Ukraine: The Latest

Day 1,596.
Ukraine continues playing its game of Whack-A-Hole on the Kremlin's energy plants. Dom looks at technical developments on the battlefield, including the suggestion Ukrainian troops are now deliberately starting their assaults with next to no equipment, before turning to politics: with Tomahawks on their way to Europe and Marine Le Pen, possibly, on her way to the Elysee Palace. Adelie French-splains what a National Rally presidency could mean for European security and Ukraine. Finally, Adelie is joined by Alexander Browder, the 17-year-old who was sanctioned by the Kremlin for exposing a Russian-backed crypto laundering network.

Contributors:
Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.
Adelie Pojzman-Pontay (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @Adeliepjz on X.
With thanks to Alexander Browder.

Producer: Rachel Porter
Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett
Video Producer: Sophie O’Sullivan
Social Producer: Tom Steed
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:
Exclusive: US fund to make 'big' investment in Ukraine's critical minerals this fall, economy minister says (Kyiv Independent)
https://kyivindependent.com/exclusive-us-fund-to-make-big-investment-in-ukraines-critical-minerals-this-fall-economy-minister-says/

Uefa drags its heels over action against Russia’s fake Ukrainian clubs (The Guardian)
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/27/uefa-action-russia-fake-ukrainian-clubs-shakhtar-donetsk#:~:text=The%20fake%20Shakhtar%2C%20who%20play,promoted%20to%20the%20third%20tier.

Au RN, quinze ans d’affaires judiciaires sous l’ère Marine Le Pen (Le Monde)
https://www.lemonde.fr/les-decodeurs/article/2026/07/07/au-rassemblement-national-quinze-ans-d-affaires-judiciaires-sous-l-ere-marine-le-pen_6721393_4355770.html

French court clears way for Marine Le Pen to run for president but orders her to wear electronic tag (BBC)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c70yk5xjyl1t

No longer Putin's friends but not for sure. What connects Le Pen's party with the Kremlin (European Pravda)
https://www.eurointegration.com.ua/eng/articles/2025/09/17/7220329/

Confronting the Illicit-Finance Hydra in Crypto Markets: Protecting Retail Investors and Disrupting Hostile Government Exploitation (Alexander Browder for Henry Jackson Society)
https://henryjacksonsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/HJS-Crypto-Currency-Report-web-final.pdf

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/@front_ukrainian

HIGHLIGHTS:
Ukraine smashes major Russian oil refinery
US sells Tomahawks to Germany
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,595.
Ukraine strikes yet more Russian shadow fleet tankers in the Black Sea, bringing their total to more than 30 in just four days. Adelie reports on how Kyiv’s latest strikes on oil facilities has President Putin feeling the mounting frustration of ordinary Russians. Then we hear from our correspondents in Ankara who reflect on “a Nato summit of two halves,” where Donald Trump’s bombastic remarks about Greenland and Spain gave way to discord and, apparently, love in the Turkish capital. Finally, Latvia’s foreign minister looks ahead to the next meeting of Nato countries.

Contributors:
Adelie Pojzman-Pontay (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @Adeliepjz on X.
Sophie O’Sullivan (Telegraph journalist).
Sophia Yan (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @Sophia_yan on X.
Joe Barnes (Diplomatic Editor). @Barnes_Joe on X.
Roland Oliphant (Chief Foreign Analyst). @RolandOliphant on X.

Producer: Phil Atkins
Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett
Video Producer: Sophie O’Sullivan
Social Producer: Tom Steed
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:
North Korea Supplies Up to 40% of Russia's Artillery Shells, Ukrainian Intel Says (Kyiv Post)
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/79862

The Nato member powering Europe’s rearmament (Sophia Yan for The Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/09/how-turkey-became-new-pillar-european-defence/

Ukraine has ‘two months before Putin escalates war’ (Joe Barnes and Sophia Yan for The Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/09/ukraine-has-two-months-end-war-or-face-massive-escalation/

Listen to our sister podcast Iran: The Latest for updates on the conflict in the Middle East
https://linktr.ee/IranTheLatest

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 strikes over 30 Russian tankers in four days
Trump gushes about “tremendous unity” at Nato summit

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

Day 1,594.
Donald Trump has handed Ukraine permission to build its own Patriot missiles as he met with Volodymyr Zelensky at the Nato summit. It comes after the American president told the meeting in Ankara the US-Iran ceasefire was “over”, and said Washington would cut all trade ties with Spain as he met with Mark Rutte. Our team in Ankara has all the latest updates from a busy day in the Turkish capital. Dom and Francis discuss the former Ukrainian commander-in-chief’s piece for the Telegraph where he warns we mustn't “assume Russia has lost the war”. Later, Joe Barnes speaks exclusively to the Czech president Petr Pavl.

Contributors:
Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.
Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.
Joe Barnes (Diplomatic Editor). @Barnes_Joe on X.
Roland Oliphant (Chief Foreign Analyst). @RolandOliphant on X.

Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett
Video Producer: Sophie O’Sullivan
Social Producer: Tom Steed
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:

Listen to Iran: The Latest for more from NATO and interview with Al Carns:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/iran-the-latest/id1712903296
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7gPBO0qnZI1YBi25zaVT1c
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dk

Listen to Iran: The Latest for more from NATO:
https://linktr.ee/iranthelatest
Telegraph Live Blog of the NATO Summit:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/08/us-iran-strikes-persian-gulf-nato-chief-summit-ankara/

Do not assume Russia has lost the war (Valerii Zaluzhnyi for The Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/08/ukraine-ambassador-do-not-assume-russia-has-lost-war/

Ankara Summit Declaration (NATO):
https://www.nato.int/en/about-us/official-texts-and-resources/official-texts/2026/07/08/the-ankara-summit-declaration?utm_source=multi&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ankara-declaration

Trump revives plan to buy Greenland (Connor Stringer, Joe Barnes and Tony Diver for The Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/07/trump-revives-plan-to-buy-greenland/

Russia back in Olympics...World Cup could be next
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/olympics/2026/07/07/russia-olympic-ban-lifted/

The one sport moving against Russia is run by its ex-deputy PM (Euromaidan Press)
https://euromaidanpress.com/2026/07/06/fide-suspends-russia-malcolm-pein-interview/

NATO allies to sign a raft of missile deals with US companies (Politico)
https://www.politico.eu/article/nato-allies-to-sign-a-raft-of-missile-deals-with-us-companies/

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:

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

Day 1,593.
Today, as Ukraine reportedly launches one of the largest waves of air strikes inside Russia since the full-scale invasion began – while also targeting multiple Russian vessels in the Sea of Azov – we bring you the latest from the NATO summit in Turkey, where world leaders are gathering for what could prove one of the most consequential meetings of the war. What is really at stake for the alliance? How secure is continued US support for NATO? And what military commitments can realistically be expected that will strengthen President Volodymyr Zelensky’s hand, both on the battlefield and at the negotiating table, as pressure mounts on Vladimir Putin at home?

Contributors:
Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.
Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.
Venetia Rainey (Host on Iran: The Latest). @Venetiarainey on X.
Roland Oliphant (Host on Iran: The Latest). @RolandOliphant on X.
Sophia Yan (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @Sophia_Yan on X.

With thanks to Lithuania’s representative to NATO, Darius Jauniskis, and former UK Armed Forces Minister, Al Carns MP.

Producer: Phil Atkins
Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett
Video Producer: Sophie O’Sullivan
Social Producer: Tom Steed
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:

Listen to Iran: The Latest for more from NATO and interview with Al Carns:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/iran-the-latest/id1712903296
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7gPBO0qnZI1YBi25zaVT1c
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dk

NATO Summit Live Blog (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/07/nato-summit-latest-ankara-turkey-starmer-trump/

Britain to lead European drive to build long-range Nato missiles (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/06/britain-lead-european-missile-project-reliance-us/

Sleeping families crushed by Putin’s trademark ‘double tap’ strike (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/06/sleeping-families-crushed-putin-trademark-double-tap-strike/

Woman suspected of Ukrainian tycoon bomb plot in Monaco shot dead (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/07/woman-suspected-of-ukrainian-tycoon-bomb-plot-monaco-shot/

How Britain let Europe down on defence (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/07/how-britain-let-europe-down-with-defence/

Erdogan crushes dissent before rolling out Nato red carpet (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/07/recep-erdogan-turkey-ankara-dissent-nato-summit-ankara/

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 hits Russia with ‘biggest drone attack in two years’
Trump tells Nato summit war will be settled ‘soon’
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,592.
Ahead of the NATO summit in Turkey, Russia kills more Ukrainian civilians in the second mass aerial strike in four days. Moscow also claims they’ve taken the Donbas city of Kostiantynivka, then later says fighting is ongoing – Dom tries to decipher the conflicting reports. Then he has the latest on Ukraine’s most recent drone strikes against a St Petersburg oil terminal, as Russians consider refuelling in China amid petrol shortages across the country. And we hear from our team on the ground in Ankara before looking ahead to what we can expect from this year’s NATO summit, where Trump is expected to put pressure on allies over defence spending.

Contributors:
Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.
Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Producer: Rachel Porter
Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett
Video Producer: Sophie O’Sullivan
Social Producer: Tom Steed
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:
Trump threatens NATO on eve of summit
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/07/05/trump-threatens-nato-on-eve-of-summit/

Putin faces a fork in the road (Memphis Barker for the Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/06/vladimir-putin-faces-fork-in-road-russia-ukraine/

Fuel shortages after Ukrainian drone attacks push Russians to refuel in China (RBC Ukraine)
https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/fuel-shortages-push-russians-to-refill-their-1783332958.html

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:

Kyiv strikes St Petersburg again as NATO leaders prepare for Trump summit
War unleashes 'fire tornado' in Chernobyl
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.