Ukraine: The Latest

550,000 'without power in Russia' & exclusive interview with President of Moldova, Maia Sandu

Day 1,419. Today, as much of Kyiv continues to live without power, so too does a region of Russia, as the United States accuses Moscow of making a mockery of peace through its continued attacks. Then, we explore the emerging phenomenon of so-called ‘dark tourism’ in Ukraine, and what it reveals about how the war is being remembered. Later, in an exclusive interview, we speak to Moldovan President Maia Sandu, who reflects on a tumultuous five years in office – including last year’s dramatic election campaign, which delivered Vladimir Putin one of his most significant political setbacks of the year. Contributors Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X. Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X. Adrian Blomfield (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @adrianblomfield on X. Anna Emmett-Martin (Journalist). With thanks to Moldovan President Maia Sandu. 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: Full Exclusive Telegraph Video Interview with Moldovan President Maia Sandu: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRnZUTGo1MI [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRnZUTGo1MI]  Francis’s Video Documentary on Moldova: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZC5FvDt-u0 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZC5FvDt-u0]  Panel with Dr Jack Watling discussing legal avenues for stopping the shadow fleet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQqHFlA6m6o [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQqHFlA6m6o]  UN Homepage: https://www.un.org/en/ [https://www.un.org/en/] UN Story – Deadly Russian strikes push civilians deeper into winter crisis: https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/01/1166748 [https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/01/1166748]  Live Blog as Parliament votes on government reshuffle (Kyiv Independent): https://kyivindependent.com/parliament-votes-on-government-reshuffle-live/ [https://kyivindependent.com/parliament-votes-on-government-reshuffle-live/]  Ukraine and Moldova Quietly Cut Off Russia’s Hidden Army at Midnight on New Year’s Day (United 24): https://united24media.com/latest-news/ukraine-and-moldova-quietly-cut-off-russias-hidden-army-at-midnight-on-new-years-day-14932 [https://united24media.com/latest-news/ukraine-and-moldova-quietly-cut-off-russias-hidden-army-at-midnight-on-new-years-day-14932]  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’s new ‘dandelion’ tank armour; Kremlin attacks ‘wet dreams of British perverts’ & how Iran regime collapse would impact Ukraine

Day 1,418. Today, as thousands remain without power in Kyiv, we examine President Zelensky’s pledge to carry out more operations “inside” Russia and analyse Moscow’s latest tank and weapons innovations. We then unpack an extraordinary outburst from a Russian spokesperson, who dismissed the “wet dreams of British perverts”, before considering what the fall of Iran’s regime would mean for the war in Ukraine. Later, we return to the issue of Ukraine’s stolen children, with new details on the military training they are being forced to undergo. Contributors Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X. Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X. Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjz on X. With thanks to Olesia Bida (Journalist, The Kyiv Independent's War Crimes investigations). @olesyabida 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: Our sister podcast Battle Lines’ episode discussing flashpoints in 2026: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3aQpnrqUDE [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3aQpnrqUDE]  UK Defence Secretary John Healey: “I would kidnap Putin” (The Telegraph): https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/01/10/john-healey-i-would-kidnap-vladimir-putin/ [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/01/10/john-healey-i-would-kidnap-vladimir-putin/]  Britain to spend £200m preparing troops for Ukraine (The Telegraph): https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/01/09/britain-200m-spend-troops-ukraine-deployment/ [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/01/09/britain-200m-spend-troops-ukraine-deployment/]  Russia’s ‘dandelion’ tank armour might just work (The Telegraph): https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/10/russia-bizarre-tank-defences-dandelion-ukraine-war-turtle/ [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/10/russia-bizarre-tank-defences-dandelion-ukraine-war-turtle/]  Zelensky hopes reshuffle will give him a better hand at home and away (The Telegraph): https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/11/zelensky-hedges-his-bets-with-cabinet-reshuffle/v [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/11/zelensky-hedges-his-bets-with-cabinet-reshuffle/v]  Investigating Russia's military camp system for children (Kyiv Independent documentary): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZGmv2EQdGk [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZGmv2EQdGk] Russian spies target £70-a-night hotel near Nato HQ (The i): https://inews.co.uk/news/nato-warns-of-russian-spies-4145755 [https://inews.co.uk/news/nato-warns-of-russian-spies-4145755]  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 fires nuclear-capable hypersonic missile at Lviv & Trump's men meet Russian envoy

