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More from @mjluxmoore

Matthew Luxmoore

@mjluxmoore

Nov 4, 2022

We spent a week near the southern frontlines around Kherson, where Russia seeks to sap Ukraine’s strength while avoiding the kind of chaotic withdrawal it undertook in the northeast. “They’ve dug in deep,” Ukrainian troops say. “Things for us are tough.” wsj.com/articles/signs…

A big question is how long Moscow will hold Kherson. There are signs it is preparing to leave the city, moving residents and personnel to the far bank of the Dnipro River, replacing elite forces with mobilized troops, and abandoning some checkpoints around the city and airport.

If Russia leaves with most forces intact, it can consolidate on the Dnipro’s eastern bank and shift forces elsewhere. Ukraine will have taken most of the low-hanging fruit in terms of offensive operations but will next face Russia along a tougher front to the north and northeast.

Read 8 tweets

Matthew Luxmoore

@mjluxmoore

Oct 18, 2022

Two brothers, both priests. One lives in Russia, the other in Ukraine.

For Vasyl, the war is a crime propped up by lies. For Iosif, it’s a just mission to retake Russian lands.

This is the story of how the war split their family - and so many others too wsj.com/articles/war-d…

The Ivanchuk brothers both served in the Soviet army, both lived in Kharkiv in Ukraine as students, and both became priests at a time of spiritual revival as the atheist Soviet Union crumbled.

But in February, both came to opposing conclusions about the war - why?

I spent hours talking to Father Iosif in Russia. His siblings describe him as a kind father of six who helps his flock - but he watches Russian TV, backs Putin's war, and says he'd be proud if his sons went to fight. “The chaos happening in Ukraine is God’s retribution,” he says.

Read 7 tweets

Matthew Luxmoore

@mjluxmoore

Oct 10, 2022

Horrific images emerging from the blast right in the heart of Kyiv, which drives home that no place in Ukraine is yet safe. Looks like there are fatalities.

The aftermath of one strike on Kyiv this morning

This is *right* in the centre of Kyiv, beside a busy park at exactly the time when people were rushing to work. No confirmation yet on number of fatalities.

Read 5 tweets

Matthew Luxmoore

@mjluxmoore

Oct 8, 2022

Russians awoke today to videos of the Crimea bridge on fire, the symbol of Russia’s resurgence under Putin and a key target for Ukraine since February. A huge blow that won’t go without a response from Putin, who already warned of a major escalation if Russian territory is hit.

The road section of the bridge is destroyed, and the rail section is still ablaze. An incredibly successful strike that seems to have been caused at least in part by a truck exploding. Russia announced all traffic along the bridge has ceased.

Another view of the massive explosion on the Crimea bridge, which links the peninsula to Russia and to occupied Kherson region and was a major supply route for Russian forces.

Read 6 tweets

Matthew Luxmoore

@mjluxmoore

Sep 21, 2022

Protests in Moscow and St Petersburg today have grown pretty large. People chanting “No to War!” Dozens of arrests reported

That was Moscow, this is St Petersburg. People marching through the city center denouncing Putin’s war

Can’t remember seeing such scenes on Moscow’s streets since February. Activists say almost 1,000 people have been detained today.

Read 4 tweets

Matthew Luxmoore

@mjluxmoore

Sep 21, 2022

Protests against mobilisation are taking place in several Russian cities today, mostly small-scale actions leading to a smattering of arrests. The woman’s sign reads “No to Mobilisation”