logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2022
32m 18s

The fugitive

BBC News
About this episode

Ukraine says it has arrested one of President Putin’s allies and is interested in a prisoner swap. Viktor Medvedchuk had been under house arrest in Kyiv but escaped when the Russian invasion began. James Landale joins Victoria to discuss whether a swap is likely.

There's also an update from Hussain who fled from Kherson. He’s been helping other people escape from the same city - we speak to one of them. And a Belgian doctor explains how he helped transport 80 orphans across Ukraine to a safer place.

Today's episode was made by Phil Marzouk and Chris Flynn. The technical director was Emma Crowe. The assistant editors were Alison Gee and Sam Bonham.

Up next
Jul 10
Q&A: Trump turns on Putin, Ukrainian infighting, and Turkey's diplomatic tightrope
Is Donald Trump changing his rhetoric on Ukraine? Has he directed allies in Congress to accelerate a new sanctions package targeting Russia? And could infighting among high-ranking Ukrainian officials prove to be a damaging distraction in their country’s war effort?Lucy and Vital ... Show More
25m 5s
Jul 8
Surviving Russia’s record drone attacks
On Friday, Ukraine’s air force said Russia had launched a record 539 drones and 11 missiles in overnight airstrikes. Kyiv was at the epicentre of the attack, with every district in the capital targeted. We’ve been speaking with two residents of the city, about their experiences - ... Show More
20m 43s
Jul 3
Q&A: Suspended US weapons, Macron-Putin call and Russian opposition
After the US paused the delivery of some weapons to Ukraine pledged under the Biden administration, how soon will the impact be felt on the front line? As Russia claims full control of Luhansk, what is life like for Ukrainians living in occupied territories? And is Ukraine united ... Show More
24m 39s
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2022
Ukrainecast: The Battle for Kyiv
Ukraine government gives out guns as Russian forces approach... Victoria, Gabriel and Vitaliy talk through how the conflict has unfolded. Olga Malchevska, from the BBC Ukrainian Service in London, tells of how her family home was targeted, and Newsnight’s diplomatic editor Mark U ... Show More
34m 34s
Feb 2022
Ukrainecast: What is Putin thinking?
As fighting continues in Ukraine, Victoria Derbyshire and Gabriel Gatehouse look at how the crisis is being reflected in Russia. They’re joined by Angus Roxburgh, who spent three years as a consultant to the Kremlin, to discuss whether the people closest to Putin will stay loyal ... Show More
44m 29s
Oct 2022
Strikes Across Ukraine
Russian missiles hit Ukrainian cities as Putin threatens "harsh" action.We get the latest on Monday’s deadly blasts with the BBC’s International Editor, Jeremy Bowen, and Ukrainecast host, Vitaliy Shevchenko. They discuss President Putin’s motivation, the risk of further "escalat ... Show More
32m 28s
Feb 2022
Ukrainecast
Russian forces launch a full-scale assault and 100,000 people try to flee... This episode is a special Ukrainecast hosted by BBC's Victoria Derbyshire and Newsnight's Gabriel Gatehouse, alongside Vitaliy Shevchenko, the Russia editor at BBC Monitoring. Today's podcast was produce ... Show More
37m 46s
Jan 2023
Tanksgiving
Is the West’s supply of tanks to Ukraine a game-changer?Adam is joined by Ukrainecast’s Vitaly Shevchenko and BBC Europe editor Katya Adler to discuss whether the delivery of battle tanks from Washington and Berlin to Kyiv will make any kind of difference in the war against Russi ... Show More
29m 39s
Sep 2022
Major prisoner swap welcomed by Ukraine
Ukrainians have been celebrating the largest prisoner exchange with Russia since the war started. More than 200 Ukrainian captives have been released, in exchange for 55 Russians and a pro-Russian Ukrainian politician, Viktor Medvedchuk. We'll hear from the sister of one of the f ... Show More
48m 56s
Jun 2022
G7-Force
World leaders meeting in Bavaria promise to support Ukraine for “as long as it takes”. Adam chats to Chris, who's interviewed the PM there, and Vicki, back in Westminster, about what’s been discussed so far.Meanwhile, there has been a deadly airstrike on a crowded shopping centre ... Show More
32m 47s
May 2023
Coronation Beat
What do we know about the law behind the Coronation arrests?Adam is joined by home editor Mark Easton and former chief constable of Northumbria Police Sue Sim to discuss what the arrest of six anti-monarchy protesters means for the police going forward.Russia editor Steve Rosenbe ... Show More
32m 26s
Feb 2022
"Full tonto"
The UK Defence Secretary says Putin has made a mistake... Simon Smith, former British Ambassador to Ukraine (when Russia annexed Crimea and Russian-backed rebels took over parts of the Donbas region), and the BBC’s Carrie Davies in Rostov-on-Don (near the Ukrainian border) join A ... Show More
28m 32s