New Georgian patriarch and influence risks

Day 1,538.

Today, as Andrii Yermak is charged with money laundering, we ask: should President Zelensky be disappointed in his former chief of staff or worried that the scandal is coming closer to him? We report that Poland has moved first and secured a third of the 150 billion Euro SAFE funding and we get our regular view from James Kilner of what’s happening inside Russia. Plus, we take a short foray into Africa, asking what Russia’s ejection from Mali says about the Kremlin's international appeal. 

Contributors:

Dom Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X

Alex Nichol (Telegraph Journalist)

James Kilner (Russia Expert ). @jkjourno on X

CONTENT REFERENCED:

Inside the Ukrainian war room turning the tide on Russia

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/05/12/ukraine-war-drones-tech-russian-soldier-attacks/

Too paranoid to meet strangers, Putin fakes a street chat for cameras, by Antonia Langford

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/12/putin-fakes-a-street-chat-for-cameras/

Putin expands world’s largest drone factory as it ramps up exports to Iran

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/11/putin-expands-worlds-largest-drone-factory/

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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:

- Zelensky former 'right-hand man' charged with corruption

- WhatRussia’s ejection from Mali says about the Kremlin's international appeal

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