Massive ‘volcanic’ refinery blaze erupts again ‘only hours’ after being put out & witnessing Russia's 'spiral into madness' under Putin
Ukraine: The Latest
Louisa Wells / Francis Dearnley
4.8 • 2.7K Ratings
🗓️ 20 April 2026
⏱️ 48 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
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’:
Pro-Russian fighter pilot wins crushing victory in Bulgaria election (The Telegraph):
Moscow-born gunman kills six in Kyiv supermarket ‘terror attack’ (The Telegraph):
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:
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.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | The Telegraph. I'm Francis Dernley and this is Ukraine, the latest. Today, as President Zelensky |
| 0:14.9 | warns of increased Russian military activity in neighbouring Belarus, we discuss weekend Ukrainian air raids |
| 0:20.5 | targeting the oil refineries |
| 0:22.0 | around Moscow. We then examine a shock election result that's brought another pro-Russia leader |
| 0:27.2 | to power within both the EU and NATO following in the footsteps of Hungary's Viktor Orban. |
| 0:33.2 | And later, we speak to a veteran foreign correspondent who spent 25 years in Russia |
| 0:37.5 | and who has made more than a dozen trips to Ukraine since the full-scale invasion |
| 0:41.2 | for his memories of how Putin built a system of ever greater repression and violence. |
| 0:47.8 | Bravery takes you through the most unimaginable hardships to finally reward you with victory. |
| 0:57.0 | The Russian does not want peace. |
| 0:59.0 | First, we're in our help for the Ukraine |
| 1:03.0 | also our freedom and our European |
| 1:07.0 | Writers. |
| 1:08.0 | If I'm president, I will have that war settled in one day, 24 hours. |
| 1:12.0 | We are with you, not just today or tomorrow, but for a hundred years. |
| 1:17.1 | We can't as European, let's gain the Russia in Ukraine. |
| 1:21.6 | Nobody's going to break us. We're strong. Where Ukraine is. |
| 1:27.6 | It's Monday, the 20th of April, four years and 55 days since the full-scale invasion began. |
| 1:33.8 | And today, I'm joined by our Associate Editor of Defence, Dominic Nichols, |
| 1:37.2 | and Foreign Correspondent at the Times and Sunday Times of London, Mark Bennett. |
| 1:41.5 | Welcome, Mark. |
| 1:42.4 | But first, over to Dom for the latest in the military realm. |
... |
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