The Russia-Ukraine War has begun

[Bartholomew Gallacher]

 

[Innula Zenovka]

The Africans dying in Putin’s failing war

The Russian army is luring Kenyans to fight in Ukraine. Processed and sent to the front after minimal training, most of them are dying before their first pay cheque has even cleared

open.substack.com

 

[Kamilah Hauptmann]

Hot new way to dispose of incompetent staff. Russian Regional Boss Orders Businesses to Find Army ‘Volunteers’ Among Employees

 

[Free]

Maglink

Zelensky Hails ‘Fair Response’ as Ukraine Strikes Orsk and Perm 1,500 km Behind the Lines

Drones struck oil infrastructure in Russia’s Orsk and Perm, triggering fires at key facilities, including a major refinery and a pipeline station.

www.kyivpost.com

 

[Innula Zenovka]

The Moscow Times (@themoscowtimes.com)

Svetlana Lada-Rus defies conventional expectations of who a worthy Putin opponent should be. What's the secret to her popularity? https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/04/this-mysterious-occult-healer-is-behind-some-of-russias-biggest-wartime-protests-a92648

bsky.app

 

[Free]

 

[Free]

Zelensky 'allows' Putin to hold Victory Day parade as Trump declares 3-day Ukraine, Russia ceasefire

The declaration makes no mention of a ceasefire on attacks elsewhere in Russia.

kyivindependent.com

U.S. President Donald Trump on May 8 announced a surprise prisoner exchange and three-day ceasefire in Russia's war against Ukraine from May 9-11 amid mounting tensions between Kyiv and Moscow on the eve of Russia's Victory Day celebrations.

The announcement was swiftly followed by a tongue-in-cheek official decree from President Volodymyr Zelensky in which he said he would "allow a parade to be held in Moscow."

"For the duration of the parade (beginning at 10:00 a.m. Kyiv time on May 9, 2026), the area of Red Square shall be excluded from the plan for the use of Ukrainian weapons," the declaration reads. It also includes the precise coordinates of Moscow's Red Square.

The declaration makes no mention of a ceasefire on attacks elsewhere in Russia.

 

[Bartholomew Gallacher]

Ukraine lowered the cost of remote kills using drones to $882 per target. Something like that.

Warning: the video contains real video footage of Russian soldiers getting attacked by Ukrainian drones with kill intention, so showing them short before their death. If this triggers you, then this video is not for you!

 

[Free]

Putin has figured out how to solve Russia's problem with Ukrainian drone strikes.

Moscow bans publication of Ukrainian drone strike damage without official permission

The new restrictions prohibit publishing text, photo, or video materials showing the aftermath of what officials described as "terrorist acts," including drone attacks.

kyivindependent.com

Moscow has banned the publication of information about the consequences of drone strikes and other attacks without official permission, according to a statement published by the Moscow city government on May 13.

This move is part of a broader wave of restrictions the Kremlin has introduced since 2025 to tighten control over information inside Russia, alongside internet shutdowns and the blocking of non-state platforms such as YouTube and WhatsApp, which in many cases are now accessible only through virtual private networks (VPNs).

 

[Innula Zenovka]

Has Putin Met His Marianas Moment?

When Propaganda Narratives Die, They Die Hard

phillipspobrien.substack.com

The idea that Moscow can be protected has now been shown to be a myth. The attacks of the last few days demonstrate that for now, no matter how much air defense the Russians concentrate around the capital, the Ukrainians can find a way through. Moreover, as Ukrainian production of long range strike ramps up, unless the Russians can devise a counter, these attacks will get worse.

 

[Bartholomew Gallacher]

Attacking Moscow for real with a big strike is the dumbest thing Ukraine could do at the moment. The strategy of pinpricks however might be beneficial to give the Russian population something to think about.

 

[Innula Zenovka]

Attacking Moscow for real with a big strike is the dumbest thing Ukraine could do at the moment. The strategy of pinpricks however might be beneficial to give the Russian population something to think about.

The Ukrainian strategy seems to be to go for strategic targets -- factories and oil refineries, for example -- and not (as do the Russians and as Trump threatens to in Iran) civilian targets, be they apartment blocks or power plants. But the point is that it's able to attack factories, oil refineries and airports in and around Moscow, despite massive air defences.