Ukraine: The Latest

Day 1,545.
Today, after a NATO fighter jet shoots down a suspected Ukrainian drone over Estonia, we examine the mounting risks of escalation on NATO’s eastern flank and what the incident reveals about the increasingly crowded skies above the Baltic region. We also look at reports of a collapse in Russian defensive lines near a settlement in Zaporizhzhia as Ukraine presses its counterattacks in the south. Then we turn to Moscow to assess how the Kremlin and Russian state media are reporting – or not – news of Ukraine’s major strikes on Russian infrastructure ahead of Putin’s high-stakes visit to China. And later, we take a deep dive into how investigations into war crimes have evolved over the past four years.

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.

With thanks to Yevhenia Motorevska – head of the War Crimes Investigation Unit at the Kyiv Independent.

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 drone attacks Putin doesn’t want Russians to see (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/19/drone-attacks-putin-doesnt-want-russians-see-ukraine/

Xi Jinping told Donald Trump that Putin might ‘regret’ invasion of Ukraine (Financial Times):
https://www.ft.com/content/567c57b0-6346-43e6-9d14-840a793b4d1d?syn-25a6b1a6=1

Dom’s Video On the Frontline:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-LWZtJBCwY

From the Kyiv Independent’s War Crimes Investigation Unit:
The War Before the War, Part I: https://kyivindependent.com/video/?slug=crimea-the-war-before-the-war-part-2
From Stalin to Putin – Russia’s history of torture:
https://youtu.be/p7Ei6mAf3mQ
Exposing Russia’s indoctrination of Ukrainian children:
https://youtu.be/RZGmv2EQdGk
Investigation: Uncovering the secret Russian FSB operation to loot Ukraine's museums
https://kyivindependent.com/investigation-uncovering-fsbs-secret-operation-to-steal-ukraines-valuable-art/
The Kyiv Independent doesn’t have a paywall or an owner and is supported by a
community of readers who make this work possible. Starting today, the Kyiv Independent team is on a quest to find 4000 new members globally. You can become a member here.

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 position 'collapses' in southeastern town
The drone attacks Putin ‘doesn't want you to see’

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Day 1,544.
Today, after Ukraine unleashes a sweeping wave of retaliatory strikes in response to last week’s Russian attacks – shutting down Moscow airports, damaging naval assets, and sending huge fireballs into the sky above Russian oil infrastructure – the Kremlin signals it may once again be open to peace talks, potentially even reopening channels with the European Union. We ask whether Moscow may also need urgent talks with Beijing after one of its Shahed drones reportedly struck a Chinese cargo ship just days before Vladimir Putin’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. We also hear from Berlin on how Europe is accelerating efforts to rearm in the face of growing Russian aggression and deepening American disengagement. And later, we speak to an adviser to the Ukrainian government about Kyiv’s mounting military recruitment crisis after intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov warned that voluntary enlistment alone can no longer meet the army’s needs.

Contributors:
Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.
James Rothwell (Berlin Correspondent). @JamesERothwell on X.
With thanks to Olesia Horiainova of the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Center.

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:

Europe’s sleeping giant rearms (James Rothwell & Joe Barnes in The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/11/europes-sleeping-giant-rearms-germany-weapons-war-russia/

Putin gifted upper hand as Trump triggers European missile crisis (James Rothwell & Joe Barnes in The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/18/europes-deep-strike-dilemma-and-how-it-untangles-itself/

Ukraine launches biggest attack on Moscow in a year (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/17/ukraine-launches-biggest-attack-on-moscow-in-a-year/

Ukrainian drones destroy £30m Russian plane at airbase (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/16/ukrainian-drones-destroy-russian-aircraft-airbase/

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 ‘attacks Chinese ship’ in Black Sea
Ukraine hits Moscow in biggest strike of 2026

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Day 1,541.
Today, after the two days of near continuous strikes against Ukraine with over 1,600 drones and missiles fired on the country – with at least 12 killed by a single projectile – we hear the latest round of American withdrawals of thousands of troops from Europe, and a sobering assessment from experts at Chatham House about the direction of the war. Then we have an extraordinary exclusive interview with a Russian FSB agent who claims he fled Moscow in a dead cow.

