How Drone Innovation Reshapes the Battlefield in Ukraine with Kate Bondar

How Drone Innovation Reshapes the Battlefield in Ukraine with Kate Bondar

Author: CSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies June 26, 2026 Duration: 39:48
Max and Maria sit down with Kate Bondar, Senior Fellow at CSIS’s Wadhwani AI Center and expert on autonomous warfare, to discuss the role of drones in combat in Ukraine, including Russia’s innovation tactics and takeaways from the recent increase in strikes on Moscow and Kyiv.   Mentioned:  How Russia Is Building a Sovereign Drone Ecosystem for AI-Driven Autonomy | CSIS report by Kate Bondar  Defining Autonomy: Why Software, Not Drones, Will Decide the Next War | CSIS report by Kate Bondar and Matt Mande  Russia Is Building Tomorrow’s War Machine | Kate Bondar in The New York Times  Feedback? Suggestions? Ideas to help us improve? Email us at erep@csis.org.  If you love Russian Roulette, let us know by subscribing and leaving a review wherever you get your podcasts.   Listen to our sister podcast, covering all things Europe through a Washington lens: CSIS Podcasts | The Eurofile  

Dive deep into the political landscape, historical currents, and rich social fabric of a vast and consequential region with Russian Roulette. This podcast from the CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program is guided by hosts Max Bergmann and Dr. Maria Snegovaya, who bring their expertise to nuanced conversations that move beyond headlines. Each episode delves into the forces shaping Russia and the diverse nations of Eurasia, unpacking everything from foreign policy and internal power dynamics to cultural shifts and societal transformations. You'll hear insightful analysis and engaging discussions with a range of experts, offering listeners a clearer understanding of the complex challenges and opportunities within the post-Soviet space. Produced by Tina Dolbaia and Nick Fenton, the podcast consistently provides context and depth on a part of the world where history is always present. For anyone curious about the intricate politics, compelling stories, and human experiences that define this area, this series serves as an essential guide, making sense of a region that often seems enigmatic from the outside.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

Russian Roulette
Podcast Episodes
Max and Michael Kimmage Catch Up on All Things Russia and Ukraine [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:35
This week, Max spoke with Michael Kimmage about the recent headlines connected to Russia and Ukraine, and what they mean for the coming months. "The Limits of Putin's Balancing Act: What the Kremlin Will Sacrifice in Pur…
Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Geopolitics in the South Caucasus [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:35
Max and Maria are joined by Richard Giragosian and Jeffrey Mankoff to talk about the current geopolitical moment in the South Caucasus, with a particular focus on the dynamics at play in the relationships between Armenia…
Hanna Notte on What the Israel-Iran War Means for Russia [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:51
Hanna Notte returns to the show for a conversation with Max and Maria about what the most recent round of hostilities between Israel and Iran, plus the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, mean for Russia's own Mi…
Bonus Episode: The Russian Wartime Economy (Live Event Recording) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:29:00
Max moderated a live panel discussion with Maria, and two leading experts on the Russian economy, Elina Ribakova and Vladislav Inozemtsev. The conversation focused on the findings of the recent report from the CSIS Europ…
A Battlefield Update from Mike Kofman [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:19
Max and Maria get another update from military expert Mike Kofman on the state of the frontlines in Ukraine. This conversation was recorded on June 11, 2025. "The Russian Wartime Economy: From Sugar High to Hangover" by…
The State of Russia-Ukraine Negotiations with Michael Kimmage [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:23
Max and Maria welcome Michael Kimmage back to the show to provide his analysis of the ongoing U.S.-led negotiations to achieve a ceasefire in Ukraine. This conversation was recorded on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. "What if…