Ukraine: The Latest

Day 1,057.

Today, as the impact of Monday’s huge aerial strikes inside Russia becomes clearer, we report how the British government’s policy to allow Ukrainians to stay in the UK is starting to unravel, we talk with the producers of a new film showing how one veteran of the war has sought solace in the Carpathian Mountains, and we hear how Germany’s right-wing AfD party is complaining that they're being cyberbullied by a pack of cartoon dogs.

Contributors:

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

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

Genevieve Holl-Allen (Political Reporter). @Genevieve_Holl on X.

Learn more about Ukrainian Action:

https://www.ukrainianaction.com

Or you can contact: [email protected]

Content referenced:

Ukrainian refugees face losing their jobs over visa rules (Genevieve in The Telegraph) -

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/01/15/ukrainian-refugees-face-losing-jobs-over-visa-rules/

What British boots on the ground would look like in Ukraine (Joe in The Telegraph) -

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/01/15/ukraine-british-army-troops-peacekeeping-force-training/

US encounters European skepticism in last-ditch push to seize $300B in Russian assets for Ukraine leverage (CNN) -

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/01/14/politics/biden-russian-assets-ukraine-european-skepticism/index.html

Medieval stone disks found in Ukraine could be Viking solar compasses (Archeology News)

https://archaeologymag.com/2025/01/medieval-stone-disks-could-be-viking-compasses/

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

Email: [email protected]

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Day 1,056.

Today, we discuss one of the largest mass drone attacks of the war, as Ukraine sets sites in many territories across Russia ablaze, and then do a deep dive into what Western ‘boots on the ground’ as part of any peace settlement would actually mean in practice.

Contributors:

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

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

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

Content Referenced:

Dom's documentary: Ukraine's frontline city where Russia abandoned its dead | Kharkiv dispatch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pN9pklQ6dpo&t=337s

Russia to sign ‘comprehensive’ deal with Iran in tightening of new anti-West axis (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/01/13/russia-to-sign-deal-with-iran/

Do Russians Really Support the War in Ukraine? (The New Yorker):

https://www.newyorker.com/news/a-reporter-at-large/do-russians-really-support-the-war-in-ukraine

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

Email: [email protected]

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

Day 1,055

Today, as Kyiv captures its first North Korean soldiers alive, we return to the pivotal question of the Russian economy's fragility and later speak to Ukrainian actors who have recreated their own experience of the war.

Contributors:

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

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

Adelie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist & Narrative Podcast Producer). @adeliepjz on X.

Content Referenced:

Ukraine captures North Korean troops and takes them to Kyiv for questioning (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/01/11/ukraine-captures-north-korean-troops-kyiv-questioning/

North Korean diary reveals use of horrific tactic in Ukraine war (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/01/12/north-korean-diary-entry-horrific-tactic-ukraine-war-russia/

Boris Johnson brands Vladimir Putin a ‘f------ idiot’ over imperial ambitions (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/01/11/boris-johnson-brands-vladimir-putin-idiot-russia-ukraine/

British troops ‘should join post-war peacekeeping force in Ukraine’ (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/01/12/british-troops-post-war-peacekeeping-force-ukraine-defence/

Russia’s Hidden War Debt (Craig Kennedy):

https://navigatingrussia.substack.com/p/russias-hidden-war-debt?triedRedirect=true

Biden admin imposes harsh sanctions on Russian oil industry (CNN):

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/01/10/politics/biden-admin-russia-energy-sanctions-ukraine/index.html

US Companies Pay Over $1 Billion in Taxes to Russia Amid Ongoing Ukraine War (Newsweek):

https://www.newsweek.com/us-companies-pay-over-1-billion-taxes-russia-amid-ongoing-ukraine-war-2012473

Mariupol Drama in Manchester:

https://homemcr.org/production/mariupol-drama/

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

Email: [email protected]

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

Day 1,052

Today, as top diplomat Kaja Kallas claims the EU will be ready to step into the breach if the US withdraws support for Ukraine, we discuss the latest weapon donations at Ramstein and include a dispatch from Kyiv at a drone workshop.

Contributors:

Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist & narrative podcast producer). @adeliepjz on X.

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

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

Content Referenced:

'Ukraine's Resilience' event co-hosted by Chatham House in Edinburgh:

https://www.chathamhouse.org/events/all/research-event/maintaining-ukraines-resilience

Donald Trump pushes back Ukraine war deadline in sign of support for Kyiv (Financial Times):

https://www.ft.com/content/989dc02e-2a13-4c21-8ad0-0b32e098c410

Scholz blocks new billion-euro package for Ukraine (Der Spiegel):

https://www.spiegel.de/politik/ukraine-krieg-olaf-scholz-blockiert-milliarden-paket-fuer-fuer-kiew-a-15318d4e-bc41-40e1-9a31-1d57409db2d5

Exclusive—Chinese Patents Reveal Aim to Cut Undersea Cables (Newsweek):

https://www.newsweek.com/china-conflict-undersea-cables-cutting-internet-data-subsea-marine-baltic-taiwan-2012396

Exclusive: Border Patrol arrests former Russian mercenary near Roma (Valley Central):

https://www.valleycentral.com/news/local-news/border-patrol-arrests-former-russian-mercenary-near-roma/

Drone Workshop:

For more information, see:

https://klyn.io/

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

Email: [email protected]

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

Day 1,051.

Today, in a significant day in both the military and political realms, we discuss Trump’s new plans to end the war within the next 100 days, reports that Moscow paid for American and coalition troops killed in Afghanistan, and hear live from Syria.

Contributors:

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

Svitlana Morenets (Staff Writer at The Spectator). @SvMorenets on X.

Content Referenced:

How Russian military intelligence used the Taliban to bleed U.S. forces at the end of America’s longest war (The Insider):

https://theins.ru/en/politics/277723

Ukraine to help Moldova amid worsening energy crisis (Kyiv Independent):

https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-to-help-moldova-amid-worsening-energy-crisis/?mc_cid=dfeb4a87a9&mc_eid=08d0680a95

Russia closes Polish Consulate General in St. Petersburg (TVP):

https://tvpworld.com/84418289/russia-closes-polish-consulate-general-in-st-petersburg

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

Email: [email protected]

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

Day 1,050.

Today, as the new Ukrainian offensive in Kursk continues, we discuss the evolving picture in that region, look at the latest developments in unmanned aerial and land warfare, and fears superbugs spawned in war could spark the next pandemic.

Contributors:

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

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

Arthur Scott Geddes (Deputy Global Health Editor). @ascottgeddes on X.

Michael Bohnert (RAND Analyst). @mbohnert on X.

Content Referenced:

Trump's Ukraine envoy postpones Kyiv trip until after inauguration (Reuters):

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trumps-ukraine-envoy-postpones-kyiv-trip-until-after-inauguration-2025-01-06/

'Putin doesn't want negotiations' - our interview with Zelensky's 'power broker' Andriy Yermak:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CneThrXUHSI

Ukraine needs more help to beat ‘superbugs’, says chief doctor (Arthur in The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/ukraine-needs-more-help-to-beat-superbugs-says-chief-doctor/

''I bought a drone and killed my boss" (Arthur in our sister podcast Battle Lines):

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/i-bought-a-drone-and-killed-my-boss-it-was-easy/id1712903296?i=1000681113262

Could a Conflict-Borne Superbug Bring on Our Next Pandemic? (Rolling Stone)

https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/war-zone-conflict-bacteria-pandemic-1235064261/

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

Email: [email protected]

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

Day 1,049.

Today, as Ukrainian forces continue to expand their lodgement inside Russia, we hear how a Ukrainian F-16 pilot shot down six Russian cruise missiles. We also have an interview with General The Lord Dannatt, former head of the British Army.

Contributors:

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

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

With thanks to our guest General The Lord Dannatt, former head of the British Army.

Episodes Referenced:

David Knowles's 'Football in Wartime' Special:

https://podcasts.apple.com/ee/podcast/football-in-wartime-with-david-knowles/id1612424182?i=1000681578909

Interview with lady from occupied territories:

https://podcasts.apple.com/ee/podcast/my-mother-in-law-remembers-stalingrad-this-war-is-worse/id1612424182?i=1000682245415

Interview with beautician, now expert on ordnance (halfway through episode):

https://podcasts.apple.com/ee/podcast/russia-shoots-down-passenger-jet-in-azerbaijan-putins/id1612424182?i=1000681865927

Content Referenced:

Sources of ISW’s cited geolocation of Ukrainian forces in Kursk Oblast:

https://x.com/TuiteroMartin/status/1876291174476239032 ; https://x.com/moklasen/status/1876299075521519655; https://x.com/Map_Hargoo/status/1875993159869817022; https://t.me/motopatriot78/31123 ; https://t.me/rusich_army/19913

Lord Dannatt's book on the Korean War is available for pre-order now:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Korea-War-Without-Richard-Dannatt/dp/1472869753

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

Email: [email protected]

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

Day 1,048.

Today, we discuss breaking news of a surprise counterattack in Kursk and its implications, consider how Kyiv is positioning itself before Trump's inauguration, and discuss the elections upcoming in Europe in 2025.

Contributors:

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for 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

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

Content referenced:

Top Russian general betrays Putin’s worst fears as Ukraine attacks Kursk again (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/01/05/top-russian-general-betrays-putins-fears-ukraine-kursk/

Zelensky's Interview with Lex Fridman:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u321m25rKXc 

Syrskyi orders to reinforce French-trained brigade with drones after reports of mismanagement (Kyiv Independent):

https://kyivindependent.com/syrskyi-orders-to-reinforce-french-trained-brigade-with-drones-after-reports-of-mismanagement/?mc_cid=04ca756759&mc_eid=08d0680a95

Russia trained officers for attacks on Japan and South Korea (Financial Times):

https://www.ft.com/content/d345a6e7-2d72-4dcb-9c12-76d571ba75eb?shareType=nongift

To learn more about the charity mentioned in today's episode, you can email: [email protected]

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

Email: [email protected]

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

Day 1,045.

Today, after the latest updates from the battlefield, we hear about the cutting edge drones being used to wage war against Moscow's forces, and the moral conundrums they raise. Plus, we consider the state of the Russian economy as we enter 2025.

Contributors:

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

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

Francis Farrell (Report, The Kyiv Independent). @francisjfarrell on X.

Content referenced:

‘We’re in the end game’: Why Kyiv’s blow to Russian gas threatens a European energy war (Matt Oliver in The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/01/03/why-ukraine-gas-pipeline-closure-moscow-biggest-defeat/

Donald Trump will be no friend of the Kremlin (Ambrose Evans Pritchard in The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/01/03/the-biggest-threat-to-putins-regime-is-donald-trump/

With Ukraine's ace drone unit hunting Russians (Francis Farrell in The Kyiv Independent):

https://youtu.be/s4uaKynSRx4?feature=shared

The Invisible Battles of Ukrainian Military Medics (Full-Length Kyiv Independent Documentary):

https://youtu.be/SVxY5ihyVnA?feature=shared

Flagship Ukrainian brigade trained in France goes AWOL (The Telegraph:)

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/01/02/ukrainian-soldiers-go-awol-before-shot-fired/

Russia 'shoots down Santa' (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/12/27/russia-shoots-down-santa-claus-in-propaganda-video/

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

Email: [email protected]

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

Day 1,044.

Today, we look at the likely military innovations and political events in the year to come. We also report on Russia's decisions to ban crypto-currency mining to preserve its energy grid and to charge nightclub attendees for trying to arouse interest in non-traditional relations. How portentous will 2025 be for Russia?

Contributors:

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

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

Content referenced:

'There is a question no one dares ask about Vladimir Putin' (Francis in The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/12/24/there-is-a-question-no-one-dares-ask-about-vladimir-putin/

Russians ban carols and nativity scenes in occupied territories, Ukrainian resistance says (Ukrainian Pravda):

https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2025/01/1/7491646/

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

Email: [email protected]

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