Massive ‘volcanic’ refinery blaze erupts again ‘only hours’ after being put out & witnessing Russia's 'spiral into madness' under Putin

Day 1,516.


Today, as President Zelensky warns of increased Russian military
activity in neighbouring Belarus, we discuss weekend Ukrainian
air raids targeting oil refineries around Moscow. We then examine
a shock election result that has brought another pro-Russia
leader to power within both the EU and NATO, following in the
footsteps of Hungary’s Viktor Orbán. And later, we speak to a
veteran foreign correspondent who spent 25 years in Russia – and
has made more than a dozen trips to Ukraine since the full-scale
invasion – for his memories of how Vladimir Putin built a system
of ever greater repression and violence.


Contributors:


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


Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on
X.


With thanks to Marc Bennetts – foreign correspondent at The Times
of London.


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:


Marc Bennetts’ book, ‘The Descent: Witnessing Russia's Spiral
into Madness Under Putin’:


https://amzn.eu/d/0euJ6Dc6 


Pro-Russian fighter pilot wins crushing victory in Bulgaria
election (The Telegraph):


https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/04/20/rumen-radev-bulgaria-election-win-pro-russia-progressive 


Moscow-born gunman kills six in Kyiv supermarket ‘terror attack’
(The Telegraph):


https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/04/18/moscow-born-gunman-shoots-five-people-dead-in-kyiv-attack/ 


BBC’s Steve Rosenberg: I’m walking a tightrope in Russia. It
could all end tomorrow (The Telegraph):


https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/04/20/steve-rosenberg-on-putins-russia/


EMAIL US:


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