Ukraine: The Latest

Day 1,171. Today, as Vladimir Putin hosts world leaders in Moscow for his Victory Day Parade, we break down what was really on display: both in military hardware and political messaging. How much of the spectacle honored World War II, and how much signaled the rise of a militarised Russia? Then, we speak with a former Ukrainian MP and leader of the Sky Shield initiative about proposals for Kyiv’s allies to shoot down enemy missiles, and report on the latest resistance efforts in occupied territories. Contributors: Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X. Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X. Oksana Pyzik (Associate Professor Pharm Prac & Policy at UCL). @OksanaPyzikUCL on X. With thanks to Lesia Orobets (former Member of Parliament of Ukraine [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verkhovna_Rada]). @LesyaOrobets on X and Illia Riepin. Content Referenced: SIGN UP TO THE NEW ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER: https://secure.telegraph.co.uk/customer/secure/newsletter/ukraine/ [https://secure.telegraph.co.uk/customer/secure/newsletter/ukraine/]   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. In full: Russia Victory Day parade 2025 w. commentary from Dom/Oksana (The Telegraph): https://www.youtube.com/live/YMfnk-j42Rs [https://www.youtube.com/live/YMfnk-j42Rs]  Soviets determined WW2, Putin tells Victory Day parade in Trump rebuff (The Telegraph): https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/05/09/russia-ukraine-zelensky-putin-war-latest-news529/ [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/05/09/russia-ukraine-zelensky-putin-war-latest-news529/]  Russia building major new explosives facility as Ukraine war drags on (Reuters): https://www.reuters.com/investigations/russia-building-major-new-explosives-facility-ukraine-war-drags-2025-05-08/ [https://www.reuters.com/investigations/russia-building-major-new-explosives-facility-ukraine-war-drags-2025-05-08/]  Learn more about the Sky Shield plan:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/16e4_huHkGl_MU2Qk2CH6skxnKn6kYzH3/view [https://drive.google.com/file/d/16e4_huHkGl_MU2Qk2CH6skxnKn6kYzH3/view] Learn more about Ukrainian Action: https://www.ukrainianaction.com/ [https://www.ukrainianaction.com/]  NOW AVAILABLE 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, or click the links below. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Day 1,170. Today, as the end of the Second World War in Europe is marked in most European countries, we report how Vladimir Putin’s three-day ‘goodwill ceasefire’ designed to protect his own commemoration tomorrow appears to have been broken already, we examine three very strong and uncharacteristically critical comments by the United States administration about Russia, and we ask whether Friedrich Merz has hit the ground running, or fallen at the first hurdle. Contributors: Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X. Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X. James Rothwell (Berlin Correspondent). @JamesERothwell on X. Hamish De Bretton-Gordon (Chemical Weapons Expert and Former Tank Commander). @HamishDBG on X. Content Referenced: 'Putin’s top 3 lies: from Ukraine to the Second World War' (Video by Francis): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mdvqJy-zVk Putin welcomes Xi Jinping at Kremlin (The Telegraph Live Blog): https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/05/08/russia-ukraine-zelensky-putin-xi-jinping-moscow/ [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/05/08/russia-ukraine-zelensky-putin-xi-jinping-moscow/]  JD Vance: Russia is asking for too much from Ukraine (The Telegraph): https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/2025/05/07/jd-vance-russia-asking-too-much-from-ukraine/ [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/2025/05/07/jd-vance-russia-asking-too-much-from-ukraine/]  Former British Army soldier “Swampy” killed in Ukraine (The Telegraph): https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/05/07/former-british-soldier-killed-in-ukraine/ [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/05/07/former-british-soldier-killed-in-ukraine/]  Putin’s Victory Day display is a charade, not a parade (Hamish’s article): https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/05/08/putins-victory-day-display-is-a-charade-not-a-parade/ [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/05/08/putins-victory-day-display-is-a-charade-not-a-parade/]  Russia has damaged, destroyed over 2,300 medical infrastructure facilities since beginning of full-scale invasion, health ministry says (Kyiv Independent): https://kyivindependent.com/russia-has-damaged-destroyed-over-2-300-medical-infrastructure-facilities-since-beginning-of-full-scale-invasion-health-ministry-says/ [https://kyivindependent.com/russia-has-damaged-destroyed-over-2-300-medical-infrastructure-facilities-since-beginning-of-full-scale-invasion-health-ministry-says/] SIGN UP TO THE NEW ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER: https://secure.telegraph.co.uk/customer/secure/newsletter/ukraine/  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. NOW AVAILABLE 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, or click the links below. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Day 1,169. Today, as – for the third day running – Ukrainian drones sow chaos in the skies above Moscow, we analyse the final preparations for Putin’s Victory Day parade, and discuss President Biden’s first interview since leaving office, hours after Friedrich Merz finally became Chancellor of Germany at a pivotal moment in modern European history. Contributors: Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X. Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X James Kilner (Editor of The Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin and The Russia Morning Memo). @jkjourno on X Content Referenced: James Kilner’s Bulletins - The Russian Memo: https://www.thememo.news/ [https://www.thememo.news/] The Central Asia and South Caucasus Bulletin: https://www.thememo.news/ [https://www.thememo.news/]  Battle Lines episode on India-Pakistan fears: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/04/28/battle-lines-global-rearmament-india-pakistan-kashmir/ [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/04/28/battle-lines-global-rearmament-india-pakistan-kashmir/]  Interview with Biden Advisor Mike Carpenter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2DeReNhsKg [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2DeReNhsKg]  Biden: Trump is appeasing Putin, that’s not who we are (The Telegraph): https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/05/07/biden-trump-is-appeasing-putin-that-is-not-who-we-are/ [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/05/07/biden-trump-is-appeasing-putin-that-is-not-who-we-are/]  Merz becomes chancellor of ‘unstable’ Germany after first vote humiliation (The Telegraph): https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/05/06/merz-unexpectedly-fails-not-elected-as-german-chancellor/ [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/05/06/merz-unexpectedly-fails-not-elected-as-german-chancellor/]  Europe vows to halt all Russian gas imports (The Telegraph): https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/05/07/europe-vows-to-halt-all-russian-gas-imports/ [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/05/07/europe-vows-to-halt-all-russian-gas-imports/]  What If America Abandons Ukraine? (Foreign Affairs): https://www.foreignaffairs.com/ukraine/what-if-america-abandons-ukraine [https://www.foreignaffairs.com/ukraine/what-if-america-abandons-ukraine] SIGN UP TO THE NEW ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER: https://secure.telegraph.co.uk/customer/secure/newsletter/ukraine/  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. NOW AVAILABLE 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, or click the links below. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Day 1,168. Today, as Friedrich Merz suffers a “humiliating and unexpected setback” on his way to becoming German Chancellor, we report how the Kremlin is preparing for Friday’s Victory Day parade, all while nervously watching the skies for Ukrainian drones, after two successive nights of attacks on Moscow. Contributors: Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X. With thanks to Ash Bhardwaj, an award-winning journalist, broadcaster, and author, who specialises in blending defence, security and travel. SIGN UP TO THE NEW ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER: https://secure.telegraph.co.uk/customer/secure/newsletter/ukraine/  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: Video Special of Ukraine: The Latest Answering Your Questions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9szTxRfF7TU [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9szTxRfF7TU]  'Taras' Film Screening with Dom Nicholls on Wednesday: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/bloomsbury-theatre/events/2025/may/ua-x-ucl-taras-film-screening [https://www.ucl.ac.uk/bloomsbury-theatre/events/2025/may/ua-x-ucl-taras-film-screening]  Edgelands: Stories from the Russian border (Ash Bhardwaj’s Telegraph Podcast): https://www.telegraph.co.uk/edgelands/ [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/edgelands/]  Ash’s Event in London on Thursday: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/how-travel-builds-purpose-resilience-and-emotional-fitness-tickets-1321565882129?aff=oddtdtcreator [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/how-travel-builds-purpose-resilience-and-emotional-fitness-tickets-1321565882129?aff=oddtdtcreator]  Starmer prepares for attack by Russia (The Telegraph): https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/05/05/starmer-prepares-for-attack-by-russia/ [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/05/05/starmer-prepares-for-attack-by-russia/]  Russia used thermobaric weapons in drone strike on Kharkiv, Ukrainian prosecutors say (Kyiv Independent): https://kyivindependent.com/russia-used-thermobaric-weapons-in-drone-strike-on-kharkiv-ukrainian-prosecutors-say/?mc_cid=fa397ac35b&mc_eid=08d0680a95 [https://kyivindependent.com/russia-used-thermobaric-weapons-in-drone-strike-on-kharkiv-ukrainian-prosecutors-say/?mc_cid=fa397ac35b&mc_eid=08d0680a95] NOW AVAILABLE 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, or click the links below. Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest [http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest] Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Today, on a public holiday in the UK, we answer questions submitted by listeners around the world. What's it like being shot at in a tank? What would happen in the US suddenly stopped supporting Ukraine? Why do missiles do more damage in Ukraine than in Israel? What could give the 'Coalition of the Willing' more bite? And is 2025 the year Russian economy finally collapses? Plus many more. See Dom, Francis and Adélie in our studio by watching this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/9szTxRfF7TU SIGN UP TO THE NEW ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER: https://secure.telegraph.co.uk/customer/secure/newsletter/ukraine/ [https://secure.telegraph.co.uk/customer/secure/newsletter/ukraine/]  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 to The Telegraph. Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest [http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest] Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.