Ukrainecast

As Ukraine and Russia are hit by “the storm of the century,” how does winter weather affect troops on the front line?

Today’s episode is presented by Vitaly Shevchenko and Irena Taranyuk.

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

Last week Sonya’s girlfriend, artist Sasha Skochilenko, was convicted of spreading "false information" about the Russian army for putting anti-war stickers on grocery products.

The same day she was sentenced to seven years in a penal colony, Putin pardoned a convicted murderer. Dr Jade McGlynn, Research Fellow, The Department of War Studies at King's College, reflects on what this development means for Russian society, and whether Putin’s “peace” comments have any weight behind them.

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

It was made by Keiligh Baker with Lucy Boast, Arsenii Sokolov and Clare Williamson. The technical producer was Ricardo McCarthy. The series producer is Tim Walklate. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

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

What’s life like inside the Russian-occupied city?

We’re joined in the studio by Ukrainian journalist and writer, Mstyslav Chernov, who made the film '20 Days in Mariupol’. He describes what it was like to shoot the documentary from inside Mariupol, which chronicles the Russian invasion of the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol in 2022.

And Zhanna Bezpiatchuk from the BBC Ukrainian service gives us an insight into everyday life there under Russian occupation today.

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

Thousands of men have fled Ukraine to avoid conscription, according to a BBC investigation. The BBC’s Kateryna Khinkulova joins us in the studio to explore why, as well as the moral dilemma facing those who attempt to escape the draft.

Sam Cranny-Evans from the London-based security think-tank, the Royal United Services Institute, examines how the war might pan out in the coming years.

And what does Lord Cameron’s visit to Kyiv tell us about British priorities?

Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Gabriel Gatehouse.

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

A new investigation claims a Ukrainian military officer coordinated the attack on Russia's Nord Stream pipelines. But was he acting as a maverick? Or on behalf of Ukraine?

We hear from James Waterhouse in Kyiv and Newsnight’s diplomatic editor Mark Urban, and get the latest update on the "stalemate" war.

And we catch up with Olga, a teacher from Kherson, who has lived through Russian occupation, constant bombardment and floods. She tells us what life was like under Russian occupation and how that compares with life one year after her city was liberated.

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

In February, Ukrainecast collaborated with BBC Newsnight on a live show to mark the first anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

One of the guests was Elya, who was just 17 when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

After two weeks hiding with her family in their building’s basement, a missile strike on another floor prompted her to flee. She reunites with Victoria and Vitaly to discuss what has happened to her since.

And the BBC’s Sofia Bettiza discusses Ukraine’s chances of joining the EU.

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

After Ukraine’s commander-in-chief described the war as being at a stalemate, and President Zelensky’s subsequent denial that his country’s efforts are faltering, how is the counter-offensive progressing?

We’re joined by military analyst Justin Crump, Catherine Sendak from the Center for European Policy Analysis in Washington DC and hear from a soldier on the frontline.

Today’s episode is presented by James Waterhouse and Vitaly Shevchenko.

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

How serious a threat are landmines to Ukraine?

Jasmine Dann from the Halo Trust in Mykolaiv and Paul Heslop at the UN Development Programme in Ukraine answer listener questions about the huge challenge of clearing the millions of landmines in Ukraine.

And we hear from the Economist’s Arkady Ostrovsky about his interview with the commander of Ukraine's armed forces, Valery Zaluzhny.

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

An antisemitic mob stormed Makhachkala airport in Dagestan over the weekend, looking for Jewish passengers arriving from Israel.

What could this violence mean for the Kremlin?

To answer this - and more - Victoria and Vitaly chat with author and journalist Oliver Bullough and Nina Khrushcheva, a professor of International Affairs at The New School in New York.

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

Is private military group Redut taking the place of Wagner?

Since the death of Russian mercenary leader and oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin, a number of groups have been vying to take the place of the Wagner mercenary group he built up. So who are they, what is the difference between them, and who are they recruiting? The BBC’s Lisa Fokht has been investigating...

And we hear from Ukrainian composer Iryna Gould delivering musical instruments to children in frontline towns. She tells us about the importance of music for young people in war zones.

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.