Podcast Summary

Podcast: Amanpour (CNN Podcasts)
Episode: Ukraine Marks Four Years of Russia's War
Date: February 24, 2026
Host: Bianna Golodryga (Sitting in for Christiane Amanpour)
Main Guests: Natalia Gumeniuk (Ukrainian journalist), Michael Kofman (military analyst), Juan Arredondo (journalist/filmmaker), Craig Renaud (documentarian), Maya Shankar (cognitive scientist)

Episode Overview

This special episode observes the somber four-year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine—a landmark of devastation, resilience, and ongoing geopolitical shock. Bianna Golodryga leads in-depth discussions with frontline Ukrainian journalist Natalia Gumeniuk and military analyst Michael Kofman, reflecting on both societal endurance and shifting battlefield realities. The episode pays tribute to journalists killed in Ukraine, especially Brent Renaud, with insights from his brother and collaborator. It closes with cognitive scientist Maya Shankar addressing how we process massive, life-altering change.

Key Segments & Insights

1. Ukrainian Resilience and Society at Four Years

Guest: Natalia Gumeniuk, Journalist Reporting from Kyiv

Key Points:

• Ukrainian psyche shaped by hardship—soldiers in trenches reading Viktor Frankl’s existential “Man’s Search for Meaning.”
• The war is now seen as grueling “hard labor,” requiring adaptability, societal mobilization, and “cost-efficient” defense strategies.
• Society feels disappointment with wavering Western aid, especially from the U.S., but increasing self-reliance and unity.
• Even amidst high civilian casualties (2025 was the deadliest civilian year), life goes on in frontline areas—better, many say, than under Russian occupation.

Notable Quotes:

• “Ukraine is in the strongest position if you speak about the military capacity at this moment.” — Natalia Gumeniuk (04:57)
• “The clearer it has become that Ukrainians can truly rely only on ourselves, the less anxious the national mood has seemed.” — Bianna Golodryga referencing Gumeniuk’s writing (07:42)
• “It’s definitely not a celebration, but it’s in some way recognition of the resilience, recognition of own resilience…” — Natalia Gumeniuk (09:48)

Timestamps:

• Kyiv memorial, societal mood, resilience: [01:00–10:30]

2. Battlefield Analysis and War Trajectory

Guest: Michael Kofman, Military Analyst

Key Points:

• Contrary to headlines, Ukraine performed better than expected in 2025—Russia favored by manpower but unable to achieve major breakthroughs.
• Shift from early maneuver warfare to positional, “slog” trench conflict characterized by drones and static lines.
• The “drone war” is now competitive—Russia has caught up; both sides innovate rapidly, neutralizing clear technological advantages.
• Ukraine grapples with manpower shortages, AWOL personnel, and rotation problems, while Russian manpower edge is offset by unsustainable losses.
• Russia’s economy is in “negative equilibrium,” entirely defense-driven and consuming its future capacities (citing economist Prokopenko).

Notable Quotes:

• “The Russian military simply hasn’t done well. And that’s been the case for two years now.” — Michael Kofman (12:41)
• “Time is not really on Russia’s side in this war.” — Michael Kofman (21:10)
• “I do think that we are perhaps near the beginning of the end, but there’s a good chance this war is going to go into 2027.” — Michael Kofman (22:55)

Timestamps:

• Battlefield assessment: [11:56–17:36]
• Economic and broader war prognosis: [17:36–23:09]

3. Brent Renaud & Journalism in War

Guests: Juan Arredondo (producer & survivor), Craig Renaud (director, Brent’s brother)

Key Points:

• Tribute to Brent Renaud, the first American journalist killed in Ukraine; documentary “Armed Only with a Camera” explores his legacy.
• Both guests reflect on the persistent danger and necessity of frontline journalism—“Without journalism, there is no democracy.”
• Intimacy and empathy key to Brent’s reporting: scenes from Somalia, Ukraine emphasize the closeness and compassion in his work.
• Journalists now face targeted violence, with over 400 killed since Brent’s death; the Renaud Foundation works to support and protect the next generation.
• On processing grief through storytelling—Craig’s decision to keep filming after Brent’s death honored their brotherly pact and journalistic mission.

Notable Quotes:

• “What we hope to accomplish with our work is to create a record so [violence] won’t be easily erased.” — Juan Arredondo (25:40)
• “We covered conflicts for 20 years and filmed the horrors of war... why should it be any different when my brother was killed?” — Craig Renaud (28:28)
• “Without journalism, there is no democracy.” — Craig Renaud (37:13)

Timestamps:

• Brent Renaud tribute and documentary: [23:09–37:15]

4. Navigating Change—Personal and Collective

Guest: Maya Shankar, Cognitive Scientist, with Hari Srinivasan

Key Points:

• The book “The Other Side of Change” investigates how humans can weather sudden, disorienting life changes.
• Change triggers loss of identity and profound uncertainty, yet also offers opportunities for revelation and growth.
• Anchoring identity in “why,” not “what,” helps weather change (e.g., values instead of specific roles).
• The power of awe—witnessing acts of “moral beauty”—can jar us from rumination and inspire resilience, even in dire contexts (example: prison transformation through poetry).
• Vulnerability and gratitude exercises help widen perspectives after trauma or loss (Shankar shares personal story of surrogacy loss).

Notable Quotes:

• “Yes, change can upend us, but it can also reveal things to us.” — Maya Shankar (41:37)
• “Without journalism, there is no democracy.” — repeated theme
• “Our sense of self-identity truly is malleable.” — Maya Shankar (44:26)
• “Take five minutes to write down all of the things that bring your life meaning, and it will just help you to see your life as a whole…” — Maya Shankar (53:08)

Timestamps:

• Interview and book reflection: [38:18–53:27]

5. Closing Reflections

The episode ends with images of global solidarity for Ukraine and reminders of ongoing suffering and resilience—a grim anniversary but testament to endurance, both collective and personal.

Timestamps:

• Closing segment: [53:30–54:07]

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On frontline resilience: “We’re fighting this war as illness… and the biggest discussion is how we share this burden.” — Natalia Gumeniuk (05:52)
• On outdated predictions: “Most of the expectations back then were based on the proposition that Ukraine was going to have to face Russia alone… but Western countries, especially the United States, changed course.” — Michael Kofman (21:53)
• On journalism’s mission: “We know that we won’t stop violence, but we will make denial much harder.” — Juan Arredondo (25:40)
• On unexpected life changes: “Apocalypse comes from the Greek word apokálypsis, meaning revelation... in tough change, the new situation can reveal things to us about ourselves that were previously hidden.” — Maya Shankar (41:37)

For Further Exploration

• [01:00–10:31] — Ukraine’s societal resilience in war: Natalia Gumeniuk’s report from Kyiv.
• [11:56–23:09] — Military and strategic overview: Michael Kofman.
• [23:09–37:15] — The cost and calling of war reporting: Juan Arredondo and Craig Renaud, “Armed Only with a Camera.”
• [38:18–53:27] — Coping with major upheaval: Maya Shankar on “The Other Side of Change.”

This episode is a dense, poignant reflection on loss, endurance, and adaptation—from the trenches of Ukraine to the intimate personal challenges we all face when life is upended. Each guest brings urgent, lived perspectives, whether reporting from a war zone, honoring a lost brother, or finding hope amid devastating personal change.