This Is Why

Under siege in Kyiv, Ilyas endures his longest blackout.Military volunteer, Seva, sources chainsaws for comrades in the east and in her mind, Oksana visits the rooftop of her apartment block to offer a god-like view of a Ukrainian capital under siege. OUR DIARISTS Ilyas is an IT specialist and married father who fled from Kyiv to Lviv shortly after the war started. His wife Natalia, and two young sons are taking refuge in Poland.As of December 2022, Ilyas is back living in the family apartment in Kyiv. Seva, 40, is a company CEO and husband to Oksana. Before the war, he travelled across Europe for business. Now, he makes regular supply drops of medical aid and rations to Ukrainian troops on the front line in Eastern Ukraine. He’s originally from a small village near Dnipro. Oksana, 35, works in overseas education. She lives with her husband, Seva, in an apartment complex in central Kyiv. Many of Oksana’s closest friends have left the country to begin new lives in Europe. Some may never return. She’s continues to try and make a life there. Ukraine War Diaries uses first-person audio, recorded on the ground in Ukraine, to give an intimate day-to-day perspective of life in a war zone. EP57 diary entries were recorded using WhatsApp voice note. From the producers of Sky News’ multi-award winning series – StoryCast. Producer: Rob MulhernEditor: Paul StanworthDigital Promotion: David Chipakupaku

The Prince and Princess of Wales's first overseas trip since the Queen's death has been overshadowed by controversy at home. The prince’s godmother has resigned from her role in the royal household after she repeatedly asked Ngozi Fulani, a black domestic abuse campaigner, where she “really came from”. A spokesperson for Prince William, who is on a three-day visit to Boston, Massachusetts, said Lady Susan Hussey's comments were "unacceptable" and that "racism has no place in our society". On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson gets the reaction in Boston from Sky's royal correspondent Laura Bundock and speaks to Sunder Katwala from British Future about diversity in Buckingham Palace. Plus, PR specialist Professor Cele Otnes speaks about the role the younger royals could play in rebranding the Royal Family. Podcast producer - Rosie Gillott Junior podcast producer – Jada-Kai Meosa John Interviews producer – Alys Bowen Digital producer - David Chipakupaku Editor - Philly Beaumont

A drug used in clinical trials has been found to slow memory loss in patients with the condition - and although lecanemab is not a cure, it has got a lot of scientists and others very excited. On the Sky News Daily podcast, Niall Paterson speaks to Scott Mitchell, the widower of the late Dame Barbara Windsor, who died with the disease, about what the breakthrough means to his campaign to raise awareness. Plus Tom Clarke, Sky’s science and technology editor, explores how much of a difference the drug could make and what happens next. Senior podcast producer: Annie Joyce Interviews producer: Alys Bowen Podcast promotions producer: David Chipakupaku Archiver researcher: Nelly Stefanova Editor: Philly Beaumont

Intense missile strikes from Russia have left Ukraine with country-wide power outages and blackouts. Satellite images show how dark the country has become compared to its neighbours. How will the darkness affect Ukraine as the war enters the winter months? On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by our security and defence editor Deborah Haynes as they explore the impact the continued Russian shelling is having on Ukraine's power grid, and the bleak winter ahead.Annie Joyce – senior podcast producer Soila Apparicio – podcast producer Jada-Kai Meosa John - junior podcast producer David Chipakupaku – podcast promotion producer Philly Beaumont - editor

Protests have sprung up across some of China's biggest cities with demonstrators shouting "down with the CCP, down with Xi Jinping". The protests, originally sparked by frustration at continued COVID lockdown measures, are now being seen as a challenge to the Communist leadership in the country in general. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson speaks to Sky News' Asia correspondent Helen-Ann Smith, who has witnessed protests in Shanghai. Plus, Cindy Yu, host of The Spectator's Chinese Whispers podcast, on the threat continued unrest poses to China's leader, Xi Jinping. Producer: Emma Rae Woodhouse Junior Producer: Jada-Kai Meosa John Digital Producer: David Chipakupaku Editor: Philly Beaumont

