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The Briefing Room

The Briefing Room

Is Russia under pressure from Ukraine?

21 May 2026

28 minutes

Available for over a year

The war between Russia and Ukraine has shifted closer to Moscow. In the past week Ukraine has sent drones, made by Ukraine, to Moscow. While many were intercepted, 3 people died when an apartment block was hit. For many Russians the war - or special military operation as President Putin calls it - has been far away. But not any longer. At the same time though, Russia continues to hit cities across Ukraine and civilians continue to die. David Aaronovitch and his guests discuss whether Putin is under greater pressure now and whether the trajectory of this conflict has changed with the use of drone-warfare?

Guests:

Steve Rosenberg, BBC Russia Editor

Christopher Miller, Ukraine Correspondent, The Financial Times

Angela Stent, Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and former US National Intelligence Officer for Russia and Eurasia

Presenter: David Aaronovitch

Producers: Caroline Bayley and Kirsteen Knight

Production Co-ordinator: Maria Ogundele

Sound Engineer: James Beard

Editor: Richard Vadon