Putin’s forces suffer 35,000 casualties in March – the highest rate of the war – as 17 killed in Russia’s deadliest attack of 2026

Day 1,512.

Today, as Russian forces suffer more than 35,000 casualties in Ukraine in a single month – the highest rate of the war so far – we report on fresh strikes across Ukraine that have killed at least 17 civilians, including a 12 year old boy. We assess the outcome of the latest Ukraine Defence Contact Group meeting at Ramstein Air Base, and examine the dramatic first moves of Hungary’s new prime minister, who has vowed to shut down state television, describing it as “North Korean-style propaganda”. And later, we bring you the latest from Russia, including reaction in Moscow to the political fall of Viktor Orbán.

Contributors:

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

Adelie Pojzman-Pontay (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @Adeliepjz on X.

James Kilner (Russia Analyst). @Jkjourno on X.

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:

Child among 14 killed in Russian strikes (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/04/16/wave-of-russian-strikes-kills-14-in-ukraine/ 

Ukraine’s drones dent Russia’s war-fuelled oil windfall (Financial Times):

https://www.ft.com/content/d49e288f-b74e-44a8-a2f3-ec87f7cb5c27?syn-25a6b1a6=1 

‘The pope versus the president: how Leo became Trump’s fearless foe’ (Financial Times): 

https://www.ft.com/content/4f67aa87-9210-402d-bfef-b71b294d65cb?syn-25a6b1a6=1

Pope Pius II’s memoirs (Vol. I; Harvard University Press):

https://itatti.harvard.edu/publications/commentaries 

The Border by Erika Fatland: 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57950362-the-border 

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