Ukraine: The Latest

Fresh Russian offensive in Sumy & Putin's pre-Christmas strikes target 'entire infrastructure of life'

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. Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X. With thanks to Ukrainian artist and designer, Mariya Dykalo (Creative Director of Aspinal of London). @MariyaASPINAL on X. SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER: http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter [http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter]   Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It’s free for everyone, including non-subscribers. CONTENT REFERENCED: Learn more about Mariya Dykalo's work: https://mariyadykalo.com/ [https://mariyadykalo.com/]  The scarf given to Melania Trump designed by Ukrainian children: https://www.aspinaloflondon.com/products/we-can-dream-again-silk-scarf [https://www.aspinaloflondon.com/products/we-can-dream-again-silk-scarf] UN report: Weekend attacks in Ukraine bring more casualties, damage infrastructure https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/12/1166652?_gl=1*l4bfr6*_ga*MTIwMjkxNTk1MC4xNzY1ODAyMzEw*_ga_TK9BQL5X7Z*czE3NjY0OTE4MjQkbzMkZzEkdDE3NjY0OTE4OTgkajYwJGwwJGgw [https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/12/1166652?_gl=1*l4bfr6*_ga*MTIwMjkxNTk1MC4xNzY1ODAyMzEw*_ga_TK9BQL5X7Z*czE3NjY0OTE4MjQkbzMkZzEkdDE3NjY0OTE4OTgkajYwJGwwJGgw] Miyamoto article: Addressing Ukraine’s Asbestos Crisis https://miyamotointernational.com/addressing-ukraines-asbestos-crisis/ [https://miyamotointernational.com/addressing-ukraines-asbestos-crisis/] Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest [http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest] Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk [ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Moscow car bomb kills Russian General & Miami weekend talks “do not improve” peace proposal

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. Contributors: Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X. With thanks to video producer Jack Leather. Video version of our report on the prosthetics factory in Odesa: https://youtu.be/m-vZshCP4nY [https://youtu.be/m-vZshCP4nY] SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER: http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter [http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter]   Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It’s free for everyone, including non-subscribers. CONTENT REFERENCED: Steve Rosenberg’s actual question to Putin: https://x.com/BBCSteveR/status/2002328372253503933?s=20 [https://x.com/BBCSteveR/status/2002328372253503933?s=20] Russian TV’s interaction with the fake Steve Rosenberg: https://x.com/BBCSteveR/status/2002804837486850215?s=20 [https://x.com/BBCSteveR/status/2002804837486850215?s=20] Russia is Losing – Time for Putin's 2026 Hybrid Escalation https://www.rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/commentary/russia-losing-time-putins-2026-hybrid-escalation [https://www.rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/commentary/russia-losing-time-putins-2026-hybrid-escalation] Reuters: US intelligence indicates Putin's war aims in Ukraine are unchanged: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/us-intelligence-indicates-putins-war-aims-ukraine-are-unchanged-2025-12-19/ Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest [http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest] Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk [ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Putin vows revenge after oil tanker blown up in Mediterranean & EU plugs Kyiv’s €90bn budget black hole

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. Joe Barnes (Brussels Correspondent). @Barnes_Joe on X. Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjz on X. SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER: http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter [http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter]   Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It’s free for everyone, including non-subscribers. CONTENT REFERENCED: EU agrees €90bn loan for Ukraine – but won’t use frozen Russian assets (The Telegraph): https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/19/european-union-agrees-loan-ukraine/ [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/19/european-union-agrees-loan-ukraine/] Russia won’t get back frozen $300bn assets under latest peace plan (The Telegraph): https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/18/russia-wont-get-frozen-300bn-assets-latest-peace-ukraine/ [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/18/russia-wont-get-frozen-300bn-assets-latest-peace-ukraine/]  Ukrainian drones blow up Russian oil tanker in Mediterranean (The Telegraph): https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/19/ukraine-strikes-russian-oil-tanker-in-mediterranean/ [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/19/ukraine-strikes-russian-oil-tanker-in-mediterranean/?WT.mc_id=e_DM768916&WT.tsrc=email&etype=Edi_Brk_New&utmsource=email&utm_medium=Edi_Brk_New20251219&utm_campaign=DM768916] LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST IN NEW LANGUAGES: The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them. Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatest [https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatest] Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest [http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest] Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk [ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Putin: European leaders are ‘pigs’ who will be replaced & the race against time to plug Ukraine’s financial black hole

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 Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X. Joe Barnes (Brussels Correspondent). @Barnes_Joe on X. SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER: http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter [http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter]   Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It’s free for everyone, including non-subscribers. CONTENT REFERENCED: Putin: European leaders are ‘pigs’ who will be replaced (The Telegraph): https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/17/putin-european-leaders-are-pigs-who-will-be-replaced/ [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/17/putin-european-leaders-are-pigs-who-will-be-replaced/]  Zelensky’s race against time to plug £48bn war black hole (The Telegraph): https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/18/the-budget-black-hole-that-threatens-the-future-of-ukraine/ [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/18/the-budget-black-hole-that-threatens-the-future-of-ukraine/]  How Putin’s favourite pop star became ‘most hated woman in Russia’ (The Telegraph): https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/16/putins-favourite-pop-star-most-hated-woman-russia/ [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/16/putins-favourite-pop-star-most-hated-woman-russia/]  LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST IN NEW LANGUAGES: The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them. Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatest [https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatest] Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest [http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest] Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk [ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Russia: Trump has ‘promised us Ukrainian territory’

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 Insider). @michaeldweiss on X. SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER: http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter [http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter]   Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It’s free for everyone, including non-subscribers. CONTENT REFERENCED: Russia: US has promised us Ukrainian territory (The Telegraph): https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/16/russia-us-promised-ukrainian-territory-war-sergei-lavrov/ [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/16/russia-us-promised-ukrainian-territory-war-sergei-lavrov/]  Susie Wiles, JD Vance, and the “Junkyard Dogs”: The White House Chief of Staff on Trump’s Second Term (Vanity Fair): https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/trump-susie-wiles-interview-exclusive-part-1 [https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/trump-susie-wiles-interview-exclusive-part-1]  Ukraine Support Tracker (Kiel Institute): https://www.kielinstitut.de/topics/war-against-ukraine/ukraine-support-tracker/ [https://www.kielinstitut.de/topics/war-against-ukraine/ukraine-support-tracker/]  How Europe Can Defend Itself with Less America (CSIS Report): https://www.csis.org/analysis/how-europe-can-defend-itself-less-america [https://www.csis.org/analysis/how-europe-can-defend-itself-less-america]  Canadian military intelligence officer allegedly shared classified information with Ukraine (Globe & Mail): https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-canadian-forces-intelligence-officer-classified-information-ukraine/?intcmp=gift_share [https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-canadian-forces-intelligence-officer-classified-information-ukraine/?intcmp=gift_share]  Swedish Navy spots armed Russian military personnel aboard shadow fleet tankers in Baltic Sea (Euromaidan): https://euromaidanpress.com/2025/12/16/swedish-navy-spots-russian-military-aboard-shadow-fleet/ [https://euromaidanpress.com/2025/12/16/swedish-navy-spots-russian-military-aboard-shadow-fleet/]  LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST IN NEW LANGUAGES: The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them. Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatest [https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatest] Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest [http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest] Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk [ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.