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  • ✇Euromaidan Press
  • Russia’s warm conversations with US are ploy to dodge sanctions, not end the war, says Zelenskyy
    Russian President Vladimir Putin does not want peace. Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy states that current communication between the US and Russia resembles a “warm conversation,” which only reinforces the Russian ruler’s confidence, Newsmax reports.  After diplomatic efforts by the Trump administration, Russia has intensified its attacks on Ukraine. The number of casualties is rising daily, while Washington has yet to adopt new sanctions or approve additional aid for Ukraine. Again
     

Russia’s warm conversations with US are ploy to dodge sanctions, not end the war, says Zelenskyy

14 juin 2025 à 13:16

sending 20000 ukraine-bound anti-air missiles middle east zelenskyy says ukrainian president volodymyr speaks martha raddatz abc news week zelenskyy-raddatz-7-abc-gmh-2506 diverting previously promised ukraine toward move warns increase casualties russia intensifies

Russian President Vladimir Putin does not want peace. Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy states that current communication between the US and Russia resembles a “warm conversation,” which only reinforces the Russian ruler’s confidence, Newsmax reports. 

After diplomatic efforts by the Trump administration, Russia has intensified its attacks on Ukraine. The number of casualties is rising daily, while Washington has yet to adopt new sanctions or approve additional aid for Ukraine. Against the backdrop of the Middle East situation, it appears that Trump has attempted to negotiate with Putin for mediation in talks with Iran over its nuclear program, a move that has also led to escalation, in exchange for easing pressure on Russia regarding its war in Ukraine.

“I don’t think this can stop Putin. On the contrary, he enjoys it. I believe the tone must change. Putin must clearly understand that America will continue to support Ukraine, with sanctions and military assistance,” Zelenskyy emphasizes.

According to him, Putin is currently trying to deceive Donald Trump by pretending to show a willingness for peace, not to end the war, but to avoid new sanctions.

“Putin doesn’t want to end the war. But he needs to show Trump something positive to dodge sanctions,” the Ukrainian president continues.

Zelenskyy also stresses that Russian society has become radicalized by propaganda and that Russia’s military-industrial complex receives around $300 billion annually.

“It’s like a high-speed train with no one at the controls,” he compares.

He acknowledges that even if Trump manages to bring Putin to the negotiating table, it would only be a partial victory. The aggression, he warns, may return in another form.

“Either it will come back later, or the target of aggression will change,” the Ukrainian president adds.

Earlier, the US attempted to block European efforts to cut the G7 price cap on Russian oil from $60 to $45 per barrel, frustrating EU and UK attempts to ramp up pressure on Moscow’s war financing. 

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  • ✇Euromaidan Press
  • One of Baltic states may become next testing ground for NATO’s Article 5 — and Russia’s ruthless ambition
    Russia is already at Estonia’s gates. Tallinn may become the next target for Russia’s aggressive war because the Russians have several convenient pretexts for it, The Economist reports.  Estonia and the Baltic countries were part of the Russian Empire for 200 years before gaining independence in 1918. After World War II, they were occupied by the Soviet Union. Like Latvia and Lithuania, Estonia restored its independence after the USSR’s collapse in 1991. All three countries joined the EU and NAT
     

One of Baltic states may become next testing ground for NATO’s Article 5 — and Russia’s ruthless ambition

14 juin 2025 à 10:17

Estonian conscripts, illustrative image. Photo via Wikimedia.

Russia is already at Estonia’s gates. Tallinn may become the next target for Russia’s aggressive war because the Russians have several convenient pretexts for it, The Economist reports. 

Estonia and the Baltic countries were part of the Russian Empire for 200 years before gaining independence in 1918. After World War II, they were occupied by the Soviet Union. Like Latvia and Lithuania, Estonia restored its independence after the USSR’s collapse in 1991. All three countries joined the EU and NATO in 2004.

For several years, Russia has been conducting a covert campaign of intimidation and destabilization against Estonia, using cyberattacks, undercover agents, sabotage, and legions of disinformation bots on social media.

NATO recognizes these risks and has been increasing its military presence in the region: currently, over 2,000 troops from allied countries are stationed in Estonia.

However, amid the reduction of American forces in Europe, Estonia could become the place where Russia first attempts to test the reliability of NATO’s Article 5 on collective defense. 

Between the 1950s and 1980s, the Kremlin resettled hundreds of thousands of ethnic Russians to Estonia, and today they make up one-fifth of the country’s 1.4 million population. The largest number of them are living in the city of Narva, located right on the border with Russia. Nearly the entire population there is descended from Russian settlers.

