New Russian Tactics And An Old Van - April 2nd 2025

April 2nd 2025

Yuriy reveals the grim reality of new Russian tactics involving high-altitude kamikaze drones and shares a heartwarming story about receiving a donated van from an Estonian supporter. This vehicle is set to become a crucial asset for his media and veteran rehabilitation unit amidst the ongoing conflict.

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TRANSCRIPT: (Apple Podcasts & Podbean app users can enjoy accurate closed captions)  

  

It is April 2nd. 

Sorry for not recording anything for so long I was terribly exhausted and deeply overwhelmed by a flood of bad news- starting with Neil Young canceling his concert in Ukraine and ending with endless Russian shelling of our cities. They are using a new tactic now their kamikaze drones have started flying at very high altitudes before diving onto targets. This helps them evade air defense systems though it significantly reduces the accuracy. Not that they care about accuracy, they just hit residential areas, killing random people. 

You know, when White House officials in Washington recently spoke about Putin supposedly being responsible and focused on peace in Kyiv, first responders, were pulling the bodies of a 5-year-old girl and her father from the rubble. That that's Russian's idea of peace. And it's like this almost every day. Endless terror. The weather is not helping either -cold and almost constant rain. 

But there is also good news. I even say great news. 

I now have a vehicle, a whole van that sits, eight people. It's not new, of course, it's 20 years old. But I got it for free. It was simply donated to me by an ordinary Estonian guy who decided to help the Ukrainian army. He started looking for someone who could use his van the most and found our unit, which works on media and veteran rehabilitation. I went to Lviv to pick it up and now, the van is with me. My comrades decided it would be best used for filming videos and recording podcasts- which is exactly what I do. I even dream of converting it into a mobile studio someday, but what will take time. 

I keep saying this: our country would not have survived without outside help. My family would have likely lost several members, if not for foreigners who stepped in to help me. I tried to repay that kindness by making this podcast telling you what's really happening here and what we feel.

And let's be honest, things are tough. Russians are killing people every day. The war has not become any less bloody, but we are holding on thanks to people like Kaarel from Estonia -and you. Thank you.

Episode Transcript

(00:02):
It is April 2nd.
Sorry for not recording anything forso long I was terribly exhausted and
deeply overwhelmed by a flood of badnews- starting with Neil Young canceling
his concert in Ukraine and ending withendless Russian shelling of our cities.
They are using a new tactic nowtheir kamikaze drones have started

(00:26):
flying at very high altitudesbefore diving onto targets.
This helps them evade airdefense systems though it
significantly reduces the accuracy.
Not that they care about accuracy,they just hit residential
areas, killing random people.
You know, when White House officials inWashington recently spoke about Putin

(00:50):
supposedly being responsible and focusedon peace in Kyiv, first responders,
were pulling the bodies of a 5-year-oldgirl and her father from the rubble.
That that's Russian's idea of peace.
And it's like this almost every day.
Endless terror.
The weather is not helping either-cold and almost constant rain.

(01:13):
But there is also good news.
I even say great news.
I now have a vehicle, a wholevan that sits, eight people.
It's not new, of course,it's 20 years old.
But I got it for free.
It was simply donated to me by anordinary Estonian guy who decided

(01:33):
to help the Ukrainian army.
He started looking for someonewho could use his van the most
and found our unit, which works onmedia and veteran rehabilitation.
I went to Lviv to pick it upand now, the van is with me.
My comrades decided it would be bestused for filming videos and recording

(01:55):
podcasts- which is exactly what I do.
I even dream of converting itinto a mobile studio someday,
but what will take time.

I keep saying this (02:06):
our country would not have survived without outside help.
My family would have likelylost several members, if not for
foreigners who stepped in to help me.
I tried to repay that kindness bymaking this podcast telling you what's
really happening here and what we feel.

(02:29):
And let's be honest, things are tough.
Russians are killing people every day.
The war has not become any less bloody,but we are holding on thanks to people
like Kaarel from Estonia -and you.
Thank you.