Russia scrambles for manpower as it suffers 10,000 casualties in a week

Day 1,664.

Today, as Russians start to vote in parliamentary elections for which the only thing transparent is the voting booth, Canada considers taking associate membership of the EU. 50,000 North Korean soldiers could be training in Russia and Ukraine gets bored of finding new targets so hits the same Russian airbase for the second night running. Later, Dr Jade McGlynn of King’s College London on what we know so far about Russia’s so-called elections, as voting begins in a contest all but guaranteed to fall in favour of Vladimir Putin and his United Russia party.

Contributors:

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

Adelie Pojzman-Pontay (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @Adeliepjz on X.

Jade McGlynn (Research fellow, King’s College London). @DrJadeMcGlynn on X.

Producer: Rachel Porter

Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett

Video Producer: Sophie O’Sullivan

Social Producer: Lucy Hadlow

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:

Putin will win Russia’s sham election. Europe is terrified of what comes next (Adrian Blomfield for the Telegraph)

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/09/18/putin-will-win-sham-election-what-happens-next-terrifies-eu/ 

En Ukraine, les habitants des territoires occupés votent sous la menace aux élections législatives russes (Le Monde)

https://www.lemonde.fr/international/article/2026/09/18/en-ukraine-les-habitants-des-territoires-occupes-votent-sous-la-menace-aux-elections-legislatives-russes_6776706_3210.html

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HIGHLIGHTS:

• Russia scrambles for manpower as it suffers 10,000 casualties in a week
• Up to 50,000 North Korean soldiers to be trained in Russia

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