Day 1,350.

Today, as fierce fighting continues around Pokrovsk and Ukrainian forces strike energy facilities inside Russia, we report on a surge in American surveillance flights over the Black Sea – coinciding with the arrival of Washington’s Ambassador to NATO in Kyiv. We also examine Ukraine’s claim to have hit an elite Russian special forces unit stationed on a Black Sea oil platform, and speak with sanctions expert Stephanie Baker, who explains why Donald Trump’s sanctions on Russian oil giants Lukoil and Rosneft are so significant.

Contributors

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

With thanks to Stephanie Baker (Senior Writer at Bloomberg). @StephaniBaker on X.

SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:

http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter

Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It’s free for everyone, including non-subscribers.

CONTENT REFERENCED:

Stephanie Baker’s Book, ‘Punishing Putin: ‘The gripping expose of the global economic sanctions against Russia’s war in Ukraine’:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Punishing-Putin-gripping-economic-sanctions-ebook/dp/B0CWWFJ52G

Ukraine rescues camel used by Russian military (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/10/30/ukraine-rescues-camel-used-by-russian-military/

Ukraine ‘strikes elite Russian unit’ on Black Sea oil rig (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/11/03/ukraine-strikes-elite-russian-unit-on-black-sea-oil-rig/

Putin’s shadow fleet under threat as Trump tries to ‘terrify’ Russia’s allies (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/11/04/putins-shadow-fleet-runs-aground-against-us-sanctions/

Russian Oil Finds Fewer Takes in China After Hit From Sanctions (Bloomberg):

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-11-02/russian-oil-finds-fewer-takers-in-china-after-hit-from-sanctions

Kramatorsk, Donetsk Oblast's iconic front-line rail stop, closed for 'indefinite period' (Kyiv Independent):

https://kyivindependent.com/key-train-route-to-ukraines-east-has-been-reduced-for-an-indefinite-period-due-to-safety-concerns/

Intense US surveillance activity over the Black Sea (ItaMilRadar):

https://www.itamilradar.com/2025/11/03/intense-us-surveillance-activity-over-the-black-sea/

Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

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

Day 1,349.

Today, as reports emerge that General Budanov, head of Ukraine’s military intelligence, travelled to the embattled frontline city of Pokrovsk, we sit down with former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who led the alliance in the first years of the full-scale invasion. We also speak with Norwegian filmmaker Tommy Gulliksen about his powerful new documentary Facing War – which takes viewers inside the rooms where Stoltenberg and world leaders made pivotal decisions that shaped the course of the conflict.

Contributors

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

With thanks to former NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg. @jensstoltenbergdocumentary on X.

SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:

http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter

Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It’s free for everyone, including non-subscribers.

CONTENT REFERENCED:

Learn more about ‘Facing War’ - new film about Jens Stoltenberg by Tommy Gulliksen:

https://m.imdb.com/title/tt35671816/

Ukraine special forces launch helicopter raid to stop Russian encirclement (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/11/01/ukraine-special-forces-helicopter-assault-pokrovsk/

Draft dodger who jumped from moving train faces deportation to Russia (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/11/01/draft-dodger-who-jumped-moving-train-deportation-russia/

Russia deploys 170,000 troops in battle for Pokrovsk (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/10/31/russia-deploys-170000-troops-battle-pokrovsk/

‘How to Negotiate with Putin’ by Robert Person (Journal of Democracy):

https://www.journalofdemocracy.org/online-exclusive/how-to-negotiate-with-putin/

Zelensky Is Winning Trump Voters Over (Wall Street Journal):

https://www.wsj.com/opinion/zelensky-is-winning-trump-voters-over-72d5f6c1?reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

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

Day 1,346.

Today, as Ukrainian forces hang on in Pokrovsk, we discuss more reports coming out of the city of Russian troops fighting in civilian clothes – a clear war crime. Plus, we hear about Ukraine’s latest long range strikes inside Russia and look at a worrying message from the International Atomic Energy Agency that accuses Moscow of targeting three of Ukraine's nuclear power plants. Later, we hear how a Ukrainian opera lost for 250 years premiered earlier this month in Chernivtsi, accompanied by the sound of air alerts.

Contributors:

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjzon X.

With thanks to Nataliya Lukyanova and James Butterwick

SIGN UP TO THE NEW ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:

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

Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It’s free for everyone, including non-subscribers.

CONTENT REFERENCED:

Russian soldiers disguised in civilian clothes infiltrating front-line city (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/08/13/russian-soldiers-disguised-civilian-clothing-infiltrating/

Poland, Hungary and Slovakia defy Brussels as Ukraine trade deal takes effect (POLITICO)

https://www.politico.eu/article/poland-hungary-and-slovakia-defy-brussels-as-ukraine-trade-deal-takes-effect/

Trump-Vladimir Putin Budapest summit axed following Moscow memo (Financial Times):

https://www.ft.com/content/d6655fb1-31af-4da8-85f7-085a8fc00969

Hungary’s foot-dragging on Russian oil crashes into reality

https://www.politico.eu/article/hungary-foot-dragging-russian-oil-crashes-reality-croatia-sanction/

LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST IN NEW LANGUAGES:

The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them. Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatest

Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

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