Silicon Curtain

Yevhen Filyak is Co-founder and CEO at Charity Fund «Group 35» and InSpirito. He has been a Manager of technological projects since 2003 and CEO of companies since 2009. Projects he has been involved with have received 53 grants, including awards from the President of Ukraine, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, and the Lviv IT Cluster. He is a Mentor at the Lviv Tech Startup School.----------This is super important. There are so many Battalions in Ukraine, fighting to defend our freedoms, but lack basics such as vehicles. These are destroyed on a regular basis, and lack of transport is costs lives, and Ukrainian territory. Once again Silicon Curtain has teamed up with Car4Ukraine and a group of wonderful creators to provide much-needed assistance: https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtainAutumn Harvest: Silicon Curtain (Goal€22,000)We'll be supporting troops in Pokrovsk, Kharkiv, and other regions where the trucks are needed the most. 93rd Brigade "Kholodnyi Yar", Black Raven Unmanned Systems Battalionhttps://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtain----------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.” ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------

2025-10-03 | Silicon Wafers 018 | DAILY UPDATES | Russia’s looming budget crisis. How fuel shortages, collapsing revenues, and war spending are squeezing the Kremlin. Can Putin keep paying his army next year? What happens if he can’t? And what do these pressures mean for the broader alliance between China, Russia and Iran. To understand the immediate danger, we need to map how Russia’s fiscal model has cracked under war conditions. For years, Moscow has run a heavily militarized economy: energy exports, sanctions arbitrage, deep state control, subsidies, extraction of wealth from occupied territories. That model is fraying.----------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.” ----------Autumn Harvest: Silicon Curtain (Goal €22,000)This is super important. We'll be supporting troops in Pokrovsk, Kharkiv, and other regions where the trucks are needed the most. There are so many Battalions in Ukraine, fighting to defend our freedoms, but lack basics such as vehicles. These are destroyed on a regular basis, and lack of transport is costs lives, and Ukrainian territory. Once again Silicon Curtain has teamed up with Car4Ukraine and a group of wonderful creators to provide much-needed assistance: https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtain----------SOURCES: Ukraine: The Latest by The Telegraph team ---https://open.spotify.com/show/6cnkk1J0I1UqtxTYVUL4Fe?si=fb9c151d2f21405a In Moscow's Shadows, hosted by Mark Galeotti ---https://open.spotify.com/show/1NKCazxYstY6o8vhpGQSjF?si=4215e2d786a44d64 Russian Roulette hosted by Max Bergmann and Dr. Maria Snegovaya ---https://podcasts.apple.com/tw/podcast/russian-roulette/id1112258664?l=en-GB Hosted by Michael Naki ---https://www.youtube.com/@MackNack Faygin Live channel ---https://www.youtube.com/@FeyginLive Hromadske channel ---https://www.youtube.com/@hromadske_ua Hosted by Vitaly Portnikov ---https://www.youtube.com/@portnikov Hosted by Vladimir Milov ---https://www.youtube.com/@Vladimir_Milov Sternenko channel ---https://www.youtube.com/@STERNENKO The Power Vertical with Brian Whitmore https://www.powervertical.org/ ----------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/extras----------

David DeBatto is host of the ‘No Delusion Zone’ podcast is a retired U.S. Army Counterintelligence Special Agent, a geopolitical analyst, writer, and podcaster. David is an Iraq war veteran who served as Team Leader of a Tactical Human Intelligence Team (THT) in operations within Iraq and is also a former police officer. David is considered too conservative for the progressive left and too independent minded for the radical right and seeks to challenge political dogma and the naked self-interest of politicians. ----------LINKS:https://www.protectingtherepublic.com/podcasthttps://x.com/ddebattohttps://www.kyivpost.com/authors/743----------This is super important. There are so many Battalions in Ukraine, fighting to defend our freedoms, but lack basics such as vehicles. These are destroyed on a regular basis, and lack of transport is costs lives, and Ukrainian territory. Once again Silicon Curtain has teamed up with Car4Ukraine and a group of wonderful creators to provide much-needed assistance: https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtainAutumn Harvest: Silicon Curtain (Goal€22,000)We'll be supporting troops in Pokrovsk, Kharkiv, and other regions where the trucks are needed the most. 93rd Brigade "Kholodnyi Yar", Black Raven Unmanned Systems Battalionhttps://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtain----------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/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/----------

Livestream with Yuri Rashkin----------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----------https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtainDonate and Receive - Collectable PatchAUTUMN HARVEST TRUCKS 2025. Part of our 2025 patch collection. Everyone who contributes €100 (~$115) or more will be able to receive it.For our Autumn patch, we present the Galician Lion. The rampant lion represents power and intelligence. It has represented Western Ukrainian people since the 1100s. The Ruthenian lion, also known as the Ukrainian lion or Galician lion, was featured on the historic coat of arms of: The Kingdom of Galicia-Volhynia (Ruthenia)1199-1349, The battle flag of the Lviv land in the Battle of Tannenberg, 1410 The Ruthenian Voivodeship (Administration) 1434-1772 and The Western Ukrainian People's Republic 1918-1919. The Ukrainian national liberation movement, 1948----------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 Przemyslhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/-----------

2025-10-02 | Silicon Wafers 017 | Today’s episode focuses on a blistering new front of the war in Ukraine — energy warfare inside Russia — and what this means for Putin’s war machine and his regime. We’ll walk through four interlinked stories:1. Ukraine’s strikes on Russian refineries and the fuel shock inside Russia2. Russia’s pivot to Asian gasoline imports as its refining base crumbles3. Trump’s green-light for U.S. intelligence sharing aimed at Russian energy targets4. What all this reveals about Putin’s war, domestic repression, and regime brittleness. Ukraine’s strikes on Russian refineries: fuel lines, export bans, price shockFor four years, Ukraine’s military campaign has largely focused on military sites — barracks, command posts, supply lines. But in recent weeks, a new vector has burst into view: the decapitation of Russia’s refining and fuel infrastructure.According to the Kyiv Independent, “Ukraine’s sustained campaign of strikes on refineries is now causing havoc at gas stations in Russia and occupied Crimea, with prices skyrocketing and short-term shortages widely reported.” (Karol Luczka, Oct. 1, 2025) (The Kyiv Independent)----------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.” ----------Autumn Harvest: Silicon Curtain (Goal €22,000)This is super important. We'll be supporting troops in Pokrovsk, Kharkiv, and other regions where the trucks are needed the most. There are so many Battalions in Ukraine, fighting to defend our freedoms, but lack basics such as vehicles. These are destroyed on a regular basis, and lack of transport is costs lives, and Ukrainian territory. Once again Silicon Curtain has teamed up with Car4Ukraine and a group of wonderful creators to provide much-needed assistance: https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtain----------SOURCES: Ukraine: The Latest by The Telegraph team ---https://open.spotify.com/show/6cnkk1J0I1UqtxTYVUL4Fe?si=fb9c151d2f21405a In Moscow's Shadows, hosted by Mark Galeotti ---https://open.spotify.com/show/1NKCazxYstY6o8vhpGQSjF?si=4215e2d786a44d64 Russian Roulette hosted by Max Bergmann and Dr. Maria Snegovaya ---https://podcasts.apple.com/tw/podcast/russian-roulette/id1112258664?l=en-GB Hosted by Michael Naki ---https://www.youtube.com/@MackNack Faygin Live channel ---https://www.youtube.com/@FeyginLive Hromadske channel ---https://www.youtube.com/@hromadske_ua Hosted by Vitaly Portnikov ---https://www.youtube.com/@portnikov Hosted by Vladimir Milov ---https://www.youtube.com/@Vladimir_Milov Sternenko channel ---https://www.youtube.com/@STERNENKO The Power Vertical with Brian Whitmore https://www.powervertical.org/ ----------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----------

Lucy Ash is a British documentary-maker, journalist, broadcaster and author, and has done extensive work for the BBC. Much of it focuses on former Soviet countries, indeed her work in radio started in Russia, as producer in the BBC's bureau in Moscow from 1990. From March 2023 until May 2025, Ash held a fellowship at Institut für die Wissenschaften vom Menschen (Institute for Human Sciences), during which she examined the Russian Orthodox Church under President Vladimir Putin. And these topics are explored in her book from 2024, The Baton and the Cross: Russia's Church from Pagans to Putin. ----------LINKS: https://www.lucyashjournalism.com/abouthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucy_Ashhttps://x.com/LucyAAshhttps://www.themoscowtimes.com/author/lucy-ashhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/lucy-ash-491b825/----------BOOKS: The Baton and the Cross (2024)----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------This is super important. There are so many Battalions in Ukraine, fighting to defend our freedoms, but lack basics such as vehicles. These are destroyed on a regular basis, and lack of transport is costs lives, and Ukrainian territory. Once again Silicon Curtain has teamed up with Car4Ukraine and a group of wonderful creators to provide much-needed assistance: https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtainAutumn Harvest: Silicon Curtain (Goal€22,000)We'll be supporting troops in Pokrovsk, Kharkiv, and other regions where the trucks are needed the most. 93rd Brigade "Kholodnyi Yar", Black Raven Unmanned Systems Battalionhttps://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtain----------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/extras----------

