This Is Not A Drill with Gavin Esler

As you wait for our second 10-part documentary season, set to be released on October 26th, here's the audio from our recent live show in London. Join Arthur as he sits down with nerve agent expert and former US Secret Service official Dan Kaszeta, as he talks about his crazy life working for US Presidents and the dangers of chemical weapons.Resources to help the Ukrainian people can be found here: https://ukrainewar.carrd.co/ DOOMSDAY WATCH was written and presented by Arthur Snell, and produced by Robin Leeburn with Jacob Archbold. Theme tune and original music by Paul Hartnoll. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. DOOMSDAY WATCH is a Podmasters production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As Putin announces a military mobilisation and Russian men flee for the border, is his gamble of extra troops set to pay off on the battlefield? Ian Bond of the Centre for European Reform joins to discuss the Kremlin's call-up, and increasing nuclear sabre-rattling.Plus, to make this a bumper edition China expert Rana Mitter talks to Arthur about how the war in Ukraine has affected Beijing's thinking over Taiwan.We're taking a pause on our war bulletins, but don't worry. On October 12th our second 10-part documentary season is set to be released, so stay tuned for an in-depth look at the global threats of tomorrow.Resources to help the Ukrainian people can be found here: https://ukrainewar.carrd.co/  “We see a lot of people heading for the borders, but we shouldn’t mistake that for the majority of the country.” - Ian Bond “Sending a lot of men with rusty rifles into battle isn’t going to do the job.” - Ian Bond “Using nuclear weapons to attack a non-nuclear weapon state is a huge taboo, and the West needs to make that clear to Putin.” - Ian Bond “The Ukraine crisis is exponential for Europe. Whether it’s exponential for China is another matter.” - Rana Mitter “China cares more about visible international publicity than the Russians do. Comms management will have entered their minds over Taiwan.” - Rana Mitter DOOMSDAY WATCH was written and presented by Arthur Snell, and produced by Robin Leeburn with Jacob Archbold. Theme tune and original music by Paul Hartnoll. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. DOOMSDAY WATCH is a Podmasters production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

One of the key issues surrounding Russia's invasion of Ukraine is the impact on it's economy. Western nations have imposed an unprecedented level of sanctions, but they don't seem to be having the intended effect. Why is this? Is Russia's economy really as resilient as it seems?Dr. Maria Shagina, an international sanctions expert at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, joins Arthur Snell for our latest war bulletin.We're putting out irregular war bulletins covering different aspects of the Ukraine crisis. You can support our work on the crowdfunding app Patreon: doomsdaywatch.co.ukResources to help the Ukrainian people can be found here: https://ukrainewar.carrd.co/Get tickets to our upcoming London live show: https://www.tickettext.co.uk/etmejHAuba “Sanctions have failed to deter Russia, and their impact has been much less than expected.” “It will definitely be a harsh winter, but a lot depends on how cold it will be.” “Russia’s infrastructure is geared towards the west. This poses problems when exporting.” “Finding a new mode of survival will be key for the Russian regime.” DOOMSDAY WATCH was written and presented by Arthur Snell, and produced by Robin Leeburn with Jacob Archbold. Theme tune and original music by Paul Hartnoll. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. DOOMSDAY WATCH is a Podmasters production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As Ukraine's military continues to reclaim swathes of land from Russia, could this past week be a watershed moment in the war? How did Kyiv's forces manage it? And if Putin does lose the war, what will instability in the Kremlin mean for the rest of Europe? Mike Martin, author and War Studies fellow at King's College London, joins Arthur Snell for our latest war update.We're putting out irregular war bulletins covering different aspects of the Ukraine crisis. You can support our work on the crowdfunding app Patreon: doomsdaywatch.co.ukResources to help the Ukrainian people can be found here: https://ukrainewar.carrd.co/Get tickets to our upcoming London live show: https://www.tickettext.co.uk/etmejHAuba “The Ukrainians are really good at misdirecting the Russians.” “Armies tend to mirror their country’s culture. Russia has a very hierarchical army.” “Russia’s army is conscripted, which means lowly skilled and lowly motivated recruits.” “If I was the Ukrainian enemy I wouldn’t go anywhere near the Donbas.” “In this process of the transfer of power in Russia, what happens to nuclear weapons? There are five thousand of them.” “If Ukraine can get down to the Black Sea coast, that is potentially war-ending.” DOOMSDAY WATCH was written and presented by Arthur Snell, and produced by Robin Leeburn with Jacob Archbold. Theme tune and original music by Paul Hartnoll. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. DOOMSDAY WATCH is a Podmasters production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As Ukraine's military retakes over 3,000 sq km during a rapid counter-offensive in the east, local journalist Romeo Kokriatski joins Arthur Snell to discuss the remarkable advance of Kyiv's forces, the falling morale of Russian troops, and what this means for the conflict going forward.We're putting out irregular war bulletins covering different aspects of the Ukraine crisis. You can support our work on the crowdfunding app Patreon: doomsdaywatch.co.ukResources to help the Ukrainian people can be found here: https://ukrainewar.carrd.co/Get tickets to our upcoming London live show: https://www.tickettext.co.uk/etmejHAuba “The scale of Russia’s retreat has taken even the Ukrainian generals by surprise.” “Russia in the most basic terms, broke and ran.” “The Russian tactic of trying to intimidate of Ukraine has not worked. Who knows what is going on in their heads?” “Russia’s military capability has been so degraded that they can no-longer fight over two fronts.” DOOMSDAY WATCH was written and presented by Arthur Snell, and produced by Robin Leeburn with Jacob Archbold. Theme tune and original music by Paul Hartnoll. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. DOOMSDAY WATCH is a Podmasters production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Recently we held a live Zoom session with reporting legend John Sweeney, who joined Arthur Snell live from Kyiv to discuss the latest from the conflict. Out on general release, here is a shortened version of their discussion.If you'd like to get access to the entire Zoom, as well as future events, early episodes and merchandise, you can support our work on the crowdfunding app Patreon: http://doomsdaywatch.co.ukResources to help the Ukrainian people can be found here: https://ukrainewar.carrd.co/DOOMSDAY WATCH was written and presented by Arthur Snell, and produced by Robin Leeburn with Jacob Archbold. Theme tune and original music by Paul Hartnoll. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. DOOMSDAY WATCH is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What role does the Donbas have to play in the Ukraine conflict? Dr Samir Puri, senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies and an observer of the 2014 Donbas ceasefire, joins Arthur Snell to discuss the significance of the region, six months into Russia's invasion.We're putting out irregular war bulletins covering different aspects of the Ukraine crisis. You can support our work on the crowdfunding app Patreon: doomsdaywatch.co.ukResources to help the Ukrainian people can be found here: https://ukrainewar.carrd.co/  “Ukraine is drifting closer to NATO in spirit, but it’s not getting the protection that NATO offers.”  “The cost of failed Ukrainian counteroffensive probably outweighs the gains of a successful one.”  “Russia and Ukraine are neighbouring countries, and they’ve got to find a way to co-exist going forward.” DOOMSDAY WATCH was written and presented by Arthur Snell, and produced by Robin Leeburn with Jacob Archbold. Theme tune and original music by Paul Hartnoll. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. DOOMSDAY WATCH is a Podmasters production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

