i will have these once you visit, you'll never forget it. a quarter between transformation and exploitation data combines the modern day present with the traditional past. none of my friends has died about, so the thing does happen sometimes between an education and tradition between cosmopolitan fleer and captivated wilderness. the portrait of the desert state full of contradictions, guitar starts november 11th on d. w. as ukraine presses it's counter offensive against russian occupying forces in the south, moscow's doing some nuclear muscle flexing, conducting military exercises, simulating response to a nuclear attack, and accusing kiosk of planning to launch one russian forces in the southern region

around house sun have been moving, injured, people and civilians out of the city, but it's unclear whether the troops themselves are bracing for battle or preparing to flee. meanwhile, moscow claims here is getting ready to detonate. a dirty bomb laced with radioactive material. a charge ukrainian leaders denied saying rushes describing its own intentions. so on to the point where, asking the roof with the dirty bar, a sign of proteins weakness with hello and welcome to to the point. it is a great pleasure to agree to our guests. jessica berlin is a g, a strategic expert with the german marshall fund. gustav grasso is senior policy fellow and military expert at the berlin office of the europe and council on

foreign relations. and joining us online from bon is my ukranian colleague, roman gon chenango. he's working for d w's, russia desk, and roman. i'd like to go to straight away to the situation in the hess saw, because there's mixed signals emanating from that region where russian occupiers have at the same time, been sending dire messages and about an impending ukrainian attack. and at the same time, also appear to be digging in bracing for battle. so can you give us your assessment of what is going on there? and also if, why her son is so strategically important? well, let me start with this late. let us to point that you've mentioned hassan is extremely important for both sides. it's important for russia because it is the only point in ukraine which russia managed to well managed. russia managed to cross the you

probably are the biggest river in ukraine, which divides the country in 2 halves in east and west. and it is very difficult to cross. it's a natural barrier. and russia managed to cross new, brought in the early days of the invasion. and from, from this, from this place, it is planning to go further west to towards mac alive, which is a neighboring city. and odessa, which is extremely important for the port for ukraine on the black sea. and e, thrasher, succeeds ukraine, would lose access to the black sea. so it is extremely important for russia to hold on to be on that right. bank of the new pro river, and it is extremely important just from the opposite side for ukraine to, to get it back. and it is also important because it's very close to crimea to the next crimea, or where russia in is earth is getting a supplies with fresh water from that new property,

which is also from the origin of hassan. so it is, it is in the focal point of this war for both sides. so i can go on just just shortly. i think we are, we are at a point where ukraine would like to continue it's offensive, which it started a few weeks ago or a few months ago. the preparations, but it is very slow and russia is on the tipping point, or russia wants to defend car, so not to lose it and is preparing to defend it. but it could be forced to leave it . so just very quickly, if you would, when i did the battle for her son take place, because as you say, the ukrainian forces haven't made real advances in the last few weeks. well, there is a rather small window of opportunity for ukraine here. i think 3 or 4 weeks because the russian mobilization started in late september and we'll need some time to show effect on the battlefield. the moment ukrainians have a chance to start the assault on have sun. but then bad weather and russia

mobilization could stop ukraine or make it more much more difficult to retake the city. so i'm at the moment we are that a situation which is very volatile, which very dynamic. and it is impossible to predict which side will win in the coming weeks. because of the head of ukraine's own defense intelligence agency has down played expectations that are hopes that his son might soon be liberated, saying that he does not see the russians truly preparing to leave. is that just expectation management? do you think or is it realistic? no, it will be your hard fight. i mean, russia is, there are defensive preparations. you see them thinking lines outside of the city. you see them preparing some of the outskirts the buildings to reinforce them, to sustain shelling and to, to basically turn houses into fortresses. on the other side, there are swapping troops, those now one ah,

ponton bridge that operates across did nipple river. it is used for quotation mark evacuation, it will have civilians crossing that bridge all the time because as long as civilians are crossing ukrainians won't fire at this bridge. this bridge than is also used for military purposes. that is bringing out experienced personnel, especially the paratroopers, because they need them elsewhere. and bringing freshly mobilized, ah, fresh troops. ah, these fresh troops off cause week or less experience, less health. but of course they have to perform static defense. that's tactically, not very difficult. ah, so russia is posted away saying they are cannon fodder. of course, they're all russian, russian mobilized. forces are kind of full then russia will hold the city as long as it can afford. with these troops bought on the other hand, they, they put their lead forces elsewhere in order to half again,

an operating for serve to contain you train, encounter offensive the are expected elsewhere to, to follow jessica meanwhile, ukrainian president, the lensky is saying that his people should prepare for what he called it the most difficult winter in their history. that hardly sounds like he is expecting victory any time soon. all the difficulty of this winter goes far beyond just the battle for have soon as we've seen in the past weeks, russian military has been targeting civilian infrastructure as well as military targets destroying power, plants, heating, infrastructure. so right now, 30 percent of the country is without power and the rest of the country is experiencing planned rolling blackouts to protect the grid and conserve power. and right now it's october. it's getting cold, but the worst the coldest is still, of course get to come. so this will be an incredibly difficult winter, both on the battlefield, but also on the homefront. and we have an example of the concerns about the

sensitivity of infrastructure. let us take a closer look now at the situation in the region around house, on which russia occupied in the early days of the war, and illegally annexed at the end of september. and as we heard just now, half son is a strategic prize for whomever controls it. ah, the ukrainian counter offensive in the south is apparently putting the russian occupy as under increasing pressure images from a russian state. broad costa administrators loyal to moscow, or transposing people from the city of council. across the ne, per river, they call it evacuation. in anticipation of ukrainian attacks keefe speaks, a forced resettlement castle is strategically important. if it becomes ukranian again, russia would not be able to advance further west as planned. ukraine in turn, would advance toward crimea. russian troops, west of the ne pro, have been in

a difficult position for some time as the ukrainian army has destroyed important supply routes. now the massive kafka damn is at risk of becoming a weapon of war. since march. the facility has been in the hands of the russians. ukraine accuses them of mining the reservoir and wardens that if it were blown up, it would cause a deadly flash blood for hundreds of thousands of people. the russian side claims that it is ukraine that wants to blow up the dam itself. how weak his putin's all me and cow song. and let me put that question straight to a roman. we heard a gustavo towing us just now than in fact, russia has been removing some of its most experienced officers and troops and replacing them with these newly recruited, inexperienced young men. oh, what do you think? how long could such forces defend, are occupied hassan?

well, it is difficult to assess because we don't not know the whole picture. how many am are mobilized? how many are experienced of the russian troops? there? i'm from what i hear on russian said media. and there is this feeling that we will not give up. we will not pull back, we will defend her sound because it is so much so important for russia or when do you think of russian history? just to remind you, it is the sooty, which are where the russian lexi fleet was built. of the 1st ships were built there . so it was important in the 18th, 19th century for russia. so you hear such tones, some people even compare cassandra, so i stop all, we were the base of the russian. lexi fleet is now. so when you hear this, it is hardly imaginable that russia is preparing to withdraw from the city. so i think they'll just trying to wind some time,

some weeks when they have more forces and run the weather with the winter coming. it will make it more difficult for ukraine to move forward. jessica, let me come to these claims swirling around the healthcare dam, which is at a key of hydro electric plant. you mentioned infrastructure earlier on near his son, president zalinski said that his government has information that the russians have mind. the structure and russia meanwhile, is accusing ukraine of planning to attack the damn. so are these just verbal tactics designed to throw the other side off balance or do you think this discussion signals a major escalation in the offing was a bit of both? of course it's part of the information war, but it undermines that. it shows the undermining of the russian military tactically, if russia is needing to destroy infrastructure, if they're threatening to,

or if they're putting out rumors of dirty bombs, or threatening the dam, which of course would not only destroy a major or so i spoke with also flood an area where hundreds of thousands of people live. this would be a catastrophic attack if this infrastructure were destroyed. they are showing that tactically on the battlefield there weekend, and therefore needing to use these kinds of threats. to try to get western support to back off. this is really what's, what's going on at play. so it is a credible threat. it is something we have to take seriously. but it's also something that's being used to shaped the narrative of fear and deterrence in this war. cause of staying with the strategic and tactical side here, disturbing the dam would create major flooding as we heard in the report. and as jessica has pointed out, it would also destroy an important power plant. put it utterly out of commission, who would have any real strategic advantage from that?

given the fact that the russians are the occupiers, don't they also need this stam and this power plant to remain i in operation of the russians don't need the power plant. ah, but they need the dam for the water for crimea that the channel that supplies crimea is, is billed from that reservoir. as long as water levels are high enough, you can tap water and pump it, or let it flow don't downward still to crimea. ah, so they will not destroy it unless they feel there have to. oh, of course, if they completely lose the battle, of course so on. if this of things are beyond repair for the russian army, there might exploded just to to draw the look of ukrainian soldiers. and to tron ukraine in the sold forces agreed with heavy equipment, which for ukraine is, dear replaceable tanks, are you replaceable because there gets none from the west, or infantry fighting vehicles are replaceable so, so there is

a military purpose they with those of drown some of their own defenders, but the if you know if the situation is lost, i don't mind for that. the concern arising due to the war of words over the dam pales in comparison to unease over russia's nuclear muscle, flexing russian defense minister sagging sugar recently called his counterparts in the us, france and turkey to voice his alarm about what he called possible provocations by key of involving we just heard it mentioned the use of a dirty bomb. that is a bomb, least with radioactive substances. the key of would then seek to blame on russia. assist in for a more circle. we have a concrete information about those institutions and ukraine, or super their scientific institution, the lender capable of creating this very dirty halmar we because rubel most the information we have verified through the appropriate channels. so is that this is

nasir groundless accusation. new push through, but those are in the shower is here to in russia coles and says that ukraine is allegedly preparing something. it means one things that russia has already prepares, all those other simple women. i believe that the world should react as harshly as possible. now or to the war, if russia continues to up the anti bully and prepare for the next level of escalation, it must recognize that the world will not allow it broader. my apple watch the chassis, they're never gonna go stuff before we start talking about all what about what this means? just tell us please, what exactly is a dirty bomb and what kind of harm could it cause? a dirty bomb is a conventional bomb. basically, explosives, under the splinter filler, is not mattel, to cause physical damage. it's made up composed of radioactive material that will then spread in the immediate environment where the pump is detonated. ah, it's

a usually, it is intended as a terrorist weapon, it has no military value. it has no destructive potentially tass and no impact on military operations. as such, it would be like a mine field. he would block certain charin for movements, but that's it. would it leave a radioactive effect that would essentially make that zone uninhabitable or unusable for some time? it would make a certain song usable? of course, it depends on the size on the composition, on the way it is detonated on yelton. today it is detonated. ah, but it would basically make it smaller area, are only inhabitable, well that's it is of course the long term effects are worse than a mindful because it's easier to clear, a mindful, but the immediate military effect is that of a mine field. so next fact based question, is there any evidence that ukraine does have such a weapon and might be planning to use it? this is all bogus nonsense. there is no preparation for making a,

a such a bomb. and it would make absolutely 0 military sense for you trained to even think about that it is complete propaganda. and and jessica, what do you think about russia? might they have a dirty bomb? and might they be considering using it? it wouldn't be the 1st time that russia has accuse someone else doing something that in fact, it itself, plans to do, we do know russia just conducted in military drill, stimulating a response to a nuclear attack. but that in fact included a nuclear strike in response. so what do you think? precisely, as i've said, the proposition from lover of that ukraine would be doing this and planning. this is completely farcical. it's complete bollocks. but from the russian side, this is a signal. this is a threat. we have these in our arsenal. we would be willing to use them at the end

of the day. this is a further sign of the weakness of the russian position on the battlefield. this threat is meant to change the narrative and to move the fear of western governments and western voters to try to reduce support for ukraine. it's another classic example of russia pushing ally some fantastic nonsense into the media. then it gets picked up, reported on discuss, does the mean do they not? and they create in this way and help shape the narratives across the world. but what we actually need to see here is that this is another lie. another threat from a government whose word has become meaningless. so let's talk about what is the fact that narrative is having room and how are people in ukraine reacting to put in playing and, and of course essentially playing the fear card. well, and people remain calm, but still they are worried. and for the 1st time since the beginning of this war,

i saw that people really think that it is possible for russia to use nuclear weapons against ukraine. something people denied in the beginning. they didn't believe it can happen, but after russia and next, those 4 regions of ukraine, 2 in the east and 2 in the south, after rush and threatened to use are all it can, including nuclear weapons. if your brains continues to fight on the territory which an russia now believes is russian. so people were discussing this or they were thinking about their plans or they would do or how they would protect their children, their families. and the government are made some, some remarks on that uncertain stay calm, but you should know what to do. and there were preparations of shelters in ukrainian seat is for that case. but still, on the large scale, i would say that ukrainian remained rather skeptical the don't, don't believe that russia would do such a thing because it is too dangerous for russia itself. russia is not so far away

