Ukraine: The Latest

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.

Day 1,538.
Today, as Andrii Yermak is charged with money laundering, we ask: should President Zelensky be disappointed in his former chief of staff or worried that the scandal is coming closer to him? We report that Poland has moved first and secured a third of the 150 billion Euro SAFE funding and we get our regular view from James Kilner of what’s happening inside Russia. Plus, we take a short foray into Africa, asking what Russia’s ejection from Mali says about the Kremlin's international appeal.

Contributors:
Dom Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X
Alex Nichol (Telegraph Journalist)
James Kilner (Russia Expert ). @jkjourno on X

CONTENT REFERENCED:
Inside the Ukrainian war room turning the tide on Russia
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/05/12/ukraine-war-drones-tech-russian-soldier-attacks/

Too paranoid to meet strangers, Putin fakes a street chat for cameras, by Antonia Langford
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/12/putin-fakes-a-street-chat-for-cameras/

Putin expands world’s largest drone factory as it ramps up exports to Iran
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/11/putin-expands-worlds-largest-drone-factory/

Help shape the future of Ukraine: The Latest. Share your thoughts in this quick survey:
https://tinyurl.com/ukrainethelatest
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:
- Zelensky former 'right-hand man' charged with corruption
- WhatRussia’s ejection from Mali says about the Kremlin's international appeal
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,537.
Today, as the final day draws to a close of the ceasefire supposedly brokered by the US to see Russia’s Victory Day parade on Saturday pass unscathed, we ask: what happened to the supposed prisoner swap that had been part of the deal? Plus Brussels Correspondent Joe Barnes asks Estonia’s PM and a Ukrainian defence analyst what the weekend’s events - or lack thereof - tells us about the state of the war. And we also hear updates on the work of the Come Back Alive charity, the organisation securing battle-winning technology for Ukraine, and a firm favourite of this podcast’s creator, David Knowles.

Contributors:
Dom Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.
Joe Barnes (The Telegraph's Brussels Correspondent) @Barnes_Joe on X
Mykola Bielieskov (Defence Analyst) @MBielieskov on X

Help shape the future of Ukraine: The Latest. Share your thoughts in this quick survey:
https://tinyurl.com/ukrainethelatest

CONTENT REFERENCED:
Don’t abandon Nato’s eastern flank, Estonian PM tells Starmer
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/10/dont-leave-nato-eastern-flank-defenceless-estonia-starmer/

Help shape the future of Ukraine: The Latest. Share your thoughts in this quick survey:
https://tinyurl.com/ukrainethelatest
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:
- EU dismisses 'sham' offer for Putin’s 'buddy' to be mediator in Ukraine peace talks
- With no tanks or missiles on parade, Putin claims 'this matter is coming to an end'
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,534.
Today, as President Zelensky said he "doesn't recommend" that foreign representatives attend tomorrow’s May Day parade in Moscow, we report on the Kremlin’s cool and measured response to the threat of Ukrainian strikes, with Russian State Duma deputies threatening the use of Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missiles against Kyiv whilst, for reasons known only to them, warning that these statements are Russia’s “last warning to Brussels”. And, as the Azov Corps say they have returned to occupied Mariupol - albeit using strike drones - somewhat fittingly we have our regular update of resistance activity in the occupied areas.

Help shape the future of Ukraine: The Latest. Share your thoughts in this quick survey:
https://tinyurl.com/ukrainethelatest

Contributors:
Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @adeliepjz on X.
Dom Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.
Dr Jade McGlynn (Occupied Territories Expert, King’s College London).

