Kremlin File

In this must-listen-to episode, Olga and Mo are joined by Eto Buziashvili for a deep dive into Russia's sophisticated information warfare operations/tactics and the profound implications for global democracy and security. They discuss the pivotal role played by Western propagandists in magnifying the reach and impact of Russian disinformation operations. They also delve into the strategic objectives behind Russia's efforts to wield information as a weapon, aiming to fracture and destabilize Western societies, and discuss the complexities of narrative warfare, where truth and falsehood blur, shaping a battleground to manipulate public perception and sow division. Eto Buziashvili is a research associate for the Caucasus at the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab). Eto researches influence operations and social media manipulation, with a focus on Russia, Ukraine, Eastern Europe, and the South Caucasus. Prior to the DFRLab, Eto advised the National Security Council of Georgia and was involved in developing strategic documents. Before joining the NSC, Eto worked as a senior analyst at the country’s Ministry of Interior, where she covered security issues related to Russia and the occupied regions of Georgia. In her role as a senior analyst, she was one of the negotiators at the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) through which Russian officials and separatist leaders from the occupied regions of Georgia addressed the consequences of the 2008 Russian-Georgian War. Eto graduated from the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP) and the University of Geneva with an MA in International and European Security. Show notes and links to Eto's latest research are available at https://kremlinfile.substack.com/ Executive Producer: Oreste Camarra Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kremlin File’s Week in Review is out. It covers the most impactful Russian-related news stories affecting Ukraine, Europe, and the United States. Delve into the headlines often overlooked, which shed light on Russia's aggressions, intelligence activities, assassinations, espionage, and beyond. We welcome questions, episode suggestions and comments, which we are happy to mention in Week in Review. Reach out on Kremlin File on Substack or DMs on X. Don't miss out on Kremlin File's interview with distinguished guests which are released every Thursday. Kremlin File Executive Producer: Oreste Camarra Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Olga and Mo are joined by Natia Seskuria, director of RISS, a think tank dedicated to defence and security issues, and in partnership with RUSI, in a two-part chat to talk about.... Learn more about Natia Seskuria, and her featured works at Kremlin File on Substack. And look out for clips of our guests and Kremlin File's Week in Review on YouTube. Executive producer: Oreste Camarra Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kremlin File’s Week in Review is out. It covers the most impactful Russian-related news stories affecting Ukraine, Europe, and the United States. Delve into the headlines often overlooked, which shed light on Russia's aggressions, intelligence activities, assassinations, espionage, and beyond. We welcome questions, episode suggestions and comments, which we are happy to mention in Week in Review. Reach out on Kremlin File on Substack or DMs on X. Don't miss out on Kremlin File's interview with distinguished guests which are released every Thursday. Kremlin File Executive Producer: Oreste Camarra Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Olga and Mo are joined by Natia Seskuria, director of RISS, a think tank dedicated to defence and security issues, and in partnership with RUSI, in a two-part chat to talk about.... Learn more about Natia Seskuria, and her featured works at Kremlin File on Substack. And look out for clips of our guests and Kremlin File's Week in Review on YouTube. Executive producer: Oreste Camarra Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kremlin File’s Week in Review covers the most impactful Russian-related news stories affecting Ukraine, Europe, and the United States. Delve into the headlines often overlooked, which shed light on Russia's aggressions, intelligence activities, assassinations, espionage, and beyond. Don't miss out on the latest edition of Kremlin File's Week in Review, airing every Friday on YouTube! Visit Kremlin File on Substack for the show notes and links to the stories featured in the episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join Olga and Mo as they explore the intricate world of Russian oligarchs, known as Kremligarchs, with special guest Ilya Zaslavskiy. Together, they delve into the influential role these figures play as the Kremlin's frontmen, shaping global affairs and executing operations worldwide on