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Goalhanger

A history podcast that explores the narratives, turning points, and characters that shape conflicts, encompassing a blend of social and military history. Following on from the series on the Falklands War, best-selling military historians Patrick Bishop, Saul David, and Roger Moorhouse turn their attention every Friday to the war in Ukraine, and every Wednesday look back at the significant wars, events, and figures from conflicts around the world.

Goalhanger Podcasts

Battleground

A political earthquake has struck Budapest. After 16 years of dominance, Viktor Orbán and his Fidesz Party have been unseated in a resounding victory by Péter Magyar and the Tisza Party. With a historic 79% turnout and a two-thirds supermajority, the Hungarian landscape has been permanently altered—but what does this mean for the rest of the world?

In this comprehensive two-part special, host Patrick Bishop sits down with old friends and Hungarian experts Julius Strauss and Boldi Gyori to dissect a week that changed Europe.

We explore the sheer scale of the Tisza Party’s victory and how they overcame the "dirty tricks" of a quasi-autocracy. 

Julius and Boldi share the ground-level emotion of the election and analyse what we can expect from Péter Magyar—a former Fidesz stalwart turned revolutionary. 

We also examine the immediate ripples felt in Moscow, Brussels, and Washington.

Join the Conversation: If you have a question about the war in Ukraine or any of the conflicts we cover, email us at podbattleground@gmail.com

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Producer: James Hodgson

A Goalhanger Podcast

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391. The Hungarian Earthquake: The Fall of the Orbán Era

You can watch this video on Youtube here: https://youtu.be/Khbr9JD_q98

In this special episode from Ukraine, the Battleground team visits Odesa to document the devastating impact of Russia’s winter strategy on the city's critical infrastructure. 

We go inside a key electrical substation—one of over 40 hit by drone attacks—to witness firsthand the "horrendous" damage caused by waves of Shaheed drones and speak with the resilient workers keeping the lights on in freezing conditions.

The episode also explores the war's "harder to see" wounds through a visit to a discreet clinic in Odesa. There, we meet Olga, a former London-based professional who returned home to establish a unique rehabilitation centre. 

She shares her mission to treat the psychological trauma and physical scars of returning soldiers and their families, operating under extreme conditions where even the clinic’s location must remain a secret for safety.

If you would like to support Olga and her team you can do so here - https://www.caresukraine.com/vsesylini_donate/

Join the Conversation: If you have a question about the war in Ukraine or any of the conflicts we cover, email us at podbattleground@gmail.com

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Producer: James Hodgson

A Goalhanger Podcast
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

390. The Invisible Frontline: Power, Trauma, and Resilience in Odesa

In this episode of Battleground Ukraine, hosts Saul David and Roger Morehouse explore a series of significant developments that suggest a shifting tide in the conflict. 

Political Controversy in Budapest: A look at US Vice President JD Vance’s recent speech in Hungary, his support for Victor Orbán, and the implications of his "outrageous" claims regarding foreign electoral interference. 

Revolutionary Drone Warfare: For the first time in history, a drone-led operation—using the British-made Malloy T150—successfully brought down a Russian-held bridge over a tributary of the Dnipro River. 

Strategic Strikes on Russian Oil: Despite calls from allies to stop, Ukraine continues its precision strikes on Russian oil hubs and refineries, including targets near Moscow and the Baltic port of Primorsk, to choke off Russian war profits. 

MI6 Assessment & Frontline Success: With reports indicating that Ukraine’s defenses are at their most secure in 10 months, we analyze recent gains near Avdiivka and the impact of the stalling Russian spring-summer offensive. 

Systemic Brutality in the Russian Ranks: A deep dive into reports from The Economist regarding the horrific conditions, corruption, and exploitation faced by Russian soldiers at the front. 

Cybersecurity & "Cat Feeder" Comms: How Russian citizens are using creative methods—from Duolingo to video-enabled cat feeders—to bypass the Kremlin’s crackdown on VPNs and messaging apps. 

Saul and Roger also answer listener questions regarding the security of the Baltic states and the potential impact of a change in US administration on military aid.

Join the Conversation: If you have a question about the war in Ukraine or any of the conflicts we cover, email us at podbattleground@gmail.com

Follow us on:

X - @PodBattleground

Instagram - podbattleground

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Producer: James Hodgson

A Goalhanger Podcast
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

389. Drone Breakthroughs, Russian Oil Strikes, and JD Vance in Budapest

In this special episode, Saul David is joined by joined from Budapest by friends of the show Julius Strauss and Boldizsár Győri to analyse the high-stakes Hungarian election taking place this Sunday, April 12. 

With Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s 16-year grip on power facing a severe threat from challenger Péter Magyar and the Tisa party, the team investigates a "cemetery of skeletons" emerging from the ruling government.

The discussion uncovers explosive revelations, including hard evidence that the Hungarian Foreign Minister has acted as a Russian asset by leaking EU secrets directly to Moscow and lobbying for the removal of Russian oligarchs from sanctions lists. The hosts also explore reports of a thwarted Russian "false flag" assassination plot against Orbán and the discovery of explosives near the Serbian border designed to stir voter fear.

As the polls show the ruling Fidesz party trailing, the episode evaluates potential post-election scenarios, from the possibility of civil unrest and splits within the security forces to the broader implications for NATO and the EU. Finally, the team examines the global context of the race, including the impact of U.S. figures like JD Vance and how the escalating conflict in the Middle East is inadvertently bolstering Russia’s war chest through rising oil prices.

Join the Conversation: If you have a question about the war in Ukraine or any of the conflicts we cover, email us at podbattleground@gmail.com

Follow us on:

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Instagram - podbattleground

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Producer: James Hodgson

A Goalhanger Podcast
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

388. Hungary’s High-Stakes Election

In this edition of Battleground Ukraine, Roger Moorhouse and Patrick Bishop explore a week where the geography of the war has expanded significantly—both through daring long-range strikes and complex global diplomacy.

We begin with an analysis of Ukraine’s concerted offensive against Russian oil infrastructure in the Baltic. With repeated strikes on the Primorsk and Ust-Luga terminals, Kyiv is hitting the Kremlin where it hurts most: the wallet. We examine how these attacks are effectively neutralising the financial "boon" Putin hoped to reap from rising global oil prices following recent escalations in the Persian Gulf.

Later in the program, Patrick Bishop interviews author Julian Evans about his acclaimed book, Undefeatable: Odesa in Love and War.

Join the Conversation: If you have a question about the war in Ukraine or any of the conflicts we cover, email us at podbattleground@gmail.com

Follow us on:

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Producer: James Hodgson

A Goalhanger Podcast
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387. The Baltic Blitz: Dismantling Putin’s War Chest

In this instalment of our Special Forces series, Patrick Bishop and Saul David pivot from Allied triumphs to examine a daring operation from the "enemy" perspective: the 1943 rescue of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini.

Following the Allied invasion of Sicily and a vote of no confidence from his own council, Mussolini was arrested and whisked away to a remote ski resort 2,112 meters high in the Apennine Mountains. While the new Italian government hoped to use him as a bargaining chip, Adolf Hitler had other plans—ordering his "favourite commando," the scarred and imposing Otto Skorzeny, to spring his old ally from captivity.

In this episode, we deconstruct Operation Oak, exploring:

 
The Myth vs. The Reality: How Skorzeny, a master of self-promotion, elbowed his way into the limelight and took credit for an operation primarily executed by German paratroopers (Fallschirmjäger).

 
The Silent Approach: Why the Germans chose high-risk glider landings over traditional parachutes to achieve total silence and surprise.

 
A Propaganda Masterstroke: Why the rescue was ultimately a "damp squib" militarily, serving as a desperate PR stunt for a Nazi regime facing defeat on all fronts.

 
The Shadowy Afterlife: Skorzeny’s post-war exploits, from escaping internment to advising world leaders in Egypt and Argentina, and the chilling allegations of his work for Mossad.

Join us as we unmask the "most dangerous man in Europe" and reveal how a "special operation" was born more out of vanity and propaganda than strategic necessity.

Join the Conversation: If you have a question about the war in Ukraine or any of the conflicts we cover, email us at podbattleground@gmail.com

Follow us on:

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Producer: James Hodgson

A Goalhanger Podcast
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386. Otto Skorzeny and the Gran Sasso Raid

In this episode of the Battleground Podcast, Saul David and Roger Moorhouse analyse what appears to be a possible tipping point in the four-year-long Russo-Ukraine war. 

The discussion centres on the overwhelming effectiveness of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, led by Robert "Madyar" Brovdi, which is reportedly achieving a staggering kill ratio of 400 Russians for every one Ukrainian at a remarkably low material cost. This drone-led strategy has expanded the "kill zone" up to 93 miles behind the front lines, effectively breaking the rhythm of Russian offensive operations and forcing the Kremlin to face unsustainable casualty rates.

The hosts also examine the growing internal instability within Russia, highlighted by the arrest of former loyalist mil-blogger Ilya Remeslo and the expansion of state-sanctioned internet blackouts to St. Petersburg. These moves suggest a desperate attempt by the Putin regime to stifle dissent and prepare for wider conscription as recruitment struggles persist. 

Additionally, they explore the geopolitical impact of the conflict in Iran, where fluctuating oil prices and potential U.S. military manoeuvres under Donald Trump continue to influence Russia’s war economy.

Join the Conversation: If you have a question about the war in Ukraine or any of the conflicts we cover, email us at podbattleground@gmail.com

Follow us on:

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Producer: James Hodgson

A Goalhanger Podcast
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

385. Swapping Plastic for Metal: The New Economics of Warfare

If you would like to watch this podcast you can watch it on Spotify or you can find it on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/@BattlegroundUkraine

In this special on-the-ground edition of Battleground Special Forces, Saul David and Julius Strauss travel to the outskirts of Kharkiv and Kyiv to examine the catastrophic opening hours of the 2022 Russian invasion. 

Through eyewitness accounts and visits to the sites of intense urban combat, they reconstruct how Russia’s most elite units—the GRU-trained Spetsnaz and the VDV Airborne—faced fierce resistance that derailed the Kremlin’s "two-day" victory plan. 

This episode features:

• The Siege of School 134: A detailed look at the 13-hour gun battle in Kharkiv where dozens of elite Spetsnaz soldiers made a final, hubristic stand before the building was destroyed by a gas explosion. 

• The Battle for Hostomel (Antonov) Airport: The strategic "linchpin" operation involving helicopter assaults and a desperate back-and-forth struggle for the gateway to Kyiv. 

• The Human Cost in Bucha: A somber visit to the Bucha cemetery, where the rows of civilian victims bear witness to the 32-day Russian occupation. 

Join Saul and Julius as they explore the "battlefield detritus" and the layers of history in a region still caught between recovery and the ongoing realities of war. 

Julius Strauss writes the blog Back from the Front and also owns and runs Wild Bear Lodge, a bear-viewing lodge, in Canada. Here are the hyperlinks:

Substack: https://backfromthefront.substack.com/

Wild Bear Lodge: https://wildbearlodge.ca/

Join the Conversation: If you have a question about the war in Ukraine or any of the conflicts we cover, email us at podbattleground@gmail.com

Follow us on:

X - @PodBattleground

Instagram - podbattleground

Producer: James Hodgson

A Goalhanger Podcast
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

384. Hubris at the Gates: The Fall of Russia's Elite

The Battleground team returns to Ukraine to witness how a whirlwind year of shifting geopolitics and a brutal winter have transformed the nation. 

On our first day in Odesa, hosts Saul David and Julius Strauss explore a city that remains a stunning architectural gateway to the country, despite being a primary target for Russian drones and missiles.

In this episode, we sit down with friend of the podcast, Boldizsar Gyori, to discuss Odesa’s complex history and its critical role as the port that keeps the Ukrainian economy afloat through the grain corridor. 

We also hear two deeply moving firsthand accounts from two young Ukrainian women, Katerina and Tatyana, who share their harrowing experiences living under occupation in Kherson and Bucha.

If you would like to watch this podcast you can watch it on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/@BattlegroundUkraine

Julius Strauss writes the blog Back from the Front and also owns and runs Wild Bear Lodge, a bear-viewing lodge, in Canada. Here are the hyperlinks:

Substack: https://backfromthefront.substack.com/

Wild Bear Lodge: https://wildbearlodge.ca/

Join the Conversation: If you have a question about the war in Ukraine or any of the conflicts we cover, email us at podbattleground@gmail.com

Follow us on:

X - @PodBattleground

Instagram - podbattleground

Producer: James Hodgson

A Goalhanger Podcast
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

383. Odesa Mama, Port of War & Surviving Russian Occupation

As the war between America, Israel, and Iran escalates, the ripple effects are being felt acutely in Ukraine. 

In this episode, Patrick and Saul analyse the "extraordinary diplomatic developments" emerging from the White House, where President Trump appears to be equating Western support for Ukraine with Russian support for a repressive Iranian theocracy.

Meanwhile, Saul provides a firsthand update following his recent trip to the front lines, and on the ground in Ukraine, we separate fact from fiction regarding General Gerasimov’s latest claims of Russian breakthroughs, contrasting them with the reality of "kill zones" and the successful liberation of territory in Zaporizhzhya.

Finally, we answer your questions on the persistent rumours of Yevgeny Prigozhin’s survival, whether the West can truly bankrupt Russia’s "shadow fleet" as oil prices soar, and more. 

Join the Conversation: If you have a question about the war in Ukraine or any of the conflicts we cover, email us at podbattleground@gmail.com 

Follow us on: 

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Instagram - podbattleground

Producer: James Hodgson

A Goalhanger Podcast
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

387. The Baltic Blitz: Dismantling Putin’s War Chest

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