More than 10,000 Ukrainian civilians have been trained as soldiers by the British army here in the UK. Documentary maker Stacey Dooley shares the stories of one cohort who she followed through their intense five-week course. And 21-year-old Jack Teixeira has been charged over the leak of confidential US intelligence documents. He faces up to 15 years in prison. Russia expert, Prof Mark Galeotti talks us through the latest developments, what it could mean for the war and the shadowy figures vying...
Apr 14, 2023•34 min
Could the leak of secret Pentagon documents affect the course of the war in Ukraine? Defence expert Sam de Bendern gives her analysis of the US national security breach and we hear about another Russian dissident facing 25 years in prison for criticising the war. The BBC Ukraine correspondent James Waterhouse has been in Kharkiv to see the de-mining efforts as so-called butterfly bombs continue to injure civilians. And we have an aural treat in the shape of YouTube project: How Does Ukraine Soun...
Apr 11, 2023•32 min
Elya describes how she took her eight-year-old niece out of Ukraine after a missile hit her home in Kharkiv last year. Elya was just 17 at the time. Now she’s returned to visit her parents and says: “It’s the most times I’ve seen my father cry.” The BBC’s Francis Scarr reports on the assassination of a pro-war blogger in St Petersburg, a defection and suggestions that Ukraine may be willing to negotiate over Crimea. And Ivan Chuvilyaev explains how the group Idite Lesom (Go By the Forest) is hel...
Apr 06, 2023•29 min
LONG: BBC Moscow’s Will Vernon gives Lyse and Vitaly the latest on the murder of a pro-war blogger in St Petersburg and a growing spate of people denouncing family, colleagues and strangers. Vitaly speaks to Tetyana Sokolova, a midwife in a Mariupol maternity hospital that kept the wards open while the city lost water, gas and electricity. And as Finland ends 70 years of official strategic neutrality by joining the Nato military alliance, former Finnish PM, Alexander Stubb says Putin only has hi...
Apr 04, 2023•30 min
The Wall Street Journal has vehemently denied allegations one of its reporters is a spy, after he was detained in Russia. The BBC’s Eastern Europe correspondent Sarah Rainsford, who was herself expelled from Russia as a national security threat, tells us this is a worrying development. Francis Dearnley of the Telegraph’s podcast Ukraine: The Latest, joins Vitaly and Frank to discuss the geopolitics of the Ukraine war and we answer your questions on the ingredients of borscht. Today’s episode is ...
Mar 31, 2023•29 min
After witnessing and reporting on war crimes around the world, Janine di Giovani realised that journalists like her were often among the first people to arrive at the scene of atrocities. So she linked up with fellow journalist, Natalya Gamenyuk, to set up the Reckoning Project. Their aim - to teach reporters how to gather evidence and testimonies that can be used later in court. Irena Taranyuk from the BBC Ukrainian Service answers a listener’s questions about how Ukrainian farmers are coping. ...
Mar 28, 2023•32 min
What would a Ron DeSantis presidency mean for Ukraine? The Republican governor of Florida has been giving mixed messages on Ukraine, and he could one day be president. Justin Webb, host of Americast, tells us why this matters, and Alex Roarty of the Miami Herald tells us who is he and what he stands for. Also, as Ukraine takes on England in the latest round of Euro qualifiers, Andrew Todos, a Ukrainian British football journalist, tells us about how the beaufiful game is faring during a time of ...
Mar 24, 2023•30 min
Russia claims a Chinese plan for peace could be the basis for an end to hostilities. China expert, Isabel Hilton, and Arkady Ostrovsky, The Economist’s Russia editor, discuss China’s emerging role in the war, and what this might mean for Ukraine and the West. As President Putin visits occupied Mariupol, we talk to Odesa MP Oleksiy Goncharenko about how he felt seeing the Russian leader on Ukrainian soil. And Arkady talks through his podcast, Next Year in Moscow. Today’s episode is presented by V...
Mar 21, 2023•31 min
The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin for alleged war crimes in Ukraine We also get an update from Bakhmut, the devastated city on the front line, and we speak to a woman whose husband was killed defending it last year. Through her organisation, Maemo Zhiti, Oksana now helps support other bereaved women across Ukraine. Frank Gardner, the BBC’s security correspondent, brings Victoria and Vitaly up to date on the US drone brought down ov...
Mar 17, 2023•34 min
Teacher, Anna Ohoiko, joins us to give listeners - and Victoria - a lesson in the Ukrainian language. The BBC’s diplomatic correspondent James Landale is in Kyiv and tells us that Ukrainians are beginning to question whether to stay and fight in Bakhmut, or retreat and regroup. And he tells us about a new bar that’s opened in Kyiv as people show their determination to keep living. And who is the Russian Volunteer Corps? BBC Russia’s Liza Fokht tries to shed some light on the Russian group fighti...
