The world’s most listened to, and award-winning, podcast covering the war in Ukraine.
Every weekday, the Telegraph's top journalists analyse the conflict from all angles – just as they have since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, when tanks, jets and troops crossed Ukraine's borders.
Downloaded over 120 million times and trusted by listeners worldwide, the team considers military strategy, history, weaponry, economics, refugee crises, culture, and daily life in Vladimir Putin's autocratic Russia and Volodymyr Zelensky's democratic Ukraine. Our correspondents on the ground talk to experts and civilians to cover every aspect of Russia's brutal invasion.
We are also available in both Ukrainian and Russian, so that people on both sides of the battle lines and across the region – including Central Asia and the Caucasus – have access to accurate reporting. We use cutting-edge AI technology to make this possible. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them. Or find them here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatest
A new weekly newsletter is also available, where we answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It’s free for everyone, including non-subscribers. Join here: https://secure.telegraph.co.uk/customer/secure/newsletter/ukraine/
Telegraph subscribers get early access to bonus episodes of Ukraine: The Latest and our sister podcast Battle Lines. You can subscribe within The Telegraph app, or tap on ‘Already a subscriber’ at the top of this page to log in to link your existing subscription. For more information, head to: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/contact-us/telegraph-subscription-bonus-content-apple-podcasts/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The world’s most listened to, and award-winning, podcast covering the war in Ukraine.
Every weekday, the Telegraph's top journalists analyse the conflict from all angles – just as they have since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, when tanks, jets and troops crossed Ukraine's borders.
Downloaded over 120 million times and trusted by listeners worldwide, the team considers military strategy, history, weaponry, economics, refugee crises, culture, and daily life in Vladimir Putin's autocratic Russia and Volodymyr Zelensky's democratic Ukraine. Our correspondents on the ground talk to experts and civilians to cover every aspect of Russia's brutal invasion.
We are also available in both Ukrainian and Russian, so that people on both sides of the battle lines and across the region – including Central Asia and the Caucasus – have access to accurate reporting. We use cutting-edge AI technology to make this possible. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them. Or find them here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatest
A new weekly newsletter is also available, where we answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It’s free for everyone, including non-subscribers. Join here: https://secure.telegraph.co.uk/customer/secure/newsletter/ukraine/
Telegraph subscribers get early access to bonus episodes of Ukraine: The Latest and our sister podcast Battle Lines. You can subscribe within The Telegraph app, or tap on ‘Already a subscriber’ at the top of this page to log in to link your existing subscription. For more information, head to: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/contact-us/telegraph-subscription-bonus-content-apple-podcasts/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Day 1,359.
Today, as one of Russia’s largest oil terminals burns following an overnight strike, we report on yet another aerial blitz on Kyiv and assess the latest wave of European support for Ukraine. We also examine German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s call for President Zelensky to stem the flow of young Ukrainian men fleeing to Germany. Later, we bring you an exclusive interview with the Deputy Head of Zelensky’s Presidential Office, who shares Kyiv’s latest response to the corruption scandal engulfing the administration – and warns that Ukrainian society this summer was at “boiling point.”
Contributors
Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.
Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.
With thanks to Ihor Brusylov, Deputy Head of Zelensky’s Presidential Office.
SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:
http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter
Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It’s free for everyone, including non-subscribers.
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Francis’s Book Review: ‘How Gorbachev fooled the West into thinking he was a liberal visionary’ (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/c726678d9006e83d
Watch: Ukraine helicopter shoots down Russian drone using American minigun (The Telegraph):
Germany slams door on Ukrainian men fleeing war (The Telegraph):
US sanctions Ukrainian firms accused of helping supply parts for Iran’s Shahed drones used by Russia (Kyiv Independent):
LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST IN NEW LANGUAGES:
The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them. Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatest
Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest
Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Day 1,359.
