Podcast Summary
Discovering Hidden Heroes: The Ukrainian Partisans: In the ongoing Ukrainian conflict, civilians are playing a crucial role through secret counter offensive actions, including sabotaging enemy supply lines and infrastructure.
Blue Nile offers beautiful lab-grown diamonds, identical to natural ones, guaranteed by independent grading. These diamonds are ready to be shipped to customers with a $50 discount using the promo code "listen" at BlueNile.com. For businesses, LinkedIn is the go-to platform for hiring professionals, as over 70% of its users don't visit other leading job sites. In Ukraine, a secret counter offensive led by civilians is making a difference in the ongoing conflict by sabotaging enemy supply lines and infrastructure. The Times reporter Maxim Tucker shares insights into this clandestine movement, known as the Ukrainian partisans, who are contributing to the country's victory in various ways, from combat operations to information gathering. Accessing these partisans for an interview was a challenging process, but Maxim's long-standing contacts in Ukrainian intelligence and counter-offensive circles facilitated the conversation.
Ukrainian Partisans Disrupt Russian Operations: A group of Ukrainian partisans, led by a former Azov regiment captain, have been sabotaging Russian forces and infrastructure, causing significant disruptions and requiring additional troops to protect logistics and collaborators.
A group of partisans in Ukraine, known as the National Resistance Movement, have been carrying out acts of sabotage against Russian forces and infrastructure. These individuals, who were once ordinary citizens, now live double lives, maintaining regular jobs and hours while conducting sabotage activities after hours. Their actions have included setting explosives on railway intersections, reporting military convoys, and even targeting collaborating officials with car bombs. The group was formed by a wounded captain from the Azov regiment, who held out in the defense of Mariupol for nearly three months. These acts of sabotage have significantly disrupted Russian supply lines and efforts on the front, causing a big diversion of troops to guard logistical bases and protect collaborators. The group's success in carrying out these operations despite Kremlin awareness and bodyguard assignments demonstrates their resourcefulness and determination.
Ukrainian Partisan Movement: Extraordinary Acts by Ordinary People: A former Azov regiment soldier leads a partisan movement of civilians, including teenagers and elderly grandmothers, who carry out acts of resistance against Russian occupation with instructions from Ukrainian military intelligence.
The Ukrainian partisan movement, led by a former Azov regiment soldier, has emerged as a significant force against Russian occupation. Born out of necessity during the soldier's recovery among pro-Ukrainian civilians, this group includes ordinary people, some as young as teenagers and elderly grandmothers, who carry out extraordinary acts under the cover of darkness while maintaining a calm demeanor during the day. They receive instructions from the Ukrainian military intelligence and have been planning operations for months, some even involving Western intelligence and satellite imagery. Their missions range from burning vehicles with pro-Russian symbols to carefully planned attacks on strategic targets. Despite the risks, these partisans play a crucial role in the Ukrainian resistance against Russian occupation.
Ukrainian partisans gather intel for military using footage of Russian targets: Ukrainian partisans risk their lives to gather intel for military, filming Russian targets and assessing damage to correct fire and demotivate enemy, using symbols as calling cards.
Ukrainian partisans play a crucial role in gathering intelligence for the Ukrainian military by filming the aftermath of strikes on Russian targets. This dangerous work involves checking for accurate coordinates and assessing damage, often while evading Russian counter-surveillance teams. The footage is used not only to correct fire but also as a demotivating tactic against the Russians and to inspire the Ukrainian people. Partisans have even started leaving calling cards as a form of resistance, using symbols that may be controversial. The stakes are high, with the risk of identification and potential retaliation from the Russians.
Azov Regiment's Controversial Symbol and Infiltration Tactics: The Azov Regiment, a Ukrainian partisan group, uses a controversial symbol and employs an undercover operative to infiltrate the Russian army, highlighting their determination and resourcefulness in the face of adversity.
The Azov Regiment, a Ukrainian partisan group, uses a Swastika-like symbol as a calling card, despite its association with Nazi ideology. They find the symbol appealing due to its ancient Ukrainian origins and its recognizability. However, this use puts the partisans at great risk, as the Russians view it as a sign of Nazi sympathies and have been known to torture and disappear those caught with the symbol. Despite this danger, the partisans continue to use it as a way to mark their territory and claim victories against Russian forces. A particularly intriguing aspect of their resistance is the infiltration of the Russian army by one of their own, codenamed Dimitri. This story was reluctantly shared with the interviewer and offers a compelling character-driven narrative within the larger context of the ongoing conflict.
Ukrainian Recruit's Risky Journey from Russian Army to Home: A Ukrainian man's life was put at risk when military intelligence targeted a Russian army base where he was stationed, illustrating the intricate and perilous nature of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The National Resistance Movement in Ukraine has a vetting process for new recruits, which includes background checks by military intelligence due to Russian infiltration attempts. A young Ukrainian man, who had lived in Russian-occupied Donbas for eight years, was able to join the Russian army by presenting himself at a recruiting station and undergoing two months of training. However, Ukrainian military intelligence identified a Russian army base where he was stationed as a potential target and made the difficult decision to strike it with a US-provided missile system, putting the man's life at risk. Despite being injured in the attack, he survived and is currently recovering in a Russian hospital. The story highlights the dangerous and complex nature of the conflict in Ukraine and the lengths both sides go to gain an advantage.
Ukrainian Partisan Saboteur's Inspiring Story: Ukrainian partisans, inspired by a man named Dmitry's story, continue their risky activities to undermine Russian forces, using cryptocurrency and occasional equipment drops for support.
The Ukrainian military intelligence is sharing inspiring stories of partisan activities, including a man named Dmitry, who crossed enemy lines to join the Russian army and now operates as a saboteur. The intelligence wants to encourage more volunteers to join the partisan movement, despite the risks, as they prepare for a counteroffensive against Russia. The partisans receive support through cryptocurrency wallets and occasional equipment drops, but cannot be paid large sums due to the risk of exposure. The Ukrainian military intelligence is also active in anonymous online communities, trying to inspire and encourage each other. The intelligence is not willing to discuss if these activities are happening in Russia, but there have been reports of assassinations and drone attacks inside Russia that suggest such operations.
Russian Loyalties Divided: Mutiny and Partisan Alliances: Despite the Kremlin's control, not all Russians blindly support the war in Ukraine. Some have defected and joined the Ukrainian side, while others have staged mutinies against the Russian military. These complexities challenge simplistic narratives and highlight the need for nuanced understanding of the conflict.
There are divided loyalties in Russia, and people are not blindly supporting the Kremlin. This was highlighted by the recent mutiny led by Yevgeny Prigozhin. Furthermore, there are Russian partisans working with Ukrainian military intelligence. As for Dimitri, a Russian soldier who has provided valuable information to the Ukrainians, he is expected to recover and potentially be deployed again, increasing his intelligence value. Ukrainian military intelligence joked about the possibility of his promotion due to his bravery and survival skills, which make him an asset for both sides. Overall, this conversation underscores the complexity of the conflict in Ukraine and the intricacies of the alliances and loyalties involved.
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