Days after Russia invaded Ukraine, the Kremlin made it a crime to oppose the war in public. Since then, it has waged a relentless campaign of repression, putting Russian citizens in jail for offenses as small as holding a poster or sharing a news article on social media.
Valerie Hopkins, an international correspondent for The Times, tells the story of Olesy ... Show More
Apr 27
Who’s Really Running Iran?
Over the weekend, President Trump called off a trip to Pakistan by two of his negotiators for a potential additional round of talks with Tehran, leaving the fate of the cease-fire in limbo. Farnaz Fassihi, who covers Iran for The New York Times, looks at who is in charge of the c ... Show More
35m 4s
Oct 2022
Putin's draft, sham referendums and the Ukrainian fight back
<p>Vladimir Putin turns 70 today. In recent weeks, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has seen territorial losses, a shambolic partial mobilisation, sham referendums and threats of nuclear attacks. So what possible outcomes are there for President Putin’s plan?</p><p><em>This podcast w ... Show More
28m 13s
Feb 2023
How Does Ukraine Continue to Beat Back Russia?
February 24 marks one year since Russia invaded Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin believed the country’s military would be defeated quickly and Kyiv, the capital, would fall. Instead, Ukraine’s clever, nimble — and motivated — military has fought back Russia’s forces desp ... Show More
31m 31s
Apr 2022
What Natasha Romanenko Experienced When Russian Troops Occupied Her Town
In Borodyanka, northwest of Kyiv, Natasha Romanenko lived in her root cellar for a month to avoid Russian soldiers. In the final days of the occupation, Natasha says she ventured out to milk her cow when she was briefly held at gunpoint by a Russian soldier who accused her of sco ... Show More
14m 4s
Apr 2022
Biden: "Major War Crimes" Happening In Ukraine
As allegations emerge of a cover-up by Russian troops, President Biden says "major war crimes" are happening in Ukraine, with the Mayor of Mariupol saying his devastated city is “the new Auschwitz”. That, as the Western Lviv region is targeted by Russian strikes and local officia ... Show More
40m 21s