Ukraine: The Latest

Latest Episodes:

Trump 'humiliates' Pentagon over Ukraine weapons u-turn & Putin’s minister 'found dead' after firing Jul 08, 2025

Show notes

Day 1,231.

Today, we report on the sudden death of Russia’s former transport minister within hours of his sacking by Vladimir Putin. Then we examine Donald Trump’s pledge to resume weapons deliveries to Ukraine and look ahead to President Macron’s visit to the UK. Finally, we hear an updated figure of the number of children kidnapped by Russia, and discuss their fate if the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab closes this autumn amid its funding being pulled.

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.

Nathaniel Raymond (Lecturer & Executive Director Humanitarian Research Lab at Yale School of Public Health) @nattyray11 on X.

Content Referenced:

‘Help the Humanitarian Research Lab Keep Finding Ukraine’s Abducted Children ’:

https://medicine.yale.edu/lab/khoshnood/give-now/

Fired Russian minister ‘kills himself’ (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/07/07/russian-minister-found-dead-after-being-sacked-by-putin/

Trump U-turns on sending weapons to Ukraine (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/07/08/donald-trump-us-sends-weapons-ukraine/

Russian airlines face $254 million losses from just 2 days of Ukrainian drone strikes, Kremlin media reports (Kyiv Independent):

https://kyivindependent.com/drone-disruptions-reportedly-cost-russian-airlines-254-million-exposing-economic-pressure-from-ukraines-campaign-06-2025/

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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. Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatest

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Mystery blasts cripple Russian fleets in port & Putin to unleash '1,000 missiles and drones a day' on Ukraine Jul 07, 2025

Show notes

Day 1,230.

Today, as Ukraine was hit over the weekend in Kharkiv, Kherson, Kramatorsk and Kostiantynivka, and Ukraine attacked Russia’s airfields and fleets, we discuss the positive phone call between Trump and Zelensky, and dive into political fractures in Ukraine. Then we speak with Sam Cook about his foundation and the role of history in wartime.

Contributors:

Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjz on X.

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

Sam Cooke (Founder, Borderlands Foundation). @SamuelPNCook on X.

Content Referenced:

Learn More about the Borderlands Foundation:

https://borderlands-foundation.org/

Link to The Ukraine Freedom Summit:

https://ukrainefreedomsummit.org/

Ukraine’s political infighting gets nasty (The Economist):

https://www.economist.com/europe/2025/07/06/ukraines-political-infighting-gets-nasty

Mark Rutte interview in The New York Times:

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/05/magazine/mark-rutte-interview.html

93rd Brigade Post:

https://x.com/93OMBr1/status/1941134571619393548

Putin's choice of a long war in Ukraine (Le Monde)

https://www.lemonde.fr/en/opinion/article/2025/07/07/putin-s-choice-of-a-long-war-in-ukraine_6743095_23.html

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Massive attack hits Kyiv as Putin tells Trump diplomacy is 'not possible' Jul 04, 2025

Show notes

Day 1,227.

Today, as Putin and Trump hung up the phones after an hour-long conversation yesterday, Kyiv headed to the shelters for another massive drone and missile attack and a long, sleepless night. This morning, Russia declared that it is ‘not possible’ to achieve their goals through diplomatic means after the phone call. We discuss all these stories, then hear from Dr Jade McGlynn for the latest on resistance in the occupied territories, and talk to a British band who chose to perform in Kyiv.

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 Hardwicke Circus.

Content Referenced:

Learn more about the band Hardwicke Circus:

https://www.facebook.com/hardwickecircus/?locale=en_GB

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Spectacular explosion 'wipes out' Russian ammo dump & on patrol with Ukraine's Black Sea fleet Jul 03, 2025

Show notes

Day 1,226.

Today, as the fallout from Donald Trump freezing US weapons to Ukraine continues, in a special dispatch, we join the Ukrainian navy out on the Black Sea during an air attack on Odesa. Then we speak to the creator of Wargame – the new podcast simulating an attack by Russia on British soil, and hear what lessons it offers countries across the Western world.

