Ukraine: The Latest

Day 1,699.
Today, we start with a breaking story: First Lady Melania Trump has brokered a localised ceasefire in the city of Oleshky, the White House says, after weeks of humanitarian emergency in the occupied city. Then, we continue to untangle the big story of this week: Starlink. Who cut it, and why? Has it been restored? In Brussels, European leaders are being auditioned for a brand new role: Europe’s new negotiator to Russia, as Germany says the country is targeted by an intensive espionage campaign. And finally, we go to Warsaw for the premiere of a brand new opera: The Mothers of Kherson.

Contributors:
Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @Adeliepjz on X.
Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.

With thanks to the creators of ‘The Mothers of Kherson’. The recording of the opera will be available on arte.tv for two weeks starting November 24 in Germany, France, Poland, and Ukraine.

Producer: Rachel Porter
Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett
Video Producer: Sophie O’Sullivan
Social Producer: Lucy Hadlow
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:
Russia's methodical use of starvation in Oleshky (Kyiv Independent):
https://kyivindependent.com/russias-methodical-use-of-starvation-in-oleshky-2/

Kyiv denies reports that Trump, Musk have restored Starlink speeds in Ukraine (Kyiv Independent):
https://kyivindependent.com/kyiv-denies-reports-that-trump-musk-have-restored-starlink-speeds-in-ukraine/

The healthiest foods to stockpile for an apocalypse (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health-fitness/diet/nutrition/healthiest-foods-to-stockpile-for-an-apocalypse/

Ukraine to buy military supplies via Nato agency (Financial Times):
https://www.ft.com/content/991ac37c-289b-40e5-b2e6-220ee2aebe5d?syn-25a6b1a6=1

Our interview with Czech president Petr Pavel, from earlier this summer:
On YouTube: https://youtu.be/9Vw290vlifU
On Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/make-them-yourself-trump-unlocks-patriot-missile-blueprints/id1612424182?i=1000776015561
On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4ulg9DLpc21t0YQDNJTrcD?si=77cf7439b0c345e0

Tickets for 'The Mothers of Kherson' opera in Warsaw:
https://teatrwielki.pl/en/calendar/2026-2027/matki-chersonia

Watch ‘The Mothers of Kherson’ on Arte, available for two weeks from October 24th:
https://www.arte.tv/en/videos/134660-000-A/the-mothers-of-kherson/

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:
US First Lady Melania Trump brokers surprise ceasefire in occupied city of Oleshky
Trump tells Musk ‘lift Starlink restrictions’ on Ukraine forces
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,698.
Today, as Russia’s ‘humanitarian’ ballistic missiles land in Kyiv, diplomatic efforts continue to try to get a trilateral meeting between Zelensky, Putin and Trump, with the latter saying "we are closer to peace than ever". And as Ukraine’s General Staff says Russia suffered the highest daily loss since the start of the full-scale invasion, Kyiv also claims to have advanced behind Russian lines around Kupiansk. And we have a Telegraph exclusive that shows how Russia is using civilian fishing trawlers to spy on the UK’s critical undersea cables, with one NATO official telling us: “Some of these ships have never seen a single fish on their deck”.

Contributors:
Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.
Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.
Gareth Corfield (Transport correspondent). @GazTheJourno on X.

Producer: Phil Atkins
Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett
Video Producer: Sophie O’Sullivan
Social Producer: 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:
Buy tickets to War Room, a new interactive event in London:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph-events/the-war-room/

Exclusive: Putin sends fishing trawlers to spy on Britain (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/10/21/exclusive-putin-sends-fishing-trawlers-to-spy-on-britain/

Exclusive: Putin sends fishing trawlers to spy on Britain (Gareth Corfield for The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/10/21/exclusive-putin-sends-fishing-trawlers-to-spy-on-britain/

RAF reports mystery drones over Britain (Gareth Corfield and Rozina Sabur for The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/10/16/raf-mystery-drones-britain/

Zelensky’s ex-aide argues she’s not a Russian spy – but Ukraine should surrender (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/10/17/iuliia-mendel-zelensky-aide-who-wants-ukraine-surrender/

Europe’s dependence on America in space is hard to escape (The Economist):
https://www.economist.com/europe/2026/10/20/europes-dependence-on-america-in-space-is-hard-to-escape

Watch out Brussels and Kyiv, Poland’s conservatives are veering right (Politico):
https://www.politico.eu/article/poland-pis-split-right-wing-parties-2027-election/

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:
Revealed: How Putin is using civilian fishing ships to spy on Britain
Russia suffers highest daily casualty toll of the war
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,697.
Today, Steve Witkoff arrives in Russia to meet Vladimir Putin, after fresh peace talks in Oslo. Trump’s envoy describes the Russian president, extraordinarily, as a “humanitarian”. The Kremlin releases US pensioner Stephen James Hubbard, just in time for the midterms, and says the first tanker included in the Russian diesel deal will leave tomorrow. Elsewhere, the saga over the Starlink switch-off continues, and Nato deploys drones to the Black Sea. Later, Dom and Alex speak to Antonia Langord – usually based in Kyiv – in our London studio.

Contributors:
Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.
Alex Nichol (Telegraph Journalist).
Antonia Langford (Freelance Journalist in Kyiv). @Antonialford on X.

Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett
Video Producer: Sophie O’Sullivan
Social Producer: 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:
Tickets for 'The Mothers of Kherson' opera in Warsaw:
https://teatrwielki.pl/en/calendar/2026-2027/matki-chersonia

'Everything was in ruins' — At least 2 killed, 2 injured in Russian drone attack on Kyiv (Kyiv Independent) https://kyivindependent.com/at-least-2-killed-2-injured-in-russian-drone-attack-on-kyiv/

Ukrainians turn on US after Russian strike kills baby in pram (Antonia Langford for The Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/10/21/ukrainians-turn-on-us-russian-strike-kills-baby-pram/

How an Italian journalist is whitewashing Putin’s worst war crime (Nick Squires and Antonia Langford for the Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/10/18/how-italian-journalist-whitewashing-putins-worst-war-crimes/

She survived the front line, but a Russian missile found her at home (Antonia Langford for The Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/09/20/ukraine-combat-medic-survives-front-line-to-die-near-home/

Antonia’s interview with Robert 'Madyar' Brovdi - Ukraine’s Drone Chief: Putin is Sending 300,000 Troops to the Slaughter | Exclusive
https://youtu.be/xWRn_oltbgY

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:
Wikoff praises Putin the 'humanitarian’ after Kremlin releases US prisoner
Nato deploys drones to the Black Sea
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,696.
Today, as President Trump says Putin isn’t “doing much” in Ukraine, we hear how the Russian President has sought to make Trump an offer he can’t refuse: a trilateral meeting with him and President Xi of China to settle all family business. Then we bring you a Telegraph exclusive on how Moscow is buying up holiday homes near NATO bases for nefarious purposes, before an in-depth look at the consequences of Ukraine losing access to the Starlink/Starfield, including for firefighters battling the destruction wrought by Russian missiles and drones.

Contributors:
Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.
Sophie O'Sullivan (Telegraph Journalist)
James Rothwell (Berlin Correspondent). @JamesERothwell on X.
With thanks to freelance journalist Tom Watling.

