Ukraine: The Latest

Day 1,196.Today, while fighting continues around the area of Pokrovsk, Ukraine claims yet another attack on crucial Russian infrastructure. This time, it is the Kerch Bridge, which connects Russia to Crimea that was hit with underwater explosives. Meanwhile, in Istanbul yesterday, the Russia and Ukrainian delegations continue to be at a deadlock, despite agreeing on an exchange of POWs.Contributors:Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjz on X.Roland Oliphant (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @RolandOliphant on X.Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Venetia Rainey (Co-host of 'Battle Lines'). @venetiarainey on X.David Blair (Chief Foreign Affairs Commentator). @davidblairdt on X.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:Explosion rocks Kerch Bridge to Crimeahttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/06/03/russia-ukraine-zelensky-putin-war-latest-news5291/Putin hands surrender terms to Ukrainehttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/06/02/putin-offers-ukraine-truce-surrenders-regime-change/Rachel Reeves threatens Roman Abramovich over frozen £2.35bn Chelsea sale funds https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2025/06/02/rachel-reeves-threatens-roman-abramovich-chelsea-sale-money/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/ukrainethelatestSubscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

Day 1,195.Today, after what some are calling the most successful special operation in modern history, we assess the strategic significance of Ukraine's strikes on Russia’s bomber fleet. We also discuss the Polish presidential elections and the Strategic Defence Review, coming out later today in the UK.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.Roland Oliphant (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @RolandOliphant on X.James Rothwell (Berlin Correspondent). @JamesERothwell on X.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:Ukrainian drones destroyed Putin’s bombers. A secret smuggling operation made it possiblehttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/06/01/ukraine-drones-russia-nuclear-bombers-olenya-belaya-bases/Right-winger Karol Nawrocki wins Polish presidential electionhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/06/01/liberal-mayor-narrowly-leads-poland-election-blow-trump/Britain’s new nuclear-powered attack submarines to ‘face down’ Russiahttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/06/01/britain-nuclear-powered-attack-submarines-face-down-russia/Starmer’s defence strategy in disarrayhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/06/01/starmer-3pc-defence-spending-pledge-in-disarray/Massive security breach: Russian nuclear facilities exposed onlinehttps://danwatch.dk/en/serious-security-breach-russian-nuclear-facilities-exposed/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/ukrainethelatestSubscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

Day 1,192.Today, while missiles and drones ran down on Ukraine, and especially on Kharkiv, Ukraine and its allies are still waiting for Russia’s memo on their terms for a potential ceasefire and peace talks next week in Istanbul. We also discuss the increase of electronic warfare on the battlefield and share an exclusive interview with former deputy assistant to the US president and senior director for European and Russian affairs on the U.S. National Security Council, Fiona Hill. Plus, Dom and Francis report from Ukraine.Contributors:Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjz on X.Hamish De Bretton-Gordon (Former British Army Tank Commander). @HamishDBG on XPlus Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley.With thanks to Fiona Hill (Former deputy assistant to the US president and senior director for European and Russian affairs on the U.S. National Security Council) and Cameron Henderson (US Reporter at the Telegraph). @CamHenderson98 on X.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:Fiona Hill: Trump is terrified of Putin, I’ve seen it first hand, The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/2025/05/25/fiona-hill-interview-trump-terrified-putin-seen-firsthand/Lessons of Ukraine: Properly equipped modern tanks will still rule the battlefield, The Telegraphhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/05/29/main-battle-tanks-ads-active-defence-ew-ukraine-drone-war/Moscow is now a target for Ukraine’s Western missileshttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/05/28/moscow-target-ukraine-missiles-kremlin-putin-merz-taurus/Ukraine Drone Carriers Launch First Long-Range Autonomous Strikeshttps://www.forbes.com/sites/davidhambling/2025/05/26/ukraine-drone-carriers-launch-first-long-range-autonomous-strikes/China Cut Drone Sales to West But Supplies Them to Russia, Ukraine Sayshttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-05-29/china-cut-drone-sales-to-west-but-supplies-them-to-russia-ukraine-saysNOW 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

Day 1,191.Today, Ukraine targets Moscow with drone attacks for the second consecutive days and strikes several industrial plants linked to the war effort in Russia. Meanwhile, Russia proposes a new round of peace talks in Istanbul on June 2nd. We discuss the memorandums that both Ukraine and Russia are drafting ahead of the meeting and whether we’ll see a change from Russia’s maximalist stance from earlier this month. And we look ahead to the Polish presidential elections on Sunday. Finally, Francis Dearnley sits down with Mykola Bielieskov of the National Institute for Strategic Studies. Contributors:Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjz on X.James Rothwell (Berlin Correspondent). @JamesERothwell on X.James Kilner (Former Russia Correspondent). @jkjourno on X.Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.With thanks to Mykola Bielieskov (Research Fellow at the National Institute for Strategic Studies). @MBielieskov on X.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:Exclusive: Putin's demands for peace include an end to NATO enlargement, sources say, Reutershttps://www.reuters.com/world/europe/putin-ukraine-peace-wants-pledge-halt-nato-enlargement-sources-say-2025-05-28/Germany and Ukraine reach deal for long-range weapons productionhttps://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/28/zelenskyy-merz-germany-ukraine-sumyOver half of Azov fighters returned to Ukraine, official says, Kyiv Independenthttps://kyivindependent.com/over-half-of-azov-fighters-returned-to-ukraine-official-says/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/ukrainethelatestSubscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

