Ukraine: The Latest

Day 1,664. Today, as Russians start to vote in parliamentary elections for which the only thing transparent is the voting booth, Canada considers taking associate membership of the EU. 50,000 North Korean soldiers could be training in Russia and Ukraine gets bored of finding new targets so hits the same Russian airbase for the second night running. Later, Dr Jade McGlynn of King’s College London on what we know so far about Russia’s so-called elections, as voting begins in a contest all but guaranteed to fall in favour of Vladimir Putin and his United Russia party. Contributors: Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X. Adelie Pojzman-Pontay (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @Adeliepjz on X. Jade McGlynn (Research fellow, King’s College London). @DrJadeMcGlynn on X. Producer: Rachel Porter Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett Video Producer: Sophie O’Sullivan Social Producer: Lucy Hadlow 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: Putin will win Russia’s sham election. Europe is terrified of what comes next (Adrian Blomfield for the Telegraph) https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/09/18/putin-will-win-sham-election-what-happens-next-terrifies-eu/ En Ukraine, les habitants des territoires occupés votent sous la menace aux élections législatives russes (Le Monde) https://www.lemonde.fr/international/article/2026/09/18/en-ukraine-les-habitants-des-territoires-occupes-votent-sous-la-menace-aux-elections-legislatives-russes_6776706_3210.html If you’re interested in sponsoring Dom’s upcoming defence event, email our colleagues at [email protected] EMAIL US: Contact the team on [email protected]. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many as possible. HIGHLIGHTS: Russia scrambles for manpower as it suffers 10,000 casualties in a week Up to 50,000 North Korean soldiers to be trained in Russia Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,663. Today, we hear reaction to the US Congress approving a bipartisan bill which could see significant sanctions against Russia enshrined into US law, with the potential of 100% tariffs against countries purchasing energy from Moscow. Then we bring you reports of airspace being closed over Poland, and the latest developments of the Ukrainian counteroffensive around Lyman. Later, Francis speaks to one of the UN team documenting Russian forces’ appalling sexual violence against Ukrainians, and leading the push for accountability for these war crimes. Contributors: Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X. Sophie O’Sullivan (Telegraph Journalist). With thanks to Commissioner Vrinda Grover of the UN’s Ukraine Commission of Inquiry. 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 Graham sanctions act is a chance to punish Putin. Here’s what the White House should do next. (Daniel Fried for the Atlantic Council) https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/dispatches/the-graham-sanctions-act-is-a-chance-to-punish-putin-heres-what-the-white-house-should-do-next/ Russians Prepare to Vote in Parliamentary Elections With Little Hope for Change (New York Times) https://www.nytimes.com/video/world/europe/100000011153874/russia-parliamentary-elections.html Summary factsheet of UN Ukraine Inquiry’s main findings on sexual violence: https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/hrbodies/hrcouncil/coiukraine/iicoiu-sgbv-may2026-en.pdf Call for submissions by the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine: https://www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/hrc/iicihr-ukraine/call-for-submission Papers featuring testimony of sexual violence in war: August ‘23 – https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/2023-08/A_HRC_52_CRP.4_En%20%28003%29.pdf March ‘24 – https://undocs.org/en/A/HRC/55/66 October ‘24 – https://docs.un.org/en/A/79/549 March ‘25 – https://docs.un.org/en/A/HRC/58/67 Germany to send fighter jets to Latvia during election amid drone threat (Politico) https://www.politico.eu/article/germany-to-send-fighter-jets-to-latvia-during-election-amid-drone-threat/ Russia stages early voting in occupied Ukraine ahead of national election (Euronews) https://www.euronews.com/video/2026/09/15/russia-stages-early-voting-in-occupied-ukraine-ahead-of-national-election Putin weaponizing migration to destabilize Europe, Kyiv says (Kyiv Independent) https://kyivindependent.com/putin-weaponizing-migration-to-destabilize-europe-kyiv-says/ Global hunger is a threat to Britain’s national security, report says (The Telegraph) https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/climate-and-people/global-hunger-is-a-threat-to-britains-national-security/ Russia plans new prison complex in occupied Kherson Oblast among wider prison expansion (Kyiv Independent) https://kyivindependent.com/russia-plans-new-prison-complex-in-occupied-kherson-oblast-among-wider-prison-expansion/ If you’re interested in sponsoring Dom’s upcoming defence event, email our colleagues at [email protected] EMAIL US: Contact the team on [email protected]. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many as possible. HIGHLIGHTS: 'We'll throttle your war machine': US lawmakers pass major Russia sanctions bill Ukraine targets Russian oil refinery and aircraft, igniting huge blaze Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,662. Today, the EU announces a ‘counter-hybrid playbook’ and its own version of NATO’s Article 4 after the worrying increase of hybrid incidents and attacks on Europe. The US indicts four Russian intelligence agents preparing acts of terrorism and assassinations across Europe and the US. Meanwhile, American lawmakers are set to vote on Lindsey Graham’s Russian sanctions bill and President Zelensky claims that Moscow intentionally attacked Moldova. Later, Alex Nichol meets the activist risking everything to smuggle military deserters out of Russia. Contributors: Adelie Pojzman-Pontay (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @Adeliepjz on X. Alex Nichol (Telegraph Journalist). With thanks to Grigory Sverdlin, Russian activist and founder of the Get Lost project. 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: Get Lost organisation website https://iditelesom.org/en Grigory Sverdlin’s book, Warming Point: How I Did Charity Work in Russia and Became an Enemy of the State (in Russian) https://magaz.global/product/grigorii-sverdlin-punkt-obogreva Ukraine's Zelenskyy tells CBS News Russia tried to attack his plane with drones twice in recent weeks (CBS) https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ukraine-russia-war-zelenskyy-cbs-interview-drones-targeted-plane-twice/ Why Zelenskyy says there’s no ‘win-win’ with Russia | Canadian exclusive (CBC) https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.7344745 If you’re interested in sponsoring Dom’s upcoming defence event, email our colleagues at [email protected] EMAIL US: Contact the team on [email protected]. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many as possible. HIGHLIGHTS: Meet the activists who smuggled 3600 deserters out of Russia New Ukrainian interceptor destroys Russia's powerful jet-powered drone Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,661. Today, the Danish Prime Minister condemns the latest ‘reckless action’ by Moscow, after a Russian frigate in the Baltic Sea fired flares at a military helicopter. NATO jets were also in action last night, shooting down a drone over Lithuania. The Ukrainian commander who masterminded the recent counterattack in the Donbas region gives a little more detail about what happened. And in news that will surprise almost no one, Donald Trump’s claim to have got a deal over the line between Kyiv and Moscow about a ceasefire on energy facilities has, just like Russia’s Syzran oil facility last night, gone up in smoke. Later, Dom speaks to the mother of a man missing on the frontline after being forced to fight for Russia. Contributors: Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X. Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X. With thanks to Valerie Stobbart. 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: My son moved to Russia for love. Now, he’s missing on the front line (Dom Nicholls and Natalia Makohon for The Telegraph) https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/09/15/my-son-moved-russia-love-missing-front-line/ Civil servant sacked after asking Telegraph to find son missing in Ukraine (Dom Nicholls for The Telegraph) https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/09/15/civil-servant-sacked-telegraph-appeal-son-missing-ukraine/ Russian frigate fires flares at Danish military helicopter (The Telegraph) https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/09/15/nato-italy-jets-shoot-down-drone-lithuania/ Zelensky sanctions press secretary who accused him of using drugs (The Telegraph) https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/09/14/volodymyr-zelensky-press-secretary-drugs-ukraine-russia/ Putin’s plan to paralyse Ukraine (Antonia Langford for The Telegraph) https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/09/15/putins-plan-paralyse-ukraine/ Donald Trump Jr.’s Bahamas Wedding Was Secretly Bankrolled by Russian Oligarch Close to Putin (ProPublica) https://www.propublica.org/article/donald-trump-jr-wedding-bankrolled-russian-oligarch-umar-kremlev-putin Jared Kushner’s Dollar Diplomacy (New Yorker) https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2026/09/21/jared-kushners-dollar-diplomacy Learn more about the Ukrainian Film Festival in London: https://uil.org.uk/ukrainian-film-festival-2025-through-love-and-loss-2/ EMAIL US: Contact the team on [email protected]. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many as possible. HIGHLIGHTS: Exclusive: ‘My son moved to Russia for love. Now, he’s missing on the front line’ Denmark condemns ‘reckless action’ after a Russian frigate fired flares at a military helicopter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,660. Today, after Russia strikes a train near the Ukrainian border with Poland, narrowly missing top European officials including Boris Johnson, we consider whether the attack was deliberate. The officials were attending a major gathering in Kyiv seeking to forge a new way forward – we’ll bring you the highlights. Then we try to get to the bottom of what some are calling ‘Ukraine’s biggest victory this year’ – the reported counterattack around Lyman liberating almost 200 square kilometers of territory. If confirmed, it seemingly exposed lying Russian commanders, Ukrainian formidable operational security, and expectations in the ground war over the coming months. Contributors: Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X. Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X. Memphis Barker (senior foreign correspondent). @memphisbarker on X. 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: If you’re interested in sponsoring Dom’s upcoming defence event, email our colleagues at [email protected] World’s First Naval Drone Duel Results In Ukrainian Success (Naval News) https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2026/09/worlds-first-naval-drone-duel-results-in-ukrainian-success/ Germany floats new Ukraine loan backed by frozen Russian assets (Politico) https://www.politico.eu/article/germany-ukraine-loan-frozen-russia-assets/ EU fails to agree Russia sanctions rollover with one day to spare (Politico) https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-fails-to-agree-russia-sanctions-rollover-with-one-day-to-spare/ Germany Aims to Prevent Far Right From Accessing Secret War Plan (Bloomberg) https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-09-10/germany-aims-to-prevent-far-right-from-accessing-secret-war-plan House to take up Russia sanctions bill next week (The Hill) https://thehill.com/homenews/6084914-house-russia-sanctions-vote/ Francis’s interview with Ambassador Daniel Fried: On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUjC_O7ZpeE On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2RGt2H2Ww2a44wXP16XBkm On Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/putin-will-exhaust-russias-capacity-by-2028-ukrainian/id1612424182?i=1000789061444 Ukraine’s biggest victory this year exposes lying Russian commanders (Memphis Barker for The Telegraph) https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/09/12/lying-russian-commanders-ukraines-biggest-victory-putin/ Watch Mephis’s video on the Lyman counterattack: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56b-9FOC-58&pp=ygUJdGVsZWdyYXBo Berlin-Hacker stellten geheime Drohnen-Akten ins Netz! (‘Berlin hackers put secret drone files online!’: Bild) https://www.bild.de/politik/inland/berlin-leak-geheimakten-ueber-drohnengefahr-am-ber-6aa3ebb40f417ae59102eab3 Russia Is Churning Out Smart, Cheap New Weapons Faster Than Ukraine or the U.S. (Wall Street Journal) https://www.wsj.com/world/russia-is-churning-out-smart-cheap-new-weapons-faster-than-ukraine-or-the-u-s-c817d014 Ukraine’s way of fighting war can’t match what’s coming (Eric Schmidt for the Washington Post) https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/09/09/how-russia-is-erasing-ukraines-battlefield-advantage/ EMAIL US: Contact the team on [email protected]. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many as possible. HIGHLIGHTS: Putin 'knocking on doors of NATO' with near-miss strike on train of European officials How Ukraine’s audacious counterattack exposed lying Russian officials Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.