Ukraine: The Latest

Day 1,024.Today, amid renewed Russian bombardments across the entirety of Ukraine, we consider the impact of new weapons of war. Then, our first formal dispatch from the frontline city of Kharkiv.Contributors:Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X.Michael Bohnert (Engineer & Researcher, RAND Corporation). @mbohnert on X.With thanks to Oleh Synyehubov, Governor of Kharkiv Oblast.Articles Referenced:‘A brilliant journalist and brilliant human being’: David Knowles remembered with Public Service Awardhttps://pressgazette.co.uk/news/david-knowles-francis-dearnley-public-service-british-journalism-awards-2024/Russian spy ring ‘plotted to exploit small boats crisis to abduct journalist in UK’https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/12/10/russian-spy-ring-plotted-to-exploit-small-boats-crisis-to-a/Russian missile scientist ‘assassinated by Ukrainian special forces’https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/12/12/russian-cruise-missiles-designer-assassinated-by-ukraine/Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

Day 1,023.Today, as Russian forces seek to capitalise near Pokrovsk, we consider the reasons for a drop in Russian air strikes, and hear about an extraordinary case of alleged Kremlin spycraft.Contributors:Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X.James Kilner (Moscow Desk). @jkjourno on X.Hayley Dixon (Special Correspondent). @haylesdixon on X.Content Referenced:Russian spy ring leader described honeytrap agent as a ‘true sexy bitch’, court hearshttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/12/02/russian-spy-ring-leader-honeytrap-agent-sexy-bitch/Russia uses civilians as ‘target practice’ for killer drones https://www.ft.com/content/31b630b3-2639-456c-ba50-3caea7a9b2b5 Macron, Tusk to discuss deploying peacekeepers to Ukraine after ceasefirehttps://kyivindependent.com/macron-tusk-to-discuss-deploying-peacekeepers-to-ukraine-bloomberg/Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

Day 1,022.Today, Kyiv says it has enough money and weapons to resist Russia until mid-2025, and an interview with a rising star in President Zelensky's party.Contributors:Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Hamish de Bretton Gordon (Former Tank Commander). @HamishDBG on X.Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X.With special thanks to our guest Dmytro Natalukha @DmytroNatalukha on X.Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

Day 1,021.Today, we consider the huge ramifications for Russia of the loss of its naval bases and influence over Syria, and look once again to the subject of war crimes and the kidnapping of Ukrainian children.Contributors:Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X.Joe Barnes (Brussels Correspondent). @barnes_joe on X.Con Coughlin (Defence and Foreign Affairs Editor). Nathanial A Raymond (Executive Director of the Humanitarian Research Lab at the Yale School of Public Health). @nattyray11 on X.Content Referenced:Assad: The Triumph of Tyranny (by Con Coughlin):https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/con-coughlin/assad/9781529074925Russia’s Systematic Program of Coerced Adoption and Fostering of Ukraine’s Children (Yale Report) - https://hub.conflictobservatory.org/portal/apps/sites/#/home/pages/ukraine-russia-children-adoptionStolen Ukrainian children put up for adoption on websites funded by Putin (The Telegraph) - https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/12/03/stolen-ukrainian-children-forced-adoption-russia-putin/70% of Ukrainians support 'West German' model for NATO accession, survey shows (Kyiv Independent)https://kyivindependent.com/west-germany-survey/ Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

Day 1,020.Today, following historic, impromptu meetings at the reopening of Notre-Dame in Paris - including between President Zelensky and President-elect Trump - we dig into the significance of Bashar al Assad's fall for Russia and Ukraine. And we interview author Jacob Heilbrunn about why some on the political right are sometimes attracted to the easy answers that dictators provide.Contributors:Venetia Rainey (Co-host Battle Lines podcast). @venetiarainey on X.Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X.James Kilner (Foreign Correspondent). @jkjourno on X.With thanks to Jacob Heilbrunn (Editor, The National Interest). @JacobHeilbrunn on X.Content Referenced:How Russia is expanding its military foothold in Africahttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/12/03/russia-expands-military-presence-libya-pictures/Jacob Heilbrunn's book, 'America Last':https://wwnorton.com/books/9781324094661Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

Day 1,017.Today, as Kyiv forces launch a fresh assault in Kursk and capture Russian soldiers, we hear the mood in the combat zone of the Donbas, as Zelensky’s right-hand man Yermak tours Washington to speak to Trump’s team.Contributors:Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X.Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Tom Mutch (Freelance Journalist). @Tomthescribe on X.Ed Cumming (Senior Feature Writer). @edcumming on X.Content Referenced:Ukrainian special forces ‘capture 12 Russian soldiers’ in fresh Kursk advance (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/12/06/russia-ukraine-zelensky-putin-war-latest-news/Ukraine to open talks with Trump team on halting war (Wall Street Journal):https://www.wsj.com/world/ukraine-to-open-talks-with-trump-team-on-halting-warSubscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

Day 1,016.Today, as Odesa faces renewed attacks down on the coast, we lead with the downfall of a multi billion pound Russian money laundering system, and interview the front man of Ukraine's most famous and influential rock band, Okean Elzy.  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.With thanks to our special guest, Svyatoslav Vakarchuk of 'Okean Elzy'. @s_vakarchuk on X.Learn more about Slava's band, 'Okean Elzy':https://okeanelzy.com/en/https://www.softserveinc.com/en-us/news/softserve-and-okean-elzy-rock-band Content Referenced:Multi-billion pound Russian money laundering network exposed in international sting (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/12/04/russian-money-laundering-network-downfall/Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

Day 1,015.As the NATO Foreign Ministers meeting ends in Brussels with no invitation for Ukraine to join, we interview Andrei Yermak, adviser to President Zelensky.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.With thanks to our special guest, Andrei Yermak, adviser to President Zelensky.Content referenced:Video Version of the Interview with Yermak:https://youtu.be/CneThrXUHSISubscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

Day 1,014.Today, on its 30th anniversary, we look at the myopic approach to the Budapest Treaty and its far-reaching effects on present-day Ukraine, and we discuss the extraordinary events of recent days in Syria, with massive ramifications for Russia's influence in the region.Contributors:Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X.Hamish De Bretton-Gordon (Former British Army Tank Commander). @HamishDBG on XContent referenced:Ukraine ‘halts Russian attempt to cross river on eastern front’ (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/12/03/russia-ukraine-zelensky-putin-war-latest-news59/Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Budapest Memorandum (Ukrainian Government):https://mfa.gov.ua/en/news/zayava-mzs-ukrayini-z-nagodi-30-richchya-z-chasu-pidpisannya-budapeshtskogo-memorandumuVladimir Putin to reject Donald Trump’s opening peace offer, says Russian tycoon (FT)https://www.ft.com/content/ac39b604-ef6d-41cb-bb8c-0eb76e002176Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk