While Donbas has captured public attention, the rest of Ukraine also suffers from Russia's war. In Sumy, a growing drone campaign portends more displacement as locals fear the city becoming a 'second Kherson.' I visited Sumy for @offbeatresearch.bsky.social: offbeatresearch.com/2025/11/year...

Years On, Sumy Struggles with Russian Bombardment - OffBeat Research

Neil Hauer reports from Sumy, a city which has grown increasingly war-weary as the threat of constant drone attacks and bombardments drag on the daily lives of its residents.

offbeatresearch.com

The battle for Donbas is now fought with small arms and smaller drones, and men in teams of two or three. But the fighting is even deadlier than earlier in this war. I visited Dobropillya and spoke with some of its Ukrainian defenders, for CBC: www.cbc.ca/news/world/u...

In Donbas, Ukrainian troops fight off endless Russian assaults | CBC News

In Dobropillia, a coal-mining town just a few kilometres from the front line with Russia in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region, its few remaining inhabitants shuffle to find food or water under the const...

cbc.ca

I'm in Sloviansk, eastern Ukraine. Three massive Russian glide bombs just tore into the city a few kilometers away, big enough to feel their shockwaves in my apartment. Just an average night for Donbas.

Yesterday I had the rare opportunity to speak with infantry from Ukraine's 14th Brigade. They had just returned from a 90-day posting in Novoekonomichne - one of the hottest parts of the entire front. Their commander, 'Bobruk,' had some very interesting insights. Thread:

Dear followers, I have a request for you. I'm presently back in Ukraine again, and looking to make a reporting trip out to Donbas soon. The costs of this are not low, though, and keep growing as media budgets shrink. That's why I'm asking for your help to make this trip work. /1

More than three years into full-scale warfare, Ukraine and Russia are locked in a war of attrition, with an uncertain outcome. Yet there are some key steps that Western policymakers can take to ensure Ukraine emerges victorious. My new policy paper: carleton.ca/eetn/2025/a-...

A Stoppable Force and a Movable Object: Mutual Exhaustion in Russia and Ukraine

Heavy losses in manpower and materiel have degraded the ability of both sides to achieve significant breakthroughs in offensive operations, while the past 18 months of the war have been marked by near...

carleton.ca

Syria's minorities have been in the news lately, amidst uncertainty over their futures. But in the city of Aleppo, one Christian community is thriving: the Armenians. I spent a few days with them, for CTV News: www.ctvnews.ca/world/articl...

What it’s like for minority Christians in Syria, after the fall of the longtime dictator

It’s been four months since the fall of longtime dictator Bashar al-Assad marked the beginning of a new era in Syria. While the strongman’s toppling has brought hope, incidents of sectarian violence -...

ctvnews.ca

In Tbilisi for a quick visit, and it's noticably depressing here. The most common conversation with friends is 'did you make it across the border okay?', followed by stories of foreigners who were deported. This from a country that was once the light in the region.

Visiting Ottawa this week for a short conference (and presentation on Russia/Ukraine) at my alma mater, @Carleton_U. Have already met so many Ukrainians the past day here 🇺🇦🇨🇦

Have a pair of longform pieces (3,000-5,000 words) on Syria that I'm trying to find homes for. I've got good pitches drawn up for each, but struggling to find the right outlet(s). Any advice or suggestions appreciated.

Still searching, folks

Neil Hauer@neilphauer.bsky.social · last yr.

Editors: I'm looking for a home for a story of mine on Latakia, Syria, where I was present just days before the the explosion of violence there this past weekend. Anyone interested? DMs are open.

Editors: I'm looking for a home for a story of mine on Latakia, Syria, where I was present just days before the the explosion of violence there this past weekend. Anyone interested? DMs are open.

Latakia, on the Syrian coast. The former heartland of the Assad regime.

On April 7, 2018, the Assad regime gassed the city of Douma. Survivors were brought to the Hague & forced to deny it. But their story didn't end there: two of the witnesses have been thrown out of their homes and threatened by HTS fighters. My latest from Syria: www.cbc.ca/news/world/s...

Syrian gas attack witnesses coerced into false testimony face new threats at home | CBC News

After the Syrian government launched a chemical attack on the rebel-held area of Douma, Syria, in 2018, some of the survivors were forced to falsely testify it never happened. Now, some of those peopl...

cbc.ca

Meet Bakhour Chamntoub, the new head of Damascus's Jewish community (all 7 of them). The self-proclaimed 'best tailor in Syria,' Bakhour is a real celebrity - seemingly half the Old City knows him. He says he can't leave Syria because he's a womanizer and 'all my girls are here.'

Have just arrived in the southern Syrian city of Suwayda. The local Druze population were stridently anti-Assad for years - but the local leadership does not get along with the new Syrian authorities, either. Promises to be an interesting couple of days here.

Today I visited Douma, a northeastern suburb of Damascus that was one of the first strongholds of the Free Syrian Army. It spent seven years until siege and bombardment, with near-constant artillery and airstrikes - including a chemical gas attack.

Today I visited Douma, a northeastern suburb of Damascus that was one of the first strongholds of the Free Syrian Army. It spent seven years until siege and bombardment, with near-constant artillery and airstrikes - including a chemical gas attack.

13 years after I started obsessing over maps and videos of the Syrian war, I am actually here, in Free Damascus. Still feels like a dream. What an absolute privilege to be here and I can't wait to see so much of this beautiful country over the next month! 💚🤍🖤

Hello Beirut 🇱🇧! Landed in Lebanon's lovely capital today for a quick stopover and last preparations. Tomorrow, I will make the journey overland to Damascus and Free Syria 🇸🇾 (when will this emoji be updated!?).

You can find the donation link here: buymeacoffee.com/neilphauer

Neil Hauer is Artist

Canadian journalist, proud freelancer for almost a decade. Reporting on Russia, Ukraine, the Caucasus and (soon) Syria for CBC, CNN, New York Magazine, Foreign Policy, Foreign Affairs and everyone els

buymeacoffee.com

Re-upping this as I'm in final preparations for this trip - will be flying to Beirut on Sunday and crossing to Damascus on Monday. Any support appreciated!

Neil Hauer@neilphauer.bsky.social · 2y ago

Dear Bluesky, I have a humble request today. I am presently planning a long reporting trip to Syria, looking to spend nearly a month in the country telling the stories of its many communities under the Assad regime, as well as their hopes - and fears - for the future.

Re-upping this as I'm in final preparations for this trip - will be flying to Beirut on Sunday and crossing to Damascus on Monday. Any support appreciated!

Neil Hauer@neilphauer.bsky.social · 2y ago

Dear Bluesky, I have a humble request today. I am presently planning a long reporting trip to Syria, looking to spend nearly a month in the country telling the stories of its many communities under the Assad regime, as well as their hopes - and fears - for the future.

Any other journalists (freelance or otherwise) heading to Syria soon and want to split costs on fixers etc? Drop me a line if so

The sham trials of Karabakh Armenian leaders, including Russian-Armenian billionaire Ruben Vardanyan, are underway in Azerbaijan. The closed-door proceedings are a mockery of justice. I spoke with Vardanyan's son and others about the trials: www.intellinews.com/families-of-...

Families of Karabakh Armenian leaders condemn sham trials in Azerbaijan

For David Vardanyan, September 27, 2023 is a day he’ll never forget. It was the day he awoke to photos of his father, Russian-Armenian billionaire ...

intellinews.com

Dear Bluesky, I have a humble request today. I am presently planning a long reporting trip to Syria, looking to spend nearly a month in the country telling the stories of its many communities under the Assad regime, as well as their hopes - and fears - for the future.

After 14 years, the Chechen and North Caucasian fighters in Syria's rebellion have succeeded in their mission of toppling Bashar Assad. What now? Will they settle in Syria, or go next to Ukraine or, even, back home? I took a look at the possibilities: ridl.io/what-future-...

What future for Chechen and North Caucasian fighters in Syria? – Riddle Russia

Neil Hauer assesses whether Syria’s victorious North Caucasus rebel fighters will settle in Syria, redeploy to Ukraine, or try to bring a jihadist insurgency back into Russia

ridl.io

A very important extension of the EU border observation mission in Armenia for two more years. It has successfully helped prevent the attacks by Azerbaijan into Armenia that occurred regularly from early 2021 to late 2022.

OC Media@ocmedia.bsky.social · 2y ago

The European Council adopted a decision extending the mandate of the EU Mission in Armenia (EUMA) until February 2027. The mission has been the subject of both Azerbaijani and Russian criticism since its deployment in early 2023. oc-media.org/eu-approves-...

Do I know any freelance journalists who have been in Syria recently? Looking to discuss costs and logistics of reporting there with someone who knows - please let me know!

As an initial offering here, read my latest on the new US-Armenia Strategic Partnership agreement, and what it could mean for Yerevan: www.intellinews.com/new-us-strat...

New US strategic partnership could be revolutionary for Armenia

For proponents of Armenia’s ongoing move towards the West, it’s been a big couple of weeks. On January 9, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol ...

intellinews.com