Ukraine: The Latest

Day 1,695.
Today, following the temporary Starlink-Starshield shutdown last week, we reveal how Musk approached President Trump to slow down Starlink in Ukraine. Meanwhile, the U.S. Ambassador to the EU – following Trump’s last minute executive order to block the bipartisan, Russian sanctions act – warns European companies face "devastating" retaliation from Washington if Brussels moves forward with plans to restrict American tech rivals. Meanwhile, with the so-called “energy ceasefire” a distant memory, we report on the continued attacks by both Russia and Ukraine, including a major strike on an oil terminal in St Petersburg. Finally, we turn to the fundamental questions facing Europe: who will be leading it in a few months' time, and how can pro-Ukraine politicians prepare for the worst case scenarios?

Contributors:
Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.
Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.
James Crisp (Europe Editor). @JamesCrisp6 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

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: Musk approached Trump to slow down Starlink in Ukraine (Joe Barnes for The Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/10/16/musk-approached-trump-slow-down-starlink-help-ukraine/

US threatens European companies over Starlink restrictions (Financial Times)
https://www.ft.com/content/d1e28d93-8574-4a46-946a-b261c401d6fa?syn-25a6b1a6=1

Zelenskyy says Ukraine 'will not prevail’ if U.S. takes Russia's side: Full interview (NBC)
https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/video/zelenskyy-says-ukraine-will-not-prevail-if-u-s-takes-russia-s-side-full-interview-271776837876

Europe’s populist Right has a Russia problem (James Crisp, Joe Barnes, James Rothwell, Henry Samuel and Meike Eijsberg for The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/10/19/putin-ukraine-dividing-europe-populist-right-le-pen-afd/

EU rushes to sanction Russia in case Le Pen takes power (The Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/10/18/eu-rushes-to-sanction-russia-in-case-le-pen-takes-power/

Trump: Zelensky never wanted to end Ukraine war (The Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/10/18/rubio-nobody-ordered-starlink-slowdown-in-ukraine/

Latvia calls for visa ban on Russians (Financial Times)
https://www.ft.com/content/75a42e7d-1497-4760-bd75-1cbd083fc9a4?syn-25a6b1a6=1

Learn more about ‘Ukraine Focus’:
https://ukrainefocus.org/about/

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:
Zelensky defies Trump with ‘massive’ raid on sites across St Petersburg
Exclusive: Elon Musk approached Trump about limiting Starlink in Ukraine
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,692.
Today, as President Zelensky arrives for talks with European leaders in Brussels, Russia embodies the geopolitical equivalent of running to teacher to say big boys took their football, by complaining that Ukraine has hit another one of their oil refineries. Donald Trump is accused of betrayal, for the second time this week, but this time from a most unlikely source, and NAFO gets a shout out in the Irish Parliament. And, as we mention football, we end this torrid week with something a bit brighter: a dispatch with Ukraine’s number one football team as they start their Champions League campaign.

Contributors:
Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.
Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.
Tom Steed (Telegraph Journalist).

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:
Sign up to the ‘Characters’ newsletter:
https://secure.telegraph.co.uk/customer/secure/newsletter/characters

Arthur Gibson, philosopher who rose from poverty to become the cleverest man in Britain (Telegraph Obituary):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2026/09/18/arthur-gibson-genius-philosopher-who-rose-died-obituary/

Trump: Zelensky is destroying Ukraine (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/10/16/trump-zelensky-destroying-ukraine-russia-putin-diesel/

Ukraine Finds a New Set of Targets (The Atlantic):
https://www.theatlantic.com/national-security/2026/10/ukraine-russia-trump-putin-war/689002/

The Defector: A Russian Officer Turned Against His Country and Helped Ukraine Kill Hundreds (Wall Street Journal):
https://www.wsj.com/world/russian-defector-deadly-sabotage-campaign-a95d163c

Netherlands denies visas to 3 Russian athletes, barring them from world championships (Kyiv Independent):
https://kyivindependent.com/netherlands-denies-visas-to-3-russian-athletes-barring-them-fro
m-world-championships/?mc_cid=6920a0d80d&mc_eid=08d0680a95

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:
– Trump: Zelensky is destroying Ukraine
– Starlink restored to Ukrainian troops
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,691.
Today, as the blame game over who limited Ukraine’s use of Starlink and Starshield reaches fever pitch, we hear Elon Musk’s rebuttal while White House officials point the finger at him. Meanwhile, President Zelensky breaks cover and admits he feels “betrayed” by President Trump. Later, Dom sits down for an exclusive interview with Estonia’s Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna, who says Russia is “boiling Europe like a frog”.

