Russia ‘helps Iran smash $500m US base’s battlefield nerve centre’ & Ukraine seals historic 10-year Gulf defence pacts

Day 1,495.


Today, as the full extent of the damage from Ukrainian strikes in
the Baltic region becomes clearer, we assess the impact on
Russia’s oil infrastructure and the wider war economy. We also
examine stalled offensives on the ground, with both Russian and
Ukrainian forces struggling to make significant gains along the
frontline. Then we turn to President Zelensky’s “Gulf Grand
Tour”, as he signs defence agreements with Gulf states seeking
Ukrainian assistance against Iranian drone threats as Moscow is
accused of helping Tehran to destroy one of its most valuable
aircraft. And later, we look at a row in Germany after a major
defence company claimed Ukrainian drones were “built by
housewives”, and ask whether a European Union member state such
as Hungary could lose its voting rights amid growing pressure to
unlock a €90 billion loan for Kyiv.


Contributors:


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


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


James Rothwell (Berlin Correspondent). @JamesERothwell on X.


Joe Barnes (Brussels Correspondent). @Barnes_Joe on X.


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:


Francis’s Documentary on Hungary, Russia, and Ukraine:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIILzKnFs2o 


Zelensky looks to Gulf to protect him from Putin (Joe Barnes in
The Telegraph):


https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/03/29/zelensky-needs-patriot-missiles-answer-in-gulf/ 


Orban on the brink – but his rival may spring a surprise on the
EU (James Crisp in The Telegraph):


https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/03/29/eu-viktor-orban-hungary-election/ 


How Iran destroyed US base’s $500m battlefield nerve centre (The
Telegraph):


https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/03/29/how-iran-destroyed-500m-battlefield-nerve-centre-at-us-base/ 


Hungarian Journalist Faces Spy Charges After Reports on Election
Meddling (New York Times):


https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/26/world/europe/hungary-journalist-election-meddling-espionage.html 


Russians dubious as bomb shelters appear 1,000km from Ukraine
(Kyiv Independent):


https://kyivindependent.com/russia-building-bomb-shelters-1-000-km-from-border-as-ukraines-strike-reach-grows/?mc_cid=6c83d4505d&mc_eid=08d0680a95 


Russian losses in the war with Ukraine: updated (Mediazona and
BBC):


https://en.zona.media/article/2026/03/27/casualties_eng-trl 


EMAIL US:


Contact the team on ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk . We continue to
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