Day 1,182.

Today, we continue dissecting the phone call between Putin and Trump and what it means for the prospect of negotiations. We discuss the latest Russian ‘Frankenstein’ missile and tactics on the ground, plus a dive into a report investigating Russian strikes on hotels near the frontline in an effort to target journalists. Finally we hear a dispatch from Sweden and interview with a Swedish chief of defence staff on the Russian threat on the Finnish border.

Contributors:

Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Reporter and Producer). @adeliepjz on X.

Dom Nicholls (Associate Editor for Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Iona Cleave (Foreign Reporter). @cleaveiona on X.

Venetia Rainey (Co-host of the podcast 'Battle Lines'). @venetiarainey on X.

With thanks to Kenza Rharmaoui (Senior Researcher at Truth Hounds). @truth_hounds on X.

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Content Referenced:

Russia’s new ‘Frankenstein’ missile terrorising Ukraine, The Telegraph

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/05/13/russias-new-frankenstein-missile-terrorising-ukraine/

Russia’s motorbike squads may be suicidal but they are hurting Ukraine, The Telegraph

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/05/19/ukraine-war-are-russias-motorcycle-assaults-really-working/

Last Check-In: The Russian Strikes on Ukrainian Hotels Silencing the Press, Truth Hounds

https://truth-hounds.org/en/cases/last-check-in/

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