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Russia is incapable of anything except attempts to seize Donbas and expand the land corridor — military expert Roman Svitan

Russia is incapable of anything except attempts to seize Donbas and expand the land corridor — military expert Roman Svitan

We are now observing a slowdown in large-scale offensive operations by russia. Instead, preparations are underway for future staging areas. This primarily concerns the areas around Pokrovsk and Sloviansk, the Sloviansk-Kramatorsk direction, as well as the Kharkiv oblast—specifically the Velykyi Burluk and Kupiansk-Lyman directions, where a certain level of increased activity is also being observed...

Can IDPs lose the chance to get their own housing? Why a conflict has emerged around the State Youth Housing agency

Can IDPs lose the chance to get their own housing? Why a conflict has emerged around the State Youth Housing agency

When we talk about housing for veterans, internally displaced persons, or young people, we are not talking only about a financial instrument. It is part of housing policy and social support. Therefore, it would be important to preserve the functioning of Derzhmolodzhytlo under the ‘umbrella’ of the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development or another body that implements housing policy specifically as a social policy...

“Battle for values”: How the new Civil Code is becoming part of big politics

“Battle for values”: How the new Civil Code is becoming part of big politics

Some lawyers, human rights advocates, and members of parliament speak of an attempt to push through parliament a document that changes the rules of the game in matters of property, media, privacy, and family law without broad public discussion. Others call the criticism exaggerated and explain it as a struggle between various political influence groups...

Crimea during the war: security is replacing tourism and changing life on the peninsula

Crimea during the war: security is replacing tourism and changing life on the peninsula

Crimea is becoming increasingly integrated into the logic of war. The peninsula remains a key logistics hub for the russian army, which automatically makes it one of the main targets for Ukrainian strikes, alongside facilities deep inside the russian federation, particularly oil refining infrastructure in the Krasnodar Krai...

“Minsk” behind the scenes. Confession of a non-diplomat. Part 3

“Minsk” behind the scenes. Confession of a non-diplomat. Part 3

It was precisely this second meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group that marked the starting point for the ambiguities and uncertainties which, right up until the very end of its work in February 2022, were the main reason for the ineffectiveness of the negotiations. The very fact that the TCG travelled to Donetsk, and indeed the participation of ‘bandits’ in its meeting, allowed Moscow to claim that it was not a party to the conflict, but was present at the ‘negotiations between Kyiv and representatives of the Donbas’ as a mediator...

Serhii Harmash: AFU’s voluntary withdrawal from Donbas would legitimize russia’s annexation

Serhii Harmash: AFU’s voluntary withdrawal from Donbas would legitimize russia’s annexation

a theoretical capture by the enemy of Kramatorsk/Sloviansk in a year, against the backdrop of deteriorating living conditions for russians, growing problems in the russian economy, and the loss of at least 300 thousand personnel… Will this be considered a victory?

“Minsk” behind the scenes. Confession of a non-diplomat. Part 2

“Minsk” behind the scenes. Confession of a non-diplomat. Part 2

She then appeared on the screen, flushed, fastening the top buttons of her blouse. “Natalia Vladimirovna, where on earth are you?” asked Ambassador Grau, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office’s Special Representative, with a touch of feminine sarcasm. Nikanorova did not reply. — Either from the beach, or after...

“Minsk” behind the scenes. Confession of a non-diplomat

“Minsk” behind the scenes. Confession of a non-diplomat

“Minister” Nikanorova rolled her eyes, jumped up and ran off somewhere. And her brother, who represented the temporarily occupied territories of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts in the security subgroup and, as it turned out, headed an entire “administration” of Pushilin (the leader of the “DNR”), was outraged that I equated myself with their “ministerial” status...

Without Telegram. Luhansk journal

Without Telegram. Luhansk journal

On March 22, they slowed down Telegram. As loud as it may sound, it felt like the world stopped. What about all the texts, connections with family members!? It turned out that all life was in Telegram...

Intensification of mobilization in Ukraine: digitalization and total tracking

Intensification of mobilization in Ukraine: digitalization and total tracking

Mobilization in Ukraine may soon move into a significantly stricter and more controlled phase. This is not about isolated targeted changes, but about an attempt to close several key “gray zones” at once...

