Ich war gerade für @srfnews in Kyiv. Die Kälte ist erbarmungslos, die russischen Angriffe heftig. Die Stadt hält bisher durch - wie auch diese Geburtsklinik. Aber: 1/

Open Letter To the President of the Russian Federation From the President of Ukraine When you came to power in Russia more than 26 years ago, many people in Ukraine viewed you positively. That is how it was. But that is now in the past. Now, the overwhelming majority of Ukrainians view it positively that our long-range drones paid a visit to the opening of your forum in St. Petersburg, covering a distance of more than 1,000 kilometers. As you know very well, that distance is not the limit of our capabilities.

"Russia and Ukraine believe there is little prospect for reviving US-brokered peace talks even after the war in the Middle East ends, according to people briefed on both sides’ positions... Officials in Kyiv, meanwhile, believe they are less vulnerable to US pressure for a quick, unfavourable deal after halting Russia’s advance and inflicting more damage with drone strikes deep behind enemy lines. Russia’s top commanders have convinced Putin their forces could seize the whole of the Donbas by autumn, according to two people in contact with the Kremlin leader, two others familiar with the matter, and a Ukrainian intelligence assessment shared with the FT. Putin then plans to raise the price of any ceasefire by escalating Russia’s territorial demands, three of the people said." @maxseddon @HenryJFoy @ChristopherJM ft.com/content/09273889-e9b5…

Something Is Shifting Inside Russia Recent developments inside Russia suggest the system is struggling to cope with mounting pressures. These include growing domestic strains, behind-the-scenes manoeuvring among elites, rumours of a coup d’état, a tighter and more reactive grip on control, fears of losing that control, and increasing exposure to Ukrainian strikes and assassinations. All this is unfolding against a worsening external backdrop: a destabilised Middle East and stalemate over Iran, a distracted Trump, and a more militarised (including nuclear-oriented) Europe. For the first time in years of war, there may be a shift. Pressures have reached a point where too many actors inside Russia face a new reality: the status quo is starting to threaten their own position. If nothing changes, it makes survival difficult, if not impossible. Until recently, many assumed that Putin had a plan, even if it was simply to keep the war going. Now there are growing doubts as to whether such a plan exists. And even if it does, it may imply political or physical ruin for some. Ironically, after years of pursuing a “wait and see” approach towards the West and, in part, Ukraine, Putin has now become the object of a similar approach from the Americans — an uncomfortable position for Russians. There are growing sentiments in Russia that the current system of governance is becoming too damaging and increasingly self-defeating. Tolerance for the status quo is eroding. However, different actors interpret that change in opposing ways, while Putin appears either unable or unwilling to rethink his policy.

Just got this text from my Moscow mobile operator: “During preparations for and the holding of holiday events from 5-9 May temporary restrictions to mobile internet and text messaging are possible in Moscow and Moscow region. This may cause difficulties with cashless payments, use of ATMs and GPS services.”

In Russia, it feels as though the very composition of the air has changed — or, seen from the outside, as if a haze has settled in. We are witnessing three overlapping processes. Attitudes toward Putin are shifting. Economic optimism is fading, along with the everyday patriotism tied to it — the kind that celebrates survival rather than progress. “At least we’re alive.” Finally, there is a growing recognition that the war cannot be won — a war that has itself changed, eroding Russia’s advantages. A great turning point. My latest piece for Carnegie Politika (@CEIP_Politika) and Meduza (@meduzaproject) on this important shift in public mood in Russia. For now in Russian — an English version will follow. carnegieendowment.org/ru/rus… meduza.io/feature/2026/04/30…

"The U.S. military has introduced Ukrainian counter-drone technology in recent weeks at a key U.S. air base in Saudi Arabia, according to five people with knowledge of the matter, as it seeks to stem attacks that have destroyed aircraft and buildings, and killed at least one service member. The deployment of a Ukrainian command-and-control platform called Sky Map at Prince Sultan Air Base, which has not previously been reported, is a sign of how Ukraine’s military has surged ahead in drone and counter-drone technologies that have been battle-hardened in its four-year war with Russia." reuters.com/business/aerospa…

"Russia was forced to reduce ​oil output in April due to Ukrainian drone attacks on ports and refineries, as well as a halt to crude ‌supplies via the only remaining Russian oil pipeline to Europe, according to five sources and Reuters calculations. In what could be the sharpest monthly decline to Russian output in the six years since the COVID pandemic, Russia may have cut production by about 300,000 to 400,000 barrels per day in April, from the average level seen in the first months ​of the year, said the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity." reuters.com/business/energy/…

Wenn die Russen näher kommen. Meine Reportage aus dem ostukrainischen Städtchen Isjum für @srfnews srf.ch/play/tv/-/video/-?urn…

Kein Luftalarm, keine Raketen, keine Shahed-Drohnen, keine Gleitbomben: Viele in der Ukraine nehmen die Osterwaffenruhe wahr. Doch während das Hinterland kurz durchatmet, ruhen die Waffen an der Front nicht. Ein nachhaltiges Ende der russischen Angriffe – weiter nicht in Sicht.

Zelenskyy, who first proposed an orthodox Easter ceasefire this weekend and was ignored by Russia, responds to Putin’s announcement this evening of an Easter ceasefire, in which he tried to make it seem like it was his idea.

Zelensky is right on this one, Ukraine 🇺🇦 has no interest in giving away the remaining part of Donbas This area is the most fortified of Ukraine, there are some of the last big cities, 200 000 inhabitants and losing it would open the path for Kharkiv or Dnipro. 🧵1/5 ⬇️

Zelenskyy offered an Easter ceasefire many days ago and was ignored while Putin kept bombing Ukraine.

Ukraine's campaign against Russian energy export infrastructure have been more effective. One theory is that's due to degraded Russian air defense, but folks should consider that Ukraine has gotten much better in how it organizes and executes these strikes.

Schule im Krieg, wie geht das? Ich war im frontnahen Kharkiv in der Ostukraine in einer Untergrundschule: Kinder lernen dort im Bunker - und sind glücklich, dass sie überhaupt in die Schule dürfen. Meine Reportage für @srfnews srf.ch/play/tv/redirect/deta…

Today one Russian paper concedes that Ukrainian drone attacks “…on [Russian] oil refining facilities did not pass without trace…the government had to freeze petrol exports until July 1