Ukrainecast

Schools in one of Ukraine’s most dangerous cities have taken evasive action to escape frequent Russian missile strikes. In Kharkiv they’ve opened up temporary classrooms in metro stations to keep children safe from attacks. In this episode we hear from a teacher and a fifteen-year-old student about what school life is like underground. Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaly Shevchenko. The producers were Nick Holland and Arsenii Sokolov. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Tim Walklate. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480 You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast’s Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord

A husband and wife’s tale of imprisonment, torture and their campaign to free POWs. Arsenii Fedosiuk, a lieutenant in Ukraine’s Azov Brigade, was one of the soldiers who fought defending the Azovstal steel works and was imprisoned, tortured and subsequently released by the Russians. He’s in London with his wife, Yulia, as part of a campaign to put pressure on the Russian authorities to return their Prisoners of War, and came into the Ukrainecast studio. Today’s episode is presented by Jamie Coomarasamy and Irena Taranyuk. The producers were Arsenii Sokolov and Nick Holland. The technical producer was Ricardo McCarthy. The series producer is Tim Walklate. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480 You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast’s Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord

Could Ukraine host fresh elections? How could the war end? Do we believe Mike Pompeo’s interpretation of how Donald Trump would end the war in 24 hours? Victoria and Jamie are joined by General Sir Richard Barrons, former commander of the UK's Joint Forces Command, to answer these questions from you… and more. Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Jamie Coomarasamy. The producers were Arsenii Sokolov and Natasha Mayo. The technical producer was Philip Bull. The series producer is Tim Walklate. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480 You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast’s Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord

Donald Trump’s former secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, tells Ukrainecast what his old boss really thinks about Ukraine, and what another Trump presidency could mean for the war. He also talks about whether he’d take another top job in the White House. Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaly Shevchenko. It was made by Chris Flynn with Cordelia Hemming Arsenii Sokolov, and Charlie Henry. The technical producer was Dafydd Evans. The series producer is Tim Walklate. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480 You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast’s Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord

Russia has launched a surprise offensive into the Kharkiv region, in one of its most significant ground attacks since the start of the war. So is this the start of the much anticipated summer offensive? We hear from Olesiia, a Kharkiv resident, who fled the city with her children, and says the last few days reminds her of the beginning of the full scale invasion. And friend of the podcast, Mark Galeotti, explains why Vladimir Putin has replaced his defence minister with an economist. Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaly Shevchenko. The producers were Arsenii Sokolov, Charlie Henry, Natasha Mayo and Clare Williamson. The technical producer was Dafydd Evans. The series producer is Tim Walklate. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480 You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast’s Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord

What does the competition mean for Ukrainians? Lucy is joined by Eurovision reporter Daniel Rosney, who is in the Swedish city of Malmo, which plays host to Eurovision's grand final on Saturday. Tymofii Muzychuk, who won Eurovision in 2022 with the Kalush Orchestra, tells us what life has been like since their performance and why the song contest matters so much to his country. And we catch up with Ukraine’s Eurovision TV commentator, Timur Miroshnychenko, who will again be covering the competition from a bunker. Today’s episode is presented by Lucy Hockings. The producers were Arsenii Sokolov and Cordelia Hemming. The technical producers were Hannah Montgomery and Emma Crowe. The series producer is Tim Walklate. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480 You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast’s Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord

Vladimir Putin has been sworn in as Russia's president for a new six-year term, just days before Russia’s annual Victory Day military parade on 9 May. But why does this annual event, marking victory over Nazi Germany in 1945, matter so much to Russia now? We speak to Alexander Goncharov a former Russian military officer, who’s now head of the World War Two veterans organisation in Moscow. And we discuss Victory Day’s symbolism with Russia editor Steve Rosenberg and Patricia Lewis from Chatham House. Today’s episode is presented by Jamie Coomarasamy and Vitaly Shevchenko. The producers were Charlie Henry and Arsenii Sokolov. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Tim Walklate. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480 You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast’s Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord

It’s 800 days since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. We answer your questions on whether Russia has used chemical weapons, could Western troops ever be deployed, what the prospects are for peace, and at what cost? To help do this Victoria and Vitaly are joined by two friends of the podcast: Samantha de Bendern, and Newsnight’s Mark Urban. And we hear from inside the town at the epicentre of the fighting in eastern Ukraine, Chasiv Yar. Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaly Shevchenko. The producers were Arsenii Sokolov, Cordelia Hemming, Ivana Davidovic, Nick Sturdee and Charlie Henry. The technical producer was Hannah Montgomery. The series producer is Tim Walklate. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480 You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast’s Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord

Ukraine's longest-serving official on death, exile and Vladimir Putin... Victoria and Vitaly speak to Oleksiy Reva, the mayor of Bakhmut, who has been in his position since 1990. The town he runs was the focus of one of the bloodiest battles of the war so far, and is now mostly in ruin. He discusses losing friends and colleagues, what he’d like to say to Vladimir Putin and his hopes to one day return to Bakhmut. Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaly Shevchenko. The producers were Arsenii Sokolov, Cordelia Hemming and Elliot Ryder. The technical producer was Philip Bull. The series producer is Tim Walklate. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480 You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast’s Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord

We answer your questions on the US aid package for Ukraine: when will it be felt on the frontline and will it have an impact on the war? To help do this Victoria and Vitaly are joined by the former head of the US Army in Europe, General Ben Hodges, who also gives his assessment on whether Ukraine can win. And, we hear from Steve Rosenberg in Moscow who shares some news about his friend Valentina, who used to work in a newspaper kiosk. Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaly Shevchenko. The producers were Arsenii Sokolov, Cordelia Hemming, Elliot Ryder and Miriam Quayyum. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Tim Walklate. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480 You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast’s Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord

A soldier and civilian discuss the $61 billion military package to Ukraine… Victoria and Vitaly hear from “Ostap”, who is fighting in the Donetsk Oblast and from friend of the podcast, Olga in the front-line city of Kherson. They share their hopes on what the US aid package could mean for their country’s fight against Russia. But will Ukraine simply run out of weapons again? Or can this be a turning point? Ann Marie Dailey, a policy researcher at RAND think tank dissects what this all could mean for the future of the war. Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaly Shevchenko. It was made by Keiligh Baker. The producers were Arsenii Sokolov, Cordelia Hemming, Elliot Ryder and Ivana Davidovic. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Tim Walklate. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480 You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast’s Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord

BBC Russian reporter Olga Ivshina talks to Victoria and Vitaly about her investigation into Russian military deaths since the start of the war. And Professor Michael Clarke, defence and security analyst, answers your questions about the latest from the frontline, foreign aid for Ukraine, the use of AI in combat and much more. Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaly Shevchenko. The producers were Keiligh Baker, Arsenii Sokolov, Cordelia Hemming, Ivana Davidovic and Elliot Ryder. The technical producer was Gareth Jones. The series producer is Tim Walklate. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480 You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast’s Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord

Frontline fighters on the Russian threat and the prospects for peace… Victoria and James are joined by Yaryna, who’s been serving in Ukraine’s armed forces since 2020, and a recent recruit who goes by the call-sign ‘Logan’. They discuss the current situation on the battle field, whether a new mobilisation law is enough and the prospect of Ukraine failing to win this war. Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and James Waterhouse. The producers were Arsenii Sokolov, Hanna Chornous, Cordelia Hemming and Ivana Davidovic. The technical producer was Dafydd Evans. The series producer is Tim Walklate. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480 You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast’s Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord

On today’s Ukrainecast we’re answering your questions on our recent David Cameron interview, Kyiv’s attempts to boost its troop numbers and the continued hold-up of the US military aid package in Congress. To help do this, we’re joined by Patricia Lewis from Chatham House and BBC Security Correspondent, Frank Gardner. Today’s episode is presented by Lucy Hockings and Vitaly Shevchenko. The producers were Cordelia Hemming, Miranda Slade, Elliot Ryder and Ivana Davidovic. The technical producer was Philip Bull. The series producer is Tim Walklate. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480 You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast’s Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord

Why is Russia targeting Ukraine’s second city of Kharkiv? It’s suffered extensive damage from months of Russian bombardment since the full-scale invasion and Ukrainian officials have said the city might be the target of a future Russian offensive. We hear from a resident and speak to the city’s mayor, Ihor Terekhov. The BBC’s Sarah Rainsford tells us what life is like in Kharkiv, and Dara Massicot from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace discusses the likelihood of any future Russian takeover. Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaly Shevchenko. The producers were Arsenii Sokolov, Elliot Ryder and Ivana Davidovic. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Tim Walklate. The assistant editor was Alex Lewis. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480 You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast’s Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord

The British Foreign Secretary, Lord David Cameron, speaks exclusively to Ukrainecast. He says he has ruled out western boots on the ground in Ukraine, but acknowledged that the "war will be lost if the allies don't step up". Today’s episode is hosted by Lucy Hockings and Vitaly Shevchenko. The producers were Cordelia Hemming, Elliot Ryder, Arsenii Sokolov, and Rosie Strawbridge. The production crew was Lee Durant and Xavier Vanpevenaege. The series producer is Tim Walklate. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. Photo credit: Tolga Akmen/EPA.

Last week the Russian Orthodox Church approved a document that branded the full-scale invasion of Ukraine a “holy war.” So what role does religion play in the Ukraine war? The BBC’s Harry Farley and Lucy Ash, the author of the upcoming book "The Baton and the Cross: Russia's church from Pagans to Putin", try to make sense of it all. We also hear from Father Andriy Zelinskyy, chief military chaplain for the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church about how he offers spiritual guidance and comfort on the frontline. Today’s episode is presented by Jamie Coomarasamy and Vitaly Shevchenko. The producers were Arsenii Sokolov, Elliot Ryder and Ivana Davidovic. The technical producer was Ricardo McCarthy. The series producer is Tim Walklate. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480 You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast’s Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord

Top Russian officials have directly accused Ukraine and the West of being involved in the deadly Moscow concert hall attack, after it was claimed by the Islamic State (IS) group. We speak to one woman, Valentina, who lives in Russia, about how safe she feels in the country and whether she’s taking the Kremlin’s line. And two Kremlinologists, Angela Stent from Georgetown and Hanne Notte from the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, discuss whether this could result in an escalation in fighting. Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaly Shevchenko. The producers were Arsenii Sokolov and Ivana Davidovic. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Tim Walklate. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480 You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast’s Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord

A wave of Russian strikes have hammered Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, leaving at least five dead. We speak to Kharkiv resident Nataliya, who joins us from a special bunker in the city, where officials say 700 000 were left with no electricity. Also, we hear from one eyewitness who lives next door to one of the targets - Ukraine's largest dam, the DniproHES, which was hit eight times according to Ukrainian officials And we get the latest from the BBC’s Sarah Rainsford in Kyiv where officials are calling this the largest missile and drone attack on infrastructure of the war so far, and Glen Grant, a military analyst explains the potential strategy behind these strikes. Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaly Shevchenko. The producers were Arsenii Sokolov, Cordelia Hemming and Ivana Davidovic. The technical producer was Sam Dickinson. The series producer is Tim Walklate. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480 You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast’s Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord

There’s been a spike in drone attacks by both Ukraine and Russia. Ukrainians have recently targeted Russian oil refineries, while Russians have used drones to target the port of Odesa. So could drones change the course of the war? Ukraine correspondent James Waterhouse and drone expert Samuel Bendett unpick the strategies and technologies behind drone warfare. And we hear from drone operator Ruda, a mother-of-two, who trains Ukrainians how to pilot drones. Today’s episode is presented by Lyse Doucet and Vitaly Shevchenko. It was made by Keiligh Baker. The producers were Arsenii Sokolov and Ivana Davidovic. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Tim Walklate. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480. You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast’s Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord.