Ukraine: The Latest

Day 1,637
Today, as at least 15 people are killed in another terrible missile bombardment on Kyiv, Putin is finally forced to acknowledge the Wildberries strikes that have seen warehouses ablaze across Russia. Meanwhile Ukraine targets Russian oil refineries once again. Then we ask whether former Defence Minister Fedorov overplayed his hand by calling for election – as key supporters reject the idea – before considering how Ukrainian literature and art is already shaping the war’s memory.

Contributors:
Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.
Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.
With thanks to Charlotte Higgins, chief culture writer at the Guardian and author of Ukrainian Lessons: Art in a Time of War.

Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett
Video Producer: Sophie O’Sullivan
Social Producer: Anita Blay
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:

Charlotte Higgins’ Book – ‘Ukrainian Lessons: Art in a Time of War’
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ukrainian-Lessons-Art-Time-War/dp/1787335976

Victoria Amelina’s Book – ‘Looking at Women, Looking at War: A War and Justice Diary from Ukraine’
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Looking-Women-War-foreword-Margaret/dp/0008727503

Learn more about the Ukrainian Institute Language School: https://uil.org.uk/language-school/
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/08/20/russian-cruise-missiles-kill-12-in-kyiv/

Russia still has 50 Kinzhal missiles in its arsenal after suspending production – Ukraine's Defence Intelligence (Ukrainska Pravda)
https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2026/08/20/8049496/

Fuel pumps are running dry but Putin won’t let Russians complain (The Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/08/20/fuel-pumps-running-dry-putin-russia-ukraine-war-kremlin/

Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, August 19, 2026 (Institute for the Study of War)
https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-august-19-2026/

GeoInsider reporting on the Russian naval attack drone shot down by Romania
https://x.com/InsiderGeo/status/2090388854855397440?s=20

Adelie’s interview with Hugh Roberts on translating Ukrainian poetry
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AXCoKZkXMI

If you’re interested in sponsoring Dom’s upcoming defence event, email our colleagues at events@telegraph.co.uk

EMAIL US:
Contact the team on ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many as possible.

HIGHLIGHTS:
Putin breaks silence on Wildberries carnage
15 killed in Russian bombardment on Kyiv

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

Day 1,636.
Today, in a blistering attack on his former boss, ousted Ukrainian defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov has taken aim at President Zelensky, calling out government corruption and a governance system “in crisis” and calling for fresh elections. It comes as Zelensky’s new defence minister is endorsed by parliament, but also as Ukraine’s national anti-corruption body launches dawn raids on a “high-ranking official” in the president’s office. Plus, nursery children in Russia have been held at gunpoint in government anti-terror drills and Croatian police arrest a Ukrainian man for the alleged sabotage of the Nord Stream pipeline. Later, Dom speaks to Ukrainian athlete Yaroslava Mahuchikh, who last weekend won gold in the high jump at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham.

Contributors:
Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.
Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.
With thanks to Olga Saladukha and Oleksiy Kasyanov of the Ukrainian Athletic Federation, and champion high jumper Yaroslava Mahuchikh.

Producer: Rachel Porter
Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett
Video Producer: Sophie O’Sullivan and Anthony Melton
Social Producer: Natalia Makohon
Translation by Natalia Makohon
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:
If you’re interested in sponsoring Dom’s upcoming defence event, email our colleagues at events@telegraph.co.uk

Nursery children held at gunpoint in Russian anti-terror drills (Antonia Langford for The Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/08/19/kindergarten-children-held-at-gunpoint-in-russian-drills/

Top Zelensky aide targeted in new anti-corruption investigation (Antonia Langford for The Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/08/19/top-zelensky-aide-targeted-anti-corruption-investigation/

Croatia arrests Ukrainian suspected of Nord Stream sabotage, to be tried in Germany (Kyiv Independent)
https://kyivindependent.com/croatia-arrests-suspected-nord-stream-saboteur-to-be-tried-in-germany/

EMAIL US:
Contact the team on ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many as possible.

HIGHLIGHTS:
Mykhailo Fedorov calls for election in blistering attack on Zelensky
Former defence minister also claims corruption is harming Kyiv’s war effort

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

Day 1,635.
Today, after a huge drone attack on the Moscow region – potentially breaking another record – we report on the latest major Red Square military parade to be cancelled. Meanwhile, the Kremlin reportedly makes sure an outspoken banker is silenced for daring to suggest that Russia cannot win a war of attrition against Ukraine and its allies. Then Dom asks the UN’s representative in Ukraine whether the current model is “fit for purpose.” His answer may surprise you.

Contributors:
Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.
Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.
With thanks Matthias Schmale, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine.

Producer: Rachel Porter
Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett
Video Producer: Sophie O’Sullivan and Anthony Melton
Social Producer: Anita Blay
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:
If you’re interested in sponsoring Dom’s upcoming defence event, email our colleagues at events@telegraph.co.uk

Russia jails political leader for opposing Ukraine war (The Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/08/18/russia-jails-political-leader-for-opposing-ukraine-war/

Senior Russian banker sacked after saying: ‘We’re losing to Ukraine’ (The Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/08/17/russian-banker-sacked-after-saying-were-losing-to-ukraine/

Russia: Britain will pay for giving Ukraine drones (The Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/08/17/russia-britain-will-pay-for-giving-ukraine-drones/

Trump ballroom official held quiet Kremlin talks (Financial Times)
https://www.ft.com/content/d88a8878-425d-4225-bda4-576c6c42734e?shareType=nongift&syn-25a6b1a6=1