Today, as Ukraine launches more projectiles at Russia than it receives in return, we examine the worsening situation on the ground in the Zaporizhzhia region and the growing domestic turmoil facing President Zelensky, as the corruption scandal rattles his government. We then look at the latest defence measures being adopted across Germany, Norway, and Poland, and end with voices from a Ukrainian women’s film festival highlighting resilience, creativity, and the power of cultural resistance amid war.
Contributors
Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.
James Rothwell (Berlin Correspondent). @JamesERothwell on X.
Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjz on X.
With thanks to Mariia Vynogradova and Ksenia Bugrimova from the Women and the World International Film Festival.
SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:
http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter
Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It’s free for everyone, including non-subscribers.
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Tanks or drones? German defence giants clash over how to rebuild military (James Rothwell in The Telegraph):
Polish civilians arm themselves in case of Russian invasion (James Rothwell in The Telegraph):
Russia massing nuclear fleet in Arctic Circle ‘for war with Nato’ (James Rothwell in The Telegraph):
More Soldiers, More Gold (Bild):
Ukraine’s Hardest Winter (Jack Watling in Foreign Affairs):
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/ukraine/ukraines-hardest-winter
Ukraine withdraws from positions near settlement in Zaporizhzhia (Kyiv Independent):
Women and the World International Film Festival:
Trailer to Dad’s Lullaby, a documentary about a Ukrainian veteran by Lesia Diak:
https://cineuropa.org/en/video/464790/
Hitler’s DNA proves he really did have only one ball (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2025/11/12/scientists-secrets-adolf-hitler-dna-adhd/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Day 1,358.
As Ukrainian forces struggle against overwhelming Russian manpower in the Zaporizhzhya region, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko calls for the conscription age to be lowered. We bring the latest on a corruption scandal inside Ukraine’s state nuclear power company, and assess the geopolitical significance of Kazakhstan joining the Abraham Accords. Meanwhile, in Russia, Sergey Lavrov appears to have fallen out of favour with the Kremlin once again and officials have cut off internet access around military sites.
Contributors
Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.
Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.
James Kilner (Former Russia Correspondent). @jkjourno on X.
SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:
http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter
Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It’s free for everyone, including non-subscribers.
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Ukrainian minister implicated in nuclear power corruption scandal suspended (Kyiv Independent):
https://kyivindependent.com/minister-implicated-suspended/
Ukraine faces ‘huge problems’ finding soldiers as men flee abroad, says Kyiv mayor (POLITICO):
https://www.politico.eu/article/war-in-ukraine-draft-age-russia-vitali-klitschko
UK’s Jonathan Powell contacted Moscow in bid to build back channel to Vladimir Putin (Financial Times):
https://www.ft.com/content/f06920c2-94f6-49b8-89df-82ace669cf25?shareType=nongift
Trump Admin Pushes to Weaken Ukraine Resolution on Russian Occupation at UN, Sources Tell Kyiv Post (Kyiv Post):
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/63999
Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest
Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk
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Day 1,357.
Today, the battle for Pokrovsk continues to rage on with 300 Russian soldiers now in the city, pressing forward to the north. We discuss the corruption probe in Ukraine targeting one of Zelensky’s close allies and how it led to the president’s debacle over the summer when he tried to curtail Ukraine’s two anti-corruption agencies. Finally, we zoom in on Lavrov’s disappearance from the public eye in the last couple of weeks and on the patterns of drone incursions across Europe these past two months. Note: an earlier version of this episode stated that a probe was looking into Ukraine's Chief Anti-Corruption Prosecutor. It is instead investigating his deputy, Andryi Synyuk.
Contributors
Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjz on X
Memphis Barker (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @memphisbarker on X
Roland Oliphant (Chief Foreign Analyst). @RolandOliphant on X
Joe Barnes (Brussels Correspondent). @Barnes_Joe on X
SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:
http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter
Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It’s free for everyone, including non-subscribers.
CONTENT REFERENCED:
‘We are losing Pokrovsk’: Russia nears biggest gain since 2023, The Telegraph
Who is Timur Mindich, Zelensky's secretive associate at the center of a major corruption probe?, Kyiv Independent
https://kyivindependent.com/who-is-timur-mindich/?mc_cid=721276d3ca&mc_eid=4a5b852913
Where’s Sergei Lavrov? Rumours swirl over the fate of Putin’s foreign affairs enforcer, The Telegraph
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/11/10/the-rumours-swirling-over-the-fate-of-sergei-lavrov/
Mapped: Russia’s new drone war against Europe, The Telegraph
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/11/11/mapped-russia-new-drone-war-against-europe/
Poppies and cornflowers became symbols of November 11 thanks to women forgotten by history, Le Monde
The Poppy Lady, The Story of Madame Anna Guérin and the Remembrance Poppy
https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-Poppy-Lady-Hardback/p/21829
Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest
Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Day 1,356
Today, after weekend strikes on energy facilities in both countries left blackouts in Russia and Ukraine, we report how Moscow now seems to be deliberately targeting Ukrainian nuclear plants well away from the front line, how Britain is sending military personnel to defend Belgian skies, and later we have an interview with Dr Jack Watling, Senior Research Fellow for Land Warfare at the Royal United Services Institute, in which he describes Ukraine’s adaptation of battlefield tactics.
Contributors
Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.
Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.
With thanks to Dr Jack Watling, Senior Research Fellow for Land Warfare at the Royal United Services Institute. @Jack_Watling on X.
SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:
http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter
Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It’s free for everyone, including non-subscribers.
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Dr Jack Watling's New RUSI Report - 'Emergent Approaches to Combined Arms Manoeuvre in Ukraine':
Pokrovsk: Where Putin Shattered His Teeth
https://cepa.org/article/pokrovsk-where-putin-shattered-his-teeth/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST IN NEW LANGUAGES:
The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them. Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatest
Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest
Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Day 1,353.
Today, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban visits President Trump in Washington, a few weeks after the collapse of the Budapest meeting with Russia. Meanwhile, we look at reports claiming that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov may have fallen out of favour with President Putin, and the UN Commission of Inquiry accuses Russia of committing crimes against humanity and torture. Finally, our regular contributor Jade McGlynn shares the latest
Contributors
Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjzon X.
Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.
Dr. Jade McGlynn (War Studies Department of King's College). @DrJadeMcGlynn on X.
SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:
http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter
Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It’s free for everyone, including non-subscribers.
CONTENT REFERENCED:
United Nations Human Rights Council: Independent International Commission of Inquiry report
Orbán to visit US to try to broker another Putin summit but questions raised over motives
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/07/orban-hungary-white-house-visit-trump
What’s the truth about South Africa’s ‘genocide’ of white farmers?
https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/whats-the-truth-about-south-africas-genocide-of-white-farmers/
Fact-checking Trump’s claims of white farmer ‘genocide’ in South Africa
South Africa crime statistics debunk 'white genocide' claims - minister
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgr5xe7z0y0o
Is there a genocide of white South Africans as Trump claims?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9wg5pg1xp5o
Killing of White Farmer Becomes a Flash Point in South Africa
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/16/world/africa/South-Africa-murder-protests.html
‘Kill the Boer’ Song Fuels Backlash in South Africa and U.S.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/02/world/africa/south-africa-kill-boer-song.html
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Day 1,352.
Today, as more and more Russian forces flow into Pokrovsk, Ukrainian soldiers manage to fly a Ukraine flag on the city council’s building. Ukraine also scrambles to put together a new budget for next year, while Zelensky faces harsh criticism after the announcement of relief packages ahead of winter. We hear reports of how Russia is sending disabled men to fight and wonder if the cannon fodder strategy is reaching an end.
Contributors
Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjz on X.
Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.
