- 53 minutes 35 seconds'Fight for your existence,' Zelensky tells Putin in letter demanding face-to-face talks & Ukraine strikes five Russian ships
Day 1,561.
Today, Adelie and Dom look at how Ukraine continues embarrassing Russia during its three-day International Economic Forum, as Zelensky publishes an open letter to Vladimir Putin where he points out Russia’s weaknesses. He again asks the Russian president for a face-to-face meeting to bring the war to an end. As we record the episode, Putin is set to take the stage in St Petersburg. Then, we discuss China’s increasing involvement enabling the occupation in the occupied territories and how the Ukrainian resistance may have contributed to Ukraine’s successful mid-range campaign.
Contributors:
Adelie Pojzman-Pontay (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @adeliepjz on X.
Dom Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.
Dr Jade McGlynn (Occupied Territories Expert, King’s College London).
Producer: Rachel Porter
Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett
Video Producer: Max Bower
Social Producer: Katie Inglis
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:
Full text of Zelensky's open letter to Putin
https://kyivindependent.com/full-text-of-zelenskys-open-letter-to-putin/
'Just a show for Putin' — Inside the 2026 St. Petersburg Economic Forum (Kyiv Independent)
https://kyivindependent.com/just-a-show-for-putin-inside-the-2026-st-petersburg-economic-forum/
Russia is flooding Ukraine with fake migrant stories — and it's working (Kyiv Independent)
https://kyivindependent.com/inside-the-campaign-behind-ukraines-migrant-influx-panic/
EMAIL US:
Contact the team on [email protected]. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many on air and in our newsletter as possible.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- 'Fight for your existence,' Zelensky tells Putin in letter demanding face-to-face talks
- How China is enabling the Russian regime in the occupied territories
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
5 June 2026, 6:13 pm - 35 minutes 15 seconds'You will die in the mud,' Nato chief tells Russians & Poland demands permanent US base
Day 1,560.
Today, Sweden impounds a Russian cargo ship allegedly exporting Ukrainian grain from occupied territories. Then, as images of the results of yesterday’s Ukrainian strikes in and around St Petersburg start to appear, Marco Rubio denies any knowledge at all of a US delegation at the nearby economic forum, just as said participants show that they really don’t like the press asking them questions one little bit. Dom reports how Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte has directly addressed Russian men, telling them that if they go to fight in Ukraine “you’ll be left to suffer in the mud and die”, and Lily looks at a tight vote in the US House of Representatives over Ukraine funding that managed, just, to get over the line. And later, we go hull down with Hamish de Bretton Gordon looking at his new book about tanks and ask: given the lessons we’re learning from Ukraine, is his book out of date already, or released just in the nick of time?
Contributors:
Dom Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.
Lily Shanagher (Telegraph journalist). @lilyshanagher on X.
With thanks to Hamish de Bretton-Gordon.
Producer: Phil Atkins
Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett
Video Producer: Sophie O’Sullivan
Social Producer: Katie Inglis
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:
Rebuilding U.S. Missile Inventory: A Multiyear Project (Centre for Strategic and International Studies)
https://www.csis.org/analysis/rebuilding-us-missile-inventory-multiyear-project
'Heavy attack' hits Zaporizhzhia Thermal Power Plant, IAEA says (Kyiv Independent)
Peter Magyar interview with Allgemeine Zeitung (in German)
Hamish’s book Tank Command: How the Tank Changed the Face of Battle is out now:
https://linktr.ee/TankCommand
Russia considers working age of 12 to solve wartime jobs crisis (Antonia Langford for The Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/06/04/russia-considers-working-age-12-to-solve-wartime-job-crisis/
Putin is under pressure as the Ukraine war finally comes to Moscow and St Petersburg (Hamish de Bretton-Gordon for The Telegraph)
EMAIL US:
Contact the team on [email protected]. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many on air and in our newsletter as possible.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Sweden impounds a Russian cargo ship allegedly exporting Ukrainian grain from occupied territories
- US delegation at ‘Putin’s Davos’ refuses to speak to journalists
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
4 June 2026, 4:18 pm - 28 minutes 54 secondsZelensky crashes 'Putin's Davos' with humiliating St Petersburg strike as oligarchs bail out Russian state
Day 1,559.
Today, smoke billows over St Petersburg after Ukraine hits an oil terminal and military facilities, embarrassing Putin on the opening day of his International Economic Forum. Ukraine continues its mid-range and long-range strike campaign as Russia’s economy is bailed out by oligarchs. Finally, we hear from one of our reporters who bravely attempted to train with the Royal Marines snipers and how their unit is adapting for the future of warfare.
Contributors:
Adelie Pojzman-Pontay (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @adeliepjz on X.
Alex Nichol (Telegraph journalist).
With thanks to the Telegraph’s deputy global security editor Arthur Scott-Geddes.
Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett
Video Producer: Sophie O’Sullivan
Social Producer: Katie Inglis
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:
US, NATO allies to launch scaled-back Baltic Sea drills (Reuters)
https://www.reuters.com/world/us-nato-allies-launch-scaled-back-baltic-sea-drills-2026-06-02/
Russian weapons plant in flames after Ukrainian attack in Tambov Oblast (Kyiv Independent)
https://kyivindependent.com/russian-weapons-plant-in-flames-after-ukrainian-attack-in-tambov-oblast/
Future presence of US troops in Lithuania is 'under review,' says minister (Reuters)
https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/future-presence-us-troops-lithuania-is-under-review-says-minister-2026-06-02/
Ukraine’s Zelenskyy set to attend G7 summit in France (Politico)
https://www.politico.eu/article/ukraine-volodymyr-zelenskyy-attend-g7-summit-france/
Billionaires have begun making voluntary contributions to the budget (Expert.ru)
https://expert.ru/ekonomika/milliardery-nachali-perevodit-v-byudzhet-dobrovolnye-vznosy
I learnt to be a Royal Marines sniper (Arthur Scott-Geddes for The Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/06/03/marine-sniper-training-arbroath/
Dom’s interview with a Ukrainian sniper on hunting Russian tanks at night, PTSD and handling trauma: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3un6JguaOE
The Royal Marines Charity
EMAIL US:
Contact the team on [email protected]. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many on air and in our newsletter as possible.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Ukraine strikes St Petersburg on day one of ‘Putin’s Davos’
- What it’s like to train as a Royal Marines sniper
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
3 June 2026, 5:28 pm - 37 minutes 6 seconds'Out of ideas' Putin rains missiles on Ukraine as Russia loses momentum on battlefield
Day 1,558.
Today, as more civilians across Ukraine are murdered by Russia in the latest mass aerial attack we look to the US for a response, given Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio last week that Russia planned only to strike Ukrainian "decision-making centers". We ask, again, when the United Nations is going to take a meaningful interest in the war, and look at the continuing diplomatic spat between Ukraine and Poland. And later, we examine possibly the most consequential election for Putin in years: this weekend’s contest in Armenia and a, perhaps surprising, intervention by Donald Trump.
Contributors:
Dom Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.
Venetia Rainey (Telegraph journalist and host on Iran: The Latest). @venetiarainey on X.
James Kilner (Russia Analyst). @Jkjourno on X.
Producer: Phil Atkins
Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett
Video Producer: Sophie O’Sullivan
Social Producer: Katie Inglis
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: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/iran--the-latest/
Read the Irish Times’ coverage of the Aughinish Alumina story: https://www.irishtimes.com/tags/aughinish-alumina/
Magyar signals Ukraine reset ahead of expected talks with Zelenskyy next week (Politico)
https://www.politico.eu/article/hungary-peter-magyar-ukraine-volodymyr-zelenskyy-upcoming-talks/
Danish shipyard still servicing LNG tankers for Russia trade (Financial Times)
https://www.ft.com/content/945c6085-e14a-4acb-8e41-3986e7486480?syn-25a6b1a6=1
Russian Officer Accused of Bucha Atrocities Secures Candidate Slot for Parliament Elections (United 24 Media)
EMAIL US:
Contact the team on [email protected]. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many on air and in our newsletter as possible.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- 'Loser' Putin rains missiles on Ukraine as Russia 'out of ideas'
- Zelensky warns Moscow there are ‘no safe roads’ in south and east
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2 June 2026, 5:23 pm - 53 minutes 7 secondsFrance seizes Russian shadow fleet tanker & Ukrainian drones dominate skies over occupied cities
Day 1,557.
