Battleground
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
Goalhanger Podcasts
Episodes
Mentioned books
Apr 3, 2026 • 44min
387. The Baltic Blitz: Dismantling Putin’s War Chest
Julian Evans, author of Undefeatable: Odesa in Love and War, shares on-the-ground perspectives from Ukraine. Conversation covers Ukraine’s strikes on Russian oil terminals in the Baltic and their financial impact. They discuss troop movements, conscription strains, geopolitical fallout with Gulf states and China, and what bolder Western support might look like.
Apr 1, 2026 • 44min
386. Otto Skorzeny and the Gran Sasso Raid
A deep dive into the daring 1943 rescue of Mussolini, examining how glider landings enabled a silent surprise. The episode teases the clash between myth and reality around Otto Skorzeny and the Fallschirmjäger. It explores the operation’s PR value versus its military impact and follows Skorzeny’s shadowy postwar life across Europe and beyond.
20 snips
Mar 27, 2026 • 44min
385. Swapping Plastic for Metal: The New Economics of Warfare
A deep look at how Ukraine’s drone warfare is reshaping battlefields with long‑range strikes and astonishing kill ratios. The conversation probes expanding kill zones, AI swarm prospects, and the operational ecosystem behind low‑cost unmanned systems. It also covers rising dissent and internet blackouts in Russia and how Middle East tensions and oil markets affect the broader war economy.
Mar 25, 2026 • 29min
384. Hubris at the Gates: The Fall of Russia's Elite
A field report from Kharkiv, Bucha and Hostomel that traces the chaotic opening hours of the 2022 invasion. Intense urban fights and a 13-hour siege at a school feature heavily. The daring airborne assault on Antonov airport and the collapse of elite Russian units are explored. Visits to cemeteries and ruined sites show the human and material cost of the fighting.
Mar 23, 2026 • 40min
383. Odesa Mama, Port of War & Surviving Russian Occupation
Boldizsar Gyori, a local guide from Hungary who knows Odesa’s history and streets, explains the city’s layered culture and why its port is vital. He describes Odesa’s architecture, criminal politics, and the grain corridor’s strategic risks. Two young Ukrainian women share chilling accounts of life under occupation in Kherson and Bucha.
10 snips
Mar 20, 2026 • 46min
382. Putin’s Windfall, Gerasimov’s Fictions, and Moral Equivalence
A wide look at how the Israel-Iran war is reshaping geopolitics and its knock-on effects in Ukraine. Discussion of Russia’s short-term gains from higher energy prices and whether tanker seizures can blunt that windfall. On-the-ground reporting from Ukrainian front lines, contrasting battlefield claims with observed realities. Investigation into Prigozhin rumours and the limits of Western leverage as US policy shifts loom.
Mar 18, 2026 • 41min
381. Battleground: Special Forces — The Listener Mailbag
A mailbag-style deep dive into 20th-century special operations. Topics include Norwegian sabotage and parachute raids, daring manned-torpedo attacks on Alexandria, and the audacious Singapore Harbour limpet-mine raid. Discussions also cover resistance politics, stay-behind guerrilla units, German commando raids, and controversial Cold War covert actions.
Mar 13, 2026 • 55min
380. Tragedy, Resilience, and Defiance: Reflections from a Week Across Ukraine
Two reporters travel across Ukraine, describing visits to repair efforts in Odesa and soldier rehabilitation. They recount witnessing a missile strike in Kharkiv and the civilian response. They analyze Hungary's pressure on Kyiv, pipeline disputes, and information campaigns. They explore Ukraine’s military tech exports to the Gulf and the risks from Middle East tensions.
5 snips
Mar 11, 2026 • 31min
379. The Raid: Inside the SAS Assault on the Iranian Embassy: Part 2
A minute-by-minute breakdown of Operation Nimrod and the frantic Red and Blue team assaults. They recount an abseil mishap, smashed windows, stun grenades and live television drama. The conversation examines claims of a shoot-to-kill approach, ballistic evidence and legal inquests. They trace how the raid reshaped elite forces' reputation and influenced international diplomacy.
9 snips
Mar 8, 2026 • 33min
378. Why Hungary and Iran Matter for Ukraine Right Now
Boldizsar Gyori, a Budapest-based analyst with on-the-ground insight into Hungarian politics and energy ties. He discusses rising tensions between Hungary and Ukraine and how Orban leverages EU vetoes and energy dependence. He also explores Iran-related developments, regional spillovers, and how shifting global attention could affect Ukraine’s strategic position.
