Ukraine: The Latest

Day 1,565.As Russian forces reportedly withdraw from part of the southern Ukrainian frontline amid mounting supply problems, Francis and Dom examine claims that logistics networks in the sector are approaching breaking point. Dom reports on a huge explosion in Russia’s Belgorod region and a car bomb in Moscow Oblast, as the war’s effects continue to be felt far beyond the battlefield. Then they assess the EU’s proposed 21st sanctions package, including plans to ban Russian military personnel from entering the bloc, and consider what a two-tier Europe – allowing some countries affiliate membership without full participation in all EU structures – would mean. Later, Ruben Stewart of the International Institute for Strategic Studies explores what a war between NATO and Russia might look like if the US were to withdraw from the alliance.Contributors:Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.With thanks to Ruben Stewart, Senior Fellow for Land Warfare at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.Producer: Phil AtkinsSenior Producer: Lilian FawcettVideo Producer: James EnglandSocial Producer: Tom SteedStudio Director: Meghan SearleExecutive Editor: Francis DearnleyCreated by David KnowlesNOW IN FULL VIDEO WITH MAPS & BATTLEFIELD FOOTAGE:Every episode is now available on our YouTube channel shortly after the release of the audio version. You will find it here: https://www.youtube.com/@UkraineTheLatest  CONTENT REFERENCED:Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, June 8, 2026 (Institute for the Study of War)https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-june-8-2026/The Ukrainian weapons boom catching Putin off guard (Verity Bowman for The Telegraph)https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/06/09/ukrainian-weapons-boom-catching-putin-off-guard/ Zelensky invites King to Ukraine for state visit (Ruby Cline for The Telegraph)https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/06/09/ukrainian-president-zelensky-state-visit-king-charles/ Read the Irish Times’ coverage of the Aughinish Alumina story: https://www.irishtimes.com/tags/aughinish-alumina/ Berlin declares Franco-German fighter jet project dead in blow to Macron (Politico)https://www.politico.eu/article/berlin-declares-france-germany-next-gen-fighter-jet-project-dead/ Prosecute Orbán’s inner circle over ‘stolen’ billions, Hungary’s anti-corruption watchdog says (Politico)https://www.politico.eu/article/hungary-watchdog-urges-probe-viktor-orban-officials-over-missing-eu-funds/ EU quota system ‘could kill Ukrainian steel industry’, boss says (The Guardian)https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jun/09/eu-quota-ukrainian-steel-industry-metinvest Ukrainian Drones Now Autonomously Down Shaheds (Kyiv Post)https://www.kyivpost.com/post/77764 EMAIL US:Contact the team on ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many on air and in our newsletter as possible.HIGHLIGHTS:Putin's troops abandon positions as supply lines 'at breaking point' Russian commander 'assassinated by car bomb'

Day 1,564.After Vladimir Putin rejects President Zelensky’s offer in his letter last week of face to face talks, claiming he doesn’t need a ceasefire as he’s on the verge of victory – plot spoiler, he does and he isn’t – the political momentum in support of Kyiv continues, with the leaders of Ukraine, France and Germany in London for talks hosted by Britain’s Prime Minister. Then Putin suffers another blow with a victory for the west-leaning incumbent leader in Armenia’s election and there are more attacks on Putin’s home city of St Petersburg, his beloved Sochi, and on one of the main bridges to Crimea.Contributors:Dom Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.Producer: Rachel PorterSenior Producer: Lilian FawcettVideo Producer: James EnglandSocial Producer: Tom SteedStudio Director: Meghan SearleExecutive Editor: Francis DearnleyCreated by David KnowlesNOW IN FULL VIDEO WITH MAPS & BATTLEFIELD FOOTAGE:Every episode is now available on our YouTube channel shortly after the release of the audio version. You will find it here: https://www.youtube.com/@UkraineTheLatest  EMAIL US:Contact the team on ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many on air and in our newsletter as possible.HIGHLIGHTS:Ukraine strikes Putin's hometown St Petersburg – againAnd blows up key bridge to occupied Crimea

