaska and China to appear strong while his army bleeds for inches.----------SOURCES: https://www.kyivpost.com/post/57099https://english.nv.ua/russian-war/assault-battalion-liberates-kindrativka-in-sumy-oblast-50532613.htmlhttps://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/1093919.htmlhttps://united24media.com/latest-news/russia-pulls-elite-forces-from-ukraines-northern-border-to-reinforce-pokrovsk-offensive-11248https://english.nv.ua/nation/russia-ukraine-advance-on-multiple-fronts-isw-50530982.htmlhttps://euromaidanpress.com/2025/07/19/russian-saboteurs-tried-to-sneak-into-donetsks-pokrovsk-ukrainian-troops-erased-them-syrskyi-says/#google_vignettehttps://stratnewsglobal.com/world-news/ukraine-fierce-fighting-around-pokrovsk-says-zelenskyy/https://odessa-journal.com/zelensky-russias-goal-is-to-cross-into-dnipropetrovsk-region-buffer-zone-needed-in-sumy-pokrovskhttps://english.nv.ua/nation/capturing-pokrovsk-is-now-kremlin-s-top-priority-international-affairs-observer-50533469.html----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasWe need to scale up our support for Ukraine, and these events are designed to have a major impact. Your support in making it happen is greatly appreciated. All events will be recorded professionally and published for free on the Silicon Curtain channel. Where possible, we will also live-stream events.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------

Kevin Leach is the main director for Sabre Training Advisory Group, a professional military training non-profit. Their aim is to give Ukrainian defenders the skills to come home alive. Kevin is a Canadian Armed Forces veteran, with a long history of working in Ukraine and in military affairs. He served as a sergeant from 2008-2018, specializing in armored reconnaissance. ----------LINKS:https://x.com/SabreAdvisory https://www.sabretag.org/donate https://www.instagram.com/sabre_tag/ ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasWe need to scale up our support for Ukraine, and these events are designed to have a major impact. Your support in making it happen is greatly appreciated. All events will be recorded professionally and published for free on the Silicon Curtain channel. Where possible, we will also live-stream events.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------DESCRIPTION: Ukraine's Battlefront Realities: Insights from Sabre Training Advisory Group's Kevin LeachIn this episode, Kevin Leach, the main director for Sabre Training Advisory Group, discusses the challenging realities of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the strategies needed to counter Russian military operations. The conversation delves into the complexities of modern warfare, including the role of drone technology, the need for better training and coordination of Ukrainian forces, and the broader implications of geopolitical dynamics. Kevin also shares updates on Sabre's recent activities and achievements, including partnerships and training programs aimed at enhancing the capabilities of Ukrainian soldiers. The discussion touches on the societal and cultural impacts of the conflict, the importance of internal reflection and support for the war effort, and the broader global context of military preparedness and civilian involvement.----------CHAPTERS:00:00 Introduction and Current State of Warfare00:45 Meet Kevin Leach: Background and Expertise02:10 Discussion on Russian Military Operations04:58 The Role of Drones in Modern Warfare06:49 Kiev of Mine: A Documentary Series09:19 Updates from Sabre Training Advisory Group15:50 Challenges and Innovations in Military Training21:01 Western Military Observations and Adaptations27:27 Potential Future Conflicts and Preparations36:14 Foreign Influence and Propaganda39:07 Podcasts and the War in Ukraine44:39 The Impact of Social Media on Society57:20 Challenges in the Ukrainian Military01:05:58 The Need for Effective Training01:10:36 Concluding Thoughts and Final Words----------

Edition No240 | 03-09-2025 - Flames, Palaces & Flamingos: Ukraine Challenges Putin’s Aura of Invincibility.A future film of the war, depicting Ukraine’s victory over its imperial neighbour, will savour this moment, as it builds the tension and rolls out in glorious orange flame ripping through forests near Putin’s secret palace complex, his minions panicking as the flames encroach on the $1.5 billion Black Sea palace, and then consume it. We’ll have to wait for the full feature, but we were treated to the trailer last week, a teaser for the full blockbuster attraction. Picture this: debris from a Ukrainian drone — falling like an uninvited and unwelcome weekend guest at a dacha — ignites a forest inferno just six miles from Putin’s alleged $1.5 billion bolt hole, his Black Sea palace. Was it a deliberate power move by Ukraine, were they aiming for the palace itself, or is this just collateral damage? Likely the former. According to Russian emergency services, the blaze was triggered when debris from a downed Ukrainian drone fell near the opulent estate—sparked by air defence intercepts. And we know from reports that Putin has concentrated a huge number of air defence systems near the places he holds dear or visits frequently. Of course, defending civilian objects is a far lower priority. It reportedly occurred six miles from the palace, though investigative outlet IStories claims it might have been as close as two miles. (Meduza)----------SOURCES: https://kyivindependent.com/ukrainian-drone-cases-fire-near-vladimir-putins-palace-and-winery/https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/08/28/emergency-crews-battle-forest-fire-near-putins-palace-after-ukrainian-drone-attack-a90373https://nypost.com/2025/08/30/world-news/downed-ukrainian-drone-sparks-massive-forest-fires-just-miles-from-putins-mysterious-1-5b-black-sea-palace/https://www.ndtv.com/offbeat/downed-ukrainian-drone-sparks-massive-forest-fires-near-vladimir-putins-mysterious-palace-9190220https://novayagazeta.eu/articles/2025/08/28/forest-fire-caused-by-ukrainian-drone-strike-approaches-putins-palace-in-southern-russia-en-newshttps://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/08/28/ukrainian-drone-sparks-forest-fire-just-six-miles-from-putin-s-black-sea-palacehttps://tvpworld.com/88671811/ukraines-new-flamingo-missile-makes-battlefield-debut-wiping-out-six-russian-hovercraft-in-crimea-reporthttps://www.newsweek.com/ukraine-flamingo-missile-crimea-russia-2122562https://militarnyi.com/en/news/fss-facility-in-crimea-hit-by-flamingo-missiles-not-neptune-sources/https://www.trenchart.us/p/the-flamingo-missiles-first-confirmed----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasWe need to scale up our support for Ukraine, and these events are designed to have a major impact. Your support in making it happen is greatly appreciated. All events will be recorded professionally and published for free on the Silicon Curtain channel. Where possible, we will also live-stream events.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------

Andrei Soldatov is a Russian investigative journalist and security services expert. Together with fellow journalist Irina Borogan he is co-founder of Agentura.Ru – a watchdog of the Russian secret services’ activities. He’s been covering security services and terrorism issues since 1999. Together with Irina Borogan Andrei has co-authored three books: The New Nobility: The Restoration of Russia’s Security State and the Enduring Legacy of the KGB (2010), The Red Web: The Struggle Between Russia’s Digital Dictators and the New Online Revolutionaries (2015) and The Compatriots: The Brutal and Chaotic History of Russia's Exiles, Émigrés, and Agents Abroad (2019). Until 2008 Andrei Soldatov wrote for Novaya Gazeta, but has since written for many other publications. He is a Visiting Fellow of King's College London, and Senior Fellow at CEPA, the Centre for European Policy Analysis.----------BOOKS:Our Dear Friends in Moscow — The Inside Story of a Broken Generation (2025) by Andrei Soldatov and Irina Borogan The Compatriots: The Brutal and Chaotic History of Russia's Exiles, Émigrés, and Agents Abroad (2019) by Andrei Soldatov and Irina Borogan The New Nobility: The Restoration of Russia's Security State and the Enduring Legacy of the KGB(2010) by Andrei Soldatov and Irina Borogan The Red Web: The Struggle Between Russia's Digital Dictators and the New Online Revolutionaries(2015) by Andrei Soldatov and Irina Borogan ----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasWe need to scale up our support for Ukraine, and these events are designed to have a major impact. Your support in making it happen is greatly appreciated. All events will be recorded professionally and published for free on the Silicon Curtain channel. Where possible, we will also live-stream events.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------DESCRIPTION: Join us for an in-depth conversation with Andrei Soldatov, renowned Russian investigative journalist and co-author of "Our Dear Friends in Moscow: The Inside Story of a Broken Generation." In this episode, Andrei discusses the motivations behind his latest book, the transformation of Russian society and its elites, the role of ideology and ambition, and the chilling realities of Russia’s security state. We also explore the personal stories of those who chose to support the Kremlin, the impact of the war in Ukraine, and the ongoing struggle for truth and resistance inside and outside Russia.----------CHAPTERS:00:00 - Introduction & Andrei Soldatov’s background05:34 - Motivations for writing the book11:08 - Russian elite support for the war16:42 - Interviewing former friends and risks22:16 - Ideology, ambition, and the path to power27:50 - The KGB’s legacy and family histories33:24 - Journalism, compromise, and repression38:58 - The digital gulag and new restrictions44:32 - Absence of moral values in the elite50:06 - Resistance, hope, and final thoughts----------

