Moscow's strategic objective has long been to neutralise the United States as an obstacle to Russian power by attacking the cohesion, confidence, institutions and decision-making capacity of American society itself. This is the argument behind Keir Giles’ latest book, American Overthrow (2026).----------Keir Giles has spent his career watching, studying, and explaining Russia, which is fortuitous, as Russia has reemerged as an aggressive and malign peer adversary in the 21st century. Keir is a British specialist on Russian strategy, information warfare, cyber conflict and non-military power projection. He is currently an Associate Fellow in Chatham House's Russia and Eurasia Programme and has supported its Russia research since 2013. He also leads the independent Conflict Studies Research Centre (CSRC), which he has directed since 2010. Earlier in his career he worked for the BBC Monitoring Service and with the UK Defence Academy, researching Russian military doctrine, security policy, cyber and information warfare and Russia's relations with neighbouring states.----------BOOKS:American Overthrow: Moscow’s Endgame in Its Long War with Washington (2026) Who Will Defend Europe? An Awakened Russia and a Sleeping Continent (2024)Russia's War on Everybody: And What it Means for You (2022)Moscow Rules: What Drives Russia to Confront the West (2019)The Turning Point for Russian Foreign Policy (2017)The State of the NATO-Russia Reset (2011)Potential Challenges to Public Order and Social Stability in the Russian Federation (2011)----------LINKS: https://www.chathamhouse.org/about-us/our-people/keir-gileshttps://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=7Bs89WMAAAAJhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keir_Gileshttps://icds.ee/en/author/keir-giles-3/https://www.linkedin.com/in/keir-giles-499a489/ https://www.coleurope.eu/keir-giles ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Car4Ukrainehttps://car4ukraine.com/en-US/campaignsDzyga's Pawhttps://dzygaspaw.com/projectsSuperhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/----------PLATFORMS:Substack: https://substack.com/@siliconcurtainTwitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSiliconLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqm----------

Silicon Bites Ep396 | 2026-09-07 | Kyiv's spy agencies opened fire on each other. Forty-eight hours later a Russian drone flew into the office of the SBU chief. These are unprecedented events. Moscow thinks it is watching a state come apart. And Moscow trolls and Kremlin aligned analysts, agents and useful idiots are having a field day. But Ukraine stands and is not collapsing from within – it’s just having a bad, a very bad, day. But better days will come, as Moscow reaps the consequences of its relentless aggression. ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.org----------SOURCES:Kyiv Independent — Zelensky dismisses high-ranking SBU official, demands investigation after shootout between Ukraine's security services in Kyiv — https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-prevents-fsb-plot-against-russian-opposition-figure/Kyiv Independent — Fallout from 'disgraceful' HUR, SBU shootout deepens with more FSB accusations, denials — https://kyivindependent.com/sbu-accuses-russian-volunteer-corps-deputy-commander-of-fsb-ties-as-he-alleges-threats-in-secret-detention/RFE/RL — Alleged Confession Video Raises More Questions About Ukrainian Security Agencies' Shoot-Out — https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-kyiv-gunfire-security-agencies-russia-war/33846889.htmlAl Jazeera — Ukrainian intel agencies in Kyiv firefight: What happened and why? — https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/3/ukrainian-intel-agencies-in-kyiv-firefight-what-happened-and-whyUkrainska Pravda (English) — Deputy commander of Russian Volunteer Corps claims Ukraine's Security Service tried to use his testimony to discredit head of President's Office — https://pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2026/09/03/8051736Kyiv Post — Kyiv Shootout Between SBU and HUR – What We Know — https://www.kyivpost.com/post/83582Kyiv Post — SBU, HUR Offer Conflicting Accounts Over Kyiv Shootout — https://www.kyivpost.com/post/83687Kyiv Post — Zelensky Orders Dismissal of SBU, HUR Deputy Chiefs Over Shootout in Kyiv — https://www.kyivpost.com/post/83702The Moscow Times — Ukraine's SBU Accuses Russian Volunteer Corps Commander of Plotting to Kill Opposition Figure — https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/03/ukraines-sbu-accuses-russian-volunteer-corps-commander-of-plotting-to-kill-opposition-figure-a93634NV (New Voice of Ukraine) — SBU alleges Kaplunov planned FSB-ordered killing of Russian opposition figure — https://english.nv.ua/nation/sbu-accuses-kaplunov-of-plotting-fsb-assassination-of-russian-opposition-figure-50638130.htmlUNN — Deputy heads of the SBU and the HUR will be dismissed — Zelenskyy on the shootout in Kyiv — https://unn.ua/en/news/deputy-heads-of-the-sbu-and-the-hur-will-be-dismissed-zelenskyy-on-the-shootout-in-kyiv----------