Day 1,561.Today, Adelie and Dom look at how Ukraine continues embarrassing Russia during its three-day International Economic Forum, as Zelensky publishes an open letter to Vladimir Putin where he points out Russia’s weaknesses. He again asks the Russian president for a face-to-face meeting to bring the war to an end. As we record the episode, Putin is set to take the stage in St Petersburg. Then, we discuss China’s increasing involvement enabling the occupation in the occupied territories and how the Ukrainian resistance may have contributed to Ukraine’s successful mid-range campaign.Contributors:Adelie Pojzman-Pontay (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @adeliepjz on X.Dom Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.Dr Jade McGlynn (Occupied Territories Expert, King’s College London).Producer: Rachel PorterSenior Producer: Lilian FawcettVideo Producer: Max BowerSocial Producer: Katie InglisStudio Director: Meghan SearleExecutive Editor: Francis DearnleyCreated by David KnowlesNOW IN FULL VIDEO WITH MAPS & BATTLEFIELD FOOTAGE:Every episode is now available on our YouTube channel shortly after the release of the audio version. You will find it here: https://www.youtube.com/@UkraineTheLatest  CONTENT REFERENCED:Full text of Zelensky's open letter to Putinhttps://kyivindependent.com/full-text-of-zelenskys-open-letter-to-putin/'Just a show for Putin' — Inside the 2026 St. Petersburg Economic Forum (Kyiv Independent)https://kyivindependent.com/just-a-show-for-putin-inside-the-2026-st-petersburg-economic-forum/Russia is flooding Ukraine with fake migrant stories — and it's working (Kyiv Independent)https://kyivindependent.com/inside-the-campaign-behind-ukraines-migrant-influx-panic/EMAIL US:Contact the team on ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many on air and in our newsletter as possible.HIGHLIGHTS:'Fight for your existence,' Zelensky tells Putin in letter demanding face-to-face talksHow China is enabling the Russian regime in the occupied territories

Day 1,560.Today, Sweden impounds a Russian cargo ship allegedly exporting Ukrainian grain from occupied territories. Then, as images of the results of yesterday’s Ukrainian strikes in and around St Petersburg start to appear, Marco Rubio denies any knowledge at all of a US delegation at the nearby economic forum, just as said participants show that they really don’t like the press asking them questions one little bit. Dom reports how Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte has directly addressed Russian men, telling them that if they go to fight in Ukraine “you’ll be left to suffer in the mud and die”, and Lily looks at a tight vote in the US House of Representatives over Ukraine funding that managed, just, to get over the line. And later, we go hull down with Hamish de Bretton Gordon looking at his new book about tanks and ask: given the lessons we’re learning from Ukraine, is his book out of date already, or released just in the nick of time?Contributors: Dom Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.Lily Shanagher (Telegraph journalist). @lilyshanagher on X.With thanks to Hamish de Bretton-Gordon.Producer: Phil AtkinsSenior Producer: Lilian FawcettVideo Producer: Sophie O’SullivanSocial Producer: Katie InglisStudio Director: Meghan SearleExecutive Editor: Francis DearnleyCreated by David KnowlesNOW IN FULL VIDEO WITH MAPS & BATTLEFIELD FOOTAGE:Every episode is now available on our YouTube channel shortly after the release of the audio version. You will find it here: https://www.youtube.com/@UkraineTheLatest  CONTENT REFERENCED:Rebuilding U.S. Missile Inventory: A Multiyear Project (Centre for Strategic and International Studies)https://www.csis.org/analysis/rebuilding-us-missile-inventory-multiyear-project'Heavy attack' hits Zaporizhzhia Thermal Power Plant, IAEA says (Kyiv Independent)https://kyivindependent.com/heavy-attack-hits-zaporizhzhia-thermal-power-plant-serving-russian-occupied-nuclear-plant-iaea-says/ Peter Magyar interview with Allgemeine Zeitung (in German)https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/ausland/peter-magyar-im-interview-wo-orban-recht-hatte-accg-200892861.htmlHamish’s book Tank Command: How the Tank Changed the Face of Battle is out now:https://linktr.ee/TankCommandRussia considers working age of 12 to solve wartime jobs crisis (Antonia Langford for The Telegraph)https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/06/04/russia-considers-working-age-12-to-solve-wartime-job-crisis/Putin is under pressure as the Ukraine war finally comes to Moscow and St Petersburg (Hamish de Bretton-Gordon for The Telegraph)https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/06/04/putin-russia-st-petersburg-drone-strikes-moscow-casualties/ EMAIL US:Contact the team on ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many on air and in our newsletter as possible.HIGHLIGHTS:Sweden impounds a Russian cargo ship allegedly exporting Ukrainian grain from occupied territoriesUS delegation at ‘Putin’s Davos’ refuses to speak to journalists

