Restricted Handling Podcast

Ryan Fugit
  • 5.0 (3)
  • News

Former CIA officers with extremely experienced guests talk Russia, China, Iran, North Korea; international security, geopolitics, military, intel operations, sanctions and economic power plays. Get deeper daily analysis on Substack at https://substack.com/@restrictedhandling. Find daily intel brief podcasts on Russia, China, and Iran at https://open.spotify.com/show/6Kb9BYk98BEmeHVpgWiklG

  1. 6d ago

    What Putin Needs to End the War, Hellfires in the Gulf, IRGC Commander Propaganda, Kushner/Witkoff Advice

    Putin wants Washington to believe he holds every card, but Glenn Corn argues he is not in the driver's seat. 👉 Subscribe to The Restricted Handling Podcast at https://www.restrictedhandling.com/ to get a daily intel brief on Russia, China, Iran, Economics/Sanctions, Espionage, and more Ryan Fugit and Glenn Corn examine what Moscow may actually require to stop the war in Ukraine and how Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff should approach potential negotiations with Moscow and Kyiv. They also discuss how the Iran war could strengthen Putin's position by diverting attention and critical PAC-3 interceptors from Ukraine, along with naval operations in the Strait of Hormuz, IRGC propaganda, Russian threats against European shipping, and the potential threat to Air Force One in Turkey. In this episode, we cover: • Why Glenn believes Putin is negotiating from weakness • The military and economic pressure Washington can apply • Ukraine's shortage of PAC-3 interceptors • The structure of a potentially enforceable ceasefire • Sanctions relief as a diplomatic incentive • Territory, NATO membership, and Putin's maximalist demands • How the Iran war diverts resources from Ukraine • What an IRGC general revealed in a rare Western interview • The potential Iranian threat against Air Force One • Russian and Ukrainian battlefield losses • What the Battle of Fort Mercer teaches about Ukrainian resistance • The devastating earthquake in Colombia This conversation offers a direct look at the pressure points shaping Ukraine negotiations and the danger of allowing Moscow or Tehran to manufacture an illusion of strength. Timeline / chapters • 00:00 What Witkoff and Kushner should tell Putin • 00:21 Ukraine negotiations, Iran, and the episode ahead • 00:59 Glenn prepares for the UK, Ukraine, and Ukrainian lessons • 03:57 Drone pranks, remote pilots, and Navy Hellfires • 07:56 What Putin actually needs to end the Ukraine war • 11:49 Ukraine's PAC-3 shortage and Russia's ballistic campaign • 13:14 An enforceable ceasefire and the sanctions question • 15:36 Territory, NATO, and Putin's core demands • 18:45 Can any agreement with Putin last? • 21:15 Robert Gilman's release and Russian threats at sea • 23:23 How the Iran war gives Putin leverage • 27:55 Why US envoys need to visit Ukraine • 29:15 Inside the IRGC's propaganda campaign • 33:16 The potential Iranian threat to Air Force One • 36:57 Russian support for Iran and the strategy of patience • 38:43 The human cost of the Ukraine war • 39:28 What Fort Mercer teaches about Ukrainian resistance • 41:54 Colombia's election and devastating earthquake How to find Glenn Corn Glenn Corn is a former CIA Senior Intelligence Service officer and multi-time Chief of Station in some of the world's most difficult posts. You can find him at the Institute of World Politics (https://www.iwp.edu/faculty/glenn-corn/) or his consultancy at Great South Bay Consulting (https://greatsouthbayinc.com/). Restricted Handling https://www.restrictedhandling.com/

    What Putin Needs to End the War, Hellfires in the Gulf, IRGC Commander Propaganda, Kushner/Witkoff Advice

  2. Aug 6

    US-Iran-Israel-Lebanon Negotiations and Will Hezbollah or Hamas Disarm w/ Senior CIA Officers (ret) Glenn Corn and Ralph Goff

    The Middle East is moving on multiple fronts at once, and retired CIA Senior Case Officer Ralph Goff says Iran is the center of gravity. 👉 Subscribe to The Restricted Handling Podcast at https://www.restrictedhandling.com/ to get a daily intel brief on Russia, China, Iran, Economics/Sanctions, Espionage, and more Ryan Fugit and Glenn Corn are joined by Ralph Goff, a retired senior CIA operations officer and six-time Chief of Station across Europe, the Middle East, war zones, Central Asia, and South Asia, for a fast-moving discussion on Iran, Israel, Lebanon, Gaza, Turkey, Ukraine, and the shifting politics of U.S. support for Israel. The conversation starts with the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. leverage over Israel, and the negotiations around Lebanon and Gaza. From there, Ralph and Glenn dig into whether Hezbollah or Hamas can realistically disarm, why Turkey and Israel may be on a collision course, and how AIPAC's role in American politics is changing. They also connect the Middle East crisis to Ukraine, missile defense shortages, Patriot interceptors, Iran's internal factions, and the long-term energy shifts that could hurt both Tehran and Moscow. In this episode, we cover: • Why Ralph sees Iran as the top U.S. priority right now • Whether Trump has unusual leverage over Israel • The challenge of disarming Hezbollah and Hamas • Why Gaza ceasefire talks may be a long shot • Turkey's growing role in the Israel, Syria, and Hamas equation • How U.S. politics around Israel are changing after October 7 • Iran's internal hardliner dynamics and the problem of Mujtaba • Patriot interceptor shortages and Ukraine's air defense crisis • Syria's opportunity to reduce reliance on Russian oil • Ralph's story behind a battle-worn Ukrainian flag Timeline / chapters • 00:00 Ryan introduces Glenn Corn and Ralph Goff • 00:51 Why Iran is the top U.S. priority right now • 02:14 Oil markets, Hormuz traffic, and Trump's leverage • 03:46 Does the U.S. still have leverage over Israel? • 06:00 Lebanon's opportunity and Hezbollah disarmament • 08:04 Ralph breaks down the Gaza disarmament problem • 09:21 What happens if there is no Gaza deal? • 11:21 Glenn on why Hezbollah will not disarm easily • 12:45 Turkey, Israel, Syria, Hamas, and the F-35 question • 15:19 AIPAC, U.S. politics, and changing Israel support • 17:29 Glenn on anti-Semitism, Israel criticism, and Kremlin influence • 19:23 Iran, U.S. stockpiles, and the next month of tensions • 21:33 Glenn warns against claims that U.S. arsenals are depleted • 23:02 Ukraine's air defense crisis and Patriot interceptor shortages • 24:24 Ukraine's strike on an Iranian cargo vessel in the Caspian • 25:18 Why producing Patriots under license is so complicated • 27:10 Is Mujtaba still alive? • 28:37 Syria, Russian oil, Iraq, and new energy routes • 31:31 Ralph explains the Ukrainian flag behind him About Ralph Goff Ralph Goff is a retired senior CIA operations officer and six-time Chief of Station. In the episode, Ryan describes his service across Europe, the Middle East, war zones, Central Asia, and South Asia, as well as his post-retirement public speaking and commentary on Russia, Ukraine, and national security. How to find Glenn Corn Glenn Corn is a former CIA Senior Intelligence Service officer and multi-time Chief of Station in some of the world's most difficult posts. You can find him at the Institute of World Politics (https://www.iwp.edu/faculty/glenn-corn/) or his consultancy at Great South Bay Consulting (https://greatsouthbayinc.com/). Restricted Handling https://www.restrictedhandling.com/

    US-Iran-Israel-Lebanon Negotiations and Will Hezbollah or Hamas Disarm w/ Senior CIA Officers (ret) Glenn Corn and Ralph Goff

  3. Aug 3

    The Four Ways Putin Leaves Office from 40-Year Senior CIA Russia Analyst Peter Clement and CIA CoS Glenn Corn

