Ukraine: The Latest

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 1,702.
Today, as the Kremlin prioritises Putin’s lakeside retreat for additional air defence systems, the impact is felt elsewhere with multiple Ukrainian strikes across the rest of Russia over the weekend, some by new stocks of British Storm Shadow cruise missiles. Then we discuss the latest on the ceasefire agreed for the people of the besieged city of Oleshky and consider whether the White House is taking credit for something brokered by others. Plus, we reveal a new way to support our work and access behind-the-scenes content from us: become a member of the Ukraine: The Latest club.

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.

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

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

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:
Support our work and access behind-the-scenes and bonus content by joining our members’ club: https://www.youtube.com/@UkraineTheLatest/membership

New air defense towers have appeared around Putin's residence, their number has exceeded 50 – OSINT analysis (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, in Ukrainian)
https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/news-valdaj-putin-novi-vezhi-ppo/33883907.html

Zelensky’s interview with ABC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWyYHGC0tkA

Ukraine’s Starlink back on after Trump dispute (The Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/10/24/ukraines-starlink-back-on-after-trump-dispute/

The Man in the Middle of Trump’s Deeply Conflicted Ukraine Policy (The Atlantic)
https://www.theatlantic.com/national-security/2026/10/ukraine-russia-trump-john-ratcliffe/689090/

In U.S. Gas Talks With Kremlin, Hidden Financing for Alaska Project Emerges (New York Times)
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/23/us/politics/in-us-gas-talks-with-kremlin-hidden-financing-for-alaska-project-emerges.html

Hegseth wanted Eisenhower’s globe in his office. His staff broke it (Washington Post)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/10/22/hegseth-wanted-eisenhowers-globe-his-office-his-staff-broke-it/

CBS documentary on Eisenhower: CBS Reports (1964): "D-Day Plus 20 Years - Eisenhower Returns to Normandy"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNaxTXfjfXk

Hemingway Knows Nothing by Artur Dron
https://www.jantarpublishing.com/product-page/hemingway-knows-nothing

Hemingway n'y connaît rien (French translation of Artur Dron’s poetry collection Hemingway Knows Nothing)
https://les-editions-bleu-et-jaune.sumupstore.com/product/hemingway-ny-connait-rien

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 admits shutting off Starlink at Zelensky confirms it’s back online
Moscow boosts defences at Putin’s dacha as Ukraine strikes across Russia
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/

Exclusive: Putin sends fishing trawlers to spy on Britain (Gareth Corfield for The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/10/21/exclusive-putin-sends-fishing-trawlers-to-spy-on-britain/

RAF reports mystery drones over Britain (Gareth Corfield and Rozina Sabur for The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/10/16/raf-mystery-drones-britain/

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:
Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls 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:
Tickets for 'The Mothers of Kherson' opera in Warsaw:
https://teatrwielki.pl/en/calendar/2026-2027/matki-chersonia

'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.