Day 1,191.

Today, Ukraine targets Moscow with drone attacks for the second consecutive days and strikes several industrial plants linked to the war effort in Russia. Meanwhile, Russia proposes a new round of peace talks in Istanbul on June 2nd. We discuss the memorandums that both Ukraine and Russia are drafting ahead of the meeting and whether we’ll see a change from Russia’s maximalist stance from earlier this month. And we look ahead to the Polish presidential elections on Sunday. Finally, Francis Dearnley sits down with Mykola Bielieskov of the National Institute for Strategic Studies.

Contributors:

Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjz on X.

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

James Kilner (Former Russia Correspondent). @jkjourno on X.

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

With thanks to Mykola Bielieskov (Research Fellow at the National Institute for Strategic Studies). @MBielieskov on X.

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Content Referenced:

Exclusive: Putin's demands for peace include an end to NATO enlargement, sources say, Reuters

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/putin-ukraine-peace-wants-pledge-halt-nato-enlargement-sources-say-2025-05-28/

Germany and Ukraine reach deal for long-range weapons production

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/28/zelenskyy-merz-germany-ukraine-sumy

Over half of Azov fighters returned to Ukraine, official says, Kyiv Independent

https://kyivindependent.com/over-half-of-azov-fighters-returned-to-ukraine-official-says/

NOW AVAILABLE IN NEW LANGUAGES:

The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them.

Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatest

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Day 1,190.

Today, as Ukraine reels from yet another record drone bombardment, we look at warnings that Russia is massing 50,000 troops near Sumy ahead of a new offensive. Plus we bring you some of the top lines from Chancellor Friederich Merz’s press conference with Vlodomyr Zelensky, where he announced that Germany would help Ukraine build long-range missiles. 

We’ll also be hearing Dom’s interview with Estonia’s defence minister about Moscow’s shadow fleet and how to protect critical infrastructure from Russia. And Roland Oliphant reports from Armenia on the dilemma facing small former Soviet Union states in the midst of what some politicians there are describing as a geopolitical earthquake. 

Contributors:

Venetia Rainey (Co-host Battle Lines podcast). @@venetiarainey on X.

Joe Barnes (Brussels Correspondent). @@Barnes_Joe on X.

Roland Oliphant (Chief Foreign Analyst). @RolandOliphant on X.

Dom Nicholls (Associate Editor for Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

With thanks to Hanno Pevkur (Minister of Defence of Estonia).

SIGN UP TO THE NEW ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:

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Content Referenced:

Ukraine launches massive drone attack on Russia

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/05/28/ukraine-launches-massive-drone-attack-on-russia/

Ukraine War latest news

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/05/28/russia-ukraine-zelensky-putin-war-latest-news529/

NOW AVAILABLE IN NEW LANGUAGES:

The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them.

Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatest

Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,189.

Today, after Kyiv suffers some of the most intense bombardments of the war, we look at why more drones and ballistic missiles are piercing Ukrainian defences, and assess the significance of Donald Trump saying that Vladimir Putin has gone “absolutely crazy.” Plus we hear another interview from Dom’s trip to Estonia, and reflect on how the podcast began with Ukraine’s: The Latest’s original producer.

Contributors:

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

Dom Nicholls (Associate Editor for Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Giles Gear (Audio Executive Editor). @GilesGear on LinkedIn.

With thanks to Dr Jack Watling (Senior Research Fellow at Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies). @Jack_Watling on X.

SIGN UP TO THE NEW ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:

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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.

Content Referenced:

Russia Is Raining Hellfire On Ukraine (The Economist):

https://www.economist.com/europe/2025/05/25/russia-is-raining-hellfire-on-ukraine

Slammed by Russian missiles, Ukraine seeks more U.S. air defense systems (Washington Post):

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/05/26/ukraine-patriot-missiles-air-defense-raytheon/

NOW AVAILABLE IN NEW LANGUAGES:

The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them.

Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatest

Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today is a public holiday here in the UK, and so we’re releasing a special episode on one of the great taboo subjects in the history of warfare: that of role of gender and sexual violence. Firstly, Adelie speaks with Sofi Oksanen, who just published the viral essay 'Same River, Twice, Putin’s War on Women'. She discusses how historic attitudes to gender in Russia impacted post-Soviet history. The second interview is with Tatyana Tymoshenta, a therapist who works with survivors of rape in Ukraine. Listener discretion is especially advised for this episode.

Contributors:

Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Reporter and Producer). @adeliepjz on X.

With thanks to Sofi Oksanen, @SofiOksanen on X.

SIGN UP TO THE NEW ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:

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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.

Content Referenced:

Conference: Thought and Truth under Pressure

https://www.svenskaakademien.se/en/events/thought-and-truth-under-pressure

Same River, Twice: Putin's War on Women

https://harpercollins.co.uk/products/same-river-twice-putins-war-on-women-sofi-oksanen?variant=53507032514939

An online psychotherapy support platform for survivors of conflict-related violence Aurora operates in Ukraine, UNFPA

https://ukraine.unfpa.org/en/aurora_eng

NOW AVAILABLE IN NEW LANGUAGES:

The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them.

Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatest

Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,185.

Today, as Ukraine closes Moscow’s airspace for the third night in a row we get our regular update about resistance activities in the occupied territories, report from a NATO exercise in Sweden and, for a little pick me up at the end of the week, you’ll hear what happened when Francis and Dom were introduced to strong Ukrainian coffee.

Contributors:

Dom Nicholls (Associate Editor for Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Dr. Jade McGlynn (War Studies Department of King's College). @DrJadeMcGlynn on X.

SIGN UP TO THE NEW ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:

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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.

Content Referenced:

Hear more about Venetia's trip on our sister podcast 'Battle Lines':

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/05/23/battle-lines-trump-edition-inside-trumps-new-star-wars-prog/

Learn More about Vadym's Coffee:

https://www.instagram.com/vadymgranovskiy/

How Ukraine's best coffee maker joined the fight against Russia (GQ):

https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/politics/article/coffee-man-of-ukraine-war-vadym-granovskiy  

Joseph Nye obituary in The Telegraph:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2025/05/12/joseph-nye-foreign-policy-soft-power-washington-obama-bush/

Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,184.

Today, as Moscow’s Airports are once again shut down by Ukrainian drones, we hear about Chechnan officers apparently assassinated in the occupied territories, as it’s revealed Trump told his European counterparts Putin does not want to end the war. Plus, we hear about the educational challenges faced by refugees, and the evolving nature of civil society in a country at war with the founder of one of Ukraine’s largest foundations.

Contributors:

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

Dom Nicholls (Associate Editor for Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Poppy Wood (Education Editor). @poppyeh on X.

With thanks to Serhiy Prytula, founder of the Serhiy Prytula Foundation. @serhiyprytula on X.

SIGN UP TO THE NEW ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:

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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.

Content Referenced:

Ukrainian children ‘forced’ to study Russian GCSE (Poppy and Francis’s story in The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/05/19/ukrainian-children-forced-study-russian-gcse-in-uk/ 

Special Episode interviewing Ukrainian children:

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/special-childhood-at-war/id1612424182?i=1000704331753 

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3SjJ3cUVYiweoChHsvjL6b?si=wH_9X4gQRLyyvGjLfom_Ug 

Learn more about the Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation:

https://prytulafoundation.org/en 

Trump Tells European Leaders in Private That Putin Isn’t Ready to End War (Wall Street 

Journal):

https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/trump-putin-call-russia-ukraine-83a6ef59

'We don't want this anymore' — Lavrov confirms Russia has no interest in ceasefire in Ukraine (Kyiv Independent):

https://kyivindependent.com/we-dont-want-this-anymore-russia-rejects-a-ceasefire-in-ukraine-lavrov-says/ 

Ukrainian ex-politician shot dead while dropping daughter at Madrid school (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/05/21/ukrainian-father-shot-five-time-madrid/

Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,183.

Today, as Vladimir Putin makes his first visit to Kursk after the Kremlin erroneously claimed all Ukrainian soldiers had been completely pushed out of the territory, we look at the latest deep strikes on Russian infrastructure, hear from an ambulance convoy in Ukraine, and speak to a central advisor of the European Union on Russia-Ukraine peace negotiations.

Contributors:

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

Dom Nicholls (Associate Editor for Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

With thanks to Brock Bierman (Founder of the non-profit Ukraine Focus).

And Bob Dean (Head of the Security Unit of the Netherlands Institute of International Relations)

SIGN UP TO THE NEW ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:

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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.

Content Referenced:

Learn more about ‘Ukraine Focus’, delivering ambulances to Ukraine:

https://ukrainefocus.org/ 

https://ukrainefocus.org/programs/zelensky-truck/ 

Ukraine has shown you can now buy an intelligence agency off the shelf (Ben Wallace in The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/05/20/intelligence-agencies-no-longer-just-for-governments/

Trump’s New Position on the War in Ukraine: Not My Problem (New York Times):

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/20/us/politics/trump-ukraine-russia.html 

Russian Troops Are War-Weary, but Want to Conquer More of Ukraine (New York Times):

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/17/world/europe/russian-troops-peace-putin.html 

Losing friends, fast (POLITICO):

https://www.politico.eu/newsletter/brussels-playbook/losing-friends-fast/ 

NOW AVAILABLE IN NEW LANGUAGES:

The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them.

Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatest

Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,182.

Today, we continue dissecting the phone call between Putin and Trump and what it means for the prospect of negotiations. We discuss the latest Russian ‘Frankenstein’ missile and tactics on the ground, plus a dive into a report investigating Russian strikes on hotels near the frontline in an effort to target journalists. Finally we hear a dispatch from Sweden and interview with a Swedish chief of defence staff on the Russian threat on the Finnish border.

Contributors:

Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Reporter and Producer). @adeliepjz on X.

Dom Nicholls (Associate Editor for Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Iona Cleave (Foreign Reporter). @cleaveiona on X.

Venetia Rainey (Co-host of the podcast 'Battle Lines'). @venetiarainey on X.

With thanks to Kenza Rharmaoui (Senior Researcher at Truth Hounds). @truth_hounds on X.

SIGN UP TO THE NEW ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:

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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.

Content Referenced:

Russia’s new ‘Frankenstein’ missile terrorising Ukraine, The Telegraph

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/05/13/russias-new-frankenstein-missile-terrorising-ukraine/

Russia’s motorbike squads may be suicidal but they are hurting Ukraine, The Telegraph

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/05/19/ukraine-war-are-russias-motorcycle-assaults-really-working/

Last Check-In: The Russian Strikes on Ukrainian Hotels Silencing the Press, Truth Hounds

https://truth-hounds.org/en/cases/last-check-in/

To come to our event with Truth Hounds at the Frontline Club in London on June 4th

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/how-russia-silences-press-in-ukraine-frontline-club-tickets-1371152527119

NOW AVAILABLE IN NEW LANGUAGES:

The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them.

Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatest

Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,181.

Today, just minutes after Presidents Putin and Trump spoke over the phone following the failed peace talks in Turkey last week, we react to the strategy being adopted by both sides: is Putin playing Trump like a fiddle? Then, later, we hear about the worst aerial bombardment Ukraine has experienced of the entire war, which took place not three years ago, but on Sunday.

Contributors:

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

Dom Nicholls (Associate Editor for Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

With thanks to Gabriellus Landberghis (Lithuania's former Minister of Foreign Affairs). @GLandsbergis on X.

SIGN UP TO THE NEW ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:

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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.

Content Referenced:

Putin: Russia is strong enough to end what we started in Ukraine (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/05/18/putin-russia-strong-enough-to-end-what-we-started-ukraine/

Pope Leo meets JD Vance after calling for peace in Ukraine (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/05/18/pope/ 

Germany drops opposition to nuclear power in rapprochement with France (Financial Times):

https://www.ft.com/content/e99efa2b-338a-4065-89c6-0683d5759ed7

NOW AVAILABLE IN NEW LANGUAGES:

The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them.

Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatest

Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,178.

Today, as Ukraine and Russia hold their first direct negotiations in over three years today in Istanbul, we bring you live coverage from two major political and defence conferences in Europe, featuring key NATO and EU figures. How united is Europe in its stance on security and support for Ukraine? Plus, we speak with a former senior U.S. official to assess whether Donald Trump’s influence in American politics is beginning to fade, and hear about the new commander of Moscow’s ground forces: a man nicknamed ‘General Blood’.

Contributors:

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

Dom Nicholls (Associate Editor for Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Joe Barnes (Brussels Correspondent). @Barnes_Joe on X.

With thanks to Professor Eliot Cohen (writer at the Atlantic, former counselor to the head of the US State Department). @EliotACohen on X.

SIGN UP TO THE NEW ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:

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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.

Content Referenced:

Ukrainian and Russian delegations begin negotiations (The Telegraph Live Blog):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/05/16/russia-ukraine-peace-talks-zelensky-putin-war-latest-news/ 

Eliot A. Cohen’s Articles for The Atlantic:

https://www.theatlantic.com/author/eliot-a-cohen/ 

NOW AVAILABLE IN NEW LANGUAGES:

The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them.

Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatest

Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.