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Cotton from Central Asia helps fuel Russia's war in Ukraine

Season 2024 Episode 346 | 8m 58s

It's been nearly three years since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and despite huge losses on both sides, there is no sign that Putin's war machine is letting up. Cotton is used to make gunpowder and explosives and Russia has a steady supply from one of its former Soviet republics. Special correspondent Simon Ostrovsky investigated why that is, and who's trying to stop it.

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February 16, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode