Ukraine: The Latest

Day 1,531.
Today, after a weekend in which Zelensky joined more than 30 European leaders – along with the prime minister of Canada – at the European Political Community summit in Armenia, a country Moscow considers a close ally in the South Caucasus, and Ukraine calls Russia’s bluff over “ceasefires”, we report on further shadow fleet sanctions activity – from new regulations to unexplained explosions. And later, we look ahead to May Day celebrations in Russia and ask whether a Ukrainian drone penetrating Moscow’s layers of air defence suggests the parade could go off with a real bang.

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 Yuliya Sotska of Ukrainian charity ‘Children of Heroes’.

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 ‘Children of Heroes’:
https://childrenheroes.org/en/

Francis’s Long Interview with Silicon Curtain:
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vopvERNHGtg
Audio: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0qwPAXSkPTvScvGtdKa2rm

Zelensky challenges Putin to new ceasefire (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/04/zelensky-challenges-putin-to-new-ceasefire/

Starmer to lobby Macron for closer EU ties (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/03/keir-starmer-join-eu-defence-fund-loan-ukraine/

Zelensky has scrapped open-ended military contracts to attract new recruits (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/01/zelensky-scraps-indefinite-contracts-soldiers-recruits/

Europe fears Putin’s ‘window of opportunity’ is now (Politico):
https://www.politico.eu/article/europe-fears-valdimir-putin-window-opportunity-nato-test/

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 challenged to new ceasefire by Zelensky
Fears NATO 'disintegrating' as Trump pulls thousands of troops from Europe
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Day 1,527.
Today, we take you to Lviv and hear an update from Dom’s week in the west of the country – including a visit to a prisoner of war camp and speaking to soldiers who fought for Russia. Then we bring you the latest on strikes by both sides, as Tuapse refinery is hit for the fourth time in a fortnight, before discussing the end of what’s being called the biggest military exercise involving European forces since the end of the Cold War.

NOTE: Monday is a bank holiday in the UK. Normal service will resume on Tuesday.

Contributors:
Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.
Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls 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:
Russia's Leningrad Oblast 'now a front-line region,' local governor says (Kyiv Independent):
https://kyivindependent.com/russias-leningrad-oblast-now-a-frontline-region-local-governor-says-following-recent-ukrainian-attacks/

Venice Biennale jury resigns after row over Russian entry (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/04/30/venice-biennale-jury-resigns-row-russian-artists/

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: ‘My face-to-face with Russian prisoners of war’
Europe ends largest military drill since the Cold War

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Day 1,526.
Today, as President Putin once again dangles a ceasefire in front of President Trump to avoid any risk of disruption to his Victory Day commemorations, he discuss reports that US president might be considering pulling American forces out of Germany while, at the same, the Pentagon finally unlocks a $400 million military aid package. We also bring you the latest on Ukraine’s strike campaign and how it’s turned one of Russia’s strengths – its size – into a weakness, before hearing from a Ukrainian Olympian diver about the decision by World Aquatics to permit Russian athletics to compete under the Russian flag once more.

Contributors:
Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.
With thanks to Telegraph reporters Lily Shanagher and Alisa Butterwick, plus Ukrainian Olympic diver Oleksiy Sereda.

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:
Ukrainian drones destroy £18m Russian helicopters behind enemy lines (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/04/30/ukrainian-drones-destroy-18m-russian-helicopters/

Trump threatens to pull troops out of Germany (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/04/29/trump-germany-troops-friedrich-merz/

Putin’s ‘altar boy’ is finally in Ukraine’s sights (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/04/30/putin-altar-boy-finally-in-ukraine-sights/

Japanese drone maker doubles down on Ukraine as Tokyo eases arms rules (The Kyiv Independent):
https://kyivindependent.com/terra-drone-moves-deeper-into-ukraine-with-second-investment-as-tokyo-loosens-arms-rules/

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 ‘vaporises’ Russian helicopters mid-flight behind enemy lines
Putin proposes ‘brief’ ceasefire in Trump call
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.