8,000 Russian armoured vehicles destroyed & general assassinated in Moscow | Ukraine: The Latest

Day 1,028.

Today, we react to the news that the Russian general in charge of the military’s nuclear and chemical weapons division has been assassinated in a scooter bomb attack, we hear live from the Joint Expeditionary Force summit in Estonia, and we hear our latest dispatch from the frontline city of Kharkiv.

Contributors:
Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X.
Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.
Hamish De Bretton-Gordon (Former British Army Tank Commander). @HamishDBG on X
James Rothwell (Berlin Correspondent). @JamesERothwell on X.

Donate to David's charity:
This Christmas, the Telegraph is honouring the life and work of our late colleague David Knowles by working with Humanity & Inclusion, a charity helping the ill, vulnerable and disabled left behind in Ukraine’s warzones. You can donate here:

Francis's Article on the Kharkiv underground School, with photos and clips:

Articles Referenced:
Why Russian blimps appearing on Nato’s border are a message from Moscow (James in The Telegraph)

The 500-mile high speed rail line that can carry Nato troops to a war with Russia (James in The Telegraph)

Russia’s War Economy Is Hitting Its Limits (Foreign Policy)

[JosueMartinez-wwvj]

🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦
🇺🇦Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦
🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦

[VaucluseVanguard]

Absolutely disgusting! What kind of sick mind would destroy an e-scooter.

[viniverum]

Thanks again for excellent reporting. The interview with the pupils and teacher from Kharkiv is very important, and touches ones heart.

[orchidorio]

I found this report to be very compelling! I might listen to it again! Cheers!

[theadventuresofnekosnowbal]

These Russians are war criminals. Why should an 8 year old have to learn about mines and IEDs? Such are the consequences of Russian aggression. Condolences for the loss of the e-scooter. As an e-scooter owner myself, I understand the depth of the loss.

[garyportman]

PUTIN " Day 1025 of my 3 day I looked into Assad's eyes and saw my future " 😀

[alexabenson]

The Russians called it a ‘terrorist attack!’ …now that’s calling the kettle black😉

[marisabenson]

Apparently the majority of working class Americans want the US out of NATO and Vance continually voices the same opinion as does trump. If the US holds no value in NATO and wants to withdraw why should Trump have a say in whether Ukraine joins an organisation they intend to leave?
Ukraine must join NATO and the EU. Ukraine must be rewarded and receive restitution if in the horrendous possibility that their land is ceded- even temporarily.
As for the border town in Estonia- why do those people not leave and go to ruzzia? If they can't or don't want to then accept the will of he majority.
There seems to be a creeping idolising of the past where faded memories invite misplaced nostalgia and lead to romantic fantasies.

[bigpimpin]

Interest rate on Russian debt is over 16% and inflation there is over 9%! What a combination! Russia is going nowhere in world affairs.

[ivykaminsky]

What a moving episode - especially the interview with the teacher and the students

[kevinleecaster]

Ukraine losing territory in light of the chemical weapons use is totally understandable imo.

[tims]

Possibly the oil tankers sinking is of the owners doing. Due to not being able to insure the fleet in 25 thus has cashed out now.
Right infront of our eyes, 3 tankers in a week, think people, think.

[nolan]

The military mobility issue should have been resolved more than a decade(s) ago. NATO (USA) wanted a solution to the rail track guage issue a long time ago. It's extraordinarily difficult to move equipment and troops from one end of Europe to another. The article doesn't mention it. Bridges were on the list also, and yes, a tunnel funded by the EU and project managed by the Danes from Estonia to Finland should be next. It's finally getting addressed by the EU. Be really amazed at the abuse of the USA's forbearance. It deserves acknowledgment.
Fix the silly border crossing checks for the military also if it is still happening.

[LlamaDuck]

I have a correction I would like to make regarding a statement in the podcast about the russiаn general.
It says the general "is one of рutin's very close aides and put up a lot of propaganda".


Correction:
*was

[thomasbernecky]

Hamish: I think the technical term is "explodified?"

[AksilRebis]

It seems to be a "shaped charge" from the pictures I've seen.

[eldorado]

Внимание, внимание! Говорит Москва!


Союз нерушимый республик свободных
Сплотила навеки Великая Русь.
Да здравствует созданный волей народов
Единый, могучий Советский Союз!

Славься, Отечество наше свободное,
Дружбы, народов надежный оплот!
Знамя советское, знамя народное
Пусть от победы, к победе ведет!

[matinhewing]

This is a distraction from the terrible news coming from the frontlines?

[williamtell]

It is not true that "Russia is being booted out of Syria", as far as I know.

[charlygriffin]

I thought we might get a mention of Ukraine losing 50sqkm in the Kursk pocket in the last 24 hours