More than 30 years later, Russians have shifted from a politically dominant group to a lower-class minority, though many in Narva still feel attached to the Soviet version of history.

Since the war in Ukraine began, Russian destabilizing efforts have intensified throughout Estonia. Last year, a sociology professor who seemed liberal was exposed as a Russian agent. In 2023, vandals damaged the cars of the Minister of Internal Affairs and the editor of a Russian-language news website.

Regarding Ukraine, Putin claimed that the Russian-speaking population in eastern Ukraine was oppressed, using this as the reason behind the war. So far, efforts to stir up the Russian minority in Estonia have failed, but the precedent is well known.

At the same time, Russian attempts to recruit Russian speakers for minor sabotage through social media have found little support.

Russia recruits elderly in covert sabotage campaign across Ukraine and Europe

The war in Ukraine has united Estonians but divided the Russians living there. Some feel sympathy for their homeland, where many have relatives; some resent Estonian nationalism. Some are Putin supporters or simply wish for a brotherly alliance like in the old days. Others, especially younger people, warmly welcome Ukrainian refugees into their schools and communities.

Since 2022, the Estonian government has taken steps to isolate Estonia from Russia. It stopped issuing visas to Russian citizens, restricted Russian business activities, banned Russian TV channels from cable packages, and removed Soviet-era monuments. This year, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania disconnected their electricity grids from Russia.

Most of the well-known and most controversial Estonian residents holding Russian passports, who previously could vote in municipal elections, will no longer be able to do so after this year’s elections.

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  • ✇Euromaidan Press
  • Middle East nuclear crisis may drown out Ukraine and enrich Russia
    “We don’t know if an exchange of nuclear strikes will begin.” Nuclear conflict risk between Iran and Israel threatens not only the Middle East but also Ukraine, says former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Volodymyr Ohryzko, Radio NV reports.  Israel has carried out a large-scale military operation targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities. The operation, years in the making, resembled Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb, as both involved coordinated drone swarms launched from hidden bases to cripple ene
     

Middle East nuclear crisis may drown out Ukraine and enrich Russia

13 juin 2025 à 15:57

“We don’t know if an exchange of nuclear strikes will begin.” Nuclear conflict risk between Iran and Israel threatens not only the Middle East but also Ukraine, says former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Volodymyr Ohryzko, Radio NV reports. 

Israel has carried out a large-scale military operation targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities. The operation, years in the making, resembled Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb, as both involved coordinated drone swarms launched from hidden bases to cripple enemy infrastructure.

The West might shift its focus to a new crisis, while Russia could financially benefit from rising oil prices.

“If, after all these events, Iran reduces its support to Russia, that would be in our interests,” the diplomat notes.

At the same time, he warned that Israel’s actions might have a dangerous effect: “Who has power is right, and Iran will certainly respond to that.”

Ohryzko emphasizes that Tehran has already declared a strong response, using not only drones but also cruise and ballistic missiles.

“We don’t know what else is stored in Iran’s other sites, whether there are already ready nuclear warheads,” he adds. 

According to the expert, Israel’s possession of nuclear weapons is almost an objective reality. Therefore, the risk of nuclear escalation becomes not hypothetical but an extremely realistic scenario.

“So, we don’t know if at some point an exchange of nuclear strikes will begin, and that would be not just dangerous, but horrific,” Ohryzko stresses.

Besides the military threat, there is another consequence — rising energy prices.

“There are reports that oil prices jumped by 12%. That means Russia will profit from this,” the former minister notes. 

In such a situation, Ukraine risks losing part of the West’s attention while simultaneously facing the economic strengthening of its main enemy.

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  • ✇Euromaidan Press
  • Russian military aircraft suspected of violating Finnish airspace amid border military buildup concerns
    Finland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs called in Russia’s chargé d’affaires for questioning following a suspected airspace violation on 10 June, marking the second such incident within a month. After Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Finland applied for NATO membership and officially became a member in 2023. Russian aggression was perceived as a direct threat to Finland’s security given its 1,340-kilometer (832 miles) border with Russia. Finland is also a staunch supporter
     

Russian military aircraft suspected of violating Finnish airspace amid border military buildup concerns

11 juin 2025 à 15:31

A Russian military aircraft is suspected of violating Finnish airspace on 10 June afternoon off the coast of Porvoo. Image: Mapcreator, Lasse Isokangas / Yle

Finland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs called in Russia’s chargé d’affaires for questioning following a suspected airspace violation on 10 June, marking the second such incident within a month.

After Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Finland applied for NATO membership and officially became a member in 2023. Russian aggression was perceived as a direct threat to Finland’s security given its 1,340-kilometer (832 miles) border with Russia. Finland is also a staunch supporter of Ukraine, providing over €2.7 billion in military aid since 2022. The country also launched a €660 million procurement program to supply new weapons manufactured domestically in Ukraine.

Finnish authorities suspect a Russian military aircraft breached the country’s airspace on 10 June near the coastal city of Porvoo. The Border Guard has launched an investigation into the incident, according to Yle.

The diplomatic meeting is scheduled for 11 June, though ministry officials have not disclosed specific details about the proceedings.

This latest violation follows a similar incident that occurred at the end of May. Following that previous breach, Finland’s foreign ministry summoned Russian Ambassador to Finland Pavel Kuznetsov and formally delivered a diplomatic note addressing the matter.

Russia builds up forces along Finnish border

The airspace incidents come amid broader concerns about Russian military activities along Finland’s border. In May, Major General Sami Nurmi, head of the strategic department of Finland’s Defense Forces, indicated that the country anticipates further Russian military buildup along their shared border after the conclusion of the war in Ukraine.

Earlier, Western media outlets have published satellite imagery showing Russia’s expansion of military installations near the Finnish border. The images revealed new military housing facilities and enlarged storage areas for military equipment.

Finnish intelligence services assessed that Russia could strengthen its military presence along the Finnish border to what they describe as a “threatening level” within the next five years.

NATO intelligence sources also told a Finnish newspaper that Russia is actively maintaining and updating plans for a potential multi-front offensive against NATO’s eastern flank, targeting Finland, Norway, and the Baltic states, with intelligence indicating it could amass up to 600,000 troops along these borders despite its main forces being engaged in Ukraine. 

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  • ✇Euromaidan Press
  • Russia outguns NATO, producing more ammunition in three months than Alliance makes in year
    Russia turns the war into a marathon of continuous arms production. Moscow produces more ammunition than all NATO countries combined, and does so many times faster, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated at the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London on 9 June.  He also called for a 400% increase in air and missile defence systems. The proposal represents one of the key priorities for the upcoming NATO summit scheduled for 24-25 June in The Hague, where alliance members will discus
     

Russia outguns NATO, producing more ammunition in three months than Alliance makes in year

9 juin 2025 à 15:51

nato chief expresses cautious optimism us-ukraine discussions secretary general mark rutte during joint news conference polish president andrzej duda brussels 6 2025 expressed regarding dialogue between united states ukraine press

Russia turns the war into a marathon of continuous arms production. Moscow produces more ammunition than all NATO countries combined, and does so many times faster, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated at the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London on 9 June. 

He also called for a 400% increase in air and missile defence systems. The proposal represents one of the key priorities for the upcoming NATO summit scheduled for 24-25 June in The Hague, where alliance members will discuss enhanced defence capabilities.

In terms of ammunition, Russia produces in three months what the whole of NATO produces in a year,” said Rutte.

He added that Russia’s military machine is not slowing down. On the contrary, it is strengthening its potential. Russia is actively replenishing its arsenal with help from China, Iran, and North Korea. 

Rutte also noted that Russia is using Chinese technology to modernize its army.

“And its defence industrial base is expected to roll out 1,500 tanks, 3,000 armoured vehicles, and 200 Iskander missiles this year alone,” the NATO chief highlighted.

He warned that Russia could be ready for aggression against NATO within the next five years. According to Rutte, “President Putin does not act like someone who is interested in peace.” 

NATO needs to increase air and missile defence by 400% – Rutte says ahead of June summit
You could close this page. Or you could join our community and help us produce more materials like this.  We keep our reporting open and accessible to everyone because we believe in the power of free information. This is why our small, cost-effective team depends on the support of readers like you to bring deliver timely news, quality analysis, and on-the-ground reports about Russia's war against Ukraine and Ukraine's struggle to build a democratic society. A little bit goes a long way: for as little as the cost of one cup of coffee a month, you can help build bridges between Ukraine and the rest of the world, plus become a co-creator and vote for topics we should cover next. Become a patron or see other ways to support. Become a Patron!

