<p><strong>Day 1,516.</strong></p><p>Today, as President Zelensky warns of increased Russian military activity in neighbouring Belarus, we discuss weekend Ukrainian air raids targeting oil refineries around Moscow. We then examine a shock election result that has brought another pro-Russia leader to power within both the EU and NATO, following in the footsteps of Hungary’s Viktor Orbán. And later, we speak to a veteran foreign correspondent who spent 25 years in Russia – and has made more than a dozen trips to Ukraine since the full-scale invasion – for his memories of how Vladimir Putin built a system of ever greater repression and violence.</p><br><p><strong>Contributors:</strong></p><p>Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.</p><p>Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.</p><p>With thanks to Marc Bennetts – foreign correspondent at <em>The Times</em> of London. </p><br><p><strong>NOW IN FULL VIDEO WITH MAPS &amp; BATTLEFIELD FOOTAGE:</strong></p><p>Every episode is now available on our YouTube channel shortly after the release of the audio version. You will find it here: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@UkraineTheLatest" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/@UkraineTheLatest</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><br><p><strong>CONTENT REFERENCED:</strong></p><p>Marc Bennetts’ book, ‘The Descent: Witnessing Russia's Spiral into Madness Under Putin’:</p><p><a href="https://amzn.eu/d/0euJ6Dc6" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://amzn.eu/d/0euJ6Dc6</a>&nbsp;</p><br><p>Pro-Russian fighter pilot wins crushing victory in Bulgaria election (The Telegraph):</p><p><a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/04/20/rumen-radev-bulgaria-election-win-pro-russia-progressive" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/04/20/rumen-radev-bulgaria-election-win-pro-russia-progressive</a>&nbsp;</p><br><p>Moscow-born gunman kills six in Kyiv supermarket ‘terror attack’ (The Telegraph):</p><p><a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/04/18/moscow-born-gunman-shoots-five-people-dead-in-kyiv-attack/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/04/18/moscow-born-gunman-shoots-five-people-dead-in-kyiv-attack/</a>&nbsp;</p><br><p>BBC’s Steve Rosenberg: I’m walking a tightrope in Russia. It could all end tomorrow (The Telegraph):</p><p><a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/04/20/steve-rosenberg-on-putins-russia/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/04/20/steve-rosenberg-on-putins-russia/</a></p><br><p><strong>EMAIL US:</strong></p><p>Contact the team on <a href="mailto:[email protected]" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">[email protected]</a> . We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many on air and in our newsletter as possible.</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>