1/ The Russian government has hidden a vast amount of data from the public in an apparent attempt to conceal the impact of the war in Ukraine. An analysis shows that almost 500 datasets have been removed since February 2022, covering everything from weather to state pensions. ⬇️
2/ The Russian publication 'To Be Precise' reports that at least 44 government bodies have stopped publishing data, with some statistical platforms being taken down entirely. The law was changed in February 2023 to allow the government to stop publishing state statistics.
3/ Much of the data that has been removed or suspended from publication relates to direct or indirect indicators of the war's impact. Such datasets were often used by independent Russian commentators and analysts. They include:
4/ 🔺 Data showing the impact of sanctions, including imports, exports, oil production and refining.
🔺 Information on companies subject to sanctions, companies involved in military production and companies workin on import substitution.
5/🔺 Government procurement and contracts, and budget expenditures.
🔺 Data relating to deaths and disabilities caused by the war.
🔺 Almost all data on prisoners, many of whom have died after being recruited to fight in Ukraine.
6/🔺 Monthly data on crimes committed with the use of firearms, ammunition and explosives, which had increased greatly in Russian regions bordering Ukraine.
🔺 Data on atmospheric altitude conditions was deleted following drone attacks on Moscow.
7/ 🔺 Data on potential strategic targets such as power plants, power lines, and radioactive waste storage sites, as well as regional offices of government departments.
🔺 Information on energy consumption, which could be used to infer the state of the economy.
8/🔺 Data on migration and the issuing of passports to residents of occupied regions of Ukraine.
🔺 At least 40 Russian government websites are now inaccessible to non-Russian IP addresses, likely in an attempt to prevent them being targeted by DDoS attacks from abroad.
1/ Supplies of gasoline have reportedly run out in parts of Russian-occupied Donetsk and Luhansk, leading to rationing and long queues at gas stations that are still open. Similar problems are reported from regions across Russia. This thread provides an overview. ⬇️
2/ Ukraine's drone campaign against Russian oil refineries is reported to have knocked out as much as 20% of Russian fuel production. As a result, disruption to fuel supplies has become widespread.
3/ The Russian newspaper Kommersant reports that 10% of gasoline production has been lost due to drone attacks and scheduled maintenance. The price per ton of both AI-92 and AI-95 gasoline reached record prices in late August.
1/ Russia's puppet republics in eastern Ukraine are suffering a 'gasoline collapse' as a result of Ukraine's recent refinery attacks. Civilians are queuing for hours to buy expensive fuel, and the Russian military is also short of gasoline. ⬇️
2/ As previously reported, disruption to fuel supplies has spread across Russia as a result of the Ukrainian drone strike campaign against Russian refineries. Russian warblogger Anastasia Kashevarova reports on the situation in occupied Ukraine:
3/ "Gasoline collapse in the DPR and LPR [Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic].
Huge 2-3 hour queues at gas stations. Resellers sell a litre for 200 rubles ($2.45). A litre of A-95 gasoline reaches 90 rubles ($1.09) at gas stations, or even more.
1/ Russian soldiers in Ukraine are stealing abandoned weapons from the battlefield and smuggling them back into Russia, or simply selling their own weapons to arms dealers. There has been a 300% increase in arms-trafficking cases since 2021. ⬇️
2/ An investigation by the Russian independent media outlet Verstka has identified a massive increase in cases heard by garrison courts against military personnel charged with the purchase, sale, storage, transportation and theft of weapons and ammunition.
3/ According to court records, the number of such cases has increased from 41 in 2021 to 137 in 2023. There have been at least 93 cases in the first 8 months of 2025, which suggests a final figure close to or exceeding that in 2023.
1/ There have been repeated incidents across Russia of vandalism of the graves of soldiers killed in the war in Ukraine. The motive, if any, isn't known. ⬇️
2/ Graves of Ukraine war casualties were desecrated in early September 2025 in the Kozitsynskoye cemetery in Vologda. Crosses were torn down along with flags and wreaths.
3/ There have been multiple similar incidents in the same cemetery. In February 2025, several graves were set alight, with two being destroyed by fire.
1/ Men with HIV and hepatitis are openly being recruited online for service with the Russian army, despite a ban on recruiting those with infectious diseases. The army already faces a disease epidemic, which is prompting the creation of special 'HIV regiments'. ⬇️
2/ Avito, the Russian version of eBay, currently has over 1,100 adverts offering military contracts. While some are likely to be 'official' adverts from military recruitment offices, many regions now offer bounties to anyone who recruits a soldier.
3/ This is almost certainly prompting recruiters to sign up anyone they can, even if they are legally prohibited from enlisting. Numerous adverts seek people to serve as drivers, drone operators, and artillerymen, but openly state that infected men are welcomed or considered.
1/ Russia's BMD-4M is virtually defenceless against FPV drones and prone to exploding spectacularly when hit. This is being blamed on outdated requirements for the vehicle to be air-droppable and amphibious, which its own makers admit have left it "virtually devoid of armour". ⬇️
2/ The BMD-4M was designed in 2008 for the Russian Airborne Troops (VDV). It has performed poorly during the Ukraine war, with at least 176 vehicles lost. Much of the blame has fallen on the very thin aluminum alloy hull armour.
3/ Soldiers have attempted to improve the armour themselves by adding cages to the roofs of the BMD-4Ms, where the armour is only 5-6mm thick. This has not been very successful due to the armour everywhere else only being thick enough to withstand bullets and shell splinters.