Backlash grows as Zelensky 'retreats' after mass protests over bill & Trump approves $322 million package including HAWK and Bradleys

Day 1,247.


Today, as Zelensky seeks to make concessions to those protesting
a bill many argue threatens the independence of Ukraine’s
anti-corruption bodies, we assess the significance of Trump’s new
$332 million military package, then resume our two-part dispatch
from Moldova, sometimes described as a frontline in Cold War II.


Contributors:


Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley
on X.


Jimmy Rushton (Kyiv-based Foreign Policy/Security Analyst).
@JimmySecUK on X.


Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls
on X.


With thanks to Andrei Curararu of Watchdog MD.


Content Referenced:


VIDEO DISPATCH: 'Moldova is worse than Ukraine': My clash with
Russian sympathisers on the frontline of Cold War Two (Francis
Dearnley for The Telegraph):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZC5FvDt-u0  


Zelensky backtracks on corruption reform in attempt to end
protests (Jimmy Rushton in The Telegraph):


https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/07/23/ukraine-intelligence-chief-zelensky-tear-country-apart/ 


Exclusive: Chinese engines, shipped as 'cooling units', power
Russian drones used in Ukraine (Reuters):


https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/chinese-engines-shipped-cooling-units-power-russian-drones-used-ukraine-2025-07-23/ 


‘A fatal mistake’ — Ukrainian soldiers slam Zelensky’s
anti-corruption crackdown (Kyiv Independent):


https://kyivindependent.com/a-fatal-mistake-ukrainian-soldiers-slam-zelenskys-anti-corruption-crackdown/





SIGN UP TO THE NEW ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY
NEWSLETTER:


https://secure.telegraph.co.uk/customer/secure/newsletter/ukraine/  


Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your
questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive
analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the
frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily
reporting. It’s free for everyone, including non-subscribers.


NOW AVAILABLE IN NEW LANGUAGES:


The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The
Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible
to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the
wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just
search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние
Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them.
Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatest


Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest


Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.