⚡️ Update: Ukraine's Flamingo missiles reportedly strike key Russian military plant in Volgograd. The reported strike targeted a major defense enterprise that manufactures launchers for the Yars and Topol-M strategic missile systems.

Ukraine's Flamingo missiles reportedly strike key Russian military plant in Volgograd

The reported strike targeted a major defense enterprise that manufactures launchers for the Yars and Topol-M strategic missile systems, as well as launchers for the Iskander-M tactical ballistic missi...

kyivindependent.com

⚡️ Update: 4 killed, over 30 injured in mass Russian attack across Ukraine. Russian forces deployed 666 drones and missiles against Dnipro and other cities, the Air Force reported after a massive overnight strike.

4 killed, 32 injured as Russia launches mass strike at Dnipro, other cities across Ukraine

Russia launched one of its largest aerial strikes on Ukraine overnight on April 25, killing at least four people and injuring at least 32, officials reported.

kyivindependent.com

In a number of Russian regions, authorities have begun compiling lists of “volunteers,” primarily consisting of individuals who owe money for housing and utility services. Students are also being recruited to serve in the Russian army, according to Ukraine's Defense Intelligence.

Authorities said that an industrial site was damaged in the Kirishky district, which is home to the Kirishinefteorgsintez oil refinery.

Major Oil Refinery in Leningrad Region Reportedly Damaged in Ukrainian Drone Strike - The Moscow Times

Ukrainian drones are believed to have struck one of Russia’s largest oil refineries in the northwestern Leningrad region early Thursday, coming after days of repeated strikes on nearby oil terminals t...

themoscowtimes.com

The European Commission has launched a process to enable the European Union to become a co-founder of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine.

Russia unveils plans to resettle occupied Ukrainian territories, media reports #Ukraine

Russia unveils plans to resettle occupied Ukrainian territories, media reports

kyivindependent.com

Just a reminder that the Washington Treaty defines the geography of NATO’s mutual defense pledge — at U.S. insistence in 1949 — to prevent allies from committing us to their wars outside of Europe.

The UN's Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine has concluded the the deportation and forcible transfer of Ukrainian children by Russian authorities, as well as enforced disappearances, amount to crimes against humanity. www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

UN Commission concludes that deportation and forcible transfer of Ukrainian children by Russian authorities, as well as enforced disappearances, amount to crimes against humanity

GENEVA/VIENNA– Russian authoriti es committed the crimes against humanity of deportation and forcible transfer of children, and of their enforced disappearance, the Independent International Commissio...

ohchr.org

Opinion: "The US, UK, France, Germany, Canada, and other like-minded allies must form a coalition to cooperatively and immediately employ Moscow’s sovereign assets on Ukraine’s behalf", writes Michael F.Bennet at @euractiv.com www.euractiv.com/opinion/puti...

Putin has no plans to stop. Ukraine needs Russia's frozen assets more than ever | Euractiv

The US, UK, France, Germany, Canada, and other like-minded allies must form a coalition to cooperatively and immediately employ Moscow’s sovereign assets on Ukraine’s behalf

euractiv.com

Was browsing the Eisenhower Library site this morning trying to find a quote I remembered. President Eisenhower, WW2 military hero: “In my opinion, there is no such thing as a preventive war… none has yet explained how war prevents war.”

"countries will jointly plan for how an evacuation of people across land borders can be carried out. This includes reviewing transport, border controls, evacuation corridors, the reception and registration of people..." www.government.se/press-releas...

“Talankin and Borenstein have hit a raw nerve with this documentary, intentionally or not.” Read Meduza film critic Anton Dolin’s review of the BAFTA-winning “Mr. Nobody Against Putin.” meduza.io/en/feature/2...

A Russian teacher filmed classroom war propaganda, and the smuggled footage is now an Oscar-nominated documentary. But émigrés are split. — Meduza

This year’s Oscar nominees for best international feature film include the documentary “Mr. Nobody Against Putin,” assembled from footage smuggled out of Russia in 2024 by its creator, Pavel…

meduza.io

#Ukraine's MFA statement on energy blackmail by the governments of #Hungary and #Slovakia mfa.gov.ua/en/news/zaya... #Russia #Putinswar

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine - MFA statement on energy blackmail by the governments of Hungary and Slovakia

Ukraine rejects and condemns the ultimatums and blackmail by the governments of Hungary and the Slovak Republic regarding energy supplies between our countries

mfa.gov.ua

Ukraine’s military intelligence has published the identities of individuals and organizations allegedly involved in a russian state-backed program that removes Ukrainian children from temporarily occupied territories under the guise of cultural excursions. united24media.com/latest-news/...

Ukraine Names Russian Officials Behind Program Removing Children From Occupied Territories

HUR names people and groups tied to Russia’s “Cultural Map 4+85” scheme moving Ukrainian children from occupied areas via “excursions”.

united24media.com

Suppliers of death: The Insider identifies another 160 companies making purchases on behalf of the Russian military If these were all to be added to sanctions lists at the same time, it could deal a serious blow to Russia’s military production.

Suppliers of death: The Insider identifies another 160 companies making purchases on behalf of the Russian military

The United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom face two main difficulties when imposing sanctions aimed at disrupting Russia’s military production. First, it is not always clear which g...

theins.press

Wow.

POST-MUNICH ROUNDUP This was an important conference. Rubio, Walz tried their best to reassure Europe that they weren’t about to abandon the continent, while making it perfectly clear it was up to the continent to defend itself without America - the burden sharing argument. That’s something every

Ukrainian civilian casualties surged by 26% in 2025, say researchers ✍️ Dan Sabbagh, Defence and security editor Figures said to reflect increased russian military targeting of cities and infrastructure www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...

Ukrainian civilian casualties surged by 26% in 2025, say researchers

Exclusive: Figures said to reflect increased Russian military targeting of cities and infrastructure

theguardian.com

"This focus on the short-term is largely justified. Europe needs at least five to ten years to rearm, while according to NATO’s own estimates, Russia may attempt an incursion into NATO territory in as soon as four. The current European response still lacks urgency and strategic vision." #WakeUpCall

Chatham House@chathamhouse.org · 6mo ago

Europe’s push to reduce its reliance on the US is likely to be permanent. US policymakers should wake up to this new reality. https://bit.ly/4tBhYL4

That the European establishment lept to their feet to give Marco Rubio a standing ovation at #MSC is a prime example of what I wrote about last week. He insulted them and promised to break Europe apart. But they desperately sought comfort in his words about America & Europe sharing a common culture

Europeans are getting blue pilled by MAGA

The far right has unleashed a lobbying blitz in Brussels telling lawmakers to calm down and ride the Trump train. The European penchant for inaction makes their narrative a tempting pill to swallow.

open.substack.com

Sébastien Gobert@sebagobert.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Il n’aura fallu que quelques formules de styles et emphases de politesse pour que la condescendance et le désir d’ingérence du discours de Rubio reçoivent une standing ovation. Comme si tout avait changé. Des fois, on se dit que les Européens méritent ce dont on les menace.

Then do something about it. Graham keeps talking about supporting Ukraine and putting pressure on Russia, but nothing happens.

24Hours Ukraine@24hoursukraine.bsky.social · 6mo ago

🇺🇸🇺🇦 Senator Lindsey Graham in Munich: “I want to give Tomahawks to Ukraine. I want the U.S. to supply Tomahawks to reach out and hurt the infrastructure that Putin counts on to build the drones and all the other stuff. I want to change the military equation”

Epstein advanced Russian goals on behalf of a Russia-aligned network of contacts. "What We've Learned from the Latest Epstein Documents" This is essential reading from David Troy. america2.news/what-weve-le...

What We've Learned from the Latest Epstein Documents

As our investigative series on the Epstein network continues, the latest evidence sheds light on new facts and ongoing themes.

america2.news

by the end of February. Malta and Greece play key but different roles in the functioning of the so-called shadow fleet used to export Russian oil in circumvention of sanctions. Malta is one of the world’s largest ship registries and a classic flag-of-convenience jurisdiction.

It is not in Europe’s interest to join the talks in order to become a party to a bad deal that would increase the likelihood of a new invasion of Ukraine or even a broader war on the continent, writes Kristi Raik. @kristiraik.bsky.social

A special representative of Europe for Russia—to do what? - International Centre for Defence and Security

While another round of peace talks was being held between Russia, Ukraine, and the US in Abu Dhabi, Europe was debating whether to appoint a special envoy to these talks. There are public disagreement...

icds.ee

Brilliant work here by @checkfirst.network.

Unveiling GRU's Information Operations Troops with OSINT and Medals  - CheckFirst

We tracked the infrastructure of one of the most secretive units of Russian intelligence by using phaleristics (i.e. the academic study of medals and military decorations) and traditional OSINT techni...

checkfirst.network

That time the IMF bailed out Russia amidst its 1998 implosion with $5 billion and it was immediately all stolen, sent to Switzerland, then on to a series of front companies all over the world. web.archive.org/web/20080617...

Russians are trying to rewrite history on Wikipedia. Because it's the #1 source of training data for AI systems, it can also be used to "poison" platforms like ChatGPT and Claude AI.

Trump is badly losing the war over ICE, not just on the streets, but also in the culture. As Bad Bunny shows, this has become a culture war unto itself. Trump-MAGA's initial hubris has been utterly deflated. I've got fresh data illustrating the point. 1/ (new piece) newrepublic.com/article/2062...

Trump Rages at Bad Bunny—and Accidentally Exposes a Big MAGA Weakness

MAGA’s hatred of the Super Bowl halftime performer reflects a hubris about what parts of the culture are “theirs.” But those assumptions are proving more wrong every day.

newrepublic.com

This ⬇️

Nicholas Grossman@nicholasgrossman.bsky.social · 7mo ago

Trump negotiators don’t approach Russia-Ukraine talks as “if we can get Russia to stop attacking, then there will be peace.” They approach it as “if we can get Ukraine to surrender, then we can make a lot of money.”

Kuunnelkaa edes Kulebaa! (dialogian-puuhaajat) Putin "is seeking an opportunity to inflict embarrassment and humiliation. European leaders may pretend that they have enough influence to speak to him seriously, but he has no such intention." balticsentinel.eu/8411524/dmyt...

Dmytro Kuleba on the Idea of Talking Directly to Russia: The Only Outcome of This Conversation Would Be Europe’s Humiliation

Dmytro Kuleba on the Idea of Talking Directly to Russia: The Only Outcome of This Conversation Would Be Europe’s Humiliation

balticsentinel.eu