Silicon Curtain

Welcome to the second of our monthly conversations with Konstantin, who is one of the most respected voices on YouTube about what is happening Inside Russia. ---------- Konstantin Samoilov is a well-known YouTuber whose channel ‘Inside Russia’ comments insightfully on Russia’s decent into authoritarianism over the last few years. But now, like many others, he’s outside Russia, with no idea of when he can return there. ----------

Edition No16 | 24-08-2023 Yevgeny Prigozhin - a bandit's death that heralds a new age of turmoil and uncertainty in Russia ~~~~~ NEWS LINKS: The Moscow Times https://www.themoscowtimes.com/ Kyiv Independent https://kyivindependent.com/ The Economist https://www.economist.com/ukraine-crisis The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/world/europe-news Russian Media Monitor https://twitter.com/JuliaDavisNews ~~~~~ USEFUL LINKS: Vatnik Soup https://twitter.com/P_Kallioniemi http://www.medbat.org.ua/en/ Real World News https://kyivindependent.com/ https://www.kyivpost.com/ https://english.nv.ua/ https://www.themoscowtimes.com/ https://meduza.io/en https://meduza.io/ https://novayagazeta.eu/ https://www.newsweek.com/topic/russia... Analysis https://www.ft.com/russia https://www.economist.com/ https://www.foreignaffairs.com/ https://cepa.org/ https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/ https://www.theatlantic.com/search/?s... YouTube Channels / @timesradio1 / @khodorkovskyru / @popularpolitics / @macknack / @plushev / @tvrain / @fake_news / @feyginlive ~~~~~

One of the unique aspects of the Ukraine war, and indeed the Maidan revolution that preceded Russia’s invasion of Crimea, is that Ukrainians came together to fight for freedom – a wide range of people from across the political spectrum, and many who were new to politics. Although they may have held widely different views on how society should be organised, they nonetheless coalesce around higher values, like freedom, justice, and transparency, and fought together to defend them. ---------- Bogdan Khorzhenko serves with the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and has done various tours of duty since the Russian invasion of Crimea nd Donbas in 2014. He is Deputy Commander of the 1st mechanized battalion of the separate assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. ---------- LINKS: My instagram - https://instagram.com/bohdan_korzhenko?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== ----------

Silicon Curtain Panel Discussion - Live in Lviv, Ukraine on 10th August 2023 PANEL 1 (11:00-12:00) – Volunteer Society ---------- SPEAKERS: Johnny FD - YouTuber and Digital Nomad Noel Tock - Animal Rescuer at NOR DOG Brooks Newmark - Founder of Angels for Ukraine ---------- Volunteering on a massive scale proved what is possible to achieve. Ukrainian volunteers play at integral role in resisting agains the Russian aggression and saving lives. #JohnnyFD #NoelTock #BrooksNewmark #culture #lviv #victory #ukraine #ukrainewar #russia #zelensky #putin #propaganda #war #disinformation ---------- TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND: Superhumans - Hospital for war traumas https://superhumans.com/en/ UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukraine https://unbroken.org.ua/ Come Back Alive https://savelife.in.ua/en/ Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchen https://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine UNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyy https://u24.gov.ua/ Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation https://prytulafoundation.org NOR DOG Animal Rescue - Our mission is to help the animals suffering from the war in Ukraine. https://www.youtube.com/@nordoganimalrescue3564 ---------- WATCH NEXT: Johnny FD https://youtu.be/9KgJAsIWe5E Brooks Newmark https://youtu.be/J1BnzTdF3Ts ----------