Oleksandra Chorna is a Blogger and Therapist based in New York. She runs platforms including on YouTube focusing on democratic politics, authoritarian slide, and Ukraine's struggle to remain independent in the face of Russian aggression. ----------LINKS:https://www.youtube.com/@UC9WVWN8qNEiy2CofIUW9Zpw https://www.instagram.com/mom_ocracy/https://www.linkedin.com/in/oleksandra-chorna-30b9088/----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Car4Ukrainehttps://car4ukraine.com/en-US/campaignsDzyga's Pawhttps://dzygaspaw.com/projectsSuperhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/----------PLATFORMS:Substack: https://substack.com/@siliconcurtainTwitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSiliconLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqm----------

YURI RASHKIN LINKS:https://www.youtube.com/@rashkinreportinenglishhttps://www.youtube.com/@RashkinReport/https://rashkinreport.substack.com/https://www.facebook.com/rashkin/https://www.instagram.com/yurirashkin/----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/iwihttps://www.patreon.com/iwi----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyslhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------PLATFORMS:Twitter: https://twitter.com/iwiInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwi/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/iwiPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/iwiBuy me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/iwi----------

Silicon Bites Ep397 | 2026-09-10 | Putin switched the terror off, in Kyiv at least, for a short period of time, and across a narrow corridor of space. Once more demonstrating that he has full control over the taps of terror – he can turn them on and off at will. The zombie empire that Russia has become is entirely tuned to his pathological will, and like a loyal, murderous machine it faithfully carries out his orders to inflict murder and mayhem, pain and destruction. Only by eliminating Putin is there any hope of ending this slaughter. This should be clear to all but apparently is not. ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.org----------SOURCES:Kyiv Post — "Journalist Challenges Trump Envoy Witkoff Over Putin Meetings: 'Don't You Find It Disgusting?'", 7 Sept 2026 Kyiv Post (Lesia Dubenko) — "Witkoff and Kushner Get Confronted in Kyiv", 7 Sept 2026 HuffPost UK — "Trump's Envoys Spark Fury As They Advocate For Putin While In Ukraine", 7 Sept 2026 Kremlin (en.kremlin.ru) — official transcript, "Meeting with US President's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner", 5 Sept 2026 CNN — "Witkoff confident of 'good resolution' after Kyiv meeting, as US pushes for trilateral talks with Russia", 6 Sept 2026 CNN — "Witkoff and Kushner to take US peace push to Kyiv after meeting Putin in Moscow", 5 Sept 2026 ABC News — "Witkoff hails 'very meaningful discussions' on Ukraine-Russia war in Sunday meeting with Zelenskyy", 6 Sept 2026Axios — "Trump envoys Witkoff, Kushner meet Zelensky in Kyiv for Ukraine peace talks", 6 Sept 2026 CNBC / AP — "Witkoff and Kushner in Moscow for Russia and Ukraine peace talks", 5 Sept 2026 NBC News — "U.S. envoys Witkoff and Kushner arrive in Kyiv after peace talks in Moscow", 6 Sept 2026 Kyiv Independent — "Russian drone strikes SBU headquarters in central Kyiv, injuring at least 12", 4 Sept 2026 CNN — "Russia strikes Ukraine Security Service headquarters in central Kyiv", 4 Sept 2026 PBS NewsHour / AP — "Russian drone strikes Ukraine security service headquarters as U.S. talks on the war are expected", 4 Sept 2026 Julia Davis (@JuliaDavisNews), X, 5 Sept 2026 — Russian state TV panel reaction, "Bolek and Lolek"; and Bluesky post by @maks23 on the commemorative coins, compiled at Daily Kos, 6 Sept 2026WarTranslated (@wartranslated), X, 6 Sept 2026 — video and translation of Gordon's question ----------

Valeria Kovtun is was formerly Head at Filter, the National media literacy project founded in Ukraine. She also worked as a journalist at BBC Reel and has been a senior correspondent at major Ukrainian media organisations, and a fellow journalist at the United Nations. She also has a background in video production, content management and news broadcasting. Valeria Kovtun studied law, Media Communications, and journalism at several prestigious institutions, including the Kyiv National Economics University, the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, and the LSE.----------LINKS:https://twitter.com/valerie_kov?lang=enhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/valeria-kovtun-76b13517a/----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Car4Ukrainehttps://car4ukraine.com/en-US/campaignsDzyga's Pawhttps://dzygaspaw.com/projectsSuperhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/----------PLATFORMS:Substack: https://substack.com/@siliconcurtainTwitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSiliconLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqm----------

