
Ukrainecast
The BBC’s only English language programme entirely dedicated to the war in Ukraine and its fallout, Ukrainecast is your go-to podcast which investigates the biggest issues around the conflict: Could Putin push the nuclear button? How could Donald Trump end the war in 24 hours? What is the price for peace? The podcast is hosted by Newsnight presenter Victoria Derbyshire and BBC Monitoring’s Vitaly Shevchenko. Ukrainecast covers the most important topics around the conflict and speaks to the real people who’ve lived through several years of war. It also brings you agenda-setting interviews with special guests each week such as UK foreign secretary David Cameron, former US secretary of state Mike Pompeo and pre-eminent Russia expert Fiona Hill.
GET IN TOUCH: You can join our Ukrainecastonline community here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord Send us a message or voicenote via WhatsApp to +443301239480 Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk
You can listen to the latest episode of Ukrainecast anytime on your smart speaker by saying “Alexa, Ask BBC Sounds for Ukrainecast."
If you enjoy Ukrainecast (and if you’re reading this then you hopefully do), then we think that you will enjoy some of our other pods too. See links below. The Global Story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/w13xtvsd The Today Podcast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0gg4k6r Americast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p07h19zz Newscast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p05299nl
Latest episodes

Feb 24, 2023 • 39min
The anniversary
Ukrainians gather for a special broadcast at the BBC Radio Theatre, hosted by Ukrainecast and Newsnight. They share their fears for families at home, feelings of guilt about escaping to safety and the need for justice. Host Victoria Derbyshire, BBC Monitoring’s Russia editor Vitaly Shevchenko and Newsnight’s diplomatic editor Mark Urban reflect on the past year and discuss what the next 12 months could bring. This episode was made by Ben Carter, Luke Radcliff, Clare Williamson, Natasha Fernandes, Arsenii Sokolov and Fiona Leach. The assistant editors were Louis Degenhardt and Alison Gee. Technical production by the Newsnight team and Mike Regaard. The Senior News editor is Sam Bonham.

Feb 23, 2023 • 30min
12 Months On: Your questions answered
In this special edition of Ukrainecast, we’re giving over the entire episode to trying to answer the questions you’ve been sending us about this war - how it might develop, what could bring it to a halt, how Ukraine is weathering the invasion, how Russia is changing in light of its invasion, and - of course - what might lay in wait for President Putin.Steve Rosenberg, Ukrainecast’s man in Moscow, Irena Taranyuk of the BBC’s Ukrainian Service, and Paul Adams, who covers the world for the BBC, join up with Vitaliy Shevchenko as part of a series of episodes marking the one-year anniversary since the start of the war in Ukraine. This episode was produced by Josh Jenkins and Clare Williamson. The series producer is Fiona Leach. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The 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

Feb 22, 2023 • 29min
12 Months On: President Putin’s Next Steps?
Ukrainecast comes together with Putin, the BBC Sounds and Radio 4 podcast which examines the life, times, motives and modus operandi of Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin. Returning to the show are three lifelong Kremlin-watchers to cast ahead and speculate on just how this war might develop. Professor Nina Kruscheva is an historian at The New School in New York and the great grand-daughter of Nikita Kruschev, Sir Laurie Bristow was the UK’s Amabassador to Moscow from 2016-2020, and Vitaly Shevchenko is the head of the Russia section for BBC Monitoring. Today’s episode was presented by Jonny Dymond as part of a series of episodes marking the one-year anniversary of the start of the war in Ukraine.
The producers were Fiona Leach and Luke Radcliff. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The 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

Feb 21, 2023 • 39min
12 Months On: British Ambassador in Conversation
One year in to the war, President Putin addresses Russian parliament with his state of the union address. In it he points the finger at the West for the Ukraine War and says Russia will suspend its involvement in a nuclear treaty with the US.And we get two very up-close and personal accounts of the war - the first from the British Ambassador to Ukraine, Dame Melinda Simmons, and the second from the UK news anchor, Clive Myrie. Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaliy Shevchenko as part of a series of episodes marking the one-year anniversary of the start of the war in Ukraine.
The producers were Arsenii Sokolov, Clare Williamson and Luke Radcliff. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Fiona Leach. The 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