    Putin's eventual exit could trigger a managed succession, an internal coup, or a dangerous struggle for power inside the Kremlin. This episode brought to by you by Larineco. Larineco is offering our listeners up to 50% off at buylarine.com/RESTRICTED. Glenn and I love it and it helps the show (and your teeth)...please try some! 👉 Subscribe to The Restricted Handling Podcast at https://www.restrictedhandling.com/ to get a daily intel brief on Russia, China, Iran, Economics/Sanctions, Espionage, and more What happens to Russia after Vladimir Putin? Peter Clement, a former senior CIA Russia analyst and Columbia University professor, joins Ryan and Glenn to examine the scenarios that could shape post-Putin Russia. Peter spent more than 40 years at the CIA, including as a Soviet and Russian analyst, PDB briefer, and deputy assistant director for Europe and Eurasia. He and Glenn also discuss their shared Bellport roots and decades studying Russia. In this episode, we cover: • The four major post-Putin succession scenarios • Why Putin is unlikely to manage his own retirement • How Putin's death could trigger Kremlin maneuvering • The difference between a soft coup and a hard coup • What the Prigozhin mutiny revealed about Putin's system • Whether Russia could experience a gradual "deputinization" • The real level of domestic pressure facing Putin • How Ukrainian strikes and economic pain could affect Russian politics • Why a mass popular revolt remains a low-probability scenario • The challenges facing CIA analysts trying to understand Russia • The risks and benefits of intelligence mission-center integration • Whether the United States should engage Putin's successor • Lessons from Reagan's engagement with Gorbachev • Why a ceasefire may give Russia time to rebuild • Why Putin's foreign policy may ultimately become a strategic defeat Peter Clement argues that a popular uprising is possible but unlikely, while internal pressure from the security services and political elite could become increasingly important as the war continues. The conversation also explores whether Putin's successor would continue his imperial ambitions or pursue a more pragmatic course. Timeline / chapters • 00:00 Peter Clement joins the Restricted Handling Podcast • 01:07 How Glenn and Peter connected through Bellport and Russia • 04:16 Why post-Putin succession planning matters • 08:16 The four scenarios for Putin's exit • 12:33 Kremlin maneuvering, Stalin, and the succession problem • 15:21 Patronage, younger elites, and the possibility of an internal coup • 17:26 Was the Prigozhin mutiny a coup attempt? • 19:26 Soft coups, hard coups, and removing Putin • 21:40 Larineco sponsor spot • 22:44 Putin's paranoia and the Kremlin "nest of vipers" • 24:14 Deputinization and Putin's potential legacy • 29:36 Ukrainian strikes and growing pressure inside Russia • 34:38 Could a mass revolt bring down the regime? • 38:01 The intelligence challenge of understanding modern Russia • 43:52 CIA analysts, operators, and mission-center integration • 48:35 Should the United States engage Putin's successor? • 50:50 Reagan, Gorbachev, and the value of personal diplomacy • 56:04 Which post-Putin scenario is most plausible? • 01:04:30 Iran, mobilization, and the pressure of a prolonged war • 01:08:58 Why Putin's foreign policy may become a strategic defeat • 01:10:08 Closing thoughts and how to follow Restricted Handling About Peter Clement Peter Clement spent more than 40 years at the CIA as a Soviet and Russian analyst, PDB briefer, and deputy assistant director for Europe and Eurasia. He received the CIA's Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal and is now a professor at Columbia University. He is also working on a forthcoming Cypher Brief book about CIA analysts and has written on Russian succession scenarios and Putin's nuclear calculus. How to find Glenn Corn Glenn Corn is a former CIA Senior Intelligence Service officer and multi-time Chief of Station in some of the world's most difficult posts. You can find him at the Institute of World Politics (https://www.iwp.edu/faculty/glenn-corn/) or his consultancy at Great South Bay Consulting (https://greatsouthbayinc.com/). Learn more at https://www.restrictedhandling.com/

    The Four Ways Putin Leaves Office from 40-Year Senior CIA Russia Analyst Peter Clement and CIA CoS Glenn Corn

  4. Jul 25

    Glenn Kiev Trip Report: Ukraine Power Shakeup, Russia's Lie Machine, Houthi Attacks, Saudi Nuclear?

    Glenn just returned from Ukraine with insights into Ukraine's battlefield momentum colliding with political turmoil, Russian pressure, and a Middle East crisis that could reshape global security. 👉 Subscribe to The Restricted Handling Podcast at https://www.restrictedhandling.com/ to get a daily intel brief on Russia, China, Iran, Economics/Sanctions, Espionage, and more Ryan Fugit and Glenn Corn break down a volatile week: a deadly strike in Bucha, leadership changes in Kyiv, Ukraine's campaign against Russian logistics, Russia's familiar negotiation tactics, and mounting pressure on Iran's proxy network. In this episode, we cover: • The Bucha strike and accountability during wartime • Ukraine's leadership reshuffle, battlefield momentum, and the reported F-16 air-to-air kill • Laura Loomer's Ukraine visit and her reversal on Russian propaganda • How Russian negotiators use history, ambiguity, and pressure to wear down counterparts • The debate between drones, innovation, manpower, and conventional military power • Lebanon, Hezbollah, Syria, and the opportunity to rebuild state legitimacy • Houthi attacks, Middle East maritime choke points, and the Saudi nuclear agreement • Iran's nuclear ambitions and the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz • Ukraine's strikes on Wildberries and Russia's dual-use logistics network • Glenn's outlook for a Russia-Ukraine ceasefire and the odds of a Taiwan invasion The stakes extend well beyond the front lines. Ukraine's internal cohesion, Russia's ability to sustain its war, the future of the Abraham Accords, and Iran's regional reach are increasingly connected. Timeline / chapters • 00:00 Bucha tragedy and the week's biggest developments • 02:56 Ukraine's leadership reshuffle and battlefield momentum • 05:42 Sanctions pressure, F-16s, and Ukraine's anxious mood • 08:08 Laura Loomer's Ukraine visit and reversing Russian propaganda • 13:12 Russia's negotiating playbook and the "Anchorage agreement" • 17:20 Will Kyiv's shakeup undermine battlefield gains? • 22:14 Drones, manpower, and Ukraine's old-versus-new military debate • 26:12 Lebanon, President Aoun, and Hezbollah's future • 31:56 Houthi attacks, maritime chokepoints, and the Saudi nuclear deal • 34:51 Abraham Accords, Israel, and Saudi normalization • 37:56 Iran's nuclear future and the Strait of Hormuz • 39:11 Russian intelligence cover in Japan • 41:26 Why Ukraine is striking Russia's Wildberries logistics network • 46:44 Ceasefire odds, Taiwan, and what comes next How to find Glenn Corn Glenn Corn is a former CIA Senior Intelligence Service officer and multi-time Chief of Station in some of the world's most difficult posts. You can find him at the Institute of World Politics (https://www.iwp.edu/faculty/glenn-corn/) or his consultancy at Great South Bay Consulting (https://greatsouthbayinc.com/). Restricted Handling https://www.restrictedhandling.com/

    Glenn Kiev Trip Report: Ukraine Power Shakeup, Russia's Lie Machine, Houthi Attacks, Saudi Nuclear?

  5. Jul 16 ·  Video

    RUSSIA IS IN TROUBLE, UKRAINE IS HITTING BACK, TURKEY PICKS A SIDE, CHINA SENDS A WARNING W/ CIA OFFICERS GLENN CORN

    Russia's war machine is under pressure, Turkey is moving closer to Washington, and new espionage and military risks are emerging from China and Japan. 👉 Subscribe to The Restricted Handling Podcast at https://www.restrictedhandling.com/ to get a daily intel brief on Russia, China, Iran, Economics/Sanctions, Espionage, and more Ryan Fugit and Glenn Corn return to examine the latest developments in international security, geopolitics, and military affairs. In this episode, we cover: • Ukraine's deep strikes against Russian logistics and maritime traffic • Ukraine's shrinking air defense capacity • Why Turkey welcomed President Trump at the NATO summit • Turkey's possible return to the F-35 program • New sanctions pressure on Russia and its energy buyers • Political reshuffling and possible corruption concerns in Kyiv • Russia's recruitment of women as manpower shortages grow • Russian espionage and technology acquisition networks in Japan • China's nuclear submarine missile launch and possible signaling • The danger of military exercises being misread as preparations for war • China's detention of an American scientific specialist • Starlink and the emerging satellite battlefield • A few lighter stories about travel, shisha, gum, and Tinto de Verano This episode connects battlefield developments, sanctions, intelligence operations, alliance politics, and escalation risks across Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, China, and the wider Middle East. Timeline / chapters • 00:00 Welcome and the World Cup conversation • 03:37 Ukraine's battlefield gains and worsening air defense shortage • 04:48 Why Turkey welcomed President Trump • 06:30 Turkey, the F-35 program, and the Russian S-400 system • 08:24 Trump, Zelensky, and NATO summit outcomes • 08:56 New sanctions pressure on Russia and India • 09:26 Political reshuffling and corruption concerns in Ukraine • 10:48 What an early ambassadorial departure could signal • 14:00 Gulf ceasefire collapse and threats to shipping routes • 15:07 Why the Sea of Azov matters to Russia and Ukraine • 18:28 Russian oligarch messaging and Kremlin information warfare • 21:19 Russia begins recruiting women for military roles • 25:20 Russian espionage and technology collection in Japan • 27:08 The history of espionage through sexual blackmail • 28:13 China's nuclear submarine missile launch • 29:00 How military exercises can create escalation risks • 30:36 Russia and China's interest in targeting Starlink • 31:04 China's detention of an American scientific specialist • 33:17 Glenn tests the sponsored gum • 35:17 Travel, Spain, Gibraltar, and Tinto de Verano • 37:43 World Cup predictions and closing thoughts How to find Glenn Corn Glenn Corn is a former CIA Senior Intelligence Service officer and multi-time Chief of Station in some of the world's most difficult posts. You can find him at the Institute of World Politics (https://www.iwp.edu/faculty/glenn-corn/) or his consultancy at Great South Bay Consulting (https://greatsouthbayinc.com/). Learn more at https://www.restrictedhandling.com/

