Ukraine: The Latest

Day 1,578.
As fresh waves of drones are reported heading towards Moscow, Francis and Dom examine Ukraine’s escalating campaign against Crimea, where new strikes on key infrastructure have prompted restrictions on civilian fuel purchases as some residents attempt to flee the occupied peninsula. They also assess President Zelensky’s ultimatum to Belarus, threatening to target communications equipment helping guide Russian drone strikes. Then, in Britain, Francis unpacks the political shockwaves following Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation and Dom looks at what his likely successor Andy Burnham has said about support for Ukraine.

Contributors:
Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.
Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.

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

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:

Vladimir Putin’s war machine sputters in drone age (Financial Times)
https://www.ft.com/content/b409d72f-ccff-4952-8b71-dfd62d75a1cd?syn-25a6b1a6=1

Read more of The Telegraph’s coverage of Keir Starmer’s resignation:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2026/06/22/keir-starmer-resignation-labour-burnham-streeting-no-10/
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2026/06/22/the-last-thing-country-needs-stalemate-until-september/

And listen to or watch The Daily T podcast:
https://linktr.ee/thedailytpodcast

Chalke Festival
https://www.chalkefestival.com/

Ukrainian Institute London’s Summer Garden Party
https://uil.org.uk/events/uil-summer-garden-party/

Thumbnail image credit: X/@front_ukrainian/Telegram/@other_nikopol

EMAIL US:
Contact the team on ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many as possible.

HIGHLIGHTS:
Ukraine explodes Zaporizhzhia bridge as strike campaign strangles Crimea
What Keir Starmer’s resignation – and an Andy Burnham premiership – could mean for Ukraine
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,575.
After one of the most significant raids of the war left a cloud hanging over Moscow – in every sense – we report a fresh Ukrainian drone attack targeting the Russian capital. As the true extent of the chaos and confusion is revealed, new footage shows the blast at the Moscow oil refinery from a different angle, and indicates the true reason for the huge explosion. Will Vladimir Putin address the public? Later, the team examines the latest donations of military equipment to Kyiv at major meetings of Western leaders. Finally, Dr Jade McGlynn brings us her regular updates from the resistance operating inside occupied territories.

Contributors:
Adelie Pojzman-Pontay (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @Adeliepjz on X.
Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.
Dr Jade McGlynn (Occupied Territories Expert, King’s College London).

Producer: Rachel Porter
Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett
Video Producer: Sophie O’Sullivan
Social Producer: Tom Steed
Studio Director: James England
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:
How Ukraine found a way through Moscow’s air defences (Antonia Langford for The Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/06/18/how-ukraine-found-a-way-through-moscows-air-defences/

Russia vows ‘massive’ retaliation for largest attack on Moscow since war began (The Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/06/18/ukraine-hits-moscow-oil-refinerylargest-attack-two-years/

EU struggles to define Ukraine role (Euractiv)
https://www.euractiv.com/news/eu-struggles-to-define-ukraine-role/

Some EU leaders furious at Costa official’s calls with the Kremlin (Politico)
https://www.politico.eu/article/some-eu-leaders-furious-antonio-costa-official-pedro-lourtie-kremlin-calls/

Costa outreach to Russia was ‘misguided,’ Estonian PM says (Politico)
https://www.politico.eu/article/antonio-costa-outreach-russia-misguided-estonia-prime-minister-kristen-michal/

L’influente Xenia Fedorova, ancienne directrice de RT France et désormais protégée de Vincent Bolloré (Le Monde)
https://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2026/05/26/l-influente-xenia-fedorova-ancienne-directrice-de-rt-france-et-desormais-protegee-de-vincent-bollore_6693959_823448.html?search-type=classic&ise_click_rank=3

Maxime Audinet : « Xenia Fedorova relaie activement et sans ambiguïté les récits russes, et les adapte aux audiences françaises » (INA La Revue des Médias)
https://larevuedesmedias.ina.fr/xenia-fedorova-influence-russe-cnews-jdnews-bollore

La propagandiste russe Xenia Fedorova en majesté chez Bolloré, le gouvernement dans la nasse (Mediapart)
https://www.mediapart.fr/journal/politique/310526/la-propagandiste-russe-xenia-fedorova-en-majeste-chez-bollore-le-gouvernement-dans-la-nasse

EMAIL US:
Contact the team on ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many as possible.

