{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/6a22b52017f169d6433fb960/6a22b53d17f169d6433fbf9a?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"396. Katya’s War: From Kharkiv to Bakhmut","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/6a22b52017f169d6433fb960/604072eb8d1293eb6dbf2ee9b96bdaf6.png?height=200","description":"<p>If you would like to watch this podcast you can watch it on Spotify or you can find it on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/@BattlegroundUkraine</p>\n<p>In this episode, we welcome back a remarkable guest: <strong>Katya Ratushna</strong>. While some may recognise her from the Academy Award-nominated film <em>Porcelain War</em>, Katya is, above all, a seasoned soldier and a veteran of the Battles for Kharkiv, Bakhmut, and Avdiivka.  </p>\n<p>Speaking from her hometown of Kharkiv, Katya shares her journey from a civilian digging trenches in 2014 to a special operations soldier fighting in the most contested sectors of the full-scale invasion. She offers a raw, unfiltered perspective on:  </p>\n<ul>\n  <li>\n<p><strong>The Early Days of Resistance:</strong> How she and a group of 22 friends started the war with their own personal weapons and armour, patrolling Kharkiv in a small Ford Fiesta packed with RPGs.  </p>\n</li>\n  <li>\n<p><strong>The challenges of Service:</strong> A candid discussion on the \"conflict of senses\" regarding mobilisation and the social complications facing Ukraine as veterans remain on the front lines without enough replacements to rotate out.  </p>\n</li>\n  <li>\n<p><strong>The \"Zoo\" of Bakhmut:</strong> The chaotic reality of urban combat, where diverse units often struggled with communication and friendly fire, and the heartbreaking silence of friends who have since disappeared.  </p>\n</li>\n  <li>\n<p><strong>The Final Night:</strong> A vivid account of the May 2023 withdrawal from Bakhmut—navigating burning anti-tank mines and manoeuvring a Humvee through exhausted troops as the scent of cherry blossoms signalled a somber end to a fierce campaign.  </p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n<p>Join us for Part 1 of this powerful interview as Katya dismantles stereotypes and explores why mindset is the most critical survival tool on the modern battlefield.  </p>\n<p>Join the Conversation: If you have a question about the war in Ukraine or any of the conflicts we cover, email us at podbattleground@gmail.com</p>\n<p>Follow us on:</p>\n<p>X - @PodBattleground</p>\n<p>Instagram - podbattleground</p>\n<p>TikTok - battlegroundukraine</p>\n<p>Producer: James Hodgson</p>\n<p>A Goalhanger Podcast</p><p> </p><p>Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href=\"https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices\">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a></p>","author_name":"Goalhanger"}