Ukraine updates in English

[US7IGN]

Yesterday was such a busy day that I didn’t even have time to write a couple of posts.

My colleagues and I decided to establish a new law firm and resolving all the organizational issues takes a lot of time - discussions, working on the website, etc. But this brings me closer to my goal of having a powerful tool and platform for attracting investments in Ukraine and getting the opportunity to participate in it as a legal advisor. Success in this project will not only provide me with a job, but will also be my modest contribution to the development of Ukraine.

Seva was hired by KPMG, so I will have someone to turn to for advice on various related issues.

Kate returned from France where she took part in another MUN, this time representing Ukraine. This trip was made possible thanks to the extraordinary support of Cicely, and Kate, in addition to participating in the conference, also spent a wonderful week in the south of France communicating with her family. Kate is also already preparing for the next conference and dreams of becoming the organizer of the MUN conference at her own lyceum.

All this is exhausting, but it lifts the spirit and inspires you to keep working. In any case, it's better than doing nothing, feeling sorry for yourself and blaming everyone around you like too many people around you do.

I have to monitor my health closely and I plan to see my doctor again next month to check my condition. My treatment may need to be adjusted. At least the nighttime drone attacks won't wake me up in the middle of the night for a while, which is very good. But for example, in Odesa, houses were destroyed again and people were killed and injured. https://www.dsnews.ua/ukr/politics/ataka-na-odesu-u-misti-zavershili-ryatuvalni-roboti-06042026-456809

russia is changing its war tactics in Ukraine, clearly trying to exhaust air defenses as American Patriot missiles may become scarce due to the US war in Iran, The Times writes. This is happening, among other things, due to attacks during the day recently. https://www.thetimes.com/world/russia-ukraine-war/article/air-defences-iran-war-trump-latest-c9rkpktm7?t=1775382062140

Zelensky also says that support for Ukraine is decreasing, including the possibility of running out of anti-aircraft missiles for Patriots, whose supplies are already depleted. https://apnews.com/article/zelenskyy-russia-ukraine-iran-patriot-missiles-584e73848c0ca1008824c399b8026487

It seems to me that Ukraine has passed the point of no return and there will be no more good future for which those idealists who still remain continue to fight. Others will fight for some time for the possibility of the regime, which has long lost the support of the people, to retain power, but no one will give the regime the resources for this anymore.

It looks like it was not only the Ukrainian authorities that were unable to reach an agreement with society regarding mobilization. Uproar in Germany over law requiring men get military approval for long stays abroad. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/05/uproar-germany-law-men-up-to-45-military-permission-long-stays-abroad

In Ukraine, everyone is waiting for the mobilization reform that the new Minister of Defense is supposed to present, but I don't believe that anything will change significantly. After all, if the authorities really wanted to change something, then even at the expense of the police, which consists of healthy people trained in weapons, those who have already taken the oath, they could do two full rotations with the demobilization of those 300 thousand who are actually fighting in the army. But everyone understands perfectly well that the police received exemption from military service in exchange for loyalty. Also, if they don't catch people on the streets, they will join the army themselves.

Zelensky has promised to intensify the persecution of deserters https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2026/04/03/8028643/ , and cases of armed resistance during mobilization are also increasing. https://sud.ua/uk/news/ukraine/357613-v-vinnitse-muzhchina-nozhom-ranil-dvukh-voennosluzhaschikh-ttsk-odin-iz-nikh-v-reanimatsii

Although the ombudsman occasionally reports an increase in complaints, it seems to have no effect. According to him, most often people report groundless detention, beatings, deprivation of legal aid, and formal medical examinations. "It is critical to agree on the grounds for deferring conscription and for exemption from military service, in particular for those who were illegally mobilized," Lubinets stressed. He also added that the rights of veterans in Ukraine are also violated. In particular, this concerns the too-long recognition of disability, the lack of housing, and the illegal restriction of pensions. https://mobilizatsiya.novyny.live/u-ponad-340-raziv-lubinenets-pro-zrostannia-kilkosti-skarg-na-ttsk-319952.html

He published the results of a monitoring visit to the Uzhhorod District Mobilization Center, where systemic human rights violations were discovered. Despite obstruction by officials, the visit documented the facts of prolonged illegal detention of people — from 21 to 50 days without proper legal grounds.

According to the Ombudsman's Office, documents and mobile phones were confiscated from people in the center without registration, which deprived them of the opportunity to protect themselves. Among the detainees was a veteran with a combat veteran's certificate, who was not released despite his appropriate status.

The monitoring also recorded inadequate conditions of detention. In particular, there were only a few dishes for 40–60 people, which forced people to use them in turns without proper processing. There is only one toilet and shower in the room for such a number of people, and there is no bed linen.

The Ombudsman also highlighted problems with medical care. According to him, the center ignored obvious health problems of detainees. One of the men with critically high blood pressure received help only after the intervention of a representative of the ombudsman - he was hospitalized in a life-threatening condition. https://sud.ua/uk/news/video/357616-antisanitariya-i-ignorirovanie-bolezney-v-uzhgorodskom-ttsk-zafiksirovali-narusheniya-prav-cheloveka-foto

This is exactly the attitude towards future defenders, but as soon as they die, they immediately become heroes and can expect a flag on their grave.

An article recently appeared in Economic Truth where journalists attempted to assess the scale of corruption in the field of mobilization. https://epravda.com.ua/power/korupciya-v-tck-yak-pracyuyut-shemi-uhilennya-vid-mobilizaciji-v-ukrajini-820103/

[ke6sls]

Hey Wlad,

I'm glad you have a strong focus for your company.  It will take up much of your otherwise "idle time."  The bonus is that is it something you begin to build, then, if you are lucky, continues to build after its birth.  I wish you a 1000x success in this endeavor!

I get very good insight on the war from a person called Anna from Ukraine -- I hope that is the correct spelling.  A local radio station DJ arranges to have Anna on her show, live.  Last week,  Anna gave a very good update.  When the show was over, I called the DJ and we talked for a few minutes.  I am going to mentor her once she earns her amateur radio license, but I called her about possibly having Anna on her show every week.  She told me that Anna is too busy, and that she is lucky to get her on about every six weeks.  I don't follow "social media" but I guess Anna is very busy on that and many other interviews around the world..   Anyway, I'm glad she can join the local radio show every six weeks -- her insights keep many of us informed about all that is happening in Ukraine, and she is very candid.

Our local idiot pseudo-king has managed to cause every US citizen to deal with massive cost increases for gasoline, diesel and heating fuels.  Our food bills are at least 25% higher, and more if you live in a rural area.  Rents have gone out of control.  The worst part is, he still opens his mouth and speaks, proving to all who are unfortunate enough to hear him, to realize how stupid and dangerous he is.

The nazis are doing their best to undo all the safe-guards The People put into place, especially after the Nixon crimes in the White House.  Now most of his cheer leaders refuse to talk about our situation -- they are finally realizing how big a mistake they made in the voting booths.

I do my level best to remain positive.  I feel lucky to be right where I am.  I have farmers growing good food and many good friends and neighbors.

Obi, the youngest cat, has continued to change and grow.  He loves to snuggle, and now he waits for his official OBI HUGS.  He just kind of melts when I pick him up and give him a hug.  I was so impressed when I checked my security camera yesterday.  Obi let a big dog walk by and he didn't attack it!   Now THAT is some serious personal growth! 

Stay well, be strong.

73
Jaye

[US7IGN]

I'm glad you have a strong focus for your company.  It will take up much of your otherwise "idle time."  The bonus is that is it something you begin to build, then, if you are lucky, continues to build after its birth.  I wish you a 1000x success in this endeavor!