‘Deliberate negligence’: Russian nuclear power company with EU operations accused of violating safety standards (Politico)
https://www.politico.eu/article/rosatom-hungary-nuclear-energy-egypt-russia-el-dabaa-paks-ii-russia-safety-standards-violations/

NAFO Fella Accounts re. paintings:
https://x.com/ky_painter | @kypainter.bsky.social
https://x.com/fellarequests
https://x.com/Official_NAFO

EMAIL US:
Contact the team on ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many as possible.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Ukraine launches massive drone blitz at Moscow
UN not fit for purpose, says UN in exclusive interview
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,634.
Today, Ukraine sets the sky alight over Moscow oblast as it wipes out the latest Wildberries warehouse. Plus, in what Moscow said was Kyiv’s biggest attack of the year, the plant manufacturing rockets for Russia’s space programme was also destroyed, 9000km inside Russia. Thousands of protesters gathered in Kyiv over the weekend in support of former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov, and Russia’s Foreign Minister effectively admitted responsibility for recent operations in Europe such as the Leipzig drone attack, saying the West is “already starting to groan”. And later, we talk to two journalists who have just returned from Kharkiv, where they made a film warning that the city is fast catching up with Kherson when it comes to drone safari attacks.

Contributors:
Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.
Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.
With thanks to journalists Anna Conkling and Jason Bellini.

Producer: Rachel Porter
Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett and Anthony Melton
Video Producer: Sophie O’Sullivan
Social Producer: Natalia Makahon
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:
Anna and Jason’s documentary from Kharkiv
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zIaFDV1TsU

Caolan Robertson’s interview with Mykhailo Federov
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFZ3-nZPCu0

Putin launches revenge strikes on Kyiv after space centre attack (The Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/08/16/russia-putin-revenge-strikes-kyiv-space-centre-attack/

Russia builds secret drone bases in striking distance of Nato (The Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/08/16/russia-builds-secret-drone-bases-in-nato-striking-distance/

Patriot missiles have been a godsend for Ukraine against Putin, but they’re running out. Kyiv needs help and fast (Jack Watling for The Guardian)
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/aug/14/patriot-missiles-ukraine-putin-kyiv-running-out-nato-danger

Second wave of fuel shortages at petrol stations sweeps across Russia (Reuters)
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/second-wave-fuel-shortages-petrol-stations-sweeps-across-russia-2026-08-17/

Call for the release of OSCE SMM staff members
https://zmina.ua/en/statements-en/the-release-of-osce-smm-staff-members-is-a-prerequisite-for-the-implementation-of-ceasefire-monitoring/

Learn more about ENGIn
https://www.enginprogram.org/

If you’re interested in sponsoring Dom’s upcoming defence event, email our colleagues at events@telegraph.co.uk

EMAIL US:
Contact the team on ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many as possible.

Thumbnail image credit: X/@JayinKyiv

HIGHLIGHTS:

Smoke fills Moscow sky after Ukraine wipes out key Wildberries warehouse
Russian space centre destroyed, 9000km from Ukraine
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,631.
Today, a train in Siberia, said to be carrying ballistic missiles from North Korea, goes up in flames. Then, not to be outdone, a Russian oil terminal near St Petersburg announces it has “completely” shut down following a recent Ukrainian attack. The Starlink spat between Poland and “big man” Elon Musk seems to be cooling and Putin has placed the son of US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr on Russia’s wanted list for fighting in Ukraine. Plus later, we speak to two women brought together by an NGO that helps Ukrainians improve their English – as one of their sons fights on the front line in Ukraine.

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 ENGin volunteers Jane and Anastasia.

Producer: Rachel Porter
Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett
Video Producer: Sophie O’Sullivan and James England
Social Producer: Anita Blay
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:

Learn more about the ENGin program, which helps Ukrainians of all ages improve their English-language conversation via volunteers worldwide:
https://www.enginprogram.org/

If you’re interested in sponsoring Dom’s upcoming defence event, email our colleagues at events@telegraph.co.uk

Kremlin hired assassin to murder American on Polish soil, says Tusk (The Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/08/13/kremlin-hired-assassin-to-execute-american-on-polish-soil/

Blast at Rotterdam port energy facility kills one person (Reuters)
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/rotterdam-port-explosion-causes-one-death-police-say-2026-08-13/

Putin flexes Moscow’s muscles in the Far East (The Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/08/14/putin-flexes-moscows-muscles-in-the-far-east/

US armoured brigade pummelled by Ukraine’s drones in wargame (The Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/08/13/us-armoured-brigade-pummelled-ukraine-drones-wargame/

Pictured: ‘Russian escort’ accused of assassinating Ukrainian defector (The Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/08/13/woman-assassinates-ukrainian-submarine-commander-who-defect/

Ukraine offers Russia truce in the Black Sea as food supply fears mount (Reuters)
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-offers-russia-truce-black-sea-food-supply-fears-mount-source-says-2026-08-13/

Russian Strikes on Dozens of Grain Ships Threaten Global Food Supplies (New York Times)
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/13/world/europe/russia-ukraine-ports-odesa-cargo-ship-attacks.html

‘We have nowhere to return to’: How Russia is seizing homes in occupied Ukraine (BBC Verify)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-f153d864-33b6-4ffa-823a-bf085f8ec5e1

Ukraine Receives Bodies of 261 Fallen Soldiers From Russia (Kyiv Post)
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/82292

EMAIL US:
Contact the team on ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many as possible.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Ukraine 'destroys North Korean missiles 6000km inside Russia'
Huge explosion rips through Italian munitions factory
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.