Ukraine: The Latest

Day 1,246. Today, after a historic vote in the Ukrainian parliament which sparked the country’s biggest protest in wartime, we assess the damage to President Zelensky’s credibility following his decision to approve a bill some argue has gifted Putin a propaganda victory. Then we take you to Moldova – a nation on Europe’s edge, with the first of a two-part dispatch that includes our clash with Russ...

Day 1,245. Today, we hear the mood from Kremlin insiders following a series of high profile purges by Putin, discuss a new drone factory showcased in Russian propaganda, and consider drama in the Ukrainian parliament which risks impacting the international perception of the government. Plus, we hear the latest on the mood in the British House of Commons. Contributors: Francis Dearnley (Executive E...

Day 1,244. Today, after another sleepless night for millions in Kyiv, we bring in experts to look at the shifting strategy of the Russian intelligence services, and hear a firsthand account of Putin’s seizure of power and the complicity of Russia’s elite. How did a fledgling democracy die? Contributors: Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X. Roland Oliphant (Senior F...

Day 1,241. Today, further to the usual military and political updates, we discuss a major coordinated announcement exposing senior Russian intelligence officers responsible for some of the most significant operations against Ukraine and its allies in recent years, then hear more about Moscow’s illegal operations in the occupied territories. Contributors: Roland Oliphant (Senior Foreign Corresponda...

Day 1,240. Today, as Russia continues to target civilians, dropping a bomb on a shopping center, NATO members admit to being taken by surprise by Trump’s announcement that they would have to buy a Patriot missile system for Ukraine. Meanwhile, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz comes to the UK to discuss defence, and Ukraine names Yulia Svyrydenko new prime minister. Finally, our colleague Danielle...

Day 1,239. Today, as mass attacks struck Ukraine overnight, we continue analysing the latest developments from Washington as Trump, when probed by reporters, seemed to shy away from the promises he’d made to Zelensky on July 4th. Finally, we have a conversation with Ukrainian Cultural Forces on the role of music in cultural diplomacy and in rehabilitation for wounded soldiers.  Contributors:...

Day 1,238. Today, we analyse the widely-publicised announcements yesterday by President Trump in the White House, and consider just how significant they are. Is this a turning point? Then we hear from medical professionals providing services in the occupied territories. Contributors: Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X. Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of De...

Day 1,237. Today after Donald Trump says Putin “talks nice then bombs everybody in the evening” the world is braced for a potential uptick in US support for Ukraine and we report how Ukraine says it has killed the Russian agents responsible for assassinating an SBU officer last week. Plus, we hear the latest from the battlefields in eastern Ukraine, including a dispatch from those risking their li...

Day 1,234. Today, after a report finds Putin’s forces have gained 0.038 square kilometers of territory for every soldier it’s lost since July 2024, we look at the significance of new announcements by Ukraine’s allies in Rome and London, and discuss the Ukrainian theory of victory. Contributors: Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X. Dominic Nicholls (Associate E...

Day 1,233. Today, as Kyiv endures yet another mass aerial attack and Pres Zel arr in Rome for the annual Ukraine Recovery Conference, we report on espionage activities inside Ukraine, and later we talk to the Chief Adoption Officer of the NATO Innovation Fund. Contributors: Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X. Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @Franc...

Day 1,232. Today, as Donald Trump calls out Vladimir Putin’s “bullshit” and appears to back fresh US sanctions on Russia, we read between the lines of President Macron’s address to the British parliament, and get an update on the so-called ‘Coalition of the Willing’. Contributors: Venetia Rainey (Planning editor & Co-host Battle Lines podcast). @venetiarainey on X. Roland Oliphant (S...

Day 1,231. Today, we report on the sudden death of Russia’s former transport minister within hours of his sacking by Vladimir Putin. Then we examine Donald Trump’s pledge to resume weapons deliveries to Ukraine and look ahead to President Macron’s visit to the UK. Finally, we hear an updated figure of the number of children kidnapped by Russia, and discuss their fate if the Yale Humanitarian Resea...

Day 1,230. Today, as Ukraine was hit over the weekend in Kharkiv, Kherson, Kramatorsk and Kostiantynivka, and Ukraine attacked Russia’s airfields and fleets, we discuss the positive phone call between Trump and Zelensky, and dive into political fractures in Ukraine. Then we speak with Sam Cook about his foundation and the role of history in wartime. Contributors: Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist...

Day 1,227. Today, as Putin and Trump hung up the phones after an hour-long conversation yesterday, Kyiv headed to the shelters for another massive drone and missile attack and a long, sleepless night. This morning, Russia declared that it is ‘not possible’ to achieve their goals through diplomatic means after the phone call. We discuss all these stories, then hear from Dr Jade McGlynn for the late...

Day 1,226. Today, as the fallout from Donald Trump freezing US weapons to Ukraine continues, in a special dispatch, we join the Ukrainian navy out on the Black Sea during an air attack on Odesa. Then we speak to the creator of Wargame – the new podcast simulating an attack by Russia on British soil, and hear what lessons it offers countries across the Western world. Contributors: Francis Dearnley...

Day 1,225. Today, as Donald Trump’s administration decides to halt shipments of certain air defence missiles bound for Ukraine, we assess the ramifications for trust in the United States, before hearing the latest domestic stories being reported inside Russia, and speak to a former Kremlin propagandist. Contributors: Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X. Dominic Nic...

Day 1,224. Today, after enduring weeks of drone and missile strikes, Kyiv hits back in a long-range attack on a factory deep inside Russia and on a site in occupied Crimea. Plus, we examine Moscow’s latest attempt to shift Donald Trump’s focus away from ceasefire demands and, later, Francis talks to an investigator for the Eyes on Russia project which works to expose human rights violations and th...

Day 1,223. Today, after Ukraine claims to have destroyed a litany of Russian aircraft, we discuss war crimes described on Russia state television committed against snipers, and a remarkable story about how Moscow is reportedly using nuns as spies to spread propaganda. Contributors: Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X. Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defe...

Day 1,220. Today, as the US Ambassador to Russia leaves Moscow, we look at the latest attacks on Ukraine from land and air, and hear how the war is perceived on the other side of the world: in New Zealand. Contributors: Roland Oliphant (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @RolandOliphant on X. Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X. With thanks to Tenby Powell (founde...

Day 1,219. Today, after what some are calling a ‘triumphant’ NATO summit in the Hague, we assess the pledges made by President Donald Trump, and ask whether it was a historic achievement by Secretary General Mark Rutte. Then we do deeper dives into Ukraine’s military and strategic innovations, and the threat posed by Russia on Europe’s eastern flank, with dispatches from Lithuania and Latvia. Cont...

Day 1,218. Today, we look at the second day of the NATO summit in The Hague, including Mark Rutte’s leaked message to President Donald Trump, and President Zelensky’s upcoming meeting with the US president. We also hear about why young women are choosing to leave Ukraine “in droves” to study abroad, and what that means for the future of Ukraine. And finally we discuss a documentary series about Uk...

Day 1,217. Today, as the NATO summit gets underway in The Hague, we look at how the alliance is shifting the goalposts on how members’ contributions should be counted. We report on last night’s closed door session with President Zelensky - which we attended - and we hear the panel event Francis moderated recently at the Black Sea Security Forum in Odesa. Contributors: Dominic Nicholls (A...

Day 1,216. Today, we discuss the ramifications of the historic American strike on Iran’s nuclear sites, and how we should read Tehran's Foreign Minister’s scramble to Moscow. Plus we feature a special dispatch from Gotland, Sweden, to meet the Armed Forces’ newest outfit protecting Europe’s strategic Baltic outpost from Russia. Contributors: Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisD...

Day 1,213. Today, we discuss our exclusive reporting into insider Russian reaction to Operation Spider’s Web, hear from someone just on the frontline in Donetsk, and relay the latest acts of resistance in the occupied territories. Plus, you’ll hear Dom’s panel from the Black Sea Security Forum in Odesa featuring former British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and former Minister of State for Security...

Day 1,212. Today, as we pass 100 days since Ukraine unconditionally accepted the US peace proposal for a total cease fire, we report how Russia continues to kill civilians across the country. We look at how much effort Russian officials are putting into telling the world sanctions are having no impact whatsoever on their economy, and report on Finland’s exit from the Ottawa Treaty. And we hea...