I draw on my recently published research with Bettina Renz to argue that conflict between the defence minister and commander-in-chief is structural and is unlikely to be resolved by personnel changes theconversation.com/ukraine-war-... #Ukraine #Fedorov #Syrskyi @theconversation.com

Ukraine war: inside the longstanding conflict between politicians and military commanders

Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, has just dismissed both his defence minister and commander-in-chief.

theconversation.com

My latest article with Bettina Renz is now freely available to all via the link below: doi.org/10.1080/1060... The research examines the establishment of civilian control over the miltary under Zelensky and is based on extensive primary research.

‘Repairing an aircraft mid-flight’: establishing democratic civilian control in Ukraine during war

This study evaluates progress made in establishing Democratic Civilian Control (DCC) in Ukraine under President Zelensky using key criteria drawn from the comparative literature: a civilian-led Min...

doi.org

This morning scrolling Bluesky, there is nothing at all in my feed about Putin’s barbaric attack on the Ukraine’s holiest site, the UNESCO protected Lavra so I’m posting this here.

Is there any precedent for a by-election explicitly designed to overthrow the sitting prime minister? This is a massive roll of the dice by Burnham in a Reform-friendly seat, setting up a what is surely the most consequential by-election ever mafiapoliticsglobaldisorder.substack.com/p/the-most-c...

Truth Under Siege: How Russian Disinformation Fuels the Far Right Join our emergency forum after the UK elections on how Russian disinformation fuels the far right, undermines solidarity with Ukraine, and erodes democracy. 🗓 Wednesday 20 May, 7:30pm 🎟 Register: bit.ly/russiadisinfo

Powerful performances at this evening's @thinkhumanfest.bsky.social event, 'Try Me For Treason', where actors read speeches made by anti-war protesters in Russian courts.

Defiance on trial: actors bring to life courtroom speeches by Russian anti-war oppositionists, followed by discussion on dissent, repression and the politics of resistance. 📍 Clerici Learning Studio 🗓️ Wednesday 15 April ⏰ 6pm Use this link to book your ticket- www.eventbrite.com/cc/think-hum...

Oxford people please join us for a performance followed by a discussion with Simon Pirani (Durham University), Anastasia Riabchuk (University of Oxford/National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy) and Denis Shedov (ODIHR/Memorial/OVD-Info) www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/try-me-for...

Try Me for Treason: Voices Against Putin's War

A Think Human Festival Event

eventbrite.co.uk

Think Human@thinkhumanfest.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Learn more about the people who are speaking up against the Russo-Ukrainian war. In this immersive event, actors will perform speeches made by Russians - tried for opposing the war. 📍Clerici Learning Studio 🗓️ Wednesday 15 April ⏰ 6pm Book your ticket today- www.eventbrite.com/cc/think-hum...

On 24 Feb, I was honoured to give a talk for The Hansard Society at the House of Lords on Ukraine's parliament during full-scale invasion. A bittersweet privilege afforded only by the fight of the Ukr armed forces & society. Without them there would be no democratic parliament in Ukraine.

Kyiv and the region are under intense drone attacks today. russians seem to have changed tactics — dispersing drone strikes throughout the day & night to paralyze daily life and disrupt businesses. They also resumed targeting our energy infrastructure, hoping to freeze us into surrender. Terrorists.

A NEW THREAT TO FREEDOM? ukrainesolidaritycampaign.org/2025/09/07/a...

A NEW THREAT TO FREEDOM?

Sian Norris reports on the new threat to abaortion rights in Ukraine In June this year, the Ivano-Frankivsk City Council put in a public appeal to Ukraine’s RADA to suspend the right to safe and le…

ukrainesolidaritycampaign.org

In a depressingly familiar story, deputy Zhelezhniak explains how the schemers in Poltava produced decorations not fortifications and got promoted for their trouble www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPuD...

Куди зникли гроші на оборону Донеччини: фортифікації на папері, мільйони з бюджету та нові посади

YouTube video by Залізний нардеп

youtube.com

Failure to learn the lessons from Afghanistan has profound consequences, including for the UK's commitment to support Ukraine, according to this damning RUSI commentary www.rusi.org/explore-our-...

Afghanistan: The Enduring Stain on the British State

The legacy of the UK’s involvement in Afghanistan is one of compounding whole-of-government failure.

rusi.org

What did the US get in return? Why now? What did Kremlin do to earn this? So many questions.

The War Monitor@warmonitor.net · last yr.

Trump administration just lifted sanctions on several Russian banks close to Putin.

I'm currently reading @shaunwalker7.bsky.social's account of the scrupulous recruitment, years of training and diligent handling of the USSR's 'illegals'. The contrast with the crude FSB op detailed here couldn't be more striking. www.reuters.com/investigates...