Russia loses 28,900 artillery pieces — yet still floods Sumy borders with largest number of miliatary equipment in six months

9 juin 2025 à 11:54

Russian artillery firing on Ukrainian positions, illustrative image, photo via Sputnik.

War intensifies amid Russia’s summer offensive. Ukraine has spotted a massive redeployment of Russian self-propelled artillery and air defense systems to Sumy Oblast. 

Control over Sumy and its surrounding roads would allow Moscow to sever the main supply lines supporting Ukrainian operations in Russia’s Kursk Oblast. Additionally, seizure of the city would strengthen Russia’s territorial claims in any future peace talks. 

Ukrainian forces have recorded a large-scale transfer of Russian military equipment from Crimea and Kherson towards Sumy Oblast. According to Petro Andriushchenko, head of the Occupation Studies Center, this is the largest movement of weaponry in the past six months.

Ukrainian General Staff reports that Russian forces have lost over 28,900 artillery systems since the start of the war, with about 42 artillery systems lost in the past day alone. 

“More than 10 self-propelled artillery systems, air defense systems, and convoys of over 40 trucks carrying ammunition and personnel,” Andriushchenko says.

The equipment is being loaded onto trains and sent to Russia’s Kursk Oblast, effectively heading to Sumy. The Russians are now stationed approximately 25-30 km from it. If they reach the city’s border, they will use artillery to strike it. 

Special attention is drawn to the military equipment markings, which, with their dominant tactical symbol of a triangle within a triangle, indicate reinforcement of this specific direction.

Amid this buildup, Sumy faces heavy drone attacks. Konotop mayor Artem Semenikhin stated that on 8 June, the region endured the most powerful drone assault since the war began: “The entire sky over the region turned red with targets.”

You could close this page. Or you could join our community and help us produce more materials like this.  We keep our reporting open and accessible to everyone because we believe in the power of free information. This is why our small, cost-effective team depends on the support of readers like you to bring deliver timely news, quality analysis, and on-the-ground reports about Russia's war against Ukraine and Ukraine's struggle to build a democratic society. A little bit goes a long way: for as little as the cost of one cup of coffee a month, you can help build bridges between Ukraine and the rest of the world, plus become a co-creator and vote for topics we should cover next. Become a patron or see other ways to support. Become a Patron!
  • ✇Euromaidan Press
  • Ukraine warns of Europe-wide nuclear disaster as Russia plans to reconnect Zaporizhzhia plant
    Ukraine warns of a nuclear disaster risk that could impact all of Europe. Moscow is reportedly considering reconnecting the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant to the Russian energy grid despite serious technical problems, UNIAN reports. The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), the largest in Europe, has enough capacity to cover the annual electricity needs of countries like Ireland, Slovakia, or Finland. According to Yury Sheiko, First Deputy Minister of Energy of Ukraine, the plant’s power
     

Ukraine warns of Europe-wide nuclear disaster as Russia plans to reconnect Zaporizhzhia plant

5 juin 2025 à 14:41

Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant,

Ukraine warns of a nuclear disaster risk that could impact all of Europe. Moscow is reportedly considering reconnecting the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant to the Russian energy grid despite serious technical problems, UNIAN reports.

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), the largest in Europe, has enough capacity to cover the annual electricity needs of countries like Ireland, Slovakia, or Finland.

According to Yury Sheiko, First Deputy Minister of Energy of Ukraine, the plant’s power units remain in cold shutdown and are not generating electricity. The station is still being powered by Ukraine’s energy grid.

“They have no spare parts, no equipment, and no idea how to maintain or repair it,” Sheiko stresses.

The situation is even more dangerous due to a lack of qualified personnel. Most Ukrainian specialists do not have access to the equipment, and the technical condition of the plant remains unknown.

“No repairs have been carried out. The plant is not ready to be restarted. It’s extremely risky,” he warns.

Ukraine believes that Russia is using the prospect of restarting the plant as a tool of nuclear blackmail, trying to pressure both Kyiv and the international community.

Earlier, Petro Andriushchenko, head of the Center for the Study of Occupation, reported that Russia may be preparing to connect the ZNPP to its own grid, constructing a power line to restore the plant’s full operation.

Meanwhile, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi stated that the agency has no evidence that the plant is being reconnected to the Russian grid. He also noted that the ZNPP cannot be restarted due to a lack of cooling water for the reactors.

