‘Staggering’ Russian losses as ‘tens of thousands of troops’ stall in Putin’s spring offensive & interviewing Ukrainians who fought for Russia

Day 1,489.


Today, amid confirmation that Vladimir Putin’s spring offensive
in Russia’s war in Ukraine has begun, we report on the assaults
along the frontline that have driven a sharp rise in Russian
casualty figures. We then examine the truth behind growing
rumours of unrest and widespread internet outages in Moscow. We
also speak to a senior official in the office of Hungarian Prime
Minister Viktor Orbán about allegations that Budapest’s diplomats
shared details of European Union meetings with Kremlin officials.
And later, we look at the controversial cases of Ukrainians who
fought for Russia and are now prisoners of war in Ukraine –
asking what drove them to switch sides in the conflict.


Contributors:


Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley
on X.


James Kilner (Russia Analyst). @Jkjourno on X.


Adelie Pojzman-Pontay (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @Adeliepjz
on X.


With thanks to parliamentary state secretary of Prime Minister
Viktor Orbán’s Cabinet Office, Balázs Hidvéghi, and freelance
journalist Jen Stout.


NOW IN FULL VIDEO WITH MAPS & BATTLEFIELD
FOOTAGE:


Every episode is now available on our YouTube channel shortly
after the release of the audio version. You will find it here:
https://www.youtube.com/@UkraineTheLatest  


CONTENT REFERENCED:


Wave of Russian strikes kill five in Ukraine (The Telegraph):


https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/03/24/wave-of-russian-strikes-kill-five-in-ukraine/ 


Ukraine strikes Russian oil export hub (The Telegraph):


https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/03/23/ukraine-strikes-russias-largest-baltic-oil-terminal/ 


Ukraine names Hungarian officer allegedly behind spy network
busted in 2025 (Kyiv Independent):


https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-names-hungarian-officer-allegedly-behind-spy-network-busted-in-2025/ 


What makes a traitor? Interviews with Ukrainians who fought for
Russia reveal how they became Putin’s soldiers (Jen Stout in
Prospect):


https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/world/europe/ukraine/72210/what-makes-a-traitor 


EMAIL US:


Contact the team on ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk . We continue to
read every message, and seek to respond to as many on air and in
our newsletter as possible.


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