The Ukrainian spy who fooled Moscow & interview with a frontline drone unit commander

2025-11-05

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Day 1,351.Today, as reports from Pokrovsk indicate Russian troops now hold positions across nearly the entire city, prosecutors in Kharkiv launch a new war crimes investigation after footage emerged of an alleged Russian FPV drone strike on two civilians carrying a white flag near Kharkiv. We also examine today’s Joint Expeditionary Force meeting in Norway – asking whether it’s wise for the group to brand itself as “NATO’s first responders” – before doing a deep dive into recent cases of Ukrainian and Russian spycraft. Lat...

Day 1,351.

Today, as reports from Pokrovsk indicate Russian troops now hold positions across nearly the entire city, prosecutors in Kharkiv launch a new war crimes investigation after footage emerged of an alleged Russian FPV drone strike on two civilians carrying a white flag near Kharkiv. We also examine today’s Joint Expeditionary Force meeting in Norway – asking whether it’s wise for the group to brand itself as “NATO’s first responders” – before doing a deep dive into recent cases of Ukrainian and Russian spycraft. Later, we speak with the commander of a Ukrainian drone unit who helped destroy Russian forces following the so-called “breakthrough” in Dobropillya.

Contributors

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

With thanks to Dimko Zhluktenko.

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CONTENT REFERENCED:

Learn more about Dimko’s charity, Dzyga’s Paw:

https://dzygaspaw.com/

Dom’s story on MI5 chief’s warnings (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/10/16/sir-ken-mccallum-mi5-china-spy-scandal-national-security/

The Ukrainian double-agent playing Russia at its own game (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/11/01/ukraine-russia-war-double-agent-security-services/

A champion like no other: The curious life of a Unit 29155 operative (The Insider):

https://theins.ru/en/inv/286477

Russia moves to year-round conscription from 2026 (Kyiv Independent):

https://kyivindependent.com/putin-signs-law-allowing-year-round-conscription-in-russia/?mc_cid=fb29c7d440&mc_eid=08d0680a95

Is there a risk of encirclement in Pokrovsk and what awaits Myrnohrad? Soldiers explain (Hromadske):