Hi Jaye! Thank you! Nice to see you here!
There is probably no good time to start, but I choose not to just wait for opportunities, but to create them myself as much as possible. Although I have the support of partners, I have to do many things myself, especially when it comes to the website. They don’t even fully understand my idea and scale, and lawyers are usually very conservative when it comes to using artificial intelligence, so this is again my area of ​​responsibility. On the one hand, I understand what opportunities this opens up and how it will save time in the future, but right now I am spending time to figure it out and learn how to use AI correctly. This learning process will be endless, but at least it is interesting and gives me an advantage over other colleagues. As always, you have to pay for everything, and the recent workload, along with the bad weather, has knocked me off my feet again and I'm feeling bad.

I get very good insight on the war from a person called Anna from Ukraine -- I hope that is the correct spelling.  A local radio station DJ arranges to have Anna on her show, live.  Last week,  Anna gave a very good update.  When the show was over, I called the DJ and we talked for a few minutes.  I am going to mentor her once she earns her amateur radio license, but I called her about possibly having Anna on her show every week.  She told me that Anna is too busy, and that she is lucky to get her on about every six weeks.  I don't follow "social media" but I guess Anna is very busy on that and many other interviews around the world..   Anyway, I'm glad she can join the local radio show every six weeks -- her insights keep many of us informed about all that is happening in Ukraine, and she is very candid.

It's great that there are voices that remind us of Ukraine, although war is an individual experience for everyone.

Obi, the youngest cat, has continued to change and grow.  He loves to snuggle, and now he waits for his official OBI HUGS.  He just kind of melts when I pick him up and give him a hug.  I was so impressed when I checked my security camera yesterday.  Obi let a big dog walk by and he didn't attack it!   Now THAT is some serious personal growth! 

Glad to hear that! I also think about another hamster from time to time, but I don't want him to suffer, or get sick and die from the cold.

[US7IGN]

The bad weather and the cold snap have made the house damp and cold again. At night I heard explosions during the drone attack, but in the afternoon the sun came out and things weren't so bad. https://vechirniy.kyiv.ua/news/125791/

In April, when one might have expected a certain "respite" from power outages between an extremely difficult winter and a traditionally difficult summer, long "blackouts" began again in Ukraine. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/c2evp9mn00no The reason this time was government regulation of electricity prices, which led to more power outages than after the russian bombings. It's so reminiscent of Cuba.

In this regard, I was very interested in watching an interview with the head of the presidential office, Kyrylo Budanov, at a meeting with the CEO Club, which was attended by representatives of Ukrainian business. This meeting showed the boundless gulf between him and business. Not a single question from business representatives regarding state policy in general, and the most painful issues regarding energy and mobilization, received a direct answer. Instead, he advised business to solve its problems on its own and work harder. It is significant that in his new civilian position for 100 days he continues to wear his military uniform, which directly demonstrates his level and attitude to everything. https://nv.ua/ukr/ukraine/politics/kirilo-budanov-v-ofisi-prezidenta-rozmistivsya-v-kolishnomu-kabineti-druga-zelenskogo-50599178.html

But I can understand why a person who spent his entire life in the army does not understand that business cannot be forced to be effective by order without appropriate resources, and that business will simply leave the country if it does not make economic sense. This was already the case under the communists 100 years ago, when their policy of fighting without taking the economy into account led to devastation and famine. With a wry smile, he answered the question about what the government would do if it did not receive 90 billion from the West - they have other options, but they hope to get this money. Perhaps this is due to pressure on deputies, who were forced to vote for at least some of the laws necessary to obtain this loan, as the IMF insisted on. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/cvg04rpl6x4o

He also confirmed that this government does not plan to change the approach to mobilization either. So the intention to sacrifice the population is once again confirmed. Interestingly, he began to lose his usual composure and poise, reacting nervously to awkward questions. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cfbjk_lM13k&t

Anyway, I understand that I am not alone in wanting to try to help maintain/restore what is left of Ukraine as opposed to those who like to fight with other people's hands at someone else's expense, and this gives me the strength not to give up and continue working to preserve Ukrainian business and attract investment.

Budanov also sees progress toward a potential peace deal with the Kremlin, adding that a resolution to the war may not take long to achieve. “They all understand the war needs to end. That’s why they are negotiating,” Budanov said in an April 4 interview with Bloomberg. “I don’t think it will be long.” https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-04-10/zelenskiy-s-top-aide-sees-ukraine-nearing-a-deal-with-putin

Maybe he knows a lot more than I do, which gives him reason to make such assumptions, but I'm cautious about it.

[US7IGN]

The advantage of being busy is that you don't have time to pay attention to what's happening around you. Even airstrikes at night don't wake you up unless there are loud explosions nearby. Despite the relative decrease in activity, russia continues to send hundreds of drones and missiles. On April 14, five people were killed and 25 were injured in a russian attack on the Dnipro. On the night of April 15, russia launched a massive attack on Ukraine with drones and ballistic missiles. Several regions were hit at once. There were deaths, injuries, and significant destruction. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/cvg00936rywo
https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/cg733exdxj3o

Some believe that the decrease in the number of russian attacks on Ukraine is due to the fact that they are accumulating forces to attack the Baltic countries. Drafted by the Baltic Defense Initiative, a small think tank based in Vilnius, the scenario exposes specific vulnerabilities of the Lithuanian defense posture, with the aim to plug gaps as soon as possible. Drawing on lessons from the Iran war, a study shows how russia could force Lithuania into capitulation in 90 days with no soldiers crossing the border. “The U.S. is 18 months drained into the Iran war with empty stocks,” the study continues. “At 11 a.m., russia launches a devastating attack on Lithuania’s government with hypersonic missiles, followed by the launch of +170,000 Shahed drones over the next 60 days that completely flatten Vilnius — destroying every bridge, every power plant, every hospital, every water treatment facility in the country.” The think tank says its scenario is constructed entirely from verified weapon system capabilities, observed production rates for military equipment such as drones, and documented global political trends. “On Day 90, Moscow issues an ultimatum: all three Baltic states accept russian occupation — or Riga and Tallinn are next,” the Baltic Defense Initiative report states. https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2026/04/13/study-suggests-russia-could-conquer-baltic-states-in-90-days/

I hope that this is one of those gloomy predictions that will not come true, and that the decrease in russian attacks is due solely to the losses of drones and missiles that the Ukrainian army is causing. Ukraine launched more cross-border attack drones than russia in a one-month period for the first time since the start of the ongoing war in 2022, according to daily data published by the Ukrainian Air Force and russian Ministry of Defense, which was analyzed by ABC News.

russia's defense ministry reported downing 7,347 Ukrainian drones during March, the highest monthly total ever reported by Moscow and an average of 237 craft each day. The defense ministry only publishes figures of Ukrainian drones it claims were shot down.

Ukraine's air force, meanwhile, said its forces faced 6,462 russian drones and 138 missiles of various types across the course of the month, of which 5,833 drones and 102 missiles -- around 90% of drones and just under 74% of missiles -- were intercepted or suppressed. https://abcnews.com/International/ukraine-outshoots-russia-cross-border-drone-war-1st/story?id=131645399

Unfortunately, these numbers do not reflect the extent of the damage caused, but they are quite encouraging.

russia’s oil windfall from Middle East war keeps growing. Key export blend Urals sold at Russia’s western ports averaged $106.30 a barrel in the first 13 days of April, according to Argus Media, whose data is used by Moscow to calculate oil taxes. That’s a 42% jump from March, when prices were also pushed higher by the escalating conflict.

