Ukraine: The Latest

Day 1,021.Today, we consider the huge ramifications for Russia of the loss of its naval bases and influence over Syria, and look once again to the subject of war crimes and the kidnapping of Ukrainian children.Contributors:Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X.Joe Barnes (Brussels Correspondent). @barnes_joe on X.Con Coughlin (Defence and Foreign Affairs Editor). Nathanial A Raymond (Executive Director of the Humanitarian Research Lab at the Yale School of Public Health). @nattyray11 on X.Content Referenced:Assad: The Triumph of Tyranny (by Con Coughlin):https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/con-coughlin/assad/9781529074925Russia’s Systematic Program of Coerced Adoption and Fostering of Ukraine’s Children (Yale Report) - https://hub.conflictobservatory.org/portal/apps/sites/#/home/pages/ukraine-russia-children-adoptionStolen Ukrainian children put up for adoption on websites funded by Putin (The Telegraph) - https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/12/03/stolen-ukrainian-children-forced-adoption-russia-putin/70% of Ukrainians support 'West German' model for NATO accession, survey shows (Kyiv Independent)https://kyivindependent.com/west-germany-survey/ Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,020.Today, following historic, impromptu meetings at the reopening of Notre-Dame in Paris - including between President Zelensky and President-elect Trump - we dig into the significance of Bashar al Assad's fall for Russia and Ukraine. And we interview author Jacob Heilbrunn about why some on the political right are sometimes attracted to the easy answers that dictators provide.Contributors:Venetia Rainey (Co-host Battle Lines podcast). @venetiarainey on X.Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X.James Kilner (Foreign Correspondent). @jkjourno on X.With thanks to Jacob Heilbrunn (Editor, The National Interest). @JacobHeilbrunn on X.Content Referenced:How Russia is expanding its military foothold in Africahttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/12/03/russia-expands-military-presence-libya-pictures/Jacob Heilbrunn's book, 'America Last':https://wwnorton.com/books/9781324094661Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,017.Today, as Kyiv forces launch a fresh assault in Kursk and capture Russian soldiers, we hear the mood in the combat zone of the Donbas, as Zelensky’s right-hand man Yermak tours Washington to speak to Trump’s team.Contributors:Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X.Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Tom Mutch (Freelance Journalist). @Tomthescribe on X.Ed Cumming (Senior Feature Writer). @edcumming on X.Content Referenced:Ukrainian special forces ‘capture 12 Russian soldiers’ in fresh Kursk advance (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/12/06/russia-ukraine-zelensky-putin-war-latest-news/Ukraine to open talks with Trump team on halting war (Wall Street Journal):https://www.wsj.com/world/ukraine-to-open-talks-with-trump-team-on-halting-warSubscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,016.Today, as Odesa faces renewed attacks down on the coast, we lead with the downfall of a multi billion pound Russian money laundering system, and interview the front man of Ukraine's most famous and influential rock band, Okean Elzy.  Contributors:Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X.Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Roland Oliphant (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @RolandOliphant on X.With thanks to our special guest, Svyatoslav Vakarchuk of 'Okean Elzy'. @s_vakarchuk on X.Learn more about Slava's band, 'Okean Elzy':https://okeanelzy.com/en/https://www.softserveinc.com/en-us/news/softserve-and-okean-elzy-rock-band Content Referenced:Multi-billion pound Russian money laundering network exposed in international sting (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/12/04/russian-money-laundering-network-downfall/Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,015.As the NATO Foreign Ministers meeting ends in Brussels with no invitation for Ukraine to join, we interview Andrei Yermak, adviser to President Zelensky.Contributors:Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X.Roland Oliphant (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @RolandOliphant on X.With thanks to our special guest, Andrei Yermak, adviser to President Zelensky.Content referenced:Video Version of the Interview with Yermak:https://youtu.be/CneThrXUHSISubscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,014.Today, on its 30th anniversary, we look at the myopic approach to the Budapest Treaty and its far-reaching effects on present-day Ukraine, and we discuss the extraordinary events of recent days in Syria, with massive ramifications for Russia's influence in the region.Contributors:Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X.Hamish De Bretton-Gordon (Former British Army Tank Commander). @HamishDBG on XContent referenced:Ukraine ‘halts Russian attempt to cross river on eastern front’ (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/12/03/russia-ukraine-zelensky-putin-war-latest-news59/Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Budapest Memorandum (Ukrainian Government):https://mfa.gov.ua/en/news/zayava-mzs-ukrayini-z-nagodi-30-richchya-z-chasu-pidpisannya-budapeshtskogo-memorandumuVladimir Putin to reject Donald Trump’s opening peace offer, says Russian tycoon (FT)https://www.ft.com/content/ac39b604-ef6d-41cb-bb8c-0eb76e002176Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,013.Today, we report on the dramatic shift in rhetoric from President Zelensky towards any future peace deal, and hear about Ukraine’s 'mobilisation police' and the effect they are having among young Ukrainian men.Contributors:Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Joe Barnes (Brussels Correspondent). @Barnes_Joe on X.With thanks to Anna Conkling (Journalist). @ConklingAnna on X.Content referenced:‘Like dealing with cornered rats’: The men who force Ukrainians to the front lines’https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/11/28/ukrainian-mobilisation-officer-explained-kyiv-war-russia/Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,010.Today, amid more drone strikes by Russia targeting Ukraine, we get the view from Tbilisi on last night's protests against Georgia's pro-Kremlin government. We also have a fascinating interview with Estonia's Foreign Minister, Margus Tsahkna, about Donald Trump and how he could be the Churchill of our times.Contributors:Venetia Rainey (Co-host Battle Lines podcast). @venetiarainey on X.Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.With thanks Marika Mikiashvili (Georgian researcher and political activist) @Mikiashvili_M on X; and Margus Tsahkna (Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Estonia) @Tsahkna on X.Content referenced:N. Korea conceals combat deaths of troops fighting in Russiahttps://www.dailynk.com/english/north-korea-conceals-combat-deaths-troops-fighting-russia/Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,009.Today, we hear who Donald Trump has named as his envoy to Ukraine and we have an exclusive interview with former British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson.Contributors:Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X.With thanks to our very special guest, former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. His memoir, 'Unleashed', is available here: https://harpercollins.co.uk/products/unleashed-boris-johnson?variant=41552640835662Content referenced:Boris Johnson interview VIDEO VERSION:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01DdfMqP4-gSyrian rebels launch surprise offensive against Assad (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/11/28/syrian-rebels-launch-surprise-attack-against-assad-regime/Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,008.Today, further to the usual updates, the team share details of their secret trip to the east of Ukraine, including what it's like to hear missiles landing nearby. Plus, we trail an upcoming interview with one of our most requested guests on the podcast.Contributors:Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X.Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Content referenced:Russian rouble falls to 31-month low as fresh sanctions hammer currency:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2024/11/26/ftse-100-markets-latest-news-uk-trump-tariffs-china-jobs/Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,007.Today, we hear how Valery Zaluzhny’s told Ukrainian troops they must be willing to die, and former Ukrainian defence minister Andrei Zagorodunyuk calls on the West to come up with a positive strategy for victory.Contributors:Roland Oliphant (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @RolandOliphant on X.Joe Barnes (Brussels Correspondent). @Barnes_Joe on X.Danielle Sheridan (Defence Editor). @SheridanDani on X.Andriy Zagorudnyuk (Former Ukrainian Defence Minister). @Andriypzag on X.Plus the latest dispatch from Francis Dearnley in Ukraine.Content referenced:Ukraine Focus: https://ukrainefocus.org/Drones drop water bombs as Britain trains Ukrainians for changed war (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/11/20/drones-drop-water-bombs-as-britain-trains-ukrainians/ Russia kicks out British diplomat for ‘spying’ (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/11/26/russia-ukraine-zelensky-putin-war-latest-news57-lammy-troop/Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,006.Today, we report on Russian advances on the battlefield around the town of Kurakhove, a plane crash in Lithuania raises fears of Russian sabotage, and the journalist Inna Varenytsia tells us why civilians in Kherson are now afraid to walk in the park. Contributors:Roland Oliphant (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @RolandOliphant on X.James Kilner (Foreign Correspondent). @jkjourno on X.With special thanks to our guest Inna Varenytsia (Journalist). @InnaVarenytsia on X.Plus the latest dispatch from Francis Dearnley in Ukraine.Articles referenced:DHL cargo plane crashes into house killing at least onehttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/11/25/dhl-cargo-plane-crashes-house-killing-one/Britain is in ‘AI arms race’ with Russia, Pat McFadden to warnhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/11/25/ai-arms-cyber-race-pat-mcfadden-putin-russia-ukraine/Putin ready to cripple Britain with cyber attacks, minister warnshttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/11/23/putin-ready-to-cripple-britain-in-cyber-war/Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,003.Today, we report on Russia's use of a new intermediate range ballistic missile and Vladimir Putin's threat to attack the United States and Britain in revenge for their assistance to Ukraine on the battlefield. Plus, we hear the latest dispatch from Francis Dearnley in Ukraine.Contributors:Roland Oliphant (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @RolandOliphant on X.James Kilner (Foreign Correspondent). @jkjourno on X.James Rothwell (Berlin Correspondent). @JamesERothwell on X.With special thanks to our guest Matthew Savill, Director of Military Sciences at the Royal United Services Institute. @MTSavill on X.Plus we hear from Francis Dearnley in Ukraine.Articles referenced:My 24 hours strapped into Putin’s propaganda machinehttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/11/15/putin-propaganda-24-hours-of-russian-media/Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,002.Today, amid reports of Russia using intercontinental ballistic missiles against Ukraine for the first time, we look at the impact of Kyiv firing British-made Storm Shadow missiles, and hear from a Ukrainian MP about his views on the peace deal and why Kyiv’s use of long-range weapons is well within international law. Contributors:Venetia Rainey (Co-host on 'Battle Lines' Podcast). @venetiarainey on X.James Rothwell (Berlin Correspondent). @JamesERothwell on X.Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X.With special thanks to our guest Oleksandr Merezhko, a Ukrainian politician, jurist and academic.Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,001.Today, as the US closes its embassy in Kyiv in anticipation of Russian retaliation for Joe Biden’s recent policy shifts, we examine in more detail Russia’s new nuclear doctrine and ask: is it just the same old wine in a slightly newer bottle?.Contributors:Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Hamish de Bretton-Gordon (Chemical Weapons Expert and Former Tank Commander). @HamishDBG on X.Plus we hear from Francis Dearnley in Ukraine.Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.Francis Scarr (Journalist at BBC Monitoring). @francis_scarr on X.Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X.Francis Farrell (Reporter at the Kyiv Independent). @francisjfarrell on X.Content Referenced:My 24 hours strapped into Putin’s propaganda machine (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/11/15/putin-propaganda-24-hours-of-russian-media/Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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). @FrancisDearnley on X.Joe Barnes (Brussels Correspondent). @Barnes_Joe on X.James Crisp (Europe Editor). @JamesCrisp6 on X.Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 the Royal United Services Institute and Oxford University. @SamRamani2 on X. Dr Samuel Ramani's latest book is Putin's War on Ukraine:https://www.hurstpublishers.com/book/putins-war-on-ukraine/Articles Referenced:The best books on Ukraine in 2024, from Chernobyl to Zelensky (Ada Wordsworth in The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/non-fiction/best-ukraine-books-2024-zelenskyy/Record Death Toll: What We Know About Russia's Losses in Ukraine by November (BBC):https://www.bbc.com/russian/articles/cjr4zy2nye5oThe ‘Deathonomics’ Powering Russia’s War Machine (Wall Street Journal):https://www.wsj.com/world/russia/russia-ukraine-war-military-death-pay-6cfe936e?mod=Searchresults_pos6&page=1Biden’s escalation paralysis has devastated Ukraine (The Hill):https://thehill.com/opinion/national-security/4988504-biden-administration-ukraine-war/Former Governor Confirms Russian Military Engaged in Looting in Kursk Region Villages (Meduza):https://meduza.io/news/2024/11/14/byvshiy-gubernator-podtverdil-chto-rossiyskie-voennye-zanimalis-maroderstvom-v-selah-kurskoy-oblastiPutin cuts payments for wounded in war against Ukraine (Kyiv Independent)https://kyivindependent.com/putin-approves-reduction-of-payments-for-injured-in-war-against-ukraine/?mc_cid=f0af270ac7&mc_eid=08d0680a95In echo of Soviet era, Russians are informing on each other over Ukraine (Reuters)https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/more-russians-denounce-each-other-over-ukraine-echo-soviet-era-2024-11-15/Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 (Chemical Weapons Expert and Former Tank Commander). @HamishDBG on X.Kamal Ahmed (Director of Audio and presenter of The Daily T Podcast). @kamalahmednews on X.Content referenced:Lord Hague's Comments on The Daily T (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/11/13/russia-ukraine-war-zelensky-putin-trump-latest-news/You can subscribe to The Daily T here:https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-daily-t/id1489612924Could Zelensky use nuclear bombs? Ukraine’s options explained (The Times):https://www.thetimes.com/article/2343d101-1c8e-4ca4-a4c1-913ce31e9e42?shareToken=549ff0795172888afdb2ac9c73300c74British Challenger 2 tank ‘destroyed in Kursk’ (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/11/14/russia-ukraine-zelensky-putin-war-latest-uk-challenger2-new/Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X.Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Julian Evans (author of Undefeatable: Odesa in Love & War). @thejulianevans on X.Julian Evans' book, Undefeatable: Odesa in Love & Warhttps://www.amazon.co.uk/Undefeatable-Odesa-Love-Julian-Evans/dp/1910895989 Russia's oil and gas industry an easy target for Europe after Trump's election victory (Business Insider):https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-oil-gas-energy-industry-europe-target-trump-election-win-2024-11Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.