Ukraine: The Latest

Day 1,525.
Today, following a 1500 kilometer Ukrainian deep strike on a Russian oil facility, we hear how – for the first time in 18 years – Moscow’s Victory Day parade will feature no military kit as Vladimir Putin’s paranoia continues. Then we take you to Washington, where King Charles III sought to charm the Trump administration by deploying pomp, circumstance, and a sprinkling of history, before speaking to a war artist about what it’s like painting soldiers on the frontline in an active warzone.

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

With thanks to war artist Max Denison-Pender.

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 Max Denison-Pender’s war art:
https://www.denisonpender.com/ukraine

‘If France can seize Russia’s oil tankers, so can Britain’ (Joe Barnes in The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/04/29/ukraine-tells-starmer-to-hunt-russian-shadow-fleet/

King brings the House down on day of jokes, ovations and warm words (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2026/04/28/king-state-visit-congress-trump-house-down-jokes/

Hezbollah attacks Israeli military helicopter with fibre optic drones (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/04/28/hezbollah-attack-israeli-idf-helicopter-fibre-optic-drones/b

US ambassador to Ukraine to leave over differences with Donald Trump (Financial Times):
https://www.ft.com/content/33d5d8d4-a7db-4647-9751-c21de8ebecb8?syn-25a6b1a6=1

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:
Moscow’s Victory Day parade will feature no military kit
King Charles III charms the Trump administration
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,524.

At what point do frontline soldiers in Ukraine reach a breaking point?

Today, as Russia’s Tuapse oil refinery is hit yet again, we discuss a new study underscoring the strain on troops in Ukraine, with many now serving longer in “the kill zone” than in some of the deadliest wars of the 20th century. We also report on a new museum in North Korea dedicated to soldiers killed fighting for Russia in Ukraine, highlighting deepening ties between Moscow and Pyongyang. And later, Joe Barnes speaks to Ukraine’s international sanctions representative about what more can be done to tighten sanctions on Russia and weaken the Kremlin’s war effort.

Contributors:
Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.
Joe Barnes (Brussels Correspondent). @Barnes_Joe on X.

With thanks to Vladyslav Vlasiuk, Presidential Commissioner for Sanctions Policy of Ukraine.

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:
Joe Barnes’s Pieces for The Telegraph:
‘Britain and France should lead new European Nato, says ex-chief’ –
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/04/25/britain-france-european-nato-coalition-willing-ukraine/
Britain and allies could pool weapons funding in ‘defence bank’ –
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/04/26/britain-allies-pool-weapons-fund/

Putin humiliated as Russian mercenaries in Africa forced to withdraw (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/04/27/putin-humiliated-after-russian-mercenaries-africa-withdraw/

The heroic postmen of war-torn Ukraine putting Royal Mail to shame (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/consumer-affairs/heroic-postmen-of-ukraine-delivering-faster-royal-mail/

North Korea Displays US M1A1 and Leopard 2A4 Tanks Likely Sourced from Russia for Study of Western Armor (Army Recognition Group):
https://www.armyrecognition.com/news/army-news/2026/north-korea-displays-us-m1a1-and-leopard-2a4-tanks-likely-sourced-from-russia-for-study-of-western-armor

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:
Frontline psychological 'breaking point' discovered
Exclusive interview with Ukraine sanctions chief

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

Day 1,523.
Today, after one of the deadliest bombardments Ukraine has endured this year, we hear of new Russian infiltration missions on the frontlines, how a masked Ukrainian soldier crashed a Zoom call at a Russian military recruitment event – telling students he would be forced to kill them if they joined the army – and more evidence that the US seeks to bring Moscow out of the cold by inviting them to the G20. Then we bring you a special update from the world of chess, and how names familiar to us – like Peskov and Shoigu – are involved in the Chess Federation, while the game is utilised as a tool of control in the occupied territories.

Contributors:
Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.
Malcolm Pein (Telegraph Chess Correspondent). @TelegraphChess on X.

With thanks to the former coach of two chess world champions – and a Grandmaster himself – Peter Heine Nielsen.

