Ukraine: The Latest

Day 1,602.
Following President Zelensky’s seismic sacking of 35-year-old Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov – a popular, dynamic moderniser in the government – we bring you the reaction on the streets of Kyiv, where protests have broken out. Reports suggest it was irreconcilable differences with commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi that ultimately got Fedorov dismissed – but also that his personal political ambitions had Zelensky worried. Is this the president’s biggest political miscalculation since his move against the country’s anti-corruption bodies in 2025? Then, we have the latest Ukrainian strikes on Russian ships in the Black Sea. Finally Adelie learns about the remarkably brave women who have become the backbone of the resistance movement in the occupied territories.

Contributors:
Roland Oliphant (Chief Foreign Analyst). @RolandOliphant on X.
Alex Nichol (Telegraph Journalist).
Adelie Pojzman-Pontay (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @Adeliepjz 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

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:
Protests erupt after Zelensky fires popular defence minister (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/16/protests-erupt-zelensky-fires-defence-minister-fedorov/

Zelensky rejected push to fire Syrskyi as commander-in-chief, Fedorov reveals (Kyiv Independent):
https://kyivindependent.com/fedorov-admits-trying-to-replace-syrskyi-before-his-dismissal-as-defense-minister/

Russia's Engels air base reportedly struck in Ukrainian drone attack (Kyiv Independent):
https://kyivindependent.com/russias-engels-air-base-reportedly-struck-in-ukrainian-drone-attack/

The Warrior-Witches of Ukraine’s Resistance (Ken Harbaugh in The Atlantic):
https://www.theatlantic.com/international/2026/06/underground-intelligence-network-russia-ukraine/687578/

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:

Protests sweep Ukraine
Zelensky sacks 'modernising' defence minister Fedorov

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

Day 1,601.
As Ukraine expands its campaign in the Black Sea, tightening Kyiv’s stranglehold on occupied Crimea, Dom reports on the fifth consecutive day of combined missile and drone attacks on the southern Odesa region, as civilians continue to bear the brunt of the bombardment. Then Francis turned to the latest political developments shaping the war, including fresh manoeuvring in Hungary. And later, they are joined by Adelie to answer your questions on the Kerch bridge, the impact of fuel shortages for the Russian harvest, and European preparedness for the kind of aerial bombardments Ukraine suffers daily.

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: 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

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:
Unmanned Systems Forces Online Killboard: https://sbs-group.army/en/

‘THE PINK FLAME OF THE TUZLY LAGOONS’ (Birding in Ukraine):
https://www.birdinginukraine.com/blog/the-pink-flame-of-the-tuzly-lagoons

Exclusive: Lockheed Martin supports granting Ukraine Patriot missile licenses, official says (Kyiv Independent):
https://kyivindependent.com/lockheed-martin-supports-granting-ukraine-patriot-missile-licenses/

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:
Drone 'downs' Russian Mi-28 helicopter
'Moscow will fall through Crimea': Ukraine's new campaign
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,600.
In Paris, the Coalition of the Willing announces a new joint anti-missile defence system to ensure Ukraine’s winter supply of Patriots before attending the military parade on Bastille Day. Dom reports on the latest Russian oil refinery strike by Ukraine and Adelie has the latest on Ukraine’s cabinet reshuffle. Later, they hear from Berlin correspondent James Rothwell after his exclusive interview with the AfD’s defence chief – who claims a Russian attack on Germany is “completely unrealistic”.

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

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:
Power Outages Hit Sevastopol as Russia Declares ‘Special Regime’ After Reported Ukrainian Attack (Kyiv Post)
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/80213

Commander of Ukraine's 155th brigade detained in kidnapping, murder case (Kyiv Independent)
https://kyivindependent.com/commander-of-ukraines-155th-brigade-detained-in-kidnapping-murder-case/

Luftwaffe chief warns Europe has ‘no time’ to counter Putin without US weapons (Politico)
https://www.politico.eu/article/europe-isnt-ready-replace-us-weapons-german-air-chief-warns/

London Playbook: ‘Endings and beginnings’ (Politico)
https://www.politico.eu/newsletter/london-playbook/endings-and-beginnings/

Ukraine's parliament dismisses prime minister, paving way for government reshuffle (Kyiv Independent)
https://kyivindependent.com/ukraines-parliament-dismisses-prime-minister-paving-way-for-government-reshuffle/

