Ukraine: The Latest

Day 1,660.
Today, after Russia strikes a train near the Ukrainian border with Poland, narrowly missing top European officials including Boris Johnson, we consider whether the attack was deliberate. The officials were attending a major gathering in Kyiv seeking to forge a new way forward – we’ll bring you the highlights. Then we try to get to the bottom of what some are calling ‘Ukraine’s biggest victory this year’ – the reported counterattack around Lyman liberating almost 200 square kilometers of territory. If confirmed, it seemingly exposed lying Russian commanders, Ukrainian formidable operational security, and expectations in the ground war over the coming months.

Contributors:
Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.
Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.
Memphis Barker (senior foreign correspondent). @memphisbarker 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:

If you’re interested in sponsoring Dom’s upcoming defence event, email our colleagues at events@telegraph.co.uk

World’s First Naval Drone Duel Results In Ukrainian Success (Naval News)
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2026/09/worlds-first-naval-drone-duel-results-in-ukrainian-success/

Germany floats new Ukraine loan backed by frozen Russian assets (Politico)
https://www.politico.eu/article/germany-ukraine-loan-frozen-russia-assets/

EU fails to agree Russia sanctions rollover with one day to spare (Politico)
https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-fails-to-agree-russia-sanctions-rollover-with-one-day-to-spare/

Germany Aims to Prevent Far Right From Accessing Secret War Plan (Bloomberg)
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-09-10/germany-aims-to-prevent-far-right-from-accessing-secret-war-plan

House to take up Russia sanctions bill next week (The Hill)
https://thehill.com/homenews/6084914-house-russia-sanctions-vote/

Francis’s interview with Ambassador Daniel Fried:
On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUjC_O7ZpeE
On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2RGt2H2Ww2a44wXP16XBkm
On Apple:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/putin-will-exhaust-russias-capacity-by-2028-ukrainian/id1612424182?i=1000789061444

Ukraine’s biggest victory this year exposes lying Russian commanders (Memphis Barker for The Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/09/12/lying-russian-commanders-ukraines-biggest-victory-putin/

Watch Mephis’s video on the Lyman counterattack: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56b-9FOC-58&pp=ygUJdGVsZWdyYXBo

Berlin-Hacker stellten geheime Drohnen-Akten ins Netz! (‘Berlin hackers put secret drone files online!’: Bild)
https://www.bild.de/politik/inland/berlin-leak-geheimakten-ueber-drohnengefahr-am-ber-6aa3ebb40f417ae59102eab3

Russia Is Churning Out Smart, Cheap New Weapons Faster Than Ukraine or the U.S. (Wall Street Journal)
https://www.wsj.com/world/russia-is-churning-out-smart-cheap-new-weapons-faster-than-ukraine-or-the-u-s-c817d014

Ukraine’s way of fighting war can’t match what’s coming (Eric Schmidt for the Washington Post)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/09/09/how-russia-is-erasing-ukraines-battlefield-advantage/

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:
Putin 'knocking on doors of NATO' with near-miss strike on train of European officials
How Ukraine’s audacious counterattack exposed lying Russian officials

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

Day 1,657.
Today, on the anniversary of 9/11, a British intelligence chief has warned that the world is more dangerous today than in 2001. Then we report on the latest attacks, including in Kyiv and on an Ozon warehouse in Russia’s Saratov region, and get insights from Western officials about the true state of Russian casualty figures and the strategic picture of the war. Then, Francis speaks to Ambassador Daniel Fried, the former US diplomat who played a key role in American policy in Europe after the fall of the Soviet Union.

Contributors:
Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.
With thanks for Ambassador Daniel Fried, former US diplomat and Weiser Family Distinguished Fellow at the Atlantic Council.

Producer: Rachel Porter
Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett
Video Producer: James England
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:

If you’re interested in sponsoring Dom’s upcoming defence event, email our colleagues at events@telegraph.co.uk

MI5 chief: Britain faces greater danger now than on 9/11 (The Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/09/11/mi5-chief-britain-911-danger-islamic-extremism-terrorism/

Ukrainian drones hit oil refinery, Ozon warehouse as Russia's Saratov comes under attack (Kyiv Independent)
https://kyivindependent.com/ukrainian-drones-reportedly-strike-saratov-oil-refinery-ozon-warehouse/

Ukraine spy chief: Putin will exhaust Russia’s capacity by 2028 (The Times)
https://www.thetimes.com/article/db2f0938-04d9-4f84-ba19-093979453bce

The seeds of the next 9/11 are being sown in West Africa (Rozina Sabur and Ben Farmer for The Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/09/11/the-seeds-of-the-next-911-are-being-sown-in-west-africa/

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:
Putin will exhaust Russia’s capacity by 2028, Ukrainian intelligence chief says
British officials confirm record Russian casualty rate

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

Day 1,656.
Today, there are reports President Zelensky’s plane taking him to Norway yesterday may have been the target of the Russian drone that crashed in Moldova. Then, Ukraine is ensuring the war is brought home to previously untouched parts of Russia, as its latest long range drone strike hit Siberia, 3000km inside the country. Kyiv claims it was the longest drone strike in history. Meanwhile, Putin’s folly means his country has now passed the grim milestone of killing or wounding one percent of its entire population and there are question marks over the future diplomatic role for Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. And later, Dom and Alex dive into the postbag to answer your questions.

Contributors:
Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.
Alex Nichol (Telegraph Journalist).

Producer: Rachel Porter
Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett
Video Producer: Tom Steed
Social Producer: Anita Blay
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:
If you’re interested in sponsoring Dom’s upcoming defence event, email our colleagues at events@telegraph.co.uk

US spy chief prepares for greater role in Russia-Ukraine talks (Financial Times)
https://www.ft.com/content/d0557d25-78b5-45d8-bb33-d655e859d803?syn-25a6b1a6=1

Rethinking Ukraine’s Manpower Challenge (Carnegie Endowment)
https://carnegieendowment.org/research/2026/03/ukraine-military-russia-war-manpower-recruitment

The Orient Express: North Korea’s Clandestine Supply Route to Russia (Royal United Services Institute)
https://www.rusi.org/explore-our-research/publ–ications/commentary/report-orient-express-north-koreas-clandestine-supply-route-russia

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: NOEL Reports

HIGHLIGHTS:
Record-breaking Ukrainian drone strike hits gas facility 3000km from frontline
Russia exceeds 1.5 million casualties in Ukraine

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

Day 1,655.
Today, no word from Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner about Putin’s so-called drive for peace as Russia resumes aerial attacks on Ukraine and hits Moldova…twice: first at a border crossing point, with dead and injured reported there, and then by a Russian drone that flew in via Romania. To further baffle those who believed Moscow’s line that the Kremlin poses no aggressive plans toward Europe, Romania has arrested a Russian spy and Hungary has kicked out Russian diplomats. Meanwhile, Donald Trump has spoken to Vladimir Putin for an “objective and thorough” overview of the situation in Ukraine. And later, we get the latest on the Russian economy via the cucumber index.

Contributors:
Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.
James Kilner (Russia Analyst). @Jkjourno 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:
Disabled Russians ‘unfit to serve’ – but Putin wants them to enlist (The Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/09/07/putin-wants-severely-disabled-russians-to-enlist/

David’s Obituary from 2024:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/09/09/david-knowles-journalist-telegraph-dies-ukraine-war-podcast/

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 at risk of economic disaster, Kremlin aide warns Putin
Russian city of Novorossiysk ablaze after Ukraine strikes oil terminal
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,654.
Today, we once again see the extent of Putin’s definition of “peace”, claiming there are renewed opportunities for dialogue, then resuming strikes on Ukraine just hours after America’s envoys leave the country. We go to our correspondent in Kyiv to hear about the damage there, before turning to the diplomatic fallout from the weekend, as both sides seek to gain an advantage from renewed US engagement. And then, two years on from his passing, we remember the creator of this podcast, David Knowles, with excerpts from some of our very first episodes, memories of how the podcast began, and hearing about the impact of last year’s fundraiser in his memory.

Contributors:
Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.
Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.
Antonia Langford (Freelance Journalist in Kyiv). @Antonialford on X
With thanks to Ada Wordsworth, co-founder and director of KHARPP.

Producer: Rachel Porter
Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett
Video Producer: James England
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:
Fundraiser in memory of David Knowles for Ada’s Charity ‘KHARPP’:
https://www.zeffy.com/en-GB/donation-form/fundraiser-for-kharpp-in-memory-of-david-knowles

Order KHARPP’s Anthology on Housing: https://www.kharpp.com/housing-and-the-home-in-ukraine

David’s Obituary from 2024:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/09/09/david-knowles-journalist-telegraph-dies-ukraine-war-podcast/

‘Messages: Choral Anthems of Life & Love’ (Chapel Choir of University College, Durham) –
Order: https://conviviumrecords.co.uk/product/messages/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/6pcIaMlZ48EQhcmkebraKp?si=97790066ef29442b

Zelensky to Axios: U.S. exploring Russia-Ukraine winter de-escalation steps
https://www.axios.com/2026/09/07/zelensky-ukraine-russia-war-witkoff-kushner-putin-trump

Ukraine chief prosecutor resigns over safe stuffed with $100 bills (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/09/08/ukraine-chief-prosecutor-resigns-over-safe-stuffed-dollars/

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:
Ukrainian counterattack 'liberates 200 square kilometers'
Remembering David Knowles, creator of 'Ukraine: The Latest'
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.