Ukrainecast

Is Donald Trump changing his rhetoric on Ukraine? Has he directed allies in Congress to accelerate a new sanctions package targeting Russia? And could infighting among high-ranking Ukrainian officials prove to be a damaging distraction in their country’s war effort? Lucy and Vitaly answer all that, and consider the delicate diplomatic balance Turkey is attempting to strike during this conflict, alongside the BBC’s Ukraine correspondent James Waterhouse. Today’s episode is presented by Lucy Hockings and Vitaly Shevchenko. The producers were Laurie Kalus and Polly Hope. The technical producer was Jonny Baker. The social producer was Sophie Millward. The series producer is Tim Walklate. The assistant editor is Bridget Harney. Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480 You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast’s Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord

On Friday, Ukraine’s air force said Russia had launched a record 539 drones and 11 missiles in overnight airstrikes. Kyiv was at the epicentre of the attack, with every district in the capital targeted. We’ve been speaking with two residents of the city, about their experiences - Dasha, who spent the night sheltering at a local metro station, and Oleksiy, who watched his business go up in flames on CCTV. Also, on Monday Russia's Investigative Committee said that Vladimir Putin’s former transport minister Roman Starovoit had been found dead, apparently with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Victoria and Vitaly explain why the ex-Kursk governor’s death is driving intense speculation online. Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaly Shevchenko. The producers were Laurie Kalus and Polly Hope. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Tim Walklate. The assistant editor is Bridget Harney. Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480 You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast’s Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord

After the US paused the delivery of some weapons to Ukraine pledged under the Biden administration, how soon will the impact be felt on the front line? As Russia claims full control of Luhansk, what is life like for Ukrainians living in occupied territories? And is Ukraine united behind the Russian opposition movement? Lucy and Vitaly answer all that, and discuss French President Emmanuel Macron’s call with Vladimir Putin, alongside BBC Verify’s Olga Robinson, and our diplomatic correspondent James Landale. Today’s episode is presented by Lucy Hockings and Vitaly Shevchenko. The producers were Laurie Kalus, Polly Hope and Nik Sindle. The technical producer was Ricardo McCarthy. The series producer is Tim Walklate. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480 You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast’s Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord

Last week, a clip of BBC Ukrainian reporter Myroslava Petsa went viral, after President Trump asked a series of questions about her personal story during a press conference at the Nato summit. Myroslava tells us what was going through her mind at that moment, and what it has been like to cover the conflict while her husband fights for Ukraine. We also hear from Matthew Savill at RUSI about the intensification of nightly Russian drone attacks on Ukrainian towns and cities. Can Russia sustain this level of aerial pressure? Is Ukraine’s effort to target manufacturing hubs actually effective? And why is President Zelensky so keen to buy new Patriot missile defence systems? Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaly Shevchenko. The producers were Laurie Kalus, Nik Sindle and Polly Hope. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Tim Walklate. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480 You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast’s Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord

The Nato summit in The Hague did get member states to agree on ramping up their defence spending - and seemed to placate Donald Trump. But has this week changed anything for Ukraine? What happened to the prior US “two-week deadline” to agree a ceasefire - and will those sought-after Patriot missiles ever arrive in Kyiv? Jamie Coomarasamy and Vitaly Shevchenko answer all that, and discuss the knotty details of prosecuting alleged war crimes with BBC Verify’s Olga Robinson and the Ukraine correspondent James Waterhouse. The producers were Laurie Kalus, Rufus Gray, and Polly Hope. The technical producer was Dafydd Evans. The series producer is Tim Walklate. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 123 9480 You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast’s Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord