Ukraine: The Latest

Day 1,415.

Today, the world responds to Putin’s latest outrage that has seen a nuclear-capable ballistic missile fired by Russia hit Ukraine just 50km from Nato’s border, with one leading European politician saying the pressure on Putin must now be “turned up to the maximum and made unbearable.” We hear from the man who recently interviewed Oleksandr Kamyshin, a key aide to President Zelensky and get Francis’s final thoughts from Hungary. Later, we interview the commander of Operation Interflex, the British-led military effort to train Ukrainian recruits.

Contributors

Dominic Nicholls (Associate E...

Day 1,414.

Today, as yet another Russian shadow fleet tanker makes the news, but this time after an explosion by a suspected Ukrainian drone in the Black Sea forced it to divert to Turkey, we hear live from Ukraine where overnight strikes left two regions without power as temperatures plummet below zero. We report how the value of defence company shares have surged after comments by Donald Trump - but not if they’re based in the US - and we hear from Ukraine's International Legion about proposed changes that have left some soldiers in “total bewilderment”. 

C...

Day 1,413.

Today, we report on the details of the latest COTW summit in Paris, asking how significant was the strong US presence and input. We get an update from Francis in Hungary and, later, we have an interview with Sir Ben Wallace, Britain’s former defence secretary who says it's just wishful thinking that Donald Trump would put any weight behind a backstop because Putin knows, in Sir Ben’s words, that he's got a guy in the White House aligned to Russia.

Contributors

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X. Duration: 00:52:59

Day 1,412.

Today, as military and political chiefs from the Coalition of the Willing meet in Paris, President Zelensky continues to reshuffle his top team, including the replacement of the man behind Operation Spiderweb, a move that has been criticised in Ukraine. We have a look at how 2026 is being reported in the Russian media and, later, we speak to an analyst from the RAND corporation about how AI is now being fielded on drones in the war.

Contributors

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Lily Shanagher (Foreign R...

Day 1,411.

Today, as the world reacts to America’s operation in Venezuela over the weekend, we explore Moscow’s notably muted response - a silence that hints at the tension inside the Kremlin between defending an ally and condemning US action, risking Donald Trump’s wrath, or quietly applauding an example of international intervention. We also hear from Hungary, where Francis puts questions to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

Contributors

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

James Kil...

Day 1,408.

At the start of the fifth calendar year of the full scale invasion, attacks across Ukraine saw the beginning of 2026 marked with yet more death, injury and destruction across Ukraine. It has also seen General Budanov named as Andrii Yermak’s replacement, a remarkable double-cross operation by Budanov’s military intelligence department and a rebuttal by the CIA into claims by Moscow earlier this week that Ukraine tried to attack Putin directly. We report how Australian tanks have been in action around Pokrovsk, Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov has been rushed to hospital and Finnish authorities have boar...

Today, in a special pre-recorded episode, we take you back to Kharkiv, where Francis and Adélie met a young theatre company called Ocheret. Proud heirs to a city with a long tradition of artists defending Ukrainian identity, and one that is primarily Russian-speaking, these performers are part of Kharkiv’s cultural frontline. With the city lying just kilometres from active fighting, the members of the company, all in their early twenties, remain unflinching in their decision to carry on Kharkiv’s artistic legacy, creating theatre in the midst of war. We hear their reflections, and then an update on wh...

Day 1,405.

Today, as the Kremlin tries to divert attention from President Zelensky’s seemingly successful meeting with Donald Trump in Florida with un-evidenced claims of an attempt on Putin’s life, we report on Russian advances in Zapporizhia oblast that may lead to legal difficulties for a Ukrainian commander. And, later, Francis watches, and reports on, Ukrainian TV and I take a brief look back at the main events of 2025.

Contributors

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjz on X.

Franci...

Day 1,404.

Today, President Volodymyr Zelensky appears to have secured a 15-year American security guarantee from President Donald Trump after their meeting in Mar-a-Lago. But questions remain over the other key sticking points of a potential peace deal. 

Plus, a postcard from Kyiv’s first marathon since the full-blown war began. Journalist Benjamin Lynch ran the half-marathon with a recorder alongside 13,000 other people to give us a flavour of the event. 

Pic credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Contributors

Venetia Rainey (Co-host Battle Lines podcast). @venetiarainey on X.

Domini...

Day 1,399.

Today, President Zelensky has revealed details of the proposed peace plan worked out between US and Ukraine delegations last weekend in Miami, that is due to be put to Russia later today. 

Plus, since it's Christmas Eve, something a little different: a special look at the Ukrainian art scene, past and present.

We begin with the generation of Ukrainian artists at the dawn of the 20th century who helped drive the Modernist movement, breaking with centuries of figurative tradition and pushing art decisively into modernity. We examine how artists are later reclaimed b...

