Ukraine: The Latest

Latest Episodes:

Zelensky warns of ‘massive’ attack ahead of Sunday peace talks & rumours swirl of Ukraine-Russia energy ceasefire Jan 29, 2026

Show notes

Day 1,435.

Today, as President Zelensky warns that Russia is preparing “a new massive strike”, we examine growing speculation that an undeclared truce may be in place regarding strikes on energy infrastructure. We then turn to the Russian press, where a local war memorial in the Urals appears to have inadvertently revealed the true scale of Russian casualties, and an unlikely scandal involving a baker that has caused fresh embarrassment for Vladimir Putin. And finally, we report on the launch of a new blood bank aimed at alleviating Ukraine’s mounting medical crises.

Contributors

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

James Kilner (Foreign Correspondent). @jkjourno on X.

With thanks to Toby Illingworth (Founder & Head of Mission for Yashchenko Foundation). @tobyillingworth

SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:

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 Walking Blood Bank and the Yashchenko Foundation:

https://yashchenkofoundation.org/walking-blood-bank/

Putin abandons Syria base to court new Islamist leader (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/28/russia-abandons-syria-military-base/

Royal Navy forces Russian ship out of British waters (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/01/28/russian-ship-anchors-trans-atlantic-cables-bristol-channel/

Exclusive: Trump's top envoy negotiating Ukraine's fate displays 'shocking' lack of knowledge about war (Kyiv Independent):

https://kyivindependent.com/trumps-top-envoy-displays-shocking-lack-of-knowledge-about-war-politics/

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

Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

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Drones strike Ukrainian passenger train in ‘act of terrorism’ & Russia suffers more losses ‘than any major power since WW2’ Jan 28, 2026

Show notes

Day 1,434.

Today, as Russia kills five civilians in a drone attack targeting a passenger train in Ukraine, we report on how a senior European diplomat has said the world must call this what it is: terrorism. As President Zelensky urges all “decent people of the world” not to remain silent in the face of Russian war crimes, we examine a new US assessment which concludes that Russia has suffered more military losses than any major power in any conflict since the Second World War. We also ask whether the North Sea and Baltic Sea are now effectively closed to Russia’s shadow fleet following coordinated action by 14 European countries. Plus, we speak to colleagues at The Telegraph about why EU leaders’ long-held ambitions to turn the European Union into a genuine geopolitical power may, at last, be taken seriously.

Contributors

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Lily Shanagher (Foreign Reporter). @LilyShanagher on X.

Joe Barnes (Brussels Correspondent). @Barnes_Joe on X.

James Crisp (Europe Editor). @JamesCrisp6 on X.

SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:

http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter

CONTENT REFERENCED:

The growing risks to maritime safety (UK Government):

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-growing-risks-to-maritime-safety/the-growing-risks-to-maritime-safety

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UN):

https://www.un.org/depts/los/convention_agreements/texts/unclos/unclos_e.pdf

The plans to turn Europe into a new superpower (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/26/plans-turn-europe-new-superpower/

‘After Budapest and Minsk, Ukraine knows what empty guarantees look like’ (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/28/why-ukraine-cant-trust-another-ceasefire-with-putin/

Ukraine: We won’t accept meaningless security guarantees (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/27/ukraine-russia-security-guarantees-trump-nato/

EU-sanctioned oil tanker escorted to Morocco by Spanish rescue ship, merchant marine says (Reuters):

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/eu-sanctioned-oil-tanker-escorted-morocco-by-spanish-rescue-ship-merchant-marine-2026-01-27/

Russia’s Grinding War in Ukraine (CSIS):

https://www.csis.org/analysis/russias-grinding-war-ukraine

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Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

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Putin's negotiators ‘soften hardline stance in private’ & Trump links security guarantees to Zelensky ceding territory Jan 27, 2026

Show notes

Day 1,433.

Today, amid increased Russian military pressure in the Donbas, and as Ukraine faces what the NATO Secretary General calls its “harshest winter for a decade”, we bring you the latest from the Ukraine peace talks, where the United States is understood to be increasing pressure on President Zelensky’s government to concede territory to Russia before Washington grants any security guarantees. But is Moscow’s position under Vladimir Putin softer than it appears, as some allege? Then we discuss civilian resilience in Ukraine with an expert from Harvard University.