Moscow has emerged as a winner from the war as the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz throttles Middle East energy supplies and upends global markets. The turmoil has lifted the price of Urals well above the $59 a barrel assumed in russia’s 2026 budget — a gain anticipated by the government last month when it stepped up spending. The boost to russian coffers is particularly visible when prices are calculated in the local currency, as the hike means more rubles for each taxed barrel. While the country is reaping benefits from the war in the Middle East, it’s also continuing to suffer repeated Ukrainian strikes on its oil infrastructure, which could undermine its recent windfall. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-04-14/russia-s-oil-windfall-from-middle-east-war-keeps-growing

Meanwhile, Hungary has held elections in which Viktor Orban has been defeated. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd9vg782kx7o At the same time, comments from his successor do not add clarity to future policies. Hungary’s incoming Prime Minister Peter Magyar said he expects outgoing premier Viktor Orban to lift his veto on a €90 billion ($106 billion) European Union loan to Ukraine once oil flows through a key pipeline are restored.

Magyar’s comments in an interview for the state television on Wednesday came after he said earlier this week that his country won’t stand in the way of Kyiv obtaining the assistance. Hungary would still maintain its opt-out from participating in the loan financially, he said. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-04-15/hungary-s-orban-to-clear-kyiv-loan-once-oil-flows-magyar-says

Balazs Ujvari, European Commission Spokesperson, said that the first payments should begin in the second quarter of this year. https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/media/video/I-287653

According to the results of 2025, the inflow of foreign direct investment amounted to $2.279 billion, which is 43.3% less than in 2024 ($4.018 billion). This was written in the telegram channel by the Head of the Tax Committee Danylo Getmantsev, referring to data from KPMG in Ukraine. But a careful analysis of these deals shows that they are often backed by Ukrainian owners who use their foreign companies for investments. https://minfin.com.ua/ua/2026/02/25/168879610/

The head of the presidential office, Kyrylo Budanov, has recently begun to appear a lot in public, which has again given rise to speculation about his political ambitions. In Ukraine, among other things, attention was drawn to how he and his wife celebrated Orthodox Easter this year, although last year he lit a menorah celebrating Jewish Pesach. This once again proves that he is indiscriminate in what can lead to success, it remains to be understood what success is for him. In addition to loyalty to Zelensky, he owes his rapid growth to external support, the main thing is that he does not become a Ukrainian Pinochet. In one of his recent interviews with Bloomberg, he has expressed admiration for Napoleon Bonaparte, citing his "extraordinary" achievements as a military campaigner and political figure. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-04-14/ukraine-zelenskiy-s-new-chief-aide-budanov-is-on-the-rise

I'm not sure that Ukrainians have the same demand for a "strong hand" as russians, but if during the elections, along with supporting a candidate who offers to fight, people received a draft to the army, it would definitely influence their choice. It remains to be hoped that Budanov will prove to be a successful negotiator with the russians, and the terms of peace will be no worse than those that Poroshenko was able to obtain in 2014-2015.

[US7IGN]

russia launched more than 700 drones and missiles at Ukraine in multiple waves overnight, killing at least 18 people in what local officials said was the deadliest attack in months. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm29plylqnvo

The house shook from the arrival of ballistic missiles, but as usual nothing was heard about the places of impact except for civilian objects. Nevertheless, at least the water and electricity did not disappear, which is already pleasing. Because of the noise, I did not sleep for almost the whole night and my hopes for stabilizing the pressure and reducing the medication were again not fulfilled.

Nevertheless, I was able to hold a couple of good meetings and my project is slowly moving forward.

Also today Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky received the International Four Freedoms Award in Middelburg, Netherlands. The awards are based on U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s 1941 “Four Freedoms” speech, which outlined freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. https://nltimes.nl/2026/04/16/president-zelensky-receives-top-four-freedoms-award-ukraines-war-time-resistance

Comments have already appeared in Ukraine that this award is actually for four unfreedoms: 1) restrictions on freedom of movement (closed borders), 2) elimination of personal integrity (busification), 3) elimination of voting rights (cancelled elections), 4) persecution of critics of the regime (reduction of freedom of speech). Personally, I am reminded of Orwell again. Perhaps Trump also really deserves the Nobel Peace Prize...

The idea of ​​introducing forced labor is also being actively discussed in Ukraine. https://borgexpert.com/news/skandal-iz-trudovoiu-mobilizatsiieiu-chy-zahrozhuiut-ukraintsiam-prymusovi-roboty

Given all this, it is not surprising that the song "Sky in a Concentration Camp" has gained more than 500 thousand views in three weeks. Its lyrics reflect the sad reality:
He knocks down a man on the move with a bus, a man riding a bicycle,
the enforcers from the bus fly out, grab the boy, go to the mobilization center.
In the basement, tortured people are kept tied to radiators,
And those who did not live to see the medical commission, they will write that he fell himself.
Black shirts, cops, why not at the front?
There is no reprieve, pixelated uniforms, torture is the norm, sitting in the basement is the norm, reform.
While the dictator is withering from the green, the guys are lying in the Tysa River, shot in the back.
The criminal power is waiting for donations and bribes, I see the sky through a cage in a concentration camp,
Two murderers and two flags,
Two dictators who will not agree,
They told Vasya that it is your duty,
to put your soul and body in the morgue.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_wd0oX1n_4&list=RDa_wd0oX1n_4&start_radio=1

It's probably time to simplify everything and change a couple of laws enough to give cops the right to detain/beat people without reason or explanation and take them to a mobilization center, whose workers, in turn, should be given the right to keep draft evaders in basements without any time limit. The medical commission can be abolished altogether, because if someone saw the door and raised their hand to open it and was able to move their legs to leave the house, then they are already physically healthy enough and fit to die for Ukraine. They can also read and translate about the penalty battalions and blockade squads in the KGB archives.

Sarcasm aside, in fact, there are different parallel realities in which Ukrainians live - the official one, convenient for the authorities, and the unofficial one, in which Ukrainians survive. But this destroys society. Also, as wild as it may sound, for a growing number of Ukrainians, evasion has become a symbol of resistance to the regime. I remember the book Postwar, by Tony Judt. To live normally in occupied Europe meant breaking the law: in the first place the laws of the occupiers (curfews, travel regulations, race laws, etc) but also conventional laws and norms as well. Most common people who did not have access to farm produce were obliged, for example, to resort to the black market or illegal barter just to feed their families. Theft—whether from the state, from a fellow citizen or from a looted Jewish store—was so widespread that in the eyes of many people it ceased to be a crime. Indeed, with gendarmes, policemen and local mayors representing and serving the occupier, and with the occupying forces themselves practicing organized criminality at the expense of selected civilian populations, common felonies were transmuted into acts of resistance (albeit often in post-liberation retrospect).

[US7IGN]

On the night of April 20, the russian occupiers attacked Ukraine with 142 drones, including Shahed jets. The air defense forces managed to neutralize most of the drones, but there were 28 hits. https://www.rbc.ua/rus/news/shahedi-letili-vosmi-napryamkiv-sered-reaktivni-1776662596.html

I thought I was dreaming of an air raid and some explosions, but it was really a small attack. It's gotten a little colder, but the sun comes out during the day and if it weren't for the war, everything would look pretty good.

