Eilish Hart
@eilishhart.bsky.social
Writing, editing, and translating stories about Russia, Ukraine, and beyond. Former @meduza.io deputy editor, best known for The Beet. DM for 📧 or📱
⚡️️ Oleshky residents reach Ukrainian-controlled territory after escaping Russian occupation.
Oleshky residents reach Ukrainian-controlled territory after escaping Russian occupation
CHERNIHIV OBLAST — Evacuees from the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky have reached Ukrainian-controlled territory on Oct. 31 after an arduous 19-hour journey. The city's residents, who had been trapp...
kyivindependent.com
Why is the Trump admin so interested in Central Asia? What does this mean for relations with Russia & China? And why is Putin pushing for a leaders summit with Trump & Xi? For Carnegie Politika, I discussed all of this and more with the brilliant @tumarov.bsky.social. youtu.be/cbjb3n4mRus?...
Why Is the Trump Administration Paying So Much Attention to Central Asia?
YouTube video by Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center
youtu.be
Ukraine’s delegation has arrived in Russian-held Oleshky to begin evacuating residents from the besieged city. The ceasefire in the area is still holding.
The Ukrainian Week@theukrainianweek.bsky.social · 7d ago"We are in #Oleshky!", 🇺🇦 Ombudsman said, publishing 1st images in Oleshky with local residents. 📽️: With tears in their eyes, people of the Russian-occupied city welcome the Ukrainian delegation & appear ready to join territory controlled by Ukraine with some belongings packed.
Over its 33 years of covering Russia, six of Novaya Gazeta’s journalists have been killed. Now, this renowned independent newspaper is being forced to shut down. The announcement’s headline reads: “They killed us.” novayagazeta.ru/articles/202...
Нас убили. Заявление «Новой газеты»* о прекращении своей жизни — Новая газета
18+. НАСТОЯЩИЙ МАТЕРИАЛ (ИНФОРМАЦИЯ) ПРОИЗВЕДЕН, РАСПРОСТРАНЕН И (ИЛИ) НАПРАВЛЕН ИНОСТРАННЫМ АГЕНТОМ ИНТЕРНЕТ-ИЗДАНИЕ «НОВАЯ ГАЗЕТА» ЛИБО КАСАЕТСЯ ДЕЯТЕЛЬНОСТИ ИНОСТРАННОГО АГЕНТА ИНТЕРНЕТ-ИЗДАНИЕ «НО...
novayagazeta.ru
Since February 2022, at least 69 political prisoners and other victims of political persecution have died in Russia. These deaths occurred in places of detention, while under house arrest, during searches, or shortly after release, according to human rights group Memorial (1/9)
⚡️️️️️️️Russia's assault on Ukraine's energy grid is a war crime, UN says. Russia’s attacks on energy infrastructure, which weaponize winter to inflict suffering, amount to war crimes, a UN inquiry has found.
Russia's assault on Ukraine's energy grid is a war crime, UN says
Russia’s attacks on energy infrastructure, which weaponize winter to inflict suffering, amount to war crimes, a UN inquiry has found.
kyivindependent.com
Surveillance and ‘constant paranoia’: Western diplomats tell BBC of life in war-time Moscow
Surveillance and ‘constant paranoia’: Western diplomats tell BBC of life in war-time Moscow
Officials compare working in Russia since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine to the Cold War era.
bbc.co.uk
‼️ U.S. First Lady Melania Trump said Friday that she brokered a “localized” ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine in Oleshky to evacuate civilians. This has been confirmed by Ukrainian MP David Arakhamia: hromadske.ua/viyna/273061...
Україна та росія домовилися про перемир’я в Олешках для підготовки евакуації населення. У Києві підтвердили (ДОПОВНЕНО)
Україна та росія домовилися тимчасово припинити бойові дії в Олешках на Херсонщині, щоб забезпечити ввезення гуманітарної допомоги та підготувати евакуацію цивільного населення.
hromadske.ua
Politico@politico.com · 2w agoMelania Trump says she secured ‘localized’ ceasefire in one Ukrainian city politi.co/4iheicT
⚡️ Ukraine, Russia nearing agreement on evacuation of civilians from occupied Oleshky, ombudsman says. The two sides are discussing a local ceasefire to allow residents to be evacuated directly to Ukrainian-controlled territory, Lubinets said on Oct. 18.
