Day 1,545.

Today, after a NATO fighter jet shoots down a suspected Ukrainian drone over Estonia, we examine the mounting risks of escalation on NATO’s eastern flank and what the incident reveals about the increasingly crowded skies above the Baltic region. We also look at reports of a collapse in Russian defensive lines near a settlement in Zaporizhzhia as Ukraine presses its counterattacks in the south. Then we turn to Moscow to assess how the Kremlin and Russian state media are reporting – or not – news of Ukraine’s major strikes on Russian infrastructure ahead of Putin’s high-stakes visit to China. And later, we take a deep dive into how investigations into war crimes have evolved over the past four years.

Contributors:

Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.

Adelie Pojzman-Pontay (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @Adeliepjz on X.

With thanks to Yevhenia Motorevska – head of the War Crimes Investigation Unit at the Kyiv Independent.

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:

The drone attacks Putin doesn’t want Russians to see (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/19/drone-attacks-putin-doesnt-want-russians-see-ukraine/ 

Xi Jinping told Donald Trump that Putin might ‘regret’ invasion of Ukraine (Financial Times):

https://www.ft.com/content/567c57b0-6346-43e6-9d14-840a793b4d1d?syn-25a6b1a6=1 

Dom’s Video On the Frontline:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-LWZtJBCwY 

From the Kyiv Independent’s War Crimes Investigation Unit: 

The War Before the War, Part I: https://kyivindependent.com/video/?slug=crimea-the-war-before-the-war-part-2

From Stalin to Putin – Russia’s history of torture: 

https://youtu.be/p7Ei6mAf3mQ

Exposing Russia’s indoctrination of Ukrainian children: 

https://youtu.be/RZGmv2EQdGk

Investigation: Uncovering the secret Russian FSB operation to loot Ukraine's museums

https://kyivindependent.com/investigation-uncovering-fsbs-secret-operation-to-steal-ukraines-valuable-art/

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HIGHLIGHTS:

• Russian position 'collapses' in southeastern town
• The drone attacks Putin ‘doesn't want you to see’

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