Edition No239 | 02-09-2025 - Autocrats assemble. These are not nice people. Not kind people, nor generous or moral. They have reached the top of the pile in their respective countries, many of which are authoritarian or quasi authoritarian regimes. What does it take to achieve that, an to stay top of the pile for years, sometimes decades. For a start you must be the biggest bully in the playground, the most vicious fish in the pond. You may have had to dispose of rivals, - both authoritarian or democratic. Probably silence many journalists and critics. Subvert their legal systems and institutions of government. In a word, these people are the biggest C.U.N.T.S in their respective societies, most have no accountability to their populations, and some have thieved and raped their populations of resources and opportunities. Now, they have gathered in China, for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit (SVO meets SCO).At the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, we witnessed what can only be described as a global warm embrace of authoritarian regimes — even as the world burns from war, repression, and in Ukraine stolen children. At the heart of this embrace, Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, and Narendra Modi posed as a new triumvirate of international order, with cheering applause for Russia’s war machine. But it is an alliance of disorder and death. ----------SOURCES: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/09/01/china/china-putin-xi-meeting-sco-summit-intl-hnkhttps://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/9/2/chinas-victory-day-military-parade-whos-attending-and-why-it-mattershttps://abcnews.go.com/International/north-koreas-kim-crosses-china-meet-xi-putin/story?id=125172027https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/east-asia/kim-jong-un-arrive-china-victory-parade-vladimir-putin-b2818199.htmlhttps://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/9/2/china-russia-pledge-new-global-order-at-shanghai-cooperation-summithttps://news.sky.com/story/chinese-russian-and-indian-leaders-seek-to-show-unity-and-push-for-new-world-order-in-beijing-meeting-13423244https://www.reuters.com/world/china/putin-thanks-xi-his-dear-friend-warm-welcome-china-2025-09-02/https://www.politico.eu/article/chinas-xi-welcomes-putin-modi-trump-roils-global-relations/----------Partner on this video: KYIV OF MINE 'Kyiv of Mine' is a documentary series about Ukraine’s beautiful capital, Kyiv. The film production began in 2018, and much has changed since then. It is now 2025, and this story is far from over.https://www.youtube.com/@UCz6UbVKfqutH-N7WXnC5Ykg https://www.kyivofmine.com/#theprojectKyiv of Mine is fast paced, beautifully filmed, humorous, fun, insightful, heartbreaking, moving, hopeful. The very antithesis in fact of a doom-laden and worthy wartime documentary. This is a work that is extraordinarily uplifting. My friend Operator Starsky says the film is “Made with so much love. The film series will make you laugh and cry.” ----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasWe need to scale up our support for Ukraine, and these events are designed to have a major impact. Your support in making it happen is greatly appreciated. All events will be recorded professionally and published for free on the Silicon Curtain channel. Where possible, we will also live-stream events.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------

Dr Robert Seely MBE was a British Conservative Party politician who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Isle of Wight from 2017 until the constituency was split in two in 2024. Seely is a former journalist and soldier. From 1990 to 1995, he worked as a foreign correspondent in the last year of the USSR and in post-Soviet states. From 2008 to 2017, he served in the British Armed Forces in the Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and ISIS campaigns. Seely has been a research associate at the Changing Character of War Programme at the University of Oxford. Today we’re going to be exploring his unique definition of Russian hybrid war, and highly impactful book: The New Total War: From Child Abduction to Cyber Attacks and Drones to Disinformation – Russia’s Conflict with Ukraine and the West. ----------Partner on this video: KYIV OF MINE 'Kyiv of Mine' is a documentary series about Ukraine’s beautiful capital, Kyiv. The film production began in 2018, and much has changed since then. It is now 2025, and this story is far from over.https://www.youtube.com/@UCz6UbVKfqutH-N7WXnC5Ykg https://www.kyivofmine.com/#theprojectKyiv of Mine is fast paced, beautifully filmed, humorous, fun, insightful, heartbreaking, moving, hopeful. The very antithesis in fact of a doom-laden and worthy wartime documentary. This is a work that is extraordinarily uplifting. My friend Operator Starsky says the film is “Made with so much love. The film series will make you laugh and cry.” ----------LINKS:https://www.amazon.co.uk/New-Total-War-Abduction-Disinformation/dp/1785909487https://x.com/IoWBobSeelyhttps://www.rusi.org/people/seelyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Seelyhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-robert-seely-mbe-10304468/?originalSubdomain=ukhttps://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/en/persons/bob-seely----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasWe need to scale up our support for Ukraine, and these events are designed to have a major impact. Your support in making it happen is greatly appreciated. All events will be recorded professionally and published for free on the Silicon Curtain channel. Where possible, we will also live-stream events.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------