Contributors:
Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.
Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.
Roland Oliphant (Chief Foreign Analyst). @RolandOliphant on X.
Hayley Dixon (Special Correspondent). @HaylesDixon 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 won’t last’: Russian agent who fled Moscow in a dead cow (The Telegraph):
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ng7-LI7VK8M
Long Read: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/14/dmitry-senin-russia-fsb-escaped-putin-in-dead-cow/

Pentagon cancels deployment of thousands of troops to Europe (The Telegraph):
https://kyivindependent.com/us-cancels-planned-deployment-of-4-000-troops-to-poland/?mc_cid=d10bd88d37&mc_eid=08d0680a95

Russia issues Ben Wallace with arrest warrant for ‘justifying terrorism’ (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/13/russia-ben-wallace-arrest-warrant-justifying-terrorism/

How a Ukrainian air assault on Russia led to the resignation of a Latvian prime minister (Kyiv Independent):
https://kyivindependent.com/how-2-ukrainian-drones-sparked-political-turmoil-in-latvia/

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: ‘Putin won’t last’ – Russian agent who fled Moscow in a dead cow
Zelensky’s ‘revenge’ attacks after three days of huge strikes
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Day 1,540.
Today, as Russia pummels Ukraine with over 1500 missiles and drones since yesterday, targeting civilians and energy infrastructure, Ukraine hits three energy facilities in Russia. We then focus on the issue of children who have been deported from Ukraine to Russia or to unknown locations in the occupied territories. The EU and UK announced further sanctions while the high-level meeting of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukraine Children on Monday in Brussels pledged funds and support towards tracing, tracking and returning children from Russia.

Contributors:
Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Co-host of Ukraine: The Latest). @adeliepjz on X.
Johanna Baxter, Labour MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South. @JohannaBaxter on X.
Maksym Maksymov, director of Bring Kids Back. @BringKidsBackUA on X.

CONTENT REFERENCED:
Returning the Stolen Children of Ukraine, Johanna Baxter, UK Friends of Ukraine
https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/582a1916-4c98-42de-936a-f74780c73b02/downloads/6c23bef6-a43d-4acd-a781-3b749bb46174/Report_%20Returning%20the%20Stolen%20Children%20of%20Ukrai.pdf?ver=1750937088779

Bringing Ukraine's kids back: Almost 60 countries unite to stop Russia's genocidal kidnapping of children (Kyiv Independent)
https://kyivindependent.com/bringing-ukraines-kids-back-almost-60-countries-unite-to-stop-russias-genocidal-kidnapping-of-children/

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:
- 'Longest massive attack': Russia fires 2000 drones and missiles in 24 hours
- 60 nations sign historic pledge to 'track down' 20,000 stolen kids

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

Day 1,539.
Today, while Russia unleashes another huge aerial assault across Ukraine – as President Donald Trump insists the war could end soon – we examine Kyiv’s race to develop a new weapon and report on a deadly strike that the United Nations says hit one of its trucks. Then we bring you the latest from the NATO Eastern Flank summit in Romania as allies confront mounting fears over regional security, before looking at an investigation into a sunken Russian ship that was allegedly carrying nuclear reactors to North Korea. And later, in a special report from Kherson, a Telegraph journalist is forced to flee for cover as Russian drones hunt targets above the city.

Contributors:
Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.
Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.
Adrian Blomfield (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @Adrianblomfield on X.

CONTENT REFERENCED:
I was hunted in Russia’s 'drone safari' in Kherson (Adrian Blomfield for The Telegraph):
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNQSY6NaPhY
Long Read: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/72-Hours-in-Kherson-red-zone/

Is Ukraine winning the war? The three facets of the 2026 counter-offensive (Dom’s film for The Telegraph incl. discussion of Kyiv's use of data):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-LWZtJBCwY

German soldiers attacked at Nato base ‘by masked assailants’ (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/12/german-soldiers-attacked-nato-base-masked-assailants/

Zelenskiy meets Palantir CEO as Ukraine expands use of AI in war (Reuters):
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/zelenskiy-meets-palantir-ceo-ukraine-expands-use-ai-war-2026-05-12/

A Russian ship sank in mysterious circumstances. It may have been carrying submarine nuclear reactors to North Korea (CNN):
https://edition.cnn.com/2026/05/12/world/a-russian-ship-sank-in-mysterious-circumstances-it-may-have-been-carrying-nuclear-reactors-to-north-korea

NATO’s frontline countries jockey for US troops after Trump’s Germany withdrawal (POLITICO):
https://www.politico.eu/article/nato-frontline-countries-jockey-for-us-troops-after-donald-trump-germany-withdrawal/

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: 72 hours dodging Russia’s ‘drone safari’ in Kherson
- Did NATO sink this Russian ship carrying nuclear reactors to North Korea?
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.