Day 1,398.

Today, as reports come in of a renewed Russian cross-border incursion in the north east of the country, Ukraine is clearing up after another massive overnight aerial attack which has left thousands without power. We report the diplomatic fallout from the inconclusive talks in Miami and Later, we have an interview with Ukrainian artist and designer, Mariya Dykalo, the Creative Director of Aspinal of London.

Pic credit: The Russian Ministry of Defense/Anadolu via Getty Images

Contributors

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

F...

Day 1,397.

Today, as three days of talks in Miami between the US, Ukraine and Russia fail to produce anything of substance, we report how Emmanuel Macron may pick up the diplomatic baton with a potential phone call this week with Vladimir Putin. We report the breaking news of a car bombing in Moscow that has killed another senior Russian General and of another Ukrainian strike against Russian energy facilities in the Caspian Sea. And later, you’ll hear a report from our last trip to Ukraine when we visited a prosthetics factory in Odesa where, among work to...

Day 1,394.

Today, as the dust settles on the critical overnight deal in Brussels to loan €90 billion to Ukraine, we report on another strike against a vessel in Russia’s shadow fleet – this time in the Mediterranean Sea. And later, we offer clear answers to the hardy perennial questions you’re likely to hear at Christmas parties from those who haven’t been following the war, before opening our podcast Secret Santa presents.

Contributors

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Jo...

Day 1,393.

Today, as EU leaders meet to decide what – if anything – to do with frozen Russian assets, we examine just how consequential this moment could be for the bloc and for European security more broadly. We also analyse how Vladimir Putin has deliberately shifted his language to appeal to Donald Trump, and track another attack on a Russian oil tanker as Moscow’s Black Sea Fleet appears to have blockaded itself inside Novorossiysk rather than risk further Ukrainian drone strikes.

Contributors

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Francis...

Day 1,392.

Today, as Russia attempts to insist that one of its $400 million submarines was not destroyed by a Ukrainian sea drone — in a manner that appears to prove the opposite — we bring you inside reporting from the American and Ukrainian negotiating teams at this pivotal moment. We also look ahead to a crunch European vote on whether to unlock and use frozen Russian state assets.

Contributors

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Michael Weiss (Editor of The I...

Day 1,391.

Today, we assess what some are calling a “breakthrough” in talks between Europe, Ukraine, and the United States, after reports that Washington is offering Kyiv security guarantees equivalent to NATO’s Article 5. But is the proposal all it appears to be – and would Vladimir Putin ever accept it? We then report a first in military history: the sinking of a submarine in port by a drone, before examining internal pressures within Russian society, and reflecting on what Moscow has done to the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, reopening its destroyed theatre with a performance many see as shocking...

Day 1,389.

Today, after another weekend of intense diplomatic activity, we take you to Berlin, where President Zelensky is meeting the American delegation – joined by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz – as Europe seeks to reassert itself in the peace process. We also examine the surge in military activity over the weekend, which saw multiple cities plunged into blackout, before turning to Germany’s rapidly evolving position, where comparisons are increasingly being drawn between today and the events that sparked the Second World War.

Contributors

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Domi...

Today, in a special bonus episode, we bring you a panel Francis Dearnley recently moderated at the Frontline Club in London – a renowned meeting place for anyone passionate about foreign affairs, hosting regular events with guests from think tanks, journalism, the humanitarian sector, and many more.

The discussion features leading experts on various dimensions of the war: Christopher Miller (Chief Ukraine Correspondent, Financial Times), Dr Jack Watling (Senior Research Fellow for Land Warfare, RUSI), and Orysia Lutsevych OBE (Head of the Ukraine Forum, Chatham House). Though recorded a few weeks ago, the conversation feels not just re...

Day 1,387.

Today, as Russia attempts to convince the world – or at least Donald Trump – that they are inexorably taking territory, President Zelensky has visited the north-east city of Kupiansk, which has been recently liberated in a rapid recapture of ground. The head of NATO warns that the West faces the prospect of war with Russia on a scale not seen since the days of “our grandparents and great-grandparents” and we examine the latest diplomatic manoeuvres ahead of tomorrow’s meeting in Paris, where the question of territorial concessions will be front and centre. And later, Francis catches up with Ad...

Day 1,386.

Today, as Ukraine fires hundreds of drones into Russia – forcing the closure of all major Moscow airports – we report on how the maritime war is intensifying, with Kyiv striking shadow fleet tankers in the Black Sea and oil rigs in the Caspian Sea. Meanwhile, diplomatic tensions are rising, with President Donald Trump saying he exchanged “pretty strong words” with his European counterparts, just as reports emerge of a White House plan to bring Russia’s economy in from the cold. Then we return to controversial developments in the chess world with The Telegraph’s chess correspondent Malcolm Pein...

