How Trump's purges weaken the CIA & Russian ship on fire after drone hit

Day 1,297.Today, we dive into Donald Trump’s campaign of revenge against CIA officials and into new and upcoming sanctions against Russia as pressure continues to mount following the drone incursion into the Polish airspace. And finally, we hear the second part of David Knowles’s work on the fight against corruption in Ukraine, recorded shortly before his death.Contributors:Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Reporter and Producer). @adeliepjz on X.Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.With special thanks - as ever - to David Knowles (creator of 'Ukraine: The Latest').Content Referenced:Trump’s vengeance against CIA ‘is blinding US to Putin’s threat’https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/09/12/donald-trump-vengeance-cia-blinding-usa-threat-putin-russia/Part one of David Knowles’s interview on the fight against corruption in Ukraine: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/putin-launches-largest-air-attack-of-the-war/id1612424182?i=1000725540765Charities in David Knowles’s memory:KHARPP (Ukraine) fundraiser in memory of David Knowles, creator of ‘Ukraine: The Latest’:https://donorbox.org/kharpp-fundraiser-in-memory-of-david-knowlesBritish Heart Foundation fundraiser in memory of David Knowles, creator of ‘Ukraine: The Latest’:https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/bhfteamdavidknowlesSIGN 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 1,296.Today, we continue to unpack NATO’s response to the incursion of 19 Russian drones into Polish airspace. We hear the latest news from the resistance in the Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia, and we zoom in on the water crisis in Donetsk.Contributors:Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Reporter and Producer). @adeliepjz on X.Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Joe Barnes (Brussels Correspondent). @barnes_joe on X.Dr. Jade McGlynn (War Studies Department of King's College). @DrJadeMcGlynn on X.Content Referenced:Russian drones were ‘targeting Nato base in Poland’’, The Telegraphhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/09/11/russian-drones-targeting-nato-base-in-poland/Is Nato sliding towards war with Russia?, The Telegraphhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/09/10/nato-sliding-towards-war-with-russia/Print Army: https://drukarmy.org.ua/enSIGN 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 1,295.Today, in a historic moment for Europe, NATO fighter jets shoot down Russian drones over Poland in the first ever direct engagement between the Western alliance and Moscow. We assess the global reaction and what it means, before asking how Vladimir Putin is manipulating the information space to conceal his crimes and shape opinion.Contributors:Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Peter Pomerantsev (Chief Editor and Co-founder of The Reckoning Project) @peterpomeranzev on X.Scott Martin (International Lawyer at Global Rights Compliance)Content Referenced:Nato engages Russia for first time (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/09/10/nato-russia-drones-shot-down-poland-fighter-jets/ Telegraph Ukraine Live Blog on Poland Crisis:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/09/10/ukraine-russia-war-latest-news-drones-poland-nato/ Manufacturing Impunity: Russian Information Operations in Ukraine — Russia’s Use of Information Alibis and How They Materially Contribute to the Planning, Execution and Cover-up of International Crimes (Global Rights Compliance, in collaboration with the leading advocacy organisation The Reckoning Project):https://globalrightscompliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Manufacturing-Impunity.pdf ‘NATO States Have Failed’ (Phillips O’Brien Substack):https://phillipspobrien.substack.com/p/nato-states-have-failed For the first time in 10 years, Ukraine and Poland exhumed and reburied the victims of the Volyn tragedy (Babel):https://babel.ua/en/texts/121230-for-the-first-time-in-10-years-ukraine-and-poland-exhumed-and-reburied-the-victims-of-the-volyn-tragedy-the-archaeologist-and-historian-says-this-is-a-breakthrough-in-the-relations-between-the-countriSIGN 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 1,294.Today, as Ukraine strikes yet more oil and gas facilities deep inside Russia, we hear how Donald Trump has deported dozens of political refugees fleeing Vladimir Putin back to the country. Then we report how Putin’s present for General Gerasimov’s 70th birthday was a nice medal and an extension of his military service, plus we report on Monday’s defence forum in London where Dom interviewed Boris Johnson, who said the Coalition of the Willing should be deployed to Ukraine now.Contributors:Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.James Kilner (Foreign Correspondent). @jkjourno on X.Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjzon on X.With thanks to War Child Chief Executive Helen Pattinson, and Labour MP Johanna Baxter.Content Referenced:War Child Report:https://www.warchild.org.uk/our-work/policies-and-reports/return-every-childKHARPP (Ukraine) fundraiser in memory of David Knowles, creator of ‘Ukraine: The Latest’:https://donorbox.org/kharpp-fundraiser-in-memory-of-david-knowlesBritish Heart Foundation fundraiser in memory of David Knowles, creator of ‘Ukraine: The Latest’:https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/bhfteamdavidknowlesSIGN 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 1,293.Today, as Ukraine suffers the largest air attack of the war, killing four and setting dozens of buildings on fire in Kyiv, including the main seat of government, we assess the response from world leaders. Then, in a special segment to mark the one year anniversary of his passing, we hear new interviews recorded by Ukraine: The Latest’s creator, David Knowles, and discuss two fundraisers launched in his memory. Contributors:Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjz on X.With special thanks - as ever - to David Knowles (creator of 'Ukraine: The Latest').Charities Referenced:KHARPP (Ukraine) fundraiser in memory of David Knowles, creator of ‘Ukraine: The Latest’:https://donorbox.org/kharpp-fundraiser-in-memory-of-david-knowlesBritish Heart Foundation fundraiser in memory of David Knowles, creator of ‘Ukraine: The Latest’:https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/bhfteamdavidknowlesSIGN 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 1,290.Today, after another important Coalition of the Willing summit in Paris, we discuss Vladimir Putin’s warning that any Western peacekeeping forces deployed to Ukraine would be considered a “legitimate” target. Then, we dive into an investigation on how China is providing drones parts to Russia and effectively sustaining its ability to continue waging its war against Ukraine. Finally, Dom dials in on his last day in Prague attending the International Institute for Strategic Studies Defence Summit. Contributors:Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjz on X.Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Sophia Yan (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @Sophia_Yan on X.Content Referenced:How China is secretly arming Russia, (Sophia Yan in The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/09/03/how-china-is-secretly-arming-russia/Putin: British troops in Ukraine ‘legitimate’ target for Russia (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/09/05/putin-western-troops-in-ukraine-legitimate-target-russia/ ‘Battle Lines: Inside the rise of China’s military - and what it means for Taiwan’:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/08/08/battle-lines-podcast-inside-the-rise-of-chinas-military/IISS Prague Defence Summit: https://www.iiss.org/events/prague-defence-summit/prague-defence-summit-2025/ 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 1,289.Today, as the Coalition of the Willing meets to discuss security guarantees in Paris, we hear live from Prague minutes after the speech of NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Then – after the military updates – we assess in greater detail the attendance of other world leaders alongside Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping in Beijing: who were they, and what do their motives tell us about the new ‘axis of upheaval?’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.Content Referenced:Britain sanctions mother of Chechen warlord for stealing children (Adelie in The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/09/03/uk-sanctions-mother-chechen-warlord-stealing-children-kyiv/ There is a question no one dares ask about Vladimir Putin (Francis in The Telegraph in 2024):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/12/24/there-is-a-question-no-one-dares-ask-about-vladimir-putin/ 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 1,288.Today, as China unveils new weapons at the huge military parade in Beijing attended by Russia’s Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong-un, we assess just how significant the gathering is, and whether it has put the West ‘on notice’. Then we sit down for an exclusive interview with the British Foreign Secretary as the UK announces sanctions against those forcibly deporting, indoctrinating and militarising Ukrainian children.Contributors:Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjzon on X.With thanks to The Rt Hon David Lammy MP (Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs). @davidlammy on X.Content Referenced:UK sanctions actors forcibly deporting, indoctrinating and militarising Ukrainian children (UK Government):https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-sanctions-actors-forcibly-deporting-indoctrinating-and-militarising-ukrainian-children Russian defence ministry displays Ukraine map claiming more regions (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/09/02/russian-defence-ministry-displays-map-claiming-ukrainie/Kim tells Putin: I’ll do everything I can to help (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/09/03/china-military-parade-latest-news/ 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 1,287.Today, as a Nato leader meets with Vladimir Putin while Ukraine is subjected to the latest wave of Russian drone strikes, we look at the ongoing Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in China that is attempting to rewrite the global security order. Plus, we examine quite what happened to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s plane, after suspected Russian interference, and hear the latest in the cyber war.Contributors:Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.Gareth Corfield (Transport Correspondent). @GazTheJourno on X.Content Referenced:Ursula von der Leyen’s plane forced to land blind after ‘Russia jams GPS’ (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/09/01/ursula-von-der-leyen-plane-forced-land-blind-russia/ Costa breaks ranks on EU-US trade deal, fires warning shot at Trump (POLITICO):https://www.politico.eu/article/antonio-costa-eu-us-trade-deal-warning-shots-donald-trump/ Germany and France plan early warning system JEWEL (Hartpunkt):https://www.hartpunkt.de/raketenabwehr-berlin-und-paris-planen-fruehwarnsystem/Andrew Fox Substack on PTSD: https://mrandrewfox.substack.com/p/ptsd?r=z0uop&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&triedRedirect=trueSIGN 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 1,286.Today, we offer the most comprehensive version yet of the peace plan taking shape behind closed doors, as the Europeans ask Donald Trump to deploy a private army of military firms to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire. Plus we report on the significance of the meeting between Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, and Narendra Modi. Later, with Professor Phillips O'Brien, we discuss the gravest strategic miscalculations made by both sides in the war.Contributors:Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.With thanks to Professor Phillips O'Brien (professor of Strategic Studies at University of St Andrews). @phillipspobrien on X.Content Referenced:Phillips O'Brien’s Book, ‘War and Power: Who Wins Wars ― and Why’:https://www.amazon.co.uk/War-Power-Who-Wins-Wars/dp/0241744032 Trump in talks to deploy private army to Ukraine (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/08/30/trump-talks-deploy-private-army-ukraine/ White House ‘thinks Europe is undermining Ukraine peace efforts’ (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/2025/08/30/white-house-thinks-europe-undermining-ukraine-peace-effort/ Xi welcomes Putin to secretive summit for ‘axis of upheaval’ (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/08/31/xi-welcomes-putin-secretive-summit/ Ukrainian politician shot dead ‘by man disguised as courier’ (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/08/30/ukrainian-politician-shot-dead-man-disguised-courier/ The deadliest year yet: Russia has lost more than 200,000 soldiers in its war against Ukraine(Meduza/Mediazona):https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/08/29/the-deadliest-year-yet?utm_source=email&utm_medium=briefly&utm_campaign=2025-08-29&mc_cid=d8640930a3&mc_eid=f485e69e69 Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.