Silicon Curtain Panel Discussion - Live in Lviv, Ukraine on 10th August 2023 PANEL 2 (12:30-13:30) – Reporting the war ---------- SPEAKERS: Alina Poliakova - Managing Editor of the English version of "Ukrainska Pravda" John Sweeney - Investigative journalist and writer Julia Tymoshenko - Editor in Chief at Saint Javelin Taras Yatsenko - Director of "Tvoe Misto" portal ---------- Challenges of reporting on the conflict and countering Russian disinformation. Western media bias, lack of local knowledge and weaponised social media information. #AlinaPoliakova #JohnSweeney #JuliaTymoshenko #TarasYatsenko #reporting #lviv #victory #ukraine #ukrainewar #russia #zelensky #putin #propaganda #war #disinformation ---------- TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND: Superhumans - Hospital for war traumas https://superhumans.com/en/ UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukraine https://unbroken.org.ua/ Come Back Alive https://savelife.in.ua/en/ Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchen https://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine UNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyy https://u24.gov.ua/ Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation https://prytulafoundation.org NOR DOG Animal Rescue - Our mission is to help the animals suffering from the war in Ukraine. https://www.youtube.com/@nordoganimalrescue3564 ---------- WATCH NEXT: Alina Poliakova https://youtu.be/YmMohd59VLI John Sweeney https://youtu.be/ElS2J4DHbXE Julia Tymoshenko https://youtu.be/mLqB7ShA2l4 Silicon Curtain Panel Discussion - Live in Lviv, Ukraine on 10th August 2023 PANEL 2 (12:30-13:30) – Reporting the war ---------- SPEAKERS: Alina Poliakova - Managing Editor of the English version of "Ukrainska Pravda" John Sweeney - Investigative journalist and writer Julia Tymoshenko - Editor in Chief at Saint Javelin Taras Yatsenko - Director of "Tvoe Misto" portal ---------- Challenges of reporting on the conflict and countering Russian disinformation. Western media bias, lack of local knowledge and weaponised social media information. #AlinaPoliakova #JohnSweeney #JuliaTymoshenko #TarasYatsenko #reporting #lviv #victory #ukraine #ukrainewar #russia #zelensky #putin #propaganda #war #disinformation ---------- TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND: Superhumans - Hospital for war traumas https://superhumans.com/en/ UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukraine https://unbroken.org.ua/ Come Back Alive https://savelife.in.ua/en/ Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchen https://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine UNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyy https://u24.gov.ua/ Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation https://prytulafoundation.org NOR DOG Animal Rescue - Our mission is to help the animals suffering from the war in Ukraine. https://www.youtube.com/@nordoganimalrescue3564 ---------- WATCH NEXT: Alina Poliakova https://youtu.be/YmMohd59VLI John Sweeney https://youtu.be/ElS2J4DHbXE Julia Tymoshenko https://youtu.be/mLqB7ShA2l4

