From Our Own Correspondent

Ukraine's defiant stand in Pokrovsk

·28 min·2 clips
Ukraine's troops cling to Pokrovsk's ruins as Russia claims victory and Washington pressures for a deal.
The episode opens with the battle for Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine, where Ukrainian troops show resilience despite bleak prospects. Jonathan Beale reports from a command center where drone feeds show the city in ruins, and soldiers like Yuri and Sasha express defiance. The segment shifts to a secret Ukrainian arms factory, where Firepoint produces long-range drones and the Flamingo missile, with chief engineer Irina Terekh explaining their homemade efforts. Next, Danny Vincent covers the conviction of Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai for colluding with foreign forces under China's national security law, detailing his trial and supporters' reactions. Katie Watson then reports from Sydney on a mass shooting at a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach, where the Jewish community feels shocked but not surprised by anti-Semitic violence. Ellie House travels to Montana, where rancher Brian Mossard and Democrat Becky Edwards unite against a proposal to sell federal land for housing, highlighting bipartisan opposition. Finally, Sarah Wheeler explores Laos, where the Khmu people practice animism alongside Buddhism, facing deforestation and Chinese influence. The episode concludes with a reminder to listen on BBC Sounds.

As heard by us

A grave, grounded dispatch on war, public life, and belief as they press into ordinary routines.

From Our Own Correspondent connects the fight for Pokrovsk with reports on land, law, community, and belief. Pokrovsk sits at the center of pressure around talks to end the war, with Russia occupying much of Donbass, demanding that Ukraine give up remaining territory, and…

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You want Pokrovsk, Bondi Beach, and northern Laos in one dispatch, with the news allowed to stay complicated.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →
Listen to the show on