Ukraine: The Latest

Day 1,071.

Today, following the news a Ukrainian drone attack hit yet another oil depot last night, and as Trump threatens to lower the price of oil and stall Russian exports, we focus on oil. We also talk tank action with our guest Hamish De Bretton-Gordon.

Contributors:

Adelie Pojzman-Pontay (Narrative Podcast Producer). @Adeliepjz on X.

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

Hamish De Bretton-Gordon (Former Tank Commander). @HamishDBG on X.

With special thanks to our guest, Dr. Yuri Shevchuk.

Content Referenced:

Economist Robin Brooks on Russian oil imports to Europe

https://x.com/robin_j_brooks/status/1884215985357668862

Reuters on China and India staling their imports of Russian oil https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/russia-oil-trade-china-india-stalls-sanctions-drive-up-shipping-costs-2025-01-28/

The Kyiv Independent on Trump’s first week in office and what that means for Ukraine

https://kyivindependent.com/what-trumps-first-week-in-office-says-about-his-stance-on-ukraine/

Radio Free Europe on Putin refusing to engage in peace talks with ‘Illegitimate’ Zelensky

https://www.rferl.org/a/putin-ready-peace-talks-not-with-illegitimate-zelenskiy-/33294979.html

Trump urges Opec countries to slash oil prices

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c17ewl98kgvo

Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: [email protected]

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Day 1,070.

Today, we analyse Russian attempts at encirclement around Pokrovsk, hear of a North Korean retreat in Kursk, discuss new stories of Russian activities in the occupied territories, and hear how the landscape of Ukraine has been forever transformed by the violence of war.

Contributors:

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

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

With thanks to Dr. Emily Channell-Justice, Director of the Temerty Contemporary Ukraine Program at Harvard.

Content Referenced:

Harvard Conference:

Landscapes of War, Landscapes of Victory: Ukraine’s Changing Environment

https://www.huri.harvard.edu/tcup-conference

Russia introduces history textbook that redefines war against Ukraine as justified defense (Kyiv Independent):

https://kyivindependent.com/russia-introduces-history-textbook-that-redefines-ukraine-war-as-justified-defense/?mc_cid=f937bbdadf&mc_eid=08d0680a95 

The battle for the soul of Serbia (New Statesman):

https://www.newstatesman.com/international-content/2025/01/serbia-mining-protest-environment-lithium

Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: [email protected]

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Day 1,069.

Today, on the 80th International Holocaust Remembrance Day, we report on an operation in Kursk Oblast last week that apparently saw a large number of Russian troops lured into a trap, and we look at the literally unbelievable election win for Lukashenko in Belarus - returned to power with, we are expected to believe, 87% of the vote.

Contributors:

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

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

With thanks to Shashank Joshi (Defence editor at The Economist). @shashj on X.

Articles Referenced:

Israel ‘sends weapons captured in Lebanon to Ukraine’ (The Telegraph)

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/01/26/israel-sends-weapons-captured-from-lebanon-to-ukraine/

Zelensky says allies should work on ‘format’ for peace talks with Russia (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/01/25/russia-ukraine-war-zelensky-format-for-peace-talks-putin/

Why is Ukraine struggling to mobilise its citizens to fight? (AlJazeera):

https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2025/1/23/why-is-ukraine-struggling-to-mobilise-its-citizens-to-fight

Russia focuses on Soviet victims of WW2 as officials not invited to Auschwitz ceremony (BBC):

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwyw0vkzkzdo

Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: [email protected]

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Day 1,066.

Today, we discuss Trump’s latest threats to Putin and Moscow’s fears about the strategic outlook, why the pathways to a lasting peace are more complex that many realise, and our first new segment summarising resistance activities in the occupied territories.

Contributors:

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

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

Hamish De Bretton-Gordon (Former British Army Tank Commander). @HamishDBG on X

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

Content Referenced:

Trump just gave Putin a wake-up call (Francis in The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/01/24/trump-just-gave-putin-a-nasty-shock/

US leadership on sanctions can bring an end to Putin’s war (Ben Marlow in The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/01/24/trump-can-defeat-putin-by-economic-sanctions-alone/

When it comes to energy, Donald Trump risks being China’s useful idiot (Ambrose Evans-Pritchard in The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/01/24/when-it-comes-to-energy-donald-trump-is-chinas-useful-idiot/

Video: 'He stared at me with a quarter of his head missing' - life in Russia's occupied territory The Telegraph):

https://youtu.be/gi20lWX4Fyk?si=DO0MaB3prYE4kAeQ

Exclusive: Putin growing concerned by Russia’s economy, as Trump pushes for Ukraine deal (Reuters):

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/putin-growing-concerned-by-russias-economy-trump-mulls-more-sanctions-2025-01-23/

Syria Terminates Russian Naval Base Deal – Reports (Moscow Times):

https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/01/22/syria-terminates-russian-naval-base-deal-reports-a87690

Inside Belarus’ secret program to undermine the EU (POLITICO):

https://www.politico.eu/article/alexander-lukashenko-belarus-secret-program-to-undermine-the-eu/

Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: [email protected]

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

Day 1,065.

Today, following fresh news from the frontline, we discuss Russian war crimes, Zelensky’s speech at Davos yesterday, and the upcoming German election.

Contributors:

Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Narrative Podcast Producer). @adeliepjz on X.

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

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

Adrian Blomfield (Foreign Correspondent). @adrianblomfield on X.

Jessica Berlin (Senior Fellow at The Center for European Policy Analysis). @berlin_bridge on X.

Content referenced: 

Will Europe put ‘boots on the ground’ in Ukraine? (Financial Times):

https://www.ft.com/content/609cfeac-1af4-4f40-a634-74d6c12e60b8 

Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: [email protected]

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

Day 1,064.

As news breaks of an eight-hour firefight between Ukrainian Special Operations Forces and North Korean troops inside Russia, we report how the new US Secretary of State has said any peace plan cannot allow Russia to pause before attacking Ukraine again.

Contributors:

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

James Crisp (Europe Editor). @JamesCrisp6 on X.

Georgina Wray (Deputy Video News Editor)

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

With thanks to Jukka Holkeri of Patria.

Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: [email protected]

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

Day 1,063.

Today, less than 24 hours into the second Trump Presidency, we consider in detail his and his transition team’s latest remarks about the war, and what they tell us about the approach being adopted behind closed doors. Plus we take the temperature of the British Parliament with two vocal voices on the conflict calling for further actions against Moscow.

Contributors:

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

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

Dr Mike Martin MP (MP for Tunbridge Wells). @ThreshedThought on X.

Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst MP (MP for Solihull West and Shirley). @DrNShastriHurst on X.

Content referenced: 

BBC Today interview with a member of Trump's transition team:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00274zq

Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: [email protected]

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

Day 1,062.

Today, we talk about secretive air-defence systems - some developed by Ukraine and others donated by the UK in the 100-year partnership signed last week. We look ahead to the beginning of the second Trump era starting later today, in Washington. And Joe Barnes talks to lead trauma surgeon Dr Shehan Hettiaratchy about the realities of healthcare on the front line.

Contributors:

Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Narrative Podcast Producer). @adeliepjz on X.

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

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

JoeBarnes (Brussels Correspondent). @Barnes_Joe on X.

With thanks to Dr Shehan Hettiaratchy (Lead trauma surgeon at Imperial College Healthcare). @ShehanHett on X.

Content referenced: 

Ukraine warns Trump that early peace talks would be catastrophic (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/01/18/ukraine-warns-trump-that-early-peace-talks-would-be-fatal/

Ukraine is teaching medics how to prepare for war (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/01/18/ukraine-is-teaching-british-medics-how-to-prepare-for-a-war/

Gravehawk: the new secretive air defense system (United24):

https://united24media.com/war-in-ukraine/the-new-secretive-gravehawk-air-defense-system-that-the-uk-is-giving-to-ukraine-5184

Russian fuel exports fall in 2024 as drone attacks, bans add to sanctions pressure (Reuters):

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/russias-2024-seaborne-oil-product-exports-hit-by-headwinds-including-drone-2025-01-17/

Attack damages Ukraine's oldest McDonald’s in Kyiv (Kyiv Independent):

https://united24media.com/war-in-ukraine/the-new-secretive-gravehawk-air-defense-system-that-the-uk-is-giving-to-ukraine-5184

The New Norm - On the culture shock when the first McDonald’s opened in Moscow in 1990 (Invisibilia, NPR)

https://www.npr.org/programs/invisibilia/481887848/the-new-norm

Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: [email protected]

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

Day 1,059.

Today, we cover Ukrainian hits on a Russian refinery and gunpowder plot, reports of North Korean suicide troops, and Russian diplomats infiltrating the UK parliament. And we interview senior correspondent and author, Simon Shuster, on key decisions made by the outgoing Biden administration over the past three years.

Contributors:

Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Narrative Podcast Producer). @adeliepjz on X.

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

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

With thanks to senior correspondent at TIME Magazine and author, Simon Shuster. @shustry on X.

Content referenced: 

The Showman by Simon Shuster:

https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-showman-simon-shuster?variant=41083800682530

Politico on the (other) Donald and Starmer’s visit to POland

https://www.politico.eu/newsletter/london-playbook/keir-and-the-other-donald/

Politico’s exclusive interview with Keir Starmer in Kyiv

https://www.politico.eu/article/america-europe-donald-trump-keir-starmer-ukraine-russia-peace-initiative/

The Guardian on Russian diplomats breaking into UK Parliament

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/jan/16/russian-diplomats-accessed-private-area-of-uk-parliament-in-security-breach

BBC on lack of convictions on Russian sanctions

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdd994vl76qo

Adélie’s Friday treat, a playlist from the French public radio on the best David Lynch music (for the many David-shaped holes in your lives)

https://www.radiofrance.fr/fip/podcasts/fip-tape/hommage-a-david-lynch-1803519

Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: [email protected]

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

Day 1,058.

Today, we follow Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s first official visit to Kyiv and the 100-year partnership deal he’s bringing with him. Plus we talk about a UN report that investigates alleged violations and abuses of human rights in the war against Ukraine by Russia.

Contributors:

Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Narrative Podcast Producer). @adeliepjz on X.

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

Hamish de Bretton-Gordon (Chemical Weapons Expert and Former Tank Commander). @HamishDBG on X.

Francis Dearnley (Associate Editor, Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

With special thanks to Adam Sybera of the Kyiv Independent. @AKSybera on X.

Content referenced: 

UN Human Rights Council:

https://www.ohchr.org/en/statements-and-speeches/2025/01/statement-pablo-de-greiff-commissioner-independent-international

Live Blog on Zelensky in Kyiv:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/01/16/politics-latest-news-keir-starmer-ukraine-visit-zelensky/

Bloomberg on Labour x Kyiv relations:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-15/starmer-s-caution-on-ukraine-risks-loss-of-clout-ahead-of-trump

Telegraph on peacekeeping troops

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/01/15/uk-france-talks-peacekeeping-troops-ukraine-war-russia/

Kyiv Independent on 100-year partnership: 

https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-uk-sign-100-year-partnership-agreement/

Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: [email protected]

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