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:
Will Ukrainian drones spoil Putin’s Victory Day parade? (The Spectator)
https://spectator.com/article/will-ukrainian-drones-spoil-putins-victory-day-parade/

Rosenberg: Russia's Victory Day parade with no tanks a sign Ukraine war not going to plan (BBC)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwy2gj2jlr8o

Is Frustration With Armenia’s Pashinyan Enough to Bring the Pro-Russia Opposition to Power? (Carnegie Endowment)
https://carnegieendowment.org/russia-eurasia/politika/2026/04/vojna-mir-i-socseti-kuda-vedet-predvybornaya-kampaniya-v-armenii

'They are stealing the election': How Armenia became the next Russia-EU battlefield
https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20260419-stealing-election-how-armenia-became-next-russia-eu-battlefield

EU prepares for ‘potential’ talks with Vladimir Putin, says official (Financial Times)
https://www.ft.com/content/b093dae1-939b-47b4-96e4-40f212e87430?shareType=nongift&syn-25a6b1a6=1

Ukraine war 'led me to surrogacy' to earn money but a new law could end those plans (BBC)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyp4kp687go

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:

Putin running scared with pared back V-Day parade plans
Zelensky visits brigades on the frontline
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,533.
Today, as Russia refused to follow Kyiv’s proposed ceasefire, killing at least 26 civilians, Kyiv responded by hitting targets 1500 km into Russia’s territory. Meanwhile, the corruption scandal uncovered in Ukraine last summer continues to send shockwaves across the country, possibly touching Zelensky himself. Ukraine’s Chief negotiator, Rustem Umerov, himself under investigation in the probe, arrives in Miami for the first talks since the beginning of the war against Iran. Finally, we dive into Russia’s latest online disinformation campaign.

Help shape the future of Ukraine: The Latest. Share your thoughts in this quick survey:
https://tinyurl.com/ukrainethelatest

Contributors:
Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @adeliepjz on X.
Dom Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.
Stephanie Baker (Investigative Journalist, Bloomberg). @StephaniBaker 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:
United Nations: At least 70 killed and over 500 injured in attacks across Ukraine since 1 May
https://ukraine.ohchr.org/en/At-least-70-killed-and-over-500-injured-in-attacks-across-Ukraine-since-1-May?brid=YWdncwHX0NkpD1nGtCFuHnR85dYK

The corruption scandal Volodymyr Zelensky won't confront, (Kyiv Independent)
https://kyivindependent.com/corruption-scandal-closes-in-zelensky-looks-away/

Stephanie Baker’s investigation:
Russia’s Disinformation War Most Potent Weapon is Bending Realities (Bloomberg):
https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2026-russia-disinformation-storm-1516-videos/?accessToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJzb3VyY2UiOiJTdWJzY3JpYmVyR2lmdGVkQXJ0aWNsZSIsImlhdCI6MTc3ODE2NTI0OCwiZXhwIjoxNzc4NzcwMDQ4LCJhcnRpY2xlSWQiOiJURTY3T0lLR1pBTE4wMCIsImJjb25uZWN0SWQiOiJCNDdEQUVDNEVGNDE0NzBGOTAzNzRFM0U3NTNCQzg2QyJ9.TxyN9Bm4h-wlv29fjwocnYUdF0Q33zG8veGgtjMq49o

How To Spot a Russian Deefake, Bloomberg: https://youtu.be/X9GQiouEdJ8?si=9Tuc4AK0KpGsxk4H

Stephanie Baker’s work:
https://stephaniebakerwriter.com/

Adélie’s event with the Ukrainian Institute, London:
The Newest Testament - Literature as Testimony to Ukraine's Defence.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-newest-testament-literature-as-testimony-to-ukraines-defence-tickets-1986991762851?aff=oddtdtcreator&_gl=1*97sdgn*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTU3NTk1NjMyNC4xNzc4MTc0MDM1*_ga_TQVES5V6SH*czE3NzgxNzQwMzQkbzEkZzAkdDE3NzgxNzQwMzQkajYwJGwwJGgw

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:
Ukraine strikes refinery 1500 km inside Russia violates ceasefire 1,820 times
Leaked tapes from Ukraine’s widest corruption scandal cast doubt on Zelensky
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.