
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.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
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.
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.
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.

