CC: Jakub Jajcay – The Raw Reality of Modern Warfare in Ukraine

This week on Conflicted, host Thomas Small is joined by an old
friend and former housemate when they studied in Syria together,
Jakub Jajcay. A man of many talents, Jakub studied Arabic with
Thomas in Damascus before becoming a Slovakian army officer, while
also continuing his studies about the Middle East, including
working towards a PHD on Lebanese politics. When Russia invaded
Ukraine, he decided to put his professional skills to use, joining
the Ukrainian Armed Forces as a foreign volunteer.  This
episode is a raw, firsthand account of his experience of modern
warfare. Jakub recounts his experiences as both an infantryman in
the trenches and a drone operator, revealing surprising and often
grim truths about the war's reality. The pair discuss a number of
misconceptions about the war, from the overrated influence of
Western weapons to the true nature of combat in the 21st century.
They also dive into the effectiveness of drones, and the deeply
personal motivations of Ukrainian soldiers, revealing a quiet,
resolute patriotism that is less about grand political ideology and
more about the fundamental desire for a sovereign homeland. This is
a powerful and sobering conversation that grounds the abstract
debates about international law and geopolitics in the grit, mud,
and courage of those living it on the ground. To listen to the full
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