Spectacular explosion 'wipes out' Russian ammo dump & on patrol with Ukraine's Black Sea fleet

Day 1,227.Today, as Putin and Trump hung up the phones after an hour-long conversation yesterday, Kyiv headed to the shelters for another massive drone and missile attack and a long, sleepless night. This morning, Russia declared that it is ‘not possible’ to achieve their goals through diplomatic means after the phone call. We discuss all these stories, then hear from Dr Jade McGlynn for the latest on resistance in the occupied territories, and talk to a British band who chose to perform in Kyiv.Contributors:Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjz on X.Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.Dr. Jade McGlynn (War Studies Department of King's College). @DrJadeMcGlynn on X.With thanks to Hardwicke Circus.Content Referenced:Learn more about the band Hardwicke Circus:https://www.facebook.com/hardwickecircus/?locale=en_GB SIGN UP TO THE NEW ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:https://secure.telegraph.co.uk/customer/secure/newsletter/ukraine/  Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It’s free for everyone, including non-subscribers.NOW AVAILABLE IN NEW LANGUAGES:The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them. Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatestSubscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,226.Today, as the fallout from Donald Trump freezing US weapons to Ukraine continues, in a special dispatch, we join the Ukrainian navy out on the Black Sea during an air attack on Odesa. Then we speak to the creator of Wargame – the new podcast simulating an attack by Russia on British soil, and hear what lessons it offers countries across the Western world.Contributors:Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.With thanks to our guest Deborah Haynes (Security and Defence Editor at Sky News). @haynesdeborah on X.Content Referenced:Our Black Sea Video Dispatch:YouTube Version -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2YjuuQz414  Telegraph Version - https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/07/03/russia-attacks-cargo-ships-ports-black-sea-ukraine-war/The Wargame - Sky News and Tortoise Media podcast simulates a Russian attack on UK: https://news.sky.com/story/the-wargame-new-sky-news-and-tortoise-media-podcast-series-simulates-a-russian-attack-on-uk-13371462 North Korea is sending Putin 30,000 more troops, Kyiv says (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/07/03/north-korea-russia-troops-ukraine/ Trump Is Playing a Cynical Game With Ukraine (Jake Sullivan in The New York Times):https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/02/opinion/trump-ukraine-weapons.html Ukraine Can Still Win (Michael Carpenter in Foreign Affairs):https://www.foreignaffairs.com/ukraine/ukraine-can-still-win SIGN UP TO THE NEW ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:https://secure.telegraph.co.uk/customer/secure/newsletter/ukraine/  Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It’s free for everyone, including non-subscribers.Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,225.Today, as Donald Trump’s administration decides to halt shipments of certain air defence missiles bound for Ukraine, we assess the ramifications for trust in the United States, before hearing the latest domestic stories being reported inside Russia, and speak to a former Kremlin propagandist.Contributors:Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.James Kilner (Foreign Correspondent). @jkjourno on X.With thanks to our guest Andrew Ryvkin.Content Referenced:Gig in Kyiv by British Band Hardwicke Circus: https://www.mezzanine.kyiv.ua/afisha/hardwicke-circusJoin us at Scarborough Fair in Northern England on 9th July:https://scarboroughfair.uk/events/putins-folly-the-war-in-ukraine-three-years-on/ That Time I Was a Russian Propagandist (Andrew in The Atlantic):https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2024/09/russian-propaganda-putin-ukraine-invasion/680021/ Pentagon halting some promised munitions for Ukraine (POLITICO):https://www.politico.com/news/2025/07/01/pentagon-munitions-ukraine In June 2025, Ukraine increased electricity exports by 2.5 times (ExPro):https://expro.com.ua/en/tidings/in-june-2025-ukraine-increased-electricity-exports-by-25-times- Germany still weighing Taurus missile supply to Ukraine, Merz says (Kyiv Independent):https://kyivindependent.com/germany-still-weighing-taurus-missile-supply-to-ukraine-merz-says/Learn more about the documentary ‘Kherson: Human Safari’:https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-society/4008998-american-journalist-documents-wartime-reality-in-kherson-human-safari.html SIGN UP TO THE NEW ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:https://secure.telegraph.co.uk/customer/secure/newsletter/ukraine/  Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It’s free for everyone, including non-subscribers.Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,224.Today, after enduring weeks of drone and missile strikes, Kyiv hits back in a long-range attack on a factory deep inside Russia and on a site in occupied Crimea. Plus, we examine Moscow’s latest attempt to shift Donald Trump’s focus away from ceasefire demands and, later, Francis talks to an investigator for the Eyes on Russia project which works to expose human rights violations and threats to democracy through open source investigations and research.Contributors:Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjz on X.Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.With thanks to Joshua Scriven, an investigator for the Eyes on Russia project at the Centre for Information Resilience (@Cen4infoRes on X).Content Referenced:Learn more about the Centre for Information Resilience:Website - https://www.info-res.org/X - https://x.com/Cen4infoResLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/centre-for-information-resilience/posts/?feedView=allLearn more about BRAVE1:https://brave1.gov.ua/en/SIGN UP TO THE NEW ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:https://secure.telegraph.co.uk/customer/secure/newsletter/ukraine/  Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It’s free for everyone, including non-subscribers.Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,223.Today, after Ukraine claims to have destroyed a litany of Russian aircraft, we discuss war crimes described on Russia state television committed against snipers, and a remarkable story about how Moscow is reportedly using nuns as spies to spread propaganda.Contributors:Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.James Rothwell (Berlin Correspondent). @JamesERothwell on X.Content Referenced:Russia ‘using nuns as spies to spread propaganda’ (James Rothwell in The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/06/21/russia-using-nuns-as-spies-to-spread-propaganda/ Germany’s crisis-hit car industry is the key to its rearmament (James Rothwell in The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/06/22/germany-car-industry-key-rearmament/ Inside Ukraine’s occupied territory where thousands of Russians are moving in (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/03/31/inside-occupied-ukraine-territory-russia-war-berdiansk/ 'Mariupol is diseased': Residents deny Russian claims occupied city returning to normal (BBC):https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq6912mqp1go I lost half my weight in jail, but I'm not broken, says freed Belarus opposition leader (BBC):https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czey1y6x6zzo Poland to boost howitzer shell output in face of Russian threat (Financial Times):https://www.ft.com/content/425d4fab-6405-4bd8-b4a1-d6ec6a016f83 Ukraine is inching towards robot-on-robot fighting (The Economist):www.economist.com/europe/2025/06/26/ukraine-is-inching-towards-robot-on-robot-fightingSIGN UP TO THE NEW ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:https://secure.telegraph.co.uk/customer/secure/newsletter/ukraine/  Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It’s free for everyone, including non-subscribers.Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,220.Today, as the US Ambassador to Russia leaves Moscow, we look at the latest attacks on Ukraine from land and air, and hear how the war is perceived on the other side of the world: in New Zealand.Contributors:Roland Oliphant (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @RolandOliphant on X.Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.With thanks to Tenby Powell (founder of the NGO Kiwi K.A.R.E). @tenbypowell on X.Content Referenced:Learn more about Kiwi K.A.R.E:https://www.kiwikareukraine.co.nz/ SIGN UP TO THE NEW ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:https://secure.telegraph.co.uk/customer/secure/newsletter/ukraine/  Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It’s free for everyone, including non-subscribers.NOW AVAILABLE IN NEW LANGUAGES:The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them. Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatestSubscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,219.Today, after what some are calling a ‘triumphant’ NATO summit in the Hague, we assess the pledges made by President Donald Trump, and ask whether it was a historic achievement by Secretary General Mark Rutte. Then we do deeper dives into Ukraine’s military and strategic innovations, and the threat posed by Russia on Europe’s eastern flank, with dispatches from Lithuania and Latvia.Contributors:Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.David Blair (Chief Foreign Correspondent). @davidblairdt on X.Roland Oliphant (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @RolandOliphant on X.With thanks to Baiba Braže (Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs). @Braze_Baiba on X.Content Referenced:Why calling Trump Daddy got Nato what they wanted (David Blair in The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/06/25/how-nato-conquered-trump/Europe is building a new ‘Iron Curtain’– with millions of landmines (David Blair in The Telegraph): https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/06/24/lithuania-iron-curtain-landmines-europe/ An Interview With Andriy Zagorodnyuk (Professor Phillips O’Brian’s Substack):https://open.substack.com/pub/phillipspobrien/p/an-interview-with-andriy-zagorodnyuk?