Ukraine: The Latest

Day 1,338. Today, as Donald Trump unveils sweeping new sanctions on Russia’s energy giants, we analyse what recent developments reveal about the shifting power dynamics between Moscow and Washington. We also investigate an alleged Russian war crime in Donetsk and what it exposes about the brutal nature of the fighting there, before exploring why NATO nations continue to pour vast resources into tank production and modernisation. Contributors: Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X. Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X. Memphis Barker (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @memphisbarker on X. Hamish de Bretton-Gordon (Chemical Weapons Expert and former Tank Commander). @hamishdbg 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’s sanctions put him on a warpath with Russia, says Medvedev (The Telegraph): https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/2025/10/22/trump-russia-oil-sanctions-putin/ [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/2025/10/22/trump-russia-oil-sanctions-putin/]  Bodies strewn across Pokrovsk reveal horror of Russian war crimes (Memphis Barker in The Telegraph): https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/10/22/bodies-strewn-pokrovsk-horror-russian-war-crimes-ukraine/ [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/10/22/bodies-strewn-pokrovsk-horror-russian-war-crimes-ukraine/]  The man with the worst job in Ukraine (The Telegraph): https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/10/23/man-with-worst-job-in-ukraine/ [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/10/23/man-with-worst-job-in-ukraine/]  Russian commander ordered troops to shoot Ukrainian civilians near Pokrovsk, radio intercept suggests (Kyiv Independent): https://kyivindependent.com/russian-commander-ordered-troops-to-kill-civilians-in-pokrovsk-hur-intercepted-call-says/ [https://kyivindependent.com/russian-commander-ordered-troops-to-kill-civilians-in-pokrovsk-hur-intercepted-call-says/]  U.S. Lifts Key Restriction on Ukraine’s Use of European Long-Range Missiles (Wall Street Journal): https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/u-s-lifts-key-restriction-on-ukraines-use-of-western-long-range-missiles-5a15c12d?mod=author_content_page_1_pos_1 [https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/u-s-lifts-key-restriction-on-ukraines-use-of-western-long-range-missiles-5a15c12d?mod=author_content_page_1_pos_1]  How tanks are evolving in Ukraine (New York Times): https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/09/08/world/europe/ukraine-russia-war-drones-tanks-military.html [https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/09/08/world/europe/ukraine-russia-war-drones-tanks-military.html] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Day 1,337. Today, after Vladimir Putin defied Donald Trump to wreck the proposed Budapest peace talks, we report how overnight attacks ended with children having to be evacuated from a burning kindergarten in Kharkiv after it was hit in a Russian drone strike. Plus, British-supplied Storm Shadow cruise missiles hit their targets in Russia and, later, we hear about how for civilians in Ukraine, learning the specific sound of drones can be a matter of life or death… and how their buzzing can stay with survivors a long time after the attack. Please note, this episode features real sounds of drones from the frontline. Contributors: Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X. Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjz on X. Kieran Kelly (Foreign Reporter). 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 defies Trump to wreck Ukraine peace talks (Connor Stringer and Joe Barnes in The Telegraph): https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025/10/21/trump-no-longer-plans-meet-putin-hungary [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025/10/21/trump-no-longer-plans-meet-putin-hungary]  Ukraine strikes Russia with British Storm Shadow missiles (The Telegraph): https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/10/22/british-storm-shadow-missiles-strike-russia-chemical-plant/ [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/10/22/british-storm-shadow-missiles-strike-russia-chemical-plant/]  Germany wants to use Iceland as a logistics base for the Navy (Hartpunkt): https://www.hartpunkt.de/pistorius-sieht-island-als-logistik-basis-fuer-die-marine/ [https://www.hartpunkt.de/pistorius-sieht-island-als-logistik-basis-fuer-die-marine/]  Europe and Ukraine Prepare 12-Point Proposal to End Russia’s War, Bloomberg https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-10-21/europe-and-ukraine-prepare-12-point-proposal-to-end-russia-s-war Russia’s Lvova-Belova Admits to Kidnapping Ukrainian Orphan to Russia Despite His Resistance https://united24media.com/latest-news/russias-lvova-belova-admits-to-kidnapping-ukrainian-orphan-to-russia-despite-his-resistance-12679 [https://united24media.com/latest-news/russias-lvova-belova-admits-to-kidnapping-ukrainian-orphan-to-russia-despite-his-resistance-12679] The War of Sound, The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/The-War-of-Sound/ [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/The-War-of-Sound/] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Day 1,336. Today, amid growing signs the planned Trump-Putin summit in Hungary is already in jeopardy, we assess a breakthrough in Europe that could see finally frozen Russian state assets loaned to Ukraine. Then we uncover disturbing accounts revealing the dire state of Russia’s armed forces, and bring you the latest stories from Moscow as the economy continues to display signs of fracture. Contributors: Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X. Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X. Verity Bowman (Reporter). @VerityBowman on X. James Kilner (Former Telegraph Russia Correspondant). @jkjourno on X. MORE TICKETS JUST RELEASED FOR 'UKRAINE: THE LATEST' LIVE, IN-PERSON: Join us for an in-person discussion and Q&A at the distinguished Honourable Artillery Company in London on 22nd October starting at 7pm. Our panel includes General Sir Richard Barrons, former head of UK Joint Forces Command and latterly one of the authors of Britain’s Strategic Defence Review, and Orysia Lutsevych, head of the Ukraine Forum at the Chatham House think tank. Tickets are open to everybody and can be purchased at: https://www.squadup.com/events/ukrainelive [https://www.squadup.com/events/ukrainelive] CONTENT REFERENCED: Putin ‘should only be allowed to travel to Hungary if he agrees to a ceasefire’ (The Telegraph):  https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/10/20/putin-travel-hungary-if-he-agrees-ceasefire-russia-ukraine/ How Putin could reach Hungary peace summit without being shot down or arrested (The Telegraph): https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/10/17/putin-route-to-budapest-summit/ [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/10/17/putin-route-to-budapest-summit/]  Trapped on the Dnipro, Putin’s troops tried to flee by boat — and were blown apart (Verity Bowman in The Telegraph): https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/10/21/russia-putin-dnipro-river-troops-boat-ukraine/ [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/10/21/russia-putin-dnipro-river-troops-boat-ukraine/] Russian troops handcuffed to trees and left for dead after defying orders (Verity Bowman in The Telegraph): https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/10/17/russian-troops-handcuffed-left-for-dead-refusing-orders/ [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/10/17/russian-troops-handcuffed-left-for-dead-refusing-orders/]  Putin sends squads of sick soldiers into Pokrovsk ‘meat grinder’ (Verity Bowman in The Telegraph): https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/terror-and-security/putin-sends-squads-of-sick-soldiers-into-pokrovsk-meat-grin/ [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/terror-and-security/putin-sends-squads-of-sick-soldiers-into-pokrovsk-meat-grin/]  EU closes in on deal to use Russian frozen assets to fund Ukraine (POLITICO): https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-deal-russian-frozen-assets-ukraine-loan-belgium/ [https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-deal-russian-frozen-assets-ukraine-loan-belgium/]  US is stalling on G7 plan over Russian assets (Bloomberg): https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-10-20/us-is-stalling-on-g-7-plan-to-expand-use-of-russian-assets [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-10-20/us-is-stalling-on-g-7-plan-to-expand-use-of-russian-assets] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Day 1,335. Today, as the world digests the outcome of the White House meeting between Presidents Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky, we examine why the lack of progress on Tomahawk missiles caught many observers off guard. We also explore the significance – if any – of Trump’s planned talks with Vladimir Putin in Budapest, widely seen as part of the Kremlin’s strategy to stall for time. Plus, we report on another slow weekend at the front, continued Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil and gas facilities, and hear from a leading professor on what it would take to achieve a genuine breakthrough in peace negotiations. Contributors: Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X. Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X. With thanks to Professor Robert Person (Non-Resident Senior Fellow in the Foreign Policy Research Institute's Eurasia Program). @RTPerson3 on X. MORE TICKETS JUST RELEASED FOR 'UKRAINE: THE LATEST' LIVE, IN-PERSON: Join us for an in-person discussion and Q&A at the distinguished Honourable Artillery Company in London on 22nd October starting at 7pm. Our panel includes General Sir Richard Barrons, former head of UK Joint Forces Command and latterly one of the authors of Britain’s Strategic Defence Review, and Orysia Lutsevych, head of the Ukraine Forum at the Chatham House think tank. Tickets are open to everybody and can be purchased at: https://www.squadup.com/events/ukrainelive [https://www.squadup.com/events/ukrainelive] CONTENT REFERENCED: Zelensky offers Trump drones for Tomahawks (The Telegraph): https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025/10/17/zelenksy-meets-trump-white-house-live-updates/ [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025/10/17/zelenksy-meets-trump-white-house-live-updates/]  Trump envoy pushes Ukraine to surrender Donetsk to Russia (The Telegraph): https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/10/19/trump-envoy-pushes-ukraine-donetsk-russia-war-peace-witkoff/ [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/10/19/trump-envoy-pushes-ukraine-donetsk-russia-war-peace-witkoff/]  Pete Hegseth’s tie causes diplomatic spat (The Telegraph): https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025/10/19/pete-hegseth-tie-causes-diplomatic-spat/ [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025/10/19/pete-hegseth-tie-causes-diplomatic-spat/]  Trump tells Ukraine: Accept Putin’s demands ‘or be destroyed’ (The Telegraph): https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/10/19/trump-tells-ukraine-accept-putin-demands-or-be-destroyed/ [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/10/19/trump-tells-ukraine-accept-putin-demands-or-be-destroyed/]  Ukraine’s most prestigious military units are run like businesses: (The Economist): https://www.economist.com/europe/2025/10/14/ukraines-most-prestigious-military-units-are-run-like-businesses?utm_campaign=shared_article [https://www.economist.com/europe/2025/10/14/ukraines-most-prestigious-military-units-are-run-like-businesses?utm_campaign=shared_article]  ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Day 1,332. Today, as President Zelensky meets Donald Trump at the White House, we unpack Vladimir Putin’s emergency – if predictable – intervention: an unscheduled call with the US President that may have derailed Kyiv’s hopes of securing Tomahawk missiles. Then, in a special cultural dispatch, we dive into the world of Ukrainian classical music. Contributors: Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X. With thanks to Hobart Earle, Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Odesa Philharmonic Orchestra. MORE TICKETS JUST RELEASED FOR 'UKRAINE: THE LATEST' LIVE, IN-PERSON: Join us for an in-person discussion and Q&A at the distinguished Honourable Artillery Company in London on 22nd October starting at 7pm. Our panel includes General Sir Richard Barrons, former head of UK Joint Forces Command and latterly one of the authors of Britain’s Strategic Defence Review, and Orysia Lutsevych, head of the Ukraine Forum at the Chatham House think tank. Tickets are open to everybody and can be purchased at: https://www.squadup.com/events/ukrainelive [https://www.squadup.com/events/ukrainelive] 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: Francis’s Odesa Documentary featuring Hobart Earle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28HqbQLYGMM [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28HqbQLYGMM]  ‘Animals in war’ winners, suggested by listeners: https://x.com/FrancisDearnley/status/1978856072648499329 [https://x.com/FrancisDearnley/status/1978856072648499329]  Trump to meet Putin in Hungary (The Telegraph): https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025/10/16/trump-holds-phone-call-putin-tomahawks/ [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025/10/16/trump-holds-phone-call-putin-tomahawks/]  Trump meeting Putin in Budapest is blow to Europe (The Telegraph): https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/10/16/trump-meeting-putin-budapest-blow-europe-hungary-orban/ [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/10/16/trump-meeting-putin-budapest-blow-europe-hungary-orban/]  North Korean troops helping to direct Russian strikes into Ukraine (Kyiv Independent): https://kyivindependent.com/russia-now-using-north-korean-troops-to-attack-inside-of-ukraine-general-staff/?mc_cid=ccbf455194&mc_eid=08d0680a95 [https://kyivindependent.com/russia-now-using-north-korean-troops-to-attack-inside-of-ukraine-general-staff/?mc_cid=ccbf455194&mc_eid=08d0680a95]  How Vladimir Putin’s history rant in Alaska nudged Donald Trump closer to Ukraine (Financial Times): https://www.ft.com/content/7af3b49e-c4da-405b-8199-3e12957b78c2 [https://www.ft.com/content/7af3b49e-c4da-405b-8199-3e12957b78c2]  ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.