Day 1,559.Today, smoke billows over St Petersburg after Ukraine hits an oil terminal and military facilities, embarrassing Putin on the opening day of his International Economic Forum. Ukraine continues its mid-range and long-range strike campaign as Russia’s economy is bailed out by oligarchs. Finally, we hear from one of our reporters who bravely attempted to train with the Royal Marines snipers and how their unit is adapting for the future of warfare. Contributors: Adelie Pojzman-Pontay (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @adeliepjz on X.Alex Nichol (Telegraph journalist).With thanks to the Telegraph’s deputy global security editor Arthur Scott-Geddes.Senior Producer: Lilian FawcettVideo Producer: Sophie O’SullivanSocial Producer: Katie InglisStudio Director: Meghan SearleExecutive Editor: Francis DearnleyCreated by David KnowlesNOW IN FULL VIDEO WITH MAPS & BATTLEFIELD FOOTAGE:Every episode is now available on our YouTube channel shortly after the release of the audio version. You will find it here: https://www.youtube.com/@UkraineTheLatest  CONTENT REFERENCED:US, NATO allies to launch scaled-back Baltic Sea drills (Reuters)https://www.reuters.com/world/us-nato-allies-launch-scaled-back-baltic-sea-drills-2026-06-02/ Russian weapons plant in flames after Ukrainian attack in Tambov Oblast (Kyiv Independent)https://kyivindependent.com/russian-weapons-plant-in-flames-after-ukrainian-attack-in-tambov-oblast/Future presence of US troops in Lithuania is 'under review,' says minister (Reuters)https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/future-presence-us-troops-lithuania-is-under-review-says-minister-2026-06-02/Ukraine’s Zelenskyy set to attend G7 summit in France (Politico)https://www.politico.eu/article/ukraine-volodymyr-zelenskyy-attend-g7-summit-france/ Billionaires have begun making voluntary contributions to the budget (Expert.ru)https://expert.ru/ekonomika/milliardery-nachali-perevodit-v-byudzhet-dobrovolnye-vznosyI learnt to be a Royal Marines sniper (Arthur Scott-Geddes for The Telegraph) https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/06/03/marine-sniper-training-arbroath/Dom’s interview with a Ukrainian sniper on hunting Russian tanks at night, PTSD and handling trauma: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3un6JguaOE The Royal Marines Charity https://rma-trmc.org/ EMAIL US:Contact the team on ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many on air and in our newsletter as possible.HIGHLIGHTS:Ukraine strikes St Petersburg on day one of ‘Putin’s Davos’What it’s like to train as a Royal Marines sniper

Day 1,558.Today, as more civilians across Ukraine are murdered by Russia in the latest mass aerial attack we look to the US for a response, given Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio last week that Russia planned only to strike Ukrainian "decision-making centers". We ask, again, when the United Nations is going to take a meaningful interest in the war, and look at the continuing diplomatic spat between Ukraine and Poland. And later, we examine possibly the most consequential election for Putin in years: this weekend’s contest in Armenia and a, perhaps surprising, intervention by Donald Trump.Contributors: Dom Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.Venetia Rainey (Telegraph journalist and host on Iran: The Latest). @venetiarainey on X.James Kilner (Russia Analyst). @Jkjourno on X.Producer: Phil AtkinsSenior Producer: Lilian FawcettVideo Producer: Sophie O’SullivanSocial Producer: Katie InglisStudio Director: Meghan SearleExecutive Editor: Francis DearnleyCreated by David KnowlesNOW IN FULL VIDEO WITH MAPS & BATTLEFIELD FOOTAGE:Every episode is now available on our YouTube channel shortly after the release of the audio version. You will find it here: https://www.youtube.com/@UkraineTheLatest  CONTENT REFERENCED:Listen to our sister podcast, Iran: The Latest: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/iran--the-latest/Read the Irish Times’ coverage of the Aughinish Alumina story: https://www.irishtimes.com/tags/aughinish-alumina/Magyar signals Ukraine reset ahead of expected talks with Zelenskyy next week (Politico)https://www.politico.eu/article/hungary-peter-magyar-ukraine-volodymyr-zelenskyy-upcoming-talks/Danish shipyard still servicing LNG tankers for Russia trade (Financial Times)https://www.ft.com/content/945c6085-e14a-4acb-8e41-3986e7486480?syn-25a6b1a6=1Russian Officer Accused of Bucha Atrocities Secures Candidate Slot for Parliament Elections (United 24 Media) https://united24media.com/world/russian-officer-accused-of-bucha-atrocities-secures-candidate-slot-for-parliament-elections-19382 EMAIL US:Contact the team on ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many on air and in our newsletter as possible.HIGHLIGHTS:'Loser' Putin rains missiles on Ukraine as Russia 'out of ideas' Zelensky warns Moscow there are ‘no safe roads’ in south and east

Day 1,557.Today, after a weekend that saw Russian ships hit by drones, hit by drones and hit by drones again, it ended with another Russian ship being seized by abseiling Frenchmen. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s “logistics lockdown” continued, leading to fuel rationing in Crimea and more Russian oil refineries self-sanctioning in very dramatic ways; no wonder Putin’s Finance Minister has said Russia’s spending on the war has gone two trillion rubles over budget.Contributors: Dom Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.Sophie O’Sullivan (Telegraph journalist).Adelie Pojzman-Pontay (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @adeliepjz on X.With thanks to Stergios-Aristoteles Mitoulis (Associate Professor of engineering at the Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction at UCL). @DrMitoulis on X.Producer: Rachel PorterSenior Producer: Lilian FawcettVideo Producer: Sophie O’SullivanSocial Producer: Gezim HilajStudio Director: Meghan SearleExecutive Editor: Francis DearnleyCreated by David KnowlesNOW IN FULL VIDEO WITH MAPS & BATTLEFIELD FOOTAGE:Every episode is now available on our YouTube channel shortly after the release of the audio version. You will find it here: https://www.youtube.com/@UkraineTheLatest  CONTENT REFERENCED:Russia overspends on Putin’s war in Ukraine by $28bn (The Financial Times)https://www.ft.com/content/93674b5c-06ea-4e49-a005-dc08e1091574?syn-25a6b1a6=1 Inside the schools preparing Ukrainian children for war (The Telegraph)https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/31/inside-the-schools-preparing-ukrainian-children-for-war/ For more information on Professor Mitoulis’s work, follow the links below:Bridge Ukraine: https://bridgeukraine.org/Meta Infrastructure: https://metainfrastructure.org/EMAIL US:Contact the team on ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many on air and in our newsletter as possible.HIGHLIGHTS:France seizes Russian shadow fleet tanker in mission Moscow calls ‘piracy’Ukrainian drones dominate skies over occupied cities

Day 1,554.Today, as Romania kicks Russian diplomats out of the country following a drone strike last night that has injured civilians in the eastern city of Galati, we ask, why is it so easy for Romania to name the perpetrator of such attacks when others still seek to avoid apportioning blame. We then look at reports Russia is continuing to be hit hard on the southern corridor, including now by drone-landed mines, followed by the second part of Francis’s special dispatch from the La Biannale art festival in Venice, today looking at the decision to permit the reopening of the Russian Pavilion and his encounter with Pussy Riot. And we finish with an audio dispatch from me, after my visit to a prisoner of war camp in western Ukraine. Contributors:Dom Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.With thanks to the soldiers, artists, and curators at the ‘Still Joy’ exhibition in Venice, and to Nadya Tolokonnikova of Pussy Riot.Producer: Rachel PorterSenior Producer: Lilian FawcettVideo Producer: Sophie O’SullivanSocial Producer: Tom SteedStudio Director: Meghan SearleExecutive Editor: Francis DearnleyCreated by David KnowlesAdditional thanks to Tom Steed and Natalia Makohon for dubbing.NOW IN FULL VIDEO WITH MAPS & BATTLEFIELD FOOTAGE:Every episode is now available on our YouTube channel shortly after the release of the audio version. You will find it here: https://www.youtube.com/@UkraineTheLatest  CONTENT REFERENCED:Dom’s full documentary interviewing POWs:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJwjbWheClk Francis’s first dispatch from Venice and La Biennale:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ay2UT-SeKDI Learn more about ‘Resistance Imprisoned’:https://www.ritschfisch.com/exhibition/resistance-imprisoned/ Learn more about the PinchukArtCentre’s exhibition ‘Still Joy’ (running until 1st August):https://pinchukartcentre.org/en/exhibitions/still-joy-from-ukraine-into-the-world-biennale-arte-2026 Russian drone hits Romanian apartment block in ‘grave escalation’ (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/29/russia-ukraine-war-drone-strikes-romanian-apartment-nato/ EMAIL US:Contact the team on ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk . We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many on air and in our newsletter as possible.HIGHLIGHTS:Putin strikes NATO: Romania hit in 'major escalation'Dom Nicholls interviews ‘brainwashed’ Russian PoWs

Day 1,554.Today, as a senior intelligence chief cites a considerably higher figure of Russian deaths than has previously been cited, there are a raft of announcements from Ukraine’s allies that will see new fighter jets and Patriot missiles available to Kyiv, as the country suffers a new wave of strikes. Then – in a special dispatch – Francis takes you to Venice for our first film looking at the decision of the La Biannale art festival to permit the reopening of the Russian Pavilion, and exploring the work of Ukrainian artists in wartime.Contributors:Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.With thanks to the soldiers, artists, and curators at the ‘Still Joy’ exhibition in Venice. Additional thanks to Sophie O’Sullivan for video production, Phil Atkins for audio production and to Tom Steed and Natalia Makohon for dubbing.NOW IN FULL VIDEO WITH MAPS & BATTLEFIELD FOOTAGE:Every episode is now available on our YouTube channel shortly after the release of the audio version. You will find it here: https://www.youtube.com/@UkraineTheLatest  CONTENT REFERENCED:Learn more about the PinchukArtCentre’s exhibition ‘Still Joy’ at La Biennale (running until 1st August):https://pinchukartcentre.org/en/exhibitions/still-joy-from-ukraine-into-the-world-biennale-arte-2026 Britain and Poland to manufacture missile under new military pact (The Telegraph)https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/27/britain-poland-manufacture-missile-under-new-military-pact/Putin arms Russian banks to combat Ukrainian drone attacks (The Telegraph)https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/05/27/putin-arms-russian-banks-to-combat-ukrainian-drone-attacks/ GCHQ puts AI in charge of stopping cyber attacks (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/05/27/gchq-ai-stopping-cyber-attacks-keast-butler-humans-threat/ Europe should not negotiate Ukraine peace, insists Norway (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/28/europe-should-not-negotiate-ukraine-peace-insists-norway/ Exclusive: How US ambassador's preplanned trip caused a diplomatic scandal in Kyiv and Brussels (Kyiv Independent):https://kyivindependent.com/exclusive-how-us-ambassadors-preplanned-trip-caused-a-diplomatic-scandal-in-kyiv-and-brussels/EMAIL US:Contact the team on ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk . We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many on air and in our newsletter as possible.HIGHLIGHTS:'500,000 Russians killed in Ukraine,' says UK spy chiefSweden pledges new fighter jets in 'historic' deal