Edition No250 | 01-10-2025 - There has been a dramatic maritime showdown involving a grey fleet oil tanker, with shocking implications for Russia’s hybrid warfare in Western Europe’s backyard. French forces have just boarded a tanker tied to Russia’s “shadow fleet,” suspected of launching drones over Denmark. Moscow fired back, calling the move “provocative.” We’ll trace how these fits into a larger pattern: drone incursions, hybrid escalation, and Russia’s threats towards Europe.Let’s start with the facts as they’re known. In late September 2025, multiple drone incursions over Danish airspace triggered disruptions at airports in Copenhagen and Aalborg. The flights were mysterious, unauthorized, and widely suspected to be part of a hybrid operation by Russia, though Moscow denied direct involvement. (Le Monde.fr)Around October 1, French authorities moved in. The oil tanker known as Boracay (formerly Pushpa among other aliases) — flagged under Benin but with opaque ownership ties — was boarded by French military personnel off the coast near Saint-Nazaire. (The Guardian)Two senior crew members — the captain and first mate — were arrested. The Brest prosecutor’s office confirmed the investigation is ongoing, citing “very serious wrongdoings,” including refusal to cooperate and failure to justify the ship’s nationality. (Le Monde.fr)----------This is super important. There are so many Battalions in Ukraine, fighting to defend our freedoms, but lack basics such as vehicles. These are destroyed on a regular basis, and lack of transport is costs lives, and Ukrainian territory. Once again Silicon Curtain has teamed up with Car4Ukraine and a group of wonderful creators to provide much-needed assistance: https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtainAutumn Harvest: Silicon Curtain (Goal€22,000)We'll be supporting troops in Pokrovsk, Kharkiv, and other regions where the trucks are needed the most. 93rd Brigade "Kholodnyi Yar", Black Raven Unmanned Systems Battalionhttps://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtain----------SOURCES: “French troops board Russia-linked oil tanker suspected of being involved in drone flights,” The Guardian, Oct 1, 2025“Macron says a tanker off France is linked to Russia’s shadow oil fleet,” AP News, Oct 1, 2025 “Kremlin, asked about French investigation into oil tanker, talks of ‘provocative actions’ by some states,” Reuters, Oct 1, 2025 “France detains two crew members of Russia-linked tanker …,” *France24*, Oct 1, 2025 “EU leaders discuss ‘drone wall’ … after airspace violations,” Reuters “Escalation in Europe: How the Kremlin is testing NATO’s limits,” Nest Centre (analysis)Wikipedia, “Russian shadow fleet” Wikipedia, “2025 Russian drone incursion into Poland” Additional reporting from The Washington Post, Le Monde, and others.----------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/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------

2025-10-01 | Silicon Wafers 016 | DAILY UPDATES | Lately, there’s been a flood of voices in Russian circles admitting that things on the front are nowhere near as rosy as state television makes them out to be. Complaints about high casualties, poor equipment, and a shortage of manpower are everywhere. And crucially, aside from the most die-hard propagandists, almost everyone admits that victory in this war is now out of reach.Dmitry Rogozin—former head of Roscosmos, now commander of the “Bars Sarmat” drone unit and still carrying shrapnel in his backside—recently gave a strikingly gloomy interview. He declared bluntly that the front is at a dead end. He admitted Russia has no chance of winning with its current methods, and that Ukraine’s armed forces are ahead in many critical areas. His words are worth looking at carefully. ----------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.” ----------Autumn Harvest: Silicon Curtain (Goal €22,000)This is super important. We'll be supporting troops in Pokrovsk, Kharkiv, and other regions where the trucks are needed the most. There are so many Battalions in Ukraine, fighting to defend our freedoms, but lack basics such as vehicles. These are destroyed on a regular basis, and lack of transport is costs lives, and Ukrainian territory. Once again Silicon Curtain has teamed up with Car4Ukraine and a group of wonderful creators to provide much-needed assistance: https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtain----------SOURCES: Ukraine: The Latest by The Telegraph team ---https://open.spotify.com/show/6cnkk1J0I1UqtxTYVUL4Fe?si=fb9c151d2f21405a In Moscow's Shadows, hosted by Mark Galeotti ---https://open.spotify.com/show/1NKCazxYstY6o8vhpGQSjF?si=4215e2d786a44d64 Russian Roulette hosted by Max Bergmann and Dr. Maria Snegovaya ---https://podcasts.apple.com/tw/podcast/russian-roulette/id1112258664?l=en-GB Hosted by Michael Naki ---https://www.youtube.com/@MackNack Faygin Live channel ---https://www.youtube.com/@FeyginLive Hromadske channel ---https://www.youtube.com/@hromadske_ua Hosted by Vitaly Portnikov ---https://www.youtube.com/@portnikov Hosted by Vladimir Milov ---https://www.youtube.com/@Vladimir_Milov Sternenko channel ---https://www.youtube.com/@STERNENKO The Power Vertical with Brian Whitmore https://www.powervertical.org/ ----------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----------curtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------

