‘I'd love to hear more about what's actually happening in the war now. Where are the lines stable, where is Russia still advancing, where have the Russians slowed?’ That’s a message we got from one of our listeners earlier in the week, and we thought we’d answer these questions and more. We get a sense of what’s happening along the frontline in Ukraine right now with Matthew Savill, director of military sciences at RUSI, and we hear from a soldier whose day job is to drop bombs on Russians using...
Feb 04, 2025•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast What might Donald Trump’s strategy to end the war in Ukraine look like? We speak to Fred Fleitz, a national security official in Donald Trump's first administration who's close to the President's Ukraine and Russia envoy. We ask him to decode the latest diplomatic noises out of Washington, Moscow and Kyiv, and shed light on what we can expect from Trump’s approach, as well as the prospects of success. Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaly Shevchenko. The producers were N...
Jan 28, 2025•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast President Trump has spent his first 24 hours back in the White House - having once claimed he would end the war in that time. There’s no sign yet, but can Donald Trump provide peace? What did he say at his inauguration? And what can we learn from his first full day in the job? Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire, Vitaly Shevchenko and James Waterhouse. The producers were Nathan Gower and Ryan Johnston. The technical producer was Hannah Montgomery. The series producer is Tim Walkl...
Jan 21, 2025•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today, Donald Trump has been sworn in as the 47th US president. He promised to unleash a blitz of executive orders, after calling for a "revolution of common sense" in Monday's inaugural address. Victoria was joined by James Cook and Chris Mason from Newscast, Anthony Zurcher and Marianna Spring from Americast and Jonny Dymond from The Global Story to assess Trump’s first act as he became President again. Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a messag...
Jan 20, 2025•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast A Ukrainian officer fighting in Russia’s Kursk region gives us a unique insight into what it’s like taking on North Korean soldiers. We also hear from the editor-in-chief of the Economist, Zanny Minton Beddoes. She discusses how the new sanctions on Russian oil will hurt the country’s economy and tells us why Donald Trump won’t want to be seen as a loser. Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaly Shevchenko. The producers were Arsenii Sokolov, Ben Carter and Ryan Johnston. T...
Jan 14, 2025•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast Dmytro Kuleba spent four years working as Ukraine’s foreign minister before he left his post in September 2024. In a revealing interview he talks about his time working for Volodymyr Zelensky, shares his views on the outgoing Biden administration and tells us whether incoming President Trump can really negotiate peace. Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaly Shevchenko. The producers were Ben Carter, Ryan Johnston and Clare Williamson. The technical producer was Mike Regaa...
Jan 07, 2025•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast Victoria and James tuck into some traditional Ukrainian Christmas dishes… Chef Olia Hercules brings some festive food into the Ukrainecast studio and explains how food keeps her connected to her home. Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and James Waterhouse. The producers were Arsenii Sokolov and Diane Richardson. The technical producer was Ben Andrews. The series producer is Tim Walklate. The senior news editor is Sara Wadeson. Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and...
Dec 31, 2024•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast How do you celebrate Christmas while living under constant threat of your home being bombed, air raid sirens going off and while your friends and loved ones are fighting on the frontline? Two people who’ve appeared regularly on Ukrainecast this year got together in a Kyiv restaurant to chat through their plans for the festive season and their hopes for the new year. Vitali, a graduate in his 20s and Iryna, mother to baby Mira (who makes a special appearance), recorded a conversation about what i...
Dec 24, 2024•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast Back in the summer, the actor and broadcaster Stephen Fry came into the Ukrainecast studio to discuss his visit to Ukraine to see how war is impacting the country's mental health. To mark Christmas Day, he reads a short Christmas story which touches on some of the challenges Ukrainians face this winter. ‘Miracle in the Darkness’ is a short story from the book ‘Brave Tales’ by Iryna Vyhovska and Victoria Murovana. It was published by ACCA, in association with Suspilne media. If you have been affe...
Dec 20, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Sources in Kyiv say Ukraine killed Igor Kirillov, a senior Russian general who died in scooter blast in Moscow on Tuesday. So how might the Kremlin respond? And what could this mean for the war in Ukraine? Latvia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Baiba Braže and The Economist's defence editor Shashank Joshi give their reaction. Also, can President-elect Trump restrict Ukraine’s ability to use long range missiles within Russia? Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaly Shevchenko...
