Smoke fills Moscow sky after Ukraine wipes out key Wildberries warehouse in 'largest attack of the year'

17 Aug 2026 · 45 min

Episode Smoke fills Moscow sky after Ukraine wipes out key Wildberries warehouse in 'largest attack of the year'

0:00 44:47

Day 1,634.

Today, Ukraine sets the sky alight over Moscow oblast as it wipes out the latest Wildberries warehouse. Plus, in what Moscow said was Kyiv’s biggest attack of the year, the plant manufacturing rockets for Russia’s space programme was also destroyed, 9000km inside Russia. Thousands of protesters gathered in Kyiv over the weekend in support of former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov, and Russia’s Foreign Minister effectively admitted responsibility for recent operations in Europe such as the Leipzig drone attack, saying the West is “already starting to groan”. And later, we talk to two journalists who have just returned from Kharkiv, where they made a film warning that the city is fast catching up with Kherson when it comes to drone safari attacks.

Contributors:

Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.

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

With thanks to journalists Anna Conkling and Jason Bellini.

Producer: Rachel Porter

Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett and Anthony Melton

Video Producer: Sophie O’Sullivan

Social Producer: Natalia Makahon

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:

Anna and Jason’s documentary from Kharkiv

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zIaFDV1TsU

Caolan Robertson’s interview with Mykhailo Federov

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFZ3-nZPCu0

Putin launches revenge strikes on Kyiv after space centre attack (The Telegraph)

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/08/16/russia-putin-revenge-strikes-kyiv-space-centre-attack/

Russia builds secret drone bases in striking distance of Nato (The Telegraph)

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/08/16/russia-builds-secret-drone-bases-in-nato-striking-distance/

Patriot missiles have been a godsend for Ukraine against Putin, but they’re running out. Kyiv needs help and fast (Jack Watling for The Guardian)

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/aug/14/patriot-missiles-ukraine-putin-kyiv-running-out-nato-danger

Second wave of fuel shortages at petrol stations sweeps across Russia (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/second-wave-fuel-shortages-petrol-stations-sweeps-across-russia-2026-08-17/

Call for the release of OSCE SMM staff members

https://zmina.ua/en/statements-en/the-release-of-osce-smm-staff-members-is-a-prerequisite-for-the-implementation-of-ceasefire-monitoring/

Learn more about ENGIn

https://www.enginprogram.org/

If you’re interested in sponsoring Dom’s upcoming defence event, email our colleagues at events@telegraph.co.uk

EMAIL US:

Contact the team on ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many as possible.

Thumbnail image credit: X/@JayinKyiv

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Smoke fills Moscow sky after Ukraine wipes out key Wildberries warehouse • Russian space centre destroyed, 9000km from Ukraine

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