Veronika Melkozerova
@nikamelkozerova.bsky.social
Ukraine reporter for Politico Europe, journalist based in Kyiv
And this is coming from administration that ran into office on a motto of stopping aid to Ukraine as we re the “most corrupt country in the world”. That’s a typical post-Soviet thing to do, closing the probe into your political ally. Guys hating Ukraine, should know our corrupt officials are same
Imagine abandoning Afghanistan to be swallowed by terrorist regime and then threatening them if they don’t return your airbase? Coming from the author “I doubt NATO would fight for US” when the only time they triggered Art5 ever was for US! And we’re still bowing cause the alternative is worse
Doing reporting today in Kyiv on an upcoming story “What happens after Russian missile fell” telling about the bureaucratic hell Ukrainians have to endure to get their flats restored. Some have to return to occupation as they simply cannot afford to be refugees. Every Russian missile is a tragedy
Russia’s gasoline sales hit a two-year low on Tuesday as Ukrainian drone strikes and surging harvest-season demand intensify the country’s fuel shortage.
Russia gasoline sales hit 2-year low amid Ukrainian drone strikes and harvest-season demand
Ukraine has hit two Russian refineries during the last week.
ow.ly
It’s becoming harder to keep dodging the pendulum swings.
Life in #Kyiv is surreal. You can do your job, go shopping, or visit doctors, as if nothing is happening. But then everything stops as you hear this music. That means another hero gave up his or her life for you to be able to fool yourself and continue catching last moments of normal life. Listen
Revealed: Apple is teaching its AI to adapt to the Trump era www.politico.eu/article/appl... By @heroceane.bsky.social
Racism is a thing I can’t comprehend as a Slav, really.
Her name was Iryna Zarutska. And her death is now not mourned but used as a tool in internal racial and political game.Trump wants death penalty for a guy that killed one Ukrainian, but rolled a red carpet and wants to do business with a maniac, who killed hundreds of thousand of my Ukrainians.
Just my neighbours launching a vegetable garden next to their 16-story residential building in Kyiv. Using compost they are getting from organic waste neighbours produce. Apocalyptic future dictates new waves in urbanisation
Hope Poland will be ok after tonight’s attack of Russian drones. Russians threw more than 480 at Ukraine, 8 entered into Poland. We would’ve shot them down if we had enough air defense from allies. Our air defense is working beyond capabilities, but any country can’t deal with it alone for so long.
Today Russia killed over 20 seniors in Donetsk region it claims to be liberating. Russians dropped a bomb at a spot where people gathered to collect their monthly pensions.
The day after her stroke my granny disappeared. I was so worried, but it emerged she spontaneously went to her friend’s country house for a day, with no signal there. She returned so happy I couldn’t even be mad at her. “I needed something positive in my life,” she said.
I am not getting even “are you ok” messages from abroad anymore after the attacks. Polish defense minister said it right “Russia won because YOU are tired and got used to war”. He talks good, I wonder how much it cost to fly jets to observe the attack and do nothing every time.? Logistics mission
Yesterday Fico said Ukraine must also take other countries’ interests into account when bombing Russia.Today Russia attacked Ukraine with more than 800 drones and missiles. In one night. Cabinet of ministers building on fire. Ganny had a small stroke, survived only cause of nitroglycerin.
We’re desperate for help of a guy, who deploys national guard against his own people, renames departments and gulfs and posts offensive third grade memes mocking his opponents. Says a lot about state of play.
Today Ukrainian doctor told me:oh, your thyroid is like an empty house, where anti-bodies threw everyone out. What a poet. And yeah, war affects you in so many dimensions.
A creeping barrage of Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil infrastructure has knocked out a major share of the country’s crude refining capacity in recent weeks, triggering domestic shortages and leaving the Kremlin’s most important strategic industry teetering on the brink.
Ukrainian drone strikes strangle Putin’s fuel supplies
Refinery attacks have triggered a fuel crisis and halted Moscow’s lucrative gas exports — as pressure grows on the Russian president to start negotiating.
ow.ly
I have little to no motivation these days. As it’s so painful Ukraine was and has been fighting to be accepted into Western civilisation that will soon be gone. And there are no place for Ukraine in China-led world.
Ukrainian authorities have detained a suspect in the murder of Andriy Parubiy, a senior politician and former parliamentary speaker, and allege there is a Russian link to the killing.
Ukrainian police say Russia linked to murder of former parliament speaker
Authorities have arrested a suspect in the killing of Andriy Parubiy, a prominent politician who played a major role in Ukraine’s pro-Western Euromaidan Revolution.
ow.ly
Just to pics side by side. imagine being a Ukrainian in this world, where US army is throwing red carpet and playing games while those three are not joking. Ffs
Today Russia launched one of its largest attacks on my hometown, Kyiv. 10 people were killed and that number is growing. Russia uses anti-ship and cruise missiles against civilians! My 80-year-old granny had to spend the night sitting on a chair in the corridor. EU building in Ukraine was damaged 👇🏻
A tank-trapping, carbon-capturing bog barrier to keep out Putin? Governments in Finland and Poland say they're looking into making this a reality. My big summer read, w/ @nikamelkozerova.bsky.social and @wojciechkosc.bsky.social, on defensive bog restoration: www.politico.eu/article/russ...
From Kyiv to the Suwałki Gap, bogs return as Europe’s defensive shield
Restoring the EU’s drained bogs would stop both Russian tanks and planet-warming pollution.
politico.eu
My colleague @ziaweise.bsky.social did a great story on how nature can be used to stop invasion. But this tactics has its toll. So I welcome you to read it www.politico.eu/article/russ...
From Kyiv to the Suwałki Gap, bogs return as Europe’s defensive shield
Restoring the EU’s drained bogs would stop both Russian tanks and planet-warming pollution.
politico.eu
The Ukrainian government condemned American filmmaker Woody Allen for appearing at Moscow International Film Week.
Crimes and Misdemeanors: Ukraine slams Woody Allen for Russia film talk
US movie director appeared online at Moscow film festival, and praised Russian cinema.
politico.eu
Independence Day potion is brewing . A reminder to eat borsht and feel it today.
Pink is my seasonal color this summer. Unfortunately the missile I wrote about is no longer pink due to camouflage requirements, it still kinda cute how it got its name.
POLITICO Europe@politico.eu · 12mo agoWhile Ukraine's allies twist themselves into knots over how to provide it with security guarantees, Kyiv is moving ahead with its own way of keeping Russia at bay — a new cruise missile able to hit all of European Russia carrying a massive warhead weighing more than a ton.
I sometimes think I’ve missed the point when I needed a counselling sessions, and therapy and went straight to needing anger management courses.
Must-read from the POLITICO defense team on parallels between Munich 1938 and Washington 2025
Why Munich 1938 concessions to Nazi Germany haunt Washington 2025 talks
Vladimir Putin’s desire to grab Ukraine’s key defensive lines echoes how Adolf Hitler secured Czechoslovakia’s fortifications.
politico.eu