Missile barrage slams Ukraine & Putin bans recruitment of foreign soldiers to placate allies

Day 1,463.

Today, after a mass Russian aerial bombardment struck multiple regions across Ukraine, we report from Kyiv and eastern Ukraine on what it was like on the ground during the latest wave of drone and missile attacks. We then hear about Dom’s visit to a Ukrainian HUR military intelligence base in Zaporizhzhia, and examine reports that Vladimir Putin has been forced to curb the recruitment of foreign fighters to avoid diplomatic fallout with key allies. We also discuss the battlefield “kill ratio” that could undermine Russia’s war effort, and new air defence systems being developed that claim the capability to intercept nuclear missiles.

Contributors

Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest).

Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest).

Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Host on Ukraine: The Latest).

Rozina Sabur (National Security Editor, The Telegraph).

Svitlana Morenets (Ukrainian Journalist).

NOW AVAILABLE IN 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://youtu.be/a5R4_917y_Q?si=Pj95IZlEuSQ5y_qf

CONTENT REFERENCED:

How Ukraine turned hobby drones into precision killing machines (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/02/26/ukraine-fpv-drones-evolution-precision-killing-machines/ 

Russia’s air defences could shoot down Britain’s nuclear missiles (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/02/26/russia-air-defences-could-shoot-down-britain-missiles/ 

First Ukrainian drone factory opens in Britain (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/02/26/first-ukrainian-drone-factory-opens-in-britain/ 

The kill ratio that can sink Putin’s war (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/02/24/the-kill-ratio-that-can-sink-putin-war/ 

Putin bans recruitment of foreign soldiers to placate African allies (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/02/25/putin-bans-foreign-soldiers-to-placate-african-allies/ 

Allies bow to Putin over Ukraine peace troops (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/02/24/allies-bow-to-putin-over-ukraine-peace-troops/

WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:

Our weekly newsletter includes maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons, answers your questions, provides recommended reading, and gives exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights.. It’s free for everyone, including non-subscribers. Join here – http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter 

EMAIL US:

Contact the team on [email protected] . We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many on air and in our newsletter as possible.

Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: [email protected]

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