Silicon Bites Ep389 | 2026-08-25 | The marketplace economy was Russia's one modern achievement. Ukraine is burning it down. But this is not recreational, for fun (as one British newspaper implied). It is intentional, targeted and strategic. This is wartime infrastructure, as much as it is civilian – with its revenue powering the war economy and its shelves stocking military equipment for the SVO. After Ukrainian units hit the fifteen largest logistics hubs of Wildberries — it is now Ozon's turn. These are the words of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence, published on Saturday. Less a threat, more a schedule and statement of intent. Ukraine is no longer conducting individual strikes but executing on a strategic plan with consequences. It finished with the marketplace leader, Wildberries, and it has moved to number two. It is telling the Russian business class, in advance, in public, which door it is coming through next. And on Monday morning, the market answered. Ozon's shares dropped as much as twelve percent on the Moscow Exchange.----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.org----------SOURCES:AFP via France 24 — "After Wildberries, Ukraine launches drone campaign on Russia's Ozon," 23 August 2026 — https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20260823-after-wildberries-ukraine-launches-drone-campaign-on-russia-s-ozonEuronews — "Ukraine launches drone strikes on Russian e-commerce giant Ozon," 24 August 2026 — https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2026/08/24/ukraine-launches-drone-strikes-on-russian-e-commerce-giant-ozonReuters via CNBC — "Ukrainian drones hit warehouse of Russian online retailer Ozon," 22 August 2026 — https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/22/ukrainian-drones-hit-warehouse-of-russian-online-retailer-ozon.htmlThe Moscow Times — "Ukrainian Drone Attacks Kill Multiple People Across Russia, Hit Ozon Warehouse," 22 August 2026 — https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/08/22/ukrainian-drone-attacks-kill-multiple-people-across-russia-hit-ozon-warehouse-a93559Ukrainska Pravda — "Ukrainian forces strike Ozon logistics hub in Russia for first time," 22 August 2026 — https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2026/08/22/8049776/Militarnyi — "Ukraine Struck Ozon Warehouse for the First Time and Attacked an Oil Refinery in Samara Region," 22 August 2026 — https://militarnyi.com/en/news/ukraine-struck-ozon-warehouse-for-the-first-time-and-attacked-an-oil-refinery-in-samara-region/Euromaidan Press — "Ukrainian drones hit warehouse belonging to Russian online retailer Ozon for the first time," 22 August 2026 — https://euromaidanpress.com/2026/08/22/ukraine-drones-ozon-warehouse-first-strike/UNITED24 Media — "Ukrainian Drones Rip Into Ozon Logistics Center and Novokuybyshevsk Oil Refinery," 22 August 2026 — https://united24media.com/war-in-ukraine/ukrainian-drones-rip-into-ozon-logistics-center-and-novokuybyshevsk-oil-refinery-21899UAWire — "Ozon warehouse attacked for the first time in Russia after a series of strikes on Wildberries," 22 August 2026 — https://www.uawire.org/ozon-warehouse-attacked-for-the-first-time-in-russia-after-a-series-of-strikes-on-wildberries----------

Kyiv of Mine : Chapter 4 – The light that remains - just released to coincide with Independence Day here in Ukraine. This is a must watch!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kOTmNxKRnYhttps://www.youtube.com/@KyivOfMinehttps://www.kyivofmine.com/----------“Help DW and the team at Ukraine Story provide portable power banks to mobile air defense and victims of Russian strikes, learn more and donate at https://www.ukrainestory.org/donate Password: DefendKyivKYIV OF MINE is an unfolding story captured over many years: the story of a city of dreams and a people of hope before, during, and after Russia's full-scale invasion.----------⁠It was a brutal winter, and another cold season is already on the horizon. More than four years into the full-scale invasion, the war has left its mark. In this fourth chapter of KYIV OF MINE, we return to the people living through it and to the traumatic ways life, hope and resilience have changed.Chapter 1 – The Ukrainian Dream" • Kyiv of Mine : Chapter 1Chapter 2 – "It'll be over in three days" • Kyiv of Mine : Chapter 2Chapter 3 – "Holding onto the summer" • Kyiv of Mine : Chapter 3The film series is dedicated to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.Below are links to some trustworthy organizations in need of funds to continue supporting and caring for the people of Ukraine and saving lives:https://u24.gov.ua/https://savelife.in.ua/en/https://www.hospitallers.org.uk/https://prytulafoundation.org/en/More information: https://www.kyivofmine.com/----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Car4Ukrainehttps://car4ukraine.com/en-US/campaignsDzyga's Pawhttps://dzygaspaw.com/projectsSuperhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/----------PLATFORMS:Substack: https://substack.com/@siliconcurtainTwitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSiliconLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqm----------