Ukraine: The Latest

Russian seaport near Kerch bridge 'explodes' & war drones fly towards Zelensky’s plane

Day 1,380. Today, we report on revelations from a European leaders’ conference call, exposing the level of anxiety over the US peace proposals, cover the military drones spotted approaching President Zelensky’s plane as it neared Dublin, and examine the new US National Security Strategy, which has alarmed many. Later, we return to our regular updates on the occupied territories, and speak to a doctor about frontline medical provision for Ukrainian soldiers. Contributors Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjz on X. Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X. Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X. Dr. Jade McGlynn (War Studies Department of King's College). @DrJadeMcGlynn on X. With thanks to Dr James Gough (Chief Executive of the David Nott Foundation). @NottFoundation 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 the David Nott Foundation, which trains doctors in warzones: https://davidnottfoundation.com/ [https://davidnottfoundation.com/]  The Telegraph Christmas Charity Appeal 2025: how you can donate: https://tinyurl.com/4nnrt59s [https://tinyurl.com/4nnrt59s] Our sister podcast Battle Lines: Why Ukraine's troops are facing an amputation crisis https://tinyurl.com/bdzc7ukn [https://tinyurl.com/bdzc7ukn] Military drones flew towards Zelensky’s plane as it approached Dublin (The Telegraph): https://tinyurl.com/yj27tvve [https://tinyurl.com/yj27tvve] "We Must Not Leave Ukraine and Volodymyr Alone with These Guys" (Der Spiegel): https://tinyurl.com/mr358sdh [https://tinyurl.com/mr358sdh] Trump envoys press plan with Ukraine as sanctions eased on Russia (France 24): https://tinyurl.com/mrbxrayw [https://tinyurl.com/mrbxrayw] US National Security Strategy (White House): https://tinyurl.com/muf78x72 [https://tinyurl.com/muf78x72] Les fusiliers marins ont tiré sur des drones au-dessus de la base navale de l’Île Longue, abri des sous-marins nucléaires français, (Le Figaro): https://tinyurl.com/yfcd8ckb [https://tinyurl.com/yfcd8ckb] Exclusive: Woman suspected by France of spying has ties to Kremlin proxies, social media posts show (Reuters) https://tinyurl.com/nbvfsejb [https://tinyurl.com/nbvfsejb] 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.

Battle for Pokrovsk 'over', claims Russia & Putin ordered spy poisoning 'as show of Russian power'

Day 1,379. Today, after Tuesday’s inconsequential meeting in Moscow, Ukrainian negotiators are updating European counterparts on Kyiv’s response before flying to meet Steve Witkoff in Miami. We consider why U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau has lambasted European NATO allies for prioritising their own defence industries over American suppliers – comments made just as another billion dollars was added to the PURL fund – and we ask whether, if Pokrovsk has indeed fallen, Russia will now shift its efforts toward Zaporizhzhia oblast. And later, we return to the GRU’s murder of British woman Dawn Sturgess by nerve agent in 2018, as the final report into her death is released. Contributors Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X. Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X. Hamish De Bretton-Gordon (Former British Army Tank Commander). @HamishDBGon 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: Trump: I don’t know what the Kremlin is doing (The Telegraph): https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025/12/03/trump-i-dont-know-what-the-kremlin-is-doing/ [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025/12/03/trump-i-dont-know-what-the-kremlin-is-doing/]  Britain can’t let the man Putin hates most die in prison (Sir Tom Stoppard in The Telegraph): https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/05/19/britain-cant-let-the-man-putin-hates-most-die-in-prison/ [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/05/19/britain-cant-let-the-man-putin-hates-most-die-in-prison/]  The West’s Last Chance (Alexander Stubb, Finland’s President, in Foreign Affairs): https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/wests-last-chance [https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/wests-last-chance]  Top US official berates Europe over cutting American industry out of defense buildup (POLITICO): https://www.politico.eu/article/christopher-landau-top-us-official-berates-europe-nato-cut-industry-defense-buildup/ [https://www.politico.eu/article/christopher-landau-top-us-official-berates-europe-nato-cut-industry-defense-buildup/]  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 launches huge drone attack after rejecting Trump’s peace deal

Day 1,378. Today, as the world reacts to the marathon – but ultimately fruitless – talks in Moscow on Tuesday night, we examine how the impasse will shape today’s meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers and, also in Brussels, the European Council’s discussions on frozen Russian assets and the ‘new era’ the EU says it is entering, free from Russian fossil fuels. Plus, our Russia expert assesses Moscow’s ‘caviar diplomacy’ and its growing problems in Africa, and we report how Australia and New Zealand are stepping up their support for Ukraine. Finally, we hear the assessment of Ukraine’s former Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, on the current state of the war – and whether he harbours any ambition to succeed President Zelensky. Contributors Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor, Defence). @DomNicholls on X. James Kilner (Foreign Correspondent). @jkjourno on X. With thanks to Latika Bourke. @latikambourke 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: Latika Bourke Substack https://substack.com/@latikambourke [https://substack.com/@latikambourke] Australia and New Zealand join forces to fund NATO weapons for Ukraine https://thenightly.com.au/world/australia-and-new-zealand-join-forces-to-fund-nato-weapons-for-ukraine-c-20819893 [https://thenightly.com.au/world/australia-and-new-zealand-join-forces-to-fund-nato-weapons-for-ukraine-c-20819893] Today’s Telegraph Ukraine Live Blog: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/03/ukraine-russia-war-latest-news-peace-deal-talks/ [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/03/ukraine-russia-war-latest-news-peace-deal-talks/] Cosmonaut Artemyev was removed from the Crew-12 crew:  https://theins.ru/news/287330 ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Ukraine strikes Chechen special forces ahead of Putin-Witkoff talks & Russian troops ‘sent to slaughter’ without helmets or armour

Day 1,377. Today, on a national day of mourning in Ukraine after a single ballistic missile strike killed four people and injured forty more, we report on the arrival of the US delegation in Moscow as the latest round of peace talks gets under way. Then we hear from our Washington Correspondent on the mood in the United States toward Ukraine – and the current strength of President Trump – and take a deep dive into how Russian soldiers are being sent into combat without helmets or body armour. Contributors Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X. Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor, Defence). @DomNicholls on X. Verity Bowman (Foreign Correspondent). @VerityBowman on X. Connor Stringer (Washington Correspondent). @connor_stringer 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: Russian troops sent to slaughter with no helmets or armour (Verity in The Telegraph): https://tinyurl.com/yc4aysxr [https://tinyurl.com/yc4aysxr] Ukraine strikes Chechen special forces unit ahead of Putin-Witkoff talks (The Telegraph): https://tinyurl.com/3f9s4vu5 [https://tinyurl.com/3f9s4vu5] Zelensky warns US not to reward Putin (The Telegraph): https://tinyurl.com/y685hcpc [https://tinyurl.com/y685hcpc] Ex-British soldier ‘helped Russia assassinate prominent Ukrainians’ (The Telegraph): https://tinyurl.com/bdft3f7m [https://tinyurl.com/bdft3f7m] ECB refuses to provide backstop for €140bn Ukraine loan (Financial Times): https://www.ft.com/content/616c79ee-34de-425a-865e-e94ba10be788 [https://www.ft.com/content/616c79ee-34de-425a-865e-e94ba10be788?utm_social_post_id=612053531&utm_social_handle_id=18949452] Ukraine has brought back 1,859 Russia-abducted children, Zelenska says in Paris (Kyiv Independent): https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-says-1-859-abducted-children-have-been-returned-zelenska-tells-paris-summit [https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-says-1-859-abducted-children-have-been-returned-zelenska-tells-paris-summit]  Five South Africans in court over alleged recruitment for Russia’s war in Ukraine (The Guardian): https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/01/south-africans-court-alleged-recruitment-russia-war-ukraine [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/01/south-africans-court-alleged-recruitment-russia-war-ukraine]  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.

Drone boats blow up Russian oil tankers & missile blitz leaves 600,000 without power

Day 1,376. Today, after a fresh round of talks between the Ukrainian and American delegations in Miami, we examine a new investigation exposing the Trump administration’s profit motives behind the emerging proposals. We then assess the resignation of Andriy Yermak, formerly Zelensky’s right-hand man, and the unexpected intervention of former Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi – viewed as preparing for a presidential run after the war. Afterwards, we analyse Kyiv’s decision to strike the Russian shadow fleet off the coast of Senegal, and how Europe – and France in particular – is positioning itself for this next, volatile phase. Contributors Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjz on X. Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X. Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls 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: Valerii Zaluzhnyi: How to defeat Putin and build a better Ukraine (The Telegraph): https://tinyurl.com/582phz7b [https://tinyurl.com/582phz7b] Zelensky meets Macron in Paris (The Telegraph Live Blog): https://tinyurl.com/4vspzy8y [https://tinyurl.com/4vspzy8y] Ukrainian drone boats blow up Russian oil tankers (The Telegraph): https://tinyurl.com/5evypnz5 [https://tinyurl.com/5evypnz5] Zelensky’s chief of staff goes to front line after resigning over corruption scandal (The Telegraph): https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/11/29/zelensky-chief-of-staff-andriy-yermak-goes-to-front-line/ [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/11/29/zelensky-chief-of-staff-andriy-yermak-goes-to-front-line/]  Kyiv’s new peace talks chief caught in same corruption scandal as ousted predecessor (The Telegraph): https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/11/30/ukraine-make-or-break-week-survival-witkoff/ [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/11/30/ukraine-make-or-break-week-survival-witkoff/]  Antony Beevor: For Russia, conspicuous cruelty is a necessary weapon of war (The Telegraph): https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/11/30/antony-beevor-interview/ [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/11/30/antony-beevor-interview/]  Make Money Not War: Trump’s Real Plan for Peace in Ukraine (Wall Street Journal): https://www.wsj.com/world/russia/russia-u-s-peace-business-ties-4db9b290 [https://www.wsj.com/world/russia/russia-u-s-peace-business-ties-4db9b290]  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.