'500,000 Russians killed,' says UK spy chief & Sweden pledges new fighter jets

Day 1,554.


Today, as a senior intelligence chief cites a considerably higher
figure of Russian deaths than has previously been cited, there
are a raft of announcements from Ukraine’s allies that will see
new fighter jets and Patriot missiles available to Kyiv, as the
country suffers a new wave of strikes. Then – in a special
dispatch – Francis takes you to Venice for our first film looking
at the decision of the La Biannale art festival to permit the
reopening of the Russian Pavilion, and exploring the work of
Ukrainian artists in wartime.


Contributors:


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


With thanks to the soldiers, artists, and curators at the ‘Still
Joy’ exhibition in Venice. Additional thanks to Sophie O’Sullivan
for video production, Phil Atkins for audio production and to Tom
Steed and Natalia Makohon for dubbing.


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:


Learn more about the PinchukArtCentre’s exhibition ‘Still Joy’ at
La Biennale (running until 1st August):


https://pinchukartcentre.org/en/exhibitions/still-joy-from-ukraine-into-the-world-biennale-arte-2026 


Britain and Poland to manufacture missile under new military pact
(The Telegraph)


https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/27/britain-poland-manufacture-missile-under-new-military-pact/


Putin arms Russian banks to combat Ukrainian drone attacks (The
Telegraph)


https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/05/27/putin-arms-russian-banks-to-combat-ukrainian-drone-attacks/ 


GCHQ puts AI in charge of stopping cyber attacks (The Telegraph):


https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/05/27/gchq-ai-stopping-cyber-attacks-keast-butler-humans-threat/ 


Europe should not negotiate Ukraine peace, insists Norway (The
Telegraph):


https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/28/europe-should-not-negotiate-ukraine-peace-insists-norway/ 


Exclusive: How US ambassador's preplanned trip caused a
diplomatic scandal in Kyiv and Brussels (Kyiv Independent):


https://kyivindependent.com/exclusive-how-us-ambassadors-preplanned-trip-caused-a-diplomatic-scandal-in-kyiv-and-brussels/


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.


HIGHLIGHTS:


'500,000 Russians killed in Ukraine,' says UK spy chief

Sweden pledges new fighter jets in 'historic' deal



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