Ukraine: The Latest

Day 1,607.
Today, as Ukraine strikes a plant belonging to Russia’s largest steel producer, we assess Moscow’s increasing use of ballistic missiles as the fighting on the frontline heads towards Russia’s bloodiest month in a year and a half. We also report on the man expected to replace Kyiv’s Commander-in-Chief, before a special interview with one of the founding members of Pussy Riot about the group’s origins and the protest performance that led to members being sent to a Russian penal colony.

Contributors:
Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.
With thanks to Nadya Tolokonnikova of Pussy Riot.

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:
The Pavilion of dis(Sense) – conceived and curated by the Russian dissident artist Katia Margolis – is in the former Church of San Leonardo, Venice, until August 7. Learn more: https://www.instagram.com/pavilionofdissense/

Francis’s Dispatches from La Biennale in Venice –
Part I: https://youtu.be/ay2UT-SeKDI?si=HcbI6rpImmWdnEIM&t=559
Part II (featuring the first section of Francis’s interview with Nadya of Pussy Riot): https://youtu.be/KVCZ9mVVFNI?si=zpNovKCPKyoDJdbU&t=829

Nadja’s Strasbourg exhibition, ‘Resistance Imprisoned’:
https://www.ritschfisch.com/exhibition/resistance-imprisoned/

Russian warship opens fire off Devon (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/07/21/russian-warship-neustrashimy-fires-plymouth-royal-navy/

White House concerned over Miliband as Foreign Secretary (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2026/07/21/white-house-deeply-concerned-miliband-foreign-secretary/

Mykhailo Drapatyi, the man some protesters want to replace Syrskyi (Kyiv Independent):
https://kyivindependent.com/mykhailo-drapatyi-the-man-some-protesters-want-to-replace-syrskyi/

Zelensky’s crisis deepens as ex-defence minister rejects offer to return (Financial Times):
https://www.ft.com/content/51dad580-487a-43d4-8427-cdd764cbe8f5?syn-25a6b1a6=1

EMAIL US:
Contact the team on [email protected]. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many as possible.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Russia faces bloodiest month for a year and half
Interview with Pussy Riot founder Nadya Tolokonnikova

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

Day 1,606.
Today, after one of its biggest ballistic missile attacks on Kyiv of the war, we hear about Ukraine’s strikes on warehouses belonging to Russia’s equivalent to Amazon, costing millions in damages and a 2000 square mile cloud that can be seen from space. Then we consider the rumours that Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi may be next for the chop as protests continue over President Zelensky’s removal of Defence Minister Fedorov. And, with our guest, we try to answer a key question: now President Trump has promised to share the blueprints for Patriot missiles with Kyiv, how long will it take for Ukraine to build its own version?

Contributors:
Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.
Alex Nichol (Telegraph Journalist).
With thanks for Michael Bohnert – Engineer at RAND.

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:
Russia unleashes largest ballistic missile attack of the war (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/19/russia-ukraine-war-ballistic-missile-attack-kyiv-zelensky/

Ukraine strikes warehouses of ‘Russian Amazon’ in revenge attack (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/18/ukraine-strikes-warehouses-russian-amazon-revenge-attack/

Fires rage near Moscow after Ukrainian drone strikes (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/20/fires-rage-near-moscow-after-ukrainian-drone-strikes/

Russian pensioners dying in queues for fuel (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/17/russian-pensioners-dying-queues-fuel/

Video shows bomb attack on Ukrainian tycoon in Monaco (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/18/video-bomb-attack-ukrainian-tycoon-monaco/

FIFA risks prosecution over World Cup payments to Russian clubs (Follow The Money):
https://www.ftm.eu/articles/fifa-world-cup-sanctions-payments-russian-clubs

Russia Plans to Mobilize 500,000 Personnel by Autumn, Prepares for New Fronts (Kyiv Post):
kyivpost.com/post/80585

More from Michael Bohnert on Patriot Missiles:
https://x.com/mbohnert/status/2079146203795890363

EMAIL US:
Contact the team on [email protected]. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many as possible.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Putin unleashes largest ballistic missile attack of the war
Ukraine strikes warehouses of ‘Russian Amazon’ in revenge strikes
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 [email protected]. 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 [email protected]. 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 [email protected]. 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.