2025-10-30 | Silicon Wafers 015 | DAILY UPDATES | Tonight, the voices from Moscow we prefer not hear from, unless they are prophesying the fall of the Putin regime and doom for the Russian military operation in Ukraine. It’s not Western politicians or Ukrainian commanders — but the Kremlin’s chorus of hawks, genocidal sycophants, propagandist talk-show stars and death-cult nationalist influencers. Over the past weeks some of those voices have drifted from mumbling out the official script and started to admit what everyone else can see: the war is failing: grindingly slow, costs are stacking up, and successes are thin on the ground.We’ll walk through what those propagandists are saying, what some Russian economists quietly admit about the state of the war-economy, and why the rage of nationalist ideologues — Tatyana Montyan, Dmitry Rogozin, Pavel Gubarev, Igor “Strelkov” Girkin and others — matters for the strength of Putin regime. The chorus of discontent and whining is signaling that his grip on power may be brittle and tenuous. What happens when a fascistic regime’s loudest cheerleaders turn into resentful critics?----------Autumn Harvest: Silicon Curtain (Goal €22,000)This is super important. We'll be supporting troops in Pokrovsk, Kharkiv, and other regions where the trucks are needed the most. There are so many Battalions in Ukraine, fighting to defend our freedoms, but lack basics such as vehicles. These are destroyed on a regular basis, and lack of transport is costs lives, and Ukrainian territory. Once again Silicon Curtain has teamed up with Car4Ukraine and a group of wonderful creators to provide much-needed assistance: https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtain----------SOURCES: Ukraine: The Latest by The Telegraph team ---https://open.spotify.com/show/6cnkk1J0I1UqtxTYVUL4Fe?si=fb9c151d2f21405a In Moscow's Shadows, hosted by Mark Galeotti ---https://open.spotify.com/show/1NKCazxYstY6o8vhpGQSjF?si=4215e2d786a44d64 Russian Roulette hosted by Max Bergmann and Dr. Maria Snegovaya ---https://podcasts.apple.com/tw/podcast/russian-roulette/id1112258664?l=en-GB Hosted by Michael Naki ---https://www.youtube.com/@MackNack Faygin Live channel ---https://www.youtube.com/@FeyginLive Hromadske channel ---https://www.youtube.com/@hromadske_ua Hosted by Vitaly Portnikov ---https://www.youtube.com/@portnikov Hosted by Vladimir Milov ---https://www.youtube.com/@Vladimir_Milov Sternenko channel ---https://www.youtube.com/@STERNENKO The Power Vertical with Brian Whitmore https://www.powervertical.org/ ----------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----------

The Third World War we warned about feels closer at hand than the last time we spoke, and deterrent actions that could have been taken were largely ignored. We’re now in a rerun of the cold war, but this time it’s much hotter, there are no rules to bound and limit the offensive actions of Russia, and it no longer seems to care whether we think of it as a barbarous nation or not. We’ve left it to five to midnight to act – is it too late to turn the tide, and are we even prepared to act now? ----------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.” ----------This is super important. There are so many Battalions in Ukraine, fighting to defend our freedoms, but lack basics such as vehicles. These are destroyed on a regular basis, and lack of transport is costs lives, and Ukrainian territory. Once again Silicon Curtain has teamed up with Car4Ukraine and a group of wonderful creators to provide much-needed assistance: https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtainAutumn Harvest: Silicon Curtain (Goal€22,000)We'll be supporting troops in Pokrovsk, Kharkiv, and other regions where the trucks are needed the most. 93rd Brigade "Kholodnyi Yar", Black Raven Unmanned Systems Battalionhttps://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtain----------Sir Richard Shirreff is Co-founder and Managing Partner at Strategia Worldwide. After graduating from Oxford, he served in the British Army for 37 years commanding soldiers on operations or in combat at every level from platoon to division and rising to the highest rank before retiring from the Army as NATO’s Deputy Supreme Commander Europe. Richard is co-Founder and Managing Partner of Strategia Worldwide. In 2016 his novel ‘2017: War with Russia’ was published in the UK, USA, and Poland. He is an honorary Fellow of Exeter College, Oxford.----------LINKS:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Shirreff https://twitter.com/RichardShirreff https://www.strategiaworldwide.com/our-people/sir-richard-shirreffhttps://www.globsec.org/who-we-are/our-people/gen-ret-sir-richard-shirreff https://www.brookings.edu/events/is-armed-conflict-with-russia-a-real-possibility/ ----------DESCRIPTION:The Fragile State of Global Peace: An Urgent Call to Action with Sir Richard Shirreff In this episode, Jonathan welcomes back Sir Richard Shirreff , co-founder and managing partner at Strategia Worldwide and former Deputy Supreme Commander at NATO. Together, they delve into the precarious state of global peace, drawing parallels to a renewed Cold War scenario. The discussion highlights escalating tensions with Russia, the challenges facing NATO, and the significant threat to European security. Sir Richard underscores the urgent need for Europe to bolster its own defenses in the face of dwindling US support. They discuss the critical importance of supporting Ukraine's war efforts, as well as the potential long-term involvement of China. This episode is a stark reminder of the fragility of democracy and the vital importance of military readiness in an increasingly unstable world.----------

