Ukraine: The Latest

Day 1,043.Today, we look at the likely military innovations and political events in the year to come. We also report on Russia's decisions to ban crypto-currency mining to preserve its energy grid and to charge nightclub attendees for trying to arouse interest in non-traditional relations. How portentous will 2025 be for Russia?Contributors:Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.Content referenced:'There is a question no one dares ask about Vladimir Putin' (Francis in The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/12/24/there-is-a-question-no-one-dares-ask-about-vladimir-putin/Russians ban carols and nativity scenes in occupied territories, Ukrainian resistance says (Ukrainian Pravda):https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2025/01/1/7491646/Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

Today, in a special short episode recorded in the frontline city of Kharkiv, Francis Dearnley interviews a woman who had to flee her home "the day the Russians came", and how life for her and her relatives has been changed forever.Recorded by Adélie Pojzman-Pontay and Jack Leather. Edited by James Shield.Video of Kharkiv Dispatch with Francis:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gi20lWX4FykDonate to David's charity:This Christmas, the Telegraph is honouring the life and work of our late colleague David Knowles by working with Humanity & Inclusion, a charity helping the ill, vulnerable and disabled left behind in Ukraine’s warzones. You can donate here:https://telegraph.ctdonate.org/ Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

Day 1,041Today, we report how Azerbaijan's President accuses Russia of trying to "hush up" Moscow's responsibility for the doomed jet and we hear about a new Fellowship in the name of Ukrainian writer and friend to the podcast, Victoria Amelina.Contributors:Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Dr Sasha Dovzhyk (Director of Index Ukraine). @sasha_weirdsley on X.Links:Victoria Amelina Fellowship:https://www.index-ukraine.org/news/victoria-amelina-fellowshipDonate to David's charity:This Christmas, the Telegraph is honouring the life and work of our late colleague David Knowles by working with Humanity & Inclusion, a charity helping the ill, vulnerable and disabled left behind in Ukraine’s warzones. You can donate here:https://telegraph.ctdonate.org/ Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

Day 1,038Today, we look at Russia’s Christmas day attack and the highly suspicious crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane, and we interview a former beautician based in Kharkiv, who decided to train as an explosive ordnance specialist after the war began.Contributors:Venetia Rainey (Co-host Battle Lines podcast). @venetiarainey on X.Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X.Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist & narrative podcast producer). @adeliepjz on X.With thanks to Olga Ferodova, Lyudmila our translator, and Humanity and Inclusion. @HI_UK on X.Humanity & Inclusion is one of four charities supported by this year’s Telegraph Christmas Charity Appeal. If you want to support Humanity & Inclusion, which works directly on the front lines with volunteers and those most vulnerable like Tetiana, please click here. There’s also lots more information about the charity and their work. To make a donation, please visit telegraph.co.uk/2024appeal or call 0151 317 5247.Donate to David's charity:This Christmas, the Telegraph is honouring the life and work of our late colleague David Knowles by working with Humanity & Inclusion, a charity helping the ill, vulnerable and disabled left behind in Ukraine’s warzones. You can donate here:https://telegraph.ctdonate.org/ Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

Today, in a special episode recorded before his death, David Knowles attends a football match in Ukraine, exploring how 'the beautiful game' has served as an anchor in a country at war. Produced by Rachel Porter.Donate to David's charity:This Christmas, the Telegraph is honouring the life and work of our late colleague David Knowles by working with Humanity & Inclusion, a charity helping the ill, vulnerable and disabled left behind in Ukraine’s warzones. You can donate here:https://telegraph.ctdonate.org/ Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

Day 1,034Today, in addition to military and political updates, we report speculations about potential offensives over the New Year period, and feature an interview we did in Kharkiv with a lady who lived under Russian occupation. Then, we end with music in David's memory.Contributors:Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X.Venetia Rainey (Co-host Battle Lines podcast). @venetiarainey on X.Video of Kharkiv Dispatch with Francis:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gi20lWX4FykDonate to David's charity:This Christmas, the Telegraph is honouring the life and work of our late colleague David Knowles by working with Humanity & Inclusion, a charity helping the ill, vulnerable and disabled left behind in Ukraine’s warzones. You can donate here:https://telegraph.ctdonate.org/ Learn more Portsmouth Cathedral Choir:https://www.portsmouthcathedral.org.uk/musicArticles Referenced:N. Korea preparing for additional troop deployment, suicide drone supply to Russia (Yonhap News Agency, South Korea):https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20241223002700315Ukraine’s All-Robot Assault Force Just Won Its First Battle (Forbes):https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2024/12/21/ukraines-first-all-robot-assault-force-just-won-its-first-battle/Trump to demand Nato nations spend 5pc of GDP on defence (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/12/20/donald-trump-nato-nations-demand-increase-defence-spends/Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

Day 1,031Today, as Kyiv comes under renewed intense bombardment, we speculate over a possible Russian advance in the South, and later, we interview a blind lawyer in Kharkiv.Contributors:Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X.Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor, Defence). @DomNicholls on X.With thanks to Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist & narrative podcast producer). @adeliepjz on X.Donate to David's charity:This Christmas, the Telegraph is honouring the life and work of our late colleague David Knowles by working with Humanity & Inclusion, a charity helping the ill, vulnerable and disabled left behind in Ukraine’s warzones. You can donate here:https://telegraph.ctdonate.org/ Francis's Article on the Kharkiv underground School, with photos and clips:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/christmas/2024/12/17/inside-kharkivs-underground-school-for-ukrainian-children/Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

Day : 1,030Today, as continued attacks on civilians in the Kherson area suggest Russia’s so-called 'human safari' is ongoing, we report on Putin’s annual press conference, where he said Russia had ‘reached all its goals’ in Syria. Then, our latest dispatch from the frontline city of Kharkiv.Contributors:Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor, Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X.Hamish de Bretton Gordon (Former Tank Commander). @HamishDBG on X.With thanks to our guests Luda and Ilia, and to Adélie Pojzman-Pontay.Donate to David's charity:This Christmas, the Telegraph is honouring the life and work of our late colleague David Knowles by working with Humanity & Inclusion, a charity helping the ill, vulnerable and disabled left behind in Ukraine’s warzones. You can donate here:https://telegraph.ctdonate.org/ Francis's Article on the Kharkiv underground School, with photos and clips:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/christmas/2024/12/17/inside-kharkivs-underground-school-for-ukrainian-children/Articles Referenced:Putin: Russia ‘getting closer’ to achieving goals in Ukraine (Telegraph Live Blog):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/12/19/putin-moscow-ukraine-zelensky/ Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

Day 1,029.Today, as the fallout from the assassination in Moscow of General Kirillov continues, we report on the environmental damage being wrought along Russia’s Black Sea coast following the loss of shadow-fleet tankers and examine the possible poisoning of the mother of Russian opposition activist Vladimir Kara-Murza.Contributors:Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.James Kilner (Foreign Correspondent). @jkjourno on X.Daniel Hardaker (Foreign Correspondent). @DanielHardaker4 on X.Donate to David's charity:This Christmas, the Telegraph is honouring the life and work of our late colleague David Knowles by working with Humanity & Inclusion, a charity helping the ill, vulnerable and disabled left behind in Ukraine’s warzones. You can donate here:https://telegraph.ctdonate.org/ Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk