Ukraine: The Latest

Day 1,720
Today, after striking Russia’s five largest oil refineries over the last two weeks, Ukraine expands to the top ten with a hit in Volgograd. And a second car bombing in two days in Russia, this time in Moscow. Meanwhile Ukraine’s biggest producer and exporter of sunflower oil suspends operations at all of its extraction plants following drone strikes. Then we finish unpacking the consequences of the reopening of talks in Abu Dhabi, and wonder with Dr Jade McGlynn if Europe is ever going to wake up. Finally, Dr Jade McGlynn gives us the latest from the occupied territories.

Contributors:
Adelie Pojzman-Pontay (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @Adeliepjz on X.
Alex Nichol (Telegraph journalist)
Jade McGlynn (Senior Research Fellow, King’s College London). @DrJadeMcGlynn 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

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 on Monday 26th October, 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 free mug!
You can also join in the conversation on our YouTube community page (it’s free!): https://www.youtube.com/@UkraineTheLatest/community

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:
Listen to Adélie’s interview with the Russian diplomat:
On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05Hy2lE0Yyw&t=2576s
On Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/us-demands-seat-for-europe-as-ukraine-peace-talks-resume/id1612424182?i=1000801041225
On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1BDaF4XeoIAsIlJn1a4ZtD

What happened when we confronted a Russian diplomat – at a Telegraph event:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/11/13/russian-embassy-diplomat-telegraph-ukraine-event/

Listen to Adélie and Sophie’s interview with Bruce Berglund, an expert on the Russia’s influence on the world of sports:
On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfdAkIvIdWk&t=976s
On Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/trump-and-putin-plot-big-beautiful-deal-for-europe/id1612424182?i=1000800285400
On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3XEpucV47fY1kjEFMend9Y

Memory Makers – The Politics of the Past in Putin's Russia, by Dr Jade McGlynn:
https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/memory-makers-9781350522220/

Jade’s database about civilian detainees:
https://totinsights.org/civilian-detainees.html

The Importance of Being a Historian (Novaya Gazeta):
https://novayagazeta.ru/articles/2022/02/17/kak-vazhno-byt-istorikom

"The Ministry of Memory": How Vladimir Medinsky, with the help of a "public" organization, took control of the past (MBK News):
https://mbk-news.appspot.com/suzhet/ministerstvo-pamyati/

RBC Investigation: Why Medinsky Needs the Military Historical Society (RBC):
https://www.rbc.ru/society/13/07/2015/559e8f459a7947860ab1f73a

Why is WWI largely neglected in Ukraine and how it impacts its national security and defense thinking? (Substack, Mykola Biesliekov):
https://mbielieskov.substack.com/p/why-is-wwi-largely-neglected-in-ukraine

Eastern Approaches, by Fitzroy Maclean:
https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/13230/eastern-approaches-by-maclean-fitzroy/9780141042848

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:
Moscow car bombing maims Ukrainian traitor
Ukraine’s drones blasts major Russian refinery
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,719.
Today, after the ‘peace talks’ in Abu Dhabi inevitably end without a breakthrough, with the head of Putin’s delegation saying, in the true spirit of a serious negotiator, that Russia will capture “every inch of land one way or another,” Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff try to keep up the pretence of diplomatic momentum by heading to Moscow. "We see some openings and opportunities," says Mr Kushner, although whether he was talking about peace or future business deals it’s hard to tell. President Zelensky accuses Elon Musk of slowing down Starshield again and “helping the Russians kill more Ukrainians.” And Russia loses two helicopters, a frigate, and a senior officer to another car bomb.

Contributors:
Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.
Adelie Pojzman-Pontay (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @Adeliepjz on X.

Producer: Rachel Porter
Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett
Video Producer: Tom Steed
Social Producer: Natalia Makohon [Freelance]
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 on Monday 26th October, 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 free mug!
You can also join in the conversation on our YouTube community page (it’s free!): https://www.youtube.com/@UkraineTheLatest/community

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:

Watch our Q&A from The War Room (UTL+ Members):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgGiyw1taEk&t=267s

Listen to our analysis of the talks in Abu Dhabi:
On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynbu0kc-ehw&t=1268s
On Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gr/podcast/peace-talks-in-abu-dhabi-end-without-breakthrough/id1612424182?i=1000801270353
On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1BDaF4XeoIAsIlJn1a4ZtD

Make Money Not War: Trump’s Real Plan for Peace in Ukraine (The Wall Street Journal):
https://www.wsj.com/world/russia/russia-u-s-peace-business-ties-4db9b290

Tsikhanouskaya says Belarus must be included in Russia-Ukraine peace talks (Kyiv Independent):
https://kyivindependent.com/spain-resumes-russian-lng-purchases-ahead-of-key-deadline-new-report-reveals/