    RUSSIA IS IN TROUBLE, UKRAINE IS HITTING BACK, TURKEY PICKS A SIDE, CHINA SENDS A WARNING W/ CIA OFFICERS GLENN CORN

  6. Jul 5 ·  Video

    How China Is Burrowing Into U.S. Critical Infrastructure with China Expert Nick Eftimiades

    Exclusive: Coveron discount: https://coveron.com/rhpod or use the code "rhpod" at checkout. AND, for some great new gum, go to buylarine.com/restricted for up to 50% off (and you can help the show while you do it!) China is not just stealing secrets, Nick Eftimiades argues it is quietly positioning itself inside the systems America depends on. Nick spent three decades in the intel community, mainly at DIA and exclusively focused on China and it's intel efforts. 👉 Subscribe to The Restricted Handling Podcast at https://www.restrictedhandling.com/ to get a daily intel brief on Russia, China, Iran, Economics/Sanctions, Espionage, and more Ryan Fugit and Glenn Corn are joined by Nick Eftimiades of Shinobi Enterprises for a deep dive on China's penetration of U.S. critical infrastructure, Beijing's long-term intelligence strategy, and why Congress may be the only place durable counter-China policy can be forced into law. Nick is heading to the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence to discuss China's subversion of U.S. critical infrastructure and the gaps in America's counterintelligence response. The conversation covers cyber campaigns, compromised supply chains, solar and battery systems, local political influence operations, Cuba, Taiwan, Europe's threat picture, LinkedIn recruitment, and Nick's database of 984 China-related counterintelligence cases. In this episode, we cover: • Salt Typhoon, Volt Typhoon, and Chinese penetration of U.S. communications infrastructure • Backdoors and kill switches in Chinese-made infrastructure products • Why the U.S. needs a response strategy, not only stronger defenses • China's long-term patience and why Beijing can wait out U.S. administrations • The Arcadia mayor case and local political influence operations • "Bottom sinking fish" and decades-long asset placement • China's SIGINT presence in Cuba • Whether the Taiwan invasion threat is being overhyped • How Europe balances China, Russia, terrorism, and economic pressure • Nick's China CI database and changes in MSS tradecraft • LinkedIn targeting, fake consultancy approaches, and AI-enabled espionage risks Timeline / chapters • 00:00 Nick Eftimiades returns ahead of a House Intel roundtable • 01:02 Why Congress is focused on Chinese subversion of U.S. critical infrastructure • 02:46 Salt Typhoon, Volt Typhoon, backdoors, and kill switches • 04:51 Glenn on China's dominance in solar and battery supply chains • 06:32 Moving key supply chains out of China • 07:49 Why cyber defense alone gives Beijing no reason to stop • 09:33 Trump, Xi, and Beijing's ability to wait out administrations • 11:21 Why Congress needs to mandate a durable China strategy • 13:51 The Arcadia mayor case and local political influence operations • 17:05 "Bottom sinking fish" and China's long-term asset strategy • 18:40 Cuba, Chinese SIGINT, and U.S. strategic opportunity • 23:04 Are analysts overselling the China threat? • 24:11 Taiwan, 2027, and the limits of U.S. intelligence • 25:16 How Europe weighs China against Russia and terrorism • 27:36 Nick's 984-case China counterintelligence database • 31:17 Mapping MSS headquarters and estimating the service's size • 33:34 LinkedIn targeting, fake papers, and AI in recruitment • 36:08 Closing thoughts and constituent pressure on Congress About Nick Eftimiades Nick Eftimiades is introduced in the episode as being of Shinobi Enterprises and as someone who has spent decades covering China and the China counterintelligence threat. In this conversation, he discusses his work tracking China-related counterintelligence cases, his database of 984 cases, and his current research into Ministry of State Security headquarters locations in China. How to find Glenn Corn Glenn Corn is a former CIA Senior Intelligence Service officer and multi-time Chief of Station in some of the world's most difficult posts. You can find him at the Institute of World Politics (https://www.iwp.edu/faculty/glenn-corn/) or his consultancy at Great South Bay Consulting (https://greatsouthbayinc.com/). Restricted Handling: https://www.restrictedhandling.com/

