Day 1,318.

Today, after yet another drone incursion forces the closure of a major European airport - this time in Germany - we examine growing calls from officials to take tougher measures, including shooting drones down on sight. We’ll also look at one of Ukraine’s most far-reaching strikes to date, more than 1,400 kilometers inside Russia, before turning to some of the lighter, more curious moments in encounters between Russian presidents and world leaders. Later, we bring you our latest dispatch from Odesa, where debate is intensifying over whether to remove a certain statue of Russian poet Alexander Pushkin.

Contributors:

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

With thanks to Tetyana Kagitina.

CONTENT REFERENCED:

Francis’s Video Documentary ‘The Battle for Odesa: Ukraine’s Culture War’ -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28HqbQLYGMM 

Fears US shutdown will delay weapons shipments to Ukraine (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025/10/02/us-shutdown-weapons-shipments-ukraine/ 

Let Nato jets pursue Russian intruders across borders, urges Estonia (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/10/03/estonia-natos-disjointed-air-defence-failing-to-deter-putin/ 

BOOK NOW: 'UKRAINE: THE LATEST' LIVE, IN-PERSON:

Join us for an in-person discussion and Q&A at the distinguished Honourable Artillery Company in London on 22nd October at 7pm.

Our panel includes General Sir Richard Barrons, former head of UK Joint Forces Command and latterly one of the authors of Britain’s Strategic Defence Review, and Orysia Lutsevych, head of the Ukraine Forum at the Chatham House think tank. Tickets are open to everybody and can be purchased at:

https://www.squadup.com/events/ukrainelive

They are going fast, so don't delay!

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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.

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