My Vlogs
The Ринок (Privoz Market, Odesa)
By popular demand: how Ukrainians conduct their daily lives under the constant threat of Russian Missiles. In one of Ukraine's most vibrant markets, Privoz in Odesa, my friend Zarina and I try to show you that Ukrainians are simply people trying to live their lives under the constant stress of aggression. Follow Zarina's work at @zarinazabrisky or at Byline News: https://bylinetimes.com/author/zarina...
The Unseen Wounds
The stresses, uncertainty and suffering of war are not always as apparent as we expect. No Ukrainian has been left unaffected by the war. But Lifeline Ukraine is one of several outlets for people who need care for the wounds that often time go undiagnosed. Or because of stigma are not taken as seriously as they should. Thank you for Paul Niland, Ihor and Inna for their time and patience.
No Russian Leader Survives Losing What Catherine Took (the clock is ticking)
A slightly belated (I hate editing) birthday card to one of my favorite cities in the world: Odesa Mama. DISCLAIMER: Some Russian sound has been edited to fit pacing and structure
Independence Day & Prigozhin's Fate
It is Ukrainian Independence Day. Finally free and sovereign the people of this country will never bend the knee again. And I am grateful and humbled to be so privileged to bear witness. Oh, and a criminal thug has died (apparently)
The Tryzub Rises
In all the years I have been coming to Ukraine the Shield of the Statue of the Motherland has had the Hammer & Sickle upon it. That ended today. A little vlog about it with some extra 'constant gardening' about Moscow's narrative.
The Trials of Kherson
Published on a day when shelling in Kherson took the lives of three and injured 17 more....including a teenager, volunteers and utility workers Kherson's difficulties in this war are unique. But then most cities are dealing with the circumstances and threats in their own way. For Kherson, it seems, there is always a new way in which they are beaten down. Never defeated but it seems one thing after the next plagues this lovely town on the Dnipro.
I am Under Attack! (I must be doing something right)
For the last 18 hours I have been under targeted attack digitally. My e-mails were hacked. Instagram also. My twitter feed is currently redirecting to a MAGA profile (obviously if you are redirected there looking for me anything posted after 0600 GMT are not my words). I have a ticket in and hopefully it can be restored. But if not here is my (hopefully temporary) replacement: https://twitter.com/IttnerPhilip And. heck, maybe the universe is signalling it's time to get off Elon's mess of a site.
er the constant stress of aggression. Follow Zarina's work at @zarinazabrisky or at Byline News: https://bylinetimes.com/author/zarina...
Ukraine Interview: Sarah Ashton-Cirillo
My interview with Sgt. Sarah Ashton-Cirillo. To watch Sarah's updates for the Territorial Defense Forces of Ukraine: https://www.youtube.com/@TDFMediaStud...
The Funeral Service of Ukrainian Journalist, Viktoria Amelina
Gone far too soon
Ukraine Interview: Jim Stewartson
Jim Stewartson is a game designer in Southern California. He is also being sued by one of the most powerful men in the country: Mike Flynn. Jim was good enough to spend some time with me on ZOOM to discuss this...the discussion was long and this is the edited down version. We talk about many different things but in the end it is this: -The GRU and Russia have long engaged in open warfare against the United States. - Michael Flynn is complicit in these attacks. And, as such, is a traitor to his country. - What Flynn and Qanon are doing to undermine the country and create a cult which divides us.
Displaced of Mariupol
Mariupol was a city of half a million people. That is until Russia decided they needed to connect a land bridge to the Crimean Peninsula. Mariupol is the city that Russia must control if it is to have that connection. And so it has been the site of some of the fiercest fighting between Ukraine and Russia. And, as always, it is the people who get caught in the middle.
Prigozhin Uprising Day 3 (Monday Morning, Kyiv)
My interview with Sgt. Sarah Ashton-Cirillo. To watch Sarah's updates for the Territorial Defense Forces of Ukraine: https://www.youtube.com/@TDFMediaStud...
Reaction to Prigozhin (Breaking News)
I don't do breaking news normally but here we are. This is a big moment for this war. I'll let the news organizations do the breaking information. But perhaps this will give some context and understanding as to why this is happening. My sparkling wine that I have from a Bakhmut Winery will remain chilling in my refrigerator. It's too early to pop that cork. But...maybe...a chilled glass on the celebrations for Victory Day on Kreschatyk will be coming sooner than later.
Ukraine Interview: John Sweeney
Ukraine Interview: Ambassador William Taylor
Interview with Former US Ambassador and Charge D'Affaires to Ukraine
Ukraine Interview: Malcolm Nance
An interview on Mikhailovskii Square with Former Naval Intelligence Officer, Bestselling Author and International Legionnaire, Malcolm Nance.
Most Intense Air Assault on Kyiv, Ukrainian Resilience and Russian Impotence
At 0330 I awoke to the most intense air assault on Kyiv since the beginning of the war. Russia attacked with more munitions in the shortest period of time since they began this useless effort. But Ukrainians are undeterred. And Ukrainian defenses knocked all munitions from the sky. I reflect on that in this short vlog.
The Chef
Support Chef Zhenya and his world food army: https://www.fvsm.net/en Just click on the banner at the top. And if you have experience in a professional kitchen you can reach out to be a volunteer through that website, too.