Republicans are divided over aid for Ukraine. There are voices on both extremes of the political spectrum in the US that are calling for aid to Ukraine to be curtailed or even stopped. In fact, there are divisions right across the Western alliance supporting Ukraine about the scale and speed of military supplies and capabilities that need to be delivered. Steven Moore has been described as the guy working behind the scenes to keep Republicans on board, so is Steven Moore the GOP’s Man in Kyiv, and what is his message for Ukraine sceptics in the US political establishment? -------- Steven Moore is a political strategist, who spent seven years as a chief of staff and senior leadership aide in the United States Congress, developing relationships with senior policymakers across the United States and around the world. He worked on Capitol Hill in the House of Representatives mostly as chief of staff for former Rep. Pete Roskam (R-Ill.), the former chief deputy GOP whip. In that role, Moore was one of the most influential staff members on the Republican side of the aisle. Steven is a non-profit professional and public opinion researcher with experience in more than a dozen countries, including Iraq, East Timor, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Silicon Curtain Panel Discussion - Live in Lviv, Ukraine on 10th August 2023 Trip into the countryside, a day after the event. Idyllic peace and tranquility of a Ukrainian dacha. ---------- The military cemetery we visited opened in Lviv at the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It already contains many hundreds of graves, with a capacity that is far greater. The longer Western allies dither about supporting Ukraine to win, the faster this (and similar) cemetaries will expand. ---------- TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND: Superhumans - Hospital for war traumas https://superhumans.com/en/ UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukraine https://unbroken.org.ua/ Come Back Alive https://savelife.in.ua/en/ Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchen https://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine UNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyy https://u24.gov.ua/ Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation https://prytulafoundation.org NOR DOG Animal Rescue - Our mission is to help the animals suffering from the war in Ukraine. https://www.youtube.com/@nordoganimalrescue3564 ---------- INTRODUCTION: Silicon Curtain features dozens of Ukrainian voices and experts in English, to support Ukraine’s struggle against Russian aggression and disinformation warfare. On August 10th we held a panel event in Lviv, to show our solidarity with Ukraine and generate awareness of its struggle for survival and liberty against Russian aggression. Through YouTube, social media, and press coverage we aim to get a million people to view the content, and focus on how Ukraine can win this war, and what support it needs in order to do so. The event features some of the most accomplished journalists and experts on Ukraine. Not only the future of Ukraine rests on its victory, but the very survival of democracy across Europe is under threat. The contagion of Russian authoritarian control, and toxic informational warfare is aggressively pushing out across the world, and will do so with renewed vigor, if Putin is allowed to claim a victory against Ukraine. This is not just Ukraine’s fight, but involves anyone who values liberty, democracy, diversity, and the rule of law. See the event website at: https://siliconcurtain.co.uk/lviv ---------- PLATFORMS: Twitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSilicon Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/siliconcurtain/ Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqm Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ---------- Welcome to the Silicon Curtain podcast. Please like and subscribe if you like the content we produce. It will really help to increase the popularity of our content in YouTube’s algorithm. Our material is now being made available on popular podcasting platforms as well, such as Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Silicon Curtain Panel Discussion - Live in Lviv, Ukraine on 10th August 2023 Interviews and reportage recorded which in Lviv, 9th August 2023 ---------- The military cemetery we visited opened in Lviv at the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It already contains many hundreds of graves, with a capacity that is far greater. The longer Western allies dither about supporting Ukraine to win, the faster this (and similar) cemetaries will expand. ---------- TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND: Superhumans - Hospital for war traumas https://superhumans.com/en/ UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukraine https://unbroken.org.ua/ Come Back Alive https://savelife.in.ua/en/ Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchen https://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine UNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyy https://u24.gov.ua/ Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation https://prytulafoundation.org NOR DOG Animal Rescue - Our mission is to help the animals suffering from the war in Ukraine. https://www.youtube.com/@nordoganimalrescue3564 ---------- INTRODUCTION: Silicon Curtain features dozens of Ukrainian voices and experts in English, to support Ukraine’s struggle against Russian aggression and disinformation warfare. On August 10th we held a panel event in Lviv, to show our solidarity with Ukraine and generate awareness of its struggle for survival and liberty against Russian aggression. Through YouTube, social media, and press coverage we aim to get a million people to view the content, and focus on how Ukraine can win this war, and what support it needs in order to do so. The event features some of the most accomplished journalists and experts on Ukraine. Not only the future of Ukraine rests on its victory, but the very survival of democracy across Europe is under threat. The contagion of Russian authoritarian control, and toxic informational warfare is aggressively pushing out across the world, and will do so with renewed vigor, if Putin is allowed to claim a victory against Ukraine. This is not just Ukraine’s fight, but involves anyone who values liberty, democracy, diversity, and the rule of law. See the event website at: https://siliconcurtain.co.uk/lviv ----------

