How do you celebrate Christmas while living under constant threat of your home being bombed, air raid sirens going off and while your friends and loved ones are fighting on the frontline?

Two people who’ve appeared regularly on Ukrainecast this year got together in a Kyiv restaurant to chat through their plans for the festive season and their hopes for the new year.

Vitali, a graduate in his 20s and Iryna, mother to baby Mira (who makes a special appearance), recorded a conversation about what it's like to celebrate the festive season in Ukraine, while the war rages on.

This episode was made by Danny Wittenberg. The producers were Anna Chornous and Diane Richardson. The technical producer was Dan Ehrlich. The series producer is Tim Walklate. The senior news editor is Sara Wadeson.

Email [email protected] with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480

You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast’s Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord

Back in the summer, the actor and broadcaster Stephen Fry came into the Ukrainecast studio to discuss his visit to Ukraine to see how war is impacting the country's mental health.

To mark Christmas Day, he reads a short Christmas story which touches on some of the challenges Ukrainians face this winter.

‘Miracle in the Darkness’ is a short story from the book ‘Brave Tales’ by Iryna Vyhovska and Victoria Murovana. It was published by ACCA, in association with Suspilne media.

If you have been affected by any of the issues discussed in this episode you can visit BBC Action Line on www.bbc.co.uk/actionline

The producers were Arsenii Sokolov and Lizzy McNeill. The series producer is Tim Walklate. The senior news editor is Sara Wadeson.

Email [email protected] with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480

You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast’s Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord

Sources in Kyiv say Ukraine killed Igor Kirillov, a senior Russian general who died in scooter blast in Moscow on Tuesday.

So how might the Kremlin respond? And what could this mean for the war in Ukraine?

Latvia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Baiba Braže and The Economist's defence editor Shashank Joshi give their reaction.

Also, can President-elect Trump restrict Ukraine’s ability to use long range missiles within Russia?

You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast’s Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord

Could American military aid dry up once Donald Trump enters the White House in 2025? Are Russians and Ukrainians ready for a peace deal? And how might that take shape?

BBC Eastern Europe correspondent Sarah Rainsford and Russia expert Mark Galeotti are joined by an assortment of experts to look ahead to what could be a pivotal year for the war in Ukraine.

Also, the BBC’s Tim Whewell is in the studio to discuss an issue that could overshadow Poland’s support for Kyiv.

Today’s episode is presented by Jamie Coomarasamy and Vitaly Shevchenko.

You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast’s Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord

The man behind the Magnitsky Act on Trump, hybrid warfare and fighting the Kremlin.

Sir William Browder is an American investor who made a fortune in post-Soviet Russia before falling foul of Vladimir Putin.

He’s now a fierce critic of President Vladimir Putin - and today he’s in the Ukrainecast studio to discuss why the rouble is tanking, what it’s like to draw the ire of the Russian president and whether an end to the war is near.

Today’s episode is presented by Jamie Coomarasamy and Frank Gardner.

You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast’s Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord

Can Donald Trump end the war in Ukraine? Is negotiating with Russia a realistic option? What can President Biden accomplish in the final weeks of his term?

John Sullivan, former US Ambassador to Russia under President Trump, joins Ukrainecast to share his experience of working with Russians and explains why continued US support for Ukraine is in the nation’s best interest.

Today’s episode is presented by Lucy Hockings and Vitaly Shevchenko.

You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast’s Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord

Your questions answered on ATACMS, land mines and the risk of escalation

Jamie and Vitaly are joined by the defence editor of the Economist, Shashank Joshi, to examine how useful ATACMS can be for Ukraine, what exactly are anti-personnel land-mines and whether we should take Russia's change to its nuclear doctrine seriously.

Today’s episode is presented by Jamie Coomarasamy and Vitaly Shevchenko.

You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast’s Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord

Three Ukrainians on how their lives have changed and their hopes for peace.

Victoria, James and Vitaly are in the studio to reflect on 1000 days of the conflict. They’re joined by student Vitalii, teacher Olga and young mum Iryna - three friends of the podcast whose stories we’ve followed over the last few years. They also answer listener questions.

US President Joe Biden has given the green light for Ukraine to use long-range missiles supplied by US to strike Russia.

But what could the deployment of these missiles mean for Ukraine? And why has President Biden done this now?

Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaly Shevchenko.

You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast’s Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord

Will Donald Trump pull out of Nato? What should we make of his recent appointments? How worried should we be about the threat of nuclear war?

Jens Stoltenberg, who stood down as Nato secretary general last month is in the studio and answers all these questions… and more.

Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaly Shevchenko.

You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast’s Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord

Audio credit: The Shawn Ryan show