Edition No238 | 01-09-2025 - Ukraine is hitting Russia where it hurts. Russian pipelines are going boom, queues for petrol are lengthening in Russia’a far east, and as time goes on, extending far further afield across the country. The Kremlin Tsar for life finds that Russia’s size, thought to be an advantage that made it invulnerable to defeat, have now turned it into a brittle and vulnerable empire, practically indefensible. We’ll unpack fresh strikes that threaten Moscow’s fuel lifelines, meet Ukraine’s new long-range “Flamingo” missile, and follow the spider silk of a campaign that’s shredded Russia’s aura of invulnerability. Has the siege of Moscow begun in earnest? Why Moscow’s fuel supply is at risk – Russia’s resources are not found in Moscow, but in its provinces – it’s colonies. Moscow is a voracious consumer of energy, materials and resources, food, oil and gas. It drinks fuel through pipelines and refineries strung along hundreds of kilometers — particularly from Ryazan, a major refining hub that has repeatedly been hit since 2024–25. Independent reporting this spring noted the Ryazan refinery’s output was halved or suspended after drone strikes; analysts warned that Moscow’s downstream supply was unusually concentrated in a small number of chokepoints. One Ukrainian frontline report put it bluntly: Ryazan “supplies up to 50% of” the Moscow region’s fuel needs. (POLITICO)----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------SOURCES: https://kyivindependent.com/powerful-explosion-hits-russian-oil-pipeline-supplying-moscow-intelligence-source-claims/https://www.reuters.com/breakingviews/putins-economic-resilience-rests-war-addiction-2024-10-15/https://www.nbcnews.com/world/ukraine/ukraines-massive-drone-attack-deep-russia-lays-bare-putins-vulnerabili-rcna210300https://www.newsweek.com/ukraine-flamingo-cruise-missile-russia-2119358https://www.economist.com/europe/2025/08/27/ukraine-shows-off-a-deadly-new-cruise-missilehttps://www.euronews.com/next/2025/08/26/flamingo-will-ukraines-new-wonder-weapon-replace-the-taurushttps://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-making-long-range-missile-flamingo-1000-kg-warhead-2025-8https://www.politico.eu/article/flamingo-ukraine-3000km-cruise-missile-woman-vladimir-putin-donald-trump-volodymyr-zelenskyy-drone/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/08/18/ukraine-flamingo-missile-3000km-1tonne-warhead/----------

Georgijs Ivanovs started the Ukraine Matters channel in 2007, and it has garners 11.5 m views. He started the channel to explain the situation surrounding the war in Ukraine in simple terms. Like myself, he is not Ukrainian, nor is he a military expert. But he has been to Ukraine many times and seen it almost fully (except for Odesa region). He has a lot of good friends in Ukraine, and in fact his wife is Ukrainian, and so feels extremely connected to the invasion that scaled up in February 2022. ----------DESCRIPTION: Ukraine's Crisis and Europe's Response: In-Depth Analysis with Georgijs IvanovsJoin us for a compelling discussion with Georgijs Ivanovs from the channel 'Ukraine Matters' as we delve into the complexities of the Ukraine-Russia conflict. In this episode, we discuss the assassination of a key Ukrainian political figure, the broader political and military implications, and the role of Europe and the US in supporting Ukraine. We also explore the strategic bombing campaign against Russia, the impact on the Russian economy, and the critical need for closing the Ukrainian skies. Don't miss out on Georgijs’ invaluable insights into the ongoing war and Europe's evolving response.----------CHAPTERS: 00:00 Introduction and Welcome01:00 Tragic Assassination in Ukraine01:41 Ongoing Conflict and Security Concerns04:33 US Involvement and Trump's Impact10:24 Strategic Siege of Moscow18:33 Europe's Role and Strategic Independence27:02 Collaboration and Production Strategies31:05 Closing the Skies Over Ukraine36:31 Economic Pressures on Russia38:11 Conclusion and Final Thoughts----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasWe need to scale up our support for Ukraine, and these events are designed to have a major impact. Your support in making it happen is greatly appreciated. All events will be recorded professionally and published for free on the Silicon Curtain channel. Where possible, we will also live-stream events.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------

