Although most people don’t realize it, Russia is already at hybrid war with NATO and EU

It keeps operations under the threshold of NATO article 5

Here is a list of 2024 Russian sabotage attacks in Europe by CNN

Note their diversity

1/

https://twitter.com/olenahalushka/status/1807480673327866286

1.Baltic states: GPS signal jamming
2.Czech Republic: Failed arson attack on bus depot
3.EU-Belarus border: Weaponizing migration
4.Finland: Threatening to redraw sea borders
5.France: Cyberattacks on government 2/

Why do Russians arrest and torture priests in occupied territories?

The answer is simple: Russia acts like a mafia. They terrorize communities so they to give up and submit

But the priests resist. They lead, bring hope, and help people endure the occupation 1/ Zelensky at Ukrainian National Prayer Breakfast today:

We have freed 90 of our warriors and ten civilians from Russian captivity, including Christian priests Bohdan Geleta and Ivan Levytsky 2/

Israel has been cautious to support Ukraine, to say the least. But now it is changing.

FT reports that the US, Israel, and Ukraine are in talks to potentially supply Kyiv with up to eight Patriot air defense systems from Israel
1/ This transfer would significantly improve Ukraine's ability to counter Russian air strikes and mark a shift in Israel's relations with Moscow

The deal would likely involve sending the Patriot systems from Israel to the US first, then to Ukraine 2/

Many believe that Russia is invincible, but they are wrong

There are important early signs that the ridiculously high losses of Russian soldiers are unsustainable 1/ But, first, how high are these losses?

The NYTimes reports, citing the U.S. intelligence, the losses of about 1000 per day. That’s 30 000 per month, 365 000 a year. A lot! It should be a lot! 2/

U.S. restricts Ukraine from hitting Russian air bases. Consequently, Russia continues to bomb Ukraine with powerful gliding bombs

This is a controversy. 1. The US and Ukraine disagree about whether this policy is real. 2. the UK allows to hit Russia with storm shadows, so? 1/ The U.S. says it has allowed Ukraine to use certain American weapons to strike Russian territory

The Ukrainian officials, anonymously, say that the limit is less than 100 km from the border

The U.S. officials dispute this figure, but don't disclose the policy 2/

Today Russian missiles damage a university in Western Ukraine

This is a systemic campaign to eradicate Ukraine’s ability to educate. But I know it is difficult to understand its scale. So let me try to show you.

According to @KSE_Institute, the total damage is $6.79 billion 1/ To put this number in perspective compare it with the annual budget for the Boston school system - $1.3 billion

So, Russian damage is equivalent to defunding Boston schools for 5 years 2/

Politico writes about the return of the Ukraine’s emergency blackouts, while my friend Mariia Popova in Kyiv tells why this time it feels much worse than in the first winter of the war - basically, we dread what is to come 1/
politico.com/news/2024/06/2…
Ukraine is experiencing a new wave of rolling blackouts due to Russian attacks that have destroyed half of the country's power generation capacity

We are adapting: generators, power banks, and flashlights are back in fashion. But will we freeze in the winter? 2/

Ukrainians consider Zelensky legitimate even though elections are cancelled during martial law

70% of Ukrainians across all regions agree that Zelensky should serve as president until the end of the war, a recent reputable poll by KIIS 1/

mobiliseproject.com/wp-content/upl…
Putin recently challenged Zelensky's legitimacy, claiming it is unclear who to speak with in Ukraine. Zelensky countered, stating that unlike in Russia, where Putin's legitimacy is self-determined, his legitimacy is decided by Ukrainians 2/

https://x.com/aussiecossack/status/1794022165307855337

It might seem bizarre to foreigners, but Russia believes it has jurisdiction over Ukraine. To Russia, the Ukrainian government and armed forces are merely domestic terrorists. Once you accept this perspective, Russian actions begin to make sense 1/

https://x.com/RALee85/status/1802751852456415387

For Russia, this isn't a war with Ukraine, but a special military operation to eradicate terrorists. From this perspective, it's very similar to what happened in Chechnya in the 1990s. That wasn't seen as a war to suppress independence, but a campaign against terrorism 2/

For the first time, we have documents detailing the 2022 Ukrainian-Russian peace negotiations. What's new, and what did we get wrong? Contrary to Biden's opponents in the U.S., it wasn't Boris Johnson who derailed the deal, but Russia's last-minute conditions 1/ The NYTimes published the documents and their analysis from interviews with those involved in the negotiations. The timing appears strategic just before the peace summit in Switzerland and right after Putin issued another 'peace deal' ultimatum 2/ nytimes.com/interactive/20…

The peace summit in Switzerland is a major diplomatic success despite some setbacks.

For the first time, Ukraine has been able to lead a meeting of over 90 countries with 57 heads of state present

80 countries signed the communique with key points Ukraine wanted 1/ These key points are

The Russia wages a war against Ukraine

Reference to the UN resolution that declared Russia the aggressor and Ukraine the victim

The conclusion that the UN charter that respects the principle
Of territorial integrity will serve as a basis for peace 2/

Putin’s surrender ultimatum to Ukraine, disguised as a peace proposal, backfired

- it underscored the diminishing impact of Putin's rhetoric

- it weakened the perception that Russia is genuinely committed to peace talks

- it reminded everyone why negotiations failed in 2022 1/ Putin asked Ukraine to surrender four regions or else he will continue fighting. He promised nothing in exchange, only a possibility of ceasefire and talks 2/

https://twitter.com/bbcstever/status/1801602650871369991

The G7 pledges to combat Russian shadow fleet used to evade oil export sanctions.

Research @KSE_Institute shows Russia tripled this fleet to 435 vessels in 2024 from 143 in 2023, heightening concerns about oil spills along EU shipping routes. 1/ @KSE_Institute Russia is boosting its shadow fleet with old ships destined for scrap. An oil spill is not a question of if but when, which would trigger severe sanctions on fleet facilitators. Yet, EU elections and local politics are diverting G7's focus 2/

buff.ly/45nBKhJ

Ukrainian woman escapes Russian occupation by walking through the front line over a bridge in Kherson

On June 11, the Ukrainian military spotted a woman on the surviving part of the Antonivskyi Bridge, standing in the side of the occupied Oleshky 1/

After the woman saw the drone, she showed it her Ukrainian passport.

The drone escorted the Ukrainian woman to the positions of Ukrainian forces. She was then transported by boat to the territory controlled by Ukraine 2/

Putin loses at G7

1. Led by the US and France, G7 agrees to give $50bln to Ukraine backed by Russian assets

2. US and Ukraine sign a security agreement

3. Russia is pissed and promises retaliation 1/ 4. NATO is set to allow itself a "greater role" in Ukraine aid

5. Biden imposes new sanctions targeting Russian defense industry

6. Biden says air defense to Ukraine will take priority over other countries 2/

G7 agree to use Russian assets to give Ukraine $50 bln by the end of this year

This is a major blow to Russia 1/ G7 leaders had aimed to agree a deal on using the profits from the interest on 300 billion euros ($325 billion) of frozen Russian central bank assets to help Kyiv, using the profits as collateral for a loan of up to $50 billion 2/

Mustafa Nayem, the head of Ukrainian reconstruction agency, resigned today on the first day of the Ukraine recovery conference in Berlin

The media and politicians say that’s a major scandal - a top official resignation - well timed for the conference.

I disagree 1/

https://twitter.com/christopherjm/status/1800112182337941899

I know Mustafa well and some might say we are friends. I certainly view him as my friend.

He is most know as a top investigative journalist who started the 2013-2014 revolution against the pro-Russian President Yanukovych 2/

ft.com/content/22cea3…

Ukraine has 22 out of EU’s 34 critical minerals.

If Russia seizes the territory with these materials, they will go to China

This is what these materials are 1/

https://twitter.com/lindseygrahamsc/status/1799832487285465244

Rare Earth Elements. They are chemical elements essential in the manufacturing of a wide range of high-tech products and advanced technologies, including:
2/

Brussel: Ukraine ready for EU membership talks, FT reports

The EU Commission recommends starting EU accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova this month, hastening the decision due to Hungary's upcoming EU presidency. But I believe Hungary will try to delay and derail. 1/ One ongoing concern for Ukraine's EU application is the perceived and actual corruption, along with the influence of oligarchs on politics. In my view, this concern is somewhat unjustified, but it remains a reality. 2/

buff.ly/3RltNDX

I was so tired that I basically slept whenever there was a chance. My colleagues, instead, hiked as much as they could. This is them coming back from a hike to a mountain, while I am waking up and looking at the sun rising from my balcony. 8/ There are interactive animal parks. We get a ticket and a pack of food to feed the animals. This goat was getting upset at me. It thought that I was giving out the food unevenly. So, it kind off first made a scene and laid down, but later when I got back to it almost attacked me/

A professor of neuroscience asked me: How do you cope with wartime trauma in Ukraine?

I can only speak for myself. This is what I think helps me most

1. Almost every day I take long walks listening to music. I forget about the world and my body gets a mild workout 1/ 2. I immerse myself in nature at least once a week. I really enjoy watching animals, playing with and feeding them.

3. Then, I spend meaningful time with family and friends 2/