Ukraine, Russia nearing agreement on evacuation of civilians from occupied Oleshky, ombudsman says
The two sides are discussing a local ceasefire to allow residents to be evacuated directly to Ukrainian-controlled territory, Lubinets said on Oct. 18.
kyivindependent.com
A Russian lieutenant turned against his homeland and helped Ukraine kill hundreds of his comrades. Inside the deadliest sabotage campaign of the war.
The Defector: A Russian Officer Turned Against His Country and Helped Ukraine Kill Hundreds
One of the deadliest saboteurs in recent military history, Lt. Lev Stupnikov fed troop locations and battle plans to the enemy before making a daring escape.
on.wsj.com
Breaking News: President Trump signed an executive order to exempt Russia from new sanctions legislation that Congress passed last month. www.nytimes.com/2026/10/16/u...
Russia has detained a Japanese journalist, Yuki Imai, and accused him of spying. He was arrested in Sakhalin for allegedly reporting on military recruitment efforts. www.nytimes.com/2026/10/13/w...
Russia Detains Japanese Journalist for Alleged Espionage
The main security service said it had detained a reporter for the Hokkaido Shimbun newspaper in Russia’s far east, where he had been reporting on military recruitment.
nytimes.com
From this excellent piece on the cultural crackdown in Belarus: “…there is no sign that Mr Trump’s deal-making is encouraging Mr Lukashenko to change course. Viasna has documented new politically motivated detentions and convictions since the American-led releases...”
Katie@katiebryant.bsky.social · 3w ago“I know for sure that Belarus lives” Lukashenko is cracking down on traditional Belarusian culture, and ceding even more influence to Russia. I spoke to activists, politicians and culture workers about the latest wave of cultural repression inside Belarus. www.economist.com/interactive/...
A Russian glide bomb killed dozens of Ukrainians at a bus stop Kramatorsk on Thursday, in one of the deadliest attacks on civilians in recent months. Two buses were hit by the bomb during rush hour, killing at least 30 people and injuring 18, according to Ukraine’s state emergency service.
Russian bomb attack kills dozens at Ukraine bus stop
At least 30 die after aerial strike hits two passenger buses in frontline city of Kramatorsk
ft.com
I've spent the last month making Refused, a new podcast about Russia's draft dodgers and deserters, and where they can escape to. Episode 1 is out now, wherever podcasts are sold: novayagazeta.eu/en/articles/...
Where do Russia’s deserters go?
Introducing Refused, a new English-language podcast about the people who refuse to fight in Russia’s war. Russia’s biggest advantage in its war against Ukraine is manpower.
novayagazeta.eu
In Russian-occupied Oleshky, food is running out & constant attacks make evacuations impossible. Residents are losing hope that they will survive. “In the autumn, we will definitely die,” one wrote this summer. “I am already dying. I am getting weaker with each day.” www.nytimes.com/2026/10/05/w...
Trapped in a Kill Zone, a Ukrainian City Is Beginning to Starve
Evacuation is almost impossible and food is running out in Russian-occupied Oleshky, a city menaced by mines and drones.
nytimes.com
How are Witkoff and Kushner's peace efforts going? “Peace is further away than it was a year ago,” said a source close to the Kremlin. “And the occasional trip by Witkoff and Kushner isn’t going to change that.” My latest. puck.news/what-does-th...
Steve Witkoff’s Ninth Circle
As the war in Ukraine grows even more hellish, Witkoff has been locked in never-ending diplomatic purgatory with Putin’s apparatchiks—which is starting to drive the Russians crazy, too. “He is a very ...
puck.news
The ongoing humanitarian crisis in the occupied Oleshky area reflects the coercive logic of Russian occupation governance in a heavily damaged frontline city. (1/4) Read the full report: isw.pub/OleshkyCrisi...
Ukraine reportedly showed European partners intercepted Russian plans to cut off major cities from power, heat and water this winter. The document says that Russia intends to target electrical switchyards and thereby force nuclear plants offline. www.nytimes.com/2026/10/02/w...