Edition No237 | 31-08-2025 - Russia’s Gerasimov confirms what was already obvious to many of us. It’s addiction to war, refusal to relent, relentless attacks, hollow declarations and mocking strikes on Western assets in Ukraine. Even amid diplomatic overtures, Russia vows to continue the war and embrace the imperial genocide it started almost four years ago. Unfortunately, also on full display are American appeasement of Putin, political inertia, and Western hesitation. In a statement. Gerasimov emphasised the continuation of the Special Military Operation, and went on to make statements, claim battlefield advances, that have even elicited snorts of derision from Z-Patriots. It seems that lies so large and ludicrous push to the limit even their willingness to spread nonsense for the Putin regime. Russia is carving a path of destruction that refuses to stop—how words from Moscow are hollow compared to the thunder of missiles, and how Western dithering is empowering that aggression. Putin has never shown signs of stopping. ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------SOURCES: https://www.rferl.org/a/zelenskyy-putin-trump-ukraine-russia-gerasimov/33517370.htmlhttps://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2025/08/30/7528585/https://united24media.com/latest-news/russia-will-continue-strikes-against-ukraine-says-russian-top-general-11229https://united24media.com/latest-news/massive-overnight-russian-missile-and-drone-attack-hits-ukraine-casualties-reported-in-zaporizhzhia-11222 ----------

Partner on this video: KYIV OF MINE 'Kyiv of Mine' is a documentary series about Ukraine’s beautiful capital, Kyiv. The film production began in 2018, and much has changed since then. It is now 2025, and this story is far from over.https://www.youtube.com/@UCz6UbVKfqutH-N7WXnC5Ykg https://www.kyivofmine.com/#theprojectKyiv of Mine is fast paced, beautifully filmed, humorous, fun, insightful, heartbreaking, moving, hopeful. The very antithesis in fact of a doom-laden and worthy wartime documentary. This is a work that is extraordinarily uplifting. My friend Operator Starsky says the film is “Made with so much love. The film series will make you laugh and cry.” ----------ABOUT BEN HODGES:Ben Hodges is a retired United States Army officer, who became commander of United States Army Europe in November 2014, and held that position for three years until retiring from the United States Army in January 2018. Until recently he was the Pershing Chair in Strategic Studies, at the Centre for European Policy Analysis, specialising in NATO, Transatlantic relationship and international security. ----------DESCRIPTION: Analyzing Global and Domestic Tensions: Insights with Ben HodgesIn this episode, host Jonathan discusses with retired U.S. Army officer Ben Hodges the alarming disrespect from the Kremlin towards the Trump administration and the West. They delve into Russia's attacks on EU and UK assets in Ukraine and the lack of substantial U.S. response. Importantly, they examine President Trump's admiration for authoritarian leaders and his actions reminiscent of dictatorial regimes. The conversation extends to potential democratic threats in the U.S., internal resistance within the U.S. military, and the controversial Greenland covert influence operation. Additionally, viewers are introduced to the 'Kyiv of Mine' documentary series, presenting a humanistic perspective on Ukraine's capital. The discussion concludes with contemplation on the impact of U.S. policy on international relations and defense strategies.----------CHAPTERS:00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction00:54 Russia's Aggression and Western Response03:59 Trump's Admiration for Authoritarian Leaders07:34 Concerns Over US Democratic Institutions10:54 Promoting the Documentary 'Kyiv of Mine'13:24 Speculations on Military and Political Maneuvers24:09 Concluding Remarks and Final Thoughts----------LINKS:https://twitter.com/general_benhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Hodges https://cepa.org/author/ben-hodges/ https://warsawsecurityforum.org/speaker/hodges-ben-lt-gen/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-hodges-1674b1172/ ----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/-----------

Edition No236 | 30-08-2025 - The Assassination of Andrii Parubii, and What It Says About Moscow’s War on Democracy. A gunman in daylight, in a city far from the frontline, a courier disguise, eight shots, and democracy takes a bullet to the heart. In a nation that’s been fighting for its existence and control over its future since Maidan, and indeed centuries before, has lost one of its civic leaders, and a key parliamentarian. Someone who was at the forefront of Ukraine’s revolutions to assert democracy in the post-Soviet era. If it is proved that Moscow was behind it, which is a high probability, then the choice to snuff out the life of Andrii Parubii was cold and calculating. It was a direct attack on democracy and freedom. Today we unpack the cold-blooded killing of Andrii Parubii in Lviv—who he was, why this crosses a line, how Ukrainians are responding, and what this murder reveals about the Kremlin’s contempt for democratic culture. (Reuters) What do we know? Just after midday on Aug. 30, 2025, Andrii Parubii — former speaker of Ukraine’s parliament and a sitting MP — was shot dead in Lviv. Prosecutors say an unidentified assailant fired several rounds and fled; a citywide manhunt began under the code-name “Siren/Sirena.” (Українська правда)----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------SOURCES: Kyiv Independent — Ukraine’s ex-parliament speaker shot dead in Lviv (Aug. 30, 2025). Euronews — Former Ukrainian parliament speaker Andrii Parubii shot dead in Lviv (Aug. 30, 2025). United24 — Former Parliament Speaker Andrii Parubii killed in targeted Lviv shooting (Aug. 30, 2025).Ukrainska Pravda (Eng.) — Police and prosecutors report on investigation… (Aug. 30, 2025).Reuters — Former parliamentary speaker Parubiy shot dead in Lviv (Aug. 30, 2025). Al Jazeera — Former Ukrainian parliament speaker shot dead in Lviv (Aug. 30, 2025). Financial Times — Prominent Ukrainian nationalist politician shot dead in Lviv (Aug. 30, 2025). The Guardian (live) — Zelenskyy vows all resources to find killer; tributes pour in (Aug. 30, 2025).----------

