Ukrainecast

Both Ukrainian and Russian fighters have started describing the counter-offensive as hitting in ‘waves’. But what exactly does that that mean?

The BBC’s security correspondent Frank Gardner and Owen Matthews, a historian and former Newsweek Moscow bureau chief, return to the pod to digest the military tactics and innovations from both sides on the frontline.

Also, we take a closer look at the war’s impact on children in occupied territories - many of whom have been forcibly removed to Russia. Mykola Kuleba, Ukraine’s former ombudsman for children, tells us about the work his charity is doing to find them and bring them home. And Oksana Lebedeva describes the work done to support traumatised children in summer camps back in safer territories.

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

As a show trial begins of Azov Brigade fighters captured in last year’s siege of Mariupol, we hear from the fiancée of one about the torturous conditions they are being held in.

Also, just how many Russian fighters have lost their lives in the war so far? BBC Russian’s Olga Ivshina has been crunching the numbers.

And the BBC’s diplomatic correspondent James Landale joins us on a day when an African leaders’ peace mission visits Kyiv - and have to promptly take shelter from a missile attack.

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

The producers are Arsenii Sokolov, Clare Williamson, Drew Hyndman and Tom Smithard. The technical producer is Mike Regaard. The series producer is Tim Walklate. The editor is Sam Bonham.

We hear from the BBC’s James Waterhouse who is one of the first journalists to visit a newly freed village in the eastern Donetsk region.

Also, the day after Russia celebrates its national day, missiles rain down on the home city of Ukraine’s president killing at least 11.

Sunday Times correspondent Christina Lamb and BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner assess the dramatic developments in the last week including the floods in Kherson and the start of Ukraine’s counter-offensive.

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

Tales of resilience and rescue on the banks of the Dnipro river.

We speak to Ivan, a student from Kyiv who has driven to Kherson to help deliver aid to those affected, and Ukraine correspondent James Waterhouse tells us about the people he’s met who’ve been cut off by the floods amidst the shelling.

We speak to a woman from the Belgorod region, near the border with Ukraine, about what it’s like to live in a part of Russia that is very much caught up in the conflict.

Professor Mark Galeotti on what the Kremlin's attitude to Belgorod tells us about the way it's fighting the wider war.

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

We hear from Olga who has lived in Kherson throughout the war, the occupation, the constant shelling and now the floods.

Today's episode is hosted by Victoria Derbyshire and produced by Clare Williamson. The planning producer is Drew Hyndman and the technical producer is Philip Bull. The series producer is Tim Walklate and the editor is Sam Bonham.

Thousands flee floods as Ukraine and Russia blame each other for dam break.

The BBC’s international editor, Jeremy Bowen, is in the studio to discuss what could have happened to the dam, why anyone would attack it, and what impact this could have on the wider conflict. Also, we get through to one man living and working in one of the flooded areas.

Russia says it’s thwarted a major Ukrainian attack in the latest sign that that the counter-offensive may have started. Meanwhile, Kyiv says that "offensive actions" are under way in the east. But how significant could these developments be?

Kyiv correspondent James Waterhouse and security correspondent Frank Gardner discuss whether we’re now in a new phase of the war.

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

Yulia lives in Kyiv with her three-month-old baby and two young children who are five and eight. She describes how they shelter from Russian attacks in their bathroom and says she’s questioning whether to stay in the city where she has built her life, or leave to find somewhere safer in the west of the country.

The BBC Ukraine correspondent James Waterhouse updates us on the latest overnight attacks and explores the internal political tensions growing over a locked bomb shelter, a situation that proved fatal.

And surgery is hard enough without having to do it in a war zone. UK medic Shehan Hettiaratchy and Ukrainian surgeon Andriy Formanchuk explain how exchanging expertise is saving lives.

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

The producers were Clare Williamson, Madeleine Drury and Drew Hyndman. The technical producer was Hannah Montgomery. The series producer is Tim Walklate. The assistant editor is Alison Gee.

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

Several buildings in Moscow have been hit in rare drone attacks. President Putin claimed the strikes were aimed at “civilian targets” and accused Kyiv of trying to frighten Russia. Kyiv was also targeted for the third night running - buildings there were set on fire and at least one person is reported to have been killed.

A missile strike on a medical centre in Dnipro has killed at least two people and injured dozens more. The BBC’s Ukraine correspondent James Waterhouse is there and describes the rescue operation. Shashank Joshi, defence editor at The Economist, explains why Russia has targeted healthcare facilities. And Daniele Palumbo from BBC Verify explains how his team checked the authenticity of video of the hospital.

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

Produced by Clare Williamson with Arsenii Sokolov, Tom Smithard and Madeleine Drury. The technical producer was Dafydd Evans. The assistant editor is Alison Gee and the 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