Day 1,586.
Today, as Vladimir Putin continues to make grossly exaggerated claims about Russia’s gains on the battlefield, we assess the latest military progress of both sides, before looking at the long-delayed and controversial defence investment plan finally announced by the British. More money for drones, autonomous systems, and artificial intelligence: but does it go far enough, and how close is London to hitting the 5% NATO target demanded by President Donald Trump? Then we hear what the citizens of Kyiv think about Ukraine being on the pathway to membership of the European Union, and report on a manhunt underway in southern France after a parcel bomb exploded at a residential building in neighbouring Monaco, injuring wealthy Ukrainian businessman Vadym Yermolaiev.
Contributors:
Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.
Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.
James Crisp (Telegraph’s Europe Editor). @JamesCrisp6 on X.
Antonia Langford (Freelance Journalist in Kyiv). @Antonialford on X
Producer: Phil Atkins
Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett
Video Producer: Sophie O’Sullivan
Social Producer: Gabby Colvin
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:
Listen to our sister podcast Iran: The Latest:
Video: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dk
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/iran-the-latest/id1712903296
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7gPBO0qnZI1YBi25zaVT1c
The battle to bring Europe’s biggest military into the EU (James Crisp, Antonia Langford and Joe Barnes for The Telegraph)
Ukrainian tycoon injured in Monaco bombing (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/06/29/monaco-house-explosion-three-injured/
Meduza has identified over a thousand war veterans who have already received positions within the Russian government (Meduza, in Russian):
https://meduza.io/feature/2026/06/29/novaya-rossiyskaya-elita
EMAIL US:
Contact the team on ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many as possible.
Thumbnail image credit: Defense Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU)
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