In this special bonus episode Saul and Patrick react to the remarkable and astonishingly fast developments over the weekend in Syria, where rebel forces have taken control and long-term dictator Bashar al-Assad has fled to Moscow.

If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected]

Producer: James Hodgson

Twitter: @PodBattleground

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Saul and Patrick reflect on a week of instability across the globe and in particular the news that rebel groups in Syria, have recaptured parts of Aleppo and are threatening the Russian naval base at Tartus in the eastern Mediterranean.

With Russia's influence in the region under threat, they ask what this could mean for events in Ukraine and if this additional pressure on Russia could have a significant impact on the war in Ukraine.

If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected]

Producer: James Hodgson

Twitter: @PodBattleground

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Covering a wide range of fascinating topics from the race to Berlin to the liberation of Finnmark in the far north of Scandinavia, Saul and Patrick address some of the multitude of questions which we have received on the topics of our Battleground '44 series in todays episode.

If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected]

Producer: James Hodgson

Twitter: @PodBattleground

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In this week's edition of Battleground Ukraine Saul and Patrick discuss the fallout from a series of escalations last week, the US's push for Ukraine to lower its age of conscription in order to combat the its manpower shortage. 

They also react to the latest significant appointee to the incoming Trump administration and what that could mean for US policy on Ukraine in the new year.

If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected]

Producer: James Hodgson

Twitter: @PodBattleground

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In a powerful interview Patrick speaks to author Julian Evans who has over the past 30 years build his own powerful connection to Ukraine and in particular the city of Odesa.

He describes his experiences in witnessing the birth of Ukraine as a nation from the hardships of the 1990s in the wake of the collapse of the Soviet Union. And shares new fresh insights into the history of Russia’s war against Ukraine and its cultural and emotional impacts, particularly on the Ukrainians themselves.

If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected]

Producer: James Hodgson

Twitter: @PodBattleground

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In this episode Patrick is joined by historian and former British Army Officer Sir Simon Mayall, to discuss the Middle East - both the region's role in the conflict but also the lasting impact that the events of the second world war had on shaping the region afterwards.

If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected]

Producer: James Hodgson

Twitter: @PodBattleground

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In what has been one of the most dramatic, dangerous and consequential stages of the war, Saul and Patrick react to the latest developments of a very dynamic situation which is constantly evolving.

With many dangerous thresholds crossed and red lines violated, they look at what this means as reportedly for the first time ever Russia has fired a ICBM at Ukraine. This in retaliation for the first use of a British made Storm Shadow cruise missile against a target inside Russia and the first use of US supplied ATACMs missiles earlier in the week.

If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected]

Producer: James Hodgson

Twitter: @PodBattleground

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Joining Patrick to discuss the remarkable story of one of the most significant female figures of the Second World War - Pamela Churchill Harriman, is Sonia Purnell - Author of the book Kingmaker: Pamela Churchill Harriman's astonishing life of seduction, intrigue and power.

Together they discuss the remarkable achievements Pamela managed to achieve at the height of the Second World War, all of which she was able to accomplish in her early twenties.

If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected]

Producer: James Hodgson

Twitter: @PodBattleground

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Joining Patrick and Saul from Kharkiv to discuss the situation in the east of Ukraine is Belgian journalist - Arnaud De Decker, Arnaud has been reporting from Ukraine for over two years and is now based in Kharkiv. He tells us the mood in the east of the country and tells us the situation along the eastern front, including in Pokrovsk where Russian forces are closing in on the city.

You can check out his work on his social media accounts: Instagram - arnaud.dedecker Twitter - @arnauddedecker

If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected]

Producer: James Hodgson

Twitter: @PodBattleground

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To discuss what has been a fascinating and dramatic week Saul and Patrick look to Washington for signs of of how Ukraine’s titanic struggle with Russia might play out. Meanwhile on the battlefield itself the situation for Kyiv is going from bad to worse with the Russians pressing forward across the front.

If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - [email protected]

Producer: James Hodgson

X (Twitter): @PodBattleground

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