    How China Is Burrowing Into U.S. Critical Infrastructure with China Expert Nick Eftimiades

  7. Jun 29 ·  Video

    How Russia Evades Sanctions & What Still Works with Economic Security Council of Ukraine Expert

    Exclusive Coveron discount: https://coveron.com/rhpod or use the code "rhpod" at checkout. Sanctions are reshaping Russia's war economy, but only when enforcement turns pressure into real cost. 👉 Subscribe to The Restricted Handling Podcast at https://www.restrictedhandling.com/ to get a daily intel brief on Russia, China, Iran, Economics/Sanctions, Espionage, and more In this episode of The Restricted Handling Podcast, Glenn Corn and Ryan Fugit sit down with Roman Steblivskyi, Senior Director for Policy and Advocacy at the Economic Security Council of Ukraine, to break down what sanctions are actually doing to Russia's war machine. Roman explains why sanctions can be symbolic, why some still work, and how Russian procurement networks use cutouts, shell companies, Turkey, China, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, and other routes to keep military supply chains moving. The conversation also digs into oil and gas pressure, the debate over secondary sanctions, the limits of EU consensus, and what Washington, Brussels, and London should focus on next. In this episode, we cover: • Why sanctions are not enough unless enforcement follows • How Russia uses long, expensive supply chains to evade controls • CNC machines, dual-use goods, and why civilian technology matters on the battlefield • Belarus as a sanctions loophole and strategic problem • The Lindsey Graham sanctions package and secondary pressure on Russian oil buyers • Why EU sanctions policy is constrained by member-state politics • Whether sanctions should ever be lifted as part of negotiations • Shadow fleet enforcement, strategic minerals, and next steps for the sanctions coalition Timeline / chapters • 00:00 Glenn introduces Roman Steblivskyi and the sanctions focus • 02:25 What the Economic Security Council of Ukraine does • 04:25 Symbolic sanctions versus sanctions that change Russian behavior • 06:37 Sanctions evasion and the real cost of longer supply chains • 08:18 How evasion can double Russia's procurement costs • 12:18 Which countries Russia uses to evade sanctions • 13:49 What CNC machines are and why Russia needs them • 15:43 Belarus, sanctions relief, and Russia's war logistics • 20:18 Lindsey Graham's sanctions package and Russian oil buyers • 23:00 Why enforcement matters more than announcement • 28:28 The EU problem, Hungary, Slovakia, and divided sanctions policy • 31:56 How weak is the Russian economy really? • 33:48 Should sanctions be lifted if Russia negotiates seriously? • 37:39 Dual-use technology, drones, cyber tools, and future controls • 40:45 Why sanctions relief must depend on real Russian steps • 41:32 Shadow fleet enforcement and NATO maritime pressure • 42:21 Strategic minerals and Russia's military supply chain • 43:36 Compliance, end-user audits, and secondary sanctions • 45:45 Closing thoughts and a possible China follow-up About Roman Steblivskyi Roman Steblivskyi is the Senior Director for Policy and Advocacy at the Economic Security Council of Ukraine, an independent non-governmental organization focused on sanctions policy, Russian capital, supply chains, and economic tools to restrict Russia's military-industrial capacity. How to find Glenn Corn Glenn Corn is a former CIA Senior Intelligence Service officer and multi-time Chief of Station in some of the world's most difficult posts. You can find him at the Institute of World Politics (https://www.iwp.edu/faculty/glenn-corn/) or his consultancy at Great South Bay Consulting (https://greatsouthbayinc.com/). Find more from Restricted Handling: https://www.restrictedhandling.com/

    How Russia Evades Sanctions & What Still Works with Economic Security Council of Ukraine Expert

  8. Jun 8 ·  Video

    Russia's Dirty War: Ukraine Air Defense Commander Breaks Down Combat Innovation w/ CIA CoS/SIS (ret)

