Podcast War Tech Talk – Еasterncircles

PODCAST SERIES

Eastern Circle is launching our very own podcast on DefTech geopolitics: War Tech Talk.

The Russian invasion pushed Ukraine to innovate, turning it into a laboratory for groundbreaking military technologies. As European defense industries are racing to adapt, innovate, and respond to rapid developments brought upon by the war, Eastern Circles conceived this podcast to make sense of defense technology as part of the evolving national defense strategies and a moving force of geopolitics and international relations.

This podcast series will examine the transformative impact of the war on the defense policies and industries in Ukraine, Europe and beyond.

Click here to follow us on Spotify and listen to our first episode.

THE HISTORY OF UAV DRONES

Dive into the evolution of UAVs and their pivotal role in modern warfare. From the earliest unmanned aerial bombs to the rise of Bayraktar and DJI Mavic drones, this episode covers the technology, history, and the geopolitical impact of drones on the battlefield. Produced by Anastasiya Shapochkina, Elitsa Gadeva and Daryna-Maryna Patiuk.

THE WAR IN UKRAINE: THE GROUND ZERO FOR DRONE INNOVATION

Russia's war in Ukraine has sparked rapid advancements in military technologies, putting the European defense sector in catch-up mode on key new trends. In this first episode, Eastern Circles looks into the main drone actors on the Ukrainian battlefield. Produced by Anastasiya Shapochkina, Elitsa Gadeva and Daryna-Maryna Patiuk.

SEA DRONES IN FOCUS: HOW UKRAINE'S NAVAL INNOVATION SANK RUSSIA’S STRATEGY

Explore the rise of Ukraine’s naval drones and their revolutionary role in the Black Sea conflict. From Magura V5 to the Sea Baby, discover how these uncrewed systems helped neutralize Russia’s naval advantage and opened critical grain corridors. Tune in to learn how naval drones are reshaping modern warfare.

TURKEY'S BALANCING ACT: BETWEEN UKRAINE, NATO, AND MOSCOW PART 1

This episode looks at how Turkey’s rapidly growing defence industry has reshaped the battlefield in Ukraine, from drones to ammunition supplies, and how Ankara balances its NATO commitments with its strategic partnership with Kyiv and a transactional relationship with Moscow.

TURKEY'S BALANCING ACT: BETWEEN UKRAINE, NATO, AND MOSCOW PART 2

The hosts unpack the evolution of Turkish drone programmes, the combat record of Bayraktar and other systems in Ukraine, what this means for NATO and European airpower, and how Ukrainian and Russian forces are adapting to Turkish‑designed unmanned systems.

ELECTRONIC WARFARE IN UKRAINE: SYSTEMS, STRATEGY, AND INNOVATION

The episode traces how electronic warfare evolved from its early 20th‑century roots to a central pillar of the conflict in Ukraine, as Anastasiya Shapochkina and former French Special Forces officer Rodolphe Oberlé unpack the technology, tactics, and power dynamics between Russia and Ukraine and consider the future of electromagnetic warfare.

UKRAINE UNFILTERED: GOVERNMENT RESHUFFLE, ANTI-CORRUPTION SHAKEUP, DRONE WARS, TRUMP & THE EU

UKRAINE’S POLITICAL GAMBLE AND THE PRICE OF A REFORM

The episode unpacks the latest revision to Ukraine’s anti-corruption laws and why it is controversial, then looks at the financial consequences in terms of reactions from Kyiv’s international partners and what is at stake economically, before turning to a defense tech segment on Russia’s new wave of jet‑engine powered Shahed drone attacks on Ukrainian cities and emerging counter‑drone solutions.

RUSSIAN BOMBING OF POLAND: WHAT MOSCOW TESTED AND WHAT NATO LEARNT

This episode analyzes Russia’s drone strike on Poland, arguing it exposes NATO’s vulnerabilities and sheds light on Moscow’s strategy, with Eastern Circles analysts Anastasiya Shapochkina, Daryna-Maryna Patiuk, and Bohdan Kostiuk, plus expert voices Serhii Herasymchuk (Ukrainian Prism) and Romain Le Quiniou (Euro Créative).

GUIDED BOMBS, WAR ON UKRAINE, AND THE NEW BATTLEFIELD CALCULUS

In this episode, Anastasiya Shapochkina and Bohdan Kostiuk sit down with an expert from the Medoid Design Bureau to unpack the rise, mechanics, and battlefield effects of guided or glide bombs in the Russia–Ukraine war, examining how these low-noise, high-yield weapons change tactical math, the psychological toll on defenders, and why Ukraine faces a production gap despite urgent operational needs, including on-the-ground technical explanations, economic comparisons with artillery, and what it would take to reach parity.