Feb 20, 2023 • 30min
12 Months On: Vlad's Journey to England
From a Russian prison to Pizza Express. Victoria speaks with 17-year-old Vlad, who was taken prisoner by the Russians and held for three months at the start of the war. We hear about how he and his family coped, their new life in England, and their hopes for the future.Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire as part of a series of episodes marking the one-year anniversary of the start of the war in Ukraine. The producers were Arsenii Sokolov, Clare Williamson and Luke Radcliffe The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Fiona Leach. 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

Feb 17, 2023 • 30min
Inside a prisoner of war camp for Russians
Ukraine and Russia swap POWs in a rare act of compassion, and the BBC’s James Waterhouse gets to visit a Ukrainian facility where Russian soldiers are being held. We also hear from Emma Vardy about her documentary on British men who have volunteered to sign up to fight with Ukrainian soldiers. She tells us about what drives them and what the families they leave behind.Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaliy Shevchenko.
The producers were Arsenii Sokolov, Clare Williamson and Luke Radcliff. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Fiona Leach. The 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

Feb 14, 2023 • 32min
‘It’s just a casual donkey’
Kalush Orchestra on winning Eurovision, touring the world and meeting Arnold Schwarzenegger’s donkey.The BBC’s Orla Guerin gives us a close up account of life on the frontline in Bakhmut as Russia throws everything to claim this symbolic city and how are relations between Presidents Xi and Putin after a year of war in Ukraine? China expert, Dr Yu Jie from Chatham House gives her views.Today’s episode is presented by Adam Fleming and Vitaliy Shevchenko.
The producers were Arsenii Sokolov, Clare Williamson and Josh Jenkins. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Fiona Leach. The 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 1239480Join us for a recording of a special episode of Ukrainecast on 24th February to mark the one-year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Venue: BBC Radio Theatre, London.Tickets: www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours

Feb 10, 2023 • 30min
The man in the woods
A Russian man determined to avoid mobilisation tells us he’s living in the forest so the authorities can’t find him and force him to fight. His wife delivers food and he has set up solar panels so he can carry on working as a software engineer from his tent.
The BBC’s world affairs editor Paul Adams has been out with Ukrainian engineers who are trying to keep homes and businesses connected to electricity as Russia continues to attack power stations.
And psychologist Olena Kovalchuk explains how she’s been helping Ukrainian teachers suffering from grief, anxiety and anger.
Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaly Shevchenko.
The producers were Arsenii Sokolov, Clare Williamson, Luke Radcliff and Josh Jenkins. The technical producer was Hannah Montgomery. The series producer is Fiona Leach. The assistant editor is Alison Gee and the 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
Join us for a recording of a special episode of Ukrainecast on 24 February to mark the one-year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. We’re linking up with Newsnight for the event.
Venue: BBC Radio Theatre, London.
Tickets: www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours

Feb 8, 2023 • 32min
Extra episode: President Zelensky makes a surprise visit to the UK
Listen to his Westminster speech in full.Victoria and Vitaly come together to talk through Zelensky's first visit to the UK since Russia invaded his country. Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaliy Shevchenko. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Fiona Leach. 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 0330 1239480.

Feb 7, 2023 • 31min
Why do so many Russians support the war?
Unpicking history and propaganda to understand ordinary Russians and their attitude to the war with Russia expert Dr Jade McGlynn.James Waterhouse in Kyiv brings us up to date on what’s happening in the East of Ukraine around Bakhmut and President Zelensky’s corruption clampdown and Frank Gardner appraises the progress of Russia’s so-called Spring offensive.Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaliy Shevchenko.
The producers were Arsenii Sokolov, Clare Williamson and Josh Jenkins. The technical producer was Philip Bull. The series producer is Fiona Leach. The assistant editor is Alison Gee and the 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