Maria Alyokhina, founding member of the Russian punk band Pussy Riot, joins Vitaly in the Ukrainecast studio to talk about her experience in detention and her escape from the country disguised as a delivery driver.

What does she make of the current Russian opposition movement, and will Russia always feel like home?

She also talks about her book, Political Girl.

Also this week, Victoria and Vitaly discuss reports of a rift, denied by Russia, between Vladimir Putin and one of his most loyal advisors, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

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

The producers were Laurie Kalus and Julia Webster. The technical producers were Ricardo McCarthy and Ben Andrews. The social producer was Sophie Millward. The series producer is Chris Flynn. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

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

While Russia makes advances on the strategic city of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine, Western sanctions on Russian oil have begun to impact how some countries source their energy.

And as Ukraine continues to ask its allies for more money and weapons, some are left wondering what’s happening with the frozen Russian assets in held in Belgium.

Plus, why doesn’t Ukraine obtain nuclear weapons? And what would happen if the country ran out of people who are willing to fight?

To answer those questions and more, Lucy is joined by diplomatic correspondent James Landale in Kyiv, Europe digital editor Paul Kirby and senior digital journalist Laura Gozzi.

Today’s episode is presented by Lucy Hockings.

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

Sophia Yanchevska is a nineteen-year-old combat medic working on the frontline in Ukraine. She has been speaking to Lucy about seeing the war close up, the friends she has lost, and her hopes for the future. Plus, what it was like to feature in a new film ‘She’ directed by Evgen Matvienko which recently premiered in London.

Also this week - Victoria, Vitaly, and Lucy discuss the situation in Pokrovsk, the city Russia has been attempting to seize for more than a year, as it looks to strengthen its foothold in the Donetsk region.

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

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

After an EU decision to use frozen Russian assets to aid Ukraine was postponed until December, discussion among European leaders returned to plans for a ceasefire this week. And the latest example of so-called nuclear 'sabre-rattling' by Vladimir Putin, forced Donald Trump to respond with a vague commitment of his own to resume US nuclear testing for the first time in decades.

On this edition of Ukrainecast, Jamie and Vitaly are joined by BBC Verify's Olga Robinson and senior digital journalist Laura Gozzi, to answer your questions. Could Denmark and Sweden police the Baltic Sea? What happened to the Russian dam targeted by Ukraine? And are Russians facing discrimination from authorities in Europe?

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

This week, Moscow's top general has claimed that Russia has tested a low-flying experimental nuclear-powered cruise missile. It is said to be powered by a nuclear reactor and is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead with a potentially unlimited range.

Russia calls it Burevestnik, Nato have codenamed it ‘Skyfall’, and others have said it’s a ‘tiny flying Chernobyl’. Western experts have previously cast doubt over missile's strategic value and Russian claims of having successfully tested it.

But how dangerous is it?

Victoria is joined by the BBC’s Ben Tavener and Catriona Perry in Moscow and Washington respectively, plus Dr Justin Bronk who is a senior research fellow for Airpower and Technology at the military think tank RUSI.

Plus, after Trump shifts his positions on sanctions, we look to the future to ask how the US president could potentially put more economic pressure on Russia.

Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire. The producers were Julia Webster and Rufus Gray. The technical producer was Dave O’Neill. The series producer is Chris Flynn. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

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

In the last week, Volodymyr Zelensky failed to secure long-range Tomahawk missiles from Donald Trump during a reportendly heated meeting. Then, a planned summit in Budapest between the US and Russian presidents was called off by Trump who said it would have been a ‘waste of time’.

But, the White House has now increased the pressure on the Kremlin announcing sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil companies, a first for the Trump administration since his return to office. But will these sanctions be enough to push Putin to the negotiating table? Or will the Kremlin see them as an escalation?

And as European leaders join Zelensky in insisting that any talks on ending the war in Ukraine should start with freezing the current front line, how should we interpret the Ukrainian leader's language?

To answer your questions, Lucy and Vitaly are joined by the BBC’s Europe Digital Editor Paul Kirby and senior digital journalist Laura Gozzi. The team also discuss the EU’s plan for using frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine and what, if anything, Ukraine is doing to combat propaganda within Russia.

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

Despite suggestions of an agreement on the supply of long-range Tomahawk missiles, President Zelensky went back to Kyiv empty handed after his meeting with Donald Trump on Friday.

So what happened?

Victoria and Vitaly speak with Christopher Miller, the Ukraine correspondent for the Financial Times, which has been reporting details of swearing from Donald Trump in the room, and the ‘tossing’ of battlefield maps.

Vitaly also speaks with acclaimed historian Serhii Plokhy about the nuclear threat and lessons from the Cold War that he writes about in his new book The Nuclear Age: An Epic Race for Arms, Power, and Survival.

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

As Volodymyr Zelensky prepares to make his latest pitch to Donald Trump at the White House on Friday, the US is yet to announce a decision on the delivery of long range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine. Could Washington have given the green light behind the scenes already? Are Ukrainian claims of frontline counteroffensives being exaggerated? And which side is coming out on top when it comes to drone technology?

To answer your questions, Lucy is joined by BBC Verify’s Olga Robinson and Mikey Kay from The Security Brief on the BBC news channel. The team also discuss Russian attacks on energy infrastructure, Nato military exercises and Halloween celebrations in Ukraine.

Today’s episode is presented by Lucy Hockings.

The producers were Laurie Kalus and Julia Webster. The technical producer was Jonny Baker. The social producer was Joe Wilkinson. The series producer is Chris Flynn. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

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

After a peace agreement in the Middle East, is President Trump now turning his attention back to the situation in Ukraine? Victoria and James are joined by BBC filmmaker Jane Corbin to ask what, if anything, has changed when it comes to peace efforts in Europe.

And - we hear about some of the more unfamiliar jobs created by the war in Ukraine. Journalist Richard Pendry has been embedded with military recruiters pursuing draft dodgers, and one of the men responsible for informing families of the deaths of their loved ones in battle.

Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and James Waterhouse.

The producers were Laurie Kalus and Julia Webster. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The social producer was Sophie Millward. The series producer is Chris Flynn. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

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

How might Russia respond to the potential delivery of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine? What can Europe do to win round Hungary's Viktor Orbán? And what would a drone wall to protect Europe actually look like?

To answer your questions, Jamie and Vitaly are joined by Ukraine correspondent James Waterhouse and BBC Verify's Olga Robinson. The team also discuss proxy wars, foreign troops and false flag operations.

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