In this episode of Battleground: The Big Picture, Saul is joined once again by Volodymyr Dehtyarov, spokesperson for the Khartia Corps, to discuss the brutal realities of modern combat heading into the sixth year of the war.

The discussion centres on Operation Veles, an extraordinary underground campaign where the Kharkiv Corps utilised gas pipelines to push Russian forces back 15 kilometres. Volodymyr details what it is like fighting in the cramped, high-stakes environment below ground—drawing parallels to historical tunnel warfare—while highlighting how innovative technologies like UGVs, drones, and electric scooters are transforming subterranean battlefields.

The conversation also covers the broader strategic landscape:

The evolving frontline: Assessing Ukraine's momentum in 2026, record Russian casualty numbers, and the shifting dynamics in Kharkiv and Kupiansk.
Technological constraints & infrastructure: The localised impacts of US satellite limits on air defence, and relentless Russian targeting of civilian and energy infrastructure in the rear.
Recruitment and foreign fighters: How Khartia is managing personnel demands through specialised tech roles and the National Guard's new international recruitment centre.
Geopolitics and peace: Why hope is considered a "bad strategy," pushing Ukraine to double down on European defence partnerships and domestic military production.

Join the Conversation: If you have a question about the war in Ukraine or any of the conflicts we cover, email us at podbattleground@gmail.com

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Producer: James Hodgson

A Goalhanger Podcast

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