Contributors:

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

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

With thanks to our guest Deborah Haynes (Security and Defence Editor at Sky News). @haynesdeborah on X.

Content Referenced:

Our Black Sea Video Dispatch:

YouTube Version -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2YjuuQz414

Telegraph Version - https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/07/03/russia-attacks-cargo-ships-ports-black-sea-ukraine-war/

The Wargame - Sky News and Tortoise Media podcast simulates a Russian attack on UK:

https://news.sky.com/story/the-wargame-new-sky-news-and-tortoise-media-podcast-series-simulates-a-russian-attack-on-uk-13371462

North Korea is sending Putin 30,000 more troops, Kyiv says (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/07/03/north-korea-russia-troops-ukraine/

Trump Is Playing a Cynical Game With Ukraine (Jake Sullivan in The New York Times):

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/02/opinion/trump-ukraine-weapons.html

Ukraine Can Still Win (Michael Carpenter in Foreign Affairs):

https://www.foreignaffairs.com/ukraine/ukraine-can-still-win

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Pentagon freezes precision weapons and air defence shipment to Ukraine & interview with a former Kremlin propagandist Jul 02, 2025

Show notes

Day 1,225.

Today, as Donald Trump’s administration decides to halt shipments of certain air defence missiles bound for Ukraine, we assess the ramifications for trust in the United States, before hearing the latest domestic stories being reported inside Russia, and speak to a former Kremlin propagandist.

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 our guest Andrew Ryvkin.

Content Referenced:

Gig in Kyiv by British Band Hardwicke Circus: https://www.mezzanine.kyiv.ua/afisha/hardwicke-circus

Join us at Scarborough Fair in Northern England on 9th July:

https://scarboroughfair.uk/events/putins-folly-the-war-in-ukraine-three-years-on/

That Time I Was a Russian Propagandist (Andrew in The Atlantic):

https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2024/09/russian-propaganda-putin-ukraine-invasion/680021/

Pentagon halting some promised munitions for Ukraine (POLITICO):

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/07/01/pentagon-munitions-ukraine

In June 2025, Ukraine increased electricity exports by 2.5 times (ExPro):

https://expro.com.ua/en/tidings/in-june-2025-ukraine-increased-electricity-exports-by-25-times-

Germany still weighing Taurus missile supply to Ukraine, Merz says (Kyiv Independent):

https://kyivindependent.com/germany-still-weighing-taurus-missile-supply-to-ukraine-merz-says/

Learn more about the documentary ‘Kherson: Human Safari’:

https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-society/4008998-american-journalist-documents-wartime-reality-in-kherson-human-safari.html

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‘Surgical’ deep strikes destroy Russian assets in occupied Crimea & 'game-changing' anti-drone rifle rounds created Jul 01, 2025

Show notes

Day 1,224.

Today, after enduring weeks of drone and missile strikes, Kyiv hits back in a long-range attack on a factory deep inside Russia and on a site in occupied Crimea. Plus, we examine Moscow’s latest attempt to shift Donald Trump’s focus away from ceasefire demands and, later, Francis talks to an investigator for the Eyes on Russia project which works to expose human rights violations and threats to democracy through open source investigations and research.

Contributors:

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

Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjz on X.

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

With thanks to Joshua Scriven, an investigator for the Eyes on Russia project at the Centre for Information Resilience (@Cen4infoRes on X).

Content Referenced:

Learn more about the Centre for Information Resilience:

Website - https://www.info-res.org/

X - https://x.com/Cen4infoRes

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/centre-for-information-resilience/posts/?feedView=all

Learn more about BRAVE1:

https://brave1.gov.ua/en/

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

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Russian attack helicopters and fighter jets 'obliterated' amid largest combined strikes of war so far Jun 30, 2025

Show notes

Day 1,223.

Today, after Ukraine claims to have destroyed a litany of Russian aircraft, we discuss war crimes described on Russia state television committed against snipers, and a remarkable story about how Moscow is reportedly using nuns as spies to spread propaganda.

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.

Content Referenced:

Russia ‘using nuns as spies to spread propaganda’ (James Rothwell in The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/06/21/russia-using-nuns-as-spies-to-spread-propaganda/

Germany’s crisis-hit car industry is the key to its rearmament (James Rothwell in The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/06/22/germany-car-industry-key-rearmament/

Inside Ukraine’s occupied territory where thousands of Russians are moving in (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/03/31/inside-occupied-ukraine-territory-russia-war-berdiansk/

'Mariupol is diseased': Residents deny Russian claims occupied city returning to normal (BBC):

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq6912mqp1go

I lost half my weight in jail, but I'm not broken, says freed Belarus opposition leader (BBC):

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czey1y6x6zzo

Poland to boost howitzer shell output in face of Russian threat (Financial Times):

https://www.ft.com/content/425d4fab-6405-4bd8-b4a1-d6ec6a016f83

Ukraine is inching towards robot-on-robot fighting (The Economist):

www.economist.com/europe/2025/06/26/ukraine-is-inching-towards-robot-on-robot-fighting

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Ukraine ‘pins down’ 50,000 Russian troops as Putin’s spring offensive fails Jun 27, 2025

Show notes

Day 1,220.

Today, as the US Ambassador to Russia leaves Moscow, we look at the latest attacks on Ukraine from land and air, and hear how the war is perceived on the other side of the world: in New Zealand.

Contributors:

Roland Oliphant (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @RolandOliphant on X.

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

With thanks to Tenby Powell (founder of the NGO Kiwi K.A.R.E). @tenbypowell on X.

Content Referenced:

Learn more about Kiwi K.A.R.E:

https://www.kiwikareukraine.co.nz/

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

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Ukraine hunts Russian drone pilots in successful new tactic & Europe to shield itself from Putin with millions of landmines Jun 26, 2025

Show notes

Day 1,219.

Today, after what some are calling a ‘triumphant’ NATO summit in the Hague, we assess the pledges made by President Donald Trump, and ask whether it was a historic achievement by Secretary General Mark Rutte. Then we do deeper dives into Ukraine’s military and strategic innovations, and the threat posed by Russia on Europe’s eastern flank, with dispatches from Lithuania and Latvia.

Contributors:

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

David Blair (Chief Foreign Correspondent). @davidblairdt on X.

Roland Oliphant (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @RolandOliphant on X.

With thanks to Baiba Braže (Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs). @Braze_Baiba on X.

Content Referenced:

Why calling Trump Daddy got Nato what they wanted (David Blair in The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/06/25/how-nato-conquered-trump/

Europe is building a new ‘Iron Curtain’– with millions of landmines (David Blair in The Telegraph): https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/06/24/lithuania-iron-curtain-landmines-europe/

An Interview With Andriy Zagorodnyuk (Professor Phillips O’Brian’s Substack):

https://open.substack.com/pub/phillipspobrien/p/an-interview-with-andriy-zagorodnyuk?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

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'Daddy has to use tough language' - NATO chief woos Trump after Israel-Iran ceasefire Jun 25, 2025

Show notes

Day 1,218.

Today, we look at the second day of the NATO summit in The Hague, including Mark Rutte’s leaked message to President Donald Trump, and President Zelensky’s upcoming meeting with the US president. We also hear about why young women are choosing to leave Ukraine “in droves” to study abroad, and what that means for the future of Ukraine. And finally we discuss a documentary series about Ukrainian veterans.

Contributors:

Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjz on X.

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

Garbiella Jozwiak. (Freelance Reporter).

With thanks to Alexandra Kutas.

Content Referenced:

Telegraph Live Blog on NATO Summit:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/06/25/nato-summit-trump-ukraine-war-zelensky-starmer/

Nato softens stance on Russia (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/06/25/leaked-statement-nato-softens-on-russia/

Ukraine has a problem no one is talking about – young women are leaving in droves (Gabriella in The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/women-and-girls/ukraine-has-a-problem-no-one-is-talking-about-young-women/