Verity Bowman (Journalist). @VerityBowman on X.
With thanks to Albina Kovalyova.
SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:
http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter
Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It’s free for everyone, including non-subscribers.
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Kharkiv War Diaries: Stories from a City on the Edge
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlrrWx3hBek
Kharkiv: Love in a War Zone
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct82ky
Occupied, 2022
https://www.albinakovalyova.com/work/documentary/
'Catastrophic populism:' Critics push back against Zelensky's winter support package for Ukrainians
Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest
Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Day 1,351.
Today, as reports from Pokrovsk indicate Russian troops now hold positions across nearly the entire city, prosecutors in Kharkiv launch a new war crimes investigation after footage emerged of an alleged Russian FPV drone strike on two civilians carrying a white flag near Kharkiv. We also examine today’s Joint Expeditionary Force meeting in Norway – asking whether it’s wise for the group to brand itself as “NATO’s first responders” – before doing a deep dive into recent cases of Ukrainian and Russian spycraft. Later, we speak with the commander of a Ukrainian drone unit who helped destroy Russian forces following the so-called “breakthrough” in Dobropillya.
Contributors
Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.
Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.
With thanks to Dimko Zhluktenko.
SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:
http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter
Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It’s free for everyone, including non-subscribers.
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Learn more about Dimko’s charity, Dzyga’s Paw:
Dom’s story on MI5 chief’s warnings (The Telegraph):
The Ukrainian double-agent playing Russia at its own game (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/11/01/ukraine-russia-war-double-agent-security-services/
A champion like no other: The curious life of a Unit 29155 operative (The Insider):
https://theins.ru/en/inv/286477
Russia moves to year-round conscription from 2026 (Kyiv Independent):
Is there a risk of encirclement in Pokrovsk and what awaits Myrnohrad? Soldiers explain (Hromadske):
Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest
Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Day 1,350.
Today, as fierce fighting continues around Pokrovsk and Ukrainian forces strike energy facilities inside Russia, we report on a surge in American surveillance flights over the Black Sea – coinciding with the arrival of Washington’s Ambassador to NATO in Kyiv. We also examine Ukraine’s claim to have hit an elite Russian special forces unit stationed on a Black Sea oil platform, and speak with sanctions expert Stephanie Baker, who explains why Donald Trump’s sanctions on Russian oil giants Lukoil and Rosneft are so significant.
Contributors
Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.
Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.
With thanks to Stephanie Baker (Senior Writer at Bloomberg). @StephaniBaker on X.
SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:
http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter
Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It’s free for everyone, including non-subscribers.
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Stephanie Baker’s Book, ‘Punishing Putin: ‘The gripping expose of the global economic sanctions against Russia’s war in Ukraine’:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Punishing-Putin-gripping-economic-sanctions-ebook/dp/B0CWWFJ52G
Ukraine rescues camel used by Russian military (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/10/30/ukraine-rescues-camel-used-by-russian-military/
Ukraine ‘strikes elite Russian unit’ on Black Sea oil rig (The Telegraph):
Putin’s shadow fleet under threat as Trump tries to ‘terrify’ Russia’s allies (The Telegraph):
Russian Oil Finds Fewer Takes in China After Hit From Sanctions (Bloomberg):
Kramatorsk, Donetsk Oblast's iconic front-line rail stop, closed for 'indefinite period' (Kyiv Independent):
Intense US surveillance activity over the Black Sea (ItaMilRadar):
https://www.itamilradar.com/2025/11/03/intense-us-surveillance-activity-over-the-black-sea/
Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest
Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Day 1,349.
Today, as reports emerge that General Budanov, head of Ukraine’s military intelligence, travelled to the embattled frontline city of Pokrovsk, we sit down with former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who led the alliance in the first years of the full-scale invasion. We also speak with Norwegian filmmaker Tommy Gulliksen about his powerful new documentary Facing War – which takes viewers inside the rooms where Stoltenberg and world leaders made pivotal decisions that shaped the course of the conflict.
Contributors
Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.
Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.
With thanks to former NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg. @jensstoltenbergdocumentary on X.
SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:
http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter
Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It’s free for everyone, including non-subscribers.
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Learn more about ‘Facing War’ - new film about Jens Stoltenberg by Tommy Gulliksen:
https://m.imdb.com/title/tt35671816/
Ukraine special forces launch helicopter raid to stop Russian encirclement (The Telegraph):
Draft dodger who jumped from moving train faces deportation to Russia (The Telegraph):
Russia deploys 170,000 troops in battle for Pokrovsk (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/10/31/russia-deploys-170000-troops-battle-pokrovsk/
‘How to Negotiate with Putin’ by Robert Person (Journal of Democracy):
https://www.journalofdemocracy.org/online-exclusive/how-to-negotiate-with-putin/
Zelensky Is Winning Trump Voters Over (Wall Street Journal):
Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest
Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Day 1,346.
Today, as Ukrainian forces hang on in Pokrovsk, we discuss more reports coming out of the city of Russian troops fighting in civilian clothes – a clear war crime. Plus, we hear about Ukraine’s latest long range strikes inside Russia and look at a worrying message from the International Atomic Energy Agency that accuses Moscow of targeting three of Ukraine's nuclear power plants. Later, we hear how a Ukrainian opera lost for 250 years premiered earlier this month in Chernivtsi, accompanied by the sound of air alerts.
Contributors:
Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.
Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjzon X.
With thanks to Nataliya Lukyanova and James Butterwick
SIGN UP TO THE NEW ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:
https://secure.telegraph.co.uk/customer/secure/newsletter/ukraine/
Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It’s free for everyone, including non-subscribers.
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Russian soldiers disguised in civilian clothes infiltrating front-line city (The Telegraph):
Poland, Hungary and Slovakia defy Brussels as Ukraine trade deal takes effect (POLITICO)
Trump-Vladimir Putin Budapest summit axed following Moscow memo (Financial Times):
https://www.ft.com/content/d6655fb1-31af-4da8-85f7-085a8fc00969
Hungary’s foot-dragging on Russian oil crashes into reality
https://www.politico.eu/article/hungary-foot-dragging-russian-oil-crashes-reality-croatia-sanction/
LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST IN NEW LANGUAGES:
The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them. Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatest
Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest
Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Day 1,345.
Today, as Donald Trump and Xi Jinping meet in South Korea, we ask whether Ukraine can ever expect China to face real consequences for its support of Russia throughout the war. We also examine Vladimir Putin’s ongoing air campaign to cripple Ukraine’s energy infrastructure – including last night’s major assault – and bring you the latest stories from inside the Russian Federation, from renewed public protests to fresh signs of deepening economic stagnation.
Contributors:
Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.
Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjzon X.
James Kilner (former Foreign Correspondent). @jkjourno on X.
SIGN UP TO THE NEW ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:
https://secure.telegraph.co.uk/customer/secure/newsletter/ukraine/
Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It’s free for everyone, including non-subscribers.
WATCH OUR SPECIAL LIVE EPISODE
Francis’s Interview with Serhii Plokhy on the nuclear arms race:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmcJqyD8eXs
Apple: https://shorturl.at/Hq3la
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7oSVN1czV0hqnvi0fAomea
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Trump orders Pentagon to ‘immediately’ start testing nuclear weapons (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025/10/30/trump-nuclear-weapons-testing-russia-poseidon-drone/
Donald Trump claims victory after ‘amazing’ trade talks with Xi Jinping (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/2025/10/30/trump-xi-meeting-south-korea-trade-war/
Geert Wilders’ Dutch PM hopes in tatters (The Telegraph):
Exploding Shahed drone toys sold to Russian children (The Telegraph):
Ukraine is bracing for the harshest winter since 2022 (Tomorrow’s Affairs):
https://tomorrowsaffairs.com/ukraine-is-bracing-for-the-harshest-winter-since-2022
Red hands and pig heads: Russia’s plan to destabilize France goes on trial (POLITICO):
https://www.politico.eu/article/red-hands-and-pig-heads-russias-plan-to-destabilize-france-goes-on-trial/
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Day 1,344.
