Ukraine: The Latest

Day 1,603.
Today, as Ukraine reels from the dismissal of its popular Defence Minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, we examine the speculation surrounding his sudden departure, and reveal details of his new successor. We also bring you the latest on Ukraine’s extraordinary campaign in the naval theatre, where more than 100 Russian vessels have been struck in little over a week, before our regular segment on the occupied territories. Finally, with British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer – one of Ukraine’s strongest international supporters – leaving office on Monday, we assess what his successor, Andy Burnham, will mean for the war.

Contributors:
Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.
Dr Jade McGlynn (Centre for Statecraft and National Security, King’s College London)
Lilian Fawcett (Senior Producer on Ukraine: The Latest)

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:
Jade’s Project – ‘TOT Insights’ (Ukraine’s Temporarily Occupied Territories):
https://totinsights.org/

Ukraine turns Sea of Azov into graveyard for Russian ships (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/17/ukraine-turns-sea-of-azov-into-graveyard-for-russian-ships/

The sacking that turned Ukrainians against Zelensky (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/16/protests-erupt-zelensky-fires-defence-minister-fedorov/

Why Zelensky has fired the man beating Russia (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/07/16/why-zelensky-fired-mykhailo-fedorov/

Starmer tells Zelensky: You have Britain’s ‘cast-iron’ support (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2026/07/16/keir-starmer-heads-to-ukraine-volodymyr-zelensky-burnham/

Russia Strips Arctic Air Defenses As Ukraine War Strains Military (Radio Liberty):
https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-air-defense-removal-arctic-satellite-photos-ukraine-war/33803628.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:
Spy chief named Ukraine's new defence minister amid Fedorov sacking fallout
12 Russian shadow fleet ships hit in single day

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

Day 1,602.
Following President Zelensky’s seismic sacking of 35-year-old Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov – a popular, dynamic moderniser in the government – we bring you the reaction on the streets of Kyiv, where protests have broken out. Reports suggest it was irreconcilable differences with commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi that ultimately got Fedorov dismissed – but also that his personal political ambitions had Zelensky worried. Is this the president’s biggest political miscalculation since his move against the country’s anti-corruption bodies in 2025? Then, we have the latest Ukrainian strikes on Russian ships in the Black Sea. Finally Adelie learns about the remarkably brave women who have become the backbone of the resistance movement in the occupied territories.

Contributors:
Roland Oliphant (Chief Foreign Analyst). @RolandOliphant on X.
Alex Nichol (Telegraph Journalist).
Adelie Pojzman-Pontay (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @Adeliepjz 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:
Protests erupt after Zelensky fires popular defence minister (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/16/protests-erupt-zelensky-fires-defence-minister-fedorov/

Zelensky rejected push to fire Syrskyi as commander-in-chief, Fedorov reveals (Kyiv Independent):
https://kyivindependent.com/fedorov-admits-trying-to-replace-syrskyi-before-his-dismissal-as-defense-minister/

Russia's Engels air base reportedly struck in Ukrainian drone attack (Kyiv Independent):
https://kyivindependent.com/russias-engels-air-base-reportedly-struck-in-ukrainian-drone-attack/

The Warrior-Witches of Ukraine’s Resistance (Ken Harbaugh in The Atlantic):
https://www.theatlantic.com/international/2026/06/underground-intelligence-network-russia-ukraine/687578/

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:

Protests sweep Ukraine
Zelensky sacks 'modernising' defence minister Fedorov

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

Day 1,601.
As Ukraine expands its campaign in the Black Sea, tightening Kyiv’s stranglehold on occupied Crimea, Dom reports on the fifth consecutive day of combined missile and drone attacks on the southern Odesa region, as civilians continue to bear the brunt of the bombardment. Then Francis turned to the latest political developments shaping the war, including fresh manoeuvring in Hungary. And later, they are joined by Adelie to answer your questions on the Kerch bridge, the impact of fuel shortages for the Russian harvest, and European preparedness for the kind of aerial bombardments Ukraine suffers daily.

Contributors:
Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.
Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.
Adelie Pojzman-Pontay (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @Adeliepjz 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:
Unmanned Systems Forces Online Killboard: https://sbs-group.army/en/

‘THE PINK FLAME OF THE TUZLY LAGOONS’ (Birding in Ukraine):
https://www.birdinginukraine.com/blog/the-pink-flame-of-the-tuzly-lagoons

Exclusive: Lockheed Martin supports granting Ukraine Patriot missile licenses, official says (Kyiv Independent):
https://kyivindependent.com/lockheed-martin-supports-granting-ukraine-patriot-missile-licenses/

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:
Drone 'downs' Russian Mi-28 helicopter
'Moscow will fall through Crimea': Ukraine's new campaign
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,600.
In Paris, the Coalition of the Willing announces a new joint anti-missile defence system to ensure Ukraine’s winter supply of Patriots before attending the military parade on Bastille Day. Dom reports on the latest Russian oil refinery strike by Ukraine and Adelie has the latest on Ukraine’s cabinet reshuffle. Later, they hear from Berlin correspondent James Rothwell after his exclusive interview with the AfD’s defence chief – who claims a Russian attack on Germany is “completely unrealistic”.

Contributors:
Adelie Pojzman-Pontay (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @Adeliepjz on X.
Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.
James Rothwell (Berlin Correspondent). @JamesERothwell 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:
Power Outages Hit Sevastopol as Russia Declares ‘Special Regime’ After Reported Ukrainian Attack (Kyiv Post)
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/80213

Commander of Ukraine's 155th brigade detained in kidnapping, murder case (Kyiv Independent)
https://kyivindependent.com/commander-of-ukraines-155th-brigade-detained-in-kidnapping-murder-case/

Luftwaffe chief warns Europe has ‘no time’ to counter Putin without US weapons (Politico)
https://www.politico.eu/article/europe-isnt-ready-replace-us-weapons-german-air-chief-warns/

London Playbook: ‘Endings and beginnings’ (Politico)
https://www.politico.eu/newsletter/london-playbook/endings-and-beginnings/

Ukraine's parliament dismisses prime minister, paving way for government reshuffle (Kyiv Independent)
https://kyivindependent.com/ukraines-parliament-dismisses-prime-minister-paving-way-for-government-reshuffle/

Zelensky eyes replacing Defense Minister Fedorov, source says (Kyiv Independent)
https://kyivindependent.com/zelensky-eyes-replacing-defense-minister-fedorov-source-says/

Why the AfD is not scared of World War Three (James Rothwell for The Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/10/why-afd-not-scared-third-world-war/

How Putin Turned Japan Into a Den of Spies (New York Times)
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/12/world/asia/russia-spies-japan-war-drones-electronics.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 recruits run dry, Ukrainian intelligence reports
Paris holds biggest Bastille Day parade since WWII
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,599.
After a weekend that took the tally of oil exporting Russian ships hit by drones in the Sea of Azov to over 100, Dom reports how Ukraine has trialled an autonomous amphibious assault into Russian-held territory. Meanwhile Ukraine strikes another oil refinery, as fights break out over Russian fuel shortages. Adelie examines the first-ever joint EU-UK sanctions against the Russian cyber-war complex and asks what direction President Zelensky is heading in with his latest cabinet reshuffle. Dom looks at the latest United Nations response to the bombing of civilians and asks how they manage to condemn the killings in such strong terms, without once having to apportion blame. And later, he talks to US international affairs commentator Melinda Haring about the sudden death over the weekend of Senator Lindsay Graham and what the death of a leading Russia hawk means for Kyiv.

Contributors:
Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.
Adelie Pojzman-Pontay (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @Adeliepjz on X.
With thanks to Melinda Haring, nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center.

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:
Lindsey Graham, Republican Senator and Staunch Trump Ally, Dies at 71 (NYT)
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/12/us/politics/lindsey-graham-dead.html

Zelenskyy dismisses Ukraine’s prime minister in cabinet shake-up (FT)
https://www.ft.com/content/db48418a-f906-4afd-86a2-1ab08004bd13?syn-25a6b1a6=1

Beyond the Battlefield: Russia’s Information War Against Ukraine’s European Future
https://cpd.gov.ua/en/report/beyond-the-battlefield-russias-information-war-against-ukraines-european-future/

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 hits 100 Russian tankers in Sea of Azov
What Lindsey Graham’s death means for Kyiv
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.