Contributors

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

With thanks to Dr Emma Mateo (Harvard University’s Ukrainian Research Institute). @emm_mateo on X.

SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:

http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter

CONTENT REFERENCED:

Learn more about Harvard’s Ukrainian Research Institute’s ‘Solidarity Within and Beyond Ukraine Conference this Friday and Saturday:

https://www.huri.harvard.edu/tcup-conference

France opposes EU plan to buy British Storm Shadows for Ukraine (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/26/france-opposes-eu-plan-to-buy-british-storm-shadows-ukraine/

Exclusive: Russian negotiators soften hardline stance in private, US officials say. Ukrainians urge caution (Kyiv Independent):

https://kyivindependent.com/kremlin-negotiators-drop-hardline-stance-behind-closed-doors-us-official-reveals

US links security guarantees for Ukraine to peace deal ceding territory (Financial Times):

https://www.ft.com/content/8ca0d4fd-fdfd-4aa3-a3a2-90be00d55b9d

NATO boss Rutte slaps down calls for European army prompted by Trump fears (Reuters):

https://www.reuters.com/world/nato-boss-rutte-slaps-down-calls-european-army-prompted-by-trump-fears-2026-01-26/

Commission approves second wave of SAFE defence funding for eight Member States (EU):

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_26_211

‘Bread and War: A Ukrainian Story of Food, Bravery and Hope’ by Felicity Spector:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bread-War-Ukrainian-Story-Bravery/dp/1914613783

LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST IN NEW LANGUAGES:

Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zelensky: US security guarantees ‘100% ready’ & Russian city hit with ‘most massive’ strike of the war Jan 26, 2026

Show notes

Day 1,432.

Today, as Kyiv endures sub-zero temperatures, we report on Russia’s latest mass aerial attack on the city, carried out even as trilateral so-called peace talks were taking place in Abu Dhabi over the weekend. We examine Steve Witkoff’s latest visit to Moscow – he has still yet to travel to Ukraine – and ask why Russia is now pushing the opaque “Alaska formula” in a bid to secure territory it has failed to seize by force. And later, Francis Dearnley and Hamish de Bretton-Gordon visit the British Army’s Land Warfare Centre, where the next generation of soldiers is learning the lessons of the war in Ukraine.

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.

With thanks to Colonel Thurston from the Land Warfare Centre.

SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:

http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter

CONTENT REFERENCED:

Learn more about the Land Warfare Centre:

https://www.army.mod.uk/learn-and-explore/about-the-army/formations-divisions-and-brigades/field-army-troops/land-warfare-centre/

LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST IN NEW LANGUAGES:

Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

US joins Russia and Ukraine in first trilateral talks of the war & Trump under fire for claiming NATO allies ‘avoided’ Afghanistan frontline Jan 23, 2026

Show notes

Day 1,429.

Today, as President Trump prompts further outrage with his claim NATO troops “avoided the frontline” in Afghanistan, we consider whether President Zelensky was right to call out Europe in his speech at Davos ahead of the first trilateral talks of the war. Then we ponder whether the Greenland saga can be put to bed, or if it’s truly indicative of a historic shift, before returning to the topic of resilience with the second half of our interview with former British army officer Ash Alexander-Cooper.

Contributors

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

With thanks to Ash Alexander-Cooper OBE (former British army officer and author). @ashalexcooper on X.

SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:

http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter

CONTENT REFERENCED:

Zelensky attacks ‘weak and indecisive’ European leaders (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/22/zelensky-attack-weak-indecisive-european-leaders/

Britain helps seize Russian oil tanker in Mediterranean (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/01/22/britain-helps-seize-russian-oil-tanker-mediterranean/

This was the moment EU leaders agreed Europe must go it alone (POLITICO):

https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-leaders-agree-independent-europe-summit-emmanuel-macron-friedrich-merz/

Exclusive: Trump's new Board of Peace could tackle Russia-Ukraine war, source says (Kyiv Independent):

https://kyivindependent.com/trump-launches-his-board-of-peace-ahead-of-meeting-with-zelensky

LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST IN NEW LANGUAGES:

Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zelensky launches attack on Europe's leaders & Trump predicts Ukraine war will end ‘soon’ Jan 22, 2026

Show notes

Day 1,428.

