At 69, Tetiana Tepliuk defended Azovstal under full encirclement, then spent 7 months in Russian captivity. Now 74 — she is back on active duty.
Soldiers call her "Khreshchena." The Godmother. — U24.
1/
In the bunkers, she refused to eat her own rations.
Khreshchena: "Every evening, we were given a spoonful of sugar and a spoonful of honey. I saved it and gave it to two soldiers — the sugar to one, and the honey to the other."
2/
In Russian captivity at Taganrog, a guard told her she would not need her slippers — she would soon receive "white slippers" instead. A Russian cultural reference meaning she was being prepared for a coffin.
Applebaum: Putin's war has finally reached Moscow.
Muscovites have lost cell service, struggled to use ATMs and come under drone attacks.
They understand Russia isn't winning. Putin won't fall tomorrow, but it has shifted the mood of Russia's business and political elite. 1/
Applebaum: Russia's system will eventually change.
Nobody knows who will succeed Putin or how that person will be chosen. There is no Politburo or ruling party to pick the next leader. The successor will emerge from Russia's elite groups. 2/
Applebaum: The frontline in Ukraine has stalled.
It has become a transparent zone where drones can see every person, tank and vehicle. Large offensives have become difficult, if not impossible. 3X
Stubb: 35,000 Russian soldiers killed per month won't end this war. Economic strain won't end it either.
What ends it: the Russian population turning against it. Drones hit St. Petersburg and Moscow. Kids lose their summers in Crimea. Gas lines. Internet shutdowns.
1/
Stubb: Ukraine's long-range strikes took down 40% of Russia's oil refining capacity.
2/
Stubb: Ukraine needs more Patriots — over 100 civilian buildings hit just the other night, civilians dying.
Europeans and Americans need to work on this together.