BFBS Radio Sitrep

The histories of World War Two were largely written by men, because they were almost exclusively the ones who experienced it at the front lines.

But a handful of remarkable women defied official bans, and went to the battlefields as war reporters.

In this extra edition of BFBS Sitrep we hear at length from Judith Mackrell=about her new book ‘Going With The Boys’ =, which tells the stories of six of these women war reporters.

From risking execution to abandoning lunch with Ernest Hemingway to get the scoops, Judith tells Kate Gerbeau how their reporting records a different perspective on the war, how attempts to block actually helped them, and what they have in common with women who serve at the front lines today.

Russia has fired half-a-billion dollars worth of missiles at Ukraine in just one day, after a blast destroyed part of its bridge to Crimea.

The Kremlin calls it ‘revenge’. BFBS Sitrep assesses whether it does anything to advance Moscow’s war effort, or damages it by wasting vital weapons.

Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine has a new commander, nicknamed ‘General Armageddon’. We look at his track record and compare him with Ukraine’s top officer.

We also talk to one of the RAF pilots who’ll be patrolling the skies of Qatar to protect the World Cup, and examine the security risks facing the tournament. 

After what looks like a ‘grey zone’ attack on gas-pipelines the UK is rapidly buying two new Royal Navy ships.

But how can they protect critical energy supplies, and communication cables, which can be miles below the surface of the sea?

President Putin might now be using actions to reinforce his words that he’s ‘not bluffing’ about nuclear weapons, but if he does use them can we respond without starting a new world war?

And we reflect on centuries of UK military service by Caribbean people, as work begins on the first national monument to mark their efforts and sacrifice.

The Ministry of Defence has admitted "some mistakes were made" after reports of a recruitment drive favouring women and ethnic minorities.

BFBS Sitrep hears the opinions of a former female RAF fighter pilot and asks a legal expert what is and isn’t acceptable when you’re trying to reach diversity targets.

And - the untold stories of Colditz prisoner of war camp… what really happened there behind the stirring tales of escape?

The whole programme is devoted to the war in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian ambassador to the UK tells Sitrep that President Putins’s announcement that Russia is mobilising around 300 thousand military reservists is a sign he feels he might be losing the war. He also tells the programme that President Putin is blackmailing the international community by appearing to raise the threat of nuclear weapons.

Sitrep will also hear how the fighting is going on the ground from a reporter who’s just returned from the region around Kharkiv in the North -East of Ukraine and seen the devastation caused by the Russian invasion.

And a panel discusses the choices facing both Russia and Ukraine militarily and strategically in the months to come. Russia expert Bridget Kendall tells us that she thinks Putin may turn to targeting more of Ukraine’s infrastructure – including fuel and water - as the winter starts to bite. 

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was Commander in Chief of the UK’s Armed Forces for just over 70 years, now that job falls to her eldest son.

BFBS Sitrep talks to a former head of The Army who knows King Charles III well, and we listen to one of his recent speeches to troops to assess what kind of Commander in Chief he will be.

As we examine The Queen’s military legacy we talk to Sharon Turton about being personally presented the Elizabeth Cross in honour of her fallen husband, Kris.

Plus how has Ukraine recaptured thousands of square miles in a matter of days? A former British commander will explain, and assess what they should do next. 

Liz Truss promised big on Defence in her campaign to replace Boris Johnson – now she has to deliver.

BFBS Sitrep assesses what a big uplift in the defence budget could be spent on, how she will handle the Ukraine war, and whether the forces are facing another shake up.

Russia expected to win in Ukraine within days, six months on it needs millions more rockets and shells and it’s turned to North Korea to supply them. But how good are those munitions?

And a former member of the SBS tells us the extraordinary story of how he’s rebuilt his life after being shot in the neck, and paralysed.

A former member of the SBS shares his remarkable story with BFBS Sitrep.

It was Toby Gutteridge’s dream job, but then it tore his life apart.

He was shot in the neck in Afghanistan, leaving him paralysed.

13 years on he runs his own clothing business, and has just written his autobiography.

From getting selected for special forces, through the incident that almost killed him, to a breakdown and rebuilding of his life he tells us how he’s been given a second chance that he won’t throw away.

The compensation system for injured service personnel has been accused of ‘lacking humanity’ after an assessment panel was heard laughing at a claimant.

A veteran turned journalist tells BFBS Sitrep it’s far from a one off, as the government promises improvements.

Defence Intelligence has a new chief, and for the first time it’s a civilian. We ask if that matters as we investigate the job of Defence Intelligence.

And we assess the military legacy of Mikhail Gorbachev, the final Soviet leader who thawed the cold war and allowed the map of Europe to be redrawn.

When Russia invaded Ukraine we thought it would probably be over in days. That was 6 months ago. So how, and when will it end?

BFBS Sitrep gets the assessments of experienced military minds, the Armed Forces Minister, and our own Professor Michael Clarke.

Thousands of Afghans who worked with British Forces were promised new lives in the UK, but a year on many are still in limbo living in hotels. We hear how it’s affecting them and ask who is responsible for sorting it.

And a former Royal Marine shares his story of bluffing and negotiating with the Taliban to get top Japanese diplomats, his team, and himself out of Kabul.

Former Royal Marine H Collins led the last diplomatic team out Kabul’s green zone as the Taliban marched on the city.

He was responsible for the safety of Japan’s top diplomats, and dozens of colleagues.

But hours after getting them to his security company’s HQ they were surrounded, and then had to choose between fighting their way out or negotiating with insurgents wearing suicide vests.

He shares his remarkable story with Sian​ Grzeszczyk in this extra edition of BFBS Sitrep.

The EU is hosting crisis talks, trying to prevent a new conflict between Serbia and Kosovo.

NATO’s KFOR mission, including British troops, still has a UN peacekeeping mandate in Kosovo but what could trigger their intervention?

Has the balance of power shifted in favour of Ukraine, as Russia takes two significant hits in annexed Crimea? A former Commanding General of the US Army Europe gives us his assessment.

And the incredible story of British, Dutch and Australian prisoners of war who survived the Nagasaki atomic bomb, little more than a mile from where it landed.

12 months since the Taliban swept back into power BFBS Sitrep assesses what the return of the militants has meant for our security, the people of Afghanistan, and those who had worked for Britain but could not escape.

Despite Taliban promises not to shelter international terrorists the head of Al Qaeda was found in Kabul, and killed last week by the US, so does Afghanistan pose a threat to the UK once more?

We hear from Lynne O’Donnell, who has reported from Afghanistan across more than 2 decades, about life in the country now and being taken at gunpoint by Taliban officials.

And the government says hundreds of people, including former interpreters, approved to come to the UK are still in Afghanistan. We talk to a former Army officer who’s been trying to get people to safety.

Journalist Lynne O’Donnell gives us a rare first-hand insight into how the Taliban is operating in Afghanistan.

That insight has come at a cost, her life threatened as she was detained by officials, despite entering Afghanistan with a media visa.

She tells BFBS Sitrep how it was deeply frightening and yet ‘darkly satirical’, revealing incompetence and chaos.

China says it will punish those who offend it as it launches live fire military drills off the coast of Taiwan. Sitrep looks at China’s tactics and how the United States is responding.  

What role are cyber attacks playing in the war in Ukraine? And what are the lessons for the UK? Sitrep speaks to the former head of the National Cyber Security Centre, Ciaran Martin, who also discusses the difference between Russian and Chinese cyber capabilities.

And Sitrep has a tour aboard the Royal Navy’s unique testbed ship which is designed to support trials of the latest tech and autonomous systems.

China has just overtaken counter-terrorism as the biggest effort inside MI6, and the head of the Royal Navy says China is a bigger long term threat than Russia.

BFBS Sitrep examines a list of top level warnings issued this week about the risk of conflict with China, and asks if Ukraine has taken our eye off the ball.

As Ukraine tries to retake the port city of Kherson we talk to an MP who’s just visited the country.

And a year after he quit the government over the treatment of Northern Ireland veterans, Johnny Mercer tells us why he’s returned as Veterans Minister.

In less than a year war has broken out in Europe, and Afghanistan has fallen to the Taliban.

MPs say that means the UK’s new defence masterplan is already out of date, leaving British forces overstretched, vulnerable and too small.

They Ministry of Defence says it will continue to adapt strategy, but the Commons Defence Committee wants a major update to the plan now.

The committee’s chairman, Tobias Ellwood MP, talks to James Hirst about the impact on service personnel, his recent visit to Ukraine, and whether it’s the threats or our perceptions that have changed.

Scientists have spent years researching concepts including laser weapons and brain sensors for a new RAF plane called ‘Tempest’.

Now ministers want those ideas turned into a working plane in just 5 years, but is it a gamble with the UK’s air capability?

As British service personnel are banned from buying sex overseas BFBS Sitrep hears how brothels used to be unofficial parts of UK bases abroad.

And we follow soldiers on exercise in an abandoned tower block in Leeds, as the Ukraine war demonstrates the need for urban combat experience which the army has little of.

The early days of the campaign to succeed Boris Johnson have seen a bidding war on defence spending from those hoping to replace him.

BFBS Sitrep assess the defence legacy Mr Johnson will leave his successor and the challenges they’ll face.

A former head of the Army tells us what he wants from whoever becomes the next Prime Minister.

We also hear from two very different cities in Ukraine as we assess the state of the war there, and ask if the country’s plan to open new battlefront and retake the South is a risk too far.

Although cases of people serving in the armed forces taking their own lives are low – among men in the army the figures have been rising in recent years.

Among some very specific groups of veterans the risk of suicide appears to be much higher – particularly younger men who only served a short time in the forces.

As the government carries out research to understand why, BFBS Sitrep talks to a leading psychiatrist, a veteran with PTSD, and a campaigner who lost her husband to suicide about the true picture of suicide risks, how we can improve support, and the ways to help or get help.

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