Today, as President Zelensky savages Europe’s leaders at Davos, especially for blocking the use of frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine, we assess President Trump’s apparent retreat from his threat of tariffs against NATO allies after agreeing what he called a “framework for a future deal” over Greenland. We hear reaction from the island itself, before speaking to the author of a new book on building mental resilience – an antidote to these stressful times.

Contributors

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Venetia Rainey (Co-host Battle Lines podcast). @venetiarainey on X.

James Rothwell (Berlin Correspondent). @JamesERothwell on X.

With thanks to Ash Alexander-Cooper OBE (former British army officer and author). @ashalexcooper on X.

SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:

http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter

CONTENT REFERENCED:

Learn more about the book ‘The Mindful Soldier’:

https://geni.us/MindfulSoldier

The Gurkha Welfare Trust:

https://www.gwt.org.uk/

Royal British Veterans Enterprise:

https://rbve.org.uk/

Trump meets Zelensky for Davos peace talks (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/22/trump-davos-greenland-board-of-peace/

Putin’s zombie missiles pose €80m dilemma for Ukraine (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/21/putin-zombie-missiles-80m-dilemma-kyiv/

Starmer’s national security chief warns Witkoff that Putin will not compromise (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/01/22/starmers-national-security-chief-witkoff-putin-compromise/

Rutte confronts Trump over dead Nato soldiers (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/22/rutte-confronts-trump-over-dead-nato-soldiers/

Ukraine Expands SAR Collaboration With Iceye (Satellite Today):

https://www.satellitetoday.com/imagery-and-sensing/2026/01/20/ukraine-expands-sar-collaboration-with-iceye/

Garda and army teams probe suspicious package found at Trump Doonbeg after visit by Eric Trump (The Journal):

https://www.thejournal.ie/suspicious-package-doonbeg-clare-donald-trump-6934044-Jan2026/?utm_source=twitter_short

LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST IN NEW LANGUAGES:

Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ukraine aims to kill 50,000 Russians per month & Trump row over Greenland derails postwar deal Jan 21, 2026

Show notes

Day 1,427.

Today, as Donald Trump heads to Davos with what he calls “good news” about Greenland, we examine prime minister of Canada Mark Carney’s extraordinary speech at Davos where he warned that we cannot “live within the lie of mutual benefit through integration when integration becomes the source of your subordination”. We also report on Moscow’s representative to the IAEA dismissing global concern over Russia’s strikes on Ukraine’s nuclear power plants as overblown. And later, we speak to our Kremlin watcher about what may come from Steve Witkoff’s meeting tomorrow in Moscow with Vladimir Putin.

Contributors

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Lily Shanagher (Foreign Reporter). @LilyShanagher on X.

James Kilner (Foreign Analyst). @jkjourno on X.

SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:

http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter

CONTENT REFERENCED:

Telegraph Live Blog of Davos:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2026/01/21/politics-latest-news-pmqs-chagos-china-embassy-keir-starmer/

Trump’s $1bn-a-ticket plan to replace the UN (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/21/trump-1bn-a-ticket-replace-un/

The limits of Trump’s Bazball diplomacy (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/20/donald-trump-bazball-diplomacy-analysis/

Save Ukraine Website:

https://www.saveukraineua.org/

LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST IN NEW LANGUAGES:

Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Russia 'risks meltdown' by targeting nuclear power plants & Trump leaks world leaders' texts Jan 20, 2026

Show notes

Day 1,426.

Today, as Moscow reportedly tests thermobaric munitions on ground-based drones, and strikes on substations connected to Ukrainian nuclear power plants continue, we turn to the World Economic Forum in Davos, where world leaders have gathered for what was meant to be a week of diplomatic breakthroughs for Kyiv. Instead, the agenda has been seized by President Trump and his threats over Greenland; we hear the latest from the island, before speaking to the author of a new report on Russian cyber warfare.

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.

