Returning guest, Alex Kokcharov, joins us from London to share his personal views and stories on the war in Ukraine. He talks of the stark informational divides that have arisen between Russia and the West, wherein even family on both sides of the Ukraine-Russia border cannot agree on what is happening in this conflict or why. Putin's Propaganda machine "brainwashes" Russian people outside of Moscow and St. Petersburg that even those with family in the midst of shelling in Russian-speaking cities like Mariupol do not believe that Russia is at all responsible. Follow Mr. Kokcharov on Twitter: @AlexKokcharov .

If you would like to make a donation to help the people of Ukraine, we highly recommend the Ukraine Relief Network, providing essential and immediate help to war refugees on the ground. Check out http://www.ukrainereliefnetwork.org/.

PRODUCER'S NOTE: This episode was recorded on March 5, 2022 via Zoom. Mr. Kokcharov appears here in a personal capacity, speaking to his own views, experiences, and connections.

If you have questions, comments, or would like to be a guest on the show, please email slavxradio@utexas.edu and we will be in touch!

CREEES STATEMENT OF SOLIDARITY
**The Center for Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies condemns the Russian Federation’s military invasion of Ukraine. We stand in support of the people of Ukraine who are fighting for their lives and sovereignty in the face of the unjustified invasion by Russian military forces.**

CREDITS
Associate Producer/Host: Lera Toropin (@earlportion)
Assistant Producer/Host: Zach Johnson
Assistant Producer: Misha Simanovskyy (@MSimanovskyy)
Associate Producer: Cullan Bendig (@cullanwithana)
Assistant Producer: Sergio Glajar
Executive Assistant: Katherine Birch
Recording, Editing, and Sound Design: Michelle Daniel

Music Producer: Charlie Harper (Connect: facebook.com/charlie.harper.1485 Instagram: @charlieharpermusic) www.charlieharpermusic.com (Main Theme by Charlie Harper and additional background music by )

Executive Producer & Creator: Michelle Daniel (Connect: facebook.com/mdanielgeraci Instagram: @michelledaniel86) www.msdaniel.com

DISCLAIMER: Texas Podcast Network is brought to you by The University of Texas at Austin. Podcasts are produced by faculty members and staffers at UT Austin who work with University Communications to craft content that adheres to journalistic best practices. The University of Texas at Austin offers these podcasts at no charge. Podcasts appearing on the network and this webpage represent the views of the hosts, not of The University of Texas at Austin.

Special Guest: Alex Kokcharov.