Russia Is Planning Its Most Powerful Blow Yet to Try to Freeze Ukraine
Ukraine showed European partners what it said were intercepted Russian plans to cut off major cities from power, heat and water this winter.
nytimes.com
“The latest barrage stretched from night into day. At 12 hours and 44 minutes, the air raid alert in Kyiv on Sept. 30 was one of the longest single alerts the city has ever recorded. Several more have sounded since...” kyivindependent.com/in-pictures-... @kyivindependent.com
In pictures: A week of Russian jet drone terror in Kyiv
Editor's note: The Kyiv residents quoted in the story asked to be identified only by their first names. Russian drones have filled the skies over Kyiv, striking at the city around the clock, making i...
kyivindependent.com
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia did not discuss lifting or easing sanctions in exchange for releasing political prisoners, arguing that Russia has no political prisoners. He added that Russian special services remain in contact over prisoner exchanges. #Russia
To cover rising military costs, Russia plans to cut 2027 spending on social policy (which covers pensions and maternity benefits) by 7%, healthcare by 6.8%, and education by 6% versus last year’s plan, Reuters reports. meduza.io/en/news/2026...
Reuters: Russia is budgeting a record 17.1 trillion rubles for the military in 2027, while cutting planned spending on welfare, education, and healthcare — Meduza
Russia will cut funding for social programs, education, and healthcare in its 2027 budget compared with last year’s plan to help cover rising military spending, Reuters reported after reviewing…
meduza.io
With Belarus, we've seen this approach free hundreds of political prisoners while giving Lukashenka an incentive to take more hostages. But with Russia there's another issue — there's no evidence that Putin has any interest in “prosperity agreements” with the U.S.
The Atlantic@theatlantic.com · last mo.Exclusive: Donald Trump supports a new plan to offer Russia sanctions relief in exchange for the release of political prisoners—a move likely to outrage Ukraine, Europe, and even some of his allies in Congress, @shustry.bsky.social reports. theatln.tc/pV4oxIGu
OVD-Info recorded a slowdown in Russia’s repression campaign before and during the elections. The first days after the Duma vote suggest the crackdown is about to intensify. ridl.io/repression-a...
Repression Around Russia’s Duma Election: What the Data Shows – Riddle Russia
Denis Shedov, Daniil Beilinson, and Eilish Hart on how the Kremlin used the State Duma election as a disciplinary tool
ridl.io
NEW on “Paper Trail”: You may have heard that President Trump did not attend his eldest son’s wedding. But you know who did? A Russian oligarch with close ties to Putin. And he didn’t just attend the wedding — he bankrolled it. 🎧 Listen to how we found out:
The Russian Benefactor Who Funded Donald Trump Jr.’s Wedding
propublica.org
Must-read reporting about the more than ten thousand Ukrainian civilians who have disappeared into the Russian prison system. For the @newyorker.com, Joshua Yaffa tells the story of the women held in one cell in Russia's “new Gulag.” www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
Inside Russia’s New Gulag
Human-rights groups estimate that more than ten thousand Ukrainian civilians have disappeared into the Russian prison system. This is the story of one cell in the new Gulag.
newyorker.com
For the second year running, @freedomhouse.bsky.social has ranked Russian-occupied areas of eastern and southern Ukraine as the least free territories *on earth*. www.politico.eu/article/ukra...
The least free place on earth: Occupied Ukraine
As discriminatory Russian policies permeate every aspect of residents’ lives here, many wonder what, if anything, Ukrainian will remain.
politico.eu
Breaking News: A Russian strike on a weapons depot in a civilian area in Ukraine left 37 people dead, one of the most lethal attacks this year.
37 Killed After Russian Strike on Weapons Depot as Ukraine Blames Negligence
The depot, which was in a civilian area near Kyiv, “definitely shouldn’t have been there,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
nyti.ms
“I think this idea that you can return to a world in which the United States is leading the charge to strengthen the rule of law on the global stage, given the situation we’re in, is perhaps far-fetched,” the scholar Linda Kinstler says on “The Ezra Klein Show.”
Opinion | What if America Followed the Rules?
American foreign policy is at a crossroads. Could international law provide a framework for a foreign policy after President Trump?
nyti.ms
Ukraine is building a landmark crimes against humanity case over the use of drones to kill civilians, with the aim of prosecuting Russian officials in absentia. www.thetimes.com/world/russia...
Russians face a war trial. Ukrainians face having to defend them
As Kyiv brings landmark charges of crimes against humanity with British help, lawyers trying to ensure a fair trial are condemned as collaborators
thetimes.com