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.” ----------This is super important. There are so many Battalions in Ukraine, fighting to defend our freedoms, but lack basics such as vehicles. These are destroyed on a regular basis, and lack of transport is costs lives, and Ukrainian territory. Once again Silicon Curtain has teamed up with Car4Ukraine and a group of wonderful creators to provide much-needed assistance: https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtainAutumn Harvest: Silicon Curtain (Goal€22,000)We'll be supporting troops in Pokrovsk, Kharkiv, and other regions where the trucks are needed the most. 93rd Brigade "Kholodnyi Yar", Black Raven Unmanned Systems Battalionhttps://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtain----------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.----------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/ ----------DESCRIPTION:Analyzing U.S. and Russian Dynamics on Ukraine: Military Strategies and Political StakesThis episode delves into the intricate dynamics between the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine, focusing on the U.S. administration's unconventional approach and its strategic implications for military aid and diplomacy. Discussing President Trump's transactional leadership style and the potential leverage over Russia, the dialogue critiques the inadequacies of prior administrations and offers insight into the recent moves for economic and military deterrence against Russian advances. The narrative also highlights the influence and involvement of European countries, particularly Germany, in the evolving situation. The discussion covers broader geopolitical impacts, including NATO alliances, economic sanctions, and the strategic importance of Ukraine's resistance. The script concludes with a personal endorsement of a Ukrainian documentary series aimed at raising awareness about the nation's cultural and political landscape amid ongoing conflicts.----------

Go to https://ground.news/Silicon for a better way to stay informed. Subscribe for 40% off unlimited access to world-wide coverage through my link. ----------DESCRIPTION:Expert Insights on Drones in the Ukraine War: Technology and Strategy with Alex FergussonIn this episode, Alex Fergusson, a leading expert on drones, joins the discussion to delve deep into the technological advancements and strategic uses of drones in the Ukraine war. Alex provides insights into his background, detailing his shift from racing drones to combat drones and highlighting his recent work in Ukraine. The conversation touches on the importance of battle testing drones in real combat scenarios, the challenges of eliminating reliance on Chinese components, and the adaptability required for drone warfare. The episode also explores the potential future of AI in drone operations and the significant threat posed by naval drones. Engage with this detailed discussion to understand the evolving landscape of drone warfare and its implications for global security.----------CHAPTERS: 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:59 Alex Fergusson's Background and Expertise02:54 Drone Testing and Challenges in Ukraine06:12 Importance of Local Adaptation and Training08:28 Media Consumption and Bias19:41 Russian Drone Tactics and European Airspace24:47 Challenges in Identifying Drone Operatives25:35 Russian Drone Operations and Capabilities27:10 Potential Threats and Geopolitical Risks29:07 Assumptions and Perspectives on Russian Strategy35:39 Naval Drones and Maritime Security39:43 Excluding China from the Drone Supply Chain44:07 AI and Autonomous Drone Warfare51:44 Conclusion and Future Discussions----------This is super important. There are so many Battalions in Ukraine, fighting to defend our freedoms, but lack basics such as vehicles. These are destroyed on a regular basis, and lack of transport is costs lives, and Ukrainian territory. Once again Silicon Curtain has teamed up with Car4Ukraine and a group of wonderful creators to provide much-needed assistance: https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtainAutumn Harvest: Silicon Curtain (Goal€22,000)We'll be supporting troops in Pokrovsk, Kharkiv, and other regions where the trucks are needed the most. 93rd Brigade "Kholodnyi Yar", Black Raven Unmanned Systems Battalionhttps://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtain----------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/----------

2025-09-28 | Silicon Wafers 013 | DAILY UPDATES | Today’s episode energy warfare: how Russia is threatening Ukraine’s lights this winter, and for the fourth winter in a row, but this time, Kyiv is also threatening to darken Russia in turn, and with the scaled-up production of the Flamingo missile complex, may have that capability. The contested space over energy production, distribution and export is increasingly central to the war and is an indicator of why the momentum is shifting decisively in favor of Ukraine. We’ll walk through:* Russia’s stated intention to target Ukraine’s energy utilities this winter* Zelenskyy’s fiery warning that if Kyiv goes dark, Moscow might too* The rising strike capabilities of Ukraine (Flamingo, long-range drones)* The vulnerabilities of Russia’s energy network — civilian, export, transit* Recent Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy facilities* The growing seriousness among allies to disrupt Russia’s “grey fleet” oil tankers----------Autumn Harvest: Silicon Curtain (Goal €22,000)This is super important. We'll be supporting troops in Pokrovsk, Kharkiv, and other regions where the trucks are needed the most. There are so many Battalions in Ukraine, fighting to defend our freedoms, but lack basics such as vehicles. These are destroyed on a regular basis, and lack of transport is costs lives, and Ukrainian territory. Once again Silicon Curtain has teamed up with Car4Ukraine and a group of wonderful creators to provide much-needed assistance: https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtain----------SOURCES: Ukraine: The Latest by The Telegraph team ---https://open.spotify.com/show/6cnkk1J0I1UqtxTYVUL4Fe?si=fb9c151d2f21405a In Moscow's Shadows, hosted by Mark Galeotti ---https://open.spotify.com/show/1NKCazxYstY6o8vhpGQSjF?si=4215e2d786a44d64 Russian Roulette hosted by Max Bergmann and Dr. Maria Snegovaya ---https://podcasts.apple.com/tw/podcast/russian-roulette/id1112258664?l=en-GB Hosted by Michael Naki ---https://www.youtube.com/@MackNack Faygin Live channel ---https://www.youtube.com/@FeyginLive Hromadske channel ---https://www.youtube.com/@hromadske_ua Hosted by Vitaly Portnikov ---https://www.youtube.com/@portnikov Hosted by Vladimir Milov ---https://www.youtube.com/@Vladimir_Milov Sternenko channel ---https://www.youtube.com/@STERNENKO The Power Vertical with Brian Whitmore https://www.powervertical.org/ ----------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----------

Edition No249 | 28-09-2025 - Today we turn the spotlight squarely on Russia’s propaganda machinery — and how its most vicious threats now extend even to Britain’s ancient universities. Solovyov has threatened to wipe out the town where I live in an atomic inferno, for no other reason that we refuse to allow Russia to erase Ukraine from the world map. Perhaps he’s also upset he can’t get to his Italian villas since 2022. So, Russia’s foremost propagandist has threatened to wipe out one of the most ancient seats of learning and civilisation, and by extension threaten to kill me. Apart from the bluster and vicious hatred, it’s such utterances that show Russia has fallen far from what could be considered civilisation, civilised language and behaviour, and that no regime hack or representative should be allowed in civilised company, at least for the lifetime of the current regime. That ban should also extend to all the minions and enablers of the regime. We’ll explore how that fits into a broader pattern: Russia’s imperial ambitions, its civilizational decline, and the accelerating slide in global norms under pressure from China, Russia, and their allies — but also how Ukraine and its global backers confront this – showing that resistance, and a reassertion of civilised values is possible – though it comes at a steep price.We begin — shockingly — with Vladimir Solovyov’s threat to bomb Oxford and Cambridge.----------This is super important. There are so many Battalions in Ukraine, fighting to defend our freedoms, but lack basics such as vehicles. These are destroyed on a regular basis, and lack of transport is costs lives, and Ukrainian territory. Once again Silicon Curtain has teamed up with Car4Ukraine and a group of wonderful creators to provide much-needed assistance: https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtainAutumn Harvest: Silicon Curtain (Goal€22,000)We'll be supporting troops in Pokrovsk, Kharkiv, and other regions where the trucks are needed the most. 93rd Brigade "Kholodnyi Yar", Black Raven Unmanned Systems Battalionhttps://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtain----------SOURCES: “Russia should ‘bomb Oxford’, key Putin ally says,” UK News / Yahoo, Sept 2025“Top Russian propagandist issues threat to drop nuclear bombs …” LADbible, Sept 2025 Nancy Ries, *Russia’s Atrocity Rhetoric During Its War on Ukraine* (RCIN) An Independent Legal Analysis of the Russian Federation’s Breaches of the Genocide Convention (New Lines Institute) “Holding Putin’s propagandists accountable for crimes in Ukraine,” Atlantic Council UkraineAlert, June 2024 “Dmitry Medvedev says editors of The Times are ‘legitimate military targets’,” The Guardian, Dec 2024 “Russia is at war with Britain …”, The Guardian / Fiona Hill commentary, June 2025 “International Criminal Court arrest warrants for Russian leaders,” Wikipedia / ICC context “Andrey Gurulyov,” Wikipedia (remarks on bombing Britain)----------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/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------

2025-09-27 | Silicon Wafers 012 | Wafers daily is a round-up of news over the last 1-2 days, with a particular focus on the resurgence of authoritarian regimes in the 21st century, great power competition, democracy on the defensive, the Russian imperial project, and how Ukraine is leading the fightback for values and freedom. In this short video format, I hope to bring some light to dark times.Topics covered less than they deserve, and on topics that are more terrifying than most care to acknowledge. Nuclear coercion, torture, drones, and blackmail. We ask: how far will Russia push in weaponizing nuclear infrastructure? And what does that say about the terroristic logic of Putinism?We’ll break the episode into four segments:1. Zaporizhzhia’s external power outage — brinkmanship with reactors2. The imprisonment and torture of Ukrainian nuclear workers3. Drones striking the protective shell around Chernobyl4. Russia’s use of nuclear blackmail — is it a modern ISIS with missile codes?----------SOURCES: Ukraine: The Latest by The Telegraph teamhttps://open.spotify.com/show/6cnkk1J0I1UqtxTYVUL4Fe?si=fb9c151d2f21405a In Moscow's Shadows, hosted by Mark Galeottihttps://open.spotify.com/show/1NKCazxYstY6o8vhpGQSjF?si=4215e2d786a44d64 Russian Roulette hosted by Max Bergmann and Dr. Maria Snegovayahttps://podcasts.apple.com/tw/podcast/russian-roulette/id1112258664?l=en-GB Michael Naki - https://www.youtube.com/@MackNack Faygin Live channel - https://www.youtube.com/@FeyginLive Hromadske channel - https://www.youtube.com/@hromadske_ua Hosted by Vitaly Portnikov - https://www.youtube.com/@portnikov Vladimir Milov - https://www.youtube.com/@Vladimir_Milov Hosted by Sternenko channel - https://www.youtube.com/@STERNENKO ----------This is super important. There are so many Battalions in Ukraine, fighting to defend our freedoms, but lack basics such as vehicles. These are destroyed on a regular basis, and lack of transport is costs lives, and Ukrainian territory. Once again Silicon Curtain has teamed up with Car4Ukraine and a group of wonderful creators to provide much-needed assistance: https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtainAutumn Harvest: Silicon Curtain (Goal€22,000)We are sourcing all vehicles around 2010-2012 or newer, mainly Toyota Hilux or Mitsubishi L200, with low mileage and fully serviced. These are some of the greatest and the most reliable pickups possible to be on the frontline in Ukraine. Who will receive the vehicles?93rd Brigade "Kholodnyi Yar", Black Raven Unmanned Systems Battalionhttps://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtain----------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. ----------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/----------