Edition No235 | 30-08-2025 - War is the grease that helps the wheels turn in Putin’s regime. Russia has a history of militarism, and war creates opportunities and circumstances for some powerful Russians to thrive – while the drumbeat of war provides mood music for Putin’s propagandists, to keep the population distracted. War and chaos are essential elements of Putin’s business model. Trump is the apprentice to Putin’s mature dictator. Is he about to learn the lesson that war can help entrench and extend the life of your regime? Help you to rig and even suspend normal democratic processes and democratic culture, such as free and fair elections? War Drums and Ballots: Venezuela, the U.S. Armada, and the Temptation of “Small Victorious Wars. In this episode we’re sailing straight into rough water: an increasingly brutal regime in Caracas that only just stared down a popular uprising, U.S. warships surging toward Venezuela’s coast, and a stateside whisper campaign about whether a “small victorious war” could morph into a shortcut around bad projections for midterm election results for Trump. We’ll also unpack that awkward moment when Donald Trump’s demands for Ukrainian elections collided with… Ukrainian law, and Trump had a revelation. Buckle up. It’s nice, but it is necessary to explore the political possibilities, no matter how dark and strange. ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------SOURCES: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/29/venezuela-gunboat-diplomacy-trump-madurohttps://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250826-venezuela-deploys-warships-drones-as-us-destroyers-draw-nearhttps://www.aljazeera.com/video/the-take-2/2025/8/28/why-are-us-warships-going-to-venezuelahttps://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/26/us-warships-head-to-venezuela-fight-against-cartels-or-imperial-ambitionhttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-08-26/venezuela-to-deploy-ships-to-oil-exporting-hub-after-us-movehttps://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/nicolas-maduro-karoline-leavitt-south-america-donald-trump-chatham-house-b2816576.htmlhttps://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/why-are-us-warships-heading-toward-venezuela/ ----------DESCRIPTION:Geopolitical Showdown: US-Venezuela Tensions and Political CalculationsIn this episode of Silicon Bytes, we delve into the escalating tensions between the US and Venezuela. We examine the fragile state of the Maduro regime following its oppressive measures post-2024 election, and the potential implications of US military presence in the Caribbean. The discussion extends to Trump's strategies and the historical context of using war to influence domestic political outcomes, particularly ahead of the 2026 midterms. We also explore the constitutional limitations and potential political maneuvers, drawing comparisons with Ukraine's martial law and its impact on elections. Tune in as we unpack these crucial political dynamics and their far-reaching consequences.----------CHAPTERS:00:00 Introduction and Acknowledgements00:24 The Role of War in Political Regimes01:17 Venezuela's Political Crisis04:21 US Military Movements and Responses07:30 The Political Calculus of War11:10 The Zelensky Exchange and Martial Law13:22 Implications and Conclusions----------

Ben Hodges is a retired United States Army officer, who became commander of United States Army Europe in November 2014, and held that position for three years until retiring from the United States Army in January 2018. Until recently he was the Pershing Chair in Strategic Studies, at the Centre for European Policy Analysis, specialising in NATO, Transatlantic relationship and international security. ----------DESCRIPTION: Geopolitical Tensions: Russia's Aggression and Strategic Implications - With Ben HodgesIn this episode, Jonathan interviews Ben Hodges, retired United States Army officer and former commander of United States Army Europe. The discussion covers a range of geopolitical issues, including Russia's recent attacks on EU, UK, and US assets in Ukraine, and the potential consequences of perceived US disengagement under the Trump administration. Hodges shares insights on the likelihood of Russia feeling emboldened to act against NATO countries and the strategic importance of Europe acting collectively as a superpower. The conversation also delves into the tactical behaviors of both Putin and Trump, the risks of inadvertent escalation into a larger conflict, and the necessity for Europe to defend itself and support Ukraine in the absence of consistent US backing.----------CHAPTERS:00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction00:58 Current Geopolitical Tensions01:31 Trump Administration's Impact on Global Politics02:09 Russia's Tactical Moves and Global Reactions04:04 Europe's Role and Strategic Interests07:58 Ukraine's Defense and Strategic Moves11:59 Potential Future Scenarios and Strategic Planning20:12 Conclusion and Final Thoughts----------LINKS:https://twitter.com/general_benhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Hodges https://cepa.org/author/ben-hodges/ https://warsawsecurityforum.org/speaker/hodges-ben-lt-gen/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-hodges-1674b1172/ ----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/-----------

