Ukraine: The Latest

Day 1,000. Today, we report on Russia's response to President Biden's change of positions on long range weapons, and hear from our team on the ground in Ukraine relaying the mood in the country on the 1,000th day of the full scale invasion. Contributors: Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X. Roland Oliphant (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @RolandOliphant on X...

Day 999. Today, after a weekend that saw the biggest missile and drone attack on Ukraine in almost a year, we examine whether President Biden’s permission - finally - for Ukraine to use US weapons inside Russia, is responsible statecraft or too little, too late? Contributors: Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X. Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @...

Day 997. Today, we assess the state of the Russian army, hear new revelations from inside the Biden administration, and look deeper at the impact of this war in other theatres, such as Korea and Africa. Contributors: Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X. Roland Oliphant (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @RolandOliphant on X. With thanks to Dr Samual Ramani of...

Day 996. Today, as Russia's state TV propagandists and government officials express delight at the Donald Trump's cabinet selections, we ask how feasible it would be for Ukraine to develop its own nuclear weapon. Contributors: Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X. Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X. Hamish de Bretton-Gordon (Ch...

Today, we discuss the new wave of bombardments on Kyiv, the latest appointments to the Trump administration and what it means for the wider West, and learn more about Radio Liberty’s impact during the Cold War. Then, later, we do a deep dive into the cosmopolitan history of the city of Odesa and what its people have endured over the course of the war. Contributors: Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comm...

Day 994. Today, we look at renewed Russian efforts to retake Kursk before Trump returns to the White House, consider the evidence Europe is responding to the threat of an American withdrawal, and assess potential new appointments in for the new government Washington. Then, later, we hear the euphoric memories of a Ukrainian officer who served in the historic Kharkiv counteroffensive. Contributors:...

Day 993. Today, after a weekend in which Ukrainian forces launched their largest ever drone attack on Moscow, and Russian losses in Ukraine reached a record daily high, we reflect on the Prague Defence Conference, with discussions centred heavily on President-elect Donald Trump. Contributors: Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X. Venetia Rainey (Co-host Battl...

Day 990. Today, we consider the Trump peace plan reportedly being mooted by his staffers, hear live from another vital summit of European leaders, and discuss a ‘shopping list’ of weapons and permissions Western leaders could action over the next two months to support Ukraine. Later, following the missile damage to Kharkiv’s iconic Derzhprom building, we do a deeper dive into the impact of th...

Day 989. Today, as the White House seeks to send Ukraine as much as it can before Trump’s inauguration, we discuss the potential appointments the president-elect might make, and – later – hear about the mood near the frontlines to the political earthquake. Contributors: Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X. Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls...

Day 988. Today, as Ukraine hits a Russian naval base on the Caspian Sea and North Korean troops enter combat for the first time, we examine the fallout from the US presidential election and ask: is Donald Trump the best thing that’s ever happened to NATO? Contributors: Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X. Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley o...

Day 987. Today, as Ukraine, and the world, waits with bated breath for the results of the US presidential election, we look at the situation on the battlefield as Moscow seeks to strengthen its foothold, and hear more about how ordinary Russians view the war. Contributors: Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X. Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNichol...

Day 986. Today, as Moldova resists alleged Russian meddling in Sunday's presidential vote, we report on how Russia is arming drones with thermobaric 'lung-busting' warheads, according to a leading Forensic Research Institute. Contributors: Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X. Roland Oliphant (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @RolandOliphant on X. Content Referenced: Rus...

Day 983. Today, we discuss the North Korean general sent to lead troops in Ukraine, hear the latest from Georgia, and consider the impact of the First World War on Putin’s worldview, and how the treaty that ended the battles of the Eastern Front serves as a warning for today. Contributors: Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X. Venetia Rainey (Co-host Battle Lines podc...

Day 982. Today, further to updates on the front and in the political realms, we are joined by Danylo Mokryk, a war crime reporter, and Evan Williams, a multi-award winning producer and director, about their recent documentaries on the subject of war crimes. A warning: today's episode features graphic descriptions. Contributors: Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X. Fra...

Day 981. Today, as Ukraine announces a mobilisation drive to get another 160 thousand people into uniform we report how Russia is continuing to use chemical substances on the frontline, and we hear live from a cyber security expert in Kyiv about how the unseen war online is progressing. Contributors: Dom Nichols (Associate Editor). @DomNicholls on X. Daryna Antoniuk. @daryna_antoniuk on X. Hamish...

Day 980. Today, we assess reports of Russian progress in Donetsk, hear live from Tbilisi as protestors crowd the streets following the weekend’s contested election, and hear from our correspondent who was on the ground at the BRICS summit in Russia. Contributors: Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X. James Rothwell (Berlin Correspondent). @JamesERothwell on X. James K...

Day 979. Today, further to the latest military developments, we do a deep dive into the election in Georgia over the weekend, and what the result there means not only for the future of democracy in that country, but the potential ramifications for the West as a whole. Contributors: Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X. Roland Oliphant (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @...

Day 976. Today, as Putin admits Russia is working with North Korea, we look at several investigations into Moscow’s interactions with terrorist groups, and consider the former Ukrainian prisoners released to fight on the front lines. Contributors: Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X. Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X. Francis Farrell (...

Day 975. Today, as Russia shifts its battlefield priority in the Donbas, we hear how Putin has proclaimed the start of a new “world order” as his allies rushed to sign up to a Kremlin-led economic club at a summit in Russia. Contributors: Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X. Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X. Roland Oliphant (Senior Fo...

Day 974. Today, we offer a broad strategic overview of the military situation, consider the new defence pact between Britain and Germany, and return to the BRICS summit in Russia, where the UN Secretary General arrives amid a storm of criticism. Contributors: Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X. Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X. Rolan...

Day 973. Today, as Putin gathers world leaders in Russia, we ask why the UN General Secretary is on the guest list, and – further to the battlefield updates – consider the implications of artificial intelligence being used in the next generation of drones. Contributors: Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X. Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls...

Day 972. Today, as another Russian oligarch dies in mysterious circumstances after falling from a window, we analyse quite how good the North Korean soldiers apparently on their way to Ukraine actually are. Contributors: Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X. James Rothwell (Berlin Correspondent). @JamesERothwell on X. With thanks to Kateryna Shenheliia-Hanapo...

Day 969. Today, as President Zelensky leaves EU leaders with his call for more urgent action, we speak to a former British Defence Secretary about the impact of having North Korean soldiers fighting in Europe.  Contributors: Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X. Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X. With thanks to former Secretary of...

Day 968. Today, as President Zelensky takes his five-point victory plan to the European Council in Brussels, we assess comments by his former head of the armed forces, now ambassador to London, Valery Zaluzhny, and get an update on how Ukrainian children are studying in ‘bunker schools’.  Contributors: Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X. Francis Dearnley (Assist...

Day 967. Today, as Zelensky finally announces his ‘victory plan’ to Parliament, we assess fast-moving military developments as Ukraine faces pressure on multiple fronts, and sit down with a 29-year-old commander of a frontline attack drone unit. Contributors: Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X. Roland Oliphant (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @RolandOliphant on X. Wi...