You could close this page. Or you could join our community and help us produce more materials like this.  We keep our reporting open and accessible to everyone because we believe in the power of free information. This is why our small, cost-effective team depends on the support of readers like you to bring deliver timely news, quality analysis, and on-the-ground reports about Russia's war against Ukraine and Ukraine's struggle to build a democratic society. A little bit goes a long way: for as little as the cost of one cup of coffee a month, you can help build bridges between Ukraine and the rest of the world, plus become a co-creator and vote for topics we should cover next. Become a patron or see other ways to support. Become a Patron!

Russo-Ukrainian war, day 1193: Baltic States face rising threat as Europe abandons hope for Trump’s Ukraine support

31 mai 2025 à 16:48

Exclusive

Tiny Latvia sends thousands of drones in heavyweight military aid to Ukraine. Latvia got burned by the USSR. Now it’s sending 12,000 drones to help Ukraine return the favor in 2025.
Russia sends ordinary criminals unrelated to war for exchanges instead of soldiers or activists. Ukraine claims it had limited ability to influence the composition of exchange lists. That’s why among the 120 civilians returned in the recent three-day exchange, many were individuals who had lived and worked in Russia before being convicted of non-war crimes, rather than Ukrainians who remain in captivity due to war since 2022 or even 2014.
Who is dancing and where if journalism is dead? Trump and Orbán know. When journalism dies, propaganda doesn’t mourn—it gets to work. At the Lviv Media Forum, experts showed how Trump and Orbán turned media into their loudest ally.
Why is Russia bombing Ukraine with 1990s-era training drones?. The Dan-M target drone was designed to simulate US cruise missiles. Now it’s been turned into one, kind of—and launched at Ukraine.
Hungary and Slovakia expand Russian fuel use while EU cuts imports. New findings show both countries increasing reliance on oil, gas, and nuclear fuel from Russia despite available alternatives.
Russia just spent $ 3 mn to blow up planes that don’t even fly. Ukraine’s 1970s drone shotguns were so vexing that Russia decided to blow them into bits with a $3mn Iskander missile. But an epic intel failure got in the way.

Military

Russia claims evening drone attack in occupied Crimea. Russian forces claimed they shot down a Ukrainian drone over occupied Crimea on Saturday evening, marking another reported attack on the peninsula that Moscow annexed in 2014.

Second Russian pocket emerges in Sumy Oblast near Oleksandria village – Deep State. Russian forces seized territory near Oleksandria village in Sumy Oblast within 24 hours, creating a second pocket of occupied land along Ukraine’s northern border, according to DeepState military analysts.

Russia “significantly” intensifies activity in Zaporizhzhia sector – Syrskyi. Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said Ukraine struck 58 military targets inside Russia during May while defending against escalated Russian offensive actions in the Zaporizhzhia direction.

Frontline report: Drones become pivotal in countering Russian advance to Ukraine’s most strategic Donbas cities. Ukraine deploys elite drone units to counter Russian forces that have punched through Ukrainian defenses using “suicide squads” to locate positions, gaining 10 km (6 miles) in just two months.

Drones hit alleged Russian military positions in Kursk amid threats of new offensive from this direction. Russians officials claim that the attack struck residential buildings and injured civilians.

Russia’s estimated losses in Ukraine as of day 1193 of its all-out war, according to the Ukrainian Army’s General Staff.

International

“Not very serious”: Zelenskyy criticizes Russia’s lack of clarity before talks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has cast doubt on Russia’s commitment to peace negotiations, saying Moscow has not provided clear information about its agenda for talks scheduled in Istanbul on 2 June.

Former Secretary of State Pompeo: US did not do enough to stop the war in 2014. Speaking at the Black Sea Security Forum, former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said America “lost deterrence” against Vladimir Putin in 2014 and regretted the US failed to prevent Russia’s 2022 invasion.

Merz-Trump face-off: Ukraine war tops agenda in first White House meeting. German Chancellor will come to the White House on 5 June, sitting down with US President to discuss Ukraine aid, Middle East policy, and trade disputes that have strained transatlantic ties.

“Let’s get real”: European officials abandon hope for US backing in Ukraine. European officials have quietly shifted from deploying peacekeeping troops to providing long-term military support for Ukraine without US involvement, following concerns that President Trump will abandon his mediator role.

Top EU diplomat says US criticism of Europe shows “love nonetheless”. Europe’s top diplomat welcomed criticism from Washington as a sign of continued American engagement during weekend defense talks in Singapore.

Lithuania at risk: Ex-CIA chief warns Russia to target Baltic State after Ukraine. Former CIA director David Petraeus warned that Lithuania faces the highest risk of Russian invasion among NATO countries if Moscow succeeds in Ukraine.

Erdogan urgently calls Zelenskyy as Istanbul braces for Russia peace talks. Ahead of the Istanbul talks, Erdogan pressed Zelenskyy to hold direct talks with Putin and Trump “without delay.”

Humanitarian and social impact

Ukrainian high-schoolers hold graduation ceremony at cemetery. Russian missile killed their classmate and his two siblings. The students brought toys, cards, and pieces of birthday cake to the gravesite on the graduation day that “should have been filled with joy, hugs, tears of happiness” but turned into a day of mourning.

Russian bomb kills child, injures teen in massive attack. Terror of Ukrainian civilians continues.. On the night of 31 May, Russian forces launched over 100 drones and 5 missiles at Ukraine, damaging homes and other civilian infrastructure.

Political and legal developments

Swedish music competition secretly funded Russian war supporters, investigation finds. A prestigious music competition in Stockholm has been secretly channeling entry fees to a sanctioned Russian bank while employing jury members from institutions that support the war in Ukraine, a Swedish media investigation reveals.

The MT: Kremlin stages Putin helicopter drone incident to portray “heroic leader” sharing “war suffering”. The alleged drone strike was designed to counter public dissatisfaction as ordinary Russians face flight cancellations and internet outages due to increasing Ukrainian drone attack on military-industrial targets.

Read our earlier daily review here.

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  • ✇Euromaidan Press
  • Russia builds power lines to restart and connect seized Ukrainian nuclear plant to its grid
    Russia is constructing new power lines in occupied southeastern Ukraine to connect the captured Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (ZNPP) to its own electrical grid, according to Greenpeace and The New York Times. The development represents the first instance of a warring nation seizing another country’s nuclear facility and attempting to use it for its own energy needs. The Zaporizhzhia facility, Europe’s largest nuclear power complex, was captured by Russia in early 2022 and has remained off
     

Russia builds power lines to restart and connect seized Ukrainian nuclear plant to its grid

28 mai 2025 à 15:23

Russia builds 90 kilometers (55 miles) of power lines to connect seized Ukrainian nuclear plant to its grid.

Russia is constructing new power lines in occupied southeastern Ukraine to connect the captured Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (ZNPP) to its own electrical grid, according to Greenpeace and The New York Times.

The development represents the first instance of a warring nation seizing another country’s nuclear facility and attempting to use it for its own energy needs. The Zaporizhzhia facility, Europe’s largest nuclear power complex, was captured by Russia in early 2022 and has remained offline since 2023 when the last of its six reactors was shut down. The site continues to face significant safety risks due to military activity, unreliable power supply, and lack of Ukrainian oversight. Built during the Soviet era, the plant’s six reactors can generate up to six gigawatts of electricity and previously supplied nearly a quarter of Ukraine’s electricity before the full-scale invasion.

A new satellite analysis by Greenpeace reveals that Russia has built 90 km (55 miles) of high-voltage electricity lines and pylons between the occupied Ukrainian cities of Mariupol and Berdiansk, providing concrete evidence of Moscow’s plans to restart the facility and connect it to the Russian electrical grid.

 Satellite imagery of new electricity line being built by Russia in temporary occupied Ukraine
to connect the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant to Rostov in Russia. Source: Planet/Greenpeace Ukraine

Recent imagery from 11-12 May is showing 15 additional pylons and over 5 km (3 miles) of new lines east of Topolyne, north of Mariupol.

Based on the construction’s location and direction, Greenpeace determined the project aims to link the new power lines to a large substation near Mariupol that connects to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, located about 225 km (140 miles) west.

High resolution Sky Sat image 15 April 2025 electricity pylon for new electricity line from ZNPP nuclear plant in temporary occupied Ukraine. Source: Planet/Greenpeace Ukraine

Russia plans to restart Ukrainian occupied nuclear plant

Russian officials have explicitly stated their intention to restart the plant. In December 2024, Sergey Kiriyenko, First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office, stated Russia’s intention to restart the reactors “as fast as possible.”

On 21 May 2025, Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev told the Russian Federation Council that “everyone is living the dream of raising the station,” and reported that Russia has developed a plan to bring the plant to full capacity. He noted that a plan had been developed to return the facility to full capacity, but acknowledged the main challenge was the need to “replace the power grid.”

“This is some of the first hard evidence of Russian moving ahead with its dangerous and illegal plans for restarting Ukraine and Europe’s largest nuclear plant at Zaporizhzhia,” said Shaun Burnie, nuclear specialist at Greenpeace Ukraine. 

Burnie also argued that “the plant is the sole property of Ukraine” and called for Russia to be stopped from its restart plans.

What are the risks of restarting the nuclear plant after years of occupation?

Energy experts warn that restarting the Zaporizhzhia plant would carry significant risks. After more than three years of war, critical equipment remains unreplaced and many experienced Ukrainian staff members have fled.

The 2023 destruction of a nearby Kakhovka dam on the Dnipro River also deprived the plant of its main water source needed to cool reactors and spent fuel rods.

Jan Vande Putte, nuclear expert at Greenpeace Ukraine, stated that “it is impossible for Rosatom to meet nuclear safety guidelines in seeking to restart ZNPP.” He called on the International Atomic Energy Agency to explicitly communicate this to Russian government representatives and to avoid supporting any preparations for reactor restart.

Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Galushchenko stated that “any attempts by Russian representatives to restart power units could lead to unpredictable consequences.”

The plant’s proximity to active fighting also raised international concerns about potential nuclear disaster, with experts warning against any restart attempts under current conditions.

Russia ignores Trump’s peace proposal for ZNPP

The power line construction conflicts with recent US diplomatic efforts regarding the plant’s future. The Trump administration expressed interest in the United States taking control of Ukrainian nuclear plants and presented a seven-point peace plan calling for Russia to return the plant to Ukraine under US management, with the facility supplying electricity to both Ukraine and Russia.

Russian officials have consistently rejected surrendering control over the facility, with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov telling CBS News that the plant was being run by Rosatom and that he did not think “any change is conceivable.”

The Institute for the Study of War suggested that Russia is positioning itself for permanent control over the facility and signalling intentions to occupy and annex additional Ukrainian territory.

Russian officials have also intensified rhetoric about historical claims to “Novorossiya,” [New Russia] defined by Moscow as encompassing all of eastern and southern Ukraine, according to ISW. 

Russian occupation authorities have recently advocated for Russian control over areas of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast near the Dnipro River that Russia has not yet annexed. The Russian definition of Novorossiya includes territory directly across from the nuclear plant on the west bank of the Dnipro River.

Russia’s efforts to connect the plant to its power grid suggest Moscow expects either to push the frontline significantly away from the facility or to occupy and annex Dnipropetrovsk Oblast to ensure safe operation of the nuclear complex.

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  • ✇Euromaidan Press
  • Latvia urges EU to shut visa door on Russians
    Latvia’s Foreign Minister Baiba Braže has publicly urged European Union countries to halt the issuance of visas to Russian citizens, citing serious security concerns, according to her post on X on 26 May. Braže emphasized that the number of Schengen visas granted to Russian nationals had increased by 25% in 2024 compared to 2023. Russia remains a mounting threat to European security, with both conventional and hybrid tactics intensifying since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. European leaders
     

Latvia urges EU to shut visa door on Russians

26 mai 2025 à 16:48

latvia urges eu shut visa door russians baiba baže warsaw security forum 2025 bartlomiej sawka/ cinefotopl qd13 latvia’s foreign minister braže has publicly urged european union countries halt issuance visas

Latvia’s Foreign Minister Baiba Braže has publicly urged European Union countries to halt the issuance of visas to Russian citizens, citing serious security concerns, according to her post on X on 26 May. Braže emphasized that the number of Schengen visas granted to Russian nationals had increased by 25% in 2024 compared to 2023.

Russia remains a mounting threat to European security, with both conventional and hybrid tactics intensifying since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. European leaders now openly describe Moscow as an “existential threat,” warning of a possible Russian attack on NATO’s eastern flank if Ukraine falls. 

Braže wrote:

“Latvia calls on the EU countries to halt visa issuance for Russian citizens, citing security concerns.”

Calling on visa ban for Russian nationals, Braže reiterated the earlier appeal made by Latvia’s Minister of Interior, Rihards Kozlovskis, who also called on EU countries to end the issuance of visas to Russian citizens, warning that such travel poses risks to the bloc’s internal security.

Sharp rise in visas granted to Russian nationals

Braže referred to a March article highlighting the rise in Schengen visa approvals. According to data discussed at the Council of Ministers of Justice and Home Affairs of the EU in Brussels, 565,069 Schengen tourist visas were granted to Russian nationals in 2024. Notably, 90% of those visas were for tourism purposes.

Statistics from SchengenVisaInfo show that Italy received the most visa applications from Russians in 2023, handling 143,517 requests—28 % of the total. Italy also granted the highest number of Schengen visas to Russian citizens, issuing 134,141 visas, accounting for 30 % of all approved applications.

You could close this page. Or you could join our community and help us produce more materials like this.  We keep our reporting open and accessible to everyone because we believe in the power of free information. This is why our small, cost-effective team depends on the support of readers like you to bring deliver timely news, quality analysis, and on-the-ground reports about Russia's war against Ukraine and Ukraine's struggle to build a democratic society. A little bit goes a long way: for as little as the cost of one cup of coffee a month, you can help build bridges between Ukraine and the rest of the world, plus become a co-creator and vote for topics we should cover next. Become a patron or see other ways to support. Become a Patron!
  • ✇Euromaidan Press
  • Russian navy now guards shadow fleet oil tankers in Gulf of Finland, minister says
    On 24 May, Finnish defense minister Antti Häkkänen said on YLE’s “Ykkösaamu” program that Russia is now providing military escort to tankers from its shadow fleet in the Gulf of Finland. He described this as a “completely new feature” of Russian activity in the region. Russia remains a mounting threat to European security, with both conventional and hybrid tactics intensifying since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. European leaders now openly describe Moscow as an “existential threat,” warnin
     

Russian navy now guards shadow fleet oil tankers in Gulf of Finland, minister says

25 mai 2025 à 11:12

russian navy now guards shadow fleet oil tankers gulf finland minister says antti häkkänen finland's defense areenaylefi escorting armed forces something finnish officials haven’t seen before 24 said yle’s “ykkösaamu”

On 24 May, Finnish defense minister Antti Häkkänen said on YLE’s “Ykkösaamu” program that Russia is now providing military escort to tankers from its shadow fleet in the Gulf of Finland. He described this as a “completely new feature” of Russian activity in the region.

Russia remains a mounting threat to European security, with both conventional and hybrid tactics intensifying since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. European leaders now openly describe Moscow as an “existential threat,” warning of a possible Russian attack on NATO’s eastern flank if Ukraine falls. Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” of aging oil tankers has become a central tool for evading Western sanctions and sustaining its war economy, with over 60% of its seaborne crude exports now moved by unregulated, often uninsured vessels operating in legal gray zones. 

While Russian naval and air presence in the area has always been noticeable, Häkkänen emphasized that armed protection of shadow fleet tankers through the narrow maritime passage is unprecedented. According to Häkkänen, as cited by YLE,

“However, a new feature is that Russia is protecting tankers from its shadow fleet in the narrow passage of the Gulf of Finland. There is military escort and the presence of armed forces. This is a completely new development.”

Airspace breach confirmed near Finland’s Porvoo

The Finnish Defense Ministry reported on 23 May that two Russian military aircraft violated Finland’s airspace near the city of Porvoo. This breach adds to a recent series of aggressive incidents at sea and in the air.

According to YLE, MTV Uutiset also reported a rise in Russian military traffic in the Gulf of Finland, citing naval sources. This comes as further confirmation of escalating regional tensions.

Last week, an incident occurred involving a vessel linked to the Russian shadow fleet that failed to comply with directives from Estonian authorities. At the same time, a Russian fighter jet was observed in the vicinity.

Russia is also significantly increasing its military presence near Finland’s eastern frontier. Recent images aired on Swedish television from Kamyanka, Severomorsk, and Petrozavodsk show what appear to be large-scale deployments. 

Finland says situation remains stable

Despite the growing Russian military activity, Häkkänen stressed there is no immediate threat to Finland.

“I don’t see any direct threat to Finland. But Russia is strengthening its military capabilities and is an aggressive and dangerous neighbor to all of Europe, that’s clear,” he said.

 

You could close this page. Or you could join our community and help us produce more materials like this.  We keep our reporting open and accessible to everyone because we believe in the power of free information. This is why our small, cost-effective team depends on the support of readers like you to bring deliver timely news, quality analysis, and on-the-ground reports about Russia's war against Ukraine and Ukraine's struggle to build a democratic society. A little bit goes a long way: for as little as the cost of one cup of coffee a month, you can help build bridges between Ukraine and the rest of the world, plus become a co-creator and vote for topics we should cover next. Become a patron or see other ways to support. Become a Patron!
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