Go to https://ground.news/Silicon for a better way to stay informed. Subscribe for 40% off unlimited access to world-wide coverage through my link. ----------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.----------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----------DESCRIPTION:Western Response to Russian Aggression: Challenges and StrategiesIn this episode, the speaker discusses the current state of Western opposition to Russian aggression, focusing on various strategies and challenges. Key topics include Russian sabotage in the Baltic region, the use of shadow fleet vessels, and potential responses such as seizing these vessels and strengthening air defense systems. The conversation touches on the technological and strategic capabilities needed to counter Russia, including the integration of air defenses with Ukrainian forces. The discussion also covers the broader geopolitical landscape, including European unity, U.S. policy under Trump, and the global implications of Russian actions. The speaker stresses the necessity for decisive leadership and coherent strategic objectives to effectively counter Russia and avoid prolonged conflict.----------CHAPTERS:00:00 Introduction: Russia's Covert War Tactics00:50 Western Response and Consequences02:23 Air Defense Strategies and Challenges04:39 European Leaders' Stance on Trump and Ukraine10:07 Media Consumption and Bias14:04 Trump's Admiration for Authoritarian Leaders18:28 Russia's Strategic Objectives and Vulnerabilities24:12 Historical Parallels and Western Industrial Capacity----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------

2025-09-26 | Silicon Wafers 011 | Wafers daily is a round-up of news over the last 1-2 days, with a particular focus on the resurgence of authoritarian regimes in the 21st century, great power competition, democracy on the defensive, the Russian imperial project, and how Ukraine is leading the fightback for values and freedom. In this short video format, I hope to bring some light to dark times.“The Shadow War is Becoming more overt: Russia’s Hybrid Attacks on Europe”— this episode dives deep into Moscow’s covert operations across the continent. Operations that are becoming implausibly deniable as the scale and scope of them increases. We’ll map the sabotage, the plots, the attempted assassinations, and the creeping provocations. We’ll ask: Why do so many of these go unanswered? And how must the West change posture if it hopes to deter the hybrid war, and prevent it becoming a fully kinetic one?We’ll structure the episode in five parts:1. A historical baseline: Russia’s covert hits on foreign soil (pre-2022)2. The surge since February 2022: sabotage, subversion, assassination attempts3. What’s new in September 2025: recent grey zone provocations4. Why the West is slow to respond—and what critics call weak deterrence5. The hawks’ prescription: what we should do now----------SOURCES: Ukraine: The Latest by The Telegraph teamhttps://open.spotify.com/show/6cnkk1J0I1UqtxTYVUL4Fe?si=fb9c151d2f21405a In Moscow's Shadows, hosted by Mark Galeottihttps://open.spotify.com/show/1NKCazxYstY6o8vhpGQSjF?si=4215e2d786a44d64 Russian Roulette hosted by Max Bergmann and Dr. Maria Snegovayahttps://podcasts.apple.com/tw/podcast/russian-roulette/id1112258664?l=en-GB Michael Naki - https://www.youtube.com/@MackNack Faygin Live channel - https://www.youtube.com/@FeyginLive Hromadske channel - https://www.youtube.com/@hromadske_ua Hosted by Vitaly Portnikov - https://www.youtube.com/@portnikov Vladimir Milov - https://www.youtube.com/@Vladimir_Milov Hosted by Sternenko channel - https://www.youtube.com/@STERNENKO ----------This is super important. There are so many Battalions in Ukraine, fighting to defend our freedoms, but lack basics such as vehicles. These are destroyed on a regular basis, and lack of transport is costs lives, and Ukrainian territory. Once again Silicon Curtain has teamed up with Car4Ukraine and a group of wonderful creators to provide much-needed assistance: https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtainAutumn Harvest: Silicon Curtain (Goal€22,000)We are sourcing all vehicles around 2010-2012 or newer, mainly Toyota Hilux or Mitsubishi L200, with low mileage and fully serviced. These are some of the greatest and the most reliable pickups possible to be on the frontline in Ukraine. Who will receive the vehicles?93rd Brigade "Kholodnyi Yar", Black Raven Unmanned Systems Battalionhttps://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtain----------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----------