May 9th in Kyiv
My reflections on May 9th, 2023. And if you can bear to watch it here is one of the best war films ever made: Come and See:
Come and See | WAR FILM | FULL MOVIE An addendum: I suspect I will catch it for my take on Russia's view about the Great Patriotic War being a mostly Russian affair. That is because, despite lip service to other republics, Moscow was always the center of gravity in the USSR and the Empire. And that's a big chunk of the problem.
The Expulsion of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church from the Perchesk Lavra
Just a brief vlog about a very complicated issue (as issues of Religion and faith tend to be). From the Pechersk Lavra where the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has been expelled. For many reasons. Not least of which the allegiance to Patriarch Kirill in Moscow. But also for storing and supporting anti-Kyiv elements. Other sects and religions have been untouched. But when does the clergy stop being the clergy and start being the 5th column?
Bakhmut Salient
Vlog from my trip to Donbas and Bakhmut salient.
A Memorial on Kreschatyk
A couple of days before the mass turnout on Kreschatyk to pay respects to the Ukrainian warrior whose name de guerre was 'Da Vinci'
Hero of Ukraine ‘Da Vinci’ was bid...
I ran into this similar, if smaller, memorial. If you have not seen the footage of those paying tribute to Da Vinci I recommend seeking it out. In particular to see the faces of Zaluzhni and Reznick. Their earnest expression of thanks and loss are moving. The sacrifices being made by the people of Ukraine WILL mean something. Those who survive will make sure of it. I have no doubt. I have been traveling so was only able to post this today.
1 Year Anniversary of the Start of THIS War, but There's so Much More
We mark the 12 months since February 24th, 2022 but, as is my intent in these vlogs, we need to recognize that there is context and complexity here that goes well beyond a single year. How can wars of Ukraine and Russia's past give us an insight into this war? Obviously, it's far more complex than any one video can provide but these are some of my thoughts.
Hostomel, One Year On (with Operator Starsky)
The Russians hoped they could take the airfield at Hostomel. They thought wrong. As such their plans fell into disarray. In those crucial first 72 hours the Ukrainians who held the line changed the course of the war. And, in my opinion, the course of history. The battle could have gone either way. It was on a Knife's edge. If the Russians had taken it and flown in a large battle force which entered into Kyiv proper would the Western powers been so eager to send help? Or would they have waited to see what a "Battle for Kyiv" would look like? Thankfully, we'll never know. Because the Ukrainians held. Almost a full year from those historic events Operator Starsky (Andrii) met me at the site of the battle in which he fought. Starsky is known to many from his vlogs from Ukraine about his experience as a soldier in the ZSU (Armed Forces of Ukraine). We had issues with weather but I'm glad we had the chance to meet IRL after corresponding off and on through this difficult year. It was a good way to spend, what Andrii calls, the 380th-something Day of February 2022. The day everything changed. MUSIC: "Никогда мы не будем братьями" by my friend Анастасии Дмитрук
President Biden Visits Kyiv
In a show of solidarity that I do not believe can be broken, Joseph Robinette Biden visited the capital of a free and independent Ukraine. And despite the threat, despite an air raid warning, stood shoulder to shoulder with President Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Zelenskyy. We are in this together. The alternative is worse than the horrors we see today. I am very proud today to be an American. And I am very proud of my Presidents (both of them). Слава Україні!, Слава США,! Героям слава!
Ukraine Interview: Sarah Ashton-Cirillo
My interview with Sgt. Sarah Ashton-Cirillo. To watch Sarah's updates for the Territorial Defense Forces of Ukraine: https://www.youtube.com/@TDFMediaStud...
Ukraine Interview: Sarah Ashton-Cirillo
My interview with Sgt. Sarah Ashton-Cirillo. To watch Sarah's updates for the Territorial Defense Forces of Ukraine: https://www.youtube.com/@TDFMediaStud...
Ukraine Interview: Sarah Ashton-Cirillo
My interview with Sgt. Sarah Ashton-Cirillo. To watch Sarah's updates for the Territorial Defense Forces of Ukraine: https://www.youtube.com/@TDFMediaStud...
Ukraine Interview: Sarah Ashton-Cirillo
My interview with Sgt. Sarah Ashton-Cirillo. To watch Sarah's updates for the Territorial Defense Forces of Ukraine: https://www.youtube.com/@TDFMediaStud...
Ukraine Interview: Sarah Ashton-Cirillo
My interview with Sgt. Sarah Ashton-Cirillo. To watch Sarah's updates for the Territorial Defense Forces of Ukraine: https://www.youtube.com/@TDFMediaStud...
Ukraine Interview: Sarah Ashton-Cirillo
My interview with Sgt. Sarah Ashton-Cirillo. To watch Sarah's updates for the Territorial Defense Forces of Ukraine: https://www.youtube.com/@TDFMediaStud...
Ukraine Interview: Sarah Ashton-Cirillo
My interview with Sgt. Sarah Ashton-Cirillo. To watch Sarah's updates for the Territorial Defense Forces of Ukraine: https://www.youtube.com/@TDFMediaStud...
Ukraine Interview: Sarah Ashton-Cirillo
My interview with Sgt. Sarah Ashton-Cirillo. To watch Sarah's updates for the Territorial Defense Forces of Ukraine: https://www.youtube.com/@TDFMediaStud...