HIGHLIGHTS:
'Black rain over Moscow' as Ukraine attacks again
Russia's 'own goal' revealed after oil refinery blast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,574.
Today, as President Zelensky declares that “if Ukraine burns, so will Moscow”, we report on a wave of strikes inside Russia that have produced some of the most dramatic images of the war so far, with more than 1,000 drones sowing destruction across multiple regions. Then, after a prominent MAGA influencer admits she fell for Russian propaganda, we ask whether Putin’s continued attacks on religious and cultural sites in Ukraine may finally be seen for what they are by the Christian Right in the United States. And after the Russian president appears to answer criticism that he is isolated and afraid of meeting ordinary people, we take a closer look at footage of an apparently spontaneous walkabout that raised eyebrows when a security guard was overheard referring to “background actors”. Throughout the episode, we'll be joined by our friendly RAND analyst to help make sense of the latest military and technological developments shaping Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Contributors:
Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.
Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.
With thanks to RAND engineer Michael Bohnert.

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

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:

Moscow burns after Ukraine attacks Russia with 1,000 drones (The Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/06/18/ukraine-hits-moscow-oil-refinerylargest-attack-two-years/

Putin’s adoring crowd accidentally outed as ‘extras’ by bodyguard (The Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/06/18/putins-adoring-crowd-accidentally-outed-as-extras-bodyguard/

Almost 70% of Ukrainians expect Zelensky to be replaced after war, poll shows (Kyiv Independent)
https://kyivindependent.com/almost-70-of-ukrainians-expect-zelensky-to-be-replaced-after-the-war-poll-shows/?mc_cid=d2d0ed0168&mc_eid=08d0680a95

Belarus' Lukashenko says both sides must compromise to end Russia-Ukraine war (Reuters):
https://www.reuters.com/world/belarus-lukashenko-says-both-sides-must-compromise-end-russia-ukraine-war-2026-06-16/

EMAIL US:
Contact the team on ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many as possible.

HIGHLIGHTS:
Ukraine blitzes Moscow with 1,000 drones
Considered the ‘biggest attack of war’

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,573.
Today, after a Russian warship fires warning shots at an unarmed vessel in the English Channel, we take you to the G7 Summit, where observers are describing a “turning point” in perceptions of Ukraine’s progress in the war, as it continues to batter Russian infrastructure and strangle Crimea. We hear live from the ground about what has been unlocked for Kyiv, and later – in our regular segment on life inside Russia – we ask why Vladimir Putin may (or may not) be cracking down on organised crime at a time when public dissatisfaction is reportedly growing and his popularity plummeting.

Contributors:
Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.
Joe Barnes (Diplomatic Editor). @Barnes_Joe on X.
James Kilner (Russia Analyst). @Jkjourno on X.

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

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:
Give us Patriot blueprints so we can make our own, Zelensky tells Trump (Joe Barnes The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/06/16/zelensky-patriot-blueprints-trump/

Russian warship fires shots at yacht in Channel (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/06/16/russian-warship-fired-warning-shot-at-yacht-in-channel/

Warning shots should be a last resort. This is a dangerous escalation (Dom Nicholls in The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/06/16/russian-warning-shots-channel-dangerous-escalation/

Anti-Putin artist shot dead in Poland car park ‘execution’ (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/06/16/anti-putin-artist-shot-dead-in-poland-car-park-execution/

Sending fuel trucks up in flames, Ukraine tries to cut off Crimea (New York Times):
ttps://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/17/world/europe/russia-ukraine-crimea-fuel-shortages.html

EMAIL US:
Contact the team on ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many as possible.

HIGHLIGHTS:
Russian warship fires shots at boat in English Channel
Putin 'hiding in bunkers' as popularity plummets
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,572.
Today, as Donald Trump tells the G7 summit that “Russia should make a deal”, we examine what this apparent shift in tone from the US president could mean for Ukraine, and what President Volodymyr Zelensky can realistically hope to achieve from this crucial gathering – perhaps even a face-to-face meeting with Vladimir Putin. We also ask how Ukrainian drones continue to penetrate Moscow’s formidable air defences, after another strike reportedly hit a Russian oil refinery and disrupted operations at airports across the capital. We report on allegations that a Russian diplomat was involved in an arson attack targeting the home of Britain’s Prime Minister, and later speak to the independent journalist leading an investigation into an Irish manufacturing plant accused of supplying components that may be helping to sustain 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.

With thanks to Caolan Robertson. @CaolanReports on X.

Producer: Phil Atkins
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

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:

Our sister podcast Iran: The Latest:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/iran--the-latest/

G7 Live Blog:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/06/16/g7-summit-latest-news-trump-ukraine-iran-war-peace-deal/

Russian diplomat ‘linked to Starmer firebomb attack’ (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/06/15/russia-firebombers-verdict-london-ukraine-keir-starmer/

Britain to supply Ukraine with more nuclear fuel (The Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/06/15/britain-to-supply-ukraine-with-more-nuclear-fuel/

EMAIL US:
Contact the team on ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many as possible.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Trump tells Putin to ‘make a deal’ at G7
'Revenge strike' as Kyiv hits major Moscow oil refinery
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.