and to detonate a nuclear bomb or to bomb ukraine with a nuclear weapon, avita technical weapon or, or any other kind. and it would mean that it is too high, a risk for russia itself or its neighbor bellows. let me ask egless stuff whether you would agree with that assessment. as he mentioned, letting me put in has said that he is prepared to use any weapon in russia's arsenal to defend russian territory. and now that he has annexed her son and several other regions. he considers those to be russian territory. on the other hand, u. s. intelligent services say that they do not see evidence that rushes nuclear pasture has changed. so what are you expecting to the extent that you can assess while i 2nd us assessment, we are very closely watched the preparation of the noun. huge exercise has been very closely watched a test of a nuclear drone. russia has tested in the previous month,

and we could very well trace the movements of physical materials or react, of course, et cetera. so we know when russia move something, and if russia move something we can pick up, all the americans can pick up the red telephone and make a call. ah, but are russia will make nuclear noise? and it does, sir, because he knows that this is your only convincing argument that can make to deter the west from supporting ukraine. and unfortunately, we are providing them with evidence that this argument works. chancellor. so sholtes himself sate numerous times that he doesn't want to lead germany into world war that will want to be avoided by to make it to coming to the fear card. iden himself states that he has a very, very and talented wording in his own articles. and speeches are there on, there is noise in the white house that this is to be taken. it's sort of that the

americans are even taking much too seriously. and that we give too much room to this kind of in intimidation or at they see the rush and see that we still hold back decisive military equipment for ukraine. so they see that the fear mongering works. and so they do more of that. it works for them. we heard president zalinski, they're saying the west must harshly react. jessica, we did hear the pride president biden, seeing that he is communicating directly to the russians, that it would be a grave mistake, in his words, to resort to any type of radioactive weapon. we heard the friends that foreign ministers of france, the u. k. and the u. s. r. so i had sending very clear messages, but is it enough? now, those words need to be backed up with hard actions. more weapons for ukraine or offensive weapons for ukraine. they need tanks, they need more air defense. and the western partners need to give it to them. this

is the only thing that putting will react to he is watching the message and coming out of washington out of berlin out of brussels very closely. and the speeches have 0 effect on him. the only thing that will change the dynamic in this war and give, put in a same taste of some of the fear and intimidation that he is so successfully spreading across nato is to show that we are delivering results quickly. and that western support will help you crane secure, a decisive victory within the coming year. but unfortunately, the, the speeches and the comments. yes, of course, it's important to say if you make this step, that results for you will be catastrophic. but we need to back that up with action in real time and giving the ukrainians to support they need to stand up to the russian offences and a further point just on this entire narrative. even the fact that that we are now

breaking apart and talking about the russian dirty bomb stories is this is a part of showing how effective the strategy is. they in a way, are able to shape the narrative of this war by taking these kinds of proactive steps by putting stories out there. and we need to become collectively across the pro ukraine alliance. much more effective in simply dismissing these, these statements out of hand. it isn't that also what we're doing when we media talk about these issues, don't we need to give people the facts about, for example, whether dirty bomb isn't is not sure break down the facts, let people know. but i think the leading point needs to be that we don't even give love of the media or time when he's putting the stuff out there. that's part of the problem. we were treating the russian narratives on equal footing as the statements coming out of cave. and that's a mistake. let me just bring in a few viewer comments in the very little remaining time that we have. we receive

several comments from youtube viewers in response to last week's show. for example, this one. at this point, this conflict is no longer about just ukraine. it seeks to answer the basic questions, conditions with nuclear weapons, blackmail those nations that don't. and you better believe china and north korea are watching this closely. and another viewer says, this viewer is fin tux. the thought that letting russia get its will would make the west somehow safer or make things better in general is completely out of touch with reality. roman. do you think that clearly these are viewers who share the consensus here on the panel, but do you think that citizens in the west can remain steadfast in, in view of the roofs that the russians are using? well, most of them can. yes, there is a minority which are susceptible to such russian propaganda. both most of them are can and they will,

yes. and very briefly to our guests here in the studio. our title was the rule with the dirty bomb. assign hooton's weakness the step weakness, and looking to make no, thank you very, very much to all of you for being with us. once again on to the point, thanks to our viewers for joining us. and please do check out our show on youtube and send us your comments. we'd love to hear them, so please do share them. hello, take care and good bye for now. with . ah ah.

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a design and targeted environmentalists in danger. starts october 29th on d. w. ah ah this is d w. news line from berlin. the world's richest man takes control of twitter and eagle on musk is already shaking the company of firing tough executives and promising to limit censorship. so what does this mean for the future of the social media platform? also on the program, you end issues, it's.