Only later did I learn that Sergiy UT7UD was injured and lost his house due to a drone strike. I visited him several times and it was a beautiful house. How many houses have we already lost and how many more will we lose? The main thing is that we are still alive and we are not surrender. https://www.unian.ua/war/flesh-radnik-ministra-oboroni-pokazav-zruynovaniy-budinok-vnaslidok-ataki-rf-13356576.html

Meanwhile, for the first time in Ukraine, what is called mass shooting happened. A man opened fire in a supermarket and seven people died, several more were injured. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/c3r30llxeqlo
But a much greater public reaction was caused not by the event itself, but by a video showing police officers fleeing the scene, leaving wounded people lying behind them. https://t.me/kievinfo_kyiv/87258

Of course, the head of the National Police immediately placed all responsibility on these police officers and even fired their leader, the head of the police department. He also raised the issue of passing a law and allowing people to have weapons for self-defense. https://sud.ua/uk/news/ukraine/358893-lyudi-dolzhny-poluchit-pravo-na-vooruzhennuyu-samooboronu-igor-klimenko

But people are again asking why they need such a police force? And shouldn't its top leadership be responsible for such a situation? The slogan "every man for himself" has long been the basis of a social contract to which all classes have given their latent consent. The authorities removed themselves from participation in the war, secured for themselves monopoly access to all goods, and took care of their inviolability by law enforcement systems. Police officers and workers of mobilization centers ensure their release from military service by catching and sending others to the front instead of themselves. If attacks on servicemen of the mobilization centers (Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Centers (TCC and SP) continue, they may simply refuse to continue serving. This was stated by Andriy Podik, head of the communications department of the Land Forces Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Censor.NET reports. https://censor.net/ua/news/3609092/u-suhoputnyh-viyiskah-zsu-prokomentuvaly-napady-na-ttsk

And ordinary people try to survive without considering that they have any obligations to such a state at all. Because they understand that they do not represent much value even as a labor force, while the state is ready to replace them with migrants from other countries. https://thepublic.info/news/ukrayina_peregliane_migraciini_pravila_cerez_deficit_kadriv_i_nestacu_robitnikiv

So I was not surprised to see a recent post on social networks of one recruit who asked why he should die so that a migrant from, for example, Bangladeshi could live and work in Ukraine instead of him?

And the meme that appeared that same day - "who to call if the police are running away?"

[US7IGN]

russian forces attacked Ukraine again with drone strikes overnight. Port and transport infrastructure in Odesa were under attack, as well as Dnipro and Zaporizhia in the east, with casualties. https://www.rbc.ua/rus/news/pid-udarami-dnipro-zaporizhzhya-odesa-ta-1776836993.html

Ukraine has completed repairs to the damaged section of the Druzhba oil pipeline, allowing it to resume its operation. The issue of energy security and fuel supply has become one of the key issues during negotiations with partners. Kyiv expects further decisions from European allies on financial and energy support, Volodymyr Zelensky said. https://www.obozrevatel.com/ukr/politics-news/ukraina-zavershila-remont-naftoprovodu-druzhba-zelenskij-ozvuchiv-ochikuvannya-vid-evropejskih-partneriv.htm

So European Union ambassadors unblocked on Wednesday a 90-billion-euro ($106 billion) loan to Ukraine that is critical for Kyiv's ability to keep up the fight against russia. The loan, which was approved by the European Council in ​December, had been halted by a Hungarian veto amid a dispute over oil flows via ‌the Druzhba pipeline. https://www.reuters.com/business/unblocked-eu-loan-provides-relief-ukraines-strained-finances-2026-04-22/

Hungarian Minister for European Union Affairs János Bók stated that it has been proven that Ukraine imposed an oil blockade against Hungary for political reasons. It has also been proven that Ukrainians will run out of money before we run out of oil. It has also been proven that political pressure can only be effectively countered by similar means. https://felvidek.ma/2026/04/20/boka-janos-ukrajna-mar-hetfon-helyreallithatja-az-olajszallitast-a-baratsag-koolajvezeteken/

This explains the authorities' increased enthusiasm for finding ways to further strengthen mobilization, because they once again received money to continue the war. Although, in my opinion, it has long been impossible to restore trust in the state, in recent days, law enforcement officers have carried out demonstrative detentions of mobilization center employees who were engaged in busification.

In Odesa, workers of a mobilization center were detained with gunfire after demanding $30,000 from a man, threatening him with a weapon. https://dumskaya.net/news/v-odesse-so-strelboy-zaderzhali-ttskshnikov-vide-190832/ua/ The operation was conducted by the Security Service of Ukraine, and Ukrainians reacted with jokes that the man must have been carrying a bribe to another service, and the mobilizers intercepted him, for which they paid.

Officially, the Main Department of Internal Security of the Security Service of Ukraine and the National Police, with the assistance of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the leadership of the Ground Forces, neutralized an organized criminal group in Odesa, which included employees of the local mobilization center, the press service of the Security Service of Ukraine reported. Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky has already suspended the entire leadership of the regional and Peresypsky district mobilization center of the city of Odesa.

As the investigation established, the suspects demanded money from people. In case of refusal, they committed violence and threatened the victims with sending them "as stormtroopers to the front" in an accelerated mode. The suspects then tracked down the victims and attacked them right in the middle of the street or on the highways. Two service multi-vans were used for the raids: the victims were held in one, and a group from the second car monitored the situation around. writes BBC. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/cy71z07gr8ko

Isn't this exactly what hundreds of videos online are about, and the authorities have denied that this is possible, or have said that these are russian fakes?

Over the last seven weeks of war, the US military has expended at least 45% of its stockpile of Precision Strike Missiles; at least half of its inventory of THAAD missiles, which are designed to intercept ballistic missiles; and nearly 50% of its stockpile of Patriot air defense interceptor missiles, according to a new analysis conducted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, writes CNN. https://edition.cnn.com/2026/04/21/politics/us-military-missile-stockpile

Hungary’s next leader wants to revive Central Europe’s clout by tapping its imperial past. Prime Minister-elect Péter Magyar says he will deepen ties with neighboring states, especially Austria, building on strong economic links and a shared history rooted in the Austro-Hungarian Empire of the late nineteenth century, writes Politico. https://www.politico.eu/article/peter-magyar-wants-put-austro-hungarian-empire-back-map/

On the one hand, I am reminded of the words of František Palacký: "Imagine the Austrian Empire fragmented into a multitude of greater and lesser republics. What a nice basis for universal russian monarchy". On the other hand, a German artist of Austrian origin also once decided to unite with Austria and rule Europe.

russia is set to stop oil exports from ‌Kazakhstan to Germany via the Druzhba pipeline starting from May 1. https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/russia-halt-kazakhstans-oil-flows-germany-via-druzhba-sources-say-2026-04-21/

In Tuapse, russia, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have attacked an oil refinery for the second time in four days. The resort town on the Black Sea coast is in smoke, and the water and air are contaminated with oil. https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/u-tuapse-zsu-vdruhe-za-chotyry-dni-atakuvaly-npz-video-radio-svoboda/33736397.html

US President Donald Trump's administration on Friday issued a month-long sanctions waiver allowing the sale of russian oil and petroleum products that are at sea, extending an earlier move to soften surging energy prices. https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20260418-us-extends-sanctions-waiver-on-purchases-of-russian-oil

President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he considered visits by US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Moscow but not Kyiv "disrespectful". https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd9v420y190o

[US7IGN]

The EU Council took the final legislative step on April 23 to launch a €90 billion support package for Ukraine and also adopted the 20th package of sanctions against russia. Thus, Brussels simultaneously secured two key instruments of support for Kyiv - long-term funding for 2026-2027 and a new increase in pressure on the russian military economy. https://kurs.com.ua/novost/1456215-sovet-es-utverdil-90-mlrd-evro-dlja-ukraini-i-novie-sankcii-protiv-rf

Ukraine also received the final tranche from the United Kingdom under the international Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) program — 752 million pounds sterling, which is equivalent to approximately $1 billion, Banker.ua reports, citing the press service of the Ministry of Finance. https://banker.ua/uk/ukrayina-otrimala-velikoyi-blizko-1-mlrd/

Ukrainian Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko reported that Ukraine has already received 90% of the funds backed by revenues from russia’s frozen assets – $45 billion. https://www.mof.gov.ua/en/news/sergii_marchenko_ukraine_has_already_received_90_of_the_funds_backed_by_revenues_from_russias_frozen_assets__45_billion-5686

The Minister of Finance of Ukraine and the Group of Creditors of Ukraine have signed a Memorandum on the suspension of debt service due by Ukraine. It provides for the suspension of payments on State Debt and State-guaranteed Debt  that were due from February 2026. Under the terms of the Memorandum, both debt service and principal repayments will be deferred until the end of February 2030, in line with the new program of the International Monetary Fund. Repayment of the suspended amounts will take place after this period through equal semi-annual installments over 2035–2039, with capitalization of deferred interest. https://www.mof.gov.ua/en/news/the_minister_of_finance_of_ukraine_and_the_group_of_creditors_from_the_g7_countries_and_the_paris_club_have_signed_a_memorandum_on_the_suspension_of_debt_service_due_by_ukraine-5687

On the other hand, this does not cover the huge budget deficit and economic stagnation, but it should be enough to continue the war. For Ukrainian men, this means continued mobilization.

On Thursday, April 23, the head of the Presidential Office, Kyrylo Budanov, visited the Kyiv Security Forum, where he made a number of important statements. He is against the idea of ​​mass legalization of weapons for civilians. In his opinion, this will not provide real protection and may lead to an increase in violence. He also spoke about mobilization: "The only thing that can be tried to actually reform is such manifestations of inhuman treatment of people during forced mobilization, and not the fact of mobilization itself. Because there is another terrible truth. We have millions of people who are draft evaders." He also assured that during negotiations with russia, Ukraine would not agree to the loss of any part of its territory. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/ce8jrg096wko

Germany supports Ukraine's efforts to preserve mobilization and human resources, therefore, mechanisms are being prepared in Berlin for the return of Ukrainian refugees to their homeland, said German Chancellor Friedrich Merz after a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Berlin on April 14, 2026. https://glavred.net/war/mobilizaciya-shtrafy-i-tyurma-v-es-gotovyat-deportaciyu-muzhchin-v-ukrainu-chto-ih-zhdet-10758146.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2cBFKiHON4

To me, this sounds like the conditions under which Europe agreed to a new loan. As long as the war is going on in Ukraine and Ukrainians are fighting, money can continue to be allocated for this. Well, if the Ukrainians end up, then the Poles will probably be next.

I also remembered the words of the Ukrainian writer Ivan Bahryany, which he wrote while in Europe after World War II, when former Soviet residents began to be handed over to the Soviet authorities: I am one of the hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians who do not want to return home, under Bolshevism, to the bewilderment of the entire world.

I am a Ukrainian, from a working class, 35 years old, born in the Poltava region. Currently I live without stable housing, in perpetual need. I am roaming Europe like a stray dog, running from USSR repatriation commissions who want to return me to my “motherland”, to “rodina”, as they call it.

I don’t want to go back to that “motherland-rodina”. There are hundreds of thousands of us here who do not want to return. We are taken back there by force, but we resist fiercely. We’d rather die here, in a foreign land, than return to our “motherland”. https://medium.com/@whatisrussiaorg/why-i-am-not-going-back-to-soviet-union-by-ivan-bahrianyi-dbe9e5981eb1
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Bahrianyi#Emigration

The head of the National Police of Ukraine, Ivan Vyhivsky, stated that the structure subordinate to him is not capable of independently assuming mobilization functions in an interview with RBC-Ukraine. Vyhivsky says that his department will not cope with such a volume of work, primarily due to the large shortage of personnel in the National Police of Ukraine. In addition, the head of the National Police says that police officers are against their involvement in mobilization activities together with mobilization centers, due to the threat of losing trust from the population. https://politarena.ua/vyhivskyy-zaiavyv-shcho-politsiia-ne-maie-resursiv-dlia-samostiynoho-provedennia-mobilizatsii-165093/

Member of the parliamentary Committee on National Security, Defense and Intelligence Fedir Venislavskyi voiced a possible approach to changing the mechanism for reserving employees during mobilization. According to him, one option could be a model under which enterprises would be able to reserve key employees by attracting new people to the service. The point is that a company that needs to retain a certain specialist could recruit several people — for example, three, five or even ten — who would voluntarily agree to serve in the army. https://sud.ua/uk/news/ukraine/359200-fedor-venislavskiy-predlozhil-novuyu-model-bronirovaniya-rabotnikov-cherez-rekruting-v-armiyu

[US7IGN]

At least seven people were killed in russian strikes across Ukraine overnight yesterday, including five in the central city of Dnipro, where officials said an apartment building was hit. russian missiles and drones also targeted the northern city of Chernihiv, where officials said two people were killed, as well as Odesa and Kharkiv. Ukrainian authorities said they repelled the vast majority of the more than 600 russian drones, which appears to have been the largest attack in several days. https://nv.ua/ukr/ukraine/events/ataka-na-dnipro-pid-zavalami-budinku-znayshli-zagiblih-kilkist-poranenih-zrosla-video-50603028.html

Meanwhile, Ukraine carried out some of its longest-distance drone strikes deep inside russian territory. In Yekaterinburg, almost 1,000 miles (1,600km) from Ukraine's border, the governor said six people were injured when a building was struck - while in nearby Chelyabinsk, a local leader said drones targeting an industrial facility were intercepted, writes BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0rxk4q0pj0o

With President Trump and his team preoccupied with the war in Iran, Europe is preparing for a longer war in Ukraine, with dwindling expectations for a negotiated settlement between Moscow and Kyiv. That leaves Ukraine largely on its own, fighting a war of attrition with russia with no end in sight. Neither Ukraine nor russia has a clear path to victory, and no one expects that a settlement of the war could be possible without the active American involvement and pressure on russia that Mr. Trump has always been reluctant to exercise, writes The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/25/world/europe/ukraine-russia-europe-european-union.html

Ukraine is already building its military architecture according to NATO standards, said the Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, during his visit to the 18th annual Kyiv Security Forum. The situation on the battlefield is quite clear, and there is no significant progress. The Russians are suffering huge losses. Ukrainian soldiers are courageously holding the line of defense, and this is a complete dead end for the enemy, - Cavo Dragone emphasized. In turn, the Chairman of the Military Committee of the European Union, General Sean Clancy, noted that by 2030 the EU roadmap provides for the integration of the Ukrainian defense industry into the broader European ecosystem as part of the common security architecture. https://uatv.ua/uk/armiya-rf-zajshla-u-gluhyj-kut-sytuatsiyu-na-fronti-prokomentuvav-golova-vijskovogo-komitetu-nato/

The optimism of NATO generals is encouraging, but it is unknown what it is based on and whether it is an element of propaganda at all, given that even its members no longer believe in NATO?

Poland’s prime minister questioned whether the US would be “loyal” to its NATO commitment to defend Europe in the event of a russian attack and urged the EU to become a “real alliance” in protecting the continent. Donald Tusk told the FT that Europe’s “biggest, most important question is if the United States is ready to be as loyal as it is described in our [NATO] treaties,” as he warned russia could attack an alliance member in “months”. The unusual intervention from a Polish leader reflects growing uncertainty in Europe after US President Donald Trump’s threats and oscillating commitment to the continent’s defence. “For the whole eastern flank, my neighbours . . . the question is if NATO is still an organisation ready, politically and also logistically, to react, for example against russia if they try to attack,” he said. https://www.ft.com/content/1a5a2502-a45a-40c1-af6f-b30ecc34bacb?syn-25a6b1a6=1

[US7IGN]

russia attacked Kyiv with drones on the afternoon of April 28, there were explosions in the city, smoke was rising over the city center, BBC correspondents report. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/c78kl4ylvjmo

I must have been busy with something, or I didn't pay attention because of the noise on the streets during the day, so I didn't notice anything.

The oil refinery in the russian city of Tuapse that was hit by drones was carrying oil destined for export, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Video online showed a lot of smoke in the city. https://www.unian.ua/war/tuapse-u-kremli-prokomentuvali-novu-ataku-na-naftopererobniy-zavod-u-krasnodarskomu-kraji-13364967.html

On April 29, UAV operators of the Security Service of Ukraine struck a strategic oil pumping station near the russian city of Perm, more than 1,500 kilometers from Ukraine. https://rubryka.com/2026/04/29/bezpilotnyky-sbu-urazyly-naftoperekachuvalnu-stantsiyu/

russia has lost four times more military personnel on the front over the past four months than Ukraine, states Finnish President Alexander Stubb. "How much of a better place Ukraine is in today than they were a year ago? In the past four months — and sorry for being morbid — Ukraine has killed or wounded between 30 to 35,000 russian soldiers per month," the Finnish president said. https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/stubb-reveals-russia-ukraine-war-casualty-1777264148.html

I don't know where they get these numbers from and how much they correspond to reality, but it contradicts the statements of the Ukrainian authorities that they mobilize 30,000 Ukrainians per month. Where are they all going? Is a large-scale offensive against russia being prepared? On the other hand, russia has not yet started forced mobilization, and they will not be stopped even by many times greater losses (taking into account their several times larger population). Historically, the russian authorities have not counted losses in any war. As for the hopes that the russians will start riots, I consider them futile. On the contrary, the experience of Ukraine has shown putin that even freedom-loving Ukrainians do not revolt en masse against forced mobilization (busification), and the more so the obedient russians will not do so.

Instead, Ukrainians continue to look for opportunities to escape from Ukraine. Andriy Demchenko, a spokesman for the State Border Service, said that the number of people trying to illegally cross the border along the Dniester River has increased recently. Often, during such attempts, not only wetsuits but also water scooters are used. https://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-regions/4117743-ricka-dnister-stala-koristuvatis-popitom-u-porusnikiv-kordonu-demcenko.html

But not everyone has the health to make such attempts. A conscript born in 1975 died of heart failure in the mobilization center of the city of Kryvyi Rih. https://sud.ua/uk/news/ukraine/359442-v-krivom-roge-v-pomeschenii-ttsk-skonchalsya-voennoobyazannyy-predpolozhitelno-ot-serdechnoy-nedostatochnosti

The soldiers of the 14th separate mechanized brigade named after Prince Roman the Great, who are defending Ukraine in the Kupyansk direction, found themselves in a critical situation due to a prolonged lack of food and water supplies. Photos of exhausted and emaciated soldiers shocked the Internet. The Ministry of Defense and the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have already reacted to the situation, announcing personnel changes and the delivery of food to the defenders. https://tsn.ua/amp/exclusive/use-pro-skandal-iz-holodnym-vysnazenniam-biytsiv-14-ombr-na-pozytsiiakh-3068711.html

Given Ukraine's complete dependence on Western aid, I have a strong impression that all decisions have long been made outside its borders and the only task of the Ukrainian authorities is to convince the population to accept it, guaranteeing the West that its conditions will be met. For the West, Ukraine means nothing more than a buffer with russia, beyond which hostilities should not occur. But since a certain time, the West has turned into the USA and Europe with their different attitudes.

The acting US ambassador to Ukraine will depart Kyiv in the coming weeks, according to people familiar with the matter, leaving a crucial diplomatic post vacant while russia prepares for a summer offensive and peace talks stall. Julie Davis, who has served as temporary chargé d’affaires at the US embassy in Kyiv since May last year, had grown frustrated with her role amid differences with President Donald Trump over his dwindling support for Ukraine, writes Financial Times. https://www.ft.com/content/33d5d8d4-a7db-4647-9751-c21de8ebecb8?syn-25a6b1a6=1

Boris Ruge to become new German ambassador to Kyiv. According to information obtained by SPIEGEL, the cabinet is expected to approve today the transfer of diplomat Boris Ruge from NATO headquarters to Ukraine. The German government intends to cooperate even more closely with the country in the future. https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/boris-ruge-wird-neuer-botschafter-deutschlands-in-kyjiw-a-de0deedf-eec4-4aef-8a22-d1b3470e0f80

The European Union is considering imposing stricter conditions on its €90 billion ($105 billion) loan to Ukraine, making some of the payouts dependent on the introduction of an unpopular tax change for businesses, according to people familiar with the matter.

The plan being discussed by the European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, would affect €8.4 billion in so-called macro-financial assistance expected to be granted this year under the program, which is essential to keeping Kyiv in the fight against russia’s full-scale invasion.

The push coincides with Ukraine’s efforts to persuade its other major donor, the International Monetary Fund, to at least delay imposing the same requirement to unlock more aid under a separate loan program worth more than $8 billion, the people said. They asked to remain anonymous because the talks are private.

The discussion has zoomed in on changes to a preferential tax regime currently applying to some Ukrainian companies. Initially designed for self-employed entrepreneurs and small businesses, it allows firms to pay a minimum rate of 5% of revenue. The change would add more than 40 billion hryvnia ($907 million) annually to the budget, according to the Finance Ministry’s estimates.

The Finance Ministry and Ukraine’s major donors have argued that the arrangement is a drain on the wartime budget, distorts competition and helps maintain a large shadow economy. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-04-29/ukraine-faces-risk-of-tougher-eu-loan-terms-to-get-aid-payouts

In Kyiv, about 400 cafes and fast food restaurants have closed in a few months, which accounts for 13-14% of the catering market. The main reasons for the closures include high electricity costs, power outages, dismantling of temporary structures where they were located, market oversaturation and reduced customer solvency. https://24tv.ua/business/restorani-kiyevi-masovo-zakrivayutsya-mova-yde-pro-kavyarni-stritfud_n3055370

Apparently, in order to cheer up sad Ukrainians, the Kyiv authorities decided to broadcast a national minute of silence every day at 9:00 through the loudspeakers of the public address system. https://kyiv.news/misto-i-infrastruktura/kyiv-khvylyna-movchannia-9-00-huchnomovtsi/ At least one of my friends, who wants to get some sleep after a night shift, experiences a moment of hatred for this loud notification under the windows. It seems that someone has been reading Orwell's 1984 carefully...

