{"podcast":{"title":"Battleground","slug":"battleground-5307466","podcast_index_feed_id":5307466,"rss_url":"https://feeds.megaphone.fm/GLT9332990926","website_url":null,"image_url":"https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/54e96da6-2426-11ee-a506-376d6f3d6f47/image/dfec7fd490f8bc4001c5966dd1264719.jpg?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&max-w=3000&max-h=3000&fit=crop&auto=format,compress","author":"Goalhanger","episode_count":424,"summary":"A history podcast that explores the narratives, turning points, and characters that shape conflicts, encompassing a blend of social and military history. Following on from the series on the Falklands War, best-selling military historians Patrick Bishop, Saul David, and Roger Moorhouse turn their attention every Friday to the war in Ukraine, and every Wednesday look back at the significant wars, events, and figures from conflicts around the world. Goalhanger Podcasts","last_synced_at":null,"page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/battleground-5307466"},"episode":{"title":"385. Swapping Plastic for Metal: The New Economics of Warfare","slug":"385-swapping-plastic-for-metal-the-new-economics-of-warfare","published_at":"2026-03-27T02:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/battleground-5307466/385-swapping-plastic-for-metal-the-new-economics-of-warfare","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/battleground-5307466","url":"https://pdst.fm/e/traffic.megaphone.fm/GLT5886818158.mp3?updated=1774548084","audio_url":"https://pdst.fm/e/traffic.megaphone.fm/GLT5886818158.mp3?updated=1774548084","summary":"In this episode of the Battleground Podcast, Saul David and Roger Moorhouse analyse what appears to be a possible tipping point in the four-year-long Russo-Ukraine war. The discussion centres on the overwhelming effectiveness of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, led by Robert \"Madyar\" Brovdi, which is reportedly achieving a staggering kill ratio of 400 Russians for every one Ukrainian at a remarkably low material cost. This drone-led strategy has expanded the \"kill zone\" up to 93 miles behind the front lines, effectively breaking the rhythm of Russian offensive operations and forcing the Kremlin to face unsustainable casualty rates. The hosts also examine the growing internal instability within Russia, highlighted by the arrest of former loyalist mil-blogger Ilya Remeslo and the expansion of state-sanctioned internet blackouts to St. Petersburg. These moves suggest a desperate attempt by the Putin regime to stifle dissent and prepare for wider conscription as recruitment struggles persist. Additionally, they explore the geopolitical impact of the conflict in Iran, where fluctuating oil prices and potential U.S. military manoeuvres under Donald Trump continue to influence Russia’s war economy. 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 Follow us on: X - @PodBattleground Instagram - podbattleground TikTok - Producer: James Hodgson A Goalhanger Podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices","meta_description":"In this episode of the Battleground Podcast, Saul David and Roger Moorhouse analyse what appears to be a possible tipping point in the four-year-long Russ…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":2631,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/battleground-5307466/episodes/385-swapping-plastic-for-metal-the-new-economics-of-warfare/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/battleground-5307466/385-swapping-plastic-for-metal-the-new-economics-of-warfare.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}