America ‘offers’ air and intelligence support to postwar force in Ukraine & Russian oil terminals 'continue to burn', destroying 17% capacity

Day 1,281.

Today, we discuss reports that the US has offered air and intelligence support to a postwar force in Ukraine, the impact of strikes on Russia’s energy infrastructure, and hear the latest twist in the ongoing saga of the destruction of the Nord Stream pipeline back in 2022.

Contributors:

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

James Rothwell (Berlin Correspondent). @JamesERothwell on X.

Content Referenced:

Episode feat. interview with Commander of the Finnish Army, Lt Gen Pasi Välimäki:

- Apple: https://shorturl.at/LgRLZ

- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6udyZnDmeAn6w7pY3yJ7tC

- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApgMj3GpPCk 

Francis’s Video Dispatch in Moldova:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZC5FvDt-u0 

Ukrainian morale suffers as troop favourite Warhammer stops translating novels (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/08/25/ukrainian-morale-troop-favourite-warhammer-translations-end/ 

US offers air and intelligence support to postwar force in Ukraine (Financial Times):

https://www.ft.com/content/66ec25a0-4af8-467f-9fbe-cf42de890a7e 

Desperate for more soldiers, Russia recruits HIV-positive prisoners, civilians (Kyiv Independent):

https://kyivindependent.com/to-fill-its-ranks-russia-seeks-hiv-positive-recruits-via-social-media-and-ukraines-occupied-territories/ 

US and Russian officials discussed energy deals alongside latest Ukraine peace talks (Reuters): https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-russian-officials-discussed-energy-deals-alongside-latest-ukraine-peace-talks-2025-08-26/ 

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