Today, after a weekend that saw Russian ships hit by drones, hit by drones and hit by drones again, it ended with another Russian ship being seized by abseiling Frenchmen. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s “logistics lockdown” continued, leading to fuel rationing in Crimea and more Russian oil refineries self-sanctioning in very dramatic ways; no wonder Putin’s Finance Minister has said Russia’s spending on the war has gone two trillion rubles over budget.
Contributors:
Dom Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.
Sophie O’Sullivan (Telegraph journalist).
Adelie Pojzman-Pontay (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @adeliepjz on X.
With thanks to Stergios-Aristoteles Mitoulis (Associate Professor of engineering at the Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction at UCL). @DrMitoulis on X.
Producer: Rachel Porter
Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett
Video Producer: Sophie O’Sullivan
Social Producer: Gezim Hilaj
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 overspends on Putin’s war in Ukraine by $28bn (The Financial Times)
https://www.ft.com/content/93674b5c-06ea-4e49-a005-dc08e1091574?syn-25a6b1a6=1
Inside the schools preparing Ukrainian children for war (The Telegraph)
For more information on Professor Mitoulis’s work, follow the links below:
Bridge Ukraine: https://bridgeukraine.org/
Meta Infrastructure: https://metainfrastructure.org/
EMAIL US:
Contact the team on [email protected]. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many on air and in our newsletter as possible.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- France seizes Russian shadow fleet tanker in mission Moscow calls ‘piracy’
- Ukrainian drones dominate skies over occupied cities
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
1 June 2026, 4:04 pm - 59 minutes 25 secondsPutin strikes NATO: Romania hit in 'major escalation' & interviews with ‘brainwashed’ Russian PoWs
Day 1,554.
Today, as Romania kicks Russian diplomats out of the country following a drone strike last night that has injured civilians in the eastern city of Galati, we ask, why is it so easy for Romania to name the perpetrator of such attacks when others still seek to avoid apportioning blame. We then look at reports Russia is continuing to be hit hard on the southern corridor, including now by drone-landed mines, followed by the second part of Francis’s special dispatch from the La Biannale art festival in Venice, today looking at the decision to permit the reopening of the Russian Pavilion and his encounter with Pussy Riot. And we finish with an audio dispatch from me, after my visit to a prisoner of war camp in western Ukraine.
Contributors:
Dom Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.
Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.
With thanks to the soldiers, artists, and curators at the ‘Still Joy’ exhibition in Venice, and to Nadya Tolokonnikova of Pussy Riot.
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
Additional thanks to Tom Steed and Natalia Makohon for dubbing.
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:
Dom’s full documentary interviewing POWs:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJwjbWheClk
Francis’s first dispatch from Venice and La Biennale:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ay2UT-SeKDI
Learn more about ‘Resistance Imprisoned’:
https://www.ritschfisch.com/exhibition/resistance-imprisoned/
Learn more about the PinchukArtCentre’s exhibition ‘Still Joy’ (running until 1st August):
https://pinchukartcentre.org/en/exhibitions/still-joy-from-ukraine-into-the-world-biennale-arte-2026
Russian drone hits Romanian apartment block in ‘grave escalation’ (The Telegraph):
EMAIL US:
Contact the team on [email protected] . We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many on air and in our newsletter as possible.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Putin strikes NATO: Romania hit in 'major escalation'
- Dom Nicholls interviews ‘brainwashed’ Russian PoWs
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
29 May 2026, 3:52 pm - 31 minutes 17 seconds'500,000 Russians killed,' says UK spy chief & Sweden pledges new fighter jets
Day 1,554.
Today, as a senior intelligence chief cites a considerably higher figure of Russian deaths than has previously been cited, there are a raft of announcements from Ukraine’s allies that will see new fighter jets and Patriot missiles available to Kyiv, as the country suffers a new wave of strikes. Then – in a special dispatch – Francis takes you to Venice for our first film looking at the decision of the La Biannale art festival to permit the reopening of the Russian Pavilion, and exploring the work of Ukrainian artists in wartime.