Russia recruited a teenage spy. His arrest led to a crypto money trail

Russia is using untrained spies after operatives were expelled from Europe in 2022. The case against a Canadian teen shows how Moscow conducts the operations.

reuters.com

As the diplomatic theater drags on, I'm here to remind you that nothing has changed politically/militarily to move the status quo. Ru wants capitulation, Ukraine won't surrender, Europe is w Ukr rhetorically but is unable to step up big time, Trump wants a quick end but perhaps not at any cost.

A chilling story about my ex colleague, journalist Viktoria Roshchyna, detained by Russia on the occupied territories of Ukraine while reporting. She was tortured and killed, her body returned to Ukraine several months later with missing organs, as brain www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...

‘Numerous signs of torture’: a Ukrainian journalist’s detention and death in Russian prison

The Guardian, working with media partners, has tracked down first-hand accounts to reconstruct Viktoriia Roshchyna’s final months

theguardian.com

Yesterday we published our investigation into torture & death of Ukrainian journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna. Now, what I & several Guardian colleagues have been working on for past few months: inside one of Russia's worst torture prisons for Ukrainians www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...

Inside Taganrog: beatings, electrocution and starvation at prison where Ukrainians were tortured

Russia is holding an estimated 16,000 civilians in arbitrary detention at 180 separate facilities. Taganrog was the most notorious.

theguardian.com

War and Peace in Ukraine 🗓️Weds 7 May, 3pm-5pm Join us for a discussion on possible peace deals & plans for post-war reconstruction in Ukraine, featuring exhibit posters from Yurko Gutsulyak’s ‘Blue-Yellow Series’ 🇺🇦 Tea/coffee & Ukrainian snacks provided! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1259287907...

Moscow killed Mike Yohansen in 1937 and banned his books. I never expected Washington to try to kill my translation of his best novel in 2025. Read @katetsurkan.bsky.social's latest for @kyivindependent.com on Trump's attack on Ukrainian literature in translation. kyivindependent.com/publishing-h...

Publishing house of Harvard’s Ukrainian Research Institute latest target of Trump’s federal budget cuts

The future of Harvard’s Ukrainian Research Institute (HURI) publishing program is in jeopardy, as it has become the latest target of sweeping grant cuts under the administration of U.S. President Dona...

kyivindependent.com

No longer hiding behind nonsense propaganda about NATO or "protecting Russian speakers" or "nazis", Russians now admit that their aim in Ukraine is merely genocide. Russia's Lieutenant Colonel Selivanov lays out the core of Russian culture.

@kcraik1.bsky.social @drsarahwhitmore.bsky.social

Europe is about to commit its greatest strategic mistake. on.ft.com/4bVGZZ9

Europe is about to make its biggest strategic mistake

[FREE TO READ] Control over Moscow’s blocked foreign reserves empowers the EU to shape how the Ukraine war ends

on.ft.com

Join us in Oxford for a timely public roundtable on 7/5 w/ leading Ukr experts, plus poster exhib. Pls register via link Spkrs: Kateryna Busol @simonpirani.bsky.social Anastasiia Riabchuk @olgatokariuk.bsky.social Andrew Wilson #Ukraine #RussiaUkraineWar www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/war-and-pe...

War and Peace in Ukraine

Join us to explore the nature of possible peace deals and plans for post-war reconstruction in Ukraine

eventbrite.co.uk

Meanwhile in Russia: state TV host Vladimir Solovyov asserted that there will be no ceasefire and peace will happen only on Russia's terms. He mocked American politicians who pledged to stand with Ukraine, but now their support is nowhere to be seen. www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QyO...

Vladimir Solovyov says Russia won't agree to a ceasefire

YouTube video by Russian Media Monitor

youtube.com

During a meeting with Putin, the mother of a deceased Russian soldier openly admitted to abducting a child from the occupied Kherson region and taking them to Russia. Another example of a heinous violation of human rights by Russia and its people.

Some scattered thoughts after the most shocking and horrible moment of US diplomacy most of us have ever seen. Not even sure what the point of writing anything about this is, but here goes. 1/

America’s withdrawal from Ukraine appears to be moving to warp speed now.

Voting with Russia, Trump has placed the US together with Russia, Belarus, North Korea, Nicaragua & rogue African military dictatorships friendly with Russia. Trump has taken the US out of the family of democratic countries. Even China, Cuba & Iran abstained. Shame!

Anonymous@youranoncentral.bsky.social · last yr.

Ukraine resolution at the UN called Russia an aggressor and demands the full withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders. The United States, Israel, and Russia voted against it. Every free democratic country around the globe voted in favour. #EndImpunity

New: Russia’s executions of Ukrainian prisoners point to systematic policy. Investigation with @christopherjm.ft.com @joesinft.ft.com @alisonkilling.bsky.social @digitalcampbell.ft.com @peter.andringa.me

Russia’s executions of Ukrainian prisoners point to systematic policy

[FREE TO READ] FT documentary investigates rise in cases of Russian soldiers executing Ukrainian POWs

on.ft.com