Contributors:
Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.
Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.
With thanks to Margus Tsahkna, foreign minister of Estonia.

Producer: Rachel Porter
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 ‘The War Room’, a new interactive event in London, hosted by Dom:
https://www.squadup.com/events/the-war-room

US floats unfreezing some Russian assets to restart Ukraine peace talks (Financial TImes)
https://www.ft.com/content/54353d3a-afed-4fec-985a-50f3dfb9be8e?shareType=nongift&syn-25a6b1a6=1

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.

Zelensky clips credit: Piers Morgan Uncensored

HIGHLIGHTS:
Zelensky accuses Trump of 'betrayal' amid bitter Elon Musk Starlink row
Estonian foreign minister Margus Tsahkna: “Russia is boiling Europe like a frog”
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,690.
Today, just as President Zelensky arrives in London and British Prime Minister Andy Burnham promises to speed up missile deliveries, the speed of the Starlink service to Ukraine’s troops has mysteriously slowed down. Donald Trump insists the US is still providing intelligence support to Ukraine even as Russian ballistic missiles kill people without warning. Plus, to show in what high regard they hold Mr Trump’s opinion, the Russians continue to observe his apparent energy ceasefire by firing missiles at power plants, causing more civilian deaths and leaving 600,000 in the dark. And later, we have an interview with the EU’s Ambassador to Ukraine who speaks of the tensions between Brussels and Kyiv ahead of an anticipated tough winter.

Contributors:
Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.
Sophie O’Sullivan (Telegraph Journalist).
Adelie Pojzman-Pontay (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @Adeliepjz on X.
With thanks for Katerina Mathernova, EU ambassador to Kyiv.

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, hosted by Dom:
https://www.squadup.com/events/the-war-room
Use code UTL20 for 20% off (first 30 users only)

'This cannot be a coincidence' — Ukraine's Starlink access restricted without warning, Zelensky adviser says (Kyiv Independent)
https://kyivindependent.com/this-cannot-be-a-coincidence-ukraines-starlink-access-restricted-without-warning-zelensky-adviser-says/

U.S. official: Trump cut deal with Putin after Zelensky ignored his requests (Axios)
https://www.axios.com/2026/10/10/trump-zelensky-putin-diesel-deal-war

Russia’s Rassvet Satellites Could Give Drones Space-Based Control, Former HUR Official Warns (Kyiv Post)
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/86955

The awkward truth about Europe’s biggest sabotage attack (James Rothwell and Per Hinrichs for The Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/10/14/the-awkward-truth-about-europes-biggest-sabotage-attack/

Adélie’s previous interview with EU Ambassador to Kyiv, Katerina Mathernova, explaining Ukraine’s EU accession talks:
On YouTube: https://youtu.be/A0nW1-Csp_g
On Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/ukraine-the-latest/id1612424182?i=1000774369916
On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/11K2YjDjkCc7yVJkD1PKMy?si=9dc0ebba02bb47fd

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:
Elon Musk turns on Ukraine by limiting Starlink
Operation Vivaldi concludes, liberating final 100 sq km of territory
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,689.
Today, as Moscow continues to strike Ukrainian energy infrastructure despite President Donald Trump's so-called ceasefire, we hear the further fallout from the US President's decision to purchase Russian diesel while – at the same time – Vladimir Putin is openly providing technology to Iran with the aim of killing Americans. We then bring you a new interceptor reportedly capable of shooting down some of the fastest Russian drones, and hear for the first time Kyiv's former Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi defend his record. Lastly, a special dispatch from Francis dedicated to mine-hunting on the Black Sea.

Contributors:
Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.
With thanks to the servicemen and women of the Royal Navy and Ukrainian Navy.

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:
Buy tickets to ‘War Room’, a new interactive event in London, hosted by Dom:
https://www.squadup.com/events/the-war-room
Use code UTL20 for 20% off (first 30 users only)

Zelensky: Russia has hit six energy sites since Trump ‘ceasefire’ (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/10/13/russia-hits-six-energy-sites-since-trump-ceasefire-zelensky/

Russia's offensive ability is broken, Kyiv's former top general tells BBC (BBC):
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9y7lgg2vdggo

Russia secretly helping Iran develop supersonic cruise missiles (The Telegraph):
https://www.ft.com/content/6cf367bc-95b0-4f1f-b149-a25684adefc3?syn-25a6b1a6=1

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:
– Putin answers Trump’s ceasefire call with missile barrage
– Francis joins mine-hunting mission with Ukrainian navy
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.