    FROM KIEV...Retired CIA Senior Officer sits down with Ukrainian air defense officer who explains what modern war really looks like from the front line. 👉 Subscribe to The Restricted Handling Podcast at https://www.restrictedhandling.com/ to get a daily intel brief on Russia, China, Iran, Economics/Sanctions, Espionage, and more Glenn Corn sits down in Kyiv with Artist, a Ukrainian officer in an air defense unit in Ukraine's Third Corps, after another major Russian air attack across Ukraine. The conversation moves from the human cost of Russia's strikes to the tactical reality of defending the front against drones, glide bombs, missiles, and rapidly evolving Russian tactics. Artist was born in Odessa in 1991 and was working as an artist, sculptor, and designer before volunteering in 2014. He explains how Ukraine's war forced a generation to trade normal lives for defense of the country, why Russia's attacks have hardened Ukrainian society rather than broken it, and what Western militaries should learn from Ukraine's front-line innovation cycle. In this episode, we cover: • Russia's latest mass air attacks on Ukraine and the cost to civilians • Artist's path from Odessa artist and designer to Ukrainian officer • Why the Third Corps and Azov became his chosen unit • Russian drone tactics, fiber-optic UAVs, and the expanding depth of the front • How Ukrainian air defense pushes Russian aviation back from the line • Why Ukraine's innovation comes from the front line first • What NATO and U.S. air defense officers should learn from Ukraine • Why modern war is dirty, fast, adaptive, and often without rules • Odessa, Maidan, Ukrainian resilience, and the fight for freedom • China's view of Russia and why Beijing may be willing to watch Russia exhaust itself • Iran, Russia, Ukraine, and the emerging security architecture • Why Ukraine matters as a future U.S. partner This is a direct look at the war through the eyes of someone living the operational reality every day: adaptation, mobility, resilience, and the price of freedom. Timeline / chapters • 00:00 Glenn opens from Kyiv after major Russian attacks • 01:54 Artist's background before the war • 02:47 Odessa, art, design, and giving up a peaceful life • 04:26 Artist's time working in China • 05:34 China, Russia, and long-term strategic thinking • 06:59 Why Artist joined Azov and followed Andriy Biletsky • 08:27 The Third Corps and Artist's air defense role • 09:21 Assessing Russian drone capabilities • 11:14 Integrated tactical air defense on the front • 12:23 How front-line dynamics differ across Ukraine • 13:17 Fiber-optic UAVs and the problem of countermeasures • 14:22 Glide bombs, Gripens, and pushing Russian aircraft back • 15:47 Ukrainian strikes on Crimea logistics • 16:32 Iran, oil prices, and Russia's economic advantage • 17:55 What NATO air defense officers should learn • 18:35 Ukraine's bottom-up military innovation cycle • 21:09 Why Western militaries must prepare for dirty war • 22:51 Odessa, Russian-speaking Ukrainians, and resilience • 25:22 Maidan, independence, and rejecting Russia's model • 28:15 What Artist thinks about U.S. support for Ukraine • 32:55 Russia, Iran, and why Ukraine matters to Americans • 33:40 Artist's favorite musicians and Ukrainian bands • 34:45 Artist asks why Russia started the war • 38:25 Artist's view of the collapsing global security system • 40:21 Glenn on Ukraine as a critical U.S. partner • 43:07 Closing from Kyiv About Artist Artist is the callsign of a Ukrainian officer serving in an air defense unit in Ukraine's Third Corps. Born in Odessa in 1991, he studied art and design, worked as a sculptor and interior designer, and volunteered for military service in 2014. In this episode, he discusses his service, his experience with Azov and the Third Corps, and the realities of tactical air defense in Ukraine's war against Russia. How to find Glenn Corn Glenn Corn is a former CIA Senior Intelligence Service officer and multi-time Chief of Station in some of the world's most difficult posts. You can find him at the Institute of World Politics (https://www.iwp.edu/faculty/glenn-corn/) or his consultancy at Great South Bay Consulting (https://greatsouthbayinc.com/). Restricted Handling https://www.restrictedhandling.com/

    Russia's Dirty War: Ukraine Air Defense Commander Breaks Down Combat Innovation w/ CIA CoS/SIS (ret)
See All (36)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Former CIA officers with extremely experienced guests talk Russia, China, Iran, North Korea; international security, geopolitics, military, intel operations, sanctions and economic power plays. Get deeper daily analysis on Substack at https://substack.com/@restrictedhandling. Find daily intel brief podcasts on Russia, China, and Iran at https://open.spotify.com/show/6Kb9BYk98BEmeHVpgWiklG

Information

You Might Also Like