Day 1,346.

Today, as Ukrainian forces hang on in Pokrovsk, we discuss more reports coming out of the city of Russian troops fighting in civilian clothes – a clear war crime. Plus, we hear about Ukraine’s latest long range strikes inside Russia and look at a worrying message from the International Atomic Energy Agency that accuses Moscow of targeting three of Ukraine's nuclear power plants. Later, we hear how a Ukrainian opera lost for 250 years premiered earlier this month in Chernivtsi, accompanied by the sound of air alerts.

Contributors:

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjzon X.

With thanks to Nataliya Lukyanova and James Butterwick

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.

CONTENT REFERENCED:

Russian soldiers disguised in civilian clothes infiltrating front-line city (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/08/13/russian-soldiers-disguised-civilian-clothing-infiltrating/

Poland, Hungary and Slovakia defy Brussels as Ukraine trade deal takes effect (POLITICO)

https://www.politico.eu/article/poland-hungary-and-slovakia-defy-brussels-as-ukraine-trade-deal-takes-effect/

Trump-Vladimir Putin Budapest summit axed following Moscow memo (Financial Times):

https://www.ft.com/content/d6655fb1-31af-4da8-85f7-085a8fc00969

Hungary’s foot-dragging on Russian oil crashes into reality

https://www.politico.eu/article/hungary-foot-dragging-russian-oil-crashes-reality-croatia-sanction/

LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST 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/ukrainethelatest

Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

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

Day 1,345.

Today, as Donald Trump and Xi Jinping meet in South Korea, we ask whether Ukraine can ever expect China to face real consequences for its support of Russia throughout the war. We also examine Vladimir Putin’s ongoing air campaign to cripple Ukraine’s energy infrastructure – including last night’s major assault – and bring you the latest stories from inside the Russian Federation, from renewed public protests to fresh signs of deepening economic stagnation.

Contributors:

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjzon X.

James Kilner (former Foreign Correspondent). @jkjourno on X.

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.

WATCH OUR SPECIAL LIVE EPISODE

Francis’s Interview with Serhii Plokhy on the nuclear arms race:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmcJqyD8eXs

Apple: https://shorturl.at/Hq3la

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7oSVN1czV0hqnvi0fAomea

CONTENT REFERENCED:

Trump orders Pentagon to ‘immediately’ start testing nuclear weapons (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025/10/30/trump-nuclear-weapons-testing-russia-poseidon-drone/

Donald Trump claims victory after ‘amazing’ trade talks with Xi Jinping (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/2025/10/30/trump-xi-meeting-south-korea-trade-war/

Geert Wilders’ Dutch PM hopes in tatters (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/10/29/geert-wilders-hopes-of-becoming-dutch-pm-in-tatters/

Exploding Shahed drone toys sold to Russian children (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/10/30/exploding-toy-replicas-of-drones-sold-to-children-russia/

Ukraine is bracing for the harshest winter since 2022 (Tomorrow’s Affairs):

https://tomorrowsaffairs.com/ukraine-is-bracing-for-the-harshest-winter-since-2022

Red hands and pig heads: Russia’s plan to destabilize France goes on trial (POLITICO):

https://www.politico.eu/article/red-hands-and-pig-heads-russias-plan-to-destabilize-france-goes-on-trial/

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

Day 1,344.

Today, as the situation around the frontline city of Pokrovsk continues to worsen, we examine Ukraine’s latest wave of deep strikes targeting Russia’s military infrastructure. Then we turn to Brussels, where frustration mounts after European nations failed to agree on how to unlock frozen Russian assets to support Kyiv’s war effort. Then we hear about the motorway some believe could save NATO from Vladimir Putin’s aggression.

Contributors:

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Joe Barnes (Brussels Correspondent). @Barnes_Joe on X.

David Blair (Chief Foreign Affairs Commentator). @davidblairdt on X.

WATCH OUR SPECIAL LIVE EPISODE

Link here: https://youtu.be/Mw_lWhp-flU

Questions from the audience are answered in the podcast version, below:

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/special-putin-could-strike-london-in-90-minutes-russias/id1612424182?i=1000733450202

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7DKehIQCz24eKK73xjP2e8

Content Referenced:

Battle Lines: Global Health Security episode on bioweapons:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/terror-and-security/battle-lines-global-health-security-podcast/

The motorway that could save Nato from Putin’s aggression (David Blair in The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/10/27/motorway-save-nato-putin-aggression/

US to Remove Brigade From Romania, Sources Tell Kyiv Post (Kyiv Post):

https://www.kyivpost.com/post/63159

U.S. intelligence agencies see no sign Russia is ready to compromise on Ukraine (NBC):

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/us-intelligence-agencies-see-no-sign-russia-ready-compromise-ukraine-rcna239645

A Russian Ka-52 helicopter shot down by "friendly fire” (The Insider):

https://theins.ru/news/286277

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