Putin tests ’invincible’ nuclear missile & Serhii Plokhy on the new arms race

2025-10-27

Download

Day 1,342.Today, after a weekend of Russian bombardments on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities – with fires killing multiple civilians – we examine Moscow’s failed diplomatic bid to block Donald Trump’s latest sanctions on Russian energy. Then we consider how Vladimir Putin’s unveiling of a “next-generation” cruise missile reveals growing unease in the Kremlin. Later, we sit down with Ukrainian historian Serhii Plokhy, to discuss the Cold War arms race, and how Kyiv could have retained nuclear weapons after the collapse of the Soviet Un...

Day 1,342.

Today, after a weekend of Russian bombardments on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities – with fires killing multiple civilians – we examine Moscow’s failed diplomatic bid to block Donald Trump’s latest sanctions on Russian energy. Then we consider how Vladimir Putin’s unveiling of a “next-generation” cruise missile reveals growing unease in the Kremlin. Later, we sit down with Ukrainian historian Serhii Plokhy, to discuss the Cold War arms race, and how Kyiv could have retained nuclear weapons after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Please note this episode features distressing recordings from the bombardment on Kyiv, including sounds of incoming drones.

Contributors:

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

With thanks to Ukrainian historian Serhii Plokhy. @SPlokhy on X.

WATCH OUR SPECIAL LIVE EPISODE

Link here: https://youtu.be/Mw_lWhp-flU

Questions from the audience are answered in the podcast version, below:

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/special-putin-could-strike-london-in-90-minutes-russias/id1612424182?i=1000733450202

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7DKehIQCz24eKK73xjP2e8

LINKS

Serhii Plokhy’s new book, ‘The Nuclear Age: An Epic Race for Arms, Power and Survival’:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nuclear-Age-Epic-Power-Survival/dp/0241582865