Crimea 'without power' after deadly raids as Zelensky meets Trump

Day 1,614.

As Ukraine strikes a target more than 1,300 kilometres from Kyiv, Francis and Alex Nichol assess the significance of President Zelensky’s visit to Washington for Lindsey Graham’s funeral and to meet with President Trump. It comes a day after Ukraine struck a tanker from Iran in the Caspian Sea, something the US president was asked about on Air Force One. Meanwhile, attention is focused on Congress as lawmakers prepare to decide the fate of the bipartisan sanctions bill, which would impose sweeping tariffs on countries continuing to buy Russian energy. Later, we take a deep dive into the Black Sea grain corridor, exploring why it’s returned to the centre of the war after recent attacks on merchant shipping, and what it means for global food security.

Contributors:

Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Alex Nichol (Telegraph Journalist).

With thanks to Andrey Sizov, head of SovEcon grain consultancy (@sizov_andre on X).

Producer: Tom Steed

Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett

Video Producer: Sophie O’Sullivan

Social Producer: Anita Blay

Studio Director: Meghan Searle

Executive Editor: Francis Dearnley

Created by David Knowles

NOW IN FULL VIDEO WITH MAPS & BATTLEFIELD FOOTAGE:

Every episode is now available on our YouTube channel shortly after the release of the audio version. You will find it here: https://www.youtube.com/@UkraineTheLatest  

CONTENT REFERENCED:

Democrats ‘undermining US support for Ukraine’ (The Telegraph)

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/27/democrat-opponents-sanctioning-russia-act-undermine-ukraine/ 

Life of a Ukrainian draft dodger (Antonia Langford for The Telegraph)

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/28/ukraine-hunt-for-draft-dodgers-becomes-battle-on-the-street/ 

EU hesitates to target Irish plant accused of supplying Russia’s war industry (Financial Times)

https://www.ft.com/content/ef7ff634-b738-4975-91b5-2edffc51da68?syn-25a6b1a6=1 

The Sizov Report

http://sizov.report

Wagner’s Remnants Are Running an Opioid Empire in the Center of Africa (Wall Street Journal)

https://www.wsj.com/world/africa/russia-wagner-africa-opioid-trade-d015c4bc 

EMAIL US:

Contact the team on [email protected]. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many as possible.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Crimea 'without power' after deadly raids
• Zelensky meets Trump in Washington ahead of Lindsey Graham funeral

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