Listen to our report about the Irish Aughinish steel plant:
On YouTube: https://youtu.be/0mimSeae4Nw
On Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gr/podcast/trump-tells-putin-to-make-a-deal-at-g7-revenge/id1612424182?i=1000772992491
On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2XXCl4A8oZ871GwjvdXowY

FAQ: What to Know About Ireland’s Probe Into Our Reporting on Its Alumina Exports to Russia (OCCRP & The Irish Times):
https://www.occrp.org/en/feature/faq-what-to-know-about-irelands-probe-into-our-reporting-on-its-alumina-exports-to-russia

How we got here: 5 years of the Kyiv Independent:
https://kyivindependent.com/5-years-of-the-kyiv-independent/

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:
Musk 'helping to kill Ukrainians' by throttling Starshield
Ukraine burns all of Russia's largest oil refineries in less than 2 weeks
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,718.
Today, as the talks in Abu Dhabi wrap up after a second session that lasted just 2 hours, US negotiators Kushner and Witkoff take off to Moscow. Meanwhile Russia continues its deadly attacks on Ukraine, Kyiv residents face water cuts and power outages for over 15 hours, and two missiles enter the Moldovan airspace. We catch up with James Kilner for on the latest cucumber index and we hear what it’s like to be inside the negotiating room facing the Russian delegation.

Contributors:
Adelie Pojzman-Pontay (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @Adeliepjz on X.
Alex Nichol (Telegraph Journalist)
James Kilner (Russia Analyst)
With thanks to Oleksandr Bevz, Advisor to the Office of the President of Ukraine, who attended several of the prior peace talks.

Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett
Video Producer: Tom Steed
Social Producer: Natalia Makohon
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 on Monday 26th October, 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 free mug!
You can also join in the conversation on our YouTube community page (it’s free!): https://www.youtube.com/@UkraineTheLatest/community

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:
Ukraine rejects Trump’s new plan for shared territory (The Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/11/10/trump-envoys-join-russia-and-ukraine-for-fresh-peace-talks/

Kyiv hit by water shortages as Russia targets Ukrainian infrastructure (Financial Times)
https://www.ft.com/content/e7697dda-888a-407e-82b1-f2bfc0b9f8ed?syn-25a6b1a6=1

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:

Peace talks in Abu Dhabi end without breakthrough
Zelensky calls talks ‘constructive’
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,717.
Today, as Ukrainian, Russian, and US delegations began trilateral peace negotiations in Abu Dhabi after a nine-month pause, we ask if anything meaningful – other than a possible prisoner swap – can be achieved and what the prospects may be for a leaders summit in the next few months. Meanwhile, Germany gets tough with the EU and threatens to block next year’s budget unless there’s much more cash for Ukraine, and we report back on the Telegraph’s defence event last night where an audience tried to outsmart Russia – and discovered an unexpected visitor from Moscow’s embassy in the audience.

Contributors:
Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.
Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.
Adelie Pojzman-Pontay (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @Adeliepjz 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

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 on Monday 26th October, 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 free mug!
You can also join in the conversation on our YouTube community page (it’s free!): https://www.youtube.com/@UkraineTheLatest/community

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:
Pro-Putin spy nuns infiltrating Sweden (James Rothwell in The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/18/pro-putin-spy-nuns-infiltrating-sweden/
US demands a seat for Europe at Ukraine peace talks (POLITICO):
https://www.politico.eu/article/ukraine-russia-peace-talks-us-demands-europe-joins-next-negotiations/

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 demands a seat for Europe as Ukraine peace talks resume after 9 months
A Russian diplomat speaks to us for the first time
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,716.
Today, as a data leak from inside Russia confirms the staggering scale of Russian losses in Putin’s so-called ‘special military operation’, we examine the figures as another extraordinary milestone emerges from the battlefield: this weekend saw Moscow’s bloodiest day of the entire war. Then, following his recent conversation with Putin, we hear from Norway’s prime minister about whether the Russian president is genuinely prepared to negotiate. And, ahead of trilateral peace talks in Abu Dhabi, we’re joined by Ukraine’s former foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba.

Contributors:
Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.
Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @Adeliepjz on X.
With thanks to Dmytro Kuleba, former foreign minister of Ukraine.

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

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 on Monday 26th October, 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 free mug!
You can also join in the conversation on our YouTube community page (it’s free!): https://www.youtube.com/@UkraineTheLatest/community

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:
Trump: Ukraine will have ‘different shape’ after war (The Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/11/09/trump-says-ukraine-will-have-different-shape-after-war/

Russian data leak reveals death toll in Ukraine (The Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/11/08/russian-data-leak-reveals-death-toll-in-ukraine/

Putin’s frame of mind, according to the last European leader to speak to him (The Telegraph’s interview with Jonas Gahr Støre)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/11/09/putins-frame-of-mind-interview/

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:
Russian data leak reveals 'staggering' death toll in Ukraine
Former Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba looks ahead to Abu Dhabi peace talks
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.