The Wagner Group emerges & examining Russia’s defences | Ukraine: The Latest | Podcast

Day 258. Today, we discuss the brutal fighting in the centre of Ukraine; analyse the emergence from the shadows of Yevgeny Prigozhin and his mercenary army, the Wagner group; and Dom Nicholls takes us through the principles of a good defence as the Russian army digs-in, in the South.
Contributors:
David Knowles (Host). Follow David on Twitter @DjKnowles22.
Dom Nicholls (Associate Editor, Defence). Follow Dom on Twitter @DomNicholls.
Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). Follow Francis on Twitter @FrancisDearnley.
James Kilner (Foreign Correspondent). Follow James on Twitter @jkjourno.
Email: [e-mail]
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[@Sheddweller419]

I live in the UK and nobody I know is suffering from Ukraine fatigue, I fully back the UK'S support for the brave Ukrainian people.

[@buddyrojek9417]

I live in Australia and now it’s a national sport watching Russians get slaughtered by our weapons . Makes us proud to be descended from vikings as the Ukrainians are , destroying the Golden Horde again

[@paulflinn3521]

Am listening daily fromB.C. Canada.

[@kimonopretzel3189]

Hey man, thx for the help your state ist sending to Ukraine. We in Europe appretiate it. Let us know when your cheese and wine stock are low :D.

[@stevenreiff4442]

wow that new wagner monolith in st petersburg suspiciously sprang from zero to completion in no political time.

[@Sheddweller419]

I'm thinking these are the only people willing to guarantee putins safety.long term.

[@stevenreiff4442]

@@Sheddweller419 nah, this is the hounds of hell dawg eat dawg sickness.

[@Hawk006]

The Wagner Group is Putin’s Pretorian Guard. Should he lose them, his house of cards will collapse.

[@ruston1200]

Love this podcast, especially Doms sense of humour is hilarious

[@peterpaul7932]

the type of humor only a bloke with active duty record has ;)

[@anya8861]

SLAVA UKRAINE 🇺🇦🇺🇦

[@tord008]

Brilliant, keep up the good work. Listening in from Sweden.

[@kzlorenz]

Great stuff boys, as usual, thanks

[@AliBaba-fu8oy]

Slava Ukraine from Ireland

[@lw1zfog]

notsee tropes for Bandera dopes

[@susannamarker2582]

Is Ali Baba your real name ?

[@steve-real]

Dom knows this Army stuff really well.

[@JelMain]

I'm a retired crisis manager from the CFSP team. He's been playing with his toy soldiers again.

[@donaldschutt2571]

Dom knows? Hilarious. He is a lying spin doctor. Come back in 3 months and see how his BS pans out?

[@steve-real]

@@donaldschutt2571 so far so good. Dom really does know his gig really well

[@rrr9308]

Great analysis as usual. Thanks guys. Listening from Slovakia.

[@skevosmavros]

40:35 Although he initially misstated it, as acronyms go MADROD is not bad! MADROD Mutual support All round defence Deception Reserves Offensive spirit Depth

[@michaelchampion3056]

What is a Crime is that the Wagner Group have not been named Internationally as a Terrorist Organisation. Also that Prigozhin does not have an International arrest Warrant out in his name. Put a decent price on his head

[@markb8468]

Right. And travel ban and lock his bank accounts.

[@Anita-k]

This hasn't happened yet? I'm baffled tbh.

[@markb8468]

@@Anita-k idk if it has happened. ....but it certainly should

[@Anita-k]

@@markb8468 I agree.

[@julilab]

From July 22: The U.S. Department of State’s Rewards for Justice (RFJ) program, administered by the Diplomatic Security Service, is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information on foreign interference in U.S. elections. The Department seeks information on Internet Research Agency LLC (“IRA”), Yevgeniy Viktorovich #Prigozhin, and linked Russian entities and associates for their engagement in U.S. election interference.

[@rc666]

Is there anyone in doubt that we need to fight for our democracy, UA should not be fighting alone.

[@JelMain]

Getting 28 European Nations to take Moscow down simply isn't going to happen. The best option is to facilitate the population recovering control of its own land. Eastern Europe has some serious scores to settle, though.

[@SteveWallis2]

Excellent discussion

[@SL-sd3sg]

Pootin has an abysmal reputation, he’s more than finished.

[@kocyszemaitis2310]

i like pootin even better than putler.

[@rosa.8578]

At least learn to write his name correctly!

