Battleground

In this episode of Battleground: The Big Picture, host Patrick Bishop is joined by publisher and military historian Iain MacGregor to explore how the past illuminates the present and future of warfare. Drawing from his book Battle: The Moments That Transformed Warfare From Ancient Greece to Ukraine, MacGregor discusses the enduring principles of war—morale, leadership, innovation, subterfuge, and numbers—across history's pivotal conflicts.

Key Highlights
The Human Element & Family History: MacGregor shares how his family's military lineage inspired his focus on the lived experiences of ordinary soldiers rather than just high-level strategy.
Morale on the Battlefield: A comparative look at the Ukrainian defence of Kyiv versus Russian public sentiment. MacGregor offers first-hand insights into how ordinary Russians endure conflict and view state patriotism.
Leadership in Modern Conflict: The conversation examines modern political and military leadership, contrasting domestic command structures with international coalition responses.
Game-Changing Innovation: MacGregor discusses the evolution of war-altering tech—from historical turning points like radar and armour to the cost-effective, high-impact role of drones on the modern battlefield.
Subterfuge & Satellite Surveillance: Why traditional mass-scale military deceptions are yielding to modern intelligence, drone technology, and digital information warfare.
Democracies and Casualty Tolerances: An exploration of how public information and civilian backing shape military capabilities in Western democracies compared to authoritarian regimes.

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special standalone edition, host Roger Moorhouse and co-host Patrick Bishop speak with intrepid war reporter Boldizsár "Boldi" Győri following his latest trip to Ukraine. Boldi provides a vivid look into the current atmosphere in Kyiv, where residents face modified S-300 and S-400 Russian missile strikes with minimal warning and a shortage of Patriot interceptor missiles. Despite the air campaign, he highlights that civilian morale remains intact, supported by local preparations for the coming winter and a deep connection to those serving at the front.

Boldi recounts his experiences on the front line in the east, detailing the extreme isolation of infantrymen supplied by expendable, Mars-rover-like ground drones in the grey zone. He describes travelling with the 24th Brigade near Kramatorsk, following middle-aged green recruits—former miners, taxi drivers, and salesmen—as veteran "reconnaissance infantrymen" give them crash courses before navigating heavily targeted, drone-saturated terrain.

The episode also covers the gradual evacuation of Kramatorsk under the threat of Russian FPV drones and glide bombs, the harsh economic realities for internally displaced families and pensioners, and the inspiring story of former Mariupol POWs who survived captivity and returned to Kyiv to build their own veteran-run clothing brand.

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosts Patrick Bishop and Roger Moorhouse examine the latest US-led diplomatic efforts following meetings between Donald Trump's envoys—Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff—and leaders in Moscow and Kyiv. They unpack the lack of concrete diplomatic breakthroughs, Witkoff's controversial comments to Vladimir Putin, and Volodymyr Zelensky's calls for winter air defence support.

The hosts also analyse Owen Matthews’ bleak assessment of Ukraine's war efforts in The Spectator, contrasting his pessimistic outlook with tactical Ukrainian successes around Lyman, where forces liberated 200 square kilometres. They discuss the "pervasive culture of lying" within the Russian military identified by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), $27 billion in unexpected budget shortfalls reported by Kyiv, and potential mass mobilisation rumours driving young Russian men to flee.

Finally, marking the 25th anniversary of 9/11, Patrick and Roger reflect on how global perception of US leadership has transformed since 2001. In the Q&A section, they respond to listener inquiries regarding the rise of far-right political parties in Europe and their stance on Ukraine, the current status of the military campaign in Crimea, escalation risks in cyber warfare, and shifting youth attitudes towards military service and national defence.

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Battleground: The Big Picture, Roger Moorhouse is joined by Bojan Pancevski, Chief Political Correspondent for Europe at The Wall Street Journal and author of The Nord Stream Conspiracy. Together, they unravel the audacious plot behind the autumn 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines, examining how a small team of operatives allegedly carried out the most significant act of modern industrial sabotage on a shoestring budget. Pancevski reveals details from inside both the Ukrainian team and the German investigation, exploring how the CIA caught wind of the plan, why Western allies tried to stop it, and how Poland attempted to derail the German probe.

They also break down the collapse of Germany’s long-standing Wandel durch Handel energy policy, analyse the upcoming high-stakes trial in Hamburg, and confront the wild conspiracy theories—from Seymour Hersh to Russian false-flag narratives—that surrounded the attack. Finally, Pancevski offers his sharp assessment of Donald Trump's diplomatic stance toward Putin and Zelenskyy, and discusses what this dangerous precedent means for the future of global critical infrastructure.

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Saul David and Roger Moorhouse analyze the recent escalation in long-range aerial strikes, including Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian logistics sites, as well as severe Russian missile raids on Kyiv and Odesa's power infrastructure. They discuss Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s direct comments to Vladimir Putin at the BRICS summit, Germany's official findings on the Russian hybrid drone attack at Leipzig/Halle airport, and the complex legal parallel of the upcoming Nord Stream trial in Hamburg. They also examine Ukraine's significant counterattack near Lyman and report on heavy Russian military losses in Donetsk.

Later, cybersecurity expert David Alexander joins the podcast to explore the history of state-sponsored cyber operations—from the 2007 attack on Estonia to pre-positioned malware in critical infrastructure. He discusses NATO's legal frameworks under the Tallinn Manual, the realities of offensive cyber capabilities, and the emerging risks posed by AI-driven tools like Mythos. Finally, Saul and Roger answer listener questions regarding thermobaric weapons, civilian evacuations, and Belarus’s precarious strategic position.

Join the Conversation: If you have a question about the war in Ukraine or any of the conflicts we cover, email us at podbattleground@gmail.com
Follow us on:
X - @PodBattleground
Instagram - podbattleground
Producer: James Hodgson
A Goalhanger Podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.