Dec 17, 2024•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast Could American military aid dry up once Donald Trump enters the White House in 2025? Are Russians and Ukrainians ready for a peace deal? And how might that take shape? BBC Eastern Europe correspondent Sarah Rainsford and Russia expert Mark Galeotti are joined by an assortment of experts to look ahead to what could be a pivotal year for the war in Ukraine. Also, the BBC’s Tim Whewell is in the studio to discuss an issue that could overshadow Poland’s support for Kyiv. Today’s episode is presented...
Dec 10, 2024•48 min•Transcript available on Metacast The man behind the Magnitsky Act on Trump, hybrid warfare and fighting the Kremlin. Sir William Browder is an American investor who made a fortune in post-Soviet Russia before falling foul of Vladimir Putin. He’s now a fierce critic of President Vladimir Putin - and today he’s in the Ukrainecast studio to discuss why the rouble is tanking, what it’s like to draw the ire of the Russian president and whether an end to the war is near. Today’s episode is presented by Jamie Coomarasamy and Frank Gar...
Dec 03, 2024•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast Can Donald Trump end the war in Ukraine? Is negotiating with Russia a realistic option? What can President Biden accomplish in the final weeks of his term? John Sullivan, former US Ambassador to Russia under President Trump, joins Ukrainecast to share his experience of working with Russians and explains why continued US support for Ukraine is in the nation’s best interest. Today’s episode is presented by Lucy Hockings and Vitaly Shevchenko. The producers were Arsenii Sokolov and Ben Carter. The ...
Nov 26, 2024•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast Your questions answered on ATACMS, land mines and the risk of escalation Jamie and Vitaly are joined by the defence editor of the Economist, Shashank Joshi, to examine how useful ATACMS can be for Ukraine, what exactly are anti-personnel land-mines and whether we should take Russia's change to its nuclear doctrine seriously. Today’s episode is presented by Jamie Coomarasamy and Vitaly Shevchenko. The producer was Ben Carter. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Tim Wal...
Nov 20, 2024•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast Three Ukrainians on how their lives have changed and their hopes for peace. Victoria, James and Vitaly are in the studio to reflect on 1000 days of the conflict. They’re joined by student Vitalii, teacher Olga and young mum Iryna - three friends of the podcast whose stories we’ve followed over the last few years. They also answer listener questions. Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire, James Waterhouse and Vitaly Shevchenko. The producers were Clare Williamson, Bella Saltiel, Ars...
Nov 19, 2024•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast US President Joe Biden has given the green light for Ukraine to use long-range missiles supplied by US to strike Russia. But what could the deployment of these missiles mean for Ukraine? And why has President Biden done this now? Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaly Shevchenko. The producer was Ben Carter. The technical producer was Stephen Bailey. The series producer is Tim Walklate. The senior news editor is Sara Wadeson. Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your question...
Nov 17, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Will Donald Trump pull out of Nato? What should we make of his recent appointments? How worried should we be about the threat of nuclear war? Jens Stoltenberg, who stood down as Nato secretary general last month is in the studio and answers all these questions… and more. Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaly Shevchenko. The producers were Arsenii Sokolov and Ben Carter. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Tim Walklate. The senior news editor i...
Nov 13, 2024•45 min•Transcript available on Metacast We'll have a special episode with you tomorrow (Wednesday)... Stay tuned!
Nov 12, 2024•44 sec•Transcript available on Metacast Hear Donald Trump’s former secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, in conversation with Ukrainecast back in May. He discusses what his old boss really thinks about Ukraine, and what another Trump presidency could mean for the war. He also talks about whether he’d take another top job in the White House - something which, in recent days, he’s been widely tipped to get. Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaly Shevchenko. The series producer is Tim Walklate. The senior news editor i...
Nov 08, 2024•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast Donald Trump has won the US election and will make a historic return to the White House. He’s said he’d end the war in 24 hours but…..can he? We hear from Ukraine correspondent James Waterhouse in Kyiv, Russia editor Steve Rosenberg in Sochi and Victoria in Washington DC. They discuss what Trump’s re-election actually mean for Ukraine. Today’s episode is presented by Lucy Hockings and Vitaly Shevchenko. The producers were Arsenii Sokolov and Ben Carter. The technical producer was Hannah Montgome...