Day 1,385.

Today, as Commander Syrskyi claims Ukraine has regained several kilometres of the frontline around Pokrovsk, we examine the format of the European counter-proposal to the US-Russia peace plan, as President Trump sets a new deadline of Christmas for President Zelensky to agree. We also take deep dives into Belgium’s stance on frozen Russian state assets and the state of hybrid warfare across Europe, before hearing from the UK Minister of the Armed Forces on the evolving European position and the growing dangers ahead.

Contributors

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @Fr...

Day 1,384.

Today, as President Zelensky appears to reject Donald Trump’s proposal for Ukraine to cede territory to Moscow, we examine the new European plan set to be presented to the US later. We also report on how Ukrainian troops are still holding out in the frontline city of Pokrovsk, before turning to developments inside Russia: Putin’s new law requiring 100,000 military reservists to undergo two months of training, growing protests over tax rises, and the outcomes of his visit to India, where he signed a series of deals with Prime Minister Modi.

Contributors

Day 1,383.

Today, after a weekend marked by continued talks in Florida between the Ukrainian and American delegations and President Donald Trump’s comments blaming Zelensky for stalling negotiations, the Ukrainian president meets British PM Keir Starmer, French President Macron and German Chancellor Merz in London today. The talks, which finished as we were recording this episode, opened with Germany’s ‘scepticism’ of US peace proposals and France’s assurance that ‘Europe had a lot of cards in its hands.’ Meanwhile, Russia targets a dam near Kharkiv which supplies water to Ukraine's second biggest city. Finally, we discuss the US’s Natio...

Day 1,380.

Today, we report on revelations from a European leaders’ conference call, exposing the level of anxiety over the US peace proposals, cover the military drones spotted approaching President Zelensky’s plane as it neared Dublin, and examine the new US National Security Strategy, which has alarmed many. Later, we return to our regular updates on the occupied territories, and speak to a doctor about frontline medical provision for Ukrainian soldiers.

Contributors

Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjz on X.

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Fra...

Day 1,379.

Today, after Tuesday’s inconsequential meeting in Moscow, Ukrainian negotiators are updating European counterparts on Kyiv’s response before flying to meet Steve Witkoff in Miami. We consider why U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau has lambasted European NATO allies for prioritising their own defence industries over American suppliers – comments made just as another billion dollars was added to the PURL fund – and we ask whether, if Pokrovsk has indeed fallen, Russia will now shift its efforts toward Zaporizhzhia oblast. And later, we return to the GRU’s murder of British woman Dawn Sturgess by nerve a...

Day 1,378.

Today, as the world reacts to the marathon – but ultimately fruitless – talks in Moscow on Tuesday night, we examine how the impasse will shape today’s meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers and, also in Brussels, the European Council’s discussions on frozen Russian assets and the ‘new era’ the EU says it is entering, free from Russian fossil fuels. Plus, our Russia expert assesses Moscow’s ‘caviar diplomacy’ and its growing problems in Africa, and we report how Australia and New Zealand are stepping up their support for Ukraine. Finally, we hear the assessment of Ukraine’s former Foreign Min...

Day 1,377.

Today, on a national day of mourning in Ukraine after a single ballistic missile strike killed four people and injured forty more, we report on the arrival of the US delegation in Moscow as the latest round of peace talks gets under way. Then we hear from our Washington Correspondent on the mood in the United States toward Ukraine – and the current strength of President Trump – and take a deep dive into how Russian soldiers are being sent into combat without helmets or body armour.

Contributors

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audi...

Day 1,375.

Today, after a fresh round of talks between the Ukrainian and American delegations in Miami, we examine a new investigation exposing the Trump administration’s profit motives behind the emerging proposals. We then assess the resignation of Andriy Yermak, formerly Zelensky’s right-hand man, and the unexpected intervention of former Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi – viewed as preparing for a presidential run after the war. Afterwards, we analyse Kyiv’s decision to strike the Russian shadow fleet off the coast of Senegal, and how Europe – and France in particular – is positioning itself for this next, volatile phase.

Contri...

Day 1,373.

Today, in a world exclusive, we report how Donald Trump is preparing to hand over Ukraine’s occupied territories, as his team prepares to fly to Moscow to present the plan to Vladimir Putin. Meanwhile, the Russian President claims his country’s army “cannot be held back”, as Russia experiences one of the heaviest drone raids of the war. Then, we turn to Kyiv, where the offices of the head of President Zelensky’s office – Andriy Yermak – were dramatically raided by anti-corruption officers. And later, at a time when leaders talk about gifting land to the Kremlin, we br...

