Hunting Russian submarines with former frigate commander, Tom Sharpe | Ukraine: The Latest

Day 644.
Today, following the latest military and political updates, I interview a former British frigate captain on what it’s like tailing Russian submarines, and we look in closer detail on the work being done to raise awareness of war crimes.
Contributors:
Francis Dearnley (Host, Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on Twitter.
Tom Sharpe (Retired Navy Commander). @TomSharpe134 on Twitter.
With thanks to Anastasiia Marushevska and Julia Petryk (Co-founders of the Ukrainian NGO PR Army).
Opportunity to potentially talk to Dom & Francis (for charity!):
Telegraph Christmas Charity Appeal Phone-in Day.
Sunday 3 December 10:00-18:00 (05:00-13:00 EST)
Number: 0800 117 118 (international callers must put the UK country code beforehand; standard rates apply)
Read more:
'How Putin is reshaping Russia to keep his war-machine running' (The Economist) - www.economist.com/briefing/20...
'The precarious stabilization of Ukraine's war economy' (Adam Tooze's Substack) - adamtooze.substack.com/p/char...

[@HomesteadViewin]

I spent the later half of the 80s as a Naval Weapons Technician in the Canadian Navy. Our specialty is finding and following subs. Spent many long days crawling along behind a russian foxtrot class who didnt know we were there😊

[@williammorris584]

Their initial classes of nuke boats were noisy as washing machines. They have made great strides since, no doubt aided by some well-known espionage cases.

[@csmiller5221]

My brother was USN 6th Fleet. I was USAF NORAD McChord AFB, Washington, late 1970s. We had quite a few Canadian coworkers assigned to live air defense, too.

[@MonteRosa849]

Enjoy your intelligent, thoughtful and very informative discussion every day! Thanks from the US! 🇺🇦🇬🇧🇺🇸✌️

[@ralphreg1]

I'm ex Australian Navy and ex Australian Merchant Seaman, I have a book that was written about a Ship I was on during the Vietnam war the book is called Out of Sight Out of Mind, and heard the British Navy CO say it and it brought back memories of HMAS Sydney, simular as I was on a Mine Hunters clearing WW2 mines in PNG, again out of site never reported on and never acknowledged but a job that had to be done, we cleared the mines so a undersea cable could connect PNG to the World, when he talked about the broken valve that also brought back memories, not a threatening as his encounter , ours was a pipe in the Heads/ Toilets that broke in heavy seas and filled the paint locker full of sewage and water, no one knew until the sea calmed, I was glad I was a Leading Seaman and didn't have to enter the paint locker, thing that trigger very old memories, I love your podcast, keep it up please, we don't have anything even close to it in Australia.

[@clancyjames585]

So excited by the interview with Timothy Snyder!

[@golddigger8759]

Great and informative and accurate interview ❤ Best wishes from Finland

[@atomic3141]

Great podcast. I try not to miss any of them. War crimes are meant to be prosecuted, but those who practice them think they are untouchable. Horriably, most are and will continue to be so.

[@JohnAndrew60]

O

[@imperatorvespasian3125]

I have a feeling when NATO loses there will be war crimes trials, they can start with Boris

[@atomic3141]

-1

[@atomic3141]

@@JohnAndrew60 -1

[@alastairjhunter3666]

The US have committed uncountable war crime🙄

[@antonemilit2178]

Great writer, Tom Sharpe.

[@csmiller5221]

My brother was USN 6th Fleet home port of Norfolk, Virginia, USA, decades ago. I got the impression that the Royal Navy and USN got along quite well. I hope that they are still working well together.

[@kevinakling]

They do. Look into submarine development between us. Best example of it.

[@mariaktos804]

Congratulation!Ukraine has won a ticket home to Russian Federation!

[@teddited9682]

Very interesting!

[@akeleven]

We need a link to the pr army. It's Sunday please link the Schneider interview

[@marisabenson1222]

Very excited to hear Professor Snyder. Well done Telegraph

[@vladimirosamiridis7992]

"How pathetic is the Jester on the King's throne, How foolish are the people who have allowed it." Robert Burns (1759-1796)

[@williamruss8157]

Fascinating interview, learned a lot from it. More like this please.