With thanks to Michael McManus (Henry Jackson Society). @HJS_Org on X.

SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:

http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter

CONTENT REFERENCED:

Trump leaks texts, threatens Macron and trashes Starmer (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/20/trump-publishes-private-text-messages-european-leaders/

Denmark sends more troops to Greenland (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/20/donald-trump-chagos-deal-greenland-takeover-macron-nato0/

The Henry Jackson Society’s cyber report will be published here later today:

https://henryjacksonsociety.org/centre-for-russia-and-eurasia-studies/

Russians Made a Simplified Solntsepyok Using a Drone (Militarnyi):

https://militarnyi.com/en/news/russians-made-a-simplified-solntsepyok-using-a-drone/

The History Bureau: Putin and the Apartment Bombs (BBC):

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002q5dk

Trump’s Letter to Norway Should Be the Last Straw (Anne Applebaum in The Atlantic):

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/01/trump-letter-to-norway/685676/?gift=SCYx-5scVta3-cr_IlgTych2xLOYB0BDKFOlaP7EsG0

LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST IN NEW LANGUAGES:

Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trump hands Putin ‘the prize he’s always wanted’ over Greenland & Ukraine’s robot machine gunner ‘held off Russia for six weeks’ Jan 19, 2026

Show notes

Day 1,425.

Today, amid the gravest crisis for the transatlantic alliance in decades over the fate of Greenland, we examine the implications of Russia considering strikes on substations supplying Ukraine’s nuclear power plants. Then we assess the options available to NATO allies seeking to placate President Donald Trump, before hearing about a Ukrainian robot that supposedly held the line against Russian troops for 45 days, and offering an update on how Moscow is deploying Orthodox nuns as an instrument of hybrid warfare.

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.

Verity Bowman (Foreign Correspondent). @VerityBowman on X.

SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:

http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter

CONTENT REFERENCED:

Trump: Taking Greenland is revenge for losing Nobel Peace Prize (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/19/trump-taking-greenland-is-revenge-for-no-nobel-peace-prize/

Pro-Putin spy nuns infiltrating Sweden (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/18/pro-putin-spy-nuns-infiltrating-sweden/

James Rothwell’s Sweden Dispatch (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/15/sweden-trump-exaggerating-putin-threat-greenland-denmark/

Denmark ‘will shoot first and ask questions later’ over Greenland (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/07/denmark-usa-trump-shoot-first-ask-questions-later-greenland/

Ukraine’s robot machine gunner held off Russia for six weeks (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/16/ukraines-robot-machine-gunner-that-held-off-russia-weeks/

The Ukrainian billionaire whose battalion delivered a blow to Putin (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/17/ukrainian-billionaire-battalion-blow-putin/

‘America vs. the World’ (The Atlantic):

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/2026/03/trump-national-security-greenland-spheres-of-interest/685673/

LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST IN NEW LANGUAGES:

Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Europe overtakes US intelligence support for Kyiv & Trump ‘gifted’ a Nobel Peace Prize Jan 16, 2026

Show notes

Day 1,422.

Today, as Trump is finally gifted a Nobel Peace Prize – just not quite the one he wants – we hear how Germany has denied a Russian shadow-fleet tanker access to the Baltic Sea, and assess Emmanuel Macron’s claim that France is now supplying two-thirds of Ukraine’s strategic military intelligence, as he and Italy’s Giorgia Meloni suggest the time may be right to begin talks with Vladimir Putin again. Plus, we discuss the findings of a major new report on the occupied territories, and bring you the latest updates on acts of resistance in those regions.

Contributors

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Lily Shanagher (Foreign Reporter). @LilyShanagher on X.

Gareth Corfield (Transport Correspondent). @GazTheJourno on X.

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Dr. Jade McGlynn (War Studies Department of King's College). @DrJadeMcGlynn on X.

SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:

http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter

CONTENT REFERENCED:

Dr Jade McGlynn’s report on the Occupied Territories:

https://www.csis.org/analysis/thresholds-survival-resistance-occupied-ukraine

Exclusive: Rail union boss sang pro-Russia chants in occupied Ukraine (Gareth Corfield in The Telegraph):