Ukraine rejects Putin’s ceasefire proposal ahead of Swiss peace talks. It’s been a busy week for President Zelensky. At the G7 meeting in Italy, world leaders agreed on a $50bn loan to help fund Ukraine’s war effort and a ten year bi-lateral security agreement was signed between the US and Ukraine. All this before President Zelensky heads to Switzerland for a Ukrainian Peace Summit. Meanwhile, President Putin has proposed his own ceasefire plan which Ukraine has rejected. The BBC’s diplomatic co...
Jun 14, 2024•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast Missile attacks, anxiety, power cuts and mobilisation: the challenges of childbirth and parenthood for a young couple in Kyiv. Iryna and Volodymyr chose to have a baby following the full-scale invasion. The stress has meant that Iryna can no longer breast feed, they have lost friends and Volodymyr is about to join the army - but they are facing these challenges with bravery and resilience. Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire . It was produced by Clare Williamson with Bella Saltie...
Jun 11, 2024•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast What are the prospects for any progress at next week’s peace summit in Switzerland, especially if Russia is not there? Our Russia editor, Steve Rosenberg and international editor, Jeremy Bowen give us their thoughts and also answer questions on Russia’s economy, whether Russians are worried about Western missiles and how Ukrainian journalists are covering the war. Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire. Today’s episode was produced by Clare Williamson with Paige Neal-Holder and Bell...
Jun 07, 2024•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast One young soldier’s coming of age tale from the battlefield. One of our most asked after regular guests, the young soldier Maksym Lutsyk, returns to the podcast. He’s now 21 years old and we find out about his time on the frontline, how he listens in to secret recordings of Russian soldiers and whether he still dreams of having a beer on a beach in Tenerife… Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaly Shevchenko. The producers were Arsenii Sokolov, Bella Saltiel, Natasha Mayo ...
Jun 04, 2024•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast Dr Fiona Hill joins Victoria and Vitaly to answer questions sent in by Ukrainecast listeners. She’s a former US national intelligence officer and a historian who’s written a book about Putin. They tackle topics about how momentum in the war has shifted, who might succeed Putin and what difference it will make letting Ukraine fire Western made weapons into some Russian territories. Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaly Shevchenko. The producers were Arsenii Sokolov, Bella...
May 31, 2024•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast Schools in one of Ukraine’s most dangerous cities have taken evasive action to escape frequent Russian missile strikes. In Kharkiv they’ve opened up temporary classrooms in metro stations to keep children safe from attacks. In this episode we hear from a teacher and a fifteen-year-old student about what school life is like underground. Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaly Shevchenko. The producers were Nick Holland and Arsenii Sokolov. The technical producer was Mike Re...
May 28, 2024•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast A husband and wife’s tale of imprisonment, torture and their campaign to free POWs. Arsenii Fedosiuk, a lieutenant in Ukraine’s Azov Brigade, was one of the soldiers who fought defending the Azovstal steel works and was imprisoned, tortured and subsequently released by the Russians. He’s in London with his wife, Yulia, as part of a campaign to put pressure on the Russian authorities to return their Prisoners of War, and came into the Ukrainecast studio. Today’s episode is presented by Jamie Coom...
May 24, 2024•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast Could Ukraine host fresh elections? How could the war end? Do we believe Mike Pompeo’s interpretation of how Donald Trump would end the war in 24 hours? Victoria and Jamie are joined by General Sir Richard Barrons, former commander of the UK's Joint Forces Command, to answer these questions from you… and more. Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Jamie Coomarasamy. The producers were Arsenii Sokolov and Natasha Mayo. The technical producer was Philip Bull. The series producer ...
May 21, 2024•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast Donald Trump’s former secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, tells Ukrainecast 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. Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaly Shevchenko. It was made by Chris Flynn with Cordelia Hemming Arsenii Sokolov, and Charlie Henry. The technical producer was Dafydd Evans. The series producer is Tim Walklate. The senior...
May 17, 2024•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast Russia has launched a surprise offensive into the Kharkiv region, in one of its most significant ground attacks since the start of the war. So is this the start of the much anticipated summer offensive? We hear from Olesiia, a Kharkiv resident, who fled the city with her children, and says the last few days reminds her of the beginning of the full scale invasion. And friend of the podcast, Mark Galeotti, explains why Vladimir Putin has replaced his defence minister with an economist. Today’s epi...
May 14, 2024•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast What does the competition mean for Ukrainians? Lucy is joined by Eurovision reporter Daniel Rosney, who is in the Swedish city of Malmo, which plays host to Eurovision's grand final on Saturday. Tymofii Muzychuk, who won Eurovision in 2022 with the Kalush Orchestra, tells us what life has been like since their performance and why the song contest matters so much to his country. And we catch up with Ukraine’s Eurovision TV commentator, Timur Miroshnychenko, who will again be covering the competit...
May 10, 2024•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast Vladimir Putin has been sworn in as Russia's president for a new six-year term, just days before Russia’s annual Victory Day military parade on 9 May. But why does this annual event, marking victory over Nazi Germany in 1945, matter so much to Russia now? We speak to Alexander Goncharov a former Russian military officer, who’s now head of the World War Two veterans organisation in Moscow. And we discuss Victory Day’s symbolism with Russia editor Steve Rosenberg and Patricia Lewis from Chatham Ho...
May 07, 2024•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s 800 days since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. We answer your questions on whether Russia has used chemical weapons, could Western troops ever be deployed, what the prospects are for peace, and at what cost? To help do this Victoria and Vitaly are joined by two friends of the podcast: Samantha de Bendern, and Newsnight’s Mark Urban. And we hear from inside the town at the epicentre of the fighting in eastern Ukraine, Chasiv Yar. Today’s episode is presented by Victoria D...
May 03, 2024•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast Ukraine's longest-serving official on death, exile and Vladimir Putin... Victoria and Vitaly speak to Oleksiy Reva, the mayor of Bakhmut, who has been in his position since 1990. The town he runs was the focus of one of the bloodiest battles of the war so far, and is now mostly in ruin. He discusses losing friends and colleagues, what he’d like to say to Vladimir Putin and his hopes to one day return to Bakhmut. Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaly Shevchenko. The produ...
Apr 30, 2024•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast We answer your questions on the US aid package for Ukraine: when will it be felt on the frontline and will it have an impact on the war? To help do this Victoria and Vitaly are joined by the former head of the US Army in Europe, General Ben Hodges, who also gives his assessment on whether Ukraine can win. And, we hear from Steve Rosenberg in Moscow who shares some news about his friend Valentina, who used to work in a newspaper kiosk. Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Vital...
Apr 26, 2024•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast A soldier and civilian discuss the $61 billion military package to Ukraine… Victoria and Vitaly hear from “Ostap”, who is fighting in the Donetsk Oblast and from friend of the podcast, Olga in the front-line city of Kherson. They share their hopes on what the US aid package could mean for their country’s fight against Russia. But will Ukraine simply run out of weapons again? Or can this be a turning point? Ann Marie Dailey, a policy researcher at RAND think tank dissects what this all could mean...
Apr 23, 2024•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast BBC Russian reporter Olga Ivshina talks to Victoria and Vitaly about her investigation into Russian military deaths since the start of the war. And Professor Michael Clarke, defence and security analyst, answers your questions about the latest from the frontline, foreign aid for Ukraine, the use of AI in combat and much more. Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaly Shevchenko. The producers were Keiligh Baker, Arsenii Sokolov, Cordelia Hemming, Ivana Davidovic and Elliot R...
Apr 18, 2024•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast Frontline fighters on the Russian threat and the prospects for peace… Victoria and James are joined by Yaryna, who’s been serving in Ukraine’s armed forces since 2020, and a recent recruit who goes by the call-sign ‘Logan’. They discuss the current situation on the battle field, whether a new mobilisation law is enough and the prospect of Ukraine failing to win this war. Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and James Waterhouse. The producers were Arsenii Sokolov, Hanna Chornous, ...
Apr 16, 2024•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast On today’s Ukrainecast we’re answering your questions on our recent David Cameron interview, Kyiv’s attempts to boost its troop numbers and the continued hold-up of the US military aid package in Congress. To help do this, we’re joined by Patricia Lewis from Chatham House and BBC Security Correspondent, Frank Gardner. Today’s episode is presented by Lucy Hockings and Vitaly Shevchenko. The producers were Cordelia Hemming, Miranda Slade, Elliot Ryder and Ivana Davidovic. The technical producer wa...
Apr 12, 2024•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast Why is Russia targeting Ukraine’s second city of Kharkiv? It’s suffered extensive damage from months of Russian bombardment since the full-scale invasion and Ukrainian officials have said the city might be the target of a future Russian offensive. We hear from a resident and speak to the city’s mayor, Ihor Terekhov. The BBC’s Sarah Rainsford tells us what life is like in Kharkiv, and Dara Massicot from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace discusses the likelihood of any future Russian ...
Apr 09, 2024•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast The British Foreign Secretary, Lord David Cameron, speaks exclusively to Ukrainecast. He says he has ruled out western boots on the ground in Ukraine, but acknowledged that the "war will be lost if the allies don't step up". Today’s episode is hosted by Lucy Hockings and Vitaly Shevchenko. The producers were Cordelia Hemming, Elliot Ryder, Arsenii Sokolov, and Rosie Strawbridge. The production crew was Lee Durant and Xavier Vanpevenaege. The series producer is Tim Walklate. The senior news edito...
Apr 04, 2024•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast Last week the Russian Orthodox Church approved a document that branded the full-scale invasion of Ukraine a “holy war.” So what role does religion play in the Ukraine war? The BBC’s Harry Farley and Lucy Ash, the author of the upcoming book "The Baton and the Cross: Russia's church from Pagans to Putin", try to make sense of it all. We also hear from Father Andriy Zelinskyy, chief military chaplain for the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church about how he offers spiritual guidance and comfort on the ...
Apr 02, 2024•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast Top Russian officials have directly accused Ukraine and the West of being involved in the deadly Moscow concert hall attack, after it was claimed by the Islamic State (IS) group. We speak to one woman, Valentina, who lives in Russia, about how safe she feels in the country and whether she’s taking the Kremlin’s line. And two Kremlinologists, Angela Stent from Georgetown and Hanne Notte from the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, discuss whether this could result in an escalation i...
Mar 26, 2024•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast A wave of Russian strikes have hammered Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, leaving at least five dead. We speak to Kharkiv resident Nataliya, who joins us from a special bunker in the city, where officials say 700 000 were left with no electricity. Also, we hear from one eyewitness who lives next door to one of the targets - Ukraine's largest dam, the DniproHES, which was hit eight times according to Ukrainian officials And we get the latest from the BBC’s Sarah Rainsford in Kyiv where officials a...
Mar 22, 2024•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast There’s been a spike in drone attacks by both Ukraine and Russia. Ukrainians have recently targeted Russian oil refineries, while Russians have used drones to target the port of Odesa. So could drones change the course of the war? Ukraine correspondent James Waterhouse and drone expert Samuel Bendett unpick the strategies and technologies behind drone warfare. And we hear from drone operator Ruda, a mother-of-two, who trains Ukrainians how to pilot drones. Today’s episode is presented by Lyse Do...
Mar 19, 2024•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast President Putin has claimed a landslide victory in an election that featured no genuine competition. The last day of voting was marked by silent protests at polling stations. But how does his expected victory matter? And what might securing a fifth term mean for the war in Ukraine? Lyse and Vitaly are joined by the BBC’s Russia editor Steve Rosenberg. Today’s episode is presented by Lyse Doucet and Vitaly Shevchenko. The producer was Arsenii Sokolov. The technical producer was Rohan Madison. The...
Mar 18, 2024•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast Russia’s elections have kicked off and bizarre scenes have already begun to unfold at polling stations across the country - including live pop performances, free pancakes, a bride and groom and a life-sized cardboard cut-out of Tucker Carlson. President Putin is considered very likely to win, despite having already served four terms - the ex-KGB spy, 71, is already Russia’s longest-serving leader since Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. Valerie Hopkins, international correspondent for The New York Tim...
Mar 15, 2024•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast How seriously should we take Putin’s nuclear weapons threats? During his last address to the nation, the Russian president reiterated his threat of nuclear action against the West - so how worried should we be? Dr Patricia Lewis, a nuclear physicist and arms control expert joins Boris Bondarev, a former Russian diplomat who quit following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, to give their take. And why has the Pope caused uproar in Ukraine? Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and ...
Mar 12, 2024•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast With one week to go until Russia’s presidential elections, former Trump adviser and foreign affairs specialist Fiona Hill tells Ukrainecast why Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine is also about the future security of Europe. She also gives her take on the implications of another potential Trump White House. And, how she ate dinner with Vladimir Putin, served by the late Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin. Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaly Shevchenko. The producers wer...
Mar 08, 2024•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, it has been subject to thousands of sanctions from the West - but despite this, Russia’s economy is thriving. So how is the world’s most sanctioned country getting around them? And what does this tell us about how effective sanctions are? Nataliia Shapoval, Vice President for Policy Research at Kyiv School of Economics and the BBC’s economics editor, Faisal Islam, unpack whether sanctions against Russia are having the desired impact. Also...
Mar 05, 2024•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