One aspect of Russia's invasion of Ukraine has been the use and abuse of history by President Vladimir Putin, in an effort to justify his actions.Historian and Russian lecturer Dr Jade McGlynn is an expert on the ways history has been manipulated, both in this conflict and the wider context. She joins Arthur Snell for our latest war bulletin.We're putting out irregular war bulletins covering different aspects of the Ukraine crisis. You can support our work on the crowdfunding platform Patreon: doomsdaywatch.co.ukResources to help the Ukrainian people can be found here: https://ukrainewar.carrd.co/ “In many ways Ukraine and Russia are divided by a common history.” “Since the fall of the Soviet Union, the Orthodox Church is quite an important indicator.” “World War 2 discourse is part of everyday life in Russia, it’s on a different level that we see in Britain.” “Russia is good at finding painful points in society and then exploiting them.” “It’s codified in Russia’s constitution that you have to respect the memory of the Great Patriotic War.” DOOMSDAY WATCH was written and presented by Arthur Snell, and produced by Robin Leeburn with Jacob Archbold. Theme tune and original music by Paul Hartnoll. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. DOOMSDAY WATCH is a Podmasters production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As winter approaches, will Russia turn off the gas taps on Europe? How is the EU doing when it comes to cutting out Putin's energy supply? And is Britain failing to take advantage of their position in the European energy market?Lecturer in European studies at King's College London Dr Alex Clarkson comes back on the show to tell Arthur Snell how Europe can survive Putin's energy war.We're putting out irregular war bulletins covering different aspects of the Ukraine crisis. You can support our work on the crowdfunding app Patreon: doomsdaywatch.co.ukResources to help the Ukrainian people can be found here: https://ukrainewar.carrd.co/  “I worry about the UK because there isn’t a sense of urgency on how to deal with the energy crisis.”  “The EU are slow when it comes decision making, but when their system is under threat they move quickly.”  “Algeria is a hugely important state for the European system, but EU engagement has not been adequate.”  “Putin has cards to play until spring 2023, then he’s out.”  “If Germany runs into trouble over gas supplies, that affects everyone in Europe.”  “If the UK Government acknowledged they had problems coming up they could tackle them.” DOOMSDAY WATCH was written and presented by Arthur Snell, and produced by Robin Leeburn with Jacob Archbold. Theme tune and original music by Paul Hartnoll. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. DOOMSDAY WATCH is a Podmasters production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What does Putin's invasion means for a potential Chinese takeover of Taiwan? And how is conflict in Europe affecting the wider Asia region?As China throws their weight behind Russia over the war in Ukraine, Ankit Panda, fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, joins Arthur Snell to discuss the ”marriage of convenience” between Moscow and Beijing.We're currently running a listener survey to hear what you think. Complete it to be in with a chance of winning a Doomsday Watch t-shirt: https://0jsbaoous3m.typeform.com/to/Nzg2KRQJ?typeform-source=t.coWe're putting out irregular war bulletins covering different aspects of the Ukraine crisis. You can support us on the crowdfunding app Patreon: doomsdaywatch.co.ukResources to help the Ukrainian people can be found here: https://ukrainewar.carrd.co/ “China have determined that in this conflict their interests lie closer to Russia than the West.” “At the level of the Chinese Communist Party there is a calculation that China is all in behind Vladimir Putin.” “There are no regional conflicts in today’s world when a country the size of Russia or China is involved.” “India directly condemning or sanctioning Russia was out of the question from the get-go.” “I don’t think Russia and China are allies. This is a marriage of convenience, but there isn’t a large amount of political trust there.” DOOMSDAY WATCH was written and presented by Arthur Snell, and produced by Robin Leeburn with Jacob Archbold. Theme tune and original music by Paul Hartnoll. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. DOOMSDAY WATCH is a Podmasters production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices