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This Is Not A Drill with Gavin Esler

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Latest episodes

  • Cold War – The new battle for the Arctic

    October 22, 2026 · 28 min

    A new Great Game is under way. As the frozen poles start to melt, a new “ice silk road” is emerging in the newly-navigable Arctic Ocean – and it’s subject of intense commercial and military competition between China, Europe, the US and…

  • What Trump’s latest gift to Putin means for Ukraine

    October 15, 2026 · 31 min

    Trump’s sanction-busting diesel deal with Vladimir Putin has sent shockwaves across the world. As Ukraine braces for a Russian winter offensive, have US threats to withhold intelligence and access to weapons sold out the Ukrainian…

  • Russia’s Drone War on Europe has begun

    October 8, 2026 · 26 min

    On August 4th a drone strapped with explosives failed to detonate when it struck a Ukrainian plane at Leipzig Airport. German security services investigating the device pointed the blame at Russia’s GRU. Putin is ramping up his hybrid…

  • The Middle East’s new choke point – How the Houthis could spark a fresh oil crisis

    October 1, 2026 · 31 min

    A surge in violence in Yemen has seen Houthi forces seize land on the Red Sea coast – reigniting a war with Saudi Arabia and threatening a further global energy shock. The Iranian-aligned group has increased its foothold in Yemen, now…

  • Chaos, rare earths and ethnic cleansing – The major conflict you know nothing about

    September 24, 2026 · 35 min

    The civil war in Myanmar is Asia’s deadliest ongoing conflict – yet despite violence which has killed more than 100,000 people it rarely dominates international headlines. In today’s episode Oz Katerji talks to Matthew Campbell, reporter…

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  • New Weapons for New Wars – ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE goes to war

    September 17, 2026 · 46 min

    Completing the four-part series from This Is Not A Drill… Warfare is evolving faster than ever in this dangerous world. Gavin Esler explores a new generation of weapons and how they’ll fight – or prevent – the next wars. This time…

  • New Weapons for New Wars – DEFENCE SYSTEMS get smart

    September 10, 2026 · 41 min

    A four-part series from This Is Not A Drill… Warfare is evolving faster than ever in this dangerous world. Gavin Esler explores a new generation of weapons and how they’ll fight – or prevent – the next wars. This time: When missiles and…

  • New Weapons for New Wars – MISSILES: The next generation

    September 3, 2026 · 36 min

    A new four-part series from This Is Not A Drill… Warfare is evolving faster than ever in this dangerous world. Gavin Esler explores a new generation of weapons and how they’ll fight – or prevent – the next wars. This time: In an age of…

  • New Weapons for New Wars – How DRONES change everything

    August 27, 2026 · 46 min

    A new four-part series from This Is Not A Drill… Putin thought he could conquer Ukraine with a tank, air and infantry-led attack straight out of the Second World War. Instead Kyiv turned the tables on Russia with the fastest, most…

  • New Weapons for New Wars - trailer

    August 25, 2026 · 3 min

    Is everything we knew about warfare changing right before our eyes? The war in Ukraine began with tanks and infantry...and now drones dominate in the battle for dominance. In a brand new four-part series New Weapons for New Wars, we…

  • Space, Russia and China – How war is expanding beyond Earth

    August 20, 2026 · 29 min

    Space is now an essential part of military planning and operations. Recent reports suggest Russia and China have discussed targeting Starlink satellites, highlighting their increasing importance in conflicts.  Are ‘space wars’ no longer…

  • Putin is running out of soldiers – but that won’t stop him

    August 13, 2026 · 36 min

    As Russian casualties mount in brutal frontline assaults on Ukraine, Putin’s recruitment is growing ever more desperate. With international sanctions biting and Ukraine’s own campaigns targeting critical Russian infrastructure - can Putin…

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About the show

Exploring threats to global stability from Ukraine to China to the Middle East with host Gavin Esler – former BBC News presenter, Washington correspondent and host of Newsnight – plus Ukraine-based war reporter Oz Katerji and independent conflict analyst Emma Beals. This Is Not A Drill dives deep into the dangers, corruption, conflicts, disinformation, rivalries and ruthless realpolitik that are making our world ever more dangerous. Support This Is Not A Drill on Patreon from just £3 per month to get each episode early plus bonus material and exclusive merchandise. From Podmasters, the team behind Oh God, What Now?, Paper Cuts and The Bunker.