Russian troops ‘surrender to army robots’ in war first & interview with former CIA operative on Putin’s spycraft
Ukraine: The Latest
Louisa Wells / Francis Dearnley
4.8 • 2.7K Ratings
🗓️ 14 April 2026
⏱️ 51 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Day 1,510.
Today, as new evidence emerges that Russia is increasing sign-on bonuses to recruit more soldiers for its war in Ukraine, we report on efforts to ramp up defences around Vladimir Putin’s palace. We also examine dramatic political developments in Hungary, where the new prime minister has vowed to expose alleged Russian links – amid reports of document shredding by allies of former leader Viktor Orbán. And later, we speak to a former CIA operative about Russian disinformation tactics, the failures of Kremlin intelligence services, and what they have learned – and not learned – from the war.
Contributors:
Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.
Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.
With thanks to former CIA operative Sean M. Wiswesser.
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:
Sean M. Wiswesser’s book, ‘Tradecraft, Tactics, and Dirty Tricks: Russian Intelligence and Putin's Secret War’:
Putin has lost his best friend inside the EU. Who can he rely on now Orban has gone? (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/04/14/putin-loses-best-friend-orban/
Ukraine ‘forces Russians to surrender using only robots’ (The Telegraph):
Putin’s house now protected by 27 air defence systems (Antonia Langford in The Telegraph):
Zelensky's Ukraine's Defense Industry Worker Day Address (President's Office):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Br_kdXR-sk&t=56s
Starmer accused of ‘corrosive complacency’ over defence (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/04/14/starmer-accused-complacency-former-nato-chief-defence/
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.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | The Telegraph. I'm Francis Dernley and this is Ukraine, the latest. Today, as new evidence emerges |
| 0:15.3 | that Russia is increasing sign-on bonuses to recruit more soldiers for its war, we report on efforts |
| 0:20.4 | to ramp up defences |
| 0:21.7 | around Putin's palace. We also examine dramatic political developments in Hungary, where the new |
| 0:27.3 | Prime Minister has vowed to expose alleged Russian links amid reports of document shredding |
| 0:33.2 | by allies of former leader Viktor Orban. And later, we speak to a former CIA operative |
| 0:38.8 | about Russian disinformation tactics, |
| 0:40.8 | the failures of Kremlin intelligence services |
| 0:43.0 | and what they've learned and not learned from this war. |
| 0:48.5 | Bravery takes you through the most unimaginable hardships to finally reward you with victory. |
| 0:57.0 | The Russia does not want feast. |
| 0:59.0 | First, we're in our help for the Ukraine, |
| 1:03.0 | also our freedom and our European Writers. |
| 1:08.0 | If I'm president, I will have that war settled in one day, 24 hours. |
| 1:12.2 | 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. |
| 1:21.5 | Nobody's going to break us. We're strong. We're Ukrainians. |
| 1:27.3 | It's Tuesday, the 14th of April, four years and 49 days, since the full-scale invasion began. |
| 1:34.1 | And today, I'm joined by my co-host and Associate Editor of Defense here at the Telegraph, Dominic Nichols, |
| 1:38.9 | and former senior operations officer in the CIA and author of a new book on Russian espionage tradecraft, Sean Wisswessa. |
| 1:46.4 | But first, over to Dom for the latest in the military realm. |
| 1:50.0 | Well, thanks, Francis. So just a few hours ago, there was a very large explosion in Dinipra that's |
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