[US7IGN]

It was quiet in Kyiv today, but drones flew in waves for more than seven hours, hitting mainly cities in central and western Ukraine. Explosions were heard in Zhytomyr, Ternopil, Rivne, Vinnytsia and Starokostyantyniv. The Air Force said that the massive drone attack lasted from 08:00 to 15:30, the russian army launched 409 strike drones, of which 388 were shot down and suppressed. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/clyp2lydl1jo

Yesterday, we discussed King Charles III's visit to the USA https://edition.cnn.com/2026/04/27/us/gallery/king-charles-us-state-visit and his speech there with the English and an American until late. Of course, the conversation turned to Ukraine. For an Englishman (to be precise, an elderly man), the idea of ​​the need to serve in the army or fight for one's country is something natural and unquestionable. Patriotism that does not require explanation, taking into account the historical and cultural context. Of course, one should be careful to listen to the opinions about war of people who never took part in it personally. Of course, in this case too, the opinion of the general at headquarters will differ from the opinion of the infantryman, and we will never know the opinions of the dead. I think a lot of things in wars would change if generals spent at least one month a year in the trenches with their soldiers without any privileges.

But in Ukraine, the situation is different, given its history and the nature of the interaction between people and the state. Too often, for people, the state became an enemy that they preferred to leave. And even the powerful patriotic propaganda of the USSR did not always help, which is why no less powerful repression and coercion were used at the same time. So, for Ukrainians with the Soviet experience of their persecution and the historical post-Soviet experience of searching for a better economic life abroad, a clear understanding of what exactly they should fight for is needed now. It is obvious that words about patriotism are not enough in conditions when citizens do not associate the state with good and who try to leave it at the first opportunity. The fact that the state has closed its borders once again confirms the justice of distrust towards it and reminds of the USSR. The threat of physical destruction even in the event of a complete occupation by russia seems unlikely to many and in any case too abstract and distant. Even victims of drone attacks are given no more attention than victims of car accidents. Well, it happens, but life goes on and more attention is focused on where to get money for food and what to do if there is no heating next winter like the previous one. Also the threat of being caught on the street and being conscripted into the army, from which no one returns, is more real.

Typical situations are like the one on Facebook, when representatives of the mobilization center grab a man who brought his child to kindergarten by the arms and legs and drag him into a car, while a policeman helps them. https://www.facebook.com/100068027056777/videos/3427647274079743/?rdid=peH6yW05kD0CasqP# This is nothing more than illegal kidnapping, which is a criminal offense. At the same time, according to the law, the police had the right only to check this man's documents, and if necessary, issue a summons for him to appear at the mobilization center. So what kind of respect and trust for itself and the desire to fight for it can a state demand, whose representatives are the first to break the law, and the police not only do not react to this, but are essentially accomplices in the crime? And if the state considers this normal, why doesn't it change the laws and legalize it in this form?
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2267700416617760/permalink/26474841185477012

Therefore, it is not surprising that someone is shooting at such "alert groups" as they are officially called, or throwing grenades into the territory of mobilization centers.
https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2485566358539077&id=100012572109437&rdid=0EYm5Xg1TZh5ZxAv#
https://sud.ua/uk/news/photo/359945-v-beloy-tserkvi-progremel-vzryv-vozle-zdaniya-ttsk-foto

Thus, the need to permanently fight without understanding real goals and the possibilities of achieving them is a very complex and ambiguous issue that requires a very clear and consistent position of the state, which, before demanding anything from people, must first restore trust in itself and demonstrate common values ​​for all. Otherwise, it must be admitted that Ukraine has actually turned into an authoritarian police state, the power of which is based on fear and coercion, similar to russia. This is reminiscent of the times after the Second World War, when Eastern Europe, after the German occupation, fell under the Soviet occupation, and the life of its inhabitants became even worse. Of course, with the exception of those to whom the new regime redistributed benefits at the expense of its victims. George Orwell also viewed war and regime as interconnected tools of control, arguing that modern totalitarian states utilize perpetual conflict to maintain domestic authority, suppress living standards, and destroy critical thought. So there is always a real danger of substituting the real goals of the war and the desire of some to turn it into an endless one. It's enough, as the ancient Romans said, to look around and understand who benefits from it.

Given that the Trump administration has removed military aid from the 2027 budget https://www.c-span.org/program/senate-committee/defense-secy-hegseth--joint-chiefs-chair-testify-on-iran-war--2027-budget/678334 and the deterioration of relations with Europe due to Zelensky's unacceptable statements https://www.ft.com/content/4641fc30-6fc9-43d4-bc84-7ea0521a79b1 , the latter has announced grandiose reforms in the army, including a several-fold increase in military salaries. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/c202n349yxwo Time will tell what and how will be implemented, but for now, new vehicles are being purchased for the police and vans for the national guard, while soldiers are forced to ask for donations of old pickup trucks.

But I continue to believe that Ukraine will win without losing itself. And then Ukrainians will receive a long-term impulse as a people who defeated russia. This is what the myth of the future Ukraine will be built on.

[US7IGN]

It has gotten warmer, but I have been feeling worse than ever in the last few days. Air raid warnings are issued every day, and sometimes drones are shot down by air defenses, but there have been no missile strikes on Kyiv for quite some time. Instead, Ukraine is increasing its air attacks on russia, and one drone even flew into Moscow last night. According to Moscow authorities, the drone hit an apartment building near the city center. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/crep7p1j0ydo

Also, with the development of interceptor drones, the economic balance has changed. One of Moscow's most powerful weapons has been the Iranian-designed low-cost, long range Shahed-136 attack drone, plus its own updated version, the Geran. While a Shahed can cost between $80,000 and $130,000 (£59,500 and £95,500), it can be intercepted with systems costing as little as $10,000 (£7,400). That's far cheaper than traditional air defence missiles which cost millions of dollars.

Crude oil export data suggests the rise in prices, plus the easing of American sanctions on countries buying russian oil, boosted russian revenues to 2.3 times their December-February levels in the third week of the Iran war. But in the fourth week, Ukrainian drone strikes on energy-producing infrastructure reduced russia's earnings by $1 billion, eradicating around two-thirds of the previous week's gains. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgjp7vpee03o

But recently, no one has mentioned the main threat that made Biden and others extremely reluctant to help Ukraine in recent years? The fact that russia could use nuclear weapons to finally solve the problem of Kyiv? Maybe this is why Trump is withdrawing his troops from Europe? https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0729d374mxo

Globally, russia’s economy is now being countered by the economy of the European Union, which continues to finance Ukraine. Also, russia’s advance on the front has slowed down again, which all together gives the Ukrainian authorities reason to hope, if not for stopping the war, then for the ability to continue it indefinitely. But the problems within the country have not only not gone away, but also continue to accumulate. No one knows how much money will actually be left for the social sphere, what will happen to energy and heating in the winter in large cities. Also, in recent days, Zelensky's confrontation with his former associates has intensified, which is why he even imposed personal sanctions against his former head of the President's Office, Andriy Bohdan, who was one of those who brought Zelensky to power in the 2019 elections. https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/svoboda-live-zelenskyy-bohdan-natsbezpeka-sanktsiyi-mindichheyt-plivky/33749669.html In response, Bohdan said that he would no longer adhere to the moratorium on criticism of the authorities. One can imagine how much sensitive information he has on Zelensky. But I am more concerned not so much that Zelensky can be removed by his former associates, but what his successors will be like, and whether it will happen like in Iran, when the new government made life in the country even worse than it was during the time of the Ayatollah killed by the Americans.

But the problem is much deeper and more destructive in the conditions of Ukraine. The problem of imbalance that is most clearly occurs in issues of social justice in general and mobilization in particularly.

