i would be interesting in learning more details about the politics and process required to overcome the hesitancy to send the 100’s so-called expiring M39 ATACMS
Thanks to both of you for keeping us listeners up to date on recent developments regarding the war! I would like to second the thought that it would be interesting and useful for your audience to learn in some depth the arms support and funding coming from the various European states...who's been particularly helpful and how, who hasn't and why, what the prospects are for the rest of 2024. This topic may be of particular importance if indeed the proto fascists in the Republican Congress successfully block Biden's aid package to Ukraine.
Well if I may, I also find myself curious to learn more about all things UAV. After Zaluzhnyi pointed to their importance in the present and into the future of the conflict, I'm interested to know more about the different kinds employed by both sides, and to what effect thus far, in what numbers they are being employed now on both sides and are expected to be into the future, who manufactures them and what are the prospects of Ukraine ramping up its own production over time, which other countries are providing these weapons on both sides, what further capabilities these weapons might achieve in the future, their dependence on Starlink (and Musk!) plus the significance of jamming and counter jamming capabilities, and etc. Okay, thanks.
Excellent as always, thanks to you both. The path to victory lies through the capitals of greater Europe, not Washington. That is a win win win too valuable to ignore. The opportunity should be grasped with both hands, both feet and both sets of teeth, false or otherwise. Go Europe Go!
The sound quality has never been better. I can hear everything clearly for the first time while accessing Substack through Chrome, instead of having to use the app. "Needles for a Porcupine" is a snappy report name.
Great podcast as always! The thought of bringing Patriot systems so close to the front is scary, but clearly worth the chance so far. If indeed it was a Patriot system. I would note that this would be another “false red line” for Putin that has been crossed that has seen zero reaction. Again, the deescalation crowd has been shown to be wrong.
I would request in the future a discussion of the different institutional cultures of the AFU vs. RU in terms of adaptation, learning, and overall respect and value of of their forces and how this affects morale and fighting effectiveness. We often refer to these issues but never dive in too deep.
Thanks for this podcast, I have listened to every episode so far and find them balanced and enlightening. Great to have Mykola along with you.
I have a question for you both but thought that Mykola would be best placed to answer it. It's derived from an exchange I had on X and that I have already shared with the "Battleground Ukraine" podcast.
I regularly intervene on X to complain that the German government is not providing Taurus missiles to Ukraine and recently did so to a certain Buzillus @JanLeschke, who seems to know a lot about the German militaro-industrial complex. His first answer was that the Taurus would be supplied once "technical details" had been settled. When I answered that this seemed just another excuse, he answered in four parts and the content of his messages is very interesting.
Basically he says two things:
1) SCALP and Storm Shadow are programmed by the French/British to hit specific targets and that "The Ukrainians have no access to the data", meaning, presumably, that they can neither programme the missiles themselves nor re-programme them to hit another target (like the Kerch bridge) which, Buzillus claims, is "off limits" anyway.
2) The German military is constitutionally barred from participating in armed conflict in another country and cannot therefore programme Taurus missiles themselves. These are the "technical details" that have to be settled before the missiles can be delivered. He claims that this will be sorted out soon and, as Defence Minister Pistorious has promised, the Taurus will be delivered in 2024.
If all this is true, it seems that the Ukrainians, as you, Professor, have said more than once in your excellent newsletter, "are having to fight with one hand tied behind their backs".
So, is it possible to get to the bottom of 1) who programmes the SCALP and Storm Shadow missiles and, 2) whether the NATO allies have so far "banned" the Ukrainians from targeting the Kerch bridge with the missiles they deliver ?
$100 donated to Come Back Alive. Thank you for your important work. Slava Ukraini!
Thats tremendous and Mykola and I send you our thanks!
Good job, sir!
thanks!
i would be interesting in learning more details about the politics and process required to overcome the hesitancy to send the 100’s so-called expiring M39 ATACMS
Sadly, I dont think the administration will send someone to do an interview with us
Thanks to both of you for keeping us listeners up to date on recent developments regarding the war! I would like to second the thought that it would be interesting and useful for your audience to learn in some depth the arms support and funding coming from the various European states...who's been particularly helpful and how, who hasn't and why, what the prospects are for the rest of 2024. This topic may be of particular importance if indeed the proto fascists in the Republican Congress successfully block Biden's aid package to Ukraine.
good suggestion. Maybe we need to ask our listeners to suggest topics regularly.
Well if I may, I also find myself curious to learn more about all things UAV. After Zaluzhnyi pointed to their importance in the present and into the future of the conflict, I'm interested to know more about the different kinds employed by both sides, and to what effect thus far, in what numbers they are being employed now on both sides and are expected to be into the future, who manufactures them and what are the prospects of Ukraine ramping up its own production over time, which other countries are providing these weapons on both sides, what further capabilities these weapons might achieve in the future, their dependence on Starlink (and Musk!) plus the significance of jamming and counter jamming capabilities, and etc. Okay, thanks.
we are hoping to have a guest with UAV expertise
Excellent as always, thanks to you both. The path to victory lies through the capitals of greater Europe, not Washington. That is a win win win too valuable to ignore. The opportunity should be grasped with both hands, both feet and both sets of teeth, false or otherwise. Go Europe Go!
You may be right Jonathan and we may find out sooner than expected
The sound quality has never been better. I can hear everything clearly for the first time while accessing Substack through Chrome, instead of having to use the app. "Needles for a Porcupine" is a snappy report name.
Thanks! We have some better equipment working now.
Great podcast as always! The thought of bringing Patriot systems so close to the front is scary, but clearly worth the chance so far. If indeed it was a Patriot system. I would note that this would be another “false red line” for Putin that has been crossed that has seen zero reaction. Again, the deescalation crowd has been shown to be wrong.
I would request in the future a discussion of the different institutional cultures of the AFU vs. RU in terms of adaptation, learning, and overall respect and value of of their forces and how this affects morale and fighting effectiveness. We often refer to these issues but never dive in too deep.
thats a great idea Paul--we can work on that. It might help to have the right guest
Thanks for this podcast, I have listened to every episode so far and find them balanced and enlightening. Great to have Mykola along with you.
I have a question for you both but thought that Mykola would be best placed to answer it. It's derived from an exchange I had on X and that I have already shared with the "Battleground Ukraine" podcast.
I regularly intervene on X to complain that the German government is not providing Taurus missiles to Ukraine and recently did so to a certain Buzillus @JanLeschke, who seems to know a lot about the German militaro-industrial complex. His first answer was that the Taurus would be supplied once "technical details" had been settled. When I answered that this seemed just another excuse, he answered in four parts and the content of his messages is very interesting.
Basically he says two things:
1) SCALP and Storm Shadow are programmed by the French/British to hit specific targets and that "The Ukrainians have no access to the data", meaning, presumably, that they can neither programme the missiles themselves nor re-programme them to hit another target (like the Kerch bridge) which, Buzillus claims, is "off limits" anyway.
2) The German military is constitutionally barred from participating in armed conflict in another country and cannot therefore programme Taurus missiles themselves. These are the "technical details" that have to be settled before the missiles can be delivered. He claims that this will be sorted out soon and, as Defence Minister Pistorious has promised, the Taurus will be delivered in 2024.
If all this is true, it seems that the Ukrainians, as you, Professor, have said more than once in your excellent newsletter, "are having to fight with one hand tied behind their backs".
So, is it possible to get to the bottom of 1) who programmes the SCALP and Storm Shadow missiles and, 2) whether the NATO allies have so far "banned" the Ukrainians from targeting the Kerch bridge with the missiles they deliver ?