Nataliya Bugayova is a non-resident Russia Fellow at ISW. Nataliya previously led ISW’s Russia research team where she helped build the analytical framework that serves as the foundation for ISW’s in-depth reporting on Russia. Her analytical work focuses on the Kremlin’s decision-making, information operations, and global campaigns from Ukraine to Africa. She also serves as the Director of Strategic Intelligence at Babel Street – a US OSINT technology company and an ISW technology partner. At Babel Street, Nataliya optimizes data and technology for national security analysis of key capabilities of US adversaries. Before ISW, she worked on reform efforts in Ukraine in several roles. She was the Chief Executive Officer of the Kyiv Post, then Ukraine’s only independent English-language publication. She also served as the adviser on international technical cooperation to a former Ukrainian Economy Minister, appointed after the pro-democracy Euromaidan Revolution in February 2014.Ms. Bugayova is the author of “How We Got Here with Russia: The Kremlin’s Worldview” and “Putin’s Offset: The Kremlin’s Geopolitical Adaptations Since 2014.” She has been a trusted voice on Russia’s war on Ukraine and Russia’s operations globally. Her insights have been featured in Foreign Policy, Fox News, PBS NewsHour, CNN, NBC News, The Hill, BBC. She has testified in the US Congress and the European Parliament. She regularly briefs US military and civilian leaders. Ms. Bugayova holds a master’s in public policy from Harvard Kennedy School, where she was a student fellow at the Belfer Centre for Science and International Affairs.----------LINKS: https://understandingwar.org/people/nataliya-bugayova/https://x.com/nataliabugayova?lang=enhttps://hertogfoundation.org/staff/nataliya-bugayovahttps://www.thecipherbrief.com/experts/nataliya-bugayovaBRAVE1Defense Tech Innovations - Defense and Space Manufacturing https://x.com/BRAVE1uahttps://www.linkedin.com/company/brave1ukraine/posts/?feedView=all----------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/----------

Go to https://ground.news/Silicon for a better way to stay informed. Subscribe for 40% off unlimited access to world-wide coverage through my link. ----------ABOUT: Edward Lucas was one of the first journalists to raise the alarm about Putin’s actions and motivations. While most of the world still thought of Putin as ‘someone we could do business with’, Edward published a prescient and insightful book in 2008 called “The New Cold War – Putin’s threat to Russia and the West”. He is a columnist for The Times and has been a Senior Editor on the Economist. Edward is a Senior Fellow at the Centre for European Policy Analysis. ----------LINKS: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Lucas_(journalist)https://cepa.org/author/edward-lucas/https://www.linkedin.com/in/edward-lucas-65a0a21b/https://x.com/edwardlucas?lang=enhttps://edwardlucas.substack.com/https://foreignpolicy.com/author/edward-lucas/----------BOOKS:The New Cold War: Putin's Threat to Russia and the WestDeception: Spies, Lies and How Russia Dupes the WestThe Snowden Operation: Inside the West’s Greatest Intelligence DisasterSpycraft Rebooted: How Technology is Changing EspionageCyberphobia: Identity, Trust, Security and the Internet----------This is super important. There are so many Battalions in Ukraine, fighting to defend our freedoms, but lack basics such as vehicles. These are destroyed on a regular basis, and lack of transport is costs lives, and Ukrainian territory. Once again Silicon Curtain has teamed up with Car4Ukraine and a group of wonderful creators to provide much-needed assistance: https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtainAutumn Harvest: Silicon Curtain (Goal€22,000)We'll be supporting troops in Pokrovsk, Kharkiv, and other regions where the trucks are needed the most. 93rd Brigade "Kholodnyi Yar", Black Raven Unmanned Systems Battalionhttps://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtain----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------DESCRIPTION:Edward Lucas Discusses Russia's Sub-threshold Warfare and Western ResponseIn this insightful episode, veteran journalist Edward Lucas, an expert on Russian affairs, discusses the increasing intensity of Russian sub-threshold warfare, exemplified by drone incursions and other disruptive actions. Lucas argues that these actions are not new but represent a continuance of tactics used by the Kremlin to destabilize and challenge Western decision-making and social cohesion. Despite the clear evidence of Russia’s aggressive maneuvers, he believes that the West is not adequately prepared, displaying a peacetime mentality even in the face of ongoing threats. The conversation also highlights the importance of accurately interpreting these threats without falling into paranoia and emphasizes the need for a strategic, calibrated response rather than reactive measures. Lucas calls for stronger support for Ukraine and argues for seizing frozen Russian assets to fund Ukrainian defense. He concludes with a powerful message about the necessity of shifting from a reactive to a proactive stance in dealing with Russia's multifaceted threats.----------CHAPTERS: 00:00 Introduction to Edward Lucas and His Insights on Putin00:36 Current Issues: Drone Flights and Kremlin Denials01:06 Historical Context: Kremlin's Pattern of Denial02:07 Analyzing the Scale and Intensity of Incursions02:53 Sweden's Experience with Sabotage and Disruption04:48 Psychological Warfare and Cognitive Resilience06:20 Media Consumption and Bias Detection09:15 NATO's Response and Strategic Considerations13:32 Escalation Dominance and Political Attacks19:08 Reflexive Control and US Politics20:44 Urgency in Re-Arming and Defense Strategies25:25 Conclusion: Supporting Ukraine and Final Thoughts----------