Scott Simon

He reports on corruption, and he points out that there were mass protests this summer when Parliament and Zelensky tried to take away the independence of Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies and bring them under a prosecutor general appointed by Zelensky.

Tkach is saying if they had managed to destroy this independence and the current investigation might not have happened because how independent can a prosecutor general appointed by the president's office be?

Now, Scott, Ukrainians also associate corruption with Russia.

Activists have told me that Russia used to use corrupted Ukrainian politicians in the past.

to control Ukraine.

And Scott, I should also say that Ukrainians say corruption during wartime is something like murder, that soldiers die if resources that could go to the front line are stolen.

And of course, the war rages on.

What's the latest from the front lines?

Well, Ukrainian troops are in a very difficult battle right now to defend Pokrovsk, a city in eastern Ukraine.

Russian troops have been trying to occupy the city for nearly two years and have now infiltrated it.

We spoke by phone to soldiers in four brigades defending Pokrovsk, including Volodymyr Polovy of the 7th Rapid Response Corps.

Another soldier we talked to described looking up at the sky and seeing so many drones that they are literally crashing into each other.

Soldiers are saying, we need more resources to hold on.

And Pierce, Joanna, Kakisis, and Keeve, thanks so much.

You're welcome.

And that's up first for November 15th, 2025.

I'm Ayesha Roscoe.

And I'm Scott Simon.

Elena Twerk produced today's podcast with Fernando Narro and Ryan Bank.

Our editor was Ed McNulty, along with Melissa Gray, Hadil Alshouchi, Kelsey Snell, and Miguel Macias.