Why has Ukraine rapidly emerged as a global leader in advanced defense technology? What is the secret behind this innovation? How has warfare evolved over the past few years, and how are these shifts manifesting not only in the Russo-Ukrainian war but also in the Middle East? Are new drone technologies permanently altering the balance of power between major powers and smaller nations? Finally, what is required to defend the world against the Russian and Iranian regimes—and why is the Ukrainian experience the key to global security?

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Explaining Ukraine is a podcast by UkraineWorld, an English-language media outlet covering Ukraine.

Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko—Ukrainian philosopher, editor-in-chief of UkraineWorld, and president of PEN Ukraine.

Guest: Yulia Marushevska, a civic activist, former head of the Office of Support for Reforms at Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence and currently Supervisory board member at Brave 1, a platform for Ukrainian defense innovations.

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Listen on various platforms: https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine

UkraineWorld: https://ukraineworld.org/en

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SUPPORT:

You can support our work on https://www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld

Your help is crucial, as we rely heavily on crowdfunding.

You can also contribute to our volunteer missions to frontline areas in Ukraine, where we deliver aid to both soldiers and civilians.

Donations are welcome via PayPal at: [email protected].

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CONTENTS:

00:00 Guest: Yulia Marushevska’s background in defense reform and innovation

01:52 Ukraine’s shift from security recipient to security provider.

03:49 What have Ukrainians learned about modern warfare?

05:58 High-precision weapons vs. cheap drone swarms

08:14 Can Western bureaucracy adapt to modern production needs?

11:04 What is a "Defense Ecosystem"?

14:15 Ukrainian civil society as a contributor to the Ukraine’s defense

16:13 A lack of urgency: key problem of Ukraine’s partners

19:03 Are authoritarian regimes better prepared for a war of attrition?

22:12 Why is joint air defense between Ukraine and the EU essential for European security?

28:18 How do volunteers "buy time" for state institutions?

34:59 Expectations for the new Ministry of Defense team

38:32 Hope through horizontal connections and people

40:10 How to support UkraineWorld.