Episode Details

Twenty thousand Ukrainian kids — ripped from their families, shipped into Russia, renamed, re-educated, erased. And some of their parents are slipping behind enemy lines to get them back.

Dr. Olga Popel, President of the Southern California Holodomor Genocide Committee, has seen this playbook before. Russia didn't invent the erasure of Ukrainian identity — it perfected it. From the engineered famine that killed millions to the drone wars reshaping the front lines today, she traces the through-line of imperial brutality that Ukraine keeps refusing to accept.

And here's what the headlines buried: Ukraine is winning on the battlefield in ways nobody predicted. Ukrainian drones are embarrassing Russian armor. Territory is coming back. Putin, meanwhile, is reportedly moving between fortified bunkers — a man who launched a blitzkrieg now hiding from his own shadows.

But the picture at home is darker. The Trump administration has quietly stepped back from Ukraine's defense. And for Ukrainian exiles living in America? ICE is now part of the equation.

Phil and Ted cut through the fog of two wars at once — because while the world watches the Middle East, Ukraine is still fighting. Still losing children. Still winning ground.

Takeaways:

• The ongoing conflict in Ukraine highlights the resilience of the Ukrainian people, who have a long history of striving for independence and self-determination.
• Ukrainian authorities have reported over 20,000 children kidnapped by Russian forces, with only a small fraction returned to their families.
• The international community is alarmed at the forced assimilation of abducted Ukrainian children into Russian society, raising serious humanitarian concerns.
• As the war evolves, Ukraine is emerging as a significant player in drone warfare, utilizing innovative technologies to enhance its military capabilities.
• Putin's increasing paranoia has led to heightened security measures, including living in bunkers and restricting communication among his inner circle.
• The plight of Ukrainian refugees is critical, as many are facing uncertain futures due to the expiration of their humanitarian protection status in the United States.

Links discussed:

Southern California Holodomor Genocide Committee

Ukrainian Culture Center of Los Angeles

Phil and Ted's Sexy Boomer Show

Companies mentioned in this episode:

• UCLA
• Southern California Holodomor Genocide Committee
• Yale Humanitarian Research Laboratory
• National Mall
• Museum of Tolerance
• California Teachers Cooperative