Is Vladimir Putin actually winning the war in Ukraine—or does the reality look very different from the headlines?
In this episode of Peace and Power Ukraine, host Gary Marx welcomes back Steven Moore, founder of the Ukraine Freedom Project and a leading advocate for Ukraine’s fight for freedom, for a wide-ranging discussion from Kyiv on the state of the war, Russia’s mounting challenges, and the resilience of the Ukrainian people.
Moore provides updates from the ground in Ukraine, discusses recent Russian attacks on Kyiv, and explains why he believes the war is increasingly exposing weaknesses within Russia despite the Kremlin’s efforts to project strength.
The conversation covers:
• Russia’s latest missile and drone attacks on Kyiv
• Ukraine’s growing ability to strike targets inside Russia
• Why Moore argues Putin is losing the war
• The economic and military costs Russia has incurred
• The role of drones in reshaping modern warfare
• Poland’s growing importance to European security
• NATO, European defense spending, and energy dependence on Russia
• The Ukraine Freedom Project and advocacy efforts
• The continuing success of the Faith Under Siege documentary series
• Russia’s persecution of religious communities in occupied Ukraine
• The destruction of churches and religious sites across Ukraine
• Life in Kyiv during wartime
The discussion also revisits Faith Under Siege, the documentary project that has reached millions of viewers by highlighting the experiences of Ukrainian Christians living under Russian occupation and documenting attacks on religious communities throughout the war.
Throughout the episode, Moore argues that many Western audiences remain unaware of Ukraine’s successes inside Russia, including strikes against military targets far beyond the front lines, and that these developments are changing the strategic balance of the conflict.
The episode concludes with reflections on Ukraine’s resilience, the importance of faith during wartime, and an unexpectedly spirited discussion about Ukraine’s surprisingly impressive gas station food culture.
00:00 — Putin’s costs after four years of war
00:32 — Intro + Steven Moore joins from Kyiv
01:26 — Life in Ukraine during wartime
03:03 — Updates on the Ukraine Freedom Project
03:59 — Faith Under Siege reaches millions
05:21 — Faith under Russian occupation
07:02 — Churches destroyed across Ukraine
09:13 — Russia’s weaponization of religion
10:10 — Massive attacks on Kyiv
13:07 — Ukraine strikes back inside Russia
15:08 — The drone war and Russia’s vulnerabilities
17:48 — Russia, Iran, and security concerns
20:00 — Why Moore says Putin is losing
23:05 — Poland’s growing strategic importance
25:03 — NATO, Europe, and Russian energy
27:44 — Ukraine’s famous gas station hot dogs
29:18 — Final thoughts and closing remarks