The dark web is a hidden space on the internet where your activity can be anonymous and private. Among these dark websites, there’s a disturbing amount of apparent "murder-for-hire" sites offering hitman services. On the Sky News Daily, Sally Lockwood explores the use of "murder-for-hire" websites with hacker and dark web vigilante Chris Monteiro, while one victim tells us how dangerous they are. Also, Andy Greenberg, author of Tracers in the Dark: The Global Hunt for the Crime Lords of Cryptocurrency and senior writer at WIRED magazine, helps us understand what is being done to combat them. Producers: Soila Apparicio and Tom Gillespie Promotions Producer: David Chipakupaku Editor: Philly Beaumont

In the dark of Kyiv, Ilyas fears for the under-fire Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, knowing how the 1986 Chernobyl disaster continues to impact lives in Ukraine to this day. With new orders, military volunteer Seva, prepares to go on assignment in southern Ukraine, but not before an unexpected meeting with two soldiers involved in the recent liberation of Kherson.And feeling helpless overseas, Oksana desperately tries to reach her family in the midst of yet another devastating missile attack. OUR DIARISTS Ilyas is an IT specialist and married father who fled from Kyiv to Lviv shortly after the war started. His wife Natalia, and two young sons are taking refuge in Poland.As of November 2022, Ilyas is back living in the family apartment in Kyiv. Seva, 40, is a company CEO and husband to Oksana. Before the war, he travelled across Europe for business. Now, he makes regular supply drops of medical aid and rations to Ukrainian troops on the front line in Eastern Ukraine. He’s originally from a small village near Dnipro. Oksana, 35, works in overseas education. She lives with her husband, Seva, in an apartment complex in central Kyiv. Many of Oksana’s closest friends have left the country to begin new lives in Europe. Some may never return. She’s continues to try and make a life there. Ukraine War Diaries uses first-person audio, recorded on the ground in Ukraine, to give an intimate day-to-day perspective of life in a war zone. EP34 diary entries were recorded using WhatsApp voice note. From the producers of Sky News’ multi-award winning series – StoryCast. Producer: Rob MulhernEditor: Paul StanworthDigital Promotion: David Chipakupaku

State secret police have been accused of abducting and killing civilians on the street of Iran, a country where hundreds of people have died and violence continues to escalate during protests which have been raging for 10 weeks. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by Victoria Elms and Sanya Burgess from Sky News’ digital investigations team which has carried out a special investigation into CCTV footage of a murder, carried out in broad daylight, seemingly by Iran's feared secret police. Plus, Iranian historian Ali Ansari on the government's plan to spread terror in the population to consolidate its own control.Podcast producer- Rosie Gillott Junior podcast producer – Jada-Kai Meosa John Interviews producer – Alys Bowen Digital producer - David Chipakupaku Editor - Philly Beaumont

Supreme Court judges have decided unanimously that an Indyref2 vote cannot go ahead without the UK parliament’s permission. But it’s not the end of the debate – or Scotland’s First Minister’s fight to break free from Great Britain. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson looks at what the judgment means both politically and legally with our Scotland correspondent Connor Gillies. Plus, reaction from both sides of the debate as we speak to Kevin Hague, chair of pro-union think tank These Islands, and Lesley Riddoch, columnist for Scottish papers The Herald and The National, who supports Scottish independence. Annie Joyce – senior podcast producer Alys Bowen – interviews producer Philly Beaumont – editor

Since Elon Musk bought and took over Twitter three weeks ago, he’s re-visioned the platform with “free speech” at its core. But his takeover has seen an exodus of staff and a series of user-reported issues. Twitter has been a resource for connecting with officials, celebrities, and each other, but can it withstand the changes made under Musk? On the Sky News Daily, Niall Patterson speaks to our technology reporter Tom Acres about what has happened since Musk took over. Also, former Twitter EMEA Vice President Bruce Daisley helps us understand the culture of Twitter, and Silicon Valley historian Margaret O’Mara on its future. Producers: Soila Apparicio and Rosie Gillott Junior Producer: Jada-Kai Meosa John Interviews Producer: Alys Bowen Promotions Producer: David Chipakupaku Editor: Philly Beaumont