Ukraine: The Latest

Day 1,582.
Crimea declares a state of emergency after days of intense Ukrainian attacks, as footage shows thousands of cars queuing to leave the Russian-occupied peninsula. It comes as president Zelensky authorises a 40-day operation against Russia ‌“to press for an end to the war”, days before the Nato summit in Ankara. Alex Nichol reports on a major scandal as the commander of one of Ukraine’s largest assault units has been suspended amid allegations of abuse against recruits. Meanwhile, Roland Oliphant has the updates on Ukraine’s row with Poland; the EU’s plan to end refugee protections for some Ukrainians; and Moscow and Washington’s very different recollections of the Trump-Putin meeting in Anchorage.

Contributors:
Roland Oliphant (Telegraph’s Chief Foreign Analyst). @rolandoliphant on X.
Alex Nichol (Telegraph journalist).
Adelie Pojzman-Pontay (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @Adeliepjz on X.
With thanks to Katarína Mathernová, EU Ambassador to 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

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 “Skelya” assault regiment commented on the Babel investigation into torture and murders in the unit (Babel)
https://babel.ua/en/news/127978-the-skelya-assault-regiment-commented-on-the-babel-investigation-into-torture-and-murders-in-the-unit

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:
Occupied Crimea declares state of emergency as thousands flee the peninsula
Zelensky announces 40-day operation “to press for an end to the war”

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

Day 1,581.
As the clock ticks down on President Zelensky’s ultimatum to Belarus, Dom examines reports that the drone relay stations Kyiv accused Minsk of hosting have suddenly stopped working – and asks whether Lukashenko may be edging away from Putin. He also has the latest on Ukraine’s long-range strikes deep inside Russia, as France seizes another shadow fleet tanker and Kyiv presses its campaign to raise the cost of war for the Kremlin. Francis unpacks NATO secretary general Mark Rutte’s visit to Donald Trump in the Oval Office. Later, we take you to Gdańsk for the Ukraine Recovery Conference, where the first tranche of the EU’s €90 billion support package is formally handed over to Kyiv.

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

With thanks to Orysia Lutsevych, head of the Ukraine Forum at Chatham House.

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:
Orysia Lutsevych’s Chatham House paper, ‘Why a ‘whole-of-society’ model is essential for Ukraine’s recovery’:
https://www.chathamhouse.org/2026/06/why-whole-society-model-essential-ukraines-recovery

«Дураки за деньги закончились»: как российские власти пытаются решить проблему нехватки контрактников (Vertska, in Russian)
https://verstka.media/kak-rossiiskie-vlasti-pytayutsya-reshit-problemu-nehvatki-kontraktnikov

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 sacrifices Crimea air defences to shield Moscow
Zelensky says 'Russia will be forced to choose peace'

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

Day 1,580.
Today, after days of memes and mounting panic across Russia, Vladimir Putin finally breaks his silence on last week’s dramatic strikes on Moscow – insisting they are not a sign of vulnerability, but proof of Russian strength on the battlefield. Dom reports on the remarkable own goal from Russia’s defence ministry, which appears to have done Zelensky’s press office a favour by detailing just how many targets Ukrainian forces have hit in the last 24 hours. We also examine growing frustration in Moscow as the Kremlin accuses the United States of failing to honour the Trump–Putin “understandings” that were supposed to shape the next phase of diplomacy. And later, we get an update from one of the leading campaigners pushing to unlock billions of dollars in frozen Russian assets for Ukraine’s defence and reconstruction.

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

With thanks to Hugo Dixon of 'The Russian Transfer'.

Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett
Video Producer: Sophie O’Sullivan
Social Producer: Tom Steed
Studio Director: Chris January
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:
Reported Gasoline Shortages in Russian Federal Subjects and Occupied Ukrainian Territories as of June 23, 2026 (Institute for the Study of War):
https://understandingwar.org/map/reported-gasoline-shortages-in-russian-federal-subjects-and-occupied-ukrainian-territories-as-of-june-23-2026/

Hugo Dixon’s initiative ‘The Russian Transfer’: moving Moscow’s account from Belgium:
https://www.therussiantransfer.com/

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 breaks silence over Moscow strikes humiliation
Fuel shortages grip Russia
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,579.
Today, as reports emerge that Donald Trump urged President Zelensky to act “more boldly” towards Russia, the clock is ticking on Ukraine’s threat to target drone relay stations in Belarus that Kyiv says are helping facilitate attacks on Ukrainian territory. We examine the Kremlin’s extraordinary demand that Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko travel to Moscow for advice on protecting his country’s sovereignty – a suggestion that reveals much about the true nature of Russia’s relationship with its closest ally. We also bring you the latest Ukrainian strikes aimed at isolating Crimea, exposing the vulnerability of Russian supply routes as drones hunt convoys and pontoon crossings with increasing impunity. And later, in an exclusive interview, we speak to the European Union’s first Defence Commissioner about Europe’s plans to counter an increasingly aggressive Russia, strengthen continental security, and support Ukraine for the long haul.

Contributor:
Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.

Producer: Phil Atkins
Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett
Video Producer: Sophie O’Sullivan
Social Producer: Tom Steed
Studio Director: Chris January
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:

The European talks to create a Nato plan B (Joe Barnes for The Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/06/22/europe-rearms-european-talks-to-create-nato-replacement/

Poland tells Britain: Pay up for defence or risk global irrelevance (Adrian Blomfield for The Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/06/23/poland-tells-britain-pay-defence-risk-global-irrelevance/

Chalke Festival (this Friday):
https://www.chalkefestival.com/

Ukrainian Institute London’s Summer Garden Party (this Saturday):
https://uil.org.uk/events/uil-summer-garden-party/

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:

‘Act Boldly’: Trump backs Ukraine’s ruthless new campaign
Exclusive interview with EU's first defence commissioner
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,578.
As fresh waves of drones are reported heading towards Moscow, Francis and Dom examine Ukraine’s escalating campaign against Crimea, where new strikes on key infrastructure have prompted restrictions on civilian fuel purchases as some residents attempt to flee the occupied peninsula. They also assess President Zelensky’s ultimatum to Belarus, threatening to target communications equipment helping guide Russian drone strikes. Then, in Britain, Francis unpacks the political shockwaves following Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation and Dom looks at what his likely successor Andy Burnham has said about support for Ukraine.

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

Producer: Rachel Porter
Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett
Video Producer: Sophie O’Sullivan
Social Producer: Tom Steed
Studio Director: Chris January
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:

Vladimir Putin’s war machine sputters in drone age (Financial Times)
https://www.ft.com/content/b409d72f-ccff-4952-8b71-dfd62d75a1cd?syn-25a6b1a6=1

Read more of The Telegraph’s coverage of Keir Starmer’s resignation:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2026/06/22/keir-starmer-resignation-labour-burnham-streeting-no-10/
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2026/06/22/the-last-thing-country-needs-stalemate-until-september/

And listen to or watch The Daily T podcast:
https://linktr.ee/thedailytpodcast

Chalke Festival
https://www.chalkefestival.com/

Ukrainian Institute London’s Summer Garden Party
https://uil.org.uk/events/uil-summer-garden-party/

Thumbnail image credit: X/@front_ukrainian/Telegram/@other_nikopol

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 explodes Zaporizhzhia bridge as strike campaign strangles Crimea
What Keir Starmer’s resignation – and an Andy Burnham premiership – could mean for Ukraine
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.