Today, as the situation around the frontline city of Pokrovsk continues to worsen, we examine Ukraine’s latest wave of deep strikes targeting Russia’s military infrastructure. Then we turn to Brussels, where frustration mounts after European nations failed to agree on how to unlock frozen Russian assets to support Kyiv’s war effort. Then we hear about the motorway some believe could save NATO from Vladimir Putin’s aggression.
Contributors:
Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.
Joe Barnes (Brussels Correspondent). @Barnes_Joe on X.
David Blair (Chief Foreign Affairs Commentator). @davidblairdt on X.
WATCH OUR SPECIAL LIVE EPISODE
Link here: https://youtu.be/Mw_lWhp-flU
Questions from the audience are answered in the podcast version, below:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7DKehIQCz24eKK73xjP2e8
Content Referenced:
Battle Lines: Global Health Security episode on bioweapons:
The motorway that could save Nato from Putin’s aggression (David Blair in The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/10/27/motorway-save-nato-putin-aggression/
US to Remove Brigade From Romania, Sources Tell Kyiv Post (Kyiv Post):
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/63159
U.S. intelligence agencies see no sign Russia is ready to compromise on Ukraine (NBC):
A Russian Ka-52 helicopter shot down by "friendly fire” (The Insider):
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Day 1,343.
Today, as the fierce battle for Pokrovsk rages on – with Russian troops now inside the city and 15 armoured vehicles destroyed on its outskirts – we report on the dramatic destruction of a dam in Russia that has cut off Moscow’s forces inside Ukraine. Later, we speak to one of the leading architects behind the Western initiative to seize $300 billion in frozen Russian state assets, exploring how close this unprecedented move is to becoming reality – and what it could mean for the future of the war.
Contributors:
Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjz on X.
Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.
With thanks to campaigner, journalist and entrepreneur Hugo Dixon.
WATCH OUR SPECIAL LIVE EPISODE
Link here: https://youtu.be/Mw_lWhp-flU
Questions from the audience are answered in the podcast version, below:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7DKehIQCz24eKK73xjP2e8
Content Referenced:
Ukraine floods Russian troops in dam strike (The Telegraph):
Inside Ukraine’s fortress belt, where Nato doctrine no longer applies (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/10/27/trump-freeze-frontlines-trouble-ukraine/
Western drones are underwhelming on the Ukrainian battlefield (The Economist):
Russian army committing murder in Ukraine: Independent rights commission (UN report):
https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/10/1166189
Kyiv wants to cash in on OnlyFans creators’ unpaid taxes. There’s just one problem: making porn is illegal in Ukraine (Meduza):
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/10/08/turning-me-into-a-criminal
Ukraine's OnlyFans Paradox: Tax the Sin, Punish the Sinner (Iuliia Mendel’s Substack):
https://iuliiamendel.substack.com/p/ukraines-onlyfans-paradox-tax-the
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Day 1,342.
Today, after a weekend of Russian bombardments on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities – with fires killing multiple civilians – we examine Moscow’s failed diplomatic bid to block Donald Trump’s latest sanctions on Russian energy. Then we consider how Vladimir Putin’s unveiling of a “next-generation” cruise missile reveals growing unease in the Kremlin. Later, we sit down with Ukrainian historian Serhii Plokhy, to discuss the Cold War arms race, and how Kyiv could have retained nuclear weapons after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Please note this episode features distressing recordings from the bombardment on Kyiv, including sounds of incoming drones.
Contributors:
Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.