Live stream with Yuri Rashkin. ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------

Edition No233 | 26-08-2025 - Zero money, zero influence. Trump has boasted that the US is spending net zero on Ukraine, and it’s obvious he has no influence whatever over Putin or Lavrov to end the invasion. Why is the US still at the heart of the so-called peace process? Why are the Europeans deferring to Trump, spending so much time on coddling his ego and pandering to his ignorance, and waiting for some kind of consensus on the way forward, when it’s the Europeans that are now fully funding Ukraine’s defence, and at higher monetary level than when the US was last engaged with the conflict, under Biden? Trump has been wrong on everything. His supposed efforts to implement peace have been a roller-coaster of delusion and distraction. Europe has been endlessly deflected from focusing on the real problem, pushing back against Russia aggression, that shows no signs of stopping, unless it is physically stopped. The will they won’t they spin, hides a grim reality. Russia was never serious about peace, does not want peace and has no intention of making peace. Everything else is just a piece of political cynical theatre to string the media along and create the delusion that a negotiated solution with Russia is not only possible – but just around the corner. Neither of these are true, and they have never been true – Russia wanted, and wants Ukraine’s surrender, not an equitable peace. ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------SOURCES: https://theconversation.com/trump-putin-summit-veteran-diplomat-explains-why-putting-peace-deal-before-ceasefire-wouldnt-end-russia-ukraine-war-263314https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-21/russia-downplays-european-talks-on-ukraine/105679150https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/08/20/trump-ukraine-russia-peace-lavrov-china-ceasefire/https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/aug/16/putin-trump-summit-alaska-us-europe-ukraine-security-guarantees-zelenskyy-latest-news-updateshttps://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/20/no-us-troops-in-ukraine-trump-sayshttps://news.sky.com/story/ukraine-russia-war-latest-putin-trump-moscow-zelenskyy-kremlin-live-sky-news-latest-12541713https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgkrn433lk2ohttps://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/aug/20/donald-trump-ukraine-support-peace-deal-russia-nato-latest-updates-news----------TRUCK FUNDRAISER - GET A SILICON CURTAIN NAFO PATCH:Together with our friends at LIFT99 Kyiv Hub (the NAFO 69th Sniffing Brigade), we are teaming up to provide 2nd Battalion of 5th SAB with a pickup truck that they need for their missions. With your donation, you're not just sending a truck — you’re standing with Ukraine.https://www.help99.co/patches/nafo-silicon-curtain-communityWhy NAFO Trucks Matter: Ukrainian soldiers know the immense value of our NAFO trucks and buses. These vehicles are carefully selected, produced between 2010 and 2017, ensuring reliability for harsh frontline terrain. Each truck is capable of driving at least 20,000 km (12,500 miles) without major technical issues, making them a lifeline for soldiers in combat zones.https://www.help99.co/patches/nafo-silicon-curtain-community----------