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:
Robot rescues Ukrainian pensioner from front-line village (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/04/27/robot-rescues-ukrainian-pensioner-front-line-village-russia/

I was in the room with Trump as the shots rang out (Connor Stringer in The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/04/26/donald-trump-white-house-correspondents-dinner

Ukrainian soldier crashes Zoom call with Russian recruits (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/04/24/ukrainian-soldier-crashes-zoom-call-with-russian-recruits/

British fighter jets scrambled after Russian strike on Nato border (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/04/25/british-fighter-jets-scrambled-after-russian-strike-on-nato/

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:
Ukrainian soldier hacks Zoom call with Russian recruits
How chess is weaponised in the occupied territories

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

Day 1,520.
Today, as black rain continues to fall over the Russian city of Tuapse following Ukrainian strikes on an oil refinery, some residents are drawing comparisons to Hiroshima. We examine the latest developments in drone warfare, including new interceptor drones launched from fixed-wing aircraft in flight, and report on Prince Harry’s visit to a demining charity in Ukraine after his recent rebuke by Donald Trump. And later, we bring you our regular update on resistance activity in Russian-occupied Ukraine, along with a special report marking the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster.

Contributors:
Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.
Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.
Adelie Pojzman-Pontay (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @Adeliepjz on X.

With thanks to Dr Jade McGlynn of King’s College, London, and Simon Evans, director of the Chornobyl Program at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

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 with Ukrainian Resistance leader:
https://youtu.be/nLERq02oexs

Dom’s long read on the Resistance: ‘The Ukrainian saboteur waging a revenge war on Russia’ (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/04/24/the-ukrainian-saboteur-waging-a-revenge-war-on-russia/

Ukraine kills 12 Russian FSB officers in drone strike (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/04/23/ukraine-kills-12-russian-fsb-officers-in-drone-strike/

Married pensioners killed in Russian strikes on Ukraine (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/04/24/married-pensioners-killed-russian-strikes-on-ukraine/

The €500mn hole in Chernobyl’s roof (The Financial Times)
https://www.ft.com/content/c0f1ff87-cd28-4e7f-8f4c-6e4799ce53e5?syn-25a6b1a6=1

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:
Russian refinery inferno spews black rain
Ukraine kills 12 Russian FSB officers in strike

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

Day 1,519.
Today, in a global first, we bring you an exclusive interview with a leading member of Ukraine’s resistance movement operating inside Russian-occupied territory. We also give you updates as President Zelensky arrives in Cyprus met with confirmation that the European Union has not only formally approved the €90 billion loan for Ukraine, but also a 20th package of sanctions against Russia. We report on Ukrainian strikes against a major Russian counterintelligence unit, before examining how the US military has begun deploying Ukrainian counter-drone technology at an air base in Saudi Arabia to defend against Iran.

Contributors:
Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.
Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.
With thanks to Petro of the Ukrainian resistance, and Dr Jade McGlynn and the Centre for Statecraft and National Security at King’s College London for assisting with this interview.

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: ‘Inside the Ukrainian resistance in Russia’s occupied territories’:
https://youtu.be/nLERq02oexs

My grandfather ended Stalinism – now Putin has labelled me a ‘foreign agent’ (Iona Cleave in The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/04/21/nina-khrushcheva-putin-bringing-back-stalinism-russia/

US turns to Ukrainian counter-drone tech after Iran attacks, sources say (Reuters):
https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/us-turns-ukrainian-counter-drone-tech-after-iran-attacks-sources-say-2026-04-22/

Russia could be ready for NATO conflict year after Ukraine, Dutch warn (Defense News):
https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2026/04/22/russia-could-be-ready-for-nato-conflict-year-after-ukraine-dutch-warn/

Public Annual Report 2025 Military Intelligence and Security Service (Dutch Intelligence):
https://www.defensie.nl/documenten/2026/04/21/openbaar-jaarverslag-2025-militaire-inlichtingen--en-veiligheidsdienst

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:
First ever interview with a Ukrainian resistance leader
Updates as Zelensky finally gets EU’s €90bn loan
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.