'500,000 Russians killed,' says UK spy chief & Sweden pledges new fighter jets

Day 1,554.

Today, as a senior intelligence chief cites a considerably higher figure of Russian deaths than has previously been cited, there are a raft of announcements from Ukraine’s allies that will see new fighter jets and Patriot missiles available to Kyiv, as the country suffers a new wave of strikes. Then – in a special dispatch – Francis takes you to Venice for our first film looking at the decision of the La Biannale art festival to permit the reopening of the Russian Pavilion, and exploring the work of Ukrainian artists in wartime.

Contributors:

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

With thanks to the soldiers, artists, and curators at the ‘Still Joy’ exhibition in Venice. Additional thanks to Sophie O’Sullivan for video production, Phil Atkins for audio production and to Tom Steed and Natalia Makohon for dubbing.

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:

Learn more about the PinchukArtCentre’s exhibition ‘Still Joy’ at La Biennale (running until 1st August):

https://pinchukartcentre.org/en/exhibitions/still-joy-from-ukraine-into-the-world-biennale-arte-2026

Britain and Poland to manufacture missile under new military pact (The Telegraph)

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/27/britain-poland-manufacture-missile-under-new-military-pact/

Putin arms Russian banks to combat Ukrainian drone attacks (The Telegraph)

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/05/27/putin-arms-russian-banks-to-combat-ukrainian-drone-attacks/

GCHQ puts AI in charge of stopping cyber attacks (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/05/27/gchq-ai-stopping-cyber-attacks-keast-butler-humans-threat/

Europe should not negotiate Ukraine peace, insists Norway (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/28/europe-should-not-negotiate-ukraine-peace-insists-norway/

Exclusive: How US ambassador's preplanned trip caused a diplomatic scandal in Kyiv and Brussels (Kyiv Independent):

https://kyivindependent.com/exclusive-how-us-ambassadors-preplanned-trip-caused-a-diplomatic-scandal-in-kyiv-and-brussels/

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.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• '500,000 Russians killed in Ukraine,' says UK spy chief
• Sweden pledges new fighter jets in 'historic' deal

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