Edition No232 | 25-08-2025 - Russia's oil and gas industry, once a source of economic strength, an extraordinary economic and geopolitical weapons, has become a vulnerable spot, a real Achilles heel for the Russian economy, and for Putin’s war machine. Russia has a strategic problem: the main processing capacities are concentrated in the Western part of the country, while fuel consumption is rising in the Far East. Fuel logistics span thousands of kilometres, and now Kilometre-long queues in Primorye are forming of consumers and businesses needing to purchase fuel. Large refineries – from Kirishi to Volgograd – are within reach of Ukrainian drones. Fuel trains are being filmed, set alight by Ukrainian drones, such as the 'derailed' Russian fuel train in Zaporizhzhia. Local media reported that Ukrainian drones struck a Russian fuel train in the Donetsk region, causing nine of the train cars to catch on fire. The drone footage was stunning and compulsive viewing. The Flamingo missile threatens facilities previously considered out of reach. Putin has a problem. His elite are getting worried – and this concern is being mirrored in the US, nominally an ally of Ukraine, but the anger and anxiety of Trump are telling – many in the US administration don’t want to see Russia defeated. In that position, China and the US are aligned on outcomes. It’s grotesque, immoral, hypercritical, but all evidence points towards this inconvenient truth. ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------SOURCES: https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrainealert/putin-is-facing-a-fuel-crisis-as-ukraine-escalates-attacks-on-russian-refineries/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/22/ukraine-attacks-pipeline-that-sends-russian-oil-to-hungary-and-slovakiahttps://www.politico.eu/article/donald-trump-ukraine-viktor-orban-russia-oil-pipleline-drone/https://kyivindependent.com/drone-strikes-spark-fire-at-russian-gas-terminal-and-oil-refinery-media-reports/https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/4029060-ukraine-strikes-syzran-oil-refinery-in-russia-general-staff-confirms.htmlhttps://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2025/8/22/behind-indias-massive-russian-oil-imports-asias-richest-manhttps://www.reuters.com/business/energy/oil-prices-edge-up-traders-weigh-supply-risks-2025-08-25/https://edition.cnn.com/2025/08/20/business/china-secures-russian-oil-orders-intl-hnkhttps://www.reuters.com/business/energy/parts-russia-face-gasoline-shortages-after-ukraine-struck-refineries-2025-08-21/----------TRUCK FUNDRAISER - GET A SILICON CURTAIN NAFO PATCH:Together with our friends at LIFT99 Kyiv Hub (the NAFO 69th Sniffing Brigade), we are teaming up to provide 2nd Battalion of 5th SAB with a pickup truck that they need for their missions. With your donation, you're not just sending a truck — you’re standing with Ukraine.https://www.help99.co/patches/nafo-silicon-curtain-communityWhy NAFO Trucks Matter: Ukrainian soldiers know the immense value of our NAFO trucks and buses. These vehicles are carefully selected, produced between 2010 and 2017, ensuring reliability for harsh frontline terrain. Each truck is capable of driving at least 20,000 km (12,500 miles) without major technical issues, making them a lifeline for soldiers in combat zones.https://www.help99.co/patches/nafo-silicon-curtain-community----------

Edition No231 | 24-08-2025 - Once more, we are asking the same question we asked of Biden and Sullivan? Is U.S. policy tying Ukraine’s hands—not just inadvertently, but by design? Are we watching a strategic muddle, or calculated delay? Who’s Blocking Ukraine’s Offense Capabilities? Let’s start with the curious case of long‑range missiles—approved for purchase but not for use, potentially sold but shackled. According to The Kyiv Independent, Washington has approved the sale of 3,550 ERAM missiles—Extended‑Range Attack Munitions, with a range of 241 to 450 kilometres—but wait for it… their use inside Russian territory requires U.S. approval. That approval is rumoured to be withheld. It feels like we’re back in 2023-24. In other words, sold but not unleashed.” Profited from but not permitted to be used in the way they were designed. (The Kyiv Independent)Even more tellingly, a “review process” has quietly been imposed giving Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth authority to block Ukrainian long‑range strikes into Russia using U.S. weapons. The result: strikes potentially prevented for months. (The Kyiv Independent)Ynetnews adds: “The Pentagon has quietly barred Ukraine from using U.S.-made long-range ATACMS missiles to strike inside Russia for months,” and “on at least one instance, Ukraine requested permission … but was denied.” (ynetnews)----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------SOURCES: https://kyivindependent.com/us-approves-sale-of-eram-missiles-to-ukraine-wsj-reports/https://www.ynetnews.com/article/ryrrjfutxxhttps://kyivindependent.com/pentagon-has-quietly-barred-ukrainian-long-range-strikes-in-russia-with-us-missiles-wsj-reports/https://www.politico.com/news/2025/08/20/pentagon-minimal-security-guarantees-ukraine-00516856https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/08/politics/hegseth-did-not-inform-white-house-ukraine-weapons-pausehttps://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jul/05/hegseth-weapons-shipments-ukraine ----------TRUCK FUNDRAISER - GET A SILICON CURTAIN NAFO PATCH:Together with our friends at LIFT99 Kyiv Hub (the NAFO 69th Sniffing Brigade), we are teaming up to provide 2nd Battalion of 5th SAB with a pickup truck that they need for their missions. With your donation, you're not just sending a truck — you’re standing with Ukraine.https://www.help99.co/patches/nafo-silicon-curtain-communityWhy NAFO Trucks Matter: Ukrainian soldiers know the immense value of our NAFO trucks and buses. These vehicles are carefully selected, produced between 2010 and 2017, ensuring reliability for harsh frontline terrain. Each truck is capable of driving at least 20,000 km (12,500 miles) without major technical issues, making them a lifeline for soldiers in combat zones.https://www.help99.co/patches/nafo-silicon-curtain-community----------