Zelensky eyes replacing Defense Minister Fedorov, source says (Kyiv Independent)
https://kyivindependent.com/zelensky-eyes-replacing-defense-minister-fedorov-source-says/

Why the AfD is not scared of World War Three (James Rothwell for The Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/10/why-afd-not-scared-third-world-war/

How Putin Turned Japan Into a Den of Spies (New York Times)
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/12/world/asia/russia-spies-japan-war-drones-electronics.html

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 recruits run dry, Ukrainian intelligence reports
Paris holds biggest Bastille Day parade since WWII
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,599.
After a weekend that took the tally of oil exporting Russian ships hit by drones in the Sea of Azov to over 100, Dom reports how Ukraine has trialled an autonomous amphibious assault into Russian-held territory. Meanwhile Ukraine strikes another oil refinery, as fights break out over Russian fuel shortages. Adelie examines the first-ever joint EU-UK sanctions against the Russian cyber-war complex and asks what direction President Zelensky is heading in with his latest cabinet reshuffle. Dom looks at the latest United Nations response to the bombing of civilians and asks how they manage to condemn the killings in such strong terms, without once having to apportion blame. And later, he talks to US international affairs commentator Melinda Haring about the sudden death over the weekend of Senator Lindsay Graham and what the death of a leading Russia hawk means for Kyiv.

Contributors:
Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.
Adelie Pojzman-Pontay (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @Adeliepjz on X.
With thanks to Melinda Haring, nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center.

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:
Lindsey Graham, Republican Senator and Staunch Trump Ally, Dies at 71 (NYT)
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/12/us/politics/lindsey-graham-dead.html

Zelenskyy dismisses Ukraine’s prime minister in cabinet shake-up (FT)
https://www.ft.com/content/db48418a-f906-4afd-86a2-1ab08004bd13?syn-25a6b1a6=1

Beyond the Battlefield: Russia’s Information War Against Ukraine’s European Future
https://cpd.gov.ua/en/report/beyond-the-battlefield-russias-information-war-against-ukraines-european-future/

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:
Ukraine hits 100 Russian tankers in Sea of Azov
What Lindsey Graham’s death means for Kyiv
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,596.
Ukraine continues playing its game of Whack-A-Hole on the Kremlin's energy plants. Dom looks at technical developments on the battlefield, including the suggestion Ukrainian troops are now deliberately starting their assaults with next to no equipment, before turning to politics: with Tomahawks on their way to Europe and Marine Le Pen, possibly, on her way to the Elysee Palace. Adelie French-splains what a National Rally presidency could mean for European security and Ukraine. Finally, Adelie is joined by Alexander Browder, the 17-year-old who was sanctioned by the Kremlin for exposing a Russian-backed crypto laundering network.

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

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:
Exclusive: US fund to make 'big' investment in Ukraine's critical minerals this fall, economy minister says (Kyiv Independent)
https://kyivindependent.com/exclusive-us-fund-to-make-big-investment-in-ukraines-critical-minerals-this-fall-economy-minister-says/

Uefa drags its heels over action against Russia’s fake Ukrainian clubs (The Guardian)
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/27/uefa-action-russia-fake-ukrainian-clubs-shakhtar-donetsk#:~:text=The%20fake%20Shakhtar%2C%20who%20play,promoted%20to%20the%20third%20tier.

Au RN, quinze ans d’affaires judiciaires sous l’ère Marine Le Pen (Le Monde)
https://www.lemonde.fr/les-decodeurs/article/2026/07/07/au-rassemblement-national-quinze-ans-d-affaires-judiciaires-sous-l-ere-marine-le-pen_6721393_4355770.html

French court clears way for Marine Le Pen to run for president but orders her to wear electronic tag (BBC)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c70yk5xjyl1t

No longer Putin's friends but not for sure. What connects Le Pen's party with the Kremlin (European Pravda)
https://www.eurointegration.com.ua/eng/articles/2025/09/17/7220329/

Confronting the Illicit-Finance Hydra in Crypto Markets: Protecting Retail Investors and Disrupting Hostile Government Exploitation (Alexander Browder for Henry Jackson Society)
https://henryjacksonsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/HJS-Crypto-Currency-Report-web-final.pdf

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: X/@front_ukrainian

HIGHLIGHTS:
Ukraine smashes major Russian oil refinery
US sells Tomahawks to Germany
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.