Ukraine: The Latest

Missile Barrage Slams Ukraine & Putin Bans Recruitment of Foreign Soldiers to Placate Allies

The Telegraph | February 26, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode covers a significant escalation in Russia’s aerial assault on Ukraine, with one of the most intense barrages in recent months. The hosts report from both Kyiv and Dnipro, giving firsthand accounts of the attacks’ impact. They dive into the shifting battlefield dynamics, the ban on recruiting foreign mercenaries by Russia, the alarming kill ratios, Ukraine’s mounting losses, growing concerns over European nuclear deterrence, and evolving tech and social media landscapes in the conflict. The episode ends with a grounded yet optimistic discussion on Ukraine’s future.

Key Discussion Points

1. Massive Overnight Air Strike on Ukraine

• Details of the Barrage
  • Russia launched 420 drones and 39 missiles, including advanced Iskander-M, KH-101, Zircon, and KH-69 variants.
  • Strikes targeted critical infrastructure (notably energy and railway), residential areas, and even hit a children's railway in Kharkiv Oblast.
  • Odesa saw 32,000 without power; Kyiv, Krivi Ri, and Zaporizhzhia took significant damage.
  • Miraculously, despite at least 26 injured, no deaths were recorded.
    [02:57–05:35]

Quote:
“There was what, four—420 drones fired across the country. 29 or 39, 39 missiles... Alarms went off again at quarter past 1 till 7 am, which was a bit of a pain. So down in the shelter in the hotel—it's all perfectly fine, perfectly comfortable... many other people having it a lot worse than us.”
—Dom Nichols, [05:35]

• Experience from Dnipro
  • Dom Nichols outlines nightly air alerts, the logistics of going into bomb shelters, and how the impact can differ sharply even within a city depending on location.

2. On the Ground: Ukrainian Military Intelligence in Zaporizhzhia

• Embedded Reporting
  • Dom and team visit a Ukrainian HUR operations room close to the frontline (less than 20 km from Russian positions).
  • Firsthand view of Ukraine's modern command and control: "Delta" system akin to a battlefield "Google."
  • Small Russian troop presence—often just pairs or small teams—contrasts with the idea of a solid front; they’re essentially holding ground by hiding from drones.
  • Ukrainian counterattacks sometimes consist of retaking positions with just a handful of Russians, often unable to communicate after Starlink disruptions. [06:47–10:30]

Quote:
“They killed 13 Russians. And they could show us exactly where, when. This is all recorded... when we report the casualty figures, literally they can see—they are counting each person that they are attacking, mainly with drones. And therefore the numbers, I think, are pretty accurate.”
—Dom Nichols, [07:54]

• Russian Adaptation
  • Losing Starlink access, Russian units attempt to create WiFi bridges, but their tech lags.
  • Ukraine can often eavesdrop on Russian comms as they've reverted to open radio, and codewords are quickly deciphered.
• Tech Frontiers
  • Unattended Ground Vehicles (“ground drones”) are emerging for logistical support and casualty evacuation—“the next big leap.” [10:30–14:00]

3. Life on the Home Front: Kyiv Under Fire

• Adeli Pirschmann Ponte’s Experience
  • Air alerts awoke Kyiv’s residents at 3:30 a.m.; her description of the shelter's comfort stands in marked contrast to most citizens’ night terrors.
  • Air defense and incoming Shahed drones recognizable even from inside a heavily insulated shelter.
  • Destruction included civilian homes, a thermal substation, and more damage from advanced missiles. [16:15–20:08]

Quote:
“My situation is a lot cozier and comfier than that of Ukrainians across the city and across the country... started going through the Telegram channels trying to understand what was coming towards us... I could hear some one-off shooty things, and also some which were very regular, very rhythmical, which I imagine were air defense.”
—Adeli Pirschmann Ponte, [16:15]

4. Diplomatic and Political Updates

• Zelensky–Trump Call

  • Zelensky and Trump emphasize peace, with Trump pushing for a solution within the month—though any intervention from “coalition of the willing” nations would require Putin’s approval, hamstringing European autonomy. [20:08+]

• European–Ukrainian Defense Industry Ties

  • Major drone and tech production agreements signed with Denmark, Finland, and Latvia ($950 million total), aimed at reinforcing Ukraine’s defense industry. [20:08–20:55]

• Russian Mercenary Recruitment Bans

  • Under diplomatic and political pressure, Russia bans foreign recruitment from 43 countries, especially in Africa, after protests about their citizens being tricked into enlisting. [21:00–22:30]

• Hungary’s Rhetoric

  • Orban’s government claims to bolster energy security against a “Ukrainian threat”—seen as part of his electioneering. [22:30–23:50]

