F-16 fighter jet in shootdown & war-born superbug may spark pandemic | Ukraine: The Latest | Podcast

Day 1,050.

Today, as the new Ukrainian offensive in Kursk continues, we discuss the evolving picture in that region, look at the latest developments in unmanned aerial and land warfare, and fears superbugs spawned in war could spark the next pandemic.

Contributors:
Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.
Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.
Arthur Scott Geddes (Deputy Global Health Editor). @ascottgeddes on X.
Michael Bohnert (RAND Analyst). @mbohnert on X.

Content Referenced:
Trump's Ukraine envoy postpones Kyiv trip until after inauguration (Reuters):

'Putin doesn't want negotiations' - our interview with Zelensky's 'power broker' Andriy Yermak:

Ukraine needs more help to beat ‘superbugs’, says chief doctor (Arthur in The Telegraph):

''I bought a drone and killed my boss" (Arthur in our sister podcast Battle Lines):

Could a Conflict-Borne Superbug Bring on Our Next Pandemic? (Rolling Stone)

[JudithBlair-oq]

100% behind Michael’s final point that the US must stand behind Ukraine to retain its territory as it agreed under the Budapest agreement formalized in the Memorandum. We cannot condone Russia’s flagrant breaches of international treaties and agreements or its atrocities and war crimes against Ukrainians. Principles matter. We need to demonstrate our own moral compass. We will keep repeating history unless we take the stand.

[MrJCKC]

Russia. Forever the villains, playing the victim.

[mike]

Thanks for the update “ Ukraine The Latest “ … 💙💛💙

[ArcaneCowboy]

The meetings would have been a violation of US law. Can't start acting in official capacity until he's official.

[macjames]

This is truly an amazingly informative podcast. Phenomenol work

[vbcountryboy]

Excellent medical commentary. “Spanish flu ww1” a good example that comes to mind.

[davidboskett]

It would be unwise for Trumps envoy to to go to Ukraine before Trumps inauguration considering how unpredictable he can be. Even a sycophant has to tread warily if he wants to keep his job.But it is sickening to hear these new Trump appointees praising him in nearly every breath they speak.

[missprice]

Your item on health was very interesting. Historically war has had devastating health effects on everybody. I think of, for instance, the post WW1 Spanish 'flu, the spread of TB, cholera outbreaks, Florence Nightingale etc. It would not surprise me in the least that where the sanitation facilities are poor, no possibility of distancing, poor nutrition, stress, no heating, that outbreaks of unknown viruses immune to antibiotics would thrive in these conditions. Chastening thought. I wonder if Amazon do antibacterial knickers.

[FenrirFury]

Can we explore the idea on a western funded all volunteer unit like the Flying Tigers to fly CAP over Ukraine to shoot missiles down so Ukrainian pilots can do air and ground attack missions?

[paulrobertsmith]

Indonesia is a more autocratic system than is usually accepted. Siding with russia will be a mistake. They need to side more with Australia and Malaysia Singapore and the Phillapines

[TalibanAtrocities]

Konstantin @ Inside Russia channel is arguably the go-to guy for everything economic happening ironically inside Russia

Been watching him few years now

[frankdegroot]

If Trump talks like an idiot, is that prove that he is an idiot ?

[max_skim-pontoon-cough]

Okay guys, for real. It’s been 4 months of 10k NK troops in Kursk. Supposedly approaching 4000 casualties now. Hundreds of meat wave attacks. And yet, there’s only 1 POW NK soldier & he “happened” to conveniently pass away, and there’s not any further info on him.

Unbelievable

[baronobeefdip]

18:35 what point exactly is the guest trying to make here? It sounds like he's saying that it's better to use up military assets in a way that they were designed to be used, even if it fails to achieve the objective and just gets a bunch of people killed for no gains. Maybe he's referring to the whole Kursk expedition as a whole when saying that, but in the context of a "renewed" attack that went nowhere and gained nothing it sounds very callous and blockheaded.

[frankdegroot]

Ukraine is not stupid
When attacking, they will not expose their flanks
Building a new defense line is prudent
But, Russia has moved forces from Ukraine to Kursk

[jonbaxter]

Nearly at thr 3 year mark, go Ukraine!

[simonroff]

Can Ukraine the latest go onto Bluesky as a lot of us have come off X

[tawektawek]

Isn't it illegal for an unauthorized individual to negotiate with foreign governments having a dispute with the US?

This is the US Logan Act, though it is rarely used. Perhaps General Kellogg postponed his trip to Ukraine to make sure he doesn't break that law. If so, that's encouraging, because Trump has previously been flouting this law.

[RdamplificationUk]

Although NATO operations practice is well established... in fairness, a NATO force has not been engaged in fighting a 'parity' adversary for decades. Current NATO doctrine relies on air superiority. NATO has not in recent history been involved in conflicts where this doesnt exist. So I think its really unfair to expect or criticise AFU for 'failing' militarily. I think the AFU is now far better placed to teach NATO how to fight war in this current conflict.
I'm not convinced NATO troops from any country, including the US, would fair any better without complete control of the skies over the battlefield and enemy territory.

[Kath-ndpj]

I had the Impression that with some. Of The first clusters delivered to Ukraine they separated out the parts and dropped them with drones. Am I wrong on this?