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=webSIGN UP TO THE NEW ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:https://secure.telegraph.co.uk/customer/secure/newsletter/ukraine/  Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It’s free for everyone, including non-subscribers.NOW AVAILABLE IN NEW LANGUAGES:The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them. Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatestSubscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,218.Today, we look at the second day of the NATO summit in The Hague, including Mark Rutte’s leaked message to President Donald Trump, and President Zelensky’s upcoming meeting with the US president. We also hear about why young women are choosing to leave Ukraine “in droves” to study abroad, and what that means for the future of Ukraine. And finally we discuss a documentary series about Ukrainian veterans.Contributors:Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjz on X.Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Garbiella Jozwiak. (Freelance Reporter).With thanks to Alexandra Kutas.Content Referenced:Telegraph Live Blog on NATO Summit:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/06/25/nato-summit-trump-ukraine-war-zelensky-starmer/ Nato softens stance on Russia (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/06/25/leaked-statement-nato-softens-on-russia/ Ukraine has a problem no one is talking about – young women are leaving in droves (Gabriella in The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/women-and-girls/ukraine-has-a-problem-no-one-is-talking-about-young-women/ Reimagined Ukraine, by Alexandra Kutas: Serhii: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9nvSCf5_lw&t=184sOleksandr: https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=t4gqEds6o9laQvct&v=DC_9mSV5wDs&feature=youtu.beVyacheslav: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMdrFk8xcX8SIGN UP TO THE NEW ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:https://secure.telegraph.co.uk/customer/secure/newsletter/ukraine/  Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It’s free for everyone, including non-subscribers.Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,217.Today, as the NATO summit gets underway in The Hague, we look at how the alliance is shifting the goalposts on how members’ contributions should be counted. We report on last night’s closed door session with President Zelensky - which we attended - and we hear the panel event Francis moderated recently at the Black Sea Security Forum in Odesa.Contributors:Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.With thanks to our panel: Tony Abbott, Vadym Prystaiko, Dr Robert Seely and Richard Kemp.Content Referenced:See us at Chalke History Festival THIS FRIDAY (27th):https://www.chalkefestival.com/SIGN UP TO THE NEW ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:https://secure.telegraph.co.uk/customer/secure/newsletter/ukraine/  Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It’s free for everyone, including non-subscribers.Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,216.Today, we discuss the ramifications of the historic American strike on Iran’s nuclear sites, and how we should read Tehran's Foreign Minister’s scramble to Moscow. Plus we feature a special dispatch from Gotland, Sweden, to meet the Armed Forces’ newest outfit protecting Europe’s strategic Baltic outpost from Russia.Contributors:Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Venetia Rainey (Co-host Battle Lines podcast). @venetiarainey on X.Content Referenced:The tiny Swedish island regiment tasked with protecting Europe from Russia (Venetia Rainey in The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/06/17/the-tiny-swedish-island-regiment-tasked-protecting-europe/ Our sister podcast Battle Lines, covering wider geopolitical affairs, including Iran:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/05/14/battle-lines-foreign-policy-geopolitics-conflict-podcast/ Spain exempt from Nato’s 5pc spending target (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/06/22/spain-exempt-from-nato-five-percent-spending-target-gdp/ 'My husband is free' — Belarus opposition leader Siarhei Tsikhanouski freed after US envoy visits Minsk (The Kyiv Independent):https://kyivindependent.com/in-highest-level-visit-in-years-lukashenko-meets-us-envoy-kellogg-in-minsk/?mc_cid=bdc69312ea&mc_eid=08d0680a95 Putin spies an opportunity in Trump’s attack on Iran (The Spectator):https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/putin-spies-an-opportunity-in-trumps-attack-on-iran/SIGN UP TO THE NEW ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:https://secure.telegraph.co.uk/customer/secure/newsletter/ukraine/  Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It’s free for everyone, including non-subscribers.Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.