Antarctica, Ukraine and Russia

Part 1 of a 2-lecture series covering the Scott and Amundsen expeditions of 1911-13. A full description of both expeditions, the personalities, and more. - Organiser, Peter Braithwaite

Part 2 of a 2-lecture series covering the Scott and Amundsen expeditions of 1911-13. A full description of both expeditions, the personalities, and more. - Organiser, Peter Braithwaite

The world was shocked when Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his troops to cross the border into the sovereign state of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, in what Putin termed a ‘special military operation’. Global reaction and response were far more virulent than during the annexation of Ukrainian Crimea in 2014. Putin has powerfully asserted the historical ties that bind Ukraine and Russia. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has passionately emphasised the unique national identity and democratic, Western-orientated preference of the ‘sunflower’ state whose blue and gold flag is now recognised and widely respected around the world. This illustrated lecture will discuss aspects of ethnicity, heritage, language and culture shared by peoples of Ukraine and Russia, and the historical barriers and divergent politics that have now resulted in bitter conflict. - Organiser, Yvonne Evans

Sergiu was born in Romania and began his working career work in the news media after graduating in law at the Bucharest University. He served his internships in BBC London and CNN in Atlanta and later established and became CEO of several news channels in Romania and Moldova. His talk will cover all or some of the following:

• The period after the end of communism in Russia. Gorbachev and Helmuth Kohl (Heroes or traitors?) and how they impacted the Russia of today.
• The social hierarchy in Russia re: the Apparatcik, siloviki and oligarchs, Russian propaganda, political parties and secret services as social classes.
• Volodymyr Zelensky, his background and current status with the Ukrainian people. Putin and support or not, from the populace in Russia and the Ukraine.
• Who is Putin taking advice from?
• War Update covering the military and political positions of both Russia and the Ukraine and Nato.
• Are the West's sanctions working?
• Personal view on how he thinks the conflict will end. - Organiser, Yvonne Evans