Day 1,223.

Today, after Ukraine claims to have destroyed a litany of Russian aircraft, we discuss war crimes described on Russia state television committed against snipers, and a remarkable story about how Moscow is reportedly using nuns as spies to spread propaganda.

Contributors:

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

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

James Rothwell (Berlin Correspondent). @JamesERothwell on X.

Content Referenced:

Russia ‘using nuns as spies to spread propaganda’ (James Rothwell in The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/06/21/russia-using-nuns-as-spies-to-spread-propaganda/ 

Germany’s crisis-hit car industry is the key to its rearmament (James Rothwell in The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/06/22/germany-car-industry-key-rearmament/ 

Inside Ukraine’s occupied territory where thousands of Russians are moving in (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/03/31/inside-occupied-ukraine-territory-russia-war-berdiansk/ 

'Mariupol is diseased': Residents deny Russian claims occupied city returning to normal (BBC):

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq6912mqp1go 

I lost half my weight in jail, but I'm not broken, says freed Belarus opposition leader (BBC):

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czey1y6x6zzo 

Poland to boost howitzer shell output in face of Russian threat (Financial Times):

https://www.ft.com/content/425d4fab-6405-4bd8-b4a1-d6ec6a016f83 

Ukraine is inching towards robot-on-robot fighting (The Economist):

www.economist.com/europe/2025/06/26/ukraine-is-inching-towards-robot-on-robot-fighting

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