behalf of the Kremlin. The episode analyzes recent sanctions imposed by the United States and Europe against Russia and discusses potential targets for further measures. From Abramovich to Blavatnik, the hosts examine key Kremligarchs and their multifaceted activities, shedding light on their functions within the Kremlin and their global operations. They also dissect the sophisticated tactics used by these Kremligarchs to whitewash their reputation amidst heightened scrutiny. Tune in to uncover the secrets of Russia's shadowy power players and their impact on global politics in this revealing episode. This is Part 2 of a two-part episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join Olga and Mo as they explore the intricate world of Russian oligarchs, known as Kremligarchs, with special guest Ilya Zaslavskiy. Together, they delve into the influential role these figures play as the Kremlin's frontmen, shaping global affairs and executing operations worldwide on behalf of the Kremlin. The episode analyzes recent sanctions imposed by the United States and Europe against Russia and discusses potential targets for further measures. From Abramovich to Blavatnik, the hosts examine key Kremligarchs and their multifaceted activities, shedding light on their functions within the Kremlin and their global operations. They also dissect the sophisticated tactics used by these Kremligarchs to whitewash their reputation amidst heightened scrutiny. Tune in to uncover the secrets of Russia's shadowy power players and their impact on global politics in this revealing episode. This is Part 1 of a two-part episode! For show notes visit https://kremlinfile.substack.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join Mo and Olga as they recap the most impactful Russian-related news stories affecting Ukraine, Europe, and the United States. Delve into the headlines often overlooked, which shed light on Russia's aggressions, intelligence activities, assassinations, espionage, and beyond. Don't miss out on the latest edition of Kremlin File's Week in Review, airing every Saturday! Visit Kremlin File Substack for show notes, all episodes, and announcements. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Neil Barnett joins Olga and Mo to delve into the multifaceted challenges posed by Russia's aggressive tactics on the global stage, particularly focusing on its operations against NATO, support for far-right groups, and manipulation of proxies like Viktor Orban. We examine Russia's financial and logistical support for far-right groups across Europe and the US, discussing the implications for global security and political stability. Neil Barnett is the founder and CEO of Istok Associates, a London-based intelligence and investigation consultancy. For show notes visit https://kremlinfile.substack.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join Mo and Olga as they recap the most impactful Russian-related news stories affecting Ukraine, Europe, and the United States. Delve into the headlines often overlooked, which shed light on Russia's aggressions, intelligence activities, assassinations, espionage, and beyond. Don't miss out on the latest edition of Kremlin File's Week in Review, airing every Saturday! Visit Kremlin File Substack for show notes, all episodes, and announcements. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Olga and Mo are joined by David Frum, senior editor at The Atlantic and author of "Trumpocalypse: Restoring American Democracy" (HarperCollins, Jan. 2020), to delve into the intricate interplay between American politics and its ramifications on the global stage. Exploring the ripple effects of the current state of affairs, we examine the security challenges facing Ukraine and their implications for Europe and the United States. David Frum at the Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/author/david-frum/ David Frum on X: @davidfrum We're always happy to receive suggestions, questions, and comments at: monique.camarra@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join Mo and Olga as they recap the most impactful Russian-related news stories affecting Ukraine, Europe, and the United States. Delve into the headlines often overlooked, which shed light on Russia's aggressions, intelligence activities, assassinations, espionage, and beyond. Don't miss out on the latest edition of Kremlin File's Week in Review, airing every Saturday! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kremlin File meets Gaslit Nation! Olga and Mo are joined by journalist, filmmaker, and activist, Andrea Chalupa, who is also the host of the famed podcast, Gaslit Nation. Current affairs in Russia's criminal war against Ukraine, developments in Russia, the U.S. congressional deadlock, and the ridiculous GOP electoral campaign are the issues Olga, Mo, and Andrea intertwine into a free and feisty conversation. Hop over to Gaslit Nation's latest episodes: https://www.gaslitnationpod.com/episodes-transcripts We welcome quesitons and comments about the episode and any suggestions for future content. Please feel free to write to us at: monique.camarra@gmail.com Stop by at Kremlin File's YouTube channel for clips and don't forget to subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMfMaTV7GkmQ7sIEW1wf12A Our thanks to our producer: Oreste Camarra Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Olga and Mo catch up with Ukraine with Maria Avdeeva, expert in security issues and strategic communications. Ukraine is fighting a war on various fronts, including every day governance and progressing towards accession to the EU. Maria talks about various aspects of civilian life, and the dire situation in the temporarily occupied territories. Follow Maria on X: https://twitter.com/maria_avdv Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Olga and Mo are joined by Ruslan Trad, a Resident Fellow for Security Research at the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab), who specialises in Eurasia, Syria, conflicts, hybrid warfare, and mercenary groups. Russia’s war against Ukraine has many facets: the importance of the Black Sea and security in the region, the dark history of the Wagner irregular troops and how they are connected to the Russian Ministry of Defence, and other entities such as the Russian Orthodox Church as well. Join us as we chat with Ruslan about these, Russian imperialism, and many other issues regarding hybrid warfare and its development over the course of Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/KremlinFile Follow Rusland on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ruslantrad NEW: Send us your questions and comments which we wil be addressing in our weekly episodes. Contact: monique.camarra@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Olga & Mo are joined by Lt Col Jahara "FRANKY" Matisek to discuss the increasing and alarming utilization of asymmetric warfare by countries such as Russia, China, and Iran to destabilize Western democracies and key institutions, the transformation of warfare, Russia's disinformation operations, and Ukraine's ongoing counter-offensive. Lt Col Jahara Matisek is a US Air Force Pilot who goes by his callsign “FRANKY” - he has a Ph.D. in political science from Northwestern University and is currently a Military Professor at the US Naval War College. FRANKY has published over 90 articles on strategy, security assistance, and information warfare. FRANKY’s 2022 book, Old and New Battlespaces, identifies how adversaries attack the West in the Information Age and how everything is becoming weaponized as everyone becomes a combatant. FRANKY is also a Fellow with the Irregular Warfare Initiative. Twitter: @JaharaMatisek Website: https://usnwc.edu/Faculty-and-Departments/Directory/Jahara-Franky-Matisek FRANKY's work: Shades of Gray Deterrence: Issues of Fighting in the Gray Zone Ukraine’s Hidden Advantage: How European Trainers Have Transformed Kyiv’s Army and Changed the War Old and New Battlespaces: Society, Military Power, and War New: Listener Questions If you have any questions or comments, please send them in as we'll answer them every week on the podcast. Write to us at: monique.camarra@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Olga and Mo are joined by Paul Niland and Daria Kaleniuk to continue their exploration of hybrid warfare. They discuss how Ukraine became the testing ground for Putin’s campaign against the west, only to emerge as the standard-bearer in the fight against corruption. Daria Kaleniuk is co-founder and executive director of the Anti-Corruption Action Center, a powerful national organization that has shaped Ukraine's anti-corruption legislation and efforts. Daria's organization ensured that Ukraine’s newly elected parliament designed strong anti-corruption legislation, including the laws on the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine, the special anti-corruption prosecutor’s office, High Anticorruption Court, open property registers and electronic asset declarations. Daria has also founded critical resources to track money laundering and corruption internationally, specifically first known public register of national politically exposed persons. She is co-founder of international Democracy in Action conference hold annually in Ukraine seeking solutions to global threats to democracy. Twitter: @dkaleniuk Facebook: @dkaleniuk Site: antac.org.ua/en/ Democracy in Action conference: zerocc.org Register of politically exposed persons: pep.org.ua Paul Niland is a businessman, writer, and political commentator. His passion for Ukraine stems from his involvement in the revolutions of 2004/5 and 2013/4, and his writings about Ukraine are often focused