Day 1,190.Today, as Ukraine reels from yet another record drone bombardment, we look at warnings that Russia is massing 50,000 troops near Sumy ahead of a new offensive. Plus we bring you some of the top lines from Chancellor Friederich Merz’s press conference with Vlodomyr Zelensky, where he announced that Germany would help Ukraine build long-range missiles. We’ll also be hearing Dom’s interview with Estonia’s defence minister about Moscow’s shadow fleet and how to protect critical infrastructure from Russia. And Roland Oliphant reports from Armenia on the dilemma facing small former Soviet Union states in the midst of what some politicians there are describing as a geopolitical earthquake. Contributors:Venetia Rainey (Co-host Battle Lines podcast). @@venetiarainey on X.Joe Barnes (Brussels Correspondent). @@Barnes_Joe on X.Roland Oliphant (Chief Foreign Analyst). @RolandOliphant on X.Dom Nicholls (Associate Editor for Defence). @DomNicholls on X.With thanks to Hanno Pevkur (Minister of Defence of Estonia).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:Ukraine launches massive drone attack on Russiahttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/05/28/ukraine-launches-massive-drone-attack-on-russia/Ukraine War latest newshttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/05/28/russia-ukraine-zelensky-putin-war-latest-news529/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/ukrainethelatestSubscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

Day 1,189.Today, after Kyiv suffers some of the most intense bombardments of the war, we look at why more drones and ballistic missiles are piercing Ukrainian defences, and assess the significance of Donald Trump saying that Vladimir Putin has gone “absolutely crazy.” Plus we hear another interview from Dom’s trip to Estonia, and reflect on how the podcast began with Ukraine’s: The Latest’s original producer.Contributors:Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.Dom Nicholls (Associate Editor for Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Giles Gear (Audio Executive Editor). @GilesGear on LinkedIn.With thanks to Dr Jack Watling (Senior Research Fellow at Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies). @Jack_Watling on X.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:Russia Is Raining Hellfire On Ukraine (The Economist):https://www.economist.com/europe/2025/05/25/russia-is-raining-hellfire-on-ukraineSlammed by Russian missiles, Ukraine seeks more U.S. air defense systems (Washington Post):https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/05/26/ukraine-patriot-missiles-air-defense-raytheon/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/ukrainethelatestSubscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

Today is a public holiday here in the UK, and so we’re releasing a special episode on one of the great taboo subjects in the history of warfare: that of role of gender and sexual violence. Firstly, Adelie speaks with Sofi Oksanen, who just published the viral essay 'Same River, Twice, Putin’s War on Women'. She discusses how historic attitudes to gender in Russia impacted post-Soviet history. The second interview is with Tetiana Tymoshenko, a therapist who works with survivors of rape in Ukraine with the UNFPA. Listener discretion is especially advised for this episode.Contributors:Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Reporter and Producer). @adeliepjz on X.With thanks to Sofi Oksanen, @SofiOksanen on X.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:Conference: Thought and Truth under Pressurehttps://www.svenskaakademien.se/en/events/thought-and-truth-under-pressureSame River, Twice: Putin's War on Womenhttps://harpercollins.co.uk/products/same-river-twice-putins-war-on-women-sofi-oksanen?variant=53507032514939An online psychotherapy support platform for survivors of conflict-related violence Aurora operates in Ukraine, UNFPAhttps://ukraine.unfpa.org/en/aurora_engNOW 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/ukrainethelatestSubscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

Day 1,185.Today, as Ukraine closes Moscow’s airspace for the third night in a row we get our regular update about resistance activities in the occupied territories, report from a NATO exercise in Sweden and, for a little pick me up at the end of the week, you’ll hear what happened when Francis and Dom were introduced to strong Ukrainian coffee. Contributors:Dom Nicholls (Associate Editor for Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Dr. Jade McGlynn (War Studies Department of King's College). @DrJadeMcGlynn on X.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:Hear more about Venetia's trip on our sister podcast 'Battle Lines':https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/05/23/battle-lines-trump-edition-inside-trumps-new-star-wars-prog/Learn More about Vadym's Coffee:https://www.instagram.com/vadymgranovskiy/How Ukraine's best coffee maker joined the fight against Russia (GQ):https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/politics/article/coffee-man-of-ukraine-war-vadym-granovskiy  Joseph Nye obituary in The Telegraph:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2025/05/12/joseph-nye-foreign-policy-soft-power-washington-obama-bush/Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

Day 1,184.Today, as Moscow’s Airports are once again shut down by Ukrainian drones, we hear about Chechnan officers apparently assassinated in the occupied territories, as it’s revealed Trump told his European counterparts Putin does not want to end the war. Plus, we hear about the educational challenges faced by refugees, and the evolving nature of civil society in a country at war with the founder of one of Ukraine’s largest foundations. Contributors:Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.Dom Nicholls (Associate Editor for Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Poppy Wood (Education Editor). @poppyeh on X.With thanks to Serhiy Prytula, founder of the Serhiy Prytula Foundation. @serhiyprytula on X.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:Ukrainian children ‘forced’ to study Russian GCSE (Poppy and Francis’s story in The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/05/19/ukrainian-children-forced-study-russian-gcse-in-uk/ Special Episode interviewing Ukrainian children:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/special-childhood-at-war/id1612424182?i=1000704331753 Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/episode/3SjJ3cUVYiweoChHsvjL6b?si=wH_9X4gQRLyyvGjLfom_Ug Learn more about the Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation:https://prytulafoundation.org/en Trump Tells European Leaders in Private That Putin Isn’t Ready to End War (Wall Street Journal):https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/trump-putin-call-russia-ukraine-83a6ef59'We don't want this anymore' — Lavrov confirms Russia has no interest in ceasefire in Ukraine (Kyiv Independent):https://kyivindependent.com/we-dont-want-this-anymore-russia-rejects-a-ceasefire-in-ukraine-lavrov-says/ Ukrainian ex-politician shot dead while dropping daughter at Madrid school (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/05/21/ukrainian-father-shot-five-time-madrid/ Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk