Benjamin Wittes, editor-in-chief of Lawfare, joins Matt and Chris after spending two weeks traveling across Ukraine—from Kyiv to Kharkiv and Odesa—as the war enters its fourth year. What he describes is sobering. Cities that appear functional on the surface are living through freezing temperatures, rolling blackouts, nightly missile strikes, and the constant threat of drone attacks. Families endure shattered infrastructure and relentless uncertainty, while society strains to maintain some semblance of normal life. Ben reflects on the exhaustion and resilience of the Ukrainian people, the rapidly evolving drone war reshaping modern combat, and why Western audiences often misunderstand the reality on the ground. The conversation also examines Zelensky’s standing at home, skepticism around current peace efforts, and why Ukraine’s fight remains central to Europe’s future security.
This is an unfiltered look at a nation still holding the line.
Ben's "Project Batteries" has raised over $79,000 to put portable power stations in the hands of Ukrainians enduring the depths of winter without heat, water, or electricity amid Russian bombardment. If you'd like to help keep that number climbing, find his latest updates with Venmo/PayPal links below.
https://www.dogshirtdaily.com/p/de-iceing-in-krakow
Ben’s work with Lawfare: https://www.lawfaremedia.org/
Ben’s Substack, Dog Shirt Daily: https://www.dogshirtdaily.com/
Follow Ben on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/benjaminwittes.lawfaremedia.org
Ukrainian Aid Charities
https://dignitas.fund/ https://unitedhelpukraine.org/ https://savelife.in.ua/en/Please share this episode using these links
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