After months of preparation, speculation, and planning, the Ukrainian counteroffensive has finally begun. With battles underway across the country, there are mixed reviews on how well the offensive is going for the Ukrainian army. Despite months of shaping operations and preparations, some critics are calling it a failure, with progress stalling, while others are saying it's on track for a Ukrainian victory. So what's actually happening in Ukraine at the moment?

In this episode, James welcomes Dr. Mike Martin, a former officer of the British Army and a visiting Fellow at King's College, to help decipher the ongoing events in Ukraine. Looking at the tactics involved in creating a successful counteroffensive, the role of shaping operations and preparations, and how the upcoming US Election might influence the war's outcome - is it possible to predict what will happen in the coming months, and will there ever be an end in sight?

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