Silicon Curtain

Silicon Bites Ep396 | 2026-09-07 | Kyiv's spy agencies opened fire on each other. Forty-eight hours later a Russian drone flew into the office of the SBU chief. These are unprecedented events. Moscow thinks it is watching a state come apart. And Moscow trolls and Kremlin aligned analysts, agents and useful idiots are having a field day. But Ukraine stands and is not collapsing from within – it’s just having a bad, a very bad, day. But better days will come, as Moscow reaps the consequences of its relentless aggression. ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.org----------SOURCES:Kyiv Independent — Zelensky dismisses high-ranking SBU official, demands investigation after shootout between Ukraine's security services in Kyiv — https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-prevents-fsb-plot-against-russian-opposition-figure/Kyiv Independent — Fallout from 'disgraceful' HUR, SBU shootout deepens with more FSB accusations, denials — https://kyivindependent.com/sbu-accuses-russian-volunteer-corps-deputy-commander-of-fsb-ties-as-he-alleges-threats-in-secret-detention/RFE/RL — Alleged Confession Video Raises More Questions About Ukrainian Security Agencies' Shoot-Out — https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-kyiv-gunfire-security-agencies-russia-war/33846889.htmlAl Jazeera — Ukrainian intel agencies in Kyiv firefight: What happened and why? — https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/3/ukrainian-intel-agencies-in-kyiv-firefight-what-happened-and-whyUkrainska Pravda (English) — Deputy commander of Russian Volunteer Corps claims Ukraine's Security Service tried to use his testimony to discredit head of President's Office — https://pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2026/09/03/8051736Kyiv Post — Kyiv Shootout Between SBU and HUR – What We Know — https://www.kyivpost.com/post/83582Kyiv Post — SBU, HUR Offer Conflicting Accounts Over Kyiv Shootout — https://www.kyivpost.com/post/83687Kyiv Post — Zelensky Orders Dismissal of SBU, HUR Deputy Chiefs Over Shootout in Kyiv — https://www.kyivpost.com/post/83702The Moscow Times — Ukraine's SBU Accuses Russian Volunteer Corps Commander of Plotting to Kill Opposition Figure — https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/03/ukraines-sbu-accuses-russian-volunteer-corps-commander-of-plotting-to-kill-opposition-figure-a93634NV (New Voice of Ukraine) — SBU alleges Kaplunov planned FSB-ordered killing of Russian opposition figure — https://english.nv.ua/nation/sbu-accuses-kaplunov-of-plotting-fsb-assassination-of-russian-opposition-figure-50638130.htmlUNN — Deputy heads of the SBU and the HUR will be dismissed — Zelenskyy on the shootout in Kyiv — https://unn.ua/en/news/deputy-heads-of-the-sbu-and-the-hur-will-be-dismissed-zelenskyy-on-the-shootout-in-kyiv----------

Oleksandra Chorna is a Blogger and Therapist based in New York. She runs platforms including on YouTube focusing on democratic politics, authoritarian slide, and Ukraine's struggle to remain independent in the face of Russian aggression. ----------LINKS:https://www.youtube.com/@UC9WVWN8qNEiy2CofIUW9Zpw https://www.instagram.com/mom_ocracy/https://www.linkedin.com/in/oleksandra-chorna-30b9088/----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Car4Ukrainehttps://car4ukraine.com/en-US/campaignsDzyga's Pawhttps://dzygaspaw.com/projectsSuperhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/----------PLATFORMS:Substack: https://substack.com/@siliconcurtainTwitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSiliconLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqm----------

YURI RASHKIN LINKS:https://www.youtube.com/@rashkinreportinenglishhttps://www.youtube.com/@RashkinReport/https://rashkinreport.substack.com/https://www.facebook.com/rashkin/https://www.instagram.com/yurirashkin/----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/iwihttps://www.patreon.com/iwi----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyslhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------PLATFORMS:Twitter: https://twitter.com/iwiInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwi/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/iwiPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/iwiBuy me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/iwi----------

Silicon Bites Ep397 | 2026-09-10 | Putin switched the terror off, in Kyiv at least, for a short period of time, and across a narrow corridor of space. Once more demonstrating that he has full control over the taps of terror – he can turn them on and off at will. The zombie empire that Russia has become is entirely tuned to his pathological will, and like a loyal, murderous machine it faithfully carries out his orders to inflict murder and mayhem, pain and destruction. Only by eliminating Putin is there any hope of ending this slaughter. This should be clear to all but apparently is not. ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.org----------SOURCES:Kyiv Post — "Journalist Challenges Trump Envoy Witkoff Over Putin Meetings: 'Don't You Find It Disgusting?'", 7 Sept 2026 Kyiv Post (Lesia Dubenko) — "Witkoff and Kushner Get Confronted in Kyiv", 7 Sept 2026 HuffPost UK — "Trump's Envoys Spark Fury As They Advocate For Putin While In Ukraine", 7 Sept 2026 Kremlin (en.kremlin.ru) — official transcript, "Meeting with US President's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner", 5 Sept 2026 CNN — "Witkoff confident of 'good resolution' after Kyiv meeting, as US pushes for trilateral talks with Russia", 6 Sept 2026 CNN — "Witkoff and Kushner to take US peace push to Kyiv after meeting Putin in Moscow", 5 Sept 2026 ABC News — "Witkoff hails 'very meaningful discussions' on Ukraine-Russia war in Sunday meeting with Zelenskyy", 6 Sept 2026Axios — "Trump envoys Witkoff, Kushner meet Zelensky in Kyiv for Ukraine peace talks", 6 Sept 2026 CNBC / AP — "Witkoff and Kushner in Moscow for Russia and Ukraine peace talks", 5 Sept 2026 NBC News — "U.S. envoys Witkoff and Kushner arrive in Kyiv after peace talks in Moscow", 6 Sept 2026 Kyiv Independent — "Russian drone strikes SBU headquarters in central Kyiv, injuring at least 12", 4 Sept 2026 CNN — "Russia strikes Ukraine Security Service headquarters in central Kyiv", 4 Sept 2026 PBS NewsHour / AP — "Russian drone strikes Ukraine security service headquarters as U.S. talks on the war are expected", 4 Sept 2026 Julia Davis (@JuliaDavisNews), X, 5 Sept 2026 — Russian state TV panel reaction, "Bolek and Lolek"; and Bluesky post by @maks23 on the commemorative coins, compiled at Daily Kos, 6 Sept 2026WarTranslated (@wartranslated), X, 6 Sept 2026 — video and translation of Gordon's question ----------

Valeria Kovtun is was formerly Head at Filter, the National media literacy project founded in Ukraine. She also worked as a journalist at BBC Reel and has been a senior correspondent at major Ukrainian media organisations, and a fellow journalist at the United Nations. She also has a background in video production, content management and news broadcasting. Valeria Kovtun studied law, Media Communications, and journalism at several prestigious institutions, including the Kyiv National Economics University, the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, and the LSE.----------LINKS:https://twitter.com/valerie_kov?lang=enhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/valeria-kovtun-76b13517a/----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Car4Ukrainehttps://car4ukraine.com/en-US/campaignsDzyga's Pawhttps://dzygaspaw.com/projectsSuperhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/----------PLATFORMS:Substack: https://substack.com/@siliconcurtainTwitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSiliconLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqm----------