[@APW554]

@@rosa.8578 Putrid is a good fit

[@boozolini4465]

@@rosa.8578 Isn't Pootin name written correctly? I guess Poostink is written correctly, right? 😁

[@tromboneJTS]

At 9:26 This is a genius decision!!!

[@yolandacarrillo3681]

🇺🇦 Viva Ukraine 🇺🇦 ♥

[@gabrielmcollazo6675]

Ukraine : The mouse that Roared! Viva Ukraine for ever!😉

[@john_in_phoenix]

Technically, the Maginot line worked very well, that's why Germany went around it.

[@harrycarpenter1727]

Actually their paratroopers went over and captured it

[@varjen018]

Hold on... "Embuggarence", is that a word? Well, it is now i reckon. Good one anyway. Will try to use.

[@therealorkdung]

Yes, please do Offense!

[@markb8468]

I sure as hell wouldn't want to be in one of those little concrete huts! TARGET PRACTICE!

[@billbasener8784]

This is a great source of news. Thanks guys.

[@airmcd86]

The US elections will not materially affect the US support for Ukraine.

[@athanksgivingbaby570]

True. Beau of the Fifth Column has a good breakdown on this.

[@roaminromer]

Funny how those who didnt support Ukraine lost elections. Guess that "interference" didnt work.

[@ThePlatypusMafia]

SLAVIA UKRAINE 🇺🇦 ♥️

[@AnthonyConstable]

Incredible, as always. Thanks for keeping this going.

[@AnthonyConstable]

From Budapest

[@noras3297]

💙💛🇺🇦🇺🇸🇺🇦🇺🇸🇺🇦💙💛

[@yvelaine]

i would ignore kherson . go round it . stay mobile .

[@2358nick]

Excellent podcast. Everyone involved working to produce top quality political and military analysis.

[@fernandapereiragaetani9509]

🇺🇦

[@firstlast7052]

44:35 "examples of defences done well". An obvious example of the successfull use of field fortifications in depth in a Russian oblast adjacent Ukraine was in battle of Kursk (1943). In this battle the Soviet Union used a combination of field works (entrenchments), stretching back many miles to the rear of their front lines, and mobile reserves to defeat a very strong German attack. Lines of defence across in Italy, slowed the Western Allied advance to a crawl in 1944. While not stopping the advance it certainly turned the soft underbelly of the crocodile into a well made handbag who's lock proved difficult to pick. Likewise although strategically ineffective the German lines on the Seelow Heights in April 1945, cost the Soviets a butchers bill that Western Allied armies would have hesitated to pay.

[@firstlast7052]

Pillbox for concrete fortifications started as a slang term by the British for small concrete German blockhouses and bunkers used in the Hindenburg line in the First World War. It makes sense to use prefabricated pillboxes and bunkers as part of entrenchements, but to be effective they have to be dug in and camouflaged. If they are they are stronger and more inhabitable than similar structures built from logs and sandbags. There are still lots of Second World War concrete pillboxes scattered across south England. All that remain of defensive lines set up in the dark desperate days after Dunkirk.

[@jayejulia1677]

I have felt uncomfortable in the last two broadcasts in that we seem to be telling Russia how to fight in this war. First by telling them to use their aircraft assets and now how not to make a defensive line..

[@matthewrussell8590]

Ridiculous comment

[@DriveByShouting]

No Self Respecting Russian is capable of putting aside his Pride and accept any-kind of advice from the UK or US.

[@APW554]

No need to worry Russia is beyond help ,as seen by their travelling circus so far…..

[@stpancraschapel2136]

This occurred to me too, it reminded me of the BBC reporting on Goose Green and the Iranian embassy siege. Happily, I suspect the Russian military is so compromised by its own structural inadequacies and corruption, there is little that can improve its performance now or for many years to come.

[@kbkb1290]

Victoire Ukraine

[@chueewowee]

BTW, the mobilisation is for reservist, not for all men.

[@steveellis7748]

According to James if Prigozhin says it we should all believe it

[@stpancraschapel2136]

This struck me too. Why are we attributing any credibility about some purported smoking gun of US politics to a man who would clearly sell his own soul for any cause whatever? Even by the standards of Russian political operators he is untrustworthy.

[@xy6845]

What if Putin would bring Prigozhin into position as his possible successor? I think I recall reading sth recently about him looking to find sb to fill in that role, not sure about it. Could that be a real thing and what's anyone's opinions on that?

[@canadiangemstones7636]

Putler thinks he is Tsar for life. Potential successors drink polonium tea, or fall off balconies, lol.

[@listrahtes]

Imo the moment Prigoshin gets identified as a real powerhouse and possible successor to Putin he looses all power if Putin is not dead before. Thats classic russian politics. Prigoshin would do Russia just as much harm. He is also ideology lead like Putin and not by reality. He is even more open to sacrificing soldiers mindlessly just to be the agressor and has no competence other than agression. The war would be even more cruel but not more possible to be won by Russia.

[@richardmulcahy1535]

I agree with the writer "Dom's sense of humor is hilarious" I find it, Mr. Nicholls, subtle, dry, dark, 'bendy'. In a way, classic Bond, Dom.

[@positroll7870]

Meh. FRA is ramping up its military support. So is Italy, despite electing a right wing gov. And while GER has done more than these 2, it still is only beginning to dig deeper. Europe simply dwarves Russia on an economic level. Even fatigued support will suffice to beat a horrible RUS army. EUR gas reserves are filling up, gas prices are falling, and Russia's economy is more and more crippled. Putin is chasing a phantom.

[@timothykatende8484]

If that was the case tell is what the cost of bread is today to what it was 9 months back

[@josephfisher6745]

@@timothykatende8484 man does not live by bread alone

[@positroll7870]

@@timothykatende8484 because oil and gas prices went up a lot over summer and affected costs for farmers a lot. Same with fertilizers. Farmers need to recuperate these costs by selling produce at a higher price because the already spent money doesn't magically come back just because gas prices came down again.

[@listrahtes]

Honestly without controlling the logistics up to the frontline this support doesnt mean that uch. Ukraine is incredible corrupt and a LOT of gear gets stolen before it reaches the soldiers. I only see the solution that European countries control the logistics inside Ukraine. Dont underestimate the corruption. Before the war Ukraine was worldwide leading in corruption. Thats not easy. The army has a lot of bad apples as does the Ukrainan government. Lets actually learn a lesson from Afghanistan.

[@positroll7870]

@@listrahtes Stupid narrative pushed by the much more corrupt Russians and their Murican stooges like Tucker the Traitor Carlson. Including rumors of Himars being sold off. Of course Russia claims to have destroyed all Himars 3 times over, so we know what their silly claims are worth. Ukr is fighting for its live, and most of its citizens have bought in, bringing very negative consequences to anyone trying to steal. Are some people still siphoning off some fuel? Sure. But who would they 155mm ammo to? The Nato countries that deliver them? Lol. Anyone wants receipts? go check out the Oryx blog. More than 1500 visually confirmed losses of Russian tanks alone... For a fraction of the yearly us defense budget. Best investment ever.

[@user-jl8io3ik5y]

In the intro, lizz truss has now been replaced. Ha. Was wondering how long the intro would get with all these pms

[@magesalmanac6424]

Right 😁 although the one they replaced it with isn’t nearly as impactful . They could have found something more dramatic

[@vincenthigginbotham8729]

At least the west can change their prime ministers unlike Russia

[@anabelpineda9976]

Republican is just telling people what people want to hear Republican know why can happen if Russia take over Ukraine 🇺🇦🇺🇸🇩🇴❤️☮️🙏

[@wacojones8062]

One of the best defensive actions followed by a massive counterattack drive to the west was by the Russians at Kursk. Urban grinding defense was Stalingrad.

[@greggsarah]

Thanks guys but ads every 3 minutes is a bit much

[@alejandromacias7609]

An absolutely astonishingly quality informative educational thought provoking journalistic podcast episode.

[@yvelaine]

Putin must get out of Ukraine ... then Peace can be had .

[@BalbazaktheGreat]

They allowing comments now? Good work, guys. I never miss an episode.

[@Taketaketak]

❤

[@redwine2664]

I stopped hearing their toilets being flashed. The pumps stopped working or there is no water in the pipes.

[@chillijoe8264]

personally im very very skeptical of any statement made by the wagner group.

[@shanewilson2484]

Defensive battle - Stalingrad

[@tintinjailhouse1312]

Will they sooo use hands to fight with or how?!! Bros ?!!

[@sumiland6445]

British trained Ukrainian Forces in hand-to-hand combat including EYE GOUGING 😮

[@tintinjailhouse1312]

@@sumiland6445 heheh aint it Nice bro ?

[@stevenmillikin558]

Admitted or claimed he meddled in U.S. elections?

