Day 994. Today, we look at renewed Russian efforts to retake Kursk before Trump returns to the White House, consider the evidence Europe is responding to the threat of an American withdrawal, and assess potential new appointments in for the new government Washington. Then, later, we hear the euphoric memories of a Ukrainian officer who served in the historic Kharkiv counteroffensive. Contributors: Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X. Dominic Nicholls (Associate...

Day 993. Today, after a weekend in which Ukrainian forces launched their largest ever drone attack on Moscow, and Russian losses in Ukraine reached a record daily high, we reflect on the Prague Defence Conference, with discussions centred heavily on President-elect Donald Trump. Contributors: Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X. Venetia Rainey (Co-host Battle Lines podcast). @venetiarainey on X. With thanks to Admiral Rob Bauer (Chair of the Military Committee...

Day 990. Today, we consider the Trump peace plan reportedly being mooted by his staffers, hear live from another vital summit of European leaders, and discuss a ‘shopping list’ of weapons and permissions Western leaders could action over the next two months to support Ukraine. Later, following the missile damage to Kharkiv’s iconic Derzhprom building, we do a deeper dive into the impact of this war on Ukrainian heritage and architecture. Contributors: Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment...

Day 989. Today, as the White House seeks to send Ukraine as much as it can before Trump’s inauguration, we discuss the potential appointments the president-elect might make, and – later – hear about the mood near the frontlines to the political earthquake. Contributors: Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X. Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X. Jonah Goldberg (Editor-in-Chief, The Dispatch). @JonahDispatch on X. Adrian Simpson (of...

Day 988. Today, as Ukraine hits a Russian naval base on the Caspian Sea and North Korean troops enter combat for the first time, we examine the fallout from the US presidential election and ask: is Donald Trump the best thing that’s ever happened to NATO? Contributors: Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X. Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X. Adam Kinzinger (Former Republican Congressman, now senior political commentator at CNN)...

Day 987. Today, as Ukraine, and the world, waits with bated breath for the results of the US presidential election, we look at the situation on the battlefield as Moscow seeks to strengthen its foothold, and hear more about how ordinary Russians view the war. Contributors: Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X. Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X. James Kilner (Moscow Desk). @jkjourno on X. Content referenced: 'To Avoid Another...

Day 986. Today, as Moldova resists alleged Russian meddling in Sunday's presidential vote, we report on how Russia is arming drones with thermobaric 'lung-busting' warheads, according to a leading Forensic Research Institute. Contributors: Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X. Roland Oliphant (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @RolandOliphant on X. Content Referenced: Russia Deploys Deadly New Weapon in Drone Race With Ukraine...

Day 983. Today, we discuss the North Korean general sent to lead troops in Ukraine, hear the latest from Georgia, and consider the impact of the First World War on Putin’s worldview, and how the treaty that ended the battles of the Eastern Front serves as a warning for today. Contributors: Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X. Venetia Rainey (Co-host Battle Lines podcast). @venetiarainey on X. Marika Mikiashvili (Analyst and Lecturer). @Mikiashvili_M on X. Dr...

Day 982. Today, further to updates on the front and in the political realms, we are joined by Danylo Mokryk, a war crime reporter, and Evan Williams, a multi-award winning producer and director, about their recent documentaries on the subject of war crimes. A warning: today's episode features graphic descriptions. Contributors: Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X. Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X. Danylo Mokryk (Investigative...

Day 981. Today, as Ukraine announces a mobilisation drive to get another 160 thousand people into uniform we report how Russia is continuing to use chemical substances on the frontline, and we hear live from a cyber security expert in Kyiv about how the unseen war online is progressing. Contributors: Dom Nichols (Associate Editor). @DomNicholls on X. Daryna Antoniuk. @daryna_antoniuk on X. Hamish de Bretton Gordon @HamishDBG on X. Subscribe to The...

Day 980. Today, we assess reports of Russian progress in Donetsk, hear live from Tbilisi as protestors crowd the streets following the weekend’s contested election, and hear from our correspondent who was on the ground at the BRICS summit in Russia. Contributors: Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X. James Rothwell (Berlin Correspondent). @JamesERothwell on X. James Kilner (Moscow Desk). @jkjourno on X. Nate Ostiller (Editor at OC Media). @NateOstiller on...

Day 979. Today, further to the latest military developments, we do a deep dive into the election in Georgia over the weekend, and what the result there means not only for the future of democracy in that country, but the potential ramifications for the West as a whole. Contributors: Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X. Roland Oliphant (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @RolandOliphant on X. With thanks to Kateryna Shenheliia-Hanapolska (The Moscow Times)....

