Ukraine: The Latest - 27 April 2026
'If you come, I'll kill you' - Ukrainian soldier hacks Zoom call with Russian recruits & weaponing chess in the occupied territories
Episode Notes
Day 1,523.
Today, after one of the deadliest bombardments Ukraine has endured this year, we hear of new Russian infiltration missions on the frontlines, how a masked Ukrainian soldier crashed a Zoom call at a Russian military recruitment event – telling students he would be forced to kill them if they joined the army – and more evidence that the US seeks to bring Moscow out of the cold by inviting them to the G20. Then we bring you a special update from the world of chess, and how names familiar to us – like Peskov and Shoigu – are involved in the Chess Federation, while the game is utilised as a tool of control in the occupied territories.
Contributors:
Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.
Malcolm Pein (Telegraph Chess Correspondent). @TelegraphChess on X.
With thanks to the former coach of two chess world champions – and a Grandmaster himself – Peter Heine Nielsen.
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:
Robot rescues Ukrainian pensioner from front-line village (The Telegraph):
I was in the room with Trump as the shots rang out (Connor Stringer in The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/04/26/donald-trump-white-house-correspondents-dinner
Ukrainian soldier crashes Zoom call with Russian recruits (The Telegraph):
British fighter jets scrambled after Russian strike on Nato border (The Telegraph):
EMAIL US:
Contact the team on ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk . We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many on air and in our newsletter as possible.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Ukrainian soldier hacks Zoom call with Russian recruits
How chess is weaponised in the occupied territories
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