5. Battlefield Update & ‘Kill Ratio’ Debate

• Limited Movement

  • Front largely static; minor reported advances by Russian forces northeast of Kharkiv and Ukrainian progress southeast of Oleksandrivka. [23:50–25:00]

• Russian Losses Outpacing Replacements

  • Telegraph’s Rosina Sabour discusses reports that Ukraine’s current kill ratio is 25 Russian soldiers lost for every Ukrainian—a figure that, if accurate, could have major strategic implications. [27:04–29:40]

Quote:
“When we take a look at figures like that, you think... there is no certainty in this war at the current rate that we're looking at... Russia cannot sustain the progress it has made so far. So where does it go from here?”
—Rosina Sabour, [29:04]

6. Nuclear Deterrence and Air Defense Concerns

• RUSI Report
  • Britain and France’s nuclear deterrents could soon be at risk—Russia’s improved air defenses may be able to intercept Trident missiles.
  • The US has enough missiles to saturate any system, but Europe does not. [30:25–33:05]

Quote:
“Britain and France just have too small a nuclear arsenal. So while the US has enough missiles to saturate any air defense system, Europe’s ability to overwhelm an air defense system is much, much smaller.”
—Rosina Sabour, [30:46]

7. Ukrainian Losses: Startling New Estimates

• Official Numbers Released
  • Over 90,000 Ukrainians (civilian and military) officially listed as missing; 55,000 confirmed military deaths according to Zelensky. Actual figures believed to be even higher. [34:20–35:13]

Quote:
“Official figures say much lower numbers than in reality... They wouldn’t be revealing them until after the war ends because I don’t think it would help the Ukrainian morale.”
—Svetlana Morinets, [35:02]

8. The Telegram Ban in Russia

• Critical Role of Telegram
  • Despite its extensive use for Kremlin propaganda, Russia moves to ban Telegram ahead of Duma elections and potential mass mobilization—fearing political protest organization.
• Alternatives and Risks
  • Most other platforms already banned; migration to VPNs expected but those are under increasing Kremlin pressure. [36:22–41:12]

9. Ukrainian Domestic Politics: A Coming Reckoning

• Interview with Ex-Commander Zaluzhny
  • Zaluzhny, now ambassador to London, openly critiques Zelensky’s handling of the 2023 counteroffensive, signaling the start of an anticipated presidential bid and foreshadowing future political battles over the war’s direction and consequences. [43:19–46:31]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Dom Nichols, on Russian positions in Zaporizhzhia:
  “This is a small number of people basically just trying to hide from all the drones. So... it gives the lie to this idea that they’ve taken a huge amount of space.” [08:35]

• Adeli Pirschmann Ponte, on sheltering during Kyiv attack:
  “My situation is a lot cozier and comfier than that of Ukrainians across the city... went down to the shelter... started going through the Telegram channels trying to understand what was coming towards us.” [16:15]

• Rosina Sabour, on nuclear deterrents:
  “Britain and France just have too small a nuclear arsenal... Europe’s ability to overwhelm an air defense system is much, much smaller.” [30:46]

• Svetlana Morinets, on the risk of general mobilization in Russia:
  “If Putin wants to change the battlefield situation and improve his negotiation position... he will need to conscript more people.” [38:34]

• Dom Nichols, reflecting societal shifts:
  “There’s emerging chat... Should people be allowed to stand for elected office... if they haven’t served in some capacity?” [14:03]

Important Timestamps

• 02:57–05:35 — Overview of attacks across Ukraine
• 05:35–10:30 — Reporting from Dnipro, visit to HUR operations room
• 16:15–20:08 — Adeli in Kyiv: personal account of overnight bombardment
• 27:04–29:40 — Rosina Sabour on catastrophic Russian loss rates
• 30:25–33:05 — RUSI’s warning on UK/France nuclear vulnerability
• 34:20–35:13 — Ukrainian losses: new figures on dead and missing
• 36:22–41:12 — Telegram ban and its political implications
• 43:19–46:31 — Zaluzhny’s salvo against Zelensky and possible presidential ambitions

Conclusion & Final Thoughts

Rosina Sabour:

“Putin has been able to control the narrative... but... the things he has said about this war in terms of it being an inevitable outcome, about Russia having the upper hand at all times—that just doesn’t hold true anymore... More focus on the pressure that Russia is coming under economically, politically... will make a difference.” [46:44]

Svetlana Morinets:

“No matter how this war ends... I think in the end this war will end completely by Russian troops withdrawing from Ukraine... If Russia wants to be a proper, prosperous, democratic country, they will have to give back what they took from Ukraine... the future will bring some justice.” [49:04]

Summary prepared for listeners seeking a thorough understanding of the episode’s substance, debate, and atmosphere.