Day 1,052

Today, as top diplomat Kaja Kallas claims the EU will be ready to step into the breach if the US withdraws support for Ukraine, we discuss the latest weapon donations at Ramstein and include a dispatch from Kyiv at a drone workshop.

Contributors:

Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist & narrative podcast producer). @adeliepjz on X.

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Content Referenced:

'Ukraine's Resilience' event co-hosted by Chatham House in Edinburgh:

https://www.chathamhouse.org/events/all/research-event/maintaining-ukraines-resilience

Donald Trump pushes back Ukraine war deadline in sign of support for Kyiv (Financial Times):

https://www.ft.com/content/989dc02e-2a13-4c21-8ad0-0b32e098c410

Scholz blocks new billion-euro package for Ukraine (Der Spiegel):

https://www.spiegel.de/politik/ukraine-krieg-olaf-scholz-blockiert-milliarden-paket-fuer-fuer-kiew-a-15318d4e-bc41-40e1-9a31-1d57409db2d5

Exclusive—Chinese Patents Reveal Aim to Cut Undersea Cables (Newsweek):

https://www.newsweek.com/china-conflict-undersea-cables-cutting-internet-data-subsea-marine-baltic-taiwan-2012396

Exclusive: Border Patrol arrests former Russian mercenary near Roma (Valley Central):

https://www.valleycentral.com/news/local-news/border-patrol-arrests-former-russian-mercenary-near-roma/

Drone Workshop:

For more information, see:

https://klyn.io/

Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

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

Day 1,051.

Today, in a significant day in both the military and political realms, we discuss Trump’s new plans to end the war within the next 100 days, reports that Moscow paid for American and coalition troops killed in Afghanistan, and hear live from Syria.

Contributors:

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Hamish de-Bretton Gordon (Chemical Weapons Expert and Former Tank Commander). @HamishDBG on X.

Svitlana Morenets (Staff Writer at The Spectator). @SvMorenets on X.

Content Referenced:

How Russian military intelligence used the Taliban to bleed U.S. forces at the end of America’s longest war (The Insider):

https://theins.ru/en/politics/277723

Ukraine to help Moldova amid worsening energy crisis (Kyiv Independent):

https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-to-help-moldova-amid-worsening-energy-crisis/?mc_cid=dfeb4a87a9&mc_eid=08d0680a95

Russia closes Polish Consulate General in St. Petersburg (TVP):

https://tvpworld.com/84418289/russia-closes-polish-consulate-general-in-st-petersburg

Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

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

Day 1,050.

Today, as the new Ukrainian offensive in Kursk continues, we discuss the evolving picture in that region, look at the latest developments in unmanned aerial and land warfare, and fears superbugs spawned in war could spark the next pandemic.

Contributors:

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Arthur Scott Geddes (Deputy Global Health Editor). @ascottgeddes on X.

Michael Bohnert (RAND Analyst). @mbohnert on X.

Content Referenced:

Trump's Ukraine envoy postpones Kyiv trip until after inauguration (Reuters):

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trumps-ukraine-envoy-postpones-kyiv-trip-until-after-inauguration-2025-01-06/

'Putin doesn't want negotiations' - our interview with Zelensky's 'power broker' Andriy Yermak:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CneThrXUHSI

Ukraine needs more help to beat ‘superbugs’, says chief doctor (Arthur in The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/ukraine-needs-more-help-to-beat-superbugs-says-chief-doctor/

''I bought a drone and killed my boss" (Arthur in our sister podcast Battle Lines):

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/i-bought-a-drone-and-killed-my-boss-it-was-easy/id1712903296?i=1000681113262

Could a Conflict-Borne Superbug Bring on Our Next Pandemic? (Rolling Stone)

https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/war-zone-conflict-bacteria-pandemic-1235064261/

Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

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

Day 1,049.

Today, as Ukrainian forces continue to expand their lodgement inside Russia, we hear how a Ukrainian F-16 pilot shot down six Russian cruise missiles. We also have an interview with General The Lord Dannatt, the former head of the British Army.

Contributors:

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

With thanks to our guest General The Lord Dannatt, the former head of the British Army.

Episodes Referenced:

David Knowles's 'Football in Wartime' Special:

https://podcasts.apple.com/ee/podcast/football-in-wartime-with-david-knowles/id1612424182?i=1000681578909

Interview with lady from occupied territories:

https://podcasts.apple.com/ee/podcast/my-mother-in-law-remembers-stalingrad-this-war-is-worse/id1612424182?i=1000682245415

Interview with beautician, now expert on ordnance (halfway through episode):

https://podcasts.apple.com/ee/podcast/russia-shoots-down-passenger-jet-in-azerbaijan-putins/id1612424182?i=1000681865927

Content Referenced:

Sources of ISW’s cited geolocation of Ukrainian forces in Kursk Oblast:

https://x.com/TuiteroMartin/status/1876291174476239032 ; https://x.com/moklasen/status/1876299075521519655; https://x.com/Map_Hargoo/status/1875993159869817022; https://t.me/motopatriot78/31123 ; https://t.me/rusich_army/19913

Lord Dannatt's book on the Korean War is available for pre-order now:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Korea-War-Without-Richard-Dannatt/dp/1472869753

Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

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

Day 1,048.

Today, we discuss breaking news of a surprise counterattack in Kursk and its implications, consider how Kyiv is positioning itself before Trump's inauguration, and discuss the elections upcoming in Europe in 2025.

Contributors:

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Hamish De Bretton-Gordon (Former British Army Tank Commander). @HamishDBG on X

James Rothwell (Berlin Correspondent). @JamesERothwell on X.

Content referenced:

Top Russian general betrays Putin’s worst fears as Ukraine attacks Kursk again (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/01/05/top-russian-general-betrays-putins-fears-ukraine-kursk/

Zelensky's Interview with Lex Fridman:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u321m25rKXc

Syrskyi orders to reinforce French-trained brigade with drones after reports of mismanagement (Kyiv Independent):

https://kyivindependent.com/syrskyi-orders-to-reinforce-french-trained-brigade-with-drones-after-reports-of-mismanagement/?mc_cid=04ca756759&mc_eid=08d0680a95

Russia trained officers for attacks on Japan and South Korea (Financial Times):

https://www.ft.com/content/d345a6e7-2d72-4dcb-9c12-76d571ba75eb?shareType=nongift

To learn more about the charity mentioned in today's episode, you can email: ukraine.supply@proton.me

Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

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

Day 1,045.

Today, after the latest updates from the battlefield, we hear about the cutting edge drones being used to wage war against Moscow's forces, and the moral conundrums they raise. Plus, we consider the state of the Russian economy as we enter 2025.

Contributors:

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Francis Farrell (Report, The Kyiv Independent). @francisjfarrell on X.

Content referenced:

‘We’re in the end game’: Why Kyiv’s blow to Russian gas threatens a European energy war (Matt Oliver in The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/01/03/why-ukraine-gas-pipeline-closure-moscow-biggest-defeat/

Donald Trump will be no friend of the Kremlin (Ambrose Evans Pritchard in The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/01/03/the-biggest-threat-to-putins-regime-is-donald-trump/

With Ukraine's ace drone unit hunting Russians (Francis Farrell in The Kyiv Independent):

https://youtu.be/s4uaKynSRx4?feature=shared

The Invisible Battles of Ukrainian Military Medics (Full-Length Kyiv Independent Documentary):

https://youtu.be/SVxY5ihyVnA?feature=shared

Flagship Ukrainian brigade trained in France goes AWOL (The Telegraph:)

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/01/02/ukrainian-soldiers-go-awol-before-shot-fired/

Russia 'shoots down Santa' (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/12/27/russia-shoots-down-santa-claus-in-propaganda-video/

Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

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

Day 1,043.

Today, we look at the likely military innovations and political events in the year to come. We also report on Russia's decisions to ban crypto-currency mining to preserve its energy grid and to charge nightclub attendees for trying to arouse interest in non-traditional relations. How portentous will 2025 be for Russia?

Contributors:

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Content referenced:

'There is a question no one dares ask about Vladimir Putin' (Francis in The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/12/24/there-is-a-question-no-one-dares-ask-about-vladimir-putin/

Russians ban carols and nativity scenes in occupied territories, Ukrainian resistance says (Ukrainian Pravda):

https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2025/01/1/7491646/

Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

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Today, in a special short episode recorded in the frontline city of Kharkiv, Francis Dearnley interviews a woman who had to flee her home "the day the Russians came", and how life for her and her relatives has been changed forever.

Recorded by Adélie Pojzman-Pontay and Jack Leather. Edited by James Shield.

Video of Kharkiv Dispatch with Francis:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gi20lWX4Fyk

Donate to David's charity:

This Christmas, the Telegraph is honouring the life and work of our late colleague David Knowles by working with Humanity & Inclusion, a charity helping the ill, vulnerable and disabled left behind in Ukraine’s warzones. You can donate here:

https://telegraph.ctdonate.org/

Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

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