“The war in the Middle East is a blow to China and a chance for russia”: expert Mykhailo Honchar explained what’s going on in the energy market

“The war in the Middle East is a blow to China and a chance for russia”: expert Mykhailo Honchar explained what’s going on in the energy market

Will the current crisis become a new “energy shock” for the world? Who actually benefits from rising oil prices? And is China capable of stabilizing the situation by acting not only as a consumer but also as a geopolitical mediator?

Forced evacuation: what the new law provides for and why human rights defenders criticize it

Forced evacuation: what the new law provides for and why human rights defenders criticize it

This concerns not only cases of refusal to evacuate. The norm may also be applied in other situations. For example, if parents do not go with the child to a bomb shelter or leave the child alone at home. Theoretically, this may be interpreted as failure to ensure the child’s safety and become grounds for removing the child...

Crimea in a state of tension: 12 years of occupation and systemic problems

Crimea in a state of tension: 12 years of occupation and systemic problems

Yes, russia illegally took Crimea in 2014, just as it is now doing with another territory of Ukraine. But this has already happened, and let’s be honest, no fair referendum or vote today would be on Ukraine’s side...

It’s not about territories! Or why Donbas must not be surrendered

It’s not about territories! Or why Donbas must not be surrendered

If Zelensky agrees now to voluntarily withdraw the Armed Forces of Ukraine from Donbas, then this will no longer be negotiations, but simply the signing of a capitulation. Since peace on the terms of one side is exactly that — capitulation. That is, in such a case, Kyiv will de facto recognize its defeat in the war and moscow’s victory. But objectively, Zelensky has no reasons to take such a step...

Second-hand embarrassment of the “liberated” Avdiivka. Overview of the occupied Donbas media

Second-hand embarrassment of the “liberated” Avdiivka. Overview of the occupied Donbas media

It is obvious that the propaganda of the occupied Donbas loves cheerfully patriotic news hooks. The most valuable are anniversaries of past victories and, of course, the successes of the so-called “special military operation”. Thus, last week, the collaborationist authorities recalled that two years ago russian troops managed to capture Avdiivka, which had been almost completely destroyed by the occupiers’ missiles and bombs...

The Dayton Accords: how an “imperfect peace” stopped the war… and froze the conflict

The Dayton Accords: how an “imperfect peace” stopped the war… and froze the conflict

For Ukraine, this experience matters not as a model to copy, but as a warning about the price of compromises concluded under pressure and without a clear understanding of what the state will look like “after peace”...

We are ungrateful. Luhansk journal

We are ungrateful. Luhansk journal

An elderly person definitely won’t cope with this. The world is changing too fast, it’s not for the elderly. Not for weak people. And, strangely enough, on social media people don’t thank anyone for new paths, but complain about new tariffs, about changes that are too rapid, about a world that is often not as friendly as we expected...

Fake victories of the russian army, marines near Pokrovsk, and the energy crisis — Ivan Stupak on enemy’s plans

Fake victories of the russian army, marines near Pokrovsk, and the energy crisis — Ivan Stupak on enemy’s plans

It looks like a constant attempt to demonstrate positive results. Because those at the top are waiting for them. Their logic is simple: not a day without a result, not a day without a capture...

Personnel rotation in wartime: what the latest appointments in power really mean

Personnel rotation in wartime: what the latest appointments in power really mean

This is the strangest dismissal. Some say it is revenge for Yermak, the Mindich story; others say it is a request from Kyrylo Budanov, because they have rather tense relations (not conflictual); still others say it is simply renewal for the sake of renewal. The most discussed version in the corridors is Maliuk’s excessively high media activity and his contacts with the Americans....

“Short-lived happiness”. Luhansk journal

“Short-lived happiness”. Luhansk journal

A refrigerator truck with a “200” sign (a euphemism for "killed in action" – ed.) is driving toward me. There are very many of them in the city. This one is small, cozy. And the “200” sign on the windshield is framed with Christmas fairy lights… Most likely, it’s just ordinary lighting the driver managed to find, but it turned out so festive, playful, like in a Coca-Cola commercial...

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