Day 1,516.

Today, as President Zelensky warns of increased Russian military activity in neighbouring Belarus, we discuss weekend Ukrainian air raids targeting oil refineries around Moscow. We then examine a shock election result that has brought another pro-Russia leader to power within both the EU and NATO, following in the footsteps of Hungary’s Viktor Orbán. And later, we speak to a veteran foreign correspondent who spent 25 years in Russia – and has made more than a dozen trips to Ukraine since the full-scale invasion – for his memories of how Vladimir Putin built a system of ever greater repression and violence.

Contributors:

Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.

With thanks to Marc Bennetts – foreign correspondent at The Times of London.

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:

Marc Bennetts’ book, ‘The Descent: Witnessing Russia's Spiral into Madness Under Putin’:

https://amzn.eu/d/0euJ6Dc6

Pro-Russian fighter pilot wins crushing victory in Bulgaria election (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/04/20/rumen-radev-bulgaria-election-win-pro-russia-progressive

Moscow-born gunman kills six in Kyiv supermarket ‘terror attack’ (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/04/18/moscow-born-gunman-shoots-five-people-dead-in-kyiv-attack/

BBC’s Steve Rosenberg: I’m walking a tightrope in Russia. It could all end tomorrow (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/04/20/steve-rosenberg-on-putins-russia/

EMAIL US:

Contact the team on ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk . We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many on air and in our newsletter as possible.

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Massive ‘volcanic’ refinery blaze erupts again ‘only hours’ after being put out & witnessing Russia's 'spiral into madness' under Putin

Ukraine: The Latest

Massive ‘volcanic’ refinery blaze erupts again ‘only hours’ after being put out & witnessing Russia's 'spiral into madness' under Putin