Day 1,627.
Today, after a weekend that may have seen a record number of drones launched across Ukraine and Russia, we examine what it is actually like to endure a ballistic missile attack – and how different that experience is from a drone barrage. Then, as Kyiv and other cities come under constant bombardment from weapons Ukrainian air defences cannot reliably intercept, we assess the arguments made by some that Ukraine’s increasingly ambitious strikes inside Russia could give Vladimir Putin the pretext he needs to mobilise hundreds of thousands more men. We also answer your questions about what Kyiv can realistically do to solve its missile crisis, revealing why President Donald Trump appears to have reversed course over giving Ukraine the blueprints needed to manufacture Patriot missiles.
Contributors:
Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.
Antonia Langford (Freelance Journalist in Kyiv). @Antonialford on X.
With thanks to RAND engineer Michael Bohnert. @mbohnert on X.
Producer: Rachel Porter
Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett
Video Producer: Sophie O’Sullivan
Social Producer: Tom Steed
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:
Our Community Page can be found on our YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@UkraineTheLatest
Interview with Francis on ‘History in the Making’ Podcast:
Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-war-beyond-the-headlines-a-chat/id1752915858?i=1000780259657
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/episode/1cOPsUP2JrZZOm8WxHFNao?si=L8UjqLVRRqGLxt6DIWrrSQ&utm_source=copy-link&nd=1&dlsi=1b28971d7531463e
Ukraine: The Latest interview with WHO’s Dr Jarno Habicht: https://youtu.be/1Ujqi91joMU?si=7j0bfvysNICRjwE1&t=1282v
Russia bombs Odesa’s city centre (The Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/08/09/russia-bombs-odesas-historic-city-centre/
Zwei Drohnen über Militärstützpunkt in der Eifel gesichtet (Die Zeit, in German)
https://www.zeit.de/politik/deutschland/2026-08/drohnen-mechernich-militaerstuetzpunkt-bundeswehr-nrw
Germany’s gas gamble puts Europe’s winter at risk (Politico)
https://www.politico.eu/article/germany-gas-reserve-low-europe-winter-energy/
Kosovan police load up with weapons on the Serbian border as tensions rise (Danielle Sheridan for The Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/04/09/kosovan-police-weapons-serbia-border-tensions/
Paranoid Putin bans his fake opposition (Antonia Langford for The Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/08/08/paranoid-putin-cracks-down-opposition/
Russia turns Ukraine’s fallen soldiers into propaganda (Antonia Langford for The Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/08/06/russia-turns-ukraines-fallen-soldiers-into-propaganda/
‘Ukrainian’ drone explodes near European gas pipeline (Antonia Langford for The Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/08/08/ukrainian-drone-explodes-european-gas-pipeline-bulgaria/
Ukraine’s audacious attacks may just play into Putin’s hands (The Times)
https://www.thetimes.com/world/russia-ukraine-war/article/ukraine-russia-war-putin-escalation-npp285zgv
Ukraine’s Short-Lived Comeback (The Atlantic)
https://www.theatlantic.com/national-security/2026/08/ukraine-war-zelensky-trump/688203/
Spy cameras on Navy drones secretly sent data to China (The Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/08/09/spy-cameras-on-navy-drones-secretly-sent-data-to-china/
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.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Revealed: Why Trump u-turned on Patriot missiles for Ukraine
- Kyiv fires 600+ drones in a single night
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