Day 1,372.

Today, as Thanksgiving is marked in the United States – and supposedly the day by which Ukraine was meant to agree to a peace deal, a deadline Donald Trump has now walked back – Russia denies leaking the phone call in which Steve Witkoff coached Vladimir Putin’s top aides on how to flatter the former president. We assess whether Marco Rubio’s apparent demand – that a peace deal be signed before the US grants Ukraine any security guarantees – is remotely deliverable. We also report on how Moldovan authorities attempted to return a Russian drone that violated their airspace. An...

Day 1,371.

Today, as a leaked call reveals that Steve Witkoff, the US special envoy to Russia, coached a Kremlin negotiator on how to make Donald Trump more favourable to Moscow’s position, we examine the fallout – or the lack of it. We also assess new signals that Trump’s much-trailed Thursday deadline may not be as cast-iron as claimed. Then we turn to the reaction from Moscow and across Europe’s parliaments: alarm, or business as usual?

Contributors

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of...

Day 1,370.

Today, as the United States holds secret talks with separate Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Abu Dhabi, we unpack the emerging 19-point peace plan – and react live on air to breaking reports that President Zelensky has agreed to the framework of a potential deal. We then gauge the mood in Europe’s capitals: is this a moment of quiet strategy and resolution, or rising panic as the diplomatic landscape shifts beneath their feet?

Contributors

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNi...

Day 1,369.

Today, after a historic weekend, as US and Ukrainian delegations met in Geneva to discuss the US-Russian peace proposals, we assess Europe’s response as it scrambles to form a collective position, before asking just how severe the ramifications would be if, as President Trump has threatened, he cuts of military and intelligence support to Kyiv. Then we hear the latest updates on the frontline, and give up an update on the other major story of the moment: the corruption scandal threatening the stability of President Zelensky’s government.

Contributors

Francis Dear...

Today, in a special bonus episode, we bring you a major panel from the Ukraine Freedom Summit in London, moderated by Dom and featuring a distinguished lineup: Lt General (Ret.) H.R. McMaster (U.S. National Security Adviser to President Trump, 2017–18), Boris Johnson (Former UK Prime Minister), Sergey Vysotsky (Deputy Chairman, Association of Strategic Communications, National Association of Ukrainian Defense Industries), and Michael Kofman (Senior Fellow, Russia & Eurasia Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace).

Titled “The Strategic Architecture of Victory,” the discussion offers candid reflections on Western failures, why Europe struggled to unite in the face of a g...

Day 1,366.

Today, we reveal new details of the proposed American-Russian peace plan – one that would not only drastically shrink the Ukrainian army and force Kyiv to surrender vast areas of critical territory, but ban it from ever joining NATO, and even see Moscow invited back into the G7 with its frozen assets returned. After breaking down the implications and surveying the mood in the Donbas, we bring the latest reports of resistance from the occupied territories – places which would legally become Russian if the deal were signed.

Contributors

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for...

Day 1,365.

Today, we examine the proposal that has left Kyiv and Europe reeling: a US peace plan that could force Ukraine to lease part of its territory to Russia, cap the size of its armed forces, and accept a series of concessions that would amount to a major victory for Vladimir Putin. We then hear from a leading pollster about domestic attitudes in Russia towards the war – and what potential tipping points could shift public opinion. Finally, we reflect on the significance of the anniversary of the Nuremberg Trials, and what it means for justice and accountability in...

Day 1,364.

Today, as Ukraine confirms the latest use of US ATACMS missiles inside Russia and Britain tracks a Russian spy ship in UK waters, we examine growing pressure on President Zelensky to dismiss a senior official over the widening nuclear-energy corruption scandal – with Andriy Yermak increasingly in the spotlight. We also report on allegations that a former British civil servant committed war crimes in Ukraine, and discuss why Spain is attempting to return to Donald Trump’s good graces with a new €1 billion purchase of U.S. weapons for Ukraine. Later, we speak with the Foreign Minister of Cze...

Day 1,363.

Today, after a 17-year-old girl was killed and 9 others injured in an overnight Russian missile attack in Kharkiv Oblast, we return to the dire situation in Pokrovsk, before asking why Vladimir Putin is targeting his own war cheerleaders in his latest clampdown. Then we look at the First World War medical condition being reported on the frontlines in Ukraine, and hear from an American serving in the Ukrainian army.

Contributors

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Day 1,362.

Today, as Poland reports sabotage on vital rail links connecting it to Ukraine and Romania evacuates civilians after Russian strikes across the Danube, we unpack President Zelensky’s latest diplomatic push – including a new energy deal with Greece and a landmark agreement with France for 100 fighter jets. Later, we speak with Vladimir Kara-Murza, the prominent opposition figure arrested in 2022 for denouncing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and given a 25-year sentence in a Siberian penal colony. He discusses life inside prison and how Putin’s regime suppresses dissent.

Contributors

Dominic Nicholls (Associate...

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.”

Contr...

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 (Ber...

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 (Exec...

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 p...

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 (Exe...

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...

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). @DomN...

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...

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 Defenc...

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.

Domi...

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 De...

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...

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...

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...

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 bombardmen...

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...

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). @Fr...

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 For...

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.

Please note, this ep...

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.

Day 1,335.

Today, as the world digests the outcome of the White House meeting between Presidents Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky, we examine why the lack of progress on Tomahawk missiles caught many observers off guard. We also explore the significance – if any – of Trump’s planned talks with Vladimir Putin in Budapest, widely seen as part of the Kremlin’s strategy to stall for time. Plus, we report on another slow weekend at the front, continued Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil and gas facilities, and hear from a leading professor on what it would take to achieve a genuin...

Day 1,332.

Today, as President Zelensky meets Donald Trump at the White House, we unpack Vladimir Putin’s emergency – if predictable – intervention: an unscheduled call with the US President that may have derailed Kyiv’s hopes of securing Tomahawk missiles. Then, in a special cultural dispatch, we dive into the world of Ukrainian classical music.

Contributors:

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

With thanks to Hobart Earle, Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Odesa Philharmonic Orchestra.

MORE TICKETS JUST RELEASED FOR 'UKRAINE: THE LATEST' LIVE, IN...

Day 1,331.

Today, as President Zelensky heads to Washington for another high-stakes meeting with Donald Trump, we break down the latest from the frontlines as NATO vows to ramp up its military support for Ukraine. We also examine a rare protest in St Petersburg calling for Vladimir Putin’s death, explore how recent drone incursions are reshaping German attitudes toward the war, and ask why Syria’s president – once a sworn enemy of the Kremlin – has now met the Russian President in Moscow.

Contributors:

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Adé...

Day 1,330.

Today, as NATO defence ministers meet in Brussels with the US representative to NATO warning Russia of “consequences” if the Kremlin doesn’t move towards a peace agreement, we report how Mexican and Colombian drug cartels have infiltrated the Ukrainian military to learn how to fly kamikaze drones. Plus we take a deep dive into the current political crisis in France and examine what impact it could have on the war.

Contributors:

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjz on X.

Day 1,329.

Today, as Donald Trump vows to harness the momentum of the Gaza ceasefire to bring peace to Ukraine, we examine global reaction – or the striking silence – after a UN convoy was attacked by Russian forces. Then we assess reports of a possible chemical weapons attack in Donetsk and take a deep dive into stories emerging from inside Russia – revealing the cracks in its economy and the growing strains within its society.

Contributors:

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Day 1,328.

Today, as we learn the Donald Trump administration has been sharing intelligence enabling Kyiv to strike at Russian energy facilities, we reflect on the likelihood that Tomahawk missiles are incoming, and the fallout from the US President not receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. Then we hear live from the country of Georgia, where protests continue and tensions remain high, before Francis ends with an appeal on a neglected subject: animals in war.

Contributors:

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls o...

Day 1,325.

Today, after another wave of intense Russian bombardments, we explore what the Gaza ceasefire could mean for the war. Will it bring renewed international attention, or further distraction? Plus, we deliver our latest fortnightly update on resistance inside the occupied territories, and ask: how strong is America’s commitment to Europe’s defense now, with insights from one of the U.S. Army’s former top generals.

Contributors:

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Dr. Jade McG...

Day 1,324.

Today, Ukraine hits yet another pipeline and oil plant, while fuel shortage in Russia approaches 20 percent. Meanwhile, more than half of Ukraine's natural gas production capacity has been destroyed by Russian strikes. We also discuss the state of US-Russia relations and what will happen to the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty when it expires. Finally Dom speaks with Benjamin Tallis about the use of AI in defence.

Contributors:

Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjz on X.

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

With thanks to...

Day 1,323

Today, as Moscow tightens restrictions on gas sales and mobile networks amid Ukraine’s escalating campaign against Moscow’s oil industry, reports emerge that Russian workers are being told to halt operations as “preemptive measures” against drone attacks. We also discuss Dom and Francis’s appearance on Russian state TV, and speak with Australia’s military representative to NATO and the EU about the broader implications for the war.

Contributors:

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

With thanks...

Day 1,322

Today, we examine the escalating conflict in Ukraine after another night of bombardments, looking at the potential impact of US Tomahawk missiles if supplied to Kyiv, along with new Western weapons innovations shaping the battlefield. We also discuss another mysterious death in Moscow and what it reveals about the power struggles inside Russia. Finally, we explore whether the post-World War II reconstruction of Germany offers a realistic blueprint for rebuilding Ukraine once the war ends.

Contributors:

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor f...

Day 1,321.

Today, we break down Ukraine’s escalating drone war targeting Russian industry and examine how Ukrainian intelligence claims China supplied satellite imagery of US-funded factories. We also cover the latest riots in Georgia and election results in Czechia, analysing what they reveal about European political stability. Later, following a weekend of explosions across Russia and occupied Crimea, a RAND Corporation analyst joins us to assess Putin’s weakening oil industry, the potential breaking point for Russia’s energy sector, and how a proposed European “drone wall” could reshape the continent’s defences.

Contributors:

Dominic...

Day 1,318.

Today, after yet another drone incursion forces the closure of a major European airport - this time in Germany - we examine growing calls from officials to take tougher measures, including shooting drones down on sight. We’ll also look at one of Ukraine’s most far-reaching strikes to date, more than 1,400 kilometers inside Russia, before turning to some of the lighter, more curious moments in encounters between Russian presidents and world leaders. Later, we bring you our latest dispatch from Odesa, where debate is intensifying over whether to remove a certain statue of Russian poet Alex...

Day 1,317.

Today, as Donald Trump reportedly provides Ukraine with intelligence for long-range missile strikes against Russia, we assess just how serious the economic situation is becoming amid reports of gas shortages. Then, as European leaders join President Zelensky in Copenhagen, we hear about the new 'drone wall' and how Moscow has upgraded its missiles to better evade Patriot air defense systems.

Contributors:

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

James Kilner (Foreign Correspondent). @jkjourno on X.

Day 1,316.

Today, as fears are sounded over the state of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, we hear how Princess Anne has made a surprise visit to Kyiv to “demonstrate solidarity” with Ukrainian children and families affected by the conflict. Then we report how French authorities have seized a shadow fleet tanker and Polish police arrested a Ukrainian man for the Nordstream 2 pipeline sabotage. Later, you’ll hear Dom’s interview with the UN’s Special Rapporteur for Torture, Alice Edwards, and a note: our discussion covers graphic descriptions of sexual torture. 

Contributors:

Dominic Nic...

Day 1,315.

Today, Ukraine assassinates a Russian senior officer from the National Guard and Moscow launches the biggest autumn conscription round since 2016. We look at Russian influence of European politics, from the UK to Hungary, and General David Petraeus offers his candid reflections on what Ukraine needs to win. We also speak with a Ukrainian-American poet, Ilya Kaminsky, whose award-winning book about a fictional village resisting occupation has now been adapted to the stage.

Contributors:

Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjz on X.

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of...

Day 1,314.

Today, amid heavy assaults on Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia, while Ukraine attacks more energy sites deep inside Russia, we hear about the evacuation of families from eastern Ukraine, where Moscow’s offensive continues to flatten whole cities – and about the half-marathon Dom ran to help raise money for one charity trying to help. Plus, we reflect on the historic election result in Moldova, and why it's bad news for Moscow.

Contributors:

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Adé...

Day 1,311.

Today, as Ukraine’s bombardments against Russian energy facilities finally spark gas shortages in Moscow, we assess the gaping hole in Europe’s drone defences amid yet more violations, before leaving you with one more documentary from David Knowles, who visits the site of one of the worst Nazi war crimes to take place in Ukraine during World War II. 

Contributors:

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

James Rothwell (Berlin Correspondent). @JamesERothwell on X.

Adéli...

Day 1,310.

Today, as drones once again cause alarm in Denmark, and Ukrainian strikes inside Russia add to Vladimir Putin’s fuel woes, we report on President Zelensky’s speech at the United Nations in New York, and hear from Dr Jade McGlynn in our latest fortnightly update on resistance activities in the occupied territories.

Contributors:

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Dr. Jade McGlynn (War Studies Department of King's College). @DrJadeMcGlynn on X.

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Day 1,309.

Today, as the world digests Donald Trump's apparent U-turn on support for Ukraine, we examine developments in New York. Plus, we hear about a story of American citizens being lured to Russia on so-called "anti-woke visas", and hear from a global health expert about the latest of the health crisis, and that to come, in Ukraine.

You watch a special video version of part of today's discussion here:

https://youtu.be/bgCj0V47pNc?si=pRF8xLrAfUaWddUI

Contributors:

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on...

Day 1,308.

Today, amid more violations of European airspace by Moscow, we assess the reactions of NATO, including extraordinary remarks by the Polish deputy prime minister at the UN Security Council. Then – in a world first – we interview a Ukrainian woman whose stolen daughter has been adopted in Russia by one of Vladimir Putin's allies. She tells us about her fight to bring her back.

