Ukraine: The Latest

Day 1,533.
Today, as Russia refused to follow Kyiv’s proposed ceasefire, killing at least 26 civilians, Kyiv responded by hitting targets 1500 km into Russia’s territory. Meanwhile, the corruption scandal uncovered in Ukraine last summer continues to send shockwaves across the country, possibly touching Zelensky himself. Ukraine’s Chief negotiator, Rustem Umerov, himself under investigation in the probe, arrives in Miami for the first talks since the beginning of the war against Iran. Finally, we dive into Russia’s latest online disinformation campaign.

Help shape the future of Ukraine: The Latest. Share your thoughts in this quick survey:
https://tinyurl.com/ukrainethelatest

Contributors:
Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @adeliepjz on X.
Dom Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.
Stephanie Baker (Investigative Journalist, Bloomberg). @StephaniBaker on X.

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:
United Nations: At least 70 killed and over 500 injured in attacks across Ukraine since 1 May
https://ukraine.ohchr.org/en/At-least-70-killed-and-over-500-injured-in-attacks-across-Ukraine-since-1-May?brid=YWdncwHX0NkpD1nGtCFuHnR85dYK

The corruption scandal Volodymyr Zelensky won't confront, (Kyiv Independent)
https://kyivindependent.com/corruption-scandal-closes-in-zelensky-looks-away/

Stephanie Baker’s investigation:
Russia’s Disinformation War Most Potent Weapon is Bending Realities (Bloomberg):
https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2026-russia-disinformation-storm-1516-videos/?accessToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJzb3VyY2UiOiJTdWJzY3JpYmVyR2lmdGVkQXJ0aWNsZSIsImlhdCI6MTc3ODE2NTI0OCwiZXhwIjoxNzc4NzcwMDQ4LCJhcnRpY2xlSWQiOiJURTY3T0lLR1pBTE4wMCIsImJjb25uZWN0SWQiOiJCNDdEQUVDNEVGNDE0NzBGOTAzNzRFM0U3NTNCQzg2QyJ9.TxyN9Bm4h-wlv29fjwocnYUdF0Q33zG8veGgtjMq49o

How To Spot a Russian Deefake, Bloomberg: https://youtu.be/X9GQiouEdJ8?si=9Tuc4AK0KpGsxk4H

Stephanie Baker’s work:
https://stephaniebakerwriter.com/

Adélie’s event with the Ukrainian Institute, London:
The Newest Testament - Literature as Testimony to Ukraine's Defence.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-newest-testament-literature-as-testimony-to-ukraines-defence-tickets-1986991762851?aff=oddtdtcreator&_gl=1*97sdgn*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTU3NTk1NjMyNC4xNzc4MTc0MDM1*_ga_TQVES5V6SH*czE3NzgxNzQwMzQkbzEkZzAkdDE3NzgxNzQwMzQkajYwJGwwJGgw

EMAIL US:
Contact the team on [email protected] . We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many on air and in our newsletter as possible.

HIGHLIGHTS:
Ukraine strikes refinery 1500 km inside Russia violates ceasefire 1,820 times
Leaked tapes from Ukraine’s widest corruption scandal cast doubt on Zelensky
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,532.
Today, Vladimir Putin gives his answer to President Zelensky’s offer of an open-ended ceasefire: a brutal attack on the civilians of Ukraine which killed 20, including 12 in a single strike. What does this mean for the likelihood of a ceasefire over May 8 and 9th for Moscow’s Victory Day parade? Then we hear the latest from Kyiv, and hear the latest from Russia, including how Putin has banned staff from using phones amid assassination fears.

Contributors:
Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.
James Kilner (Russia Analyst). @Jkjourno on X.

With thanks to freelance journalist Antonia Langford in 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:
Help shape the future of Ukraine: The Latest. Share your thoughts in this quick survey:
https://tinyurl.com/ukrainethelatest

As Ukraine strikes deeper inside Russia, Putin retreats further into paranoia (Antonia Langford in The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/05/paranoid-putin-cornered-ukrain-morphing-deep-strike-tactics/

Putin bans staff from using phones amid assassination fears (Antonia Langford in The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/04/putin-bans-staff-using-phones-assassination-fears/

EMAIL US:
Contact the team on [email protected] . We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many on air and in our newsletter as possible.

HIGHLIGHTS:
Vladimir Putin gives his answer to President Zelensky’s ceasefire offer
A brutal attack on the civilians of Ukraine kills 20, including 12 in a single strike

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

Day 1,531.
Today, after a weekend in which Zelensky joined more than 30 European leaders – along with the prime minister of Canada – at the European Political Community summit in Armenia, a country Moscow considers a close ally in the South Caucasus, and Ukraine calls Russia’s bluff over “ceasefires”, we report on further shadow fleet sanctions activity – from new regulations to unexplained explosions. And later, we look ahead to May Day celebrations in Russia and ask whether a Ukrainian drone penetrating Moscow’s layers of air defence suggests the parade could go off with a real bang.

Contributors:
Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.
Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.
Adelie Pojzman-Pontay (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @Adeliepjz on X.

With thanks to Yuliya Sotska of Ukrainian charity ‘Children of Heroes’.

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:
Learn more about ‘Children of Heroes’:
https://childrenheroes.org/en/

Francis’s Long Interview with Silicon Curtain:
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vopvERNHGtg
Audio: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0qwPAXSkPTvScvGtdKa2rm

Zelensky challenges Putin to new ceasefire (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/04/zelensky-challenges-putin-to-new-ceasefire/

Starmer to lobby Macron for closer EU ties (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/03/keir-starmer-join-eu-defence-fund-loan-ukraine/

Zelensky has scrapped open-ended military contracts to attract new recruits (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/01/zelensky-scraps-indefinite-contracts-soldiers-recruits/

Europe fears Putin’s ‘window of opportunity’ is now (Politico):
https://www.politico.eu/article/europe-fears-valdimir-putin-window-opportunity-nato-test/

EMAIL US:
Contact the team on [email protected] . We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many on air and in our newsletter as possible.

HIGHLIGHTS:
Putin challenged to new ceasefire by Zelensky
Fears NATO 'disintegrating' as Trump pulls thousands of troops from Europe
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,527.
Today, we take you to Lviv and hear an update from Dom’s week in the west of the country – including a visit to a prisoner of war camp and speaking to soldiers who fought for Russia. Then we bring you the latest on strikes by both sides, as Tuapse refinery is hit for the fourth time in a fortnight, before discussing the end of what’s being called the biggest military exercise involving European forces since the end of the Cold War.

NOTE: Monday is a bank holiday in the UK. Normal service will resume on Tuesday.

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

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:
Russia's Leningrad Oblast 'now a front-line region,' local governor says (Kyiv Independent):
https://kyivindependent.com/russias-leningrad-oblast-now-a-frontline-region-local-governor-says-following-recent-ukrainian-attacks/

Venice Biennale jury resigns after row over Russian entry (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/04/30/venice-biennale-jury-resigns-row-russian-artists/

EMAIL US:
Contact the team on [email protected] . We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many on air and in our newsletter as possible.

HIGHLIGHTS:
Exclusive: ‘My face-to-face with Russian prisoners of war’
Europe ends largest military drill since the Cold War

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

Day 1,526.
Today, as President Putin once again dangles a ceasefire in front of President Trump to avoid any risk of disruption to his Victory Day commemorations, he discuss reports that US president might be considering pulling American forces out of Germany while, at the same, the Pentagon finally unlocks a $400 million military aid package. We also bring you the latest on Ukraine’s strike campaign and how it’s turned one of Russia’s strengths – its size – into a weakness, before hearing from a Ukrainian Olympian diver about the decision by World Aquatics to permit Russian athletics to compete under the Russian flag once more.

Contributors:
Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.
With thanks to Telegraph reporters Lily Shanagher and Alisa Butterwick, plus Ukrainian Olympic diver Oleksiy Sereda.

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:
Ukrainian drones destroy £18m Russian helicopters behind enemy lines (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/04/30/ukrainian-drones-destroy-18m-russian-helicopters/

Trump threatens to pull troops out of Germany (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/04/29/trump-germany-troops-friedrich-merz/

Putin’s ‘altar boy’ is finally in Ukraine’s sights (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/04/30/putin-altar-boy-finally-in-ukraine-sights/

Japanese drone maker doubles down on Ukraine as Tokyo eases arms rules (The Kyiv Independent):
https://kyivindependent.com/terra-drone-moves-deeper-into-ukraine-with-second-investment-as-tokyo-loosens-arms-rules/

EMAIL US:
Contact the team on [email protected] . We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many on air and in our newsletter as possible.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Ukraine ‘vaporises’ Russian helicopters mid-flight behind enemy lines
Putin proposes ‘brief’ ceasefire in Trump call
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.