Listen to this tailored collection of podcast episodes to learn more about the war between Russia and Ukraine. From Dmytro Gurin's perspective as a serving Member of Parliament in Ukraine to Wolfgang Sporrer's in-depth perspective on the dramatic shifts that have shaped this ongoing conflict, Voices of War scratches below the simple narratives of the Russo-Ukrainian War through the voices of those who understand its complexities. Discover what Australian can learn about contemporary warfare from the ongoing conflict.
Dmytro Gurin – The View from Ukraine
Dmytro Gurin is a currently serving Member of Parliament in Ukraine. Dmytro is originally from Mariupol, the besieged city in south-eastern Ukraine that is capturing global headlines, where he spent his childhood and went to university. In the past, Dmytro spent more than a decade living in Moscow and is very familiar with Russian political and media machinations.
Some of the topics covered are: the general Russian orientation towards Ukraine, life in the besieged city of Mariupol, and what Ukraine needs from the West.
Duncan Spinner – The Fight for at-risk Ukrainians
Since 2015, Duncan Spinner has been working in Ukraine and for four years was the OSCE Head of Operations for Luhansk. Apart from sharing information on the current situation in Ukraine, this episode is also an appeal for your help in getting at-risk individuals out of harm’s way. As you’ll find out, Duncan and a small team of professionals are informally helping some of the most-vulnerable civilians whose lives are in grave danger.
Providing a snapshot of Duncan's extensive experience working in conflict affected nations. Some of the other topics covered are: questioning the Russian mindset, the reality of those fleeing Ukraine, and getting personal protective equipment to fighters in Ukraine.
Arne Dalhaug – On the Current Russia/Ukraine Crisis (Special Release)
Lieutenant General (Ret.) Arne Bård Dalhaug has had an extensive and distinguished career serving at the highest levels of the Norwegian Armed Forces, the Norwegian Ministry of Defence, as well as NATO. His several final postings in uniform as a three-star general include serving as the Chief of Defence Staff/Deputy Chief of Norwegian Armed Forces, as the Norwegian Military Representative to the NATO Military Committee, and as the Commandant at the NATO Defense College. After retiring from the military, Arne served for three years in a senior management position for the OSCE in the non-government-controlled area in eastern Donbas in Ukraine. Arne now works as an independent expert on NATO, Russia and conflicts in the post-Soviet domain.
During our conversation we covered topics such as: reasons behind President Vladimir Putin's actions, NATO cohesion and current posture, and impact of the media on the current crisis.
Wolfgang Sporrer – Providing Nuance to the Crisis in Ukraine (Special Episode)
Wolfgang Sporrer is an Adjunct Professor at the Hertie School in Berlin. He used to be the head of the Human Dimension Department of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission in Kyiv, where he lead the civilian aspects of conflict management and facilitated and promoted dialogue between the opposing sides.
Before that, he was the head of the international oil and gas company OMV's representation in the Caspian region, where he spearheaded regional efforts to promote the Southern Gas Corridor for the EU.
Previously, he served as the Head of the Europa House of the European Commission in Baku/Azerbaijan and as the Head of the Democratisation Department of the OSCE Presence in Albania. He also served as a political adviser in the EU delegation in Moscow and in several functions for the OSCE in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo.
Mike Martin & Arne Dalhaug – Update on the Russian Invasion of Ukraine
Dr Mike Martin and retired Lieutenant General Arne Bård Dalhaug have both provided regular commentary on the Russian invasion of Ukraine in regular and social media.
Mike is a former British Army Officer who subsequently completed his PhD studying war and conflict. He has published a number of books, including ‘An Intimate War’, still one of the go-to books on understanding Afghanistan, as well as ‘Why We Fight’, a book that explores root causes of human conflict and war.
Arne is a retired three-star general who was previously the Deputy Chief of Norwegian Armed Forces, served as the Norwegian Military Representative to the NATO Military Committee, and was the Commandant of the NATO Defense College. After retiring from the military, Arne served in a senior position for the OSCE in the non-government-controlled area in eastern Donbas in Ukraine.
Some of the topics covered are: the state of the Russian Army, the risk of nuclear war, and Ukrainian requirements to sustain combat operations.
Arne Dalhaug & Wolfgang Sporrer – On the War in Ukraine
Arne Bård Dalhaugh is a retired three-star Norwegian Army officer, who also served as a senior officer in NATO and, more-recently, as a senior leader at the OSCE in Ukraine. Wolfgang Sporrer is currently an Adjunct Professor at the Hertie School in Berlin and was recently the head of the Human Dimension Department of the OSCE in Ukraine.
They discuss the invasion, current crisis, and possible future outcomes. Some of the topics covered are: the reason behind Russian President Vladimir Putin's ultimate invasion, narrative control in Russia, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his communication skills.
