Ukraine: The Latest

Day 986.Today, as Moldova resists alleged Russian meddling in Sunday's presidential vote, we report on how Russia is arming drones with thermobaric 'lung-busting' warheads, according to a leading Forensic Research Institute.Contributors:Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Roland Oliphant (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @RolandOliphant on X.Content Referenced:Russia Deploys Deadly New Weapon in Drone Race With Ukraine (Newsweek)https://www.newsweek.com/russia-ukraine-drones-shahed-race-deadly-new-weapon-1979040Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

Day 983.Today, we discuss the North Korean general sent to lead troops in Ukraine, hear the latest from Georgia, and consider the impact of the First World War on Putin’s worldview, and how the treaty that ended the battles of the Eastern Front serves as a warning for today.Contributors:Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X.Venetia Rainey (Co-host Battle Lines podcast). @venetiarainey on X.Marika Mikiashvili (Analyst and Lecturer). @Mikiashvili_M on X. Dr Thomas Clausen (Historian and Analyst). @DrThomasClausen on X.Content Referenced:Our sister podcast Battle Lines, which Venetia co-hosts:https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/battle-lines/id1712903296Ukraine’s frontline is ‘crumbling’ against Russian advances, says general (The Telegraph)https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/10/30/ukraine-crumbling-russia-zelensky-victory-plan-kyiv/North Korea’s new ICBM missile records longest flight time yet (The Telegraph)https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/10/31/north-korea-new-icbm-missile-longest-flight-time/Close ally of Kim Jong-un is leader of North Korean troops in Russia, says Ukraine (The Telegraph)https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/10/31/kim-jong-un-vladimir-putin-ukraine-pyongyang-troops-gen-kim/South Korea weighs arming Ukraine after North Korean deployment (FT)https://www.ft.com/content/e7ca9021-1321-46c8-9b0c-2009a4c0dd50Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

Day 982.Today, further to updates on the front and in the political realms, we are joined by Danylo Mokryk, a war crime reporter, and Evan Williams, a multi-award winning producer and director, about their recent documentaries on the subject of war crimes. A warning: today's episode features graphic descriptions.Contributors:Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X.Danylo Mokryk (Investigative Journalist, The Kyiv Independent). @DMokryk on X.Evan Williams (Producer and Director). @evanwilliams_tv on X.Content Referenced:Danylo Mokryk's investigative documentary Shadows Across the River: https://kyivindependent.com/shadows-across-the-river/ Evan Williams's new film On The Cranes Call:https://thecranescallfilm.com/ Ukraine and Russia in talks about halting strikes on energy plants (Financial Times)https://www.ft.com/content/69a57022-aeed-4bfe-8ada-b2ccd38f162aHow Ukraine Can Defeat Russian Glide Bombs (RAND):https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2024/06/how-ukraine-can-defeat-russian-glide-bombs.html#:~:text=The%20most%20practical%20counter%20to,air%20capabilities%2C%20and%20electronic%20warfare.The new face of European illiberalism (Financial Times):https://www.ft.com/content/78f49467-1e2c-4c4f-9908-897ce8d5319dSubscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

Day 980.Today, we assess reports of Russian progress in Donetsk, hear live from Tbilisi as protestors crowd the streets following the weekend’s contested election, and hear from our correspondent who was on the ground at the BRICS summit in Russia.Contributors:Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X.James Rothwell (Berlin Correspondent). @JamesERothwell on X.James Kilner (Moscow Desk). @jkjourno on X.Nate Ostiller (Editor at OC Media). @NateOstiller on X.Content Referenced:More Ukrainian Defenses Fall as Russia’s Eastern Offensive Rolls On (Kyiv Post):https://www.kyivpost.com/post/41230US weapons can be fired at North Korean soldiers in Ukraine (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2024/10/28/us-weapons-fired-at-north-korean-soldiers-ukraine/‘Elite units’ and ‘cannon fodder’: North Korean troops enter Russia’s war in Ukraine (FT)https://www.ft.com/content/f908deed-7bc5-4e8c-b20f-02d935beaaafWatch: Burst pipe sprays filthy water over Moscow suburb (The Telegraph)https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/10/28/moscow-pipe-water-burst-video/Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

Day 979.Today, further to the latest military developments, we do a deep dive into the election in Georgia over the weekend, and what the result there means not only for the future of democracy in that country, but the potential ramifications for the West as a whole.Contributors:Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X.Roland Oliphant (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @RolandOliphant on X.With thanks to Kateryna Shenheliia-Hanapolska (The Moscow Times). @eshenheliia on X.Articles ReferencedGeorgia election ‘stolen by Putin’s puppet government’ (The Telegraph)https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/10/27/georgia-election-stolen-by-putins-puppet-government/They want to show no one can escape’: how the long arm of Russia is reaching out for Putin critics in exile (The Guardian)https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2024/oct/28/long-arm-russia-putin-critics-in-exile‘Modi can influence the end of war’: Zelensky (The Times of India):https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/modi-can-influence-the-end-of-war-zelenskyy/articleshow/114667946.cmsRussian economy overheating, but still powering the war against Ukraine (Washington Post):https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/10/27/russia-economy-overheating-inflation-interest-rates-war/Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

Day 976.Today, as Putin admits Russia is working with North Korea, we look at several investigations into Moscow’s interactions with terrorist groups, and consider the former Ukrainian prisoners released to fight on the front lines.Contributors:Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X.Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Francis Farrell (Report, The Kyiv Independent). @francisjfarrell on X.Content Referenced:Elon Musk’s Secret Conversations With Vladimir Putin (Wall Street Journal)https://www.wsj.com/world/russia/musk-putin-secret-conversations-37e1c187Russia Provided Targeting Data for Houthi Assault on Global Shipping (Wall Street Journal)https://www.wsj.com/world/russia-provided-targeting-data-for-houthi-assault-on-global-shipping-eabc2c2bMeet the Ukrainian prisoner soldiers entering the fray in the Battle of Donbas (Francis Farrell in the Kyiv Independent) https://kyivindependent.com/ukraines-convict-soldiers-prepare-to-fight-russia/Kyiv preparing internal plan to 'strengthen Ukraine,' Zelensky confirms (Kyiv Independent) https://kyivindependent.com/zelensky-internal-plan/Georgia election adverts point to horrors of Ukraine war (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/10/25/georgia-election-adverts-ukraine-war-georgian-dream-party/Putin admits holding talks with Kim Jong-un about deploying North Korean troops (The Telegraph)https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/10/24/vladimir-putin-talks-kim-jong-un-ukraine-north-korea-brics/British deputy ambassador clashes with Russian ‘journalists’ in Moscow (The Telegraph)https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/10/24/britain-deputy-ambassador-russia-journalists-spying/Assessing Russian Firepower Strikes in Ukraine (CSIS):https://www.csis.org/analysis/assessing-russian-firepower-strikes-ukraineSubscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

Day 975.Today, as Russia shifts its battlefield priority in the Donbas, we hear how Putin has proclaimed the start of a new “world order” as his allies rushed to sign up to a Kremlin-led economic club at a summit in Russia.Contributors:Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X.Roland Oliphant (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @RolandOliphant on X.Yuriy Boyechko, CEO and Founder of the humanitarian organisation Hope for Ukraine. @hopeforukraine on X.Learn more about Hope for Ukraine charity's work here:https://hfu.org/Article referenced:‘Thousands’ of North Korean troops to fight in Russia (Financial Times):https://www.ft.com/content/54431ddb-45b3-4199-a026-021d90e4dccdSubscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

Day 974.Today, we offer a broad strategic overview of the military situation, consider the new defence pact between Britain and Germany, and return to the BRICS summit in Russia, where the UN Secretary General arrives amid a storm of criticism.Contributors:Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X.Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Roland Oliphant (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @RolandOliphant on X.Articles Referenced:Ukraine Must Turn the Tide Before It Can Negotiate (Jack Watling in Foreign Affairs):https://www.foreignaffairs.com/ukraine/ukraine-must-turn-tide-it-can-negotiateGerman sub hunters to be based in Britain for first time over Russian threat (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/10/22/german-submarine-hunters-based-in-britain-russia-threat/Rheinmetall to make gun barrels in the UK as part of new defence pact (FT):https://www.ft.com/content/19199b16-1418-4a87-8774-689428008244?sharetype=blockedApple Complies With Russia, Removes Radio Liberty From App Store (Radio Liberty):https://www.rferl.org/a/apple-removal-russia-current-time-app-undesirable/33163824.htmlEven Ukraine’s fiercest soldiers want the war to stop (Roland in The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/10/20/ukraine-fatigue-war-donbas-russia-loss-of-hope-defeat/Russians accused of crimes offered choice - go to war instead of court (BBC)https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdrjrp7625moSubscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk