Ukraine: The Latest

Day 1,049.Today, as Ukrainian forces continue to expand their lodgement inside Russia, we hear how a Ukrainian F-16 pilot shot down six Russian cruise missiles. We also have an interview with General The Lord Dannatt, former head of the British Army.Contributors:Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.With thanks to our guest General The Lord Dannatt, former head of the British Army.Episodes Referenced:David Knowles's 'Football in Wartime' Special:https://podcasts.apple.com/ee/podcast/football-in-wartime-with-david-knowles/id1612424182?i=1000681578909Interview with lady from occupied territories:https://podcasts.apple.com/ee/podcast/my-mother-in-law-remembers-stalingrad-this-war-is-worse/id1612424182?i=1000682245415Interview with beautician, now expert on ordnance (halfway through episode):https://podcasts.apple.com/ee/podcast/russia-shoots-down-passenger-jet-in-azerbaijan-putins/id1612424182?i=1000681865927Content Referenced:Sources of ISW’s cited geolocation of Ukrainian forces in Kursk Oblast:https://x.com/TuiteroMartin/status/1876291174476239032 ; https://x.com/moklasen/status/1876299075521519655; https://x.com/Map_Hargoo/status/1875993159869817022; https://t.me/motopatriot78/31123 ; https://t.me/rusich_army/19913Lord Dannatt's book on the Korean War is available for pre-order now:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Korea-War-Without-Richard-Dannatt/dp/1472869753Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

Day 1,048.Today, we discuss breaking news of a surprise counterattack in Kursk and its implications, consider how Kyiv is positioning itself before Trump's inauguration, and discuss the elections upcoming in Europe in 2025.Contributors:Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Hamish De Bretton-Gordon (Former British Army Tank Commander). @HamishDBG on XJames Rothwell (Berlin Correspondent). @JamesERothwell on X.Content referenced:Top Russian general betrays Putin’s worst fears as Ukraine attacks Kursk again (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/01/05/top-russian-general-betrays-putins-fears-ukraine-kursk/Zelensky's Interview with Lex Fridman:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u321m25rKXc Syrskyi orders to reinforce French-trained brigade with drones after reports of mismanagement (Kyiv Independent):https://kyivindependent.com/syrskyi-orders-to-reinforce-french-trained-brigade-with-drones-after-reports-of-mismanagement/?mc_cid=04ca756759&mc_eid=08d0680a95Russia trained officers for attacks on Japan and South Korea (Financial Times):https://www.ft.com/content/d345a6e7-2d72-4dcb-9c12-76d571ba75eb?shareType=nongiftTo learn more about the charity mentioned in today's episode, you can email: ukraine.supply@proton.meSubscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

Day 1,045.Today, after the latest updates from the battlefield, we hear about the cutting edge drones being used to wage war against Moscow's forces, and the moral conundrums they raise. Plus, we consider the state of the Russian economy as we enter 2025.Contributors:Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.Francis Farrell (Report, The Kyiv Independent). @francisjfarrell on X.Content referenced:‘We’re in the end game’: Why Kyiv’s blow to Russian gas threatens a European energy war (Matt Oliver in The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/01/03/why-ukraine-gas-pipeline-closure-moscow-biggest-defeat/Donald Trump will be no friend of the Kremlin (Ambrose Evans Pritchard in The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/01/03/the-biggest-threat-to-putins-regime-is-donald-trump/With Ukraine's ace drone unit hunting Russians (Francis Farrell in The Kyiv Independent):https://youtu.be/s4uaKynSRx4?feature=sharedThe Invisible Battles of Ukrainian Military Medics (Full-Length Kyiv Independent Documentary):https://youtu.be/SVxY5ihyVnA?feature=sharedFlagship Ukrainian brigade trained in France goes AWOL (The Telegraph:)https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/01/02/ukrainian-soldiers-go-awol-before-shot-fired/Russia 'shoots down Santa' (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/12/27/russia-shoots-down-santa-claus-in-propaganda-video/Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

Day 1,044.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