Contributors:

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Reporter and Produce...

Day 1,307.

Today, as the UN Security Council debates Russia’s latest airspace violations, we ask why Estonia held fire – unlike Turkey in 2015 – before hearing frontline perspectives from Ukrainian soldiers with The Kyiv Independent’s Francis Farrell, and exploring Russia’s answer to the Eurovision Song Contest.

Contributors:

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Francis Farrell (Report, The Kyiv Independent). @francisjfarrell on X.

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Day 1,304.

Today, as President Zelensky claims Ukraine has liberated 160 square kilometers in a 'counteroffensive operation' in Donetsk, we hear live from Istanbul for the final speech of an old spymaster before retirement. Then we bring you another recording from David Knowles, who speaks to a witness to the murders which took place in Bucha, and asks what it takes to document and prosecute a war crime.

Contributors:

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Roland Oliphant (Chief Foreign Analyst). @RolandOliphanton on X.

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor o...

Day 1,303.

Today, as Russian troops continue to advance in Kupyansk, bringing fighting inside the city, Ukraine strikes an oil complex more than 800 miles inside Russia. We discuss how NATO would implement a no-fly zone in Ukraine and zoom in on Russian frozen assets. Finally, we hear from Anastasia Dovbnia of Save Ukraine about the latest news on their efforts to bring children back from Russia and the Occupied Territories.

Contributors:

Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Reporter and Producer). @adeliepjz on X.

Roland Oliphant (Senior Foreign Correspondant). @RolandOliphanton on X.

Hamish De B...

Day 1,302.

Today, Donald Trump arrives in Britain for his second state visit, possibly bringing a gift to Ukraine. Putin watches the last blast of Zapad 25 - but without the head of his military - and we hear how Russia may be close to cutting oil output due to Ukrainian drone strikes. Later, an interview with Jack Lopresti, the former British Member of Parliament who is now a member of Ukraine’s International Legion.

Contributors:

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Eliza Winter (Telegraph Reporter).

With tha...

Day 1,301.

Today, we report on Kyiv’s so-called “revenge operation” targeting Russian forces said to have been involved in war crimes, we hear live from Kharkiv after a strike on a medical university and, later, we speak to the Telegraph’s former Chief Foreign Correspondent about his new book telling the untold story of Ukraine’s Foreign Legion.

Contributors:

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Memphis Barker (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @memphisbarker on X.

With thanks to Latika Bourke & Colin Freeman.

Content Referenced...

Day 1,300.

Today, we unpack what happened in Romania over the weekend, where a Russian drone flew into its airspace for almost an hour. And we look at the fall out responses from Nato & Europe since last week’s similar incursion in Poland. Meanwhile in Russia, Ukrainian saboteurs derailed two trains over the weekend. Finally, we discuss Russia’s economy and oil industry and zoom in on India and whether, as Trump put it a few weeks, it is indeed lost to ‘deepest, darkest China.’

Contributors:

Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Reporter and Producer). @adeliepjz on X.

The original edit of this podcast episode stated that Europe was close to a trade deal with Russia. This was a misspeak and should have said Europe was close to a deal with China. Thank you to those who flagged this mistake, we are happy to correct the record.

Day 1,297.

Today, we dive into Donald Trump’s campaign of revenge against CIA officials and into new and upcoming sanctions against Russia as pressure continues to mount following the drone incursion into the Polish airspace. And finally, we hear the second part of David Knowles’s wor...

Day 1,296.

Today, we continue to unpack NATO’s response to the incursion of 19 Russian drones into Polish airspace. We hear the latest news from the resistance in the Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia, and we zoom in on the water crisis in Donetsk.

Contributors:

Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Reporter and Producer). @adeliepjz on X.

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Joe Barnes (Brussels Correspondent). @barnes_joe on X.

Dr. Jade McGlynn (War Studies Department of King's College). @DrJadeMcGlynn on X.

Content Referenc...

Day 1,295.

Today, in a historic moment for Europe, NATO fighter jets shoot down Russian drones over Poland in the first ever direct engagement between the Western alliance and Moscow. We assess the global reaction and what it means, before asking how Vladimir Putin is manipulating the information space to conceal his crimes and shape opinion.

Contributors:

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Peter Pomerantsev (Chief Editor and Co-founder of The Reckoning Project) @peterpomeranzev on X.

Day 1,294.

Today, as Ukraine strikes yet more oil and gas facilities deep inside Russia, we hear how Donald Trump has deported dozens of political refugees fleeing Vladimir Putin back to the country. Then we report how Putin’s present for General Gerasimov’s 70th birthday was a nice medal and an extension of his military service, plus we report on Monday’s defence forum in London where Dom interviewed Boris Johnson, who said the Coalition of the Willing should be deployed to Ukraine now.