Day 976. Today, as Putin admits Russia is working with North Korea, we look at several investigations into Moscow’s interactions with terrorist groups, and consider the former Ukrainian prisoners released to fight on the front lines. Contributors: Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X. Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X. Francis Farrell (Report, The Kyiv Independent). @francisjfarrell on X. Content Referenced: Elon Musk’s Secret...

Day 975. Today, as Russia shifts its battlefield priority in the Donbas, we hear how Putin has proclaimed the start of a new “world order” as his allies rushed to sign up to a Kremlin-led economic club at a summit in Russia. Contributors: Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X. Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X. Roland Oliphant (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @RolandOliphant on X. Yuriy Boyechko, CEO and Founder of the humanitarian...

Day 974. Today, we offer a broad strategic overview of the military situation, consider the new defence pact between Britain and Germany, and return to the BRICS summit in Russia, where the UN Secretary General arrives amid a storm of criticism. Contributors: Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X. Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X. Roland Oliphant (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @RolandOliphant on X. Articles Referenced: Ukraine...

Day 973. Today, as Putin gathers world leaders in Russia, we ask why the UN General Secretary is on the guest list, and – further to the battlefield updates – consider the implications of artificial intelligence being used in the next generation of drones. Contributors: Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X. Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X. Hamish de Bretton-Gordon (Chemical Weapons Expert and Former Tank Commander). @HamishDBG on...

Day 972. Today, as another Russian oligarch dies in mysterious circumstances after falling from a window, we analyse quite how good the North Korean soldiers apparently on their way to Ukraine actually are. Contributors: Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X. James Rothwell (Berlin Correspondent). @JamesERothwell on X. With thanks to Kateryna Shenheliia-Hanapolska (Freelance journalist). @eshenheliia on X. Students can subscribe to our coverage for free: We’re...

Day 969. Today, as President Zelensky leaves EU leaders with his call for more urgent action, we speak to a former British Defence Secretary about the impact of having North Korean soldiers fighting in Europe.  Contributors: Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X. Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X. With thanks to former Secretary of State for Defence Sir Liam Fox. @LiamFox on X. Content Referenced: Don’t believe Putin’s lies: Ukraine...

Day 968. Today, as President Zelensky takes his five-point victory plan to the European Council in Brussels, we assess comments by his former head of the armed forces, now ambassador to London, Valery Zaluzhny, and get an update on how Ukrainian children are studying in ‘bunker schools’.  Contributors: Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X. Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X. Gabriella Jozwiak (Freelance Journalist). @GabriellaJ on...

Day 967. Today, as Zelensky finally announces his ‘victory plan’ to Parliament, we assess fast-moving military developments as Ukraine faces pressure on multiple fronts, and sit down with a 29-year-old commander of a frontline attack drone unit. Contributors: Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X. Roland Oliphant (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @RolandOliphant on X. With thanks to Lt. Yulia Mykytenko and Lara Marlowe. Learn More About Yulia's Unit, the 'Hellish...

Day 966. Today, we report on the destruction being wrought amid intense fighting in Donetsk, consider new indications of what is in Zelensky’s “victory plan”, and hear a sobering assessment of the current situation on the battlefield. Contributors: Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X. Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X. Francis Farrell (Reporter at The Kyiv Independent). @francisjfarrell on X. Content Referenced: I set fire to my...

Day 965. Today, we report on Volodymyr Zelensky's claim that North Korea is sending troops, as well as weapons, to Russia. Fierce fighting continues in Toresk as Ukraine seeks to contain Russia's attacks in Donbas. And Vladimir Putin woos Iran's Masoud Pezeshkian as Moscow and Tehran tighten their alliance.  Contributors: Roland Oliphant (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @RolandOliphant on X. James Kilner (Foreign Correspondent). @jkjourno on X. James Rothwell (Berlin Correspondent)....

Day 962. Today, further the latest military and political updates, we hear from a colleague of Ukrainian journalist Viktoria Roshchyna, who has reportedly died in Russian captivity, and from representatives of the British Council to discuss the work of their organisation on the ground in Ukraine. Contributors: Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X. Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor, Defence). @DomNicholls on X. With thanks to British Council CEO Scott McDonald...

Day 961. Today, we report accounts of house-to-house fighting in Donetsk, discuss Zelensky’s impromptu tour of key European capitals, and hear extraordinarily candid reflections from Washington’s most senior man in Moscow at the time of the full-scale invasion. Contributors: Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X. James Rothwell (Berlin Correspondant). @JamesERothwell on X. With special guest John J Sullivan (United States Ambassador to Russia, 2020 -...