[@josephsmith6944]

Slava Ukraine !!!❤

[@VocoTexas]

Dom, I like your opinions and comments. Outstanding Work by all! Listening from Austin Texas. My comment: Putin's invasion of Ukraine is not to rebuild the Soviet Union, that reason its a feint. Demand for oil and gas is diminishing. Without Western technology operating the Siberian oil fields extraction is difficult and expensive. Developing new fields exceeds crude oil pricing. Putin needs a new world class dominating product. Criminal networks do not invent, create or build. They steal. While Russian oil production declines and demand for oil and gas deminish, the demand for food will increase. Combine Russia's grain production with Ukrainan grain production and Russia owns Africa and most of Asia. To steal from President Clinton's presidential campaign: "Its About the Food, Stupid". For Russia, NO OPEC to screw with or complicated production, processing or transportation. (Imagine Putin holding a loaf of bread to Africa's head like a pistol, "pay or starve".) Is Russia really going to telegraph (forgive the pun) his intent to rebuild the Soviet Union and invade Moldova and Romanian next? No, Germany will bend the knee for a loaf of bread. Charlie Mike

[@Langhammar]

From Gotland, Sweden; Ukraine 1991! Слава Україні!

[@normanlaxton]

Bravo!

[@gethinhooper3671]

Re: interview with Tom Sharpe -As usual when talking about the capacity of the UK as a nation state to do anything there are a lot of excuses and bluster and the outsource mentality kicks in to gear -Well get the Americans/Polish to do the expensive bit.... The UK is a wealthy nation and can afford to have a well resourced [insert] service.. The trouble is a lot of that wealth is in the hands of a tiny minority and is 'hidden'. Time to collect some tax!

[@AnthonySpringall]

No, time to get our spending priorities right. Defence of the country should come first.

[@williammorris584]

The practice of most NATO nations since the fall of the USSR to spend next to nothing on defense while sheltering under the USN/ USAF has not been helpful in encouraging sustained US assistance.

[@hrvojesvetec3058]

Intrest rate for house loans is currently 15% in Russia..credit loans 25% 😲😲😲

[@taralown7023]

well that was interesting. I like hearing about things I know nothing about, his description of what his job was pretty cool. can also wait for Synder interview

[@Joelmonterrey]

Ohhh dannnnnnng! Oh wow

[@alexscarbro796]

Everyone in the military sphere who gets interviewed seems to state that Ukraine can win this war as long as we provide them everything they need. We clearly aren’t providing them everything they need, so exactly WHO is making the decision to constrict supply of equipment? And has this procrastination been explained to them in terms of Ukrainian blood being spilt?

[@denyswoodroffe490]

Why is this not up to date, not a month out of date? It is not history we want, in this day and age.

[@atomic3141]

It would be great to hear a quest who can give a good balance of European and free states to an accounting of the general efforts to reach a step just before a war footing. Submarines are a good topic, but drones and AI may make them as near obsolescence as tanks today. The sea may become as passable as the sky. The future cost to purchase and maintain weapons could be reasonable enough to dispatch overwheming force projection even by tiny nations. Not real at the moment except for the 50 or so conflicts around the globe.

[@jeffbenton6183]

Subs keep getting quieter. Though I agree that NATO must expand its ASW capabilities (including with drones), I don't think subs are going to become near-obsolete any time soon. (Also, tanks aren't near-obsolete. Both sides use them because both sides need them. Just because it's vulnerable doesn't mean that it's obsolete or almost obsolete. We still use infantry, after all. Obsolete means completely worthless).

[@16252]

Just wondering if the Russian bots on this site define Avdiivka as a victory.

[@eblevinda]

Not looking good for either side, but the Russians are making gains now. It's just a battle, in a few months we can answer your question.

[@PamelaC23]

woohoo, already looking forward with the Prof Synder interview, the guy is a legend

[@denismunro214]

Please interview Professor Sonnenfeld of Harvard Business School for his work on the effects of sanctions on the Russian economy.

[@Kavala76]

We have a large land war with some airforce activity, so... the Telegraph discusses naval warfare? Does the Ukrainian navy have anti-submarine ships, or much of a navy at all?

[@Toddvarskanal]

No, but they have still ravaged the once powerful Black Sea Fleet to a degree where half of the Black Sea is out of reach of Russian forces, and where Ukraine now and then, manage to destroy another ship, who further weaken the once Black Sea Fleet to a degree where it is soon a joke to call it a Navy as the only place they protect, is areas far away from the war.

[@orangehairbrain8733]

If the UK and other NATO countries spend what they need to spend on defence, 3% we might avoid catastrophe. The UK with Europe could be a formidable power for peace and stability. This is not happening.