Contributors:

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.<...

Day 1,293.

Today, as Ukraine suffers the largest air attack of the war, killing four and setting dozens of buildings on fire in Kyiv, including the main seat of government, we assess the response from world leaders. Then, in a special segment to mark the one year anniversary of his passing, we hear new interviews recorded by Ukraine: The Latest’s creator, David Knowles, and discuss two fundraisers launched in his memory.

Contributors:

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Day 1,290.

Today, after another important Coalition of the Willing summit in Paris, we discuss Vladimir Putin’s warning that any Western peacekeeping forces deployed to Ukraine would be considered a “legitimate” target. Then, we dive into an investigation on how China is providing drones parts to Russia and effectively sustaining its ability to continue waging its war against Ukraine. Finally, Dom dials in on his last day in Prague attending the International Institute for Strategic Studies Defence Summit. 

Contributors:

Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjz on X.

Francis Dearnley (Executiv...

Day 1,289.

Today, as the Coalition of the Willing meets to discuss security guarantees in Paris, we hear live from Prague minutes after the speech of NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Then – after the military updates – we assess in greater detail the attendance of other world leaders alongside Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping in Beijing: who were they, and what do their motives tell us about the new ‘axis of upheaval?’

Contributors:

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

James K...

Day 1,288.

Today, as China unveils new weapons at the huge military parade in Beijing attended by Russia’s Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong-un, we assess just how significant the gathering is, and whether it has put the West ‘on notice’. Then we sit down for an exclusive interview with the British Foreign Secretary as the UK announces sanctions against those forcibly deporting, indoctrinating and militarising Ukrainian children.

Contributors:

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Adélie...

Day 1,287.

Today, as a Nato leader meets with Vladimir Putin while Ukraine is subjected to the latest wave of Russian drone strikes, we look at the ongoing Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in China that is attempting to rewrite the global security order. Plus, we examine quite what happened to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s plane, after suspected Russian interference, and hear the latest in the cyber war.

Contributors:

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

G...

Day 1,286.

Today, we offer the most comprehensive version yet of the peace plan taking shape behind closed doors, as the Europeans ask Donald Trump to deploy a private army of military firms to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire. Plus we report on the significance of the meeting between Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, and Narendra Modi. Later, with Professor Phillips O'Brien, we discuss the gravest strategic miscalculations made by both sides in the war.

Contributors:

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of D...

Day 1,283.

Today, we continue reporting on the attack on Kyiv, which Zelensky called “a strike by Russia against President Trump”, and we hear about the work the State Emergency Services have been doing on the ground. We also discuss how Russia may be flying surveillance drones over Germany, gathering intelligence for potential sabotage campaigns, and how India’s imports of Russian oil may increase in September despite US sanctions. Later, we hear about the food industry in Ukraine and its role in the war.

Contributors:

Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjz on X.<...

Day 1,282.

Today, we hear from on the ground in Kyiv after a massive strike last night damaged the British Council and the EU mission, after Ukraine hit another 2 oil refineries in Russia to continue its strategy of undermining the Russian oil industry. Then we look towards a meeting between the Ukrainians and Steve Witkoff in the US next week, and hear from Ed Matthews of Fire Aid, an organisation that brings fire trucks to vulnerable areas around the world, including Ukraine.

Contributors:

Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjz on X.

Day 1,281.

Today, we discuss reports that the US has offered air and intelligence support to a postwar force in Ukraine, the impact of strikes on Russia’s energy infrastructure, and hear the latest twist in the ongoing saga of the destruction of the Nord Stream pipeline back in 2022.

Contributors:

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

James Rothwell (Berlin Correspondent). @JamesERothwell on X.

Content Referenced:

Episode feat. interview with Commander of the Finn...

Day 1,280.

Today, as continued Ukrainian attacks are said to have depleted Russian oil production by the equivalent of a million barrels a day, Donald Trump says Putin is unlikely to meet President Zelensky because he “doesn’t like him”. We also hear how the latest Coalition of the Willing meeting occurred as China said - with caveats - that it might be willing to commit troops to any post-ceasefire force, and we hear how Russian motor racing chiefs have hit the barriers in a spat with Formula 1.

Contributors:

Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Pro...

Today is a public holiday in Britain, so we bring you a special panel Francis Dearnley hosted during his trip to Germany at the LANDEURO conference hosted by the Association of the U.S. Army. Titled “Ukrainian Innovation at the Speed of Relevance”, it offers a firsthand look at how Ukraine’s defense forces are reshaping the future of military conflict, centering on how wartime necessity has accelerated innovation across critical domains, particularly artificial intelligence, drone warfare, digital finance, and scalable software. It is one of the deepest dives on drone development we have ever covered on the podcast.