Day 1,415. Today, the world responds to Putin’s latest outrage that has seen a nuclear-capable ballistic missile fired by Russia hit Ukraine just 50km from Nato’s border, with one leading European politician saying the pressure on Putin must now be “turned up to the maximum and made unbearable.” We hear from the man who recently interviewed Oleksandr Kamyshin, a key aide to President Zelensky and get Francis’s final thoughts from Hungary. Later, we interview the commander of Operation Interflex, the British-led military effort to train Ukrainian recruits. Contributors Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X. Lily Shanagher (Foreign Reporter). @LilyShanagher on X. Tom Mutch (Journalist). @Tomthescribe on X. Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X. With thanks to Colonel Andrew Boardman (Commanding Officer of Operation Interflex). 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: United24Media: Ukraine’s Drone Strikes Hit Up to 100,000 Russian Troops in Late 2025—2026 Plans Aim Higher https://united24media.com/war-in-ukraine/ukraines-drone-strikes-hit-up-to-100000-russian-troops-in-late-2025-2026-plans-aim-higher-14798 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.

Drones plunge Ukraine regions into ‘total blackout’ & Russian-flagged oil tanker attacked after Trump acts

Day 1,414. Today, as yet another Russian shadow fleet tanker makes the news, but this time after an explosion by a suspected Ukrainian drone in the Black Sea forced it to divert to Turkey, we hear live from Ukraine where overnight strikes left two regions without power as temperatures plummet below zero. We report how the value of defence company shares have surged after comments by Donald Trump - but not if they’re based in the US - and we hear from Ukraine's International Legion about proposed changes that have left some soldiers in “total bewilderment”.  Contributors Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X. Lily Shanagher (Foreign Correspondent). @LilyShanagher on X. With thanks to Anna Conkling, Freelance journalist & contributor to the news app Noosphere. @ConklingAnna 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: Noosphere - news app https://www.noosphere.app/author/anna/ [https://www.noosphere.app/author/anna/] 'Everyone's in shock' — Ground Forces reorganization leaves International Legion soldiers in limbo https://kyivindependent.com/everyones-in-shock-ground-forces-reorganization-leaves-international-legion-soldiers-in-limbo/ [https://kyivindependent.com/everyones-in-shock-ground-forces-reorganization-leaves-international-legion-soldiers-in-limbo/] Ukraine now has the fortress belt it wishes it had in 2022 https://www.economist.com/europe/2026/01/07/ukraine-now-has-the-fortress-belt-it-wishes-it-had-in-2022 [https://www.economist.com/europe/2026/01/07/ukraine-now-has-the-fortress-belt-it-wishes-it-had-in-2022] 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.

US hails ‘big milestone’ in Paris as Trump envoy promises BlackRock key to ‘future of Ukraine’

Day 1,413. Today, we report on the details of the latest Coalition of the Willing summit in Paris, asking how significant was the strong US presence and input. We get an update from Francis in Hungary and, later, we have an interview with Sir Ben Wallace, Britain’s former defence secretary who says it's just wishful thinking that Donald Trump would put any weight behind a backstop because Putin knows, in Sir Ben’s words, that he's got a guy in the White House aligned to Russia. Contributors Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X. Venetia Rainey (Co-host Battle Lines [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/battle-lines/] podcast). @venetiarainey on X. Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnleyon X. With thanks to Sir Ben Wallace, Britain’s former defence secretary. @BenWallace70 [https://x.com/BenWallace70] 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’s secret bargain to trade Ukraine for Venezuela https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/06/putins-bargain-trade-ukraine-for-venezuela/ 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.