Exclusive interview with General Budanov, Ukraine's military spy chief | Ukraine: the latest Podcast

All this week, our regular hosts David Knowles, Dominic Nicholls and Francis Dearnley are on the ground in Ukraine, conducting major interviews with senior figures, hearing testimony of Kyiv citizens and reporting on the run-up to the two-year anniversary of the full scale invasion.
Day 727. Today, we bring you an exclusive interview with General Kyrylo Budanov, Kyiv's military spy chief, plus the latest news from Ukraine as Zelensky says Donald Trump ‘can’t solve the problem of the Ukraine war’ and fresh sanctions are imposed on Russia.
Contributors:
Roland Oliphant (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @RolandOliphant on X.
Joe Barnes (Brussels Correspondent). @Barnes_Joe on X.
Team in Ukraine:
David Knowles (Head of Audio Development). @DJKnowles22 on X.
Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor, Defence). @DomNicholls on X.
Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X.
Watch the Interview with General Budanov:
• Ukraine military spy c...
Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest
Email: [e-mail]

[@KathysGuess]

This War started in 2014, most Americans had no knowledge of Ukraine in 2014. Europe should have known the threat more than USA people.

[@ryanthompson1981]

most american's true. But i watched in disbelief in 2013-2014 as the Ukrainians successfully took their destiny back. Post soviet states with popular movements for liberty didn't tend to end well, i was worried we were going to see a massive slaughter in Maidan. But then they won. It was incredible. Then the whole world just kind of rolled their eyes when putin illegally annexed crimea, and invaded Donbas.

[@zeissiez]

​@@ryanthompson1981 Victoria Nuland to the US ambassador to Ukraine after her coup, afterwhich she handpicked Yatsenyuk as the new Prime Minister:"fcuk the EU"

[@dimas3829]

@@ryanthompson1981 pick their destiny as is became american puppet. Before euromaidan Ukraine was fine sitting on two chairs, being both Russian and European friend. The EU offered an exclusive trade deal, Russia watched it and alerted president that if they go for such - the trade deal with Russia will end. Yanukovich backed off from the EU deal and massive protests ensured by the pro-US forces with the false preise that the president will only go for Russia's route and ignore European one. There was nothing about liberty there, only about money. Yanukovich was noble enough to not slaughter protestors, shame really, cause we know who stood behind them. When Poroshenko forces started to beat down regions into submission and slaughter civilians ne masse - the East rose up. Some more sucesfully than others. Crimeans praise God that they were able to get back to where the belong without blodshed.

[@julilab]

@@zeissiezNuland had nothing to do with all this, troll

[@zeissiez]

@@julilab search “nuland fcuk the Eu” and look for the video where her phone call was recorded

[@michaeljohnson3256]

Great show..Dom is great value.. but the whole team is just magic

[@martavdz4972]

Dom forgot that "canary in a coal mine" is not an expression used in all languages. It doesn´t exist in mine, might not exist in Ukrainian.

[@zapfanzapfan]

It doesn't exist in mine but then we don't have coal mines... Ukraine at least has coal mines.

[@toughr1506]

It does exist in ukranian.

[@oldmancarvings]

Great followup from Doms interview with the Secret inteillgence leader.

[@KathysGuess]

Where can I find the Secret Intelligence Service video?

[@wishusknight3009]

@@KathysGuess Its a secret.

[@Zandra747]

@oldmancarvings Ukraine has already been defeated,people need to stop listening to the fake media,Russia does not give a toss what the corrupt media say,Russia is far wealthier healthier and stronger than any other country will ever be. Ukraine has already fallen,the Deep State puppets are trying everything to incite WW3,they are terrified of Putin and Trump,the UK is 90% controlled by traitors and enemies,but nothing or no one can stop whats coming.

[@RyanBrown-nx8dw]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@seanpatrick1243]

The canary dying in the gas attack is LITERALLY “the canary in the coal mine.”

[@jimgraham6722]

It's not the willingness of troops to fight it's the willingness and capacity of civil society to mobilise and provide the logistic support that counts.

[@anthonyhulse1248]

Well, it’s both

[@RyanBrown-nx8dw]

​@@anthonyhulse1248not for ukranians it's not old man😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@RyanBrown-nx8dw]

​@@anthonyhulse1248😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@RyanBrown-nx8dw]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@spudwesth]

NATO logistics

[@The_ZeroLine]

44:29 *_”Don’t be hasty. A GRU wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.”_*

[@zapfanzapfan]

Revenge is a dish best served cold.

[@dutchy661]

Omg Dom, HIMARS hitting ships? 😂 got put down hard there 😂🤭💋 good interview though, love the shush bit at the end 😂

[@MickyChowMein69]

Thanks for the news

[@sballantine8127]

Budanov suddenly getting out there and doing interviews. I wonder what the strategy behind it is.

[@fryderykmakowski7472]

And having a strategy behind it@@neildear

[@geoffreytucker3049]

A canary a cat and a frog went into Gen Budanov's office ❤....... thanks for the interview.

[@anthonyhulse1248]

Thanks for acknowledging the teachers 👍🏻

[@RyanBrown-nx8dw]

Go beg for more money old man

[@RJay121]

Germany the EU defense force? To us Americans given WWII it sounds like madness😮

[@DarrenGiddins]

Unfortunately with the US not providing confidence in Ukrainian support and even NATO, Germany are having to step up. As a Brit i am glad they are. Europe needs a strong ftont against Russian aggression, who will not stop with Ukraine...

[@war-painter]

Hey, I couldn’t be more pleased to have both Germany and Japan on our side in this …whatever it is.🇺🇦❤👍🏽🇺🇸🇺🇦International community, or as the trolls call us, “westoids”(I like that one).

[@equarg]

Rumor has it another A-50 has been shot down!

[@miriamweller812]

The first one was already a lie.

[@Jazzisa311]

HAHAHAHAA I really imagine Budanov's reaction to Dom's quib about the canary. No

[@Centurion101B3C]

Impressive! Gen. Budanov is keeping his cards close to the vest and plays them expertly. Don had good questions and follow ups, considering the additional hurdle of working through a translator. Besides being the penultimate 'spook', Gen. Budanov (unlike many S2/G2 functionaries I have known) gives evidence of being broadly and deeply familiar with the practical intricacies and handiwork of what he is dealing with. He makes on me the impression of being an officer imminently deserving of the trust that has been so fittingly given to him and has been so honestly earned by him.

[@efghggdxlmfn33]

Yes, all his unsuccessful landing operations on the left bank of the Dnieper are very impressive

[@wishusknight3009]

@@efghggdxlmfn33 Wrong brabch of military, ivan.

[@efghggdxlmfn33]

@@wishusknight3009 Johnny, soy boy. It's no secret that the landing operations planned by Budanov and British intelligence services completely failed.

[@sebastianforbes1]

- would be a good idea not to announce your next Spring Offensive 6 months in advance - maybe keep your cards just a little closer to your chest ?

[@Centurion101B3C]

I am sure that Gen. Budanov was not too tickled pink about the constant dribb-drabb of external curiosity about the counter-offensive with resulting leakage of lives-costing information. There were/are simply too many idiots who wanted to inflate their egos and sense of self-import (some also their bottom-line) with spouting off potentially sensitive information. We in the West still too much look at this as an action-movie kind of thing and we collectively absolutely crave instant gratification of lust for gory pictures and horrific tales, so where there is demand, supply will simply follow. As on average distant spectators we have no real skin in the game, since it's not our own blood that is spilled and not our own relatives, friends and comrades that are wasted in our incessant pursuits of cheap battlefield thrills. With the current saturation of nearly instantaneous dissemination of whatever news/data/intel develops, the opponent also cashes in on this supply and what is worse, its intel, counter-information and operational efforts. If we care even one little bit for Ukrainian success, we collectively should heed the old mantra: "Loose Lips Sink Ships".

[@natalliya2703]

As a Ukrainian, I'm glad that at least someone understands this. We here feel like in a reality TV, and it's infuriating.

[@Centurion101B3C]

@@natalliya2703 My sympathies. I am not Ukrainian, but I have ever since 2014 been intensely annoyed about the shallow, casual and egotistic entitlement of Western allies where it comes to satisfaction of their sometimes ghoulish curiosity. This, as well as fully well seeing that this has had severe intelligence implications. It would be helpful if/when the press would be kept at 'Need to know' distance and dissemination of footage be made subject to stricter authorization. Proper OPSEC and INFOSEC are essential for success in present day operational and strategic military matters. These are not popular measures, but the alternative translates directly in blood spilled and precious lives wasted or ruined. Information is a weapon like any other, but what is not fully appreciated, is that it is a double edged and potentially lethal one.

[@natalliya2703]

@@Centurion101B3C Yes, one thing, most westerners don't understand the implications of viewing the Russia's genocidal war in Ukraine as something they have no skin in. Russian propaganda machine, lies, bought agents and all sorts of useful idiots have already been doing irreparable damage to the collective west. The turmoil the west is going to face is just a matter of time and it is a DIRECT consequence of failing to see the threat that comes from the USSR that has just nominally fallen since Putin has the same ambitions. The west also is at war with Russia but is failing to see it. There is a reason why Russia is so damn big, their so-called "russkiy mir"- russian world (not peace!) is a process, stretched in time, aimed at the whole democratic world.

[@Beatles68]

Budanov understood cannery in a coal mine. Ukraine mines a lot of coal.

[@wesley135]

Slava ukraini

[@golokavrndavana]

Nice perspective.

[@TyllerBoom]

When the roar is loud then quiet, it's outgoing, if it's quiet then loud, it's incoming.

[@anthonyhulse1248]

Still listening from Alberta Canada 🇨🇦

[@markfoggy9933]

2 Fuckin Years, thanks for your content Guy's . Todays content has been especially good. Slava Ukraini..

[@fatfeline1086]

There is a young woman in Kyiv fundraising for a military unit. her yoututbe is Olga from Kyiv. if anyone on staff actually reads these comments. Please consider getting her (and her cute dog) on your podcast to support her efforts.

[@HungryWalkerSubcribe]

What a sham

[@oleksiifrolov4074]

It's pity that Dome didn't asked him about the problems in the Internatonal Legion...

[@darrenhopkins6829]

The latest. None of this would of happened with Trump in power.

[@Zandra747]

@darrenhopkins6829 Ukraine has already been defeated,people need to stop listening to the fake media,Russia does not give a toss what the corrupt media say,Russia is far wealthier healthier and stronger than any other country will ever be. Ukraine has already fallen,the Deep State puppets are trying everything to incite WW3,they are terrified of Putin and Trump,the UK is 90% controlled by traitors and enemies,but nothing or no one can stop whats coming.

[@war-painter]

It would be MUCH MUCH WORSE.

[@MaximilienNoal]

Budanov is a hero. Slava Ukraini !

[@joeschmoe21]

Ukraine took US guns and cash to poke its permanent neighbor, Russia. Ukrainians were naive enough to think that bribing Hunter Biden would make Senile Biden send in the marines. Truth is, Americans don't care about Ukraine... and if they do, it was because of mail-order-brides from Ukraine, who were cheaper but slightly less pretty than the Russian ones. Anyway, Ukraine is learning a very very hard lesson. Germans learned it earlier. US is subservient to Israel, Ukraine was just a fashion for a while. Its over.

[@efghggdxlmfn33]

the fact that he organized terrorist attacks against the civilian population or that he launched landing operations on the left bank in which no one survived?

[@wishusknight3009]

The Ivan's are triggered.

[@johnyblazer8597]

​@@efghggdxlmfn33yeah that great Krinky breakthrough 😂.. was it really imagination of his brain fog? Or of his English overlords?

[@johnyblazer8597]

​@@wishusknight3009watch out for shovels 😏

[@toto-yf8tc]

If Ukraine relies on the UK for arm production I better understand why Russia's winning😂

[@thelukkman1]

very sad stats about the %age of Ukrainians who have become homeless in England .. I wonder if mental illness from their extreme war traumas has affected these stats..I'm part of a group in SW Ontario, Canada, assisting new Ukrainians to settle in my city and they've all done well.. have found them all very industrious, hard working, and so thankful for everything ... Most are educated professionals working in factories or doing labour jobs, being paid well but hoping for better opportunities in their fields once settled ..They take jobs most Canadians won't or don't like to do !

[@AntonioRomero-te4cb]

Great information

[@andymarton6983]

Another great podcast ruined by an advert every 30 seconds

[@bezdownunder5481]

Of course ukraine gets more money selling in europe then africa...

[@victoriahigman6802]

Really good interviews

[@adspur]

Very Nice!

[@JupyWotan]

? isn't Zel inviting Trump to the frontline for ASAP, rather than after the election if he wins?

[@user-xv6vk3nd8p]

Brilliant. Insightful. Budanov and his canary brought a smile. Another level in journalism. Thanks team.

[@tornado-s-2012]

this is the lower level of the clown who planned landing attacks on the left bank of the Dnieper and they failed.

[@paulstewart4195]

Ukrainenato the biggest money laundering scam in history 🤡🤣

[@war-painter]

The Prince of Darkness! In Budanov We Trust. 🇺🇦❤🇺🇸👍🏽

[@LawrenceFox-jx1fq]

Boris Badanov and Natasha darlink.

[@mizninvictor2189]

I get the impression that Budanov actually understands English but is not fluent in it.

[@michaelkuner7831]

7:55. The proof is in the eating.

[@F4R4D4Y]

Great reporting 👏

[@KathysGuess]

How many planes are downed today?

[@williammorris584]

Don’t know, but milbloggers from both sides are saying they have dropped boatloads of FABs and glide bombs on the Ukrainians in the last week.

[@richardm7490]

The failure of the Germans to give Taurus to Ukraine is a disgrace. Remember your past and atone for it.

[@adrianbelkin]

Slava Ukraine!

[@kaczyLDZ1980]

NIE DLA UKRAINCOW W POLSCE

[@aomvhome]

Excellent as always. Great to hear about your experiences in Ukraine, particularly in the school. I listened to the interview of the spy chief on your other podcast and commented there.

[@DukeSRogers]

Tucker Carleson and others "trusted' news sources. hahahahahh

[@rowanhaigh8782]

Wow! That interview was amazing. ❤

[@philipwright6617]

What's that four letter word with a z in the middle? Mr B is a follower of Bandera. People like him should get zero support from the UK.

[@mattsapero1896]

Aren’t there some unused school dormitories that could house Ukrainians who’ve been dumped by their hosts as long as they’re not criminals?? FML.

[@kaczyLDZ1980]

NIE DLA UKRAINCOW W POLSCE

[@crimeajewel]

Life is too short to waste on Putin speeches.😂

[@marioformosa4259]

But then again the Ukr. soldiers have little chance of survival on the battle front.

[@wishusknight3009]

@@marioformosa4259 Orders of magnitude higher survival than russian soldiers.

[@olegbelorekov]

Особенно коротка жизнь у солдат Украины, которые гибнут за интересы США🎉

[@egoncorneliscallery9535]

I see your point. Much better to ignore anything outside yr biased brain, right? Like..em...reality!

[@ananamu2248]

I think there is a time for Ukrainians to think about going home ..there are plenty of safe areas still there .there is a difference between emergency help and mire Ling term help

[@paulinemasters9125]

I agree with this. it would be better if they were sharing the same struggle as their country's population who are facing difficulties courageously. It seems that many are homeless in UK and maybe elsewhere. If they return home maybe they can contribute to some of the war effort. That would be worthwhile.

[@vaguerantk8686]

I think Dom Nicholls interviewed Budanov very well

[@W_Bin]

The Fox Zelensky interview looked like it was cut to make the answers sound nonsensical and begging. I'd like to see the full uncut interview. I have never seen answers like that from him before.

[@johnwilliams2660]

Germany may be worried about not having their own nuclear deterrent, and that is why they have concentrated on humanitarian aid for Ukraine.

[@paulstewart4195]

Germany is an occupied country and has to do Washingtons bidding 🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡

[@The_ZeroLine]

Germany 🇩🇪 has provided Ukraine $18b in military aid. Meanwhile, France 🇫🇷 has given $580m in aid, which is 3x less than Estonian whose economy is 67x smaller. 🇪🇸 = just $340m.

[@luke7benner]

Literally propaganda

[@krazyswede11]

Got to check out the commolent before I listen to the clown world Telegraph. 😂😂😂

[@barnesthomas69]

Is that the same general the was on " Rocky and Bullwinkel" 😮

[@andyay9079]

Surely there's nothing dark in Dom's future. Joking aside, a Hollywood movie couldn't produce a more sturdy character; I got goose bumps watching the interview.

[@brentwells8963]

Lol

[@derekkearns3377]

Sad propaganda

[@robschneiderss1067]

what garbage

[@marisabenson1222]

What is better? Send all means possible to stop putin or drag it out till putins in a commanding position and then send troops in at a later date? Germany's refusal to send adequate advanced equipment in a timely manner is exacerbating putin not the opposite.

[@shannonjane7373]

The whole West should be supporting Ukraine to the max.

[@olegbelorekov]

До последнего Украинца🎉😂🎉

[@kacperzimowski4626]

f**** off, it's not a NATO country

[@wesley135]

@@kacperzimowski4626 Slava ukraini

[@matrixfull]

aaa as someone keeping up with news from Ukraine daily and playing Genshin daily I didn't expect to hear this little mention of Genshin on this podcast : p

[@Matt-ou7tu]

They don't have the manpower. That's the biggest issue.

[@xinma6034]

Ukraine got too much dreamer 😂

[@petergore1972]

Peter Gore Seer, I Would Like To Thank The Ukrain For Feeding Me, In Every Conflict Some Person Gains, I Do Hope The Ukrain Keeps Feeding Britain In Partic, Thantks.

[@SalmanovGadzhimurad-pj9qq]

Этих людей рядом нету

[@efghggdxlmfn33]

Over the past year, shipyards in Russia delivered 117 vessels to customers, including 35 seagoing vessels (RS) and 82 floating objects, of which 31 were self-propelled vessels for inland waterways (RKO). By the way, in 2021 there were 406 vessels under construction (145 river and 261 sea). Meanwhile Britannia is no longer capable of ruling the waves in a wading pool. For example, one of Britain’s two aircraft carriers - the HMS Queen Elizabeth - is in the same condition as Queen Elizabeth, i.e. dead in the water (though the late Queen is dead in the ground).

[@wishusknight3009]

Row boats dont count.

[@anthonyhulse1248]

Meanwhile, the Black Sea fleet is being beaten by a country with no navy. What’s the Ruzzian for “abandon ship?”

[@anthonyhulse1248]

покинуть корабль

[@efghggdxlmfn33]

@@anthonyhulse1248 нахуй пшел. Было два моря у какелл, теперь одно, скоро будет 0

[@efghggdxlmfn33]

@@anthonyhulse1248 Meanwhile US getting cuckolded everywhere - Now the British and Americans are losing the Red Sea and are receiving attacks on their ships from the Shepherds

[@CarlosGomez-THX_1138]

It’s not congress, it’s Republicans holding up aid. Please stop saying congress.

[@SalmanovGadzhimurad-pj9qq]

Есть другие люди

[@albertvanlingen7590]

Dominique's questions to Budanov was way too revealing for safety and he was never going to get anywhere because normal journalists don't ask such complicated technical questions especially through a translator unfortunately. Still thoroughly enjoyed it.

[@michaelmichaels-tw7wd]

Budanov🥰❤💙💛❤🥰

[@edwardsianski725]

General Budanov must give kaputin nightmares!

[@JohnCSmith-lp1qr]

The Chief propaganda officer, Budanov 😂. Imagine the BS following ....

[@considerthis7712]

That is a VERY ignorant statement…

[@joeschmoe21]

@@considerthis7712 Yours is a VERY VERY ignorant statement 😜

[@JohnCSmith-lp1qr]

@@considerthis7712 just Facts ....His job is to lie.

[@considerthis7712]

@@JohnCSmith-lp1qr . Not quite right. Truth to his staff and other leaders, truth to enemy where relevant (eg. Ukraine POWs) , lies to enemy where relevant ( common) say nothing where relevant (most common, eg inside Russia attacks)

[@JohnCSmith-lp1qr]

@@considerthis7712 Nah complete clown .. Belongs to jail . Together with Zelensky...... They destroyed Ukraine.

[@NotABadGuy.]

Yikes. This guy Budanov organised a car bomb that killed a 13 year old girl. It may have been an accident - her father was the target - but this is not the only terrorist tactic that GRU have been using.

[@odmod5155]

I don't understand how the hell did I subscribe to this nonsense 😮

[@Jimmy1972]

Budanov's place is in the prison of the city of Donetsk. Besides the fact that he is a criminal, he is also a dreamer. He dreamed of getting to Crimea for a year, but never got there.

[@mikek3658]

🤡 go home, Ivan.

[@nerowulfee9210]

What, the same prison that was emptied of murderers to fill up Putin`s proxy armies? One that is currently used as troop barracks for russian soldiers? What are they doing in Ukraine by the way?

[@philipmain5701]

Better to have dreams of a better future than to live in the present nightmare of Putin's murderous kleptomaniac Russia

[@mattsapero1896]

Tell us more, demented MAGA incel!

[@wishusknight3009]

What is with all the flat earth subscriptions?

[@badwolftx2139]

Budanov is a monster. For context, this team needed to make sure the audience is completely aware of his admitted crimes which go well beyond just supporting the war.

[@marisabenson1222]

Are his crimes on the same level as putin the war criminal's.

[@wishusknight3009]

ok ivan. whatever.

[@anthonyhulse1248]

покинуть корабль

[@philcollins884]

I'm sorry for this. Your information is usually good & the storyline. But that drone voice is putting me to sleep. No enthusiasm, no excitement & zero energy. Idk maybe that's the English way that I don't get being an American ? But please try to sound alive & not reading your will. Ok ? God Bless The Queen Forever ! SLAVA UKRAINE 🇺🇦

[@user-py7ht3jv5l]

Nato's stunning defeat on the frontline from Avdiivka

[@ciuyr2510]

Putin interview: 2 hours of a male bovine manure

[@jeanlucdom5398]

Facts in Aviidvka an 20 years nato neonazis azov died rescuing 14 000 nato neonazis azov running out of Aviidvka! Facts! What are Russia already failed propaganda talking about 🤣🤣🤣

[@wishusknight3009]

Try again, but in coherent english.

[@anthonyhulse1248]

покинуть корабль

[@sebastianforbes1]

@@wishusknight3009 - English with a capital 'E' please...

[@wishusknight3009]

@@sebastianforbes1 Only with tea.And maybe crumpets.

[@booey28]

Boring now