The worst problem of modernity lies in the malignant transfer of fragility and antifragility from one party to the other, with one getting the benefits, the other one (unwittingly) getting the harm, with such transfer facilitated by the growing wedge between the ethical and legal. This state of affairs has existed before, but is acute today— modernity hides it especially well. It is, of course, an agency problem. And the agency problem is, of course, an asymmetry. We are witnessing of fundamental change. Consider older societies—those societies that have survived. The main difference between us and them is the disappearance of a sense of heroism; A shift away from a certain respect— and power— But those who take downside risks for others. Heroism is the exact inverse of the agency problem: someone elects to bear the disadvantage (risks his own life, or harm to himself, or, in milder forms, accepts to deprive himself of some benefits) for the sake of others. What we have currently is the opposite: power seems to go to those, like bankers, corporate executives (non entrepreneurs), and politicians, who steal a free options from society.
And heroism is not just about riots and wars.
Excerpt from:
Skin in the Game: Antifragility and Optionality the Expense of Others
Nassim N. Taleb

The number of reserved men at Ukrainian enterprises will be reviewed, because the brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are understaffed, and the authorities must act. This was reported by the People's Deputy from the Servant of the People party, Serhiy Nagornyak, in an interview with "Telegraph". He also believes that it is necessary to nullify absolutely all disability certificates without exception, that is, to make everyone "healthy" again. Instead, the deputy believes that the state should offer them economic reservation, that is, to buy off the service with money. https://telegraf.ua/ukr/ukrayina/5939265-zsu-ne-vistachae-cholovikiv-usi-dovidki-pro-invalidnist-treba-obnuliti-v-radi-rozpovili-yak-mozhna-vryatuvati-mobilizatsiyu

The idea of ​​redeeming oneself from slavery is not new. It is very reminiscent of the system of serfdom that existed in the russian Empire until 1861, and seems to have been restored in 2022 in Ukraine. Part of the population was actually deprived of their freedom, but was left with the opportunity to pay off with bribes. Now they are proposing to do this officially and consider it "justice."

Meanwhile, the military complains that mobilization centers send sick people, drug addicts, and marginalized people who are simply unfit to serve into the army, which actually only weakens the army. https://hromadske.ua/viyskovi/263038-ti-koho-nadsylaiut-ttsk-tse-katastrofa-khodiacha-shcho-robyty-z-armiyeiu-neprydatnykh

Also, some distribution and training centers, judging by the videos, photos and stories that are periodically heard by friends and relatives of mobilized people, are more reminiscent of concentration camps surrounded by barbed wire and lacking conditions for stay. Those who escape from there say that it is better not to end up there. Therefore, it is not surprising that people are increasingly choosing resistance when detained on the street. A man was detained in Dnipro, who on May 4 wounded three servicemen of the mobilization center with a firearm. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/c1w2e77z7n3o

But law enforcement agencies only pursue draft evaders, although it is still unclear who is harming the country's defense capabilities more.

[US7IGN]

russia and Ukraine have declared unilateral ceasefires starting this week, ahead of commemorations held by russia to mark the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany on Saturday, 9 May. russia said it would hold a ceasefire on 8 and 9 May and threatened a "massive missile strike" on central Kyiv if Ukraine violated the truce. But Kyiv announced it would observe an open-ended ceasefire from midnight on 6 May, and that Ukraine would act "symmetrically" from that point on. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1e2zjz22p9o

Shortly after the warring sides announced the moves, five people were killed and dozens injured in combined missile and drone strikes across Ukraine overnight. Poltava, Kyiv, Chernihiv and Cherkasy regions were hit. There are at least 5 dead, dozens injured and destruction. It was also noisy in Kyiv all night, but the drone attacks were repelled. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/c8d891784g2o

russia, among other things, massively attacked Naftogaz gas production facilities in the Poltava and Kharkiv regions. The company reported the death of three of its employees and two rescuers from the State Emergency Service, and another 37 people were injured. According to Naftogaz, the attacks were carried out by drones and ballistic missiles. The company reported significant destruction at the facilities and losses in production, without specifying their volume. https://kurs.com.ua/novost/1458565-rossija-udarila-po-gazodobiche-naftogaza-pogibli-pjat-chelovek-37-raneni

In russia, authorities in the Chuvash Republic said two people were killed and 32 injured in a drone attack on Tuesday morning.

[US7IGN]

Ukraine asks the EU to share data on Ukrainians under temporary protection in the European Union. This was announced by the Ministry of Social Policy after a meeting between the Minister of Social Policy Denys Ulyutin and the European Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner. At the meeting, Ulyutin spoke about the importance of data on Ukrainians under protection in the EU. This is necessary, in particular, for planning and preparing the return of Ukrainians home. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/cj6p7097w5wo

This may be a sign that the war is coming to an end, although not all Ukrainians will want to return to Ukraine, and Europe will not be willing to send back all Ukrainians. There could also be a compromise solution where everyone who isn’t working in Europe will be returned to Ukraine. But even now, many of those planning to leave Ukraine are considering countries farther away, outside of Europe, where the Ukrainian authorities won’t be able to reach them.

Moreover, the rules for men aged 18–22 to travel abroad may change, but there are no plans to lower the mobilization age, said Ruslan Horbenko, a member of parliament from the pro-government Servants of the People party. https://telegraf.ua/ukr/ukrayina/5939353-e-neglasniy-nakaz-zmenshiti-kilkist-kritichnikh-pidpriemstv-v-radi-rozpovili-yak-zminitsya-bronyuvannya

Volodymyr Zelensky has instructed to develop and adopt a law on Ukrainian private military companies this year so that veterans of the Armed Forces of Ukraine can legally earn on their combat experience through the export of security services. https://sud.ua/uk/news/ukraine/360453-v-ukraine-gotovyat-zakonodatelstvo-dlya-chastnykh-voennykh-kompaniy-zelenskiy

Interestingly, Kyrylo Budanov previously opposed the creation of private military companies. It seems that his confrontation with Zelensky, if not obvious now, will intensify over time.

Corruption scandals are already directly pointing to Zelensky, for whom really difficult times are coming. New "Mindich tapes" raise questions about corruption in Zelensky's inner circle. The accusation is that a power circle is profiting from the war and Western aid. https://www.berliner-zeitung.de/article/korruption-selenskyj-innerster-zirkel-westliche-hilfe-mindich-tapes-10034451

The fact that Budanov left all his deputies in his office and additionally appointed Serhiy Tigipko, a Ukrainian oligarch and deputy prime minister during the Yanukovych era, as his advisor, https://epravda.com.ua/power/hto-pozashtatni-radniki-budanova-821228/ may speak of his flexibility and unprincipledness. Or it may indicate his complete dependence on those who really run the country behind Zelensky and other public figures, including Budanov. Some note that all those who were part of the Yanukovych regime and lost their positions after the Maidan and his flight to russia in 2014 are gradually returning to power. If Zelensky is personally removed, it will open the way to peace with russia on the terms that existed before 2014. And everything will be as before, minus the several million Ukrainians who died or left Ukraine and the loss of a fifth of the territories with most of the heavy industry and minerals.

Things are not so good in russia itself either. russia's Victory Day parade with no tanks a sign Ukraine war not going to plan. russia's national idea, constructed under Vladimir putin, centres around the Soviet Union's victory in World War Two. The ninth of May has become russia's most important national holiday. But this year the 9 May parade is being scaled back. For the first time in nearly two decades there will be no military hardware on Red Square: no tanks, no ballistic missiles. Just soldiers. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwy2gj2jlr8o

Propaganda is trying to convince that russia will soon collapse economically. I've been hearing this for years now. But I haven't been there for a long time and I can neither confirm nor deny it.
Instead, yesterday I went to a small store nearby to buy bread, but I saw only empty shelves. The seller said that they haven't brought bread for the second day because there is no one to carry it. The last time bread was not brought to this store was at the end of February 2022 during the general chaos.