Contributors:
Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.
With thanks to the soldiers, artists, and curators at the ‘Still Joy’ exhibition in Venice. Additional thanks to Sophie O’Sullivan for video production, Phil Atkins for audio production and to Tom Steed and Natalia Makohon for dubbing.
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:
Learn more about the PinchukArtCentre’s exhibition ‘Still Joy’ at La Biennale (running until 1st August):
https://pinchukartcentre.org/en/exhibitions/still-joy-from-ukraine-into-the-world-biennale-arte-2026
Britain and Poland to manufacture missile under new military pact (The Telegraph)
Putin arms Russian banks to combat Ukrainian drone attacks (The Telegraph)
GCHQ puts AI in charge of stopping cyber attacks (The Telegraph):
Europe should not negotiate Ukraine peace, insists Norway (The Telegraph):
Exclusive: How US ambassador's preplanned trip caused a diplomatic scandal in Kyiv and Brussels (Kyiv Independent):
EMAIL US:
Contact the team on [email protected] . We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many on air and in our newsletter as possible.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- '500,000 Russians killed in Ukraine,' says UK spy chief
- Sweden pledges new fighter jets in 'historic' deal
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
28 May 2026, 3:55 pm - 40 minutes 29 secondsRussians flee sinking warship after Ukrainian attack & Kyiv strikes ‘volcanic’ oil refinery for fifth time
Day 1,553.
Today, in the aftermath of one of the most intense aerial assaults on Ukraine of the entire war, we report on fresh strikes against Russia’s Tuapse oil refinery – the site of the extraordinary “manmade volcano” that has become symbolic of Kyiv’s campaign against Moscow’s energy infrastructure. Antonia Langford joins us live from Kyiv after witnessing ballistic missile attacks on the capital firsthand. We also examine the shrinking number of countries contributing to the Czech-led ammunition initiative, which now supplies around half of Ukraine’s artillery ammunition, and assess Britain’s attempt to regain control of the political narrative after last week’s easing of sanctions on Russia by unveiling new measures targeting cryptocurrency networks accused of financing Putin’s war machine.
Contributors:
Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.
Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.
Antonia Langford (Freelance Journalist in Kyiv). @Antonialford on X.
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:
Learn more about ‘Ukraine Focus’:
How a bombed-out café became a symbol of hope in Kyiv (Antonia Langford for The Telegraph):
UK sanctions crypto networks funding Putin’s war machine (The Telegraph):
Does the "White Tiger" scene pose a new terrorist threat? (Der Speigel):
Donald Trump’s Board of Peace fund is empty (Financial Times):
https://www.ft.com/content/5ba3bd2c-0e0e-4306-84be-99d6d89b0d49?syn-25a6b1a6=1
Nine countries pull out of Ukraine ammunition coalition (Financial Times):
https://www.ft.com/content/f5dd7bd9-6da8-438b-bf80-1f942b91333d?syn-25a6b1a6=1
Zelensky’s top negotiator flies to Berlin for talks with Germany, France, UK (POLITICO):
Exclusive: Zelensky sends Trump urgent letter warning of Ukraine's critical missile defense shortages (Kyiv Independent):
EMAIL US:
Contact the team on [email protected] . We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many on air and in our newsletter as possible.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Fresh strikes against Russia’s Tuapse oil refinery
- Antonia Langford joins us live from Kyiv
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
27 May 2026, 4:35 pm - 41 minutes 44 secondsRussia burns through best missiles in ‘desperate’ Ukraine fightback & Putin 'losing power of speech'
Day 1,552.
Today, as Russia plays the victim, claiming its latest mass attack that killed and injured civilians over the weekend was a ‘retaliation’ for a Ukrainian attack, we ask who the audiences are for such cynical mischaracterisation. We report on Ukraine’s continued mid-range strike campaign that has forced Russia to limit traffic on the land corridor to Crimea and look at the upcoming NATO summit as the Secretary General says Britain, France and others have scuppered a proposal for allies to spend a quarter of one per cent of GDP on military aid for Ukraine. And later, we hear from our regular Russia expert about how there is speculation Putin is losing his power of speech.
Contributors:
Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.
Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.
James Kilner (Russia Analyst). @Jkjourno on X.
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 burns through his best missiles in desperate Ukraine fightback (The Telegraph):
Britain rejects Nato plan for extra Ukraine military aid (The Telegraph):
Putin’s mid-air hijackings turn Ukraine’s drones against Europe (The Telegraph):
Revealed: The secret suburban life of Britain’s greatest Cold War spy (The Telegraph):
EMAIL US:
Contact the team on [email protected] . We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many on air and in our newsletter as possible.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Russia burns through best missiles in ‘desperate’ Ukraine fightback
- Putin 'losing power of speech'
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
26 May 2026, 4:20 pm - 29 minutes 22 secondsExclusive: Inside NATO's secret base preparing for war with Russia
Day 1,548.
Today, as the US administration reveals details of its participation in Vladimir Putin’s flagship business and investment forum, Russia and Belarus conclude major nuclear exercises just as Ukraine continues its campaign of strikes against oil and gas infrastructure near Moscow. We also examine Kyiv’s latest act of political trolling: a “Refinery Advent Calendar” tracking how many Russian energy targets Ukrainian forces have hit this month alone. And later, Dom reflects on a day spent deep inside a secret section of the London Underground, where he interviewed a senior NATO commander who warns that while Russia’s forces may not be unbeatable, they are now far more battle-hardened, battle-tested, and lethal than they were at the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022.
NOTE: Monday 25th is a Bank Holiday in the UK. Normal service will resume on Tuesday.
Contributors:
Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.
Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.
With thanks to Lieutenant General Michael Richard Elviss, CB, MBE – commander of NATO’s Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC).
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:
Dom’s Video interview with top NATO commander in secret London base:
https://youtu.be/vEKtKqMs-9E?si=Cp-3GOrW_dUcrLYG
Putin’s attack on Hungarians in Ukraine marks new phase of war (Verity Bowman in The Telegraph):
Austrian ex-intelligence officer found guilty of Russia spying charges (BBC):
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwy21541dz4o
EMAIL US:
Contact the team on [email protected] . We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many on air and in our newsletter as possible.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Exclusive: Inside NATO's secret base preparing for war with Russia
- Putin loses 145,000 troops in 2026
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
22 May 2026, 4:12 pm - 56 minutes 54 secondsRussia abandons ‘meat-grinder’ tactics to try four-man ambushes as ‘staggering’ scale of losses revealed
Day 1,547.
Today, we assess the reported scale of Russian military losses since 2026 and examine the new battlefield infiltration tactics Moscow has developed in an attempt to break through Ukrainian positions. We also take a closer look at the impact of Kyiv’s strikes on Russian oil refineries and investigate whether there is more behind London’s apparent easing of sanctions on Russian oil than meets the eye. Then we explore how Putin’s latest visit to Beijing is viewed in China, and ask whether the evolving relationship between Moscow and Beijing resembles a genuine strategic partnership – or something closer to vassalage. Finally, we hear from someone who was once a FOX News insider about moving to Ukraine and how we came to see the war differently from those in the MAGA movement.
Contributors:
Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.
Sophia Yan (Senior Foreign Correspondent). Sophia_yan on X.
Alex Nichol (Telegraph Journalist).
With thanks to Joseph Lindsley.
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:
The secret Chinese surveillance programme tracking people like me (Sophia Yan in The Telegraph):
I’ve reported on war, but I’ve never seen it told like this (Francis’s fashion piece in The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/people/ukraine-fashion-show-london-war-francis-dearnley/
Russia abandons ‘meat-grinder’ tactics to try four-man ambushes (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/01/russia-abandons-meat-grinder-tactic-ukraine-war/
Exclusive: Russians covertly trained by China return to fight in Ukraine, sources say (Reuters):
Joseph Lindsley’s Substack, ‘Under Fire News’:
https://underfirenews.substack.com
EMAIL US:
Contact the team on [email protected] . We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many on air and in our newsletter as possible.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Russia abandons ‘meat-grinder’ tactics to try four-man ambushes
- ‘Staggering’ scale of Putin’s losses revealed
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
21 May 2026, 4:47 pm - More Episodes? Get the App