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 -...

Day 960. Today, we look at why Kamala Harris isn't talking about Ukraine, and hear from a missile-technology expert about what Russia's recent failed (and very expensive) missile test might mean for arms control and strategic ability. Contributors: Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor, Defence). @DomNicholls on X. Tony Diver (US Editor). @TonyDiver on X. Tim Wright (Research Analyst and Programme Administrator for Defence and Military Analysis at the IISS). @Wright_T_J on X. Students can...

Day 959. Today, we report on chaotic fighting in the Donbas town of Torestsk as Russia continues its grinding offensive there, Vladimir Putin announces a surprise summit with Iran’s president Masoud Pezeshkian in a move that could further enmesh the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, and hear from Oslo about why the Norwegian government is cutting aid to Ukraine despite fears Russia may Test Nato in the Arctic. Contributors: Roland Oliphant (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @RolandOliphant on...

Day 958. Today, after yet more long-range Ukrainian strikes against Russian targets, we hear that as executions of Ukrainian prisoners of war by Russian troops have allegedly surged this year, as a top Kyiv official warns it could indicate a shift in Moscow’s policy. Contributors: Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor, Defence). @DomNicholls on X. RolandOliphant (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @RolandOliphant on X. With thanks to Liz Cookman (Ukraine Correspondent). @liz_cookman on X. Articles...

In today's special episode David Knowles speaks to historian, author and podcaster James Holland (@James1940 on X) about the Eastern Front in the Second World War. This was recorded and edited by David shortly before his sudden passing. The Second World War was catastrophic for Ukraine: millions died in the fighting and occupations, the battles that crossed the country were brutal and grinding, the country’s Jews were exterminated in the ‘Holocaust of bullets’, and the eventual Soviet victory...

Day 955. Today, we discuss the Pentagon’s verbal contortions as it explains where and when the US will shoot down Iranian missiles - plot spoiler: Israel now, Ukraine never - and speak to the author of a new book explaining how the Russian Orthodox Church became a vital force in Putin’s existential war against Ukraine. Contributors: Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor, Defence). @DomNicholls on X. Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X. RolandOliphant (Senior...

Day 954. Today, in a special episode, we discuss battlefield updates, hear from our correspondent in Washington on America's developing attitudes to Ukraine, and remember David Knowles on the day of his funeral with speeches and readings from his family and colleagues. Contributors: Gareth Corfield (Transport Correspondent). @GazTheJourno on X. Joe Barnes (Brussels Correspondent). @Barnes_Joe on X. With words and readings from Dominic Nicholls, Francis Dearnley and David's father Peter...

Day 953. Today, as Kyiv denies they'll make any territorial compromises in the search for peace, we hear the story from Georgia where upcoming elections could well point the country in an orbit away from Russia. Contributors: Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor, Defence). @DomNicholls on X. Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X. Kateryna Shenheliia-Hanapolska (Freelance Journalist). @eshenheliia on X. Hamish de Bretton Gordon (Former Tank Commander). @HamishDBG on...

Day 952. Today, we consider the precarious situation in the Ukrainian city of Kherson, hear the latest on the political tribulations in Europe and beyond, and reflect on calls for Ukraine to have its own national cemetery. Contributors: Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X. Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor, Defence). @DomNicholls on X. James Crisp (Europe Editor). @JamesCrisp6 on X. Steam Link for David's Funeral: His funeral will be live streamed here at 11.15...

Day 951 Today, we report how the latest Ukrainian strikes inside Russia can be seen from space and discuss a bipartisan congressional paper that says the US should fundamentally revisit the post-Cold War status quo in its relations with Russia. Contributors: Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X. Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor, Defence). @DomNicholls on X. With thanks to former British Defence Attaché to Russia and Ukraine, John Foreman CBE. @John_ForemanCBE...

Day 948. Today, further to updates from the war zone, we look at the new military aid package announced by the US for Kyiv, discuss the upcoming meeting between President Zelensky and Donald Trump, and review Russian rockets and the battle for space with a former commander of the International Space Station. Contributors: Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X. Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor, Defence). @DomNicholls on X. With thanks to Terry Virts, former US...

Day 947. Today, following the usual military and political updates in this major week, we talk to two of the most high profile analysts of the war about their new report into how rectifying systematic failures in Western analysis and intelligence is vital for preventing future conflict. Contributors: Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X. Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor, Defence). @DomNicholls on X. Roland Oliphant (Senior Foreign Correspondent)....

Day 946. Today we hear how the Ukrainian city of Vuhledar is now at great risk of becoming encircled and discuss whether the increasingly fiery exchanges in the United Nations will have any impact. Contributors: Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor, Defence). @DomNicholls on X. Roland Oliphant (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @RolandOliphant on X. Content Referenced: Brand new luxury British and European cars are entering Russia despite being banned - here's how (Sky...

Day 945. Today, military and political battlefields align as President Zelensky fights to persuade world leaders to support Kyiv further while his country faces new bombardments, and – later in the episode – the team share memories of their time in the military talking to veterans of the Second World War, and reflect on what it will mean for soldiers, and Western culture, for that generation to disappear. Contributors: Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on...

Day 944 Today, as he heads to Washington, we look at President Zelensky’s 4-point peace plan and hear from Berlin as Chancellor Scholz survives an electoral challenge from left and right. Contributors: Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor, Defence). @DomNicholls on X. Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X. Roland Oliphant (Senior Foreign Reporter). @RolandOliphant on X. James Rothwell (Berlin Correspondent). @JamesERothwell on X. Articles Referenced: David Knowles:...

Day 941 Today, we look at the latest developments on the frontline; Russian opposition leader Vladimir Kara Murza insists a democratic Russia is possible - as long as the West helps Ukraine win the war; and a leading financial journalist takes us inside the Economic war, the West’s sanctions on Russia, and the Kremlin’s attempts to outfox them. Contributors: Roland Oliphant (Senior Foreign Reporter). @RolandOliphant on X. Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor, Defence). @DomNicholls on...

Day 940: Today, we assess the latest military manoeuvres in Kursk, look at how Indian munitions are finding their way into Ukraine, and consider the latest in Ukrainian politics and culture. Contributors: Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor, Defence). @DomNicholls on X. Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X. Svitlana Morenets (Ukrainian journalist, The Spectator) @SvMorenets on X. Articles Referenced: Ammunition from India enters Ukraine, raising Russian ire...

Day 939. Today, we discuss an enormous explosion as Kyiv strikes a Russian military depot, hear about Moscow’s hybrid war in the Arctic, and receive an update on the state of the Kursk operation and the munitions race. Contributors: Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X. Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor, Defence). @DomNicholls on X. Michael Bohnert (Engineer at RAND Corporation). @mbohnert on X. Articles Referenced: 'Putin is becoming entangled in his own...