Zelensky’s ‘revenge’ attacks after three days of huge strikes | Russia-Ukraine war latest news

Overview of Current Situation in Ukraine

Military Strikes and Casualties

• Francis Starling introduces the episode, highlighting over 1,600 drones and missiles fired at Ukraine in two days.

• The discussion includes an exclusive interview with a Russian agent who fled Moscow, emphasizing the ongoing conflict's intensity.

• Dominic Nicholls notes that six days have passed since Putin's May 9th parade, which was facilitated by a ceasefire agreement that has not materialized into significant actions.

• President Zelenskyy reports 24 casualties from a missile attack in Kyiv attributed to a new Russian missile type.

• The failure of the prisoner swap deal is highlighted as Russia continues its aggressive military actions despite diplomatic efforts.

Sanctions and International Response

• Zelenskyy emphasizes the need for partners to prioritize stopping Russia's sanctions evasion schemes after recent missile production capabilities were revealed.

• Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha calls for a UN Security Council meeting to address civilian attacks by Russia following another humanitarian mission attack in Kherson.

• A UN official condemns attacks on humanitarian personnel but fails to identify the attackers, raising concerns about accountability.

Ground Operations and Drone Attacks

• Reports indicate no significant changes in front lines across Ukraine; however, heavy fighting continues around Kupyansk and Donbas regions.

• Ukrainian drone strikes target Russian military infrastructure, causing damage including fires at oil refineries and residential areas in Russia.

• Major Brovda confirms successful strikes against Russian air defense systems and naval assets within occupied territories.

Political Developments in Russia

Leadership Changes

• Putin replaces governors of border oblasts likely as scapegoats for failures related to Ukrainian strikes along the border.

• The replacement of these governors indicates growing dissatisfaction within Russia regarding security measures against Ukraine.

War Crimes Allegations

• New governor Alexander Shuvayev has been linked to war crimes during operations in Ukraine, reflecting Putin’s preference for controversial figures amid ongoing conflicts.

U.S. Military Strategy and Support

American Troop Withdrawals

• Discussion shifts to U.S. troop withdrawals from Europe; Secretary Hegseth announces reductions that surprise Polish officials without prior notice.

Legislative Actions on Support for Ukraine

• The U.S. House is expected to vote on the Ukraine Support Act aimed at reaffirming support through reconstruction measures and expanded sanctions against Russia.

Regional Security Concerns

Latvia's Political Crisis

• An incident involving Ukrainian drones entering Latvian airspace leads to political fallout resulting in Defense Minister’s resignation due to defense capability failures.

NATO Exercises with Serbia

• Serbia conducts joint military exercises with NATO forces, marking a historic shift given past hostilities between them.

Insights from Chatham House Panel

Reconstruction Efforts Amid Conflict

• Experts emphasize that groundwork for reconstruction must begin now rather than waiting until after the war ends.

EU Membership Aspirations

• Discussions reveal that Ukraine considered applying for EU membership early during the war as part of their strategic planning.

Economic Challenges

• A Deputy Minister highlights energy costs as a major challenge facing businesses amidst ongoing conflict conditions.

Future Projections

• A senior Western security official predicts potential culmination points for the war could extend into late 2027 or early 2028 based on current trajectories.

Discussion on British Military Commitment

Enduring Military Presence

• The speaker discusses the potential for Britain to maintain a divisional headquarters and an armored brigade on a rolling six-month commitment, emphasizing the strain this would place on the British Army.

• Maintaining such a commitment would consume significant resources, as one brigade would be deployed while another is recovering or preparing for deployment.

• This ongoing requirement could effectively "fix" the British Army's operational capacity, limiting its flexibility and readiness for other missions.

Long-term Strategic Outlook

• The conversation highlights that there may not be a clear end to current conflicts, likening it to a prolonged situation similar to North Korea and South Korea.

• The implication is that European security issues could persist for decades, necessitating long-term strategic planning.

Building Forces Against Identified Threats

Focused Military Strategy

• A unified approach among European nations regarding Russia as a primary threat could facilitate better military planning and resource allocation.

