Have we just seen another ‘grey zone’ incursion by Russia in Europe?
Today, a train in Siberia, said to be carrying ballistic missiles from North Korea, goes up in flames. Then, not to be outdone, a Russian oil terminal near St Petersburg announces it has “completely” shut down following a recent Ukrainian attack. The Starlink spat between Poland and “big man” Elon Musk seems to be cooling and Putin has placed the son of US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr on Russia’s wanted list for fighting in Ukraine. Plus later, we speak to two women brought together by an NGO that helps Ukrainians improve their English – as one of their sons fights on the front line in Ukraine.

Contributors:
Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.
Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.
Adelie Pojzman-Pontay (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @Adeliepjz on X.

With thanks to ENGin volunteers Jane and Anastasia.

Producer: Rachel Porter
Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett
Video Producer: James England
Social Producer: Anita Blay
Studio Director: Meghan Searle
Executive Editor: Francis Dearnley
Created by David Knowles

Chapters
00:00:00 - Episode Intro & News Headlines
00:01:06 - North Korean Missiles Destroyed on Trans-Siberian Railway
00:02:07 - Ukrainian Drone Strikes Target Russian Energy & Export Hubs
00:02:56 - Russian Strikes Reported in Sumy and Kherson
00:03:17 - Poland & Elon Musk Settle Starlink European Roaming Dispute
00:04:55 - Poland Arrests Russian Operative Over Assassination Plot
00:05:34 - European Security Alerts & "Grey Zone" Sabotage Threats
00:10:02 - Russia Rejects Ukraine's Proposal for Black Sea Maritime Halt
00:13:36 - Fake Elections & Mass Ukrainian Property Seizures in Occupied Regions
00:16:42 - Defected Submarine Commander Killed in Sevastopol Bombing
00:18:36 - Repatriation of Fallen Soldiers & Booby-Trap Safety Checks
00:20:05 - Conor Kennedy Added to Russia's Wanted List
00:21:14 - Canada Appoints Sanctions Chief as New Envoy to Moscow
00:22:41 - Zelensky Visits Wounded Veterans in Ivano-Frankivsk
00:23:50 - Interview: Volunteers Connecting Ukrainians with English Speakers via ENGIn
00:42:09 - Partial Solar Eclipse Viewed Across Western Ukraine
00:43:46 - Viewing the Milky Way: Unintended Stargazing During City Blackouts
00:44:25 - Final Thoughts

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: @ukrainethelatest  

CONTENT REFERENCED:

If you’re interested in sponsoring Dom’s upcoming defence event, email our colleagues at events@telegraph.co.uk

Kremlin hired assassin to murder American on Polish soil, says Tusk (The Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-new...  

Blast at Rotterdam port energy facility kills one person (Reuters)
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/...

Putin flexes Moscow’s muscles in the Far East (The Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-new...

US armoured brigade pummelled by Ukraine’s drones in wargame (The Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2...

Pictured: ‘Russian escort’ accused of assassinating Ukrainian defector (The Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-new...

Ukraine offers Russia truce in the Black Sea as food supply fears mount (Reuters)
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/...

Russian Strikes on Dozens of Grain Ships Threaten Global Food Supplies (New York Times)
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/13/wo...

‘We have nowhere to return to’: How Russia is seizing homes in occupied Ukraine (BBC Verify)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/...

Ukraine Receives Bodies of 261 Fallen Soldiers From Russia (Kyiv Post)
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/82292

Learn more about the ENGin program, which helps Ukrainians of all ages improve their English-language conversation via volunteers worldwide:
https://www.enginprogram.org/

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.

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