Mar 14, 2023•28 min
A year after Mariupol’s maternity hospital was bombed, Russia is spending huge amounts of money rebuilding the city. Vitaly speaks to residents living under Russian occupation. Paul Adams, the BBC’s world affairs correspondent, assesses the latest barrage of missile attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure. And John Mearsheimer, professor of political science at the University of Chicago, explains why he blames Nato and the West for the war in Ukraine. Today’s episode is presented by Lucy Hockings an...
Mar 10, 2023•33 min
Ukrainian musicians describe their journey to sanctuary at the London Performing Academy of Music. The organisation brought more than 50 students to the UK including Nikita Vikhorev and Yuliia Humeniuk. Nikita describes his violin as his weapon. Also, the BBC’s Tim Whewell and author Ian Garner discuss “Z” culture and fascism in today’s Russia and what the state narrative means for the next generation. Today’s episode is presented by Lucy Hockings and Vitaliy Shevchenko. The producers were Natas...
Mar 07, 2023•32 min
Grief, trauma and poverty have become the norm for millions of Ukrainian children after a year of war. James Elder of Unicef has just returned from Lviv and says that the situation is going from bad to worse. And BBC Newsround’s Ricky Boleto tells us about the courage of Ukrainian children who are determined to continue their studies despite the war. We also get an update from Frank Gardner, the BBC security correspondent, on the situation in Bakhmut and how the war in Ukraine overshadowed talks...
Mar 03, 2023•31 min
Lives upended by war. As the conflict enters its second year, we hear stories of some of the lives transformed by war. Maria Drovnenkova, from the BBC's Panorama, tells Victoria and Vitaliy about the Ukrainians whose video diaries captured the first year of the war. We receive an update from 20-year-old student Maksym Lutsyk, who is now serving in Ukraine’s armed forces on the frontline in the east. And Francis Scarr, from BBC Monitoring, joins us in the studio to tell us how the anniversary of ...
Feb 28, 2023•38 min
Ukrainians gather for a special broadcast at the BBC Radio Theatre, hosted by Ukrainecast and Newsnight. They share their fears for families at home, feelings of guilt about escaping to safety and the need for justice. Host Victoria Derbyshire, BBC Monitoring’s Russia editor Vitaly Shevchenko and Newsnight’s diplomatic editor Mark Urban reflect on the past year and discuss what the next 12 months could bring. This episode was made by Ben Carter, Luke Radcliff, Clare Williamson, Natasha Fernandes...
Feb 24, 2023•39 min
In this special edition of Ukrainecast, we’re giving over the entire episode to trying to answer the questions you’ve been sending us about this war - how it might develop, what could bring it to a halt, how Ukraine is weathering the invasion, how Russia is changing in light of its invasion, and - of course - what might lay in wait for President Putin. Steve Rosenberg, Ukrainecast’s man in Moscow, Irena Taranyuk of the BBC’s Ukrainian Service, and Paul Adams, who covers the world for the BBC, jo...
Feb 23, 2023•30 min
Ukrainecast comes together with Putin, the BBC Sounds and Radio 4 podcast which examines the life, times, motives and modus operandi of Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin. Returning to the show are three lifelong Kremlin-watchers to cast ahead and speculate on just how this war might develop. Professor Nina Kruscheva is an historian at The New School in New York and the great grand-daughter of Nikita Kruschev, Sir Laurie Bristow was the UK’s Amabassador to Moscow from 2016-2020, and Vitaly Shevchenko ...
Feb 22, 2023•29 min
One year in to the war, President Putin addresses Russian parliament with his state of the union address. In it he points the finger at the West for the Ukraine War and says Russia will suspend its involvement in a nuclear treaty with the US. And we get two very up-close and personal accounts of the war - the first from the British Ambassador to Ukraine, Dame Melinda Simmons, and the second from the UK news anchor, Clive Myrie. Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaliy Shev...
Feb 21, 2023•39 min
From a Russian prison to Pizza Express. Victoria speaks with 17-year-old Vlad, who was taken prisoner by the Russians and held for three months at the start of the war. We hear about how he and his family coped, their new life in England, and their hopes for the future. Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire as part of a series of episodes marking the one-year anniversary of the start of the war in Ukraine. The producers were Arsenii Sokolov, Clare Williamson and Luke Radcliffe The ...
Feb 20, 2023•30 min
Ukraine and Russia swap POWs in a rare act of compassion, and the BBC’s James Waterhouse gets to visit a Ukrainian facility where Russian soldiers are being held. We also hear from Emma Vardy about her documentary on British men who have volunteered to sign up to fight with Ukrainian soldiers. She tells us about what drives them and what the families they leave behind. Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaliy Shevchenko. The producers were Arsenii Sokolov, Clare Williamson...
Feb 17, 2023•30 min
Kalush Orchestra on winning Eurovision, touring the world and meeting Arnold Schwarzenegger’s donkey. The BBC’s Orla Guerin gives us a close up account of life on the frontline in Bakhmut as Russia throws everything to claim this symbolic city and how are relations between Presidents Xi and Putin after a year of war in Ukraine? China expert, Dr Yu Jie from Chatham House gives her views. Today’s episode is presented by Adam Fleming and Vitaliy Shevchenko. The producers were Arsenii Sokolov, Clare...
Feb 14, 2023•32 min
A Russian man determined to avoid mobilisation tells us he’s living in the forest so the authorities can’t find him and force him to fight. His wife delivers food and he has set up solar panels so he can carry on working as a software engineer from his tent. The BBC’s world affairs editor Paul Adams has been out with Ukrainian engineers who are trying to keep homes and businesses connected to electricity as Russia continues to attack power stations. And psychologist Olena Kovalchuk explains how ...
Feb 10, 2023•30 min
Listen to his Westminster speech in full. Victoria and Vitaly come together to talk through Zelensky's first visit to the UK since Russia invaded his country. Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaliy Shevchenko. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Fiona Leach. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. Email [email protected] with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to 0330 12...
Feb 08, 2023•32 min
Unpicking history and propaganda to understand ordinary Russians and their attitude to the war with Russia expert Dr Jade McGlynn. James Waterhouse in Kyiv brings us up to date on what’s happening in the East of Ukraine around Bakhmut and President Zelensky’s corruption clampdown and Frank Gardner appraises the progress of Russia’s so-called Spring offensive. Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaliy Shevchenko. The producers were Arsenii Sokolov, Clare Williamson and Josh ...
Feb 07, 2023•31 min
Hundreds of Ukrainians are waiting for prosthetic limbs after being injured in the war, according to a medic working in the US, Dr Yakov Gradinar. He works with a charity that is giving prostheses to Ukrainians who need them. He tells the incredible story of a soldier who walked almost immediately after being fitted with a new leg. The BBC’s Russia Editor, Steve Rosenberg, gives his take on the speech President Putin made at an event to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Battle of Stali...
Feb 03, 2023•33 min
As the seasons change, attention turns to what could happen next on the battlefield. Samantha De Bendern, an associate fellow at Chatham House, is on hand to explain what a spring offensive might actually mean for both sides. The BBC's Andrew Harding has spent the last two and a half weeks reporting on the war. He’s joined by his producer Ed Habershon to give their reflections on being on the frontline before they head back to South Africa. And Tim Stirzaker, the director of the new BBC document...
Jan 31, 2023•35 min
The war in Ukraine has encouraged Western intelligence agencies to share their secrets with the world. The BBC’s security correspondent Gordon Corera explains what a difference a year makes and tells Victoria and Vitaly about a German man who’s been arrested, suspected of spying for Russia. Francis Scarr from BBC Monitoring brings us Russian media reaction to the news that the West is sending tanks to Ukraine. And our tennis correspondent Russell Fuller is in Melbourne where Novak Djokovic’s dad...
Jan 27, 2023•28 min
Russia’s new weapon in the Ukraine war: LGBT and the ‘decadent’ West. How a crackdown on political opposition is now accompanied by a crackdown on the Russian LGBT community. We hear from BBC Moscow’s Will Vernon. And Nataliya Zotova, of the BBC Russian service, talks Vic and Vitaliy through opposition politics in Russia, two years after Alexei Navalny was jailed. Shashank Joshi, Defence Editor at The Economist, answers your questions about Germany and tanks. And we get up to speed on the corrup...
Jan 24, 2023•27 min
A mother’s quest to bring her dead son home. Anastasiya Gribanova from the BBC’s Ukrainian Service has been talking to two mothers about the lengths they had to go to find the bodies of their dead sons. Allies fail to reach an agreement over sending German-made tanks to Ukraine. We get the latest from the meeting of Western defence officials in Ramstein and hear from historian and cold war expert Sergey Radchenko on whether Russia can be defeated. Alexei, formerly known as Jimmy or James, tells ...
Jan 20, 2023•28 min
At least sixteen people have been killed, including Ukraine’s interior affairs minister, after a helicopter crashed beside a nursery in a suburb of Kyiv. In this emergency episode of Ukrainecast, Vitaly Shevchenko speaks to the BBC’s Ukraine Correspondent, James Waterhouse, from the site of the deadly crash. They discuss what we know, and what we don’t know, about what caused the death of Ukraine’s highest profile casualty since the war began. Today’s episode is presented by Vitaliy Shevchenko a...
Jan 18, 2023•6 min
