Ukraine: The Latest

How Trump's purges weaken the CIA & Russian ship on fire after drone hit

Sep 12, 2025
Oleg Surhov, an investigative journalist from the Kyiv Independent, and Daria Kalinyuk, executive director of the Anti-Corruption Action Centre, dive deep into the political turmoil surrounding Trump’s attacks on the CIA and its implications for U.S. intelligence on Russia. They discuss the fallout of a drone attack on a Russian ship, revealing tensions in Eastern European waters. The conversation also delves into the challenges faced by Ukraine's anti-corruption efforts, highlighting the vital role of civil society in combating entrenched corruption during ongoing conflict.
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INSIGHT

Transatlantic Sanctions Strategy Diverges

  • The EU and US differ on how to pressure Russia, debating tariffs, formal sanctions and cutting energy revenue.
  • Coordinated action with the US is seen as essential to force Putin to negotiate.
ADVICE

Design Sanctions With Allied Coordination

  • Coordinate sanctions design with allies to prevent circumvention via third countries and shadow networks.
  • Consider targeting banks, suppliers, and intermediary states enabling weapons and energy trade.
ANECDOTE

NABU: An Island In A Corrupt Sea

  • Oleg Surhov described NABU as an 'island of reform' created after Euromaidan to tackle endemic corruption.
  • He warned NABU always faced political attacks and resource limits from the start.
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