Nov 06, 2024•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast America goes to the polls – but what could that mean for the future of US politics… and Ukraine? The veteran Watergate journalist, Bob Woodward, joins us to talk about his latest book, ‘War’. He’s spent the last couple of years talking to people inside the Biden administration and shares his insights on what he learned about how they planned for and dealt with the aftermath of the full-scale invasion. Victoria is in Washington to assess what the mood is like on election day. And we hear from San...
Nov 05, 2024•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast Two men's stories of avoiding the draft. To satisfy a growing need for soldiers, authorities in Ukraine appear to be taking ever more drastic measures, including forcibly pulling men off the street to check their credentials. But many men in Ukraine feel the war is not for them, and decide to flee overseas rather than to stay and fight. We speak to Artem and Oleh, two young men who avoided the draft, and ask them why they left and whether they regret their decision. Today’s episode is presented ...
Oct 29, 2024•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast Is peace with Russia possible? Could any North Korean involvement in the war mean escalation? And has the world ever been more dangerous in recent times? In his first BBC interview since standing down as chief of the general staff, General Sir Patrick Sanders joins us to discuss why he thinks the world order is under threat and why Ukraine must prevail. Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaly Shevchenko. The producers were Arsenii Sokolov and Diane Richardson. The technica...
Oct 22, 2024•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast What do digital trails tell us about the conflict? How did TikTok videos help identify Russian troop movements ahead of the full-scale invasion? And what’s it like to draw the ire of the Kremlin? The Bellingcat founder Eliot Higgins also tells Victoria and Vitaly whether he’s a CIA spy and where the name of his organisation came from. And, are North Korean troops being sent to Russia’s frontline? We have more… Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaly Shevchenko. The produce...
Oct 15, 2024•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast As President Zelensky conducts a whistle stop tour of Europe…. we answer your questions on whether the West is out of touch with the reality of the war and what impact elections in the US and Europe could have on support for Ukraine’s war effort. Victoria is joined by our correspondent in Kyiv Sarah Rainsford and Cold War historian Sergey Radchenko. Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire. The producers were Arsenii Sokolov, Cordelia Hemming and Nick Sturdee. The technical producer w...
Oct 11, 2024•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast How could peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine pan out and are they even a possibility right now? Conflict negotiator Oliver McTernan and former UK ambassador to Russia Sir Laurie Bristow discuss the likelihood of both countries coming to the table and what role the US presidential election could play. Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and James Waterhouse. The producers were Arsenii Sokolov, Cordelia Hemming and Ivana Davidovic. The technical producer was Mike Regaard...
Oct 08, 2024•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast Russia has revealed it will boost its defence spending by a quarter to $145 billion in 2025. But is Putin’s war economy sustainable? What does all this mean for life in the country? And how could it impact the war? The BBC’s Steve Rosenberg joins us from a Moscow supermarket, Russian citizen ‘Gleb’ explains why there are dozens of types of cola in shops, and Bloomberg’s Stephanie Baker joins Carnegie’s Alexander Gabuev to discuss whether Russians are feeling the pinch. Today’s episode is present...
Oct 04, 2024•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast Ambassador John Bolton, who served as National Security Adviser under President Donald Trump, tells Ukrainecast that another Trump presidency would leave Ukraine in a very difficult position and that if re-elected Trump would cut off US aid. He also warns against the democratic presidential candidate, Kamala Harris, insisting that neither option would be good for Ukraine’s fight against Russia. And he gives his verdict on Russia’s President Putin who he has met on several occasions - calling him...
Oct 01, 2024•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast Donald Trump has held a last-minute meeting with President Zelensky despite repeated criticism of the Ukrainian leader on the campaign trail, and a row which erupted with with the Republican party. So is the former president hardening his stance on Ukraine? And how do Ukrainians feel about the forthcoming US election? Victoria and Vitaly are joined by Americast co-presenter Anthony Zurcher and two Ukrainians based in Kyiv. Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaly Shevchenko...
Sep 27, 2024•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast President Zelensky’s in the US for a diplomatic mission to try and sell President Biden his ‘victory plan’. But what’s in it? And can he persuade the Americans to back it? Two friends of the pod, defence expert Matthew Savill and Russia expert Angela Stent, join Lyse to assess how it might go down with the President, and the two candidates hoping to succeed him, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. Today’s episode is presented by Lyse Doucet. The producers were Arsenii Sokolov, Cordelia Hemming and J...
Sep 24, 2024•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
