Spy chief Budanov named as new Head of Zelensky’s Office as Russia falls for assassination ploy

Spy chief Budanov named as new Head of Zelensky’s Office as Russia falls for assassination ploy

Day 1,408.

At the start of the fifth calendar year of the full scale invasion, attacks across Ukraine saw the beginning of 2026 marked with yet more death, injury and destruction across Ukraine. It has also seen General Budanov named as Andrii Yermak’s replacement, a remarkable double-cross operation by Budanov’s military intelligence department and a rebuttal by the CIA into claims by Moscow earlier this week that Ukraine tried to attack Putin directly. We report how Australian tanks have been in action around Pokrovsk, Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov has been rushed to hospital and Finnish authorities have boarded and seized a Russian vessel in the Baltic. Plus, we have an interview with a journalist looking at Colombian fighters who have joined Ukraine’s foreign legion.


Contributors

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjz on X.

With thanks to Natalie Gallon (Journalist). @natalielgallon on Insta.


SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:

http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter

Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It’s free for everyone, including non-subscribers.


CONTENT REFERENCED:

Colombian soldiers fighting for Ukraine, WLRN

https://www.wlrn.org/americas/2025-10-28/ukraine-russia-war-colombia-soldiers


A Colombian amputee soccer player’s new battle in Ukraine, WLRN

https://www.wlrn.org/americas/2025-10-29/ukraine-russia-war-colombian-soldiers-soccer-amputee


Frontline report: Australian Abrams tanks enter combat at Pokrovsk, bolstering Ukrainian counterattacks

https://euromaidanpress.com/2026/01/01/frontline-report-2025-12-31/


LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST IN NEW LANGUAGES:

The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them. Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatest


Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episoder(1083)

US hails ‘big milestone’ in Paris as Trump envoy promises BlackRock key to ‘future of Ukraine’

US hails ‘big milestone’ in Paris as Trump envoy promises BlackRock key to ‘future of Ukraine’

Day 1,413. Today, we report on the details of the latest Coalition of the Willing summit in Paris, asking how significant was the strong US presence and input. We get an update from Francis in Hungary...

7 Jan 52min

Zelensky seeks ‘binding commitments’ from Coalition of the Willing & US in first 2026 peace summit

Zelensky seeks ‘binding commitments’ from Coalition of the Willing & US in first 2026 peace summit

Day 1,412. Today, as military and political chiefs from the Coalition of the Willing meet in Paris, President Zelensky continues to reshuffle his top team, including the replacement of the man behind ...

6 Jan 48min

Orban: Venezuela ‘good news’  for Hungary & Putin ‘fears’ condemning US action

Orban: Venezuela ‘good news’ for Hungary & Putin ‘fears’ condemning US action

Day 1,411. Today, as the world reacts to America’s operation in Venezuela over the weekend, we explore Moscow’s notably muted response - a silence that hints at the tension inside the Kremlin between ...

5 Jan 47min

SPECIAL: 'Theatre Under Fire' - fighting for the artistic soul of frontline Kharkiv

SPECIAL: 'Theatre Under Fire' - fighting for the artistic soul of frontline Kharkiv

Today, in a special pre-recorded episode, we take you back to Kharkiv, where Francis and Adélie met a young theatre company called Ocheret. Proud heirs to a city with a long tradition of artists defen...

31 Des 202536min

'Another round of lies' warns Zelensky as Russia provides no evidence of drone attack on Putin

'Another round of lies' warns Zelensky as Russia provides no evidence of drone attack on Putin

Day 1,405. Today, as the Kremlin tries to divert attention from President Zelensky’s seemingly successful meeting with Donald Trump in Florida with un-evidenced claims of an attempt on Putin’s life, w...

30 Des 202543min

Trump 15-year security guarantee not enough to keep Russia away, says Zelensky after Mar-a-Lago talks

Trump 15-year security guarantee not enough to keep Russia away, says Zelensky after Mar-a-Lago talks

Day 1,404. Today, President Volodymyr Zelensky appears to have secured a 15-year American security guarantee from President Donald Trump after their meeting in Mar-a-Lago. But questions remain over th...

29 Des 202550min

US to take Zelensky’s peace plan to Russia & From Trenches to Trailblazers - Ukraine’s Art Revolution

US to take Zelensky’s peace plan to Russia & From Trenches to Trailblazers - Ukraine’s Art Revolution

Day 1,399. Today, President Zelensky has revealed details of the proposed peace plan worked out between US and Ukraine delegations last weekend in Miami, that is due to be put to Russia later today. P...

24 Des 20251h 2min

Populært innen Politikk og nyheter

aftenpodden
giver-og-gjengen-vg
lydartikler-fra-aftenposten
forklart
aftenpodden-usa
i-retten
stopp-verden
popradet
det-store-bildet
rss-gukild-johaug
nokon-ma-ga
fotballpodden-2
rss-ness
dine-penger-pengeradet
hanna-de-heldige
e24-podden
aftenbla-bla
rss-dannet-uten-piano
frokostshowet-pa-p5
rss-penger-polser-og-politikk