Borderland: Dispatches with Katarina Szulc

On the latest Borderland: Dispatches film, Katarina Szulc travels to the frontlines of the war in Ukraine to investigate reports that Mexican cartel sicarios and operatives are traveling to Ukraine to learn FPV drone combat.

Borderland: Dispatches is an IRONCLAD Original

Chapters

(00:00:00) Intro
(00:01:42) Mexico's cartels infiltrate Ukraine's foreign fighter program
(00:04:53) Meeting a volunteer 3D-printing bombs
(00:09:39) The four layers of background checks
(00:12:17) The case of "Aguilar Siete"
(00:17:54) Mexico's escalating cartel drone attacks

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Producer's Note: Enjoy this interview from Katarina's appearance on the IRONCLAD Original, Borderland: Narcosis with Vincent "Rocco" Vargas.

On today’s episode, Vince welcomes back Katarina Szulc, investigative journalist and host of the Ironclad Original, Borderland: Dispatches. Kat shares insights from her recent reporting in Ukraine, where authorities are investigating claims that foreign fighters with cartel ties traveled to the front lines to learn modern combat tactics before returning to Latin America.

The conversation also explores foreign mercenaries in Ukraine, the evolution of cartel warfare, U.S. pressure on cartel leadership, corruption in Mexico, and what these developments could mean for the future of organized crime.

Borderland: Dispatches is an IRONCLAD Original

Chapters:

(00:00) Introduction
(01:44) Cartels, Ukraine, and FPV Drone Warfare
(03:26) The Colombian Connection & Drone Schools in Lviv
(09:52) American Mercenaries & Background Checks on the Front Lines
(11:33) Gamers vs. Combat: How Simple is FPV Drone Flying?
(15:24) Behind the Scenes of the Global Mercenary Recruitment Machine
(25:06) US Boots on the Ground & The Standoff over Drone Strikes in Mexico
(29:51) Cartel Corruption & Political Gaslighting in Sinaloa
(34:22) The 2026 World Cup: A Cartel Moneymaker?
(47:17) 2026 Wrap-Up: The Year of the Fallen Kingpins & The Endless Drug War
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Producer's note: This is a preview of next week's full episode of Borderland: Dispatches. For the full visual experience, watch on Spotify Video or on the IRONCLAD YouTube channel: youtube.com/@thisisironclad

On Katarina's latest investigation, she gains rare access to an undisclosed location in Ukraine where civilian volunteers are illegally 3D-printing bombs for the front lines, and infiltrates a drone school where foreign fighters from around the world are training in FPV warfare.

Borderland: Dispatches is an IRONCLAD Original

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In this episode of Borderland Dispatches, Katarina breaks down a major shift in the drug war as Guatemala secretly agrees to joint U.S. airstrikes and military operations against regional cartels. Dive into the escalating pressure on Mexico’s sovereignty, the violent battle for the Guatemala-Chiapas trafficking corridor, and the growing influence of CJNG.

Borderland: Dispatches is an IRONCLAD Original

SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/borderland-dispatches-with-katarina-szulc/id1814920364

SUBSCRIBE ON SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/7EvQ4S8NnDqqSdCRhZvPaI?si=ea91d3147b6b46bc

Sponsor:
Watch Pressure in theaters starting May 29th.

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Katarina Szulc speaks with Stefano Ritondale of All Source News about the what’s next for Los Chapitos and the Sinaloa Cartel Civil War.

Borderland: Dispatches is an IRONCLAD Original

Sponsor: Watch Pressure in theaters starting May 29th.
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