The Russia–Ukraine conflict: 1461 days of war It is the human spirit, not hi-tech warfare, that has produced the most valuable lesson from four years on the battle front.

Truly excellent piece from @warinthefuture.bsky.social on the people fighting the war in Ukraine, and what we democracies must learn from them

www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpre...

The Kremlin's latest excuses: nukes and pipelines.

Let's be honest. The very existence of a free and independent Ukraine is unacceptable to Putin.

They don't want a just and lasting peace. It must be forced upon them, or the war will not end, merely pause from time to time.

Floors of War A few days before the fourth anniversary of the start of Russia's major attack on Ukraine, an explosion occurred in the very center of Lviv, which law enforcement agencies classified as a terrorist ac...

As long as Russians believe that the statehood of Ukraine should be liquidated, and the Ukrainian people — canceled, the conflict will continue on several levels of escalation, even if Moscow lacks the strength for intensive military actions.
open.substack.com/pub/portniko...

listen to the Trumpian way that Farage tries to silence my tenacious colleague @annasophiegross.bsky.social

(who was politely asking a reasonable question)

Peter Mandelson issues secret notice demanding press leave him alone – read in full LATE on Friday evening, this notice was circulated from representatives of Peter Mandelson, via press regulator IPSO and the Press Association news…

NEW: Mandelson just sent a memo to UK newspapers via the press watchdog demanding they stop publishing his links to Epstein.

He cited clauses in the Editors code, designed to protect grieving families.

The memo was NOT to be published.

The National just said ‘fuck that’ & published it in full 👏

Video of today’s impact of a Russian Shahed just dozens of meters from civilians.

Evacuation of a Ukrainian soldier from one of the positions on the Pokrovsk direction. This is what his hands look like.
www.instagram.com/reel/DTvYAEw...

For the safety of the Western world, we need Donald Trump to win the election.

This should be posted under every post Farage sends and quoted at him in every interview he gives - forever.

Military models Canadian response to hypothetical American invasion Armed Forces envision insurgency tactics like those used by Afghan mujahedeen, sources say. But officials and experts stress a U.S. operation is unlikely, and the scenarios are conceptual

Canada starts preparing for guerilla warfare, just in case
www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/art...

Two days ago it was Elissa Slotkin. Last week it was Jerome Powell. Before that, Mark Kelly. Weaponizing the justice system against your opponents is an authoritarian tactic.

The only person not being investigated for the shooting of Renee Good is the federal agent who shot her.

Mobile 'Points of Invincibility' have been running non-stop in Kyiv for five days. Our rescuers are doing incredible work helping the community, with 45 points open at over 30 locations. Around 600 people were assisted today, and nearly 6,000 have been helped over the last five days.

I see the fearsome no-bullshit no-snowflake chads running America are frightened about marauding "gangs of wine mums".

Don't tell them about the book club triads or the knitting circle mafia, they'll wet themselves.

Telling isn't it that all the "protect our girls" people are still on X despite what Grok is doing.

2025, the atomization of reality, and the failure of imagination… (part 1) The free world is thinking small. Our adversaries are not.

Our perceptions of security are out of alignment with the reality of our adversaries.

We have failed to imagine what we may lose — and what we can gain.

This will define the coming time of darkness — unless we reverse course.

My latest:

www.greatpower.us/p/2025-the-a...

Very ROBUST intervention by UK govt spokesperson today:

"While every country has the right to set its own visa rules, we support the laws and institutions which are working to keep the internet free from the most harmful content".

Hold my beer, Emmanuel Macron...

A message to America: we are not your enemy Last night, the US launched an all-out assault on the "global censorship industrial complex", I respond with some deep breaths, solidarity and a vibey video (it's all I have)

NEW: last night, the US govt launched an assault on the ‘global censorship industrial complex’, aka European tech researchers/campaigners.

It’s a deeply chilling move & speaks as to why we need international solidarity more than ever.

open.substack.com/pub/broligar...

During a Ukrainian Swimming League competition, the power went out after a russian attack. Parents illuminated the lanes with phone flashlights, refusing to let terror cancel the event.

Guided by flashlights, Ukrainian swimmers continued competing.💪

"No normal person can help but feel a lump in their throat listening to Roman. The reason for this is more than just contempt for pro-Russian collaborators: traitors, but also supporters of a regime guilty of hundreds of thousands of imprescriptible crimes. www.franceinfo.fr/monde/europe... "

School in occupied Donetsk unveils monument to son of CIA deputy director who fought for Russia in Ukraine A school in the Russian-occupied city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine has unveiled monuments to two servicemen who were killed while fighting on Moscow’s side in the full-scale invasion: Russian nationa...

School in occupied Donetsk unveils monument to son of CIA deputy director who fought for Russia in Ukraine

Russian state media highlighted the event, claiming that Trump special envoy Steve Witkoff had been tasked with delivering the deceased's medal to the United States.

Despite blackouts caused by russian attacks, Ukrainians come up with new ways of living in darkness, adapting to harsh realities👇

A quick reminder of who Nigel Farage was most concerned about when Putin's tanks first rolled into Ukraine

Lying in politics is wrong and should never be rewarded, says newspaper which pays Boris Johnson £1 million a year to be its star columnist

🔥 Highly recommended that you all sign and share.

Link to the petition—> petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...

Putin is the Hyacinth Bucket of great power leaders: it's all about keeping up appearances. Russia's a great power only to the extent that it can persuade others it is, because there's very little material basis for its pretensions to great power status. That's why Trump's deference is so important.

Since the collapse of the USSR, Russia's lacked almost all the attributes of a great power. It's an economic middle power; its not a technological or conventional military great power; diplomatically it lacks attractive or persuasive capacities. The organisations it leads are pretty useless.

2/ Russian federal subjects (regions) continue to facilitate the deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia using established patronage ties.

🚨The Petition calling for a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy has now rocketed past 65,000 signatures! Let’s get it to 70,000 tonight. If a petition is what it’s going to take let’s get this done!

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...

Small sums for very wealthy people and about 150,000 homes are worth over £2 million so that's hundreds of millions for the exchequer.

But bear this in mind - King Charles won't pay a penny on his many homes which are mostly worth far more than that.

YouTube video by - hrec holodomor mini doc

Today is Holodomor Memorial Day

We don’t need another delegation of European leaders flying off to Washington to kiss Trump’s ring now. We need them to get on the train to Kyiv and stand shoulder to shoulder with Zelenskyy.