• Establishing common operating procedures across NATO would allow countries to specialize in different military capabilities like artillery or tank operations.

Avoiding Overextension

• Michael Howard's perspective is referenced: building military forces should avoid trying to predict every possible scenario; instead, they should remain adaptable to emerging threats without overextending resources.

Reflections from Chatham House Event

Diplomatic Anecdote

• The speaker shares a humorous incident at Chatham House involving historical references that nearly caused diplomatic tension with a French official present.

Interview with Former Russian FSB Operative

Introduction of Dmitri Senin

• An interview with Dmitri Senin, a former FSB operative involved in investigations related to Jan Marsalek’s spy ring across Europe, is introduced.

Trust-Building Process

• Gaining Senin's trust took time; he eventually agreed to share his story after multiple attempts by the interviewer.

Insights from Dmitri Senin's Experience

Narrative of Betrayal

• Senin describes himself as loyal to Russia but feels betrayed by those within the FSB who turned against him due to internal politics.

Office Politics in FSB

• He provides insights into office dynamics within Lubyanka, highlighting how power struggles led him into conflict with more powerful figures.

Views on Ukraine War

Critique of Leadership

• Senin expresses strong disapproval of Putin’s actions regarding Ukraine, labeling it an unprofessional war that should never have started.

Internal Dissent

• He claims many within the FSB share his views but feel compelled to follow orders rather than openly dissent against leadership decisions.

Personal Motivations and Historical Context

Motivation Behind Joining FSB

• Reflecting on his decision to join the FSB post-terrorist bombings in Russia, he emphasizes patriotism rather than any ulterior motives driving his career choices.

Corruption Scandal Involvement

Major Public Corruption Case

• Senin was embroiled in one of Russia’s largest corruption scandals involving $140 million linked to high-ranking officials. His involvement was framed negatively by state media despite his claims of innocence.

Escape Plan from Russia

Complex Escape Strategy

• After being tipped off about impending arrest, Senin devised an escape plan involving crossing into Kazakhstan amidst heightened border security due to geopolitical tensions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The Intriguing Escape from a Cow

Timing and Conditions for the Escape

• The escape was timed for September, as it was cool enough in Siberia to avoid detection due to the smell of a dead cow.

• It was dark enough in the evenings for farmers to be out without drawing attention, allowing for a discreet exit.

• The individual did not have to lie on the ground long before it became dark enough to make his move.

Execution of the Plan

• He remained inside the cow's belly for about an hour, waiting for guards and smugglers to lose interest.

• After rolling out of the cow, he crawled several hundred meters through undergrowth on his stomach towards a rendezvous point.

• At this point, he was picked up by a motorcycle driver who had previously been part of the KGB.

Reflections on the Story

• The story is described as extraordinary and memorable; links to further details will be provided in show notes.

• There has been significant engagement from readers in comments, showcasing humor related to steak jokes stemming from his experience.

Political Developments Involving Ben Wallace

Arrest Warrant Issued

• Russia has issued an arrest warrant for Sir Ben Wallace, former UK defense secretary, connected to comments made at a security forum last September.

• His remarks included statements about Putin's ambitions regarding Ukraine and calls for military support against Russian aggression.

Legal Proceedings

• A Russian court sentenced him in absentia and ordered pre-trial detention; this decree became public recently.

• Attempts were made by journalists to get comments from the Russian Embassy regarding this situation but went unanswered.

Establishment of a Special Tribunal

Historical Significance

• Kyiv's Foreign Minister announced that 80 years after Nuremberg, a new tribunal has been established aimed at restoring justice post-war.

• This tribunal is seen as essential for punishing aggression against Ukraine and breaking cycles of historical injustices faced by Ukrainians.

Future Implications

• The establishment of this tribunal is viewed as a significant achievement that could challenge Moscow’s actions over decades.

• Ongoing monitoring of developments surrounding this tribunal will continue as it represents both legal progress and moral accountability.