on helping the international community better understand the reasons for and background behind the ongoing war in the Donbas, as well as Ukraine in general. Paul is the Founder at Lifeline Ukraine, the country's first, national, professional, 24/7 suicide prevention and mental health support service. Initially, Lifeline Ukraine was established to address one of the most serious questions in Ukraine today, the heartbreaking suicide rate in Ukraine's veterans community. Twitter: @PaulNiland Website: lifelineukraine.com/ KremlinFile.com Olga's twitter: @OlgaNYC1211 Mo's twitter: @MoniqueCamarra MeidasTouch + bunker crew Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Olga and Mo are joined by David McCloskey, former CIA analyst and expert on the Middle East, author of Damascus Station and Moscow X to talk about Assad's regime in Syria, the protest movement there and how the Assad regime cracked down on the Syria population as well as Russia's role and activities there. In the second half of the conversation, David talks about Russian spying in the US, and his take on Russia's strategy in Ukraine and how to take on the influx of Russian spies on American soil. David's latest, Moscow X, is now available, and promises to be a fabulous read as it fits in well with our battle with Putin and his criminal regime. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this special Bonus Episode, Olga and Mo talked with Nathalie Vogel, Research Fellow at IWP's Centre for Intermarium Studies, about Russian active measures in Germany and how the BND is handling them. Nathalie also explained what challenges the BND and other Germany intelligence agencies face at home concerning intelligence gathering and bureaucratic issues that hamper their efforts. Nathalie's analysis is regularly cited in the international press. Please consult Kremlin File on Substack for the latest articles featuring Nathalie's assessments, and follow her on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/natvogel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Olga and Mo are joined by Nathalie Vogel--Research Fellow at the Institute of World Politics, at the Centre for Intermarium Studies--whose expertise regarding Russian networks is vital to understanding how they operate, who is involved, and what their strategic goals are. In this episode, Nathalie takes us into the world of Russian recruitment methodology and strategy, and specific cases that illustrate how far Russia has penetrated our institutions and third sector. Nathalie's work has been cited across international media, such as VOA, and sector specific publications. You can reach out to her N@Vogel on Twitter (now X), and at: The Centre for Intermarium Studies at IWP: https://www.iwp.edu/center-for-intermarium-studies/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Olga and Mo speak with Julia Davis, a Russian propaganda specialist and the woman behind the Russian Media Monitor about the machinery behind Russian propaganda and how it is disseminated to audiences in Russia and the West. We get the low down on the current narratives and how they have changed from the past, and how Russian propagandists reacted to the Prigozhin saga and much much more. Julia Davis: "It doesn't matter whether you care about Russia or not. Russia cares about you." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Olga and Mo take an indepth view of Ukraine's counteroffensive with Francis Farrell, war reporter with The Kyiv Independent. We also touch on his investigation into Hungary's role in the POW exchange scandal, and what to watch for in the next few months on the various fronts of the Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Olga and Mo speak with Evelyn Farkas about the greater geopolitical implications of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, and why sustained support for Ukraine's defense is vital to the United States, all members of NATO, and the international community. Evelyn Farkas served as the former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia/Ukraine/Eurasia and is a foreign policy analyst. She is the current executive director of the McCain Institute. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Since Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine, it has faced unprecedented sanctions. Yet Russia has been able to obtain western military components and tech at pre-invasion levels. How is this possible? Which countries are assisting Russia in obtaining tech and parts, and what are the routes for this trade? More importantly, what can we do about it? These are the questions Olga and Monique tackle with Denys Hutyk in this week’s episode of Kremlin File. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kremlin File kicks off season 3 with David Kramer as Mo and Olga discuss the state of Russia's brutal failed war, where Ukraine's allies stand, the signs of Russia's collapse, Wagner's failed coup, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Olga and Mo are back for season 3 of Kremlin File hosts with returning guest David Kramer for an update on Ukraine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Enjoy this week's episode of EUROFILE with our very own Monique Camarra and Scott Lucas for a deep dive on Brexit. Subscribe to EuroFile on Mo's substack: https://camarra.substack.com/ SCOTT LUCAS https://eaworldview.com/ Kremlin File Season 3 returning soon! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

KF BONUS DROP - EuroFile with Rula Jebreal Enjoy this week's episode of EUROFILE with Monique Camarra and co-host Scott Lucas, who are joined by Rula Jebreal. Rula is a foreign policy analyst, journalist, novelist and screenwriter, who is now a visiting professor at the University of Miami, where she lectures on Propaganda, Persuasion and Genocide. As a journalist, Rula was the first in the history of Italian television to anchor the evening news. She worked for Italy’s La7 and Rai News 24. Rula was also an analyst and journalist on Italian TV 12 years, and we were sorry to see you go Rula. Her work has been published in the NYT, Foreign Policy, WaPo, the Daily Beast and in many other national and international publications. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

KF BONUS DROP - EuroFile with Marley Clements (QANON: Search for Q) Enjoy this week's episode of EUROFILE with Monique Camarra and co-host Scott Lucas, who are joined by Marley Clements to discuss her Vice TV series “QANON: The Search for Q” and Season 2 premiering tonight! Subscribe to EuroFile on Mo's substack: https://camarra.substack.com/ MARLEY CLEMENTS is a documentary filmmaker and political strategist focusing particularly on issues of disinformation and hybrid warfare tactics. She is the co-creator and host of the VICE documentary series QAnon: The Search for Q and the writer/producer of the 2018 hit-documentary Active Measures, about a decades-long covert political war being waged by the Kremlin on democracies around the globe. She has been a featured speaker at Yale’s Jackson School for International Affairs, European Parliament, University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics, and a variety of other globally recognized institutions. Prior to making films, Marley worked in various capacities at think tanks, and advocacy organizations, including the Brookings Institution, PolicyLink, and the Laborers’ Union. https://twitter.com/marleydclements Kremlin File Season 3 returns mid-September! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Enjoy this week's episode of EUROFILE with our very own Monique Camarra and her co-host Scott Lucas! Mo and Scott are joined by OLGA TOKARIUK & ALEXANDER KHARA on the ground in Ukraine. Subscribe to EuroFile on Mo's substack: https://camarra.substack.com/ SCOTT LUCAS is an Adjunct Professor with the Clinton Institute at University College Dublin. A specialist in US and British foreign policy, Scott has written and edited 11 books and more than 70 major articles. He has been the Editor of the Journal of American Studies, an Adjunct Professor at Tehran University, and a member of the Executive Board of the Center for American Studies and Research at American University Beirut. https://eaworldview.com/ OLGA TOKARIUK is a Non-resident Fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) and an independent journalist and researcher based in Kyiv, Ukraine. Her professional interests include Ukrainian politics, international affairs, and the study of disinformation and its impact on democracies worldwide, including her research and work done here in Italy and across Europe. Olga also regularly appears on international media outlets. https://twitter.com/olgatokariuk ALEXANDER KHARA is a diplomat, foreign policy and security expert, Director of the Department of International Multinational Relations at the “Maidan of Foreign Affairs” Foundation (Kyiv, Ukraine), Centre for Defense Strategies Ukraine, Deputy Chair of the Black Sea Institute, and Advisor to the Minister of Defense. https://twitter.com/alexanderkhara Kremlin File Season 3 returns mid-September! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Olga and Mo are joined by Syrian activist Mouaz Moustafa and Ukrainian activist Michael Sawkiw to discuss Russian war crimes. Mouaz Moustafa is currently the Executive Director for the Syrian Emergency Task Force (SETF), Political Director of United for a Free Syria (UFS), and serves on the Government Relations Committee of the Coalition for a Democratic Syria (CDS). Mouaz on Twitter: @SoccerMouaz Michael Sawkiw, Vice President of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America and the Director of the Ukrainian National Information Service - the UCCA’s public affairs bureau in Washington DC. The UCCA is the formal representative body of Ukrainians in America following the efforts of generations of immigrants, with an estimated 1.5 million Americans having roots in Ukraine. UNIS Twitter: @UNISdirect UCCA Twitter: @UkrCongComAm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Olga and Mo are joined by Oleksandra Matviichuk - a Ukrainian human rights lawyer and civil society leader based in Kyiv. Oleksandra Matviichuk heads the non-profit organization The Center for Civil Liberties and is an active campaigner for democratic reforms in her country and the OSCE region. Twitter: https://twitter.com/avalaina Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Olga and Mo are joined by former CIA officer and New York Times bestselling author Robert Baer to discuss his most recent book, “The Fourth Man: The Hunt for a KGB Spy at the Top of the CIA and the Rise of Putin's Russia." Robert Baer is one of the most accomplished agents in CIA history and considered one of the world’s foremost authorities on the Middle East. Over several decades, he served everywhere from Iraq to New Delhi and was awarded the Career Intelligence Medal for his efforts. His first book "See No Evil" was the basis for the Academy Award-winning film SYRIANA, which earned George Clooney an Oscar for his portrayal of Baer. Read THE FOURTH MAN: https://www.amazon.com/Fourth-Man-Hunt-Putins-Russia/dp/0306925613? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NORDPASS Sponsor Link: https://nordpass.com/kremlinfile Olga and Mo welcome back Bill Browder to catch us up on his new book, “Freeze Order,” and his ongoing battle for justice against the war criminal Vladimir Putin. FREEZE ORDER: https://www.amazon.com/Freezing-Order-Laundering-Surviving-Vladimir/dp/1982153288 Bill’s Twitter: @Billbrowder Bill’s Website: www.billbrowder.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Olga and Mo are joined by Paul Massaro, a senior policy advisor for the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, Disclaimer: Paul Massaro serves on the staff of the U.S. Helsinki commission. The views expressed here are his own and do not represent an official position of the U.S. government. Paul’s Twitter: @apmassaro3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When a car bomb kills Daphne Caruana Galizia on the beautiful Mediterranean island of Malta, the hunt for her killers exposes secrets with consequences that go far beyond its shores. In the aftermath of her death an international team of journalists comes together to continue her work. Along the way they start to uncover clues that might lead to her killers. From Wondery, comes a new story about power, corruption and one woman’s fight for the truth. Hosted by investigative reporter Stephen Grey. Listen to Who Killed Daphne? http://wondery.fm/KF_Daphne Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Olga and Mo are joined by Jessikka Aro, Finnish journalist at @Yleisradio and author of “PUTIN’S TROLLS”. https://twitter.com/jessikkaaro https://www.amazon.com/Putins-Trolls-Frontlines-Russias-Information/dp/1632461293 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Frank Figliuzzi joins Olga and Mo to provide his analysis of the January 6th committee hearings. Frank Figliuzzi was the assistant director for counterintelligence at the FBI, where he served 25 years as a special agent and directed all espionage investigations across the government. He’s now a national security contributor and regular columnist for NBC News and MSNBC, the author of “The FBI Way: Inside the Bureau’s Code of Excellence”, and the host of the podcast “The Bureau with Frank Figliuzzi.” https://twitter.com/FrankFigliuzzi1 https://frankfigliuzzi.com/ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bureau-with-frank-figliuzzi/id1565400737 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Olga and Mo welcome back Edward Lucas to discuss how Vladimir Putin weaponizes food shortages and hunger to leverage support against Ukraine. Edward Lucas is a Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA). He was formerly a senior editor at The Economist. Lucas has covered Central and Eastern European affairs since 1986, writing, broadcasting, and speaking on the politics, economics, and security of the region. He is the author of five books: The New Cold War (2008, revised and republished in 2014); Deception (2011); The Snowden Operation (2014), Cyberphobia (2015), and Spycraft Rebooted: How Technology is Changing Espionage (2018). Edward’s Website: edwardlucas.com Edward's Twitter: https://twitter.com/edwardlucas Edward’s column for @cepa “Hunger Games”: https://cepa.org/hunger-games/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Olga and Mo are joined by Dr. Benjamin Schmitt to discuss the Kremlin’s weaponization of energy and the proper response from NATO. Dr. Benjamin L. Schmitt is a former State Department official, Senior Fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA), and Research Fellow at Harvard University. For years, Ben has spoken out against Nord Stream 2 (the gas pipeline expansion project from Russia to Germany) and warned of the threat to Europe’s energy security. https://twitter.com/BLSchmitt Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Originally aired September 2nd, 2021 Olga and Mo are joined by Paul Niland and Daria Kaleniuk to continue their exploration of hybrid warfare. They discuss how Ukraine became the testing ground for Putin’s campaign against the west, only to emerge as the standard-bearer in the fight against corruption. Daria Kaleniuk is co-founder and executive director of the Anti-Corruption Action Center, a powerful national organization that has shaped Ukraine's anti-corruption legislation and efforts. Daria's organization ensured that Ukraine’s newly elected parliament designed strong anti-corruption legislation, including the laws on the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine, the special anti-corruption prosecutor’s office, High Anticorruption Court, open property registers and electronic asset declarations. Daria has also founded critical resources to track money laundering and corruption internationally, specifically first known public register of national politically exposed persons. She is co-founder of international Democracy in Action conference hold annually in Ukraine seeking solutions to global threats to democracy. Twitter: @dkaleniuk Paul Niland is a businessman, writer, and political commentator. His passion for Ukraine stems from his involvement in the revolutions of 2004/5 and 2013/4, and his writings about Ukraine are often focused on helping the international community better understand the reasons for and background behind the ongoing war in the Donbas, as well as Ukraine in general. Paul is the Founder at Lifeline Ukraine, the country's first, national, professional, 24/7 suicide prevention and mental health support service. Initially, Lifeline Ukraine was established to address one of the most serious questions in Ukraine today, the heartbreaking suicide rate in Ukraine's veterans community.Twitter: @PaulNiland Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Olga and Mo are joined again by David Kramer as they consider the wider security and humanitarian implications should Russia's war of aggression continue and expand to other areas of the region, including Moldova, Transnistria, and Georgia. David J. Kramer is the Bradford M. Freeman managing director for global policy at the George W. Bush Institute and served as assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights and labor in the George W. Bush administration. AG1 Sponsor Promo: https://athleticgreens.com/kremlinfile Recommended articles from David Kramer: https://www.thebulwark.com/putin-is-failing-in-ukraine-but-winning-in-georgia/ https://www.bushcenter.org/catalyst/ukraine/kramer-never-underestimate-ukrainians.html https://www.journalofdemocracy.org/defeating-putin-in-ukraine-is-vital-to-the-future-of-democracy/ https://thedispatch.com/p/dont-let-lukashenko-off-the-hook?s=r Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Olga and Mo are joined by retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman to discuss Ukraine as the defenders of democracy and Russia’s failing military strategy. As a child, Vindman was born to Jewish parents in Ukraine (former Soviet Ukraine) before emigrating to Brooklyn’s Brighton Beach neighborhood. The former Director for European Affairs for the United States National Security Council found himself at the center of a firestorm for his decision to report the infamous phone call that led to President Donald Trump’s impeachment. He was appointed as the Pritzker Military Foundation's first Pritzker Military Fellow. His memoir "Here, Right Matters: An American Story” is a must read. https://twitter.com/AVindman https://alexandervindmanbook.com/ Sponsor link: https://athleticgreens.com/kremlinfile Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Olga and Mo welcome on the pod a leading expert in nuclear conflict resolution, Joseph Cirincione. Most Americans have not thought much about doomsday weapons since the end of the Cold War, but now it’s time we all come to terms with the nuclear risks of Putin’s war in Ukraine. Joseph Cirincione is a distinguished fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft in Washington, D.C. He previously served for over 12 years as the president of the Ploughshares Fund with a focus on nuclear nonproliferation and conflict resolution. https://twitter.com/Cirincione https://responsiblestatecraft.org/author/jcirincione/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices