Ukraine: The Latest

Day 1,596.

Ukraine continues playing its game of Whack-A-Hole on the Kremlin's energy plants. Dom looks at technical developments on the battlefield, including the suggestion Ukrainian troops are now deliberately starting their assaults with next to no equipment, before turning to politics: with Tomahawks on their way to Europe and Marine Le Pen, possibly, on her way to the Elysee Palace. Adelie French-splains what a National Rally presidency could mean for European security and Ukraine. Finally, Adelie is joined by Alexander Browder, the 17-year-old who was sanctioned by the Kremlin for exposing a Russian-backed crypto laundering network.

Contributors:

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

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

With thanks to Alexander Browder.

Producer: Rachel Porter

Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett

Video Producer: Sophie O’Sullivan

Social Producer: Tom Steed

Studio Director: Meghan Searle

Executive Editor: Francis Dearnley

Created by David Knowles

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:

Exclusive: US fund to make 'big' investment in Ukraine's critical minerals this fall, economy minister says (Kyiv Independent)

https://kyivindependent.com/exclusive-us-fund-to-make-big-investment-in-ukraines-critical-minerals-this-fall-economy-minister-says/

Uefa drags its heels over action against Russia’s fake Ukrainian clubs (The Guardian)

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/27/uefa-action-russia-fake-ukrainian-clubs-shakhtar-donetsk#:~:text=The%20fake%20Shakhtar%2C%20who%20play,promoted%20to%20the%20third%20tier.

Au RN, quinze ans d’affaires judiciaires sous l’ère Marine Le Pen (Le Monde)

https://www.lemonde.fr/les-decodeurs/article/2026/07/07/au-rassemblement-national-quinze-ans-d-affaires-judiciaires-sous-l-ere-marine-le-pen_6721393_4355770.html

French court clears way for Marine Le Pen to run for president but orders her to wear electronic tag (BBC)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c70yk5xjyl1t

No longer Putin's friends but not for sure. What connects Le Pen's party with the Kremlin (European Pravda)

https://www.eurointegration.com.ua/eng/articles/2025/09/17/7220329/

Confronting the Illicit-Finance Hydra in Crypto Markets: Protecting Retail Investors and Disrupting Hostile Government Exploitation (Alexander Browder for Henry Jackson Society)

https://henryjacksonsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/HJS-Crypto-Currency-Report-web-final.pdf

EMAIL US:

Contact the team on [email protected]. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many as possible.

Thumbnail image credit: X/@front_ukrainian

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Ukraine smashes major Russian oil refinery
• US sells Tomahawks to Germany

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

Day 1,595.

Ukraine strikes yet more Russian shadow fleet tankers in the Black Sea, bringing their total to more than 30 in just four days. Adelie reports on how Kyiv’s latest strikes on oil facilities has President Putin feeling the mounting frustration of ordinary Russians. Then we hear from our correspondents in Ankara who reflect on “a Nato summit of two halves,” where Donald Trump’s bombastic remarks about Greenland and Spain gave way to discord and, apparently, love in the Turkish capital. Finally, Latvia’s foreign minister looks ahead to the next meeting of Nato countries.

Contributors:

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

Sophie O’Sullivan (Telegraph journalist).

Sophia Yan (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @Sophia_yan on X.

Joe Barnes (Diplomatic Editor). @Barnes_Joe on X.

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

Producer: Phil Atkins

Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett

Video Producer: Sophie O’Sullivan

Social Producer: Tom Steed

Studio Director: Meghan Searle

Executive Editor: Francis Dearnley

Created by David Knowles

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:

North Korea Supplies Up to 40% of Russia's Artillery Shells, Ukrainian Intel Says (Kyiv Post)

https://www.kyivpost.com/post/79862

The Nato member powering Europe’s rearmament (Sophia Yan for The Telegraph)

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/09/how-turkey-became-new-pillar-european-defence/

Ukraine has ‘two months before Putin escalates war’ (Joe Barnes and Sophia Yan for The Telegraph)

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/09/ukraine-has-two-months-end-war-or-face-massive-escalation/

Listen to our sister podcast Iran: The Latest for updates on the conflict in the Middle East

https://linktr.ee/IranTheLatest

EMAIL US:

Contact the team on [email protected]. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many as possible.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Ukraine strikes over 30 Russian tankers in four days
• Trump gushes about “tremendous unity” at Nato summit

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

Day 1,594.

Donald Trump has handed Ukraine permission to build its own Patriot missiles as he met with Volodymyr Zelensky at the Nato summit. It comes after the American president told the meeting in Ankara the US-Iran ceasefire was “over”, and said Washington would cut all trade ties with Spain as he met with Mark Rutte. Our team in Ankara has all the latest updates from a busy day in the Turkish capital. Dom and Francis discuss the former Ukrainian commander-in-chief’s piece for the Telegraph where he warns we mustn't “assume Russia has lost the war”. Later, Joe Barnes speaks exclusively to the Czech president Petr Pavl.

Contributors:

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

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

Joe Barnes (Diplomatic Editor). @Barnes_Joe on X.

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

Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett

Video Producer: Sophie O’Sullivan

Social Producer: Tom Steed

Studio Director: Meghan Searle

Executive Editor: Francis Dearnley

Created by David Knowles

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:

Listen to Iran: The Latest for more from NATO and interview with Al Carns:

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/iran-the-latest/id1712903296 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7gPBO0qnZI1YBi25zaVT1c 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dk

Listen to Iran: The Latest for more from NATO:

https://linktr.ee/iranthelatest 

Telegraph Live Blog of the NATO Summit:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/08/us-iran-strikes-persian-gulf-nato-chief-summit-ankara/ 

Do not assume Russia has lost the war (Valerii Zaluzhnyi for The Telegraph)

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/08/ukraine-ambassador-do-not-assume-russia-has-lost-war/ 

Ankara Summit Declaration (NATO):

https://www.nato.int/en/about-us/official-texts-and-resources/official-texts/2026/07/08/the-ankara-summit-declaration?utm_source=multi&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ankara-declaration

Trump revives plan to buy Greenland (Connor Stringer, Joe Barnes and Tony Diver for The Telegraph)

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/07/trump-revives-plan-to-buy-greenland/  

Russia back in Olympics...World Cup could be next

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/olympics/2026/07/07/russia-olympic-ban-lifted/ 

The one sport moving against Russia is run by its ex-deputy PM (Euromaidan Press)

https://euromaidanpress.com/2026/07/06/fide-suspends-russia-malcolm-pein-interview/ 

NATO allies to sign a raft of missile deals with US companies (Politico)

https://www.politico.eu/article/nato-allies-to-sign-a-raft-of-missile-deals-with-us-companies/ 

EMAIL US:

Contact the team on [email protected]. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many as possible.

HIGHLIGHTS:

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

Day 1,593.

Today, as Ukraine reportedly launches one of the largest waves of air strikes inside Russia since the full-scale invasion began – while also targeting multiple Russian vessels in the Sea of Azov – we bring you the latest from the NATO summit in Turkey, where world leaders are gathering for what could prove one of the most consequential meetings of the war. What is really at stake for the alliance? How secure is continued US support for NATO? And what military commitments can realistically be expected that will strengthen President Volodymyr Zelensky’s hand, both on the battlefield and at the negotiating table, as pressure mounts on Vladimir Putin at home?

Contributors:

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

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

Venetia Rainey (Host on Iran: The Latest). @Venetiarainey on X.

Roland Oliphant (Host on Iran: The Latest). @RolandOliphant on X.

Sophia Yan (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @Sophia_Yan on X.

With thanks to Lithuania’s representative to NATO, Darius Jauniskis, and former UK Armed Forces Minister, Al Carns MP.

Producer: Phil Atkins

Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett

Video Producer: Sophie O’Sullivan

Social Producer: Tom Steed

Studio Director: Meghan Searle

Executive Editor: Francis Dearnley

Created by David Knowles

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:

Listen to Iran: The Latest for more from NATO and interview with Al Carns:

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/iran-the-latest/id1712903296 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7gPBO0qnZI1YBi25zaVT1c 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dk

NATO Summit Live Blog (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/07/nato-summit-latest-ankara-turkey-starmer-trump/ 

Britain to lead European drive to build long-range Nato missiles (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/06/britain-lead-european-missile-project-reliance-us/ 

Sleeping families crushed by Putin’s trademark ‘double tap’ strike (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/06/sleeping-families-crushed-putin-trademark-double-tap-strike/ 

Woman suspected of Ukrainian tycoon bomb plot in Monaco shot dead (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/07/woman-suspected-of-ukrainian-tycoon-bomb-plot-monaco-shot/ 

How Britain let Europe down on defence (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/07/how-britain-let-europe-down-with-defence/ 

Erdogan crushes dissent before rolling out Nato red carpet (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/07/recep-erdogan-turkey-ankara-dissent-nato-summit-ankara/

EMAIL US:

Contact the team on [email protected]. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many as possible.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Ukraine hits Russia with ‘biggest drone attack in two years’
• Trump tells Nato summit war will be settled ‘soon’

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

Day 1,592.

Ahead of the NATO summit in Turkey, Russia kills more Ukrainian civilians in the second mass aerial strike in four days. Moscow also claims they’ve taken the Donbas city of Kostiantynivka, then later says fighting is ongoing – Dom tries to decipher the conflicting reports. Then he has the latest on Ukraine’s most recent drone strikes against a St Petersburg oil terminal, as Russians consider refuelling in China amid petrol shortages across the country. And we hear from our team on the ground in Ankara before looking ahead to what we can expect from this year’s NATO summit, where Trump is expected to put pressure on allies over defence spending.

Contributors:

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

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

Producer: Rachel Porter

Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett

Video Producer: Sophie O’Sullivan

Social Producer: Tom Steed

Studio Director: Meghan Searle

Executive Editor: Francis Dearnley

Created by David Knowles

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:

Trump threatens NATO on eve of summit

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/07/05/trump-threatens-nato-on-eve-of-summit/

Putin faces a fork in the road (Memphis Barker for the Telegraph)

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/06/vladimir-putin-faces-fork-in-road-russia-ukraine/ 

Fuel shortages after Ukrainian drone attacks push Russians to refuel in China (RBC Ukraine)

https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/fuel-shortages-push-russians-to-refill-their-1783332958.html 

EMAIL US:

Contact the team on [email protected]. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many as possible.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Kyiv strikes St Petersburg again as NATO leaders prepare for Trump summit
• War unleashes 'fire tornado' in Chernobyl

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

Day 1,589.

Russia’s fuel crisis continues, to the intense frustration of ordinary Russians, and to the delight of Ukrainians, who are trolling Russians by flooding a fuel availability app with fake reviews. After Ukraine’s attack on the NORSI oil refinery in Kstovo, 800km inside Russia, Alex Nichol reports on how Kyiv is shutting down more energy facilities in occupied areas. Adelie dives into reports that Moscow is planning an attack on Poland and the Baltics to test Nato. Plus, authorities in Germany have just accused Kyiv of sanctioning the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline attack. Finally we hear from Dr Jade McGlynn, occupied territories expert, on what comes next for Crimea – isolation or liberation?

Contributors:

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

Alex Nichol (Telegraph journalist).

Dr Jade McGlynn (Occupied Territories Expert, King’s College London).

Producer: Rachel Porter

Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett

Video Producer: Sophie O’Sullivan

Social Producer: Tom Steed

Studio Director: Meghan Searle

Executive Editor: Francis Dearnley

Created by David Knowles

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:

Russia planning attack on Poland to test Nato resolve, US warns (The Telegraph)

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/03/russia-planning-attack-on-poland-test-nato-resolve-us-warns/

Ukrainian refugees face eviction amid Poland and Kyiv spat (The Telegraph)

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/02/ukrainian-refugees-face-eviction-amid-poland-kyiv-spat/

EU shipyard races to service Putin’s LNG fleet before sanctions bite (Politico)

https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-shipyard-races-to-service-russia-vladimir-putin-lng-fleet-before-sanctions-bite/

The ‘Waze of Petrol’, according to Dr Jade McGlynn

https://estbenzin.ru/

Ukrainian Digital Media Archive

https://duma.org.ua/

EMAIL US:

Contact the team on [email protected]. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many as possible.

Thumbnail image credit: Unmanned Systems Forces of Ukraine

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Russia planning attack on Poland to test Nato, US warns as 
• Ukraine strikes shut down oil refineries in occupied territories

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

Day 1,588.

After Russia unleashes one of its deadliest attacks on Kyiv in recent weeks, killing at least 20 people and injuring dozens more, Dom reports on a city that knew the assault was coming hours in advance. He then examines a major new report alleging that Russia’s shadow fleet has been used not only to evade sanctions, but potentially to launch drones targeting military bases and civilian airports across Europe, raising profound new questions about the Kremlin’s hybrid war against the West. Later, Dom, Adelie and Francis answer your questions in the first edition of our new regular postbag segment.

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.

Producer: Phil Atkins

Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett

Video Producer: Sophie O’Sullivan

Social Producer: Tom Steed

Studio Director: Meghan Searle

Executive Editor: Francis Dearnley

Created by David Knowles

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:

Listen to ‘Ernstfall: What if Russia Attacks NATO? Inside a German Wargame’ (featuring dubs from Francis Dearnley and James Rothwell): – 

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/ernstfall-what-if-russia-attacks-nato-inside-a/id6785429115 

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/033GHuBrh6zwl1mq4TVeY6?si=-RApaIauQXaQhD5tgzhD_g&nd=1&dlsi=50aee65f40c4451b 

Eighteen killed in massive Russian attack on Kyiv (The Telegraph)

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/02/ukraine-war-russia-attacks-kyiv-drones-missiles/ 

Russia’s UAV Campaign Over Europe (International Institute for Strategic Studies)

https://www.iiss.org/research-paper/2026/06/russias-uav-campaign-over-europe/ 

Russian drones spy on nuclear weapons in Britain (The Telegraph)

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/07/02/putin-shadow-tankers-drones-nuclear-weapons-russia-nato/ 

Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, July 1, 2026 (Institute for the Study of War)

https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-july-1-2026/

Sanctioned Russian billionaire retains control of Aughinish parent company, Sweden finds (Irish Times)

https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2026/07/01/sanctioned-russian-billionaire-retains-control-of-aughinish-parent-company-sweden-finds/

Russia buys gasoline from India to tackle shortages, sources say (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/russia-buys-gasoline-india-tackle-shortages-sources-say-2026-07-01/

Russia shuts railway border crossings with Finland, Estonia and Latvia (Politico)

https://www.politico.eu/article/russia-suspends-railway-border-crossings-finland-baltic-neighbors/ 

How likely is the use of nuclear weapons by Russia? (Chatham House)

https://www.chathamhouse.org/2022/03/how-likely-use-nuclear-weapons-russia

Russia’s Nuclear Signaling in 2026 and Implications for European Security (DGAP) 

https://dgap.org/en/research/publications/russias-nuclear-signaling-2026-and-implications-european-security

Nuclear Signaling since the beginning of the full-scale invasion (Ukraine: The Latest, February 3rd)

https://podcasts.apple.com/gr/podcast/putin-waits-until-kyiv-hits-20c-before-knocking-out/id1612424182?i=1000747895284

Postcards of the Front:

https://postcardstothefrontcanada.com/

EMAIL US:

Contact the team on [email protected]. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many as possible.

Thumbnail image credit: Vlada.UA

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Ukraine's '40-day campaign' to break Russia continues as Kyiv suffers huge attack
• Shadow fleet drones spy on Europe's nuclear warheads

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

Day 1,587.

As more of Russia’s ground-based space infrastructure is launched by Ukraine into low earth orbit, eight days after the first such strike, Dom asks: where are the air defences? In the words of Ukrainian defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov it’s just “one crisis after another" for Russia, as he talks about the campaign to strangle Crimea. Meanwhile, Russian milbloggers are complaining that the life expectancy of a Russian soldier at the front is now about half an hour; criticisms that drew the remarkable response from the State Duma that Russian people should “just get on with it”. Russia analyst James Kilner reports on how fuel shortages are dominating life in the country. Later, David Miliband of the International Rescue Committee gives a glimpse of civilian life near the frontline.

Contributors:

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

James Kilner (Russia Analyst). @Jkjourno on X.

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

Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett

Video Producer: Sophie O’Sullivan

Social Producer: Tom Steed

Studio Director: Meghan Searle

Executive Editor: Francis Dearnley

Created by David Knowles

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:

Africans being tricked by Russia to fight in the killing forests of Ukraine (The Telegraph)

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/06/14/africans-tricked-russia-killing-forests-ukraine/

As the Tide Turns Against Putin, Beware the Drowning Man (Foreign Policy)

https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/06/25/russia-ukraine-war-putin-escalation-nato-europe/ 

EMAIL US:

Contact the team on [email protected]. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many as possible.

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

Day 1,586.

Today, as Vladimir Putin continues to make grossly exaggerated claims about Russia’s gains on the battlefield, we assess the latest military progress of both sides, before looking at the long-delayed and controversial defence investment plan finally announced by the British. More money for drones, autonomous systems, and artificial intelligence: but does it go far enough, and how close is London to hitting the 5% NATO target demanded by President Donald Trump? Then we hear what the citizens of Kyiv think about Ukraine being on the pathway to membership of the European Union, and report on a manhunt underway in southern France after a parcel bomb exploded at a residential building in neighbouring Monaco, injuring wealthy Ukrainian businessman Vadym Yermolaiev.

Contributors:

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

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

James Crisp (Telegraph’s Europe Editor). @JamesCrisp6 on X.

Antonia Langford (Freelance Journalist in Kyiv). @Antonialford on X

Producer: Phil Atkins

Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett

Video Producer: Sophie O’Sullivan

Social Producer: Gabby Colvin

Studio Director: Meghan Searle

Executive Editor: Francis Dearnley

Created by David Knowles

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:

Listen to our sister podcast Iran: The Latest:

Video: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dk 

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/iran-the-latest/id1712903296 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7gPBO0qnZI1YBi25zaVT1c

The battle to bring Europe’s biggest military into the EU (James Crisp, Antonia Langford and Joe Barnes for The Telegraph)

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/06/24/the-battle-to-bring-europes-biggest-military-into-the-eu/ 

Ukrainian tycoon injured in Monaco bombing (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/06/29/monaco-house-explosion-three-injured/ 

Meduza has identified over a thousand war veterans who have already received positions within the Russian government (Meduza, in Russian):

https://meduza.io/feature/2026/06/29/novaya-rossiyskaya-elita

EMAIL US:

Contact the team on [email protected]. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many as possible.

Thumbnail image credit: Defense Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU)

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Ukraine blows up railway bridges and Russian space centre
• UK claims army will be '10 times more lethal' as new defence plan revealed

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

Day 1,585.

After a weekend that saw Ukraine’s Constitution Day celebrated with yet more lengthy queues at petrol stations in Russia and Crimea – a situation not helped by Russian oil refineries continuing to self-sanction – Putin shrugs that these ‘difficult’ days are just a speed bump on the road to inevitable victory. Dom and Francis ponder on Alexander Lukashenko’s slightly odd weekend jaunt to China via Putin’s lakeside retreat in Valdai – at least we now know what all the extra air defence was shipped in for – and ask, is he looking for a new best friend? And finally, after news of a mass shooting in the northern German city of Stade, they speak to Berlin correspondent James Rothwell who has been reporting on NATO preparations for a possible future Battle of the Baltics.

Contributors:

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

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

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

Producer: Rachel Porter

Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett

Video Producer: Sophie O’Sullivan

Social Producer: Gabby Colvin

Studio Director: Meghan Searle

Executive Editor: Francis Dearnley

Created by David Knowles

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:

Putin: Russia is facing problems in Ukraine war (The Telegraph)

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/06/28/putin-russia-is-facing-problems-in-ukraine-war/ 

Nato prepares for the Battle of the Baltics (James Rothwell for The Telegraph)

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/06/23/nato-prepares-battle-baltics/ 

We’re ready to fight Russia tonight, vows head of German air force (James Rothwell for The Telegraph)

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/06/15/luftwaffe-chief-warns-russia-german-ready-to-fight-for-nato/ 

How German trains became the shame of a nation (James Rothwell for The Telegraph)

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/06/28/how-german-trains-became-the-shame-of-a-nation/ 

Germany considers return of military conscription (The Telegraph)

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/06/27/germany-considers-compulsory-conscription-defence-russia/ 

Turkey Offers to Host Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks (Kyiv Post)

https://www.kyivpost.com/post/79139 

Putin Says Expecting US Negotiators Once US Less Busy With Iran (Kyiv Post)

https://www.kyivpost.com/post/79177 

Serbian President Vučić says he will resign within ‘weeks’ (Politico)

https://www.politico.eu/article/serbian-president-vucic-says-he-will-resign-within-weeks/ 

Stray Ukraine drones worth the price of hitting Russia, says Estonian minister (Financial Times)

https://www.ft.com/content/f487526b-9646-456b-bccb-001f31090919?syn-25a6b1a6=1 

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HIGHLIGHTS:

• Putin confesses 'problems' in Ukraine war for first time
• Reports of fuel hoarding across Russia after long-range Ukrainian strikes

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