Exclusives
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War made Ukrainian children "more responsible." It also gave them PTSD. "I became more responsible and focused," says Eva, 13, proudly. But while Ukrainian teens celebrate their newfound maturity, child psychologists see something darker: 37% show dangerous stress levels, and "losing childhood creates consequences in adult life." |
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Recon teams are Moscow's weapon of choice. Here's how Ukraine must stop them. Small teams slip through gaps in the dark, then call in the armor |
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Kasparov at Washington security forum: NATO doesn't exist, it's fake. Ukraine is only country doing what Alliance was built for. Ukraine is dying every minute, fullfilling NATO's destiny, he said. Still, it's not a member of the Alliance. |
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Gold, once untouchable, becomes Russia's financial lifeline. Central bank reverses decades of stockpiling to plug $48 billion hole. |
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Ukrainian troops nearly cut off as Russian armor consolidates in Pokrovsk. Believe it or not, the destruction of a Russian BMP fighting vehicle in central Pokrovsk is bad news for Ukraine. |
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The Soviet shadow: Why new institutions alone cannot cure Ukraine's corruption (INFOGRAPHIC). The editor-in-chief of the Lviv Herald writes that Ukraine's corruption endures because Soviet political culture still teaches institutions to follow power, not rules. |
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Amateur hour at the White House. Russia wrote the peace plan. Trump's envoy coached the Kremlin. And nobody in charge understands what they're negotiating. Stephen Blank on a foreign policy process in freefall. |
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Russia doesn't need to storm Myrnohrad—just wait for a sunny day. Fog, counterattacks and a battle for a nearby village are all that's keeping open the sole road into Myrnohrad for Ukrainian troops. |
Military
African fighters with no documents flood Donetsk city with Cold War–era bunkers. "Everything is blurred and unclear."
No sign that Russia can quickly overrun remaining Donetsk territory, ISW reiterates. Russian troops have captured just two-thirds of Pokrovsk after nearly four months of combat, despite massive manpower investment.
Frontline report: Ukrainian marines turn Russian advance into costly trap during Myrnohrad withdrawal. After pulling back forces from exposed positions in Myrnohrad, Ukraine launched the second phase of its withdrawal operation. Russian troops rushed to exploit the moment - and walked straight into a coordinated ambush by marines, drones, and airpower.
Intelligence and technology
Belarus may develop new long-range missile with Russian experts, based on Ukraine's war experience
. The question is where the missile will be tested and utilized.
Ukraine recovers Russia's undamaged Geran-3 jet kamikaze drone carrying camera and live-link equipment (VIDEO). The drone's intact recovery opens a rare window into Moscow's upgraded tech and confirms previous warnings from Ukraine's military intelligence.
NATO wants Ukraine's combat-tested innovations – and is putting €10 million behind them. UNITE – Brave NATO program targets counter-drone tech, air defense, and secure comms, and could scale fivefold next year.
International
Germany has a 1,200-page plan if Russia attacks. Recent drills show it may not work.. Operation Plan Germany maps routes for hundreds of thousands of troops. Recent drills showed weak bridges, limited rail capacity, and sabotage vulnerabilities.
Kraków police bust suspected Russian hacker targeting Polish firms' data systems. Authorities in Poland placed the suspect in temporary custody after allegations of unauthorized intrusion into multiple companies' networks.
US uses Russia's growing missile stockpile to pressure Ukraine into unfavorable peace deal. Washington traditionally condemned adversaries for stockpiling weapons. Now it cites Moscow's arms buildup to sell Kyiv a settlement.
ISW: Russia keeps rejecting any peace deal without full concessions. Fresh remarks from Kremlin officials reinforce Russia's position of rejecting proposals that do not meet its maximalist demands.
Political and legal developments
Putin in his last address: Russia ready to fight until the last Ukrainian, offers no concessions, demands Kyiv surrender Donbas. Putin offers no compromise while inviting US negotiators to Moscow.
Russian courts freed two seriously ill Crimean Muslims. Months later, both are back in prison.. One has cancer, the other is blind. Both were re-arrested after brief releases on medical grounds.
Putin signs decree formalizing Russification of occupied Ukraine through 2036. Document sets 95% "Russian civic identity" target for occupied populations by 2036
Ukraine's biggest Telegram channels ran coordinated attacks on anti-corruption agencies, researchers find. Attack surges coincided with major NABU investigations, including the recent Energoatom bust.
PrivatBank moves to reclaim assets from fraud that shook Ukraine. Eight years of asset freezes yielded no payments—now PrivatBank pursues enforcement across multiple jurisdictions.
Read our earlier daily review here.