With thanks to Ukrainian historian Serhii Plokhy. @SPlokhy on X.
WATCH OUR SPECIAL LIVE EPISODE
Link here: https://youtu.be/Mw_lWhp-flU
Questions from the audience are answered in the podcast version, below:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7DKehIQCz24eKK73xjP2e8
LINKS
Serhii Plokhy’s new book, ‘The Nuclear Age: An Epic Race for Arms, Power and Survival’:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nuclear-Age-Epic-Power-Survival/dp/0241582865
‘Will I die?’ Moment nursery children rescued after Russian strike (The Telegraph):
Russia’s latest attempt to woo the US reeks of desperation (The Telegraph):
Russians circling around Trump to sway his mind, warns key ally (The Telegraph):
At least 250 Russians in Pokrovsk, Ukrainian troops walk 10-15 km to reach positions (Ukrainska Pravda):
https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2025/10/24/8004333/
Europe’s Plan B for Ukraine (POLITICO):
https://www.politico.eu/newsletter/brussels-playbook/Europes-Plan-B-for-Ukraine/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this special live episode recorded at the Honourable Artillery Company in London, we take stock of the war as it grinds into its fourth calendar year.
Joined by General Sir Richard Barrons – former head of UK Joint Forces Command and co-author of Britain’s Strategic Defence Review – and Orysia Lutsevych OBE – head of the Ukraine Forum at Chatham House – hosts Dom Nicholls, Francis Dearnley, and Adélie Pojzman-Pontay debate the state of the conflict, Donald Trump’s renewed deadlines and ultimatums, and why Vladimir Putin shows no sign of negotiating peace in good faith.
Then we take questions from the audience.
As bombs continue to devastate Ukrainian cities and Europe’s “Coalition of the Willing” struggles for credibility, we ask: where next for the war and for European security? With the post-1945 security order collapsing, this timely discussion helps make sense of a shifting geopolitical era – and considers the challenges facing Western societies and reserve forces, such as the Honourable Artillery Company, in the years ahead.
You can also watch this episode on The Telegraph YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/Mw_lWhp-flU
SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:
http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter
Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It’s free for everyone, including non-subscribers.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Day 1,339.
Today, as President Zelensky meets the Coalition of the Willing in London, we discuss the shock felt in Brussels after European countries failed to come to a deal on the use of frozen Russian assets. We also hear the latest updates on the Ukrainian resistance, and Francis reports not from the frontline but the front row, as he attends a Ukrainian fashion show.
Contributors:
Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjzon X.
Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.
Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.
With thanks to Illia Riepin and the Estonian Embassy of London.
SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:
http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter
Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It’s free for everyone, including non-subscribers.
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Francis’s Article on Ukrainian Fashion:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/people/ukraine-fashion-show-london-war-francis-dearnley/
EU’s €140bn Ukraine loan plan derailed (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/10/24/belgium-derails-european-union-plans-ukraine-loan/
LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST IN NEW LANGUAGES:
The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them. Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatest
Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest
Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk
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Day 1,338.
Today, as Donald Trump unveils sweeping new sanctions on Russia’s energy giants, we analyse what recent developments reveal about the shifting power dynamics between Moscow and Washington. We also investigate an alleged Russian war crime in Donetsk and what it exposes about the brutal nature of the fighting there, before exploring why NATO nations continue to pour vast resources into tank production and modernisation.
Contributors:
Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.
Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.
Memphis Barker (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @memphisbarker on X.
Hamish de Bretton-Gordon (Chemical Weapons Expert and former Tank Commander). @hamishdbg on X.
SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:
http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter
Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It’s free for everyone, including non-subscribers.
