11/23/2025
11/23/2025
11/18/2024
Ukrainapodden
In today's episode, we're excited to welcome Olena Halushka, one of the founders of the «International Center for Ukrainian Victory», as our guest. We'll be diving into the current situation in Ukraine, including Russia's massive missile attack on Sunday, and taking a closer look at Norwegian support for Ukraine. We'll also be discussing the challenges of corruption in Ukraine and examining the US decision to lift restrictions on long-range strikes inside Russia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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1/18/2026
Ukrainapodden
Tormod snakker med Ole Kvåle, leder og grunnlegger av Ukrainian Freedom Convoys (UFC).Kvåle deler unike perspektiver fra en organisasjon som har levert over 425 biler direkte til ukrainske soldater. Han forteller om det enorme, nærmest umettelige, behovet for kjøretøy ved fronten og organisasjonens innsats for å kanalisere det norske engasjementet. I episoden nevnes et estimat på 4000 tapte kjøretøy i måneden, det er feil, Andrew Perpetua anslår at Ukraina mister rundt 1000 kjøretøy i måneden. Se hans tweet her: https://x.com/AndrewPerpetua/status/1983720661664120977?s=20 Episoden dykker ned i den komplekse situasjonen i Ukraina, fra endringer i mediedekningen til soldatenes daglige virkelighet. Kvåle gir en ærlig rapport fra sin nylige reise til fronten, hvor han møtte soldater fra 82. brigade nær Pokrovsk, et av krigens heteste områder. Han understreker den strategiske verdien av ukrainske liv og hvorfor vestlig støtte er mer kritisk enn noensinne, spesielt når Russland sakte, men sikkert, rykker frem.Kvåle deler også sin frustrasjon over mangelen på tydelig vestlig lederskap og hvordan ukrainske sivile har blitt soldater som kjemper for sin frihet. Han avslutter med en takk til alle frivillige og donorer, og en påminnelse om forpliktelsen til å fortsette å støtte de som bærer den største byrden ved fronten.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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5/2/2025
Ukrainapodden
In this episode of Ukrainapodden, Tormod and Jørn delve into the critical energy situation in Ukraine, with guests Victoria Voytsitska, former Member of Parliament and anti-corruption activist, and Volodymyr Kudrytskyi, former Chairman of Ukrenergo. They discuss how Ukraine has managed Russian attacks on the power grid, the importance of connecting to the European system, and the need for decentralized and renewable energy production. In a truly remarkable detail, the guests reveal how Russia insisted that Ukraine's disconnection from the Russian grid be scheduled for February 24th, the same day as the full-scale invasion. The guests also share powerful stories of threats and sabotage, and make concrete calls to Norwegian businesses to invest in Ukraine's energy future.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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9/2/2024
Ukrainapodden
Russian missile attacks against Ukrainian power plants have brought the country into an energy crisis, even during the summer. In this episode, Hanna Zamazieieva, head of State Agency on Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving of Ukraine, provides an insight to the range of energy challenges that Ukraine struggle with, and how it is like to reach the 2030 climate goals while being attacked.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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8/25/2025
Ukrainapodden
Søndag var det Ukrainas uavhengighetsdag, og i den anledning hadde Ukrainapodden livesending på Shamrock i Oslo i samarbeid med Norsk ukrainsk-venneforening og Ukrainian Freedom Convoys. Episoden byr på dype samtaler med et fremstående paneler om krigen, diplomati og fremtidig støtte til Ukraina. Du får høre fra Ukrainas viseambassadør til Norge, Ihor Holovchenko, som deler refleksjoner om uavhengighetsdagen og Ukrainas historiske kamp for frihet. Erlend Bollmann Bjørtvedt fra Norsk ukrainsk-venneforening presenterer foreningens fempunktsplan for norsk støtte, som omfatter økt militær hjelp inkludert luftvern, sanksjoner mot Russland, og støtte til Ukrainas egen forsvarsindustri. Videre deltar utenriksminister Espen Barth Eide og tidligere utenriks- og forsvarsminister Ine Eriksen Søreide i en diskusjon om Norges mål for Ukraina – full suverenitet og varig fred – og avviser tanken om at Ukraina kun skal være en «vaktbikkje» mot Russland. De belyser viktigheten av fortsatt høy norsk og europeisk støtte, fleksibiliteten i Nansen-programmet for å møte ukrainske behov raskt, og utfordringene med mangel på tilgjengelige våpen. Episoden understreker den brede politiske enigheten i Norge om støtten til Ukraina og nødvendigheten av å motvirke Russlands hybride krigføring og ambisjoner. Ole Kvåle fra UFC forteller om deres arbeid, status nå og veien videre, mens forfatter Erika Fatland avslutter sendingen med sine perspektiver etter et nylig opphold i Ukraina tidligere i sommer. Episoden ble spilt inn søndag, og mandag ble det kjent at den norske støtten til Ukraina neste år vil være på minst 85 milliarder kroner. Det var ikke kjent mens episoden ble spilt inn.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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11/8/2024
Ukrainapodden
I dagens episode tar vi en lang prat med generalsekretær i Fritt Ukraina, Natalia Golis.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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1/28/2026
Ukrainapodden
In this compelling episode of Ukrainapodden, recorded live at The Shamrock in Oslo, we confront the harsh realities of the war in Ukraine through the insights of two leading Ukrainian voices: Olena Halushka, co-founder of the International Center for Ukrainian Victory, and Lyuba Shipovich, founder of Dignitas, a charitable foundation supporting Ukraine's drone army. The episode delves into three critical aspects of the conflict: the drone revolution, the ongoing terror bombing of civilian infrastructure, and Ukraine's internal battle against corruption. Olena Halushka provides a stark assessment of the current geopolitical landscape, arguing that peace remains elusive and that Russia's unpunished aggression, including the relentless bombardment of Ukrainian cities, constitutes a genocidal war. She challenges the international community's response and emphasizes the urgent need for a "coalition of victory." Olena also highlights how Ukraine's vigorous fight against internal corruption, often misunderstood externally, is in fact a crucial pillar strengthening the nation's resilience and institutions during wartime. Lyuba Shipovich offers an unparalleled insider's view into Ukraine's groundbreaking technological warfare. She details the rapid development and deployment of a diverse range of drones and ground robots, from reconnaissance to interceptors, which are at the heart of Ukraine's drone revolution. Lyuba discusses the critical importance of localizing production of these technologies and the innovative solutions being implemented, such as civilian-trained drone interceptors and new legislation allowing private air defense initiatives. She also touches upon the broader implications for European security, urging nations like Norway to invest in their own defense and learn from Ukraine's experience, particularly through decentralization, as Russia's hybrid warfare already targets Europe. This episode is a crucial listen for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of the conflict, its impact on daily life, and the future of warfare. Don't miss their powerful insights on global security, the role of technology, and the unwavering resilience of the Ukrainian people.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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2/10/2026
Ukrainapodden
Matthias Schmale, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, joins Ukrainapodden for a deep dive into the humanitarian and political complexities of the ongoing war. As Ukraine is in the middle of a brutal winter, Schmale explains the massive logistical effort required to support a population facing systematic attacks on its energy grid. With over 19 UN agencies active on the ground, the mission has moved beyond traditional aid to focus on early recovery and the documentation of human rights violations. A central theme of the discussion is the role of the United Nations in a world where a permanent member of the Security Council is the aggressor. Schmale offers a peer-level, grounded perspective on why the UN currently lacks the leverage to enforce peace and what a potential reform of the institution might look like. He discusses the concept of "principled pragmatism"—the difficult balance of maintaining neutrality to ensure aid delivery while calling out clear violations of international law, such as the forced "Russification" of citizens in occupied territories. Listeners will also get a personal glimpse into life in Kyiv, a city Schmale describes as a mix of "heaven and hell," where modern city life is abruptly interrupted by air raid sirens and the constant threat of missile strikes. From the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam to the targeting of UN convoys, this episode provides essential context for anyone interested in geopolitical analysis, international law, and the human cost of the conflict.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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