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/

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/10/22/donald-trump-peace-ukraine-war-russia-kyiv-strikes-witkoff/

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.