Ukraine fires home-grown ballistic missile in combat for first time

Day 1,678.

Today, Ukraine successfully uses its FP-7 ballistic missile for the first time, though they won’t disclose on what or where. Meanwhile, reports point to Russia's sinister plans for the winter which include isolating Ukraine’s main largest cities from the power grid. Russia has vowed to use ‘all the weapons at its disposal’ in case of a war against Nato. We bring you a Telegraph scoop on the Russian biker who masterminded the Leipzig drone incident, plus exclusive footage from a former Ukrainian drone pilot.

Contributors:

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

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

With thanks to Dimko Zhluktenko, from the 413th Regiment of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces (@dim0kq on X).

Producer: Rachel Porter

Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett

Video Producer: Tom Steed

Social Producer: Natalia Makohon

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 has told military leaders to abandon rules of war, Zelenskyy says (Financial Times):

https://www.ft.com/content/c2ad4cd1-a08a-4f55-8d57-fa83dbfa98af?syn-25a6b1a6=1

Exclusive: The Russian biker ‘spy’ behind airport drone attack (The Telegraph and Welt am Sontag): https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/10/02/unmasked-russian-biker-spy-leipzig-airport-drone-attack/

Russia Is Planning Its Most Powerful Blow Yet to Try to Freeze Ukraine (The New York Times):

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/02/world/europe/russia-ukraine-winter.html

Ukraine Has an F-16 Emergency (Wall Street Journal):

https://www.wsj.com/opinion/ukraine-f-16-maintenance-delays-russia-sabena-engineering-85ca626a

Dr Jade McGlynn’s Insights survey of internally displaced persons (Centre for Statecraft and National Security, King's College London):

https://totinsights.org/idp-survey-2026.html

Dimko’s charity Dzyga’s Paw:

https://dzygaspaw.com/

Dimko’s book, Ordinary Guy At War:

https://kovyla.pub/books/ordinary-guy-at-war-a-ukrainians-journey-paperback-29

On the double biopic about Charles de Gaulle wartime actions, Résistance (Part I) and Liberté (Part 2):

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt28553375/

If you’re interested in sponsoring Dom’s upcoming defence event, email our colleagues at [email protected]

EMAIL US:

Contact the team on [email protected]. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many as possible.

Thumbnail image credit: @ZelenskyyUa/X

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Ukraine fires home-grown ballistic missile in combat for first time
• Exclusive footage: 24 hours as a frontline drone pilot

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