We are at risk of losing the information war. The widespread normalisation of disinformation as a political tool is accelerating distrust in democratic institutions and processes. Greyzone warfare is gaining the edge over open, pluralistic societies. Russia and China have also proved adept at weaponizing information for their foreign policy objectives. Governments have held off intervening strongly in the online media sphere, for fear of wrecking classical liberalism, but at what cost? #ElisabethBraw #greyzonewarfare #ukraine #ukrainewar #russia #zelensky #putin #propaganda #war #disinformation #hybridwarfare #foreignpolicy #communism #sovietunion #postsoviet ---------- SPEAKER: Elisabeth Braw is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), where she focuses on defence against emerging national security challenges, such as hybrid and Greyzone threats. She is also a columnist with Foreign Policy, where she writes on national security and the globalised economy. Before joining AEI, Elisabeth was a Senior Research Fellow at RUSI, where she led the Modern Deterrence project. Elisabeth is also a member of the steering committee of the Aurora Forum, a member of the National Preparedness Commission (UK) and an Associate Fellow at the European Leadership Network. She is often published in a wide range of publications, including Politico, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (writing in German), The Times and The Wall Street Journal. Elisabeth is also the author of two highly regarded books. - Monthly columnist – POLITICO (Feb 2023 – Present) - Advisory Board Member - GALLOS Technologies Limited (Aug 2022 – Present) - Commissioner – UK National Preparedness Commission (Nov 2020 – Present) - Member of the Advisory Group – Centre for Information Resilience (Feb 2021 – Present) - Senior Fellow – American Enterprise Institute (Oct 2020 – Present) - Columnist – Foreign Policy (Feb 2020 – Present) - Member of the Steering Committee – Aurora Forum (Dec 2019 – Present) - Op-ed contributor – The Times (Dec 2016 – Present) - Non-resident Associate Fellow – European Leadership Network (ELN) (Aug 2017 – Present) - Senior Research Fellow – Royal United Services Institute (Sep 2019 – Oct 2020) - Adjunct Fellow – Centre for European Policy (Jul 2018 – Jul 2019) - Senior Consultant – Control Risks (Jun 2016 – Aug 2018) - Non-resident Senior Fellow – Atlantic Council (Apr 2016 – Jun 2018) ---------- LINKS: https://twitter.com/elisabethbraw https://www.linkedin.com/in/elisabethbraw/ https://rusi.org/people/braw https://www.aei.org/profile/elisabeth-braw/ https://www.europeanleadershipnetwork.org/person/elisabeth-braw/ https://foreignpolicy.com/author/elisabeth-braw/ https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/people/elisabeth-braw https://cepa.org/author/elisabeth-braw/ ---------- ARTICLES: https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2022/01/16/russia-ukraine-gray-zone-warfare-autocrats-democracy-527022 https://www.ft.com/content/0ac9e1a9-2aad-47d9-83fb-4839e9b31b33 https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/china-is-master-of-grey-zone-aggression-t6z2khp69 https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/60291/create-a-psychological-defence-agency-to-prebunk-fake-news https://www.aei.org/podcast/elisabeth-braw-on-gray-zone-warfare/ ---------- BOOKS: ‘God’s Spies: The Stasi’s Cold War Espionage (2019) The Defender's Dilemma: Identifying and Deterring Gray-zone Aggression (2022) Goodbye Globalization: The Return of a Divided World (2024)

Silicon Curtain Panel Discussion - Live in Lviv, Ukraine on 10th August 2023 PANEL 3 (15:00-16:00) – Culture Versus Tyranny ---------- SPEAKERS: Marta Trotsiuk - Ukrainian art ambassador Maria Shuvalova - Professor of Philology Oleksandr Pronkevych - Literary scholar Sofia Cheliak - Ukrainian Cultural Manager ---------- Russia seeks to deny Ukrainian agency, even denying the existence of the Ukrainian language, literature, and culture. That makes them key to Ukraine’s resilience. #MartaTrotsiuk #MariaShuvalova #OleksandrPronkevych #SofiaCheliak #culture #lviv #victory #ukraine #ukrainewar #russia #zelensky #putin #propaganda #war #disinformation ---------- TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND: Superhumans - Hospital for war traumas https://superhumans.com/en/ UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukraine https://unbroken.org.ua/ Come Back Alive https://savelife.in.ua/en/ Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchen https://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine UNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyy https://u24.gov.ua/ Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation https://prytulafoundation.org NOR DOG Animal Rescue - Our mission is to help the animals suffering from the war in Ukraine. https://www.youtube.com/@nordoganimalrescue3564