Ukraine: The Latest

Day 1,453.
Today, amid fresh Russian bombardments and reports of Ukrainian counter-operations, we step back to assess the broader strategic picture on the battlefield – and ask what 2026 could bring if peace talks collapse. We then report from the Munich Security Conference, where American voices, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, set out competing visions for US involvement in Europe, and Belarus warned about Moscow’s nuclear expansion. Then we cover President Zelensky’s candid remarks, and examine the extraordinary claims from British intelligence that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was killed with a toxin derived from a frog on the orders of Vladimir Putin.

Contributors
Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.
Venetia Rainey (Co-host Battle Lines podcast). @venetiarainey on X.
Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjz on X.
Rozina Sabur (National Security Editor). @RozinaSabur 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:
Putin’s frog poison hit on Navalny reveals his secret chemical weapons (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/02/14/russia-killed-navalny-with-frog-poison-britain-reveals/

Kim opens new neighbourhood for families of soldiers killed in Ukraine (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/02/16/kim-opens-neighbourhood-families-soldiers-killed-ukraine/

Putin ‘moving nuclear missiles’ to EU border (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/02/15/putin-moving-nuclear-missiles-to-eu-border/

Nato will strike ‘deep inside Russia’ if Putin hits Baltics (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/02/16/nato-air-strikes-deep-in-russia-if-putin-hits-baltics/

Poland considers building nuclear weapons (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/02/16/poland-considers-building-nuclear-weapons-russia/

Ukraine’s War of Endurance – The Fight for Advantage in the Conflict’s Fifth Year (Michael Kofman in Foreign Affairs):
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/russia/ukraines-war-endurance

Ukraine struck $100 million Russian Nebo-U radar system in occupied Crimea, General Staff claims (Kyiv Independent):
https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-says-it-struck-100-million-russian-nebo-u-radar-system-in-occupied-crimea/

Ukraine’s survival still an ‘open question’, Kyiv mayor warns (Financial Times):
https://www.ft.com/content/a140cba5-d36c-47b7-95cb-57218fa5874c

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: [email protected]
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,450.
Today, as world leaders arrive in Germany for the Munich Security Conference, we report on expectations ahead of this weekend’s gathering and what it could mean for Ukraine and European security. We assess reaction to announcements made at the latest meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (Rammstein), and examine Russia’s move to supply Cuba with oil amid growing geopolitical tensions. Plus, we bring you our regular update on resistance activities in the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine, and speak to the writer of a new London stage play exploring the war in the Donbas region.

Contributors
Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.
Lily Shanagher (Foreign Reporter). @LilyShanagher on X.
Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.
AdéliePojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjzon X.
With thanks to Illia Riepin and Olga Braga (Ukrainian playwright and director). @EveryTheatre 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 the Donbas play:
https://theatre503.com/whats-on/donbas/

Zelensky Makes His Pitch to Trump (The Atlantic):
https://www.theatlantic.com/national-security/2026/02/zelensky-trump-peace-deal-ukraine-russia/685972/

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: [email protected]
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,449.
Today, as Ukraine’s security services claim responsibility for the longest-range strike yet on Russian oil and gas infrastructure since the start of the full-scale invasion, we examine reports of a surge in Russian army casualties and what that could mean for Vladimir Putin’s war effort. Then we bring you the latest from the NATO summit in Brussels, where allies are discussing military support for Ukraine and European security, before returning to the escalating controversy at the Winter Olympics, where Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych has been disqualified over his “Helmet of Memory” tribute to Ukrainian athletes killed in the war.

