Day 1,703.

Today, as the ceasefire in occupied Oleshky – brokered by Melania Trump and the Pope – seems to be holding, we report how the Kremlin is already looking to exploit the rare outbreak of genuine humanitarian news. Europe deploys the Trump-whisperer Alexander Stubb to speak to Putin ahead of peace talks in Abu Dhabi. Meanwhile, the UN accuses Russia of war crimes and US vice president JD Vance rails against ‘tin pot dictators’ forcing up gas prices in America. And later, Adelie looks at one unexplored consequence of the war on Ukrainian children: the thousands of Ukrainian teenagers that are growing up in Europe…alone.

Contributors:

Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.

Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.

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

With thanks to Gabriella Jozwiak (@GabriellaJ on X) and Gabriella Ramirez (@higabyramirez 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

SUPPORT US – JOIN OUR MEMBERS’ CLUB:

For more from the team, join UTL+. For a small monthly fee, you’ll get behind-the-scenes content, bonus videos, and discounted tickets to live events and merch: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdHjleMvPSs-JEjiQ8_D2cA/join

If you joined shortly after we launched the membership scheme yesterday (Monday 26th), email ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk with your YouTube handle and mailing address. If you’re one of the first 50, we’ll send you a mug!

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:

The Ukrainian children struggling to survive alone in Europe (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/terror-and-security/ukrainian-children-struggling-to-survive-alone-in-europe/

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:

• Guns fall silent in besieged Oleshky after Melania Trump-brokered ceasefire
• Putin holds phone call with Norwegian and Finnish leaders

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

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.

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:

Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley 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:

'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 1,692.

Today, as President Zelensky arrives for talks with European leaders in Brussels, Russia embodies the geopolitical equivalent of running to teacher to say big boys took their football, by complaining that Ukraine has hit another one of their oil refineries. Donald Trump is accused of betrayal, for the second time this week, but this time from a most unlikely source, and NAFO gets a shout out in the Irish Parliament. And, as we mention football, we end this torrid week with something a bit brighter: a dispatch with Ukraine’s number one football team as they start their Champions League campaign.

Contributors:

Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.

Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Tom Steed (Telegraph Journalist).

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:

Sign up to the ‘Characters’ newsletter:

https://secure.telegraph.co.uk/customer/secure/newsletter/characters

Arthur Gibson, philosopher who rose from poverty to become the cleverest man in Britain (Telegraph Obituary):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2026/09/18/arthur-gibson-genius-philosopher-who-rose-died-obituary/

Trump: Zelensky is destroying Ukraine (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/10/16/trump-zelensky-destroying-ukraine-russia-putin-diesel/

Ukraine Finds a New Set of Targets (The Atlantic):

https://www.theatlantic.com/national-security/2026/10/ukraine-russia-trump-putin-war/689002/

The Defector: A Russian Officer Turned Against His Country and Helped Ukraine Kill Hundreds (Wall Street Journal):

https://www.wsj.com/world/russian-defector-deadly-sabotage-campaign-a95d163c

Netherlands denies visas to 3 Russian athletes, barring them from world championships (Kyiv Independent):

https://kyivindependent.com/netherlands-denies-visas-to-3-russian-athletes-barring-them-fro

m-world-championships/?mc_cid=6920a0d80d&mc_eid=08d0680a95

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:

– Trump: Zelensky is destroying Ukraine

– Starlink restored to Ukrainian troops

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