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Trump’s sanctions put him on a warpath with Russia, says Medvedev (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/2025/10/22/trump-russia-oil-sanctions-putin/
Bodies strewn across Pokrovsk reveal horror of Russian war crimes (Memphis Barker in The Telegraph):
The man with the worst job in Ukraine (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/10/23/man-with-worst-job-in-ukraine/
Russian commander ordered troops to shoot Ukrainian civilians near Pokrovsk, radio intercept suggests (Kyiv Independent):
U.S. Lifts Key Restriction on Ukraine’s Use of European Long-Range Missiles (Wall Street Journal):
How tanks are evolving in Ukraine (New York Times):
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Day 1,337.
Today, after Vladimir Putin defied Donald Trump to wreck the proposed Budapest peace talks, we report how overnight attacks ended with children having to be evacuated from a burning kindergarten in Kharkiv after it was hit in a Russian drone strike. Plus, British-supplied Storm Shadow cruise missiles hit their targets in Russia and, later, we hear about how for civilians in Ukraine, learning the specific sound of drones can be a matter of life or death… and how their buzzing can stay with survivors a long time after the attack.
Contributors:
Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.
Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjz on X.
Kieran Kelly (Foreign Reporter).
SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:
http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter
Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It’s free for everyone, including non-subscribers.
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Putin defies Trump to wreck Ukraine peace talks (Connor Stringer and Joe Barnes in The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025/10/21/trump-no-longer-plans-meet-putin-hungary
Ukraine strikes Russia with British Storm Shadow missiles (The Telegraph):
Germany wants to use Iceland as a logistics base for the Navy (Hartpunkt):
https://www.hartpunkt.de/pistorius-sieht-island-als-logistik-basis-fuer-die-marine/
Europe and Ukraine Prepare 12-Point Proposal to End Russia’s War, Bloomberg
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-10-21/europe-and-ukraine-prepare-12-point-proposal-to-end-russia-s-war
Russia’s Lvova-Belova Admits to Kidnapping Ukrainian Orphan to Russia Despite His Resistance
The War of Sound, The Telegraph
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/The-War-of-Sound/
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Day 1,336.
Today, amid growing signs the planned Trump-Putin summit in Hungary is already in jeopardy, we assess a breakthrough in Europe that could see finally frozen Russian state assets loaned to Ukraine. Then we uncover disturbing accounts revealing the dire state of Russia’s armed forces, and bring you the latest stories from Moscow as the economy continues to display signs of fracture.
Contributors:
Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.
Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.
Verity Bowman (Reporter). @VerityBowman on X.
James Kilner (Former Telegraph Russia Correspondant). @jkjourno on X.
MORE TICKETS JUST RELEASED FOR 'UKRAINE: THE LATEST' LIVE, IN-PERSON:
Join us for an in-person discussion and Q&A at the distinguished Honourable Artillery Company in London on 22nd October starting at 7pm.
Our panel includes General Sir Richard Barrons, former head of UK Joint Forces Command and latterly one of the authors of Britain’s Strategic Defence Review, and Orysia Lutsevych, head of the Ukraine Forum at the Chatham House think tank. Tickets are open to everybody and can be purchased at: https://www.squadup.com/events/ukrainelive
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Putin ‘should only be allowed to travel to Hungary if he agrees to a ceasefire’ (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/10/20/putin-travel-hungary-if-he-agrees-ceasefire-russia-ukraine/
How Putin could reach Hungary peace summit without being shot down or arrested (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/10/17/putin-route-to-budapest-summit/
Trapped on the Dnipro, Putin’s troops tried to flee by boat — and were blown apart (Verity Bowman in The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/10/21/russia-putin-dnipro-river-troops-boat-ukraine/
Russian troops handcuffed to trees and left for dead after defying orders (Verity Bowman in The Telegraph):
Putin sends squads of sick soldiers into Pokrovsk ‘meat grinder’ (Verity Bowman in The Telegraph):
EU closes in on deal to use Russian frozen assets to fund Ukraine (POLITICO):
https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-deal-russian-frozen-assets-ukraine-loan-belgium/
US is stalling on G7 plan over Russian assets (Bloomberg):
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