Contributors
Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.
Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.
Jeremy Wilson (Chief Sports Reporter). @JWTelegraph 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:
Zelensky accuses Olympics of ‘playing into Russia’s hands’ after Ukraine athlete disqualified (Jeremy in The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/winter-olympics/2026/02/12/winter-olympics-2026-ukrainian-skeleton-helmet-ioc/

Halyna Klepikovska: participation in the International Cultural Programme of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympics:
https://www.halynaklepikovska.com/post/movement-as-a-form-of-thinking

Russian army casualties in Ukraine surge (Financial Times):
https://www.ft.com/content/ce74d2d8-5562-4e6d-9e5f-041b017b5d39

SBU sends text warning Russians are trying to recruit Ukrainians to register Starlink terminals (Kyiv Independent):
https://kyivindependent.com/sbu-sends-messages-to-holders-of-ukrainian-phone-numbers-warning-russians-trying-to-recruit-ukrainians-to-register-block-starlink-terminals

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: [email protected]
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,448.
Today, we assess where things stand after mixed messaging has left Kyiv, Moscow and Western capitals confused over whether President Zelensky will use the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion to announce presidential elections or a referendum on a possible peace deal. We report on Russia’s fury over the reported Starlink switch-off, a communications crisis compounded by the Kremlin’s tightening restrictions on Telegram, and continue to follow the Olympic controversy surrounding Ukraine’s so-called “Helmet of Memory”. Later, we hear the latest analysis from our Russia-watcher.

Contributors
Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.
Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjz on X.
James Kilner (Foreign Analyst). @jkjourno 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:
Zelensky plans presidential elections and peace deal referendum (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/02/11/zelensky-presidential-elections-peace-deal-referendum/

Ukrainian athletes defy IOC and double down in helmet protest against Russia (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/winter-olympics/2026/02/09/ukrainian-athlete-vladyslav-heraskevych-anti-russian-helmet/

Behind the Guns: Western Tools, Russian Firepower (Front Intelligence):
https://frontelligence.substack.com/p/behind-the-guns-western-tools-russian

Chris O Starlink thread on X:
https://x.com/ChrisO_wiki/status/2021280155713294590?s=20

Zelensky won't announce elections on war anniversary amid talks of US-driven timeline, source says (Kyiv Independent):
https://kyivindependent.com/zelensky-wont-announce-elections-on-invasion-anniversary/

Zelenskyy planning elections in Ukraine and vote on peace deal (Financial Times):
https://www.ft.com/content/50d3d86b-2d2a-4d06-845e-a4e089382cad

Elections in Ukraine — a guide for beginners (and US Presidents) (Kyiv Independent):
https://kyivindependent.com/a-beginners-guide-to-elections-in-ukraine-also-suitable-for-us-presidents/

The Belarusian woman at the center of Epstein’s final days (Kyiv Independent):
https://kyivindependent.com/the-belarusian-woman-at-the-center-of-epsteins-final-days/?mc_cid=a5562b6d52&mc_eid=4a5b852913

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: [email protected]
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,447.
Today, amid growing rumours that Ukraine may be preparing a new counteroffensive, we discuss how the Kremlin is attempting to play down expectations and undermine confidence in the ongoing peace talks. We then report on Japan’s move to join the PURL initiative, examine a diplomatic row that has erupted at the Winter Olympics, and sit down with Romania’s Foreign Minister, Oana Țoiu, to hear how the war in Ukraine is being viewed from Bucharest, on NATO and the EU’s eastern flank.

Contributors
Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.
Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.
With thanks to Oana Țoiu, Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs. @oana_toiu 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:
Zelensky backs athlete banned from wearing helmet bearing faces of war victims (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/winter-olympics/2026/02/09/ukrainian-athlete-vladyslav-heraskevych-anti-russian-helmet/

Russia bombs Ukrainian pet shelter (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/02/06/russia-bombs-ukrainian-pet-shelter/

How to keep an elephant and a gorilla warm during Kyiv's coldest winter of the full-scale war (Kyiv Independent):
https://kyivindependent.com/animals-some-first-how-kyiv-zoo-protects-life-through-the-darkest-winter-of-war/?mc_cid=9ff030f3ca&mc_eid=08d0680a95

Kenya to confront Russia over 'unacceptable' use of its nationals in combat (BBC):
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0k1jzvrykro?xtor=AL-71-

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: [email protected]
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.