[@chrisminchin854]

👍

[@MICHAELQUINN-gj7nj]

Not exactly the same but the Wagner Group/Prigozhin reminds me of the SS/Himmler.

[@kenrauter]

From about minute 34, when Dom starts taking about the Dragons Teeth. From what I can see, the birm of the tank ditch is between the Russian trenches and the Dragons Teeth! So the Dragons Teeth can't be seen from the trenches! 😒

[@OceansHi1]

Really liked the concern expressed for the souls stolen by Putin and Russia.

[@knoxbfly]

Russian Defense In Depth was very well done at Kursk....not far from the current battle space....

[@gabrielmcollazo6675]

Ukraine : The Mouse that roared! How about those Shenanigans PUTIN?

[@don.delivercars7781]

Podcast is great.

[@carolmiller5713]

I doubt it's "Ukraine fatigue". Most countries simply can't afford no oil during winter, no grain shipped to Africa and collapse of economies.

[@billbasener8784]

The political right in the US is more hawkish than the left on military.. A shift right in the US would be unlikely decrease funding for Ukraine.

[@stephendavis6066]

Your generalization is out of date. Several Trump endorsed candidates expressed tacit support of Putin against aid to UA...the references are to an old hop that no longer exists...it is all the party of trump...

[@billbasener8784]

@@stephendavis6066 i rest this channel too much to debate politics, but I appreciate your points. Here in the US I see pretty much universal support of Ukraine.

[@RejectedStoner]

I think Ukraine regaining Kherson and the Dnipra River is a good start point for negotiations. I honestly believe that's why Russia may be pulling out

[@AndreAndFriends]

18:07

[@Skinny79]

0:25 is that Bald and Bankrupt??

[@Reticulosis]

Only the Brit’s would come up with an acronym like MADROD😂

[@012141005]

When will Bakhmut fall?

[@20ZZ20]

I think the expectation with Wagner prisoner recruits is that they will not survive anyway to be pardoned and are probably sent directly to the front line

[@Luna_lama]

Too many ads on this video

[@jameskim6154]

Just an observation. A significant part of audience comes from countries outside the UK and quite a number of your speakers show poor presentation with stuttering or lots of a.. um….. It seems that either because of poor quality of their speaking abilities or unprepared speech . It reflects the interruptions of flow of thought and the audience is really struggling to understand the content of these speakers. It would be helpful that they can speak clearly and in a smooth way so people an understand what they talk about. Notwithstanding the British accent itself is already tough to listen to.

[@alanchristensen5735]

Excellent reporting as always. Dom's dry wit adds a bit of colour

[@gerg5555]

Keep trying to work him into that into guys. One day he will say something with gravitas.

[@thetruth9874]

The idea that political change will help Russia is laughable. The war in Ukraine is a contributing factor to the cost of living crisis, but by no means the only one. If the war goes away the crisis will remain. The opposition in countries will use the war for their political gain, but they have no interest in stopping the support. The worse thing a political party could do is cosy up to Putin to stop the war, but the cost of living crisis remains. They know this.

[@williamwells1862]

How did Putin have his mother taken out????? Speak.

[@susannamarker2582]

It's 'isolationist', not 'isolationalist'.

[@vespasiancloscan7077]

nope

[@elenafurs1898]

Вы закрыли комментарии к видео с русским солдатом, потому что страшно стало?))) Но правду вы не закроете.

[@righteousbyfaithinChrist]

The Wagner group...still going to lose. John 1:1-5 [1]In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2]He was in the beginning with God. [3]All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. [4]In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. [5]The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. The Witness John

[@williamswenson5315]

Is anyone else irritated to the point of distraction by the speaking style of Mr. Kilner? It hardly equates in importance with content, but the program is a podcast and it's impossible to ignore. Perhaps the gentleman is better suited to print media. His incessant lip smacking while speaking is difficult to disregard.

[@tomg3290]

He needs a silk screen - to blunt his poping of "p" s.. and blend his "s"s...

[@laurie9557]

No, his speaking style does not bother me at all.

[@philrowell1251]

No

[@evadueck643]

Content is what count’s. And they are excellent at it. Don’t focus on trivial matters.

[@yolandacarrillo3681]

I like the way he talks.

[@rosiewessinger5868]

🇺🇦💙🇺🇦💙🇺🇦💪🇺🇦💪🇺🇦

[@righteousbyfaithinChrist]

I agree, why have they not been identified as terrirists.

[@morvil73]

Everybody… “exetra”? or “et cetera”?

[@lunafields788]

Et cetera

[@andrewmays3988]

Please stop giving unverifiable numbers!!🤔

[@patrickchapman5133]

James needs to clean up his diction

[@tintinjailhouse1312]

And its 30 secs ago !

[@David-fj5lz]

These were the ones who were executed probably

[@desdicadodog8452]

Kherson is A Trap

[@PaulKRedd]

Listening from near Portland, USA Not tired of the story. Yes, tired of paying for the war as a US taxpayer. The European members of NATO for decades have underfunded their own defense. I don't understand why the USA should bear the burden of defending borders of countries most Americans can't find on a map. It's not an alliance as much as it is a dependency. Good Podcast, thanks.

[@timothykatende8484]

Thanks for that feedback

[@r5u26d3]

Dead right. The EU has tried to sideline the US in trade but all of its members depend on the Us for its security. Shameless group of countries. Trump brought this to everyone’s attention and was met with embarrassed sniggering.

[@shawnbooth3696]

Apparently, as a percentage of the defense budget, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are paying a lot more. The important thing is basically everyone is chipping in to defeat the aggressor.

[@jimgraham6722]

US weapons industry will do very well out of this war. Lots of profits, lots of jobs. US will pay for its involvement in the same way it paid for Iraq and Afghanistan (both wars with far less justification), borrow the money from China.

[@magesalmanac6424]

Your reasoning for why we shouldn’t fund Ukraine is because “most Americans can’t find it on a map”? Wtf kind of standard is that 😂

[@mohanrao846]

Mistake add guy ? Mistake to be in media.

[@buddyrojek9417]

Like the British the accents are easily picked up by Ukrainian people so they should filter the civilians and cordon off the city

[@realRainz]

"Russian Theftderation"

[@elenafurs1898]

From Russia with❤

[@nashslifestory2188]

so its all going so well for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and ukraine, be in Moscow by christmas, and in Beijing by new year...... hang on a mo, it say's in this book here that war is a bad thing, yet the sun say's its great, wonder what the truth is..........

[@stephenbest4924]

There is no critical insight or balance here. It is propaganda, not journalism. I won't be back.

[@viatranquilla]

Putin's war, come again..? This whole thin began in 2014, did it not..? See what happens when a funny man is chosen to be president..? lol..

[@user-hv9vn4fi4w]

USA GO AWAY FROM HAITI

[@veronicalogotheti5416]

is not what republicans are saying

[@zabolegp]

Сила в правде. РФ закончит и эту войну.

[@vadimvictor3382]

Russia will end the war by leaving Ukraine. It's as simple as that.

[@ThBlckMrk]

Nothing but adverts omg

[@guythomas7051]

use adblock for YT -- add it as an "add-on" in browser.

[@richardtrott7969]

Keep kissing your teeth won't listen really annoying

[@spetsnazrs9102]

Russia Vitoria

[@SL-sd3sg]

Might have been if they were any good. But sadly ruZZia is a very disgraced country right now, all pootins doing.

[@Bonjour-World]

A Russian victory is Putin and Prigozhin being prosecuted, convicted and executed for War Crimes.

[@SL-sd3sg]

@@Bonjour-World Absolutely. For an unjust invasion, and all of the loving people of the world knowing it.

[@CollectiveWesterner]

🪦 Russia 💀 has 💀 no 💀 future 🪦

[@tomg3290]

Russia ist kaputski !

[@lampegutt123]

Ukraine isn’t more important than any other nation. If Cuba was being invaded by the US, we would be hearing of how me must support the freeing and democratisation of Cuba

[@leefulll7145]

But we arnt because it didnt happen did it... talk is one thing doing is another..

[@CollectiveWesterner]

What about. What about. What about. Pathetic.

[@dearmas9068]

What?.. What is this comment? What twisted and childish logic is this?

[@tomg3290]

Yes , invade Cuba too !

[@laurie9557]

Read the Budapest Memorandum. We are obligated to help Ukraine because we talked them into giving up their nuclear weapons and promised to defend them. By providing them weapons but no direct support, we are only partially fulfilling our promise.

[@mosibru7709]

Nice 🇺🇦🇺🇲🇮🇳

[@Iammarkessex]

Don't hear females complaining about sexist conscription laws against men in Russia and Ukraine 🤔

[@magesalmanac6424]

Dumbest comment so far.