Producer: Phil Atkins
Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett
Video Producer: Sophie O’Sullivan
Social Producer: 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:
ENGIn Interview on ‘Ukraine: The Latest’:
https://youtu.be/7FC4cyBmwdE?si=9pG6b70MDh6G4uWN&t=1430

ENGIn Volunteering:
https://www.enginprogram.org/

Russia buys ‘holiday homes’ around Nato bases (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/10/20/russia-wages-hybrid-war-on-nato-from-holiday-homes/

Putin asks Trump for summit with Xi to decide Ukraine’s fate (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/10/19/putin-asks-trump-for-summit-with-xi-to-decide-ukraines-fate/

White House blocks transfer of Patriots to Ukraine (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/10/20/white-house-blocks-transfer-of-patriot-missiles-to-ukraine/

European telecoms groups join forces to challenge Elon Musk’s Starlink (Financial Times):
https://www.ft.com/content/555bbf91-4c38-43ce-94b6-90f7fc04e82c?syn-25a6b1a6=1

Zelensky appeals to US lawmakers for answers as White House turns on Kyiv (Kyiv Independent):
https://kyivindependent.com/zelensky-appeals-to-us-lawmakers-for-answers-as-white-house-turns-on-kyiv/

New Survey Shows 61% of Ukrainians Oppose Land for Peace Deal (Kyiv Post):
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/87527

How Putin devastated the crucial steel plant in Zelensky’s home town (Tom Watling in The Times):
https://www.thetimes.com/world/russia-ukraine-war/article/steel-plant-zelenskys-hometown-shuts-2w2np677q

A week with the Kyiv firefighters battling Russian drone strikes (Tom Watling in The Times):
https://www.thetimes.com/world/russia-ukraine-war/article/kyiv-firefighters-drone-danger-cjt36hfdq

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:
– Russia buys ‘holiday homes’ near NATO bases
– Putin asks Trump for summit with Xi
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,695.
Today, following the temporary Starlink-Starshield shutdown last week, we reveal how Musk approached President Trump to slow down Starlink in Ukraine. Meanwhile, the U.S. Ambassador to the EU – following Trump’s last minute executive order to block the bipartisan, Russian sanctions act – warns European companies face "devastating" retaliation from Washington if Brussels moves forward with plans to restrict American tech rivals. Meanwhile, with the so-called “energy ceasefire” a distant memory, we report on the continued attacks by both Russia and Ukraine, including a major strike on an oil terminal in St Petersburg. Finally, we turn to the fundamental questions facing Europe: who will be leading it in a few months' time, and how can pro-Ukraine politicians prepare for the worst case scenarios?

Contributors:
Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.
Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.
James Crisp (Europe Editor). @JamesCrisp6 on X.

Producer: Rachel Porter
Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett
Video Producer: Tom Steed
Social Producer: 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:
Buy tickets to War Room, a new interactive event in London:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph-events/the-war-room/

Exclusive: Musk approached Trump to slow down Starlink in Ukraine (Joe Barnes for The Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/10/16/musk-approached-trump-slow-down-starlink-help-ukraine/

US threatens European companies over Starlink restrictions (Financial Times)
https://www.ft.com/content/d1e28d93-8574-4a46-946a-b261c401d6fa?syn-25a6b1a6=1

Zelenskyy says Ukraine 'will not prevail’ if U.S. takes Russia's side: Full interview (NBC)
https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/video/zelenskyy-says-ukraine-will-not-prevail-if-u-s-takes-russia-s-side-full-interview-271776837876

Europe’s populist Right has a Russia problem (James Crisp, Joe Barnes, James Rothwell, Henry Samuel and Meike Eijsberg for The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/10/19/putin-ukraine-dividing-europe-populist-right-le-pen-afd/

EU rushes to sanction Russia in case Le Pen takes power (The Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/10/18/eu-rushes-to-sanction-russia-in-case-le-pen-takes-power/

Trump: Zelensky never wanted to end Ukraine war (The Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/10/18/rubio-nobody-ordered-starlink-slowdown-in-ukraine/

Latvia calls for visa ban on Russians (Financial Times)
https://www.ft.com/content/75a42e7d-1497-4760-bd75-1cbd083fc9a4?syn-25a6b1a6=1

Learn more about ‘Ukraine Focus’:
https://ukrainefocus.org/about/

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:
Zelensky defies Trump with ‘massive’ raid on sites across St Petersburg
Exclusive: Elon Musk approached Trump about limiting Starlink in Ukraine
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.