[@AnthonySpringall]

I agree the UK needs to spend another £20 - 25 Bn on equipment alone.

[@AnthonySpringall]

Tom refers to insufficient sub hunting aircraft.

[@robertsmuggles6871]

One of the few British politicians who seems to understand is Edward Lucas - he is currently standing for the Cities of London and Westminster constituency as a Libdem. He would be a good subject for an interview - listening to him is a sobering experience. Not for the faint hearted.

[@AnthonySpringall]

Oh just to clarify, thats above existing plans. I agree with Tom that we need to strengthen the defence of cables etc but also our sub hunting capabilities. We also need to improve our Cyber defences and Missile defences. Then we need to sort out the fiasco related to the Wedgetails: We buy 5 radars but only buy 3 planes only the MOD and The Treasury can come up with that idea!

[@leemarkley8496]

Yes, I agree. This is incomprehensible. @@AnthonySpringall

[@orangehairbrain8733]

I note the Russian botes on this site

[@richardwilson57]

Am I a Russian bot? Or am i someone who has actually travelled to Russia and seen western lies my own eyes ?

[@felixvandiggelen8731]

Send supmareens to Russia botes!

[@user-mh7ng4vn9l]

@@richardwilson57You are a russian bot

[@Roltun]

am russian bote and love Putin

[@damiandenis4068]

I appreciate the interview and ongoing insights from the Telegraph. However, I would like more of a debate format with intelligent commentators on both sides

[@Beatles68]

And please ditch your standard response to a purported answer “That’s very interesting.”

[@tyllerboomgaarden7344]

Russia last year: we're pulling our punches! Russia at the end of this year: Oh God, the budget!

[@harryhole5786]

@@Belgua_ZOV Budget worty nothing, like their Ruble: it's a rubble.

[@LEVITATIONROGUE]

Snyder!!!!!

[@davidhurst5101]

We need to hear more about the Russification of occupied Ukraine in the Telegraph. It is shocking and not widely understood.

[@ulfsoderberg2581]

There is many vidos of Mariupol on youtube

[@branscombeR]

Regarding the stealing by Russians of abandoned apartments in Mariupol ... the same thing happened in Estonia during the Soviet occupation. After 1991 a special tribunal was set up by the newly independent government to return property to the original, pre-war owners (or their descendants) if sufficient proof of ownership could be submitted as evidence. R (Australia)

[@user-wn2ud5gs1u]

Никто квартиры в Мариуполе не крал , наоборот, восстановают разрушенные дома и заселяют туда прежних жильцов. Слушайте больше укропропаганду , они ещё не то наврут , лишь бы с ваших стран выклянчить побольше долларов.😊

[@Roltun]

USA Black Rock buyed all land in Ukraine. No more country

[@denyswoodroffe490]

The rich Russians are not the one on the front lines fighting the war. They are making money out of it. As a number of American politicians are making millions of $ out of the war in Ukraine. Kiwi

[@midimusicforever]

Ruzzia get rekt!

[@alhow9507]

YES.... DEFINITELY. CLOWN NEWS FOR JOKERS😂😂😂😊

[@user-ut6ji8my2h]

Can someone out there PLEASE tell me why Ukraine gave up their nuclear weapons with a stalinist madman living next door?

[@user-jo3mo9wq9n]

Украина Последние новости

[@APW554]

STEP ONE. Arrest Putin.

[@MrJohnnyseven]

Step one..arrest Zelinski and his corrupt politicians..

[@APW554]

@@MrJohnnyseven Not wanted by the ICC.

[@user-zs7kh5wg2y]

Puppet zelensky will be replaced

[@alexmood6407]

Should’ve signed the peace deal in February 2022.

[@MrJohnnyseven]

Team Putin

[@ulfsoderberg2581]

I wounder how many i...ts make a living on Russiafobia.

[@MrJohnnyseven]

Team Putin

[@mariaktos804]

Congratulation!Ukraine has won a ticket home to Russian Federation!

[@FabiusPolis]

"Hunting Russian submarines"...intresting. Mariinka falls, Avdiivka is in disarray, the ridicoulus landing in Kinsky turns out to be a desaster and the russians keeps on advancing in the north of Bachmut, in Robitinje the attacks keeps failing. Lets talk about submarines.

[@harryhole5786]

Yes, submarines the RuSSian Navy is unbeatable, I've heart they've acquired a brand new one: The Moskwa. Is it true, or is this only Ukrainian propaganda, Joker ?

[@dominiquecharriere1285]

Ok, interesting, but I still don't understand why we dont get the right information about the Ukraine army progresses. By now they must be on the outskirts of Irkutsk, with the battalion/regiment/army corp Azov, aka the Babi Yar Boys, close to Yakutsk with Vladivostok at sight! I say, according to what I've been hearing from the western mass media for almost 2 years now.

[@jimgraham6722]

I doubt Ukraine would have the least bit of interest in taking over ruzz. Who would? The place is a dump. The Ukes are fighting to not become part of that trash.

[@Toddvarskanal]

Russia blow up the museum who documented every aspect of Babi Yar early in the war - thankfully had the originals been digitalized in the years prior, so the documents was saved from destruction that way - but the area where 37.000 Jews was destroyed in 1942, was more or less destroyed on purpose by Russian forces, who left their own mark on the area by several mass-graves on their own - even if not on the same scale as Baby-Yar

[@todd1770]

Ukraine is crumbling let's double down on propaganda 😅😅😅😅poor Ukraine supporters.

[@user-mh7ng4vn9l]

Yes. Poor Ukraine supporters. Its SUCH propaganda that Ukraine kicked russia out of Kyiv, Kharkiv and Kherson! We all know they are lies! And we all know it’s “ukrainian propaganda” that after two years, russia hasn’t even been able to conquer the Donbas and that ukraine killed dozens of russian generals! In fact, we are already at the doors of Berlin, Germany, right?!? Oh, those poor, poor ukrainian propagandists! 😂😂😂

[@robertmiskey5502]

sure Ivan

[@MrJohnnyseven]

Team Putin

[@Dark_Asteroid]

Ukraine is losing 😢

[@jeanlucdom5398]

So Russia are finally occupied their land is war crime when Israelians occupied palestina is democracy 🤣🤣🤣

[@joshuapaul2022]

Stalemate is a euphemism for Ukraine debacle. The front is about to collapse. Well, it's a quote from The Time article. Zelenskyy top advisers say about him: “He deludes himself,” one of his closest aides tells me in frustration. “We’re out of options. We’re not winning. But try telling him that. It is immovable, verging on the messianic.” One Austrian artist was in a similar state in 1945. Zelenskyy "achievements" to date: 500,000 Ukrainians are dead, 3x that mangled and crippled for life, half of Ukraine's population is living as refugees scattered all over Europe and Russia right now, they're drafting women because they've run out of men to kidnap off the streets.

[@jetset7772]

And the Russian causalities are?

[@joshuapaul2022]

@@jetset7772 According to BBC (Mediazona) total Russian losses by now are 37 000 KIA ( obituaries, social media records, new graves). Yeah, it's really staggering 37 000 Russian KIA and 500 000 Ukrainian KIA. The war of attrition is effectively lost by Ukraine. Anybody can go and see for himself. It's obvious that Zelenskyy also lied about a real mobilization potential and there are no next 500 000 to round up.

[@golddigger8759]

First to catch a Z troll 💪

[@jamesthomas4841]

🙄🙄🙄

[@marisabenson1222]

🥱🥱🥱🥱🤥

[@user-wh9vy2fx8y]

Russia Already Won 🏆

[@marisabenson1222]

Russia continues to lose bigly and now the wives are mad. What happened to that fuel train explosion on the rail line connecting Russia to China?

[@jimgraham6722]

Let's hope not. We don't want to be part of that crappy feudal dictatorship.

[@user-mh7ng4vn9l]

Suuuure. Ukraine has been “loosing” the war for two years. But russia hasn’t even managed to conquer the Donbas, meanwhile Ukraine kicked ruzzia out of Kyiv, Kharkiv, Kherson. But sure, Ukraine is loosing the war….😂

[@user-bp5ol6xu9x]

американский посол в Украине Джон Теффт неуважительно выразил своё отношение к украинскому гимну в донесении шефу - Госсекретарю США: «Особенно невозможно было слушать их гимн. Это как какая-то пытка! Они как затянут хором: „Ще не вмэрла Украина...“. Создается впечатление, что тебя живьём отпевают. Нападает какая-то гнетущая, душераздирающая тоска, что порой кажется, что в округе от этого завывания дохнут мухи. Слушать этот вой до того невыносимо, что порой казалось - легче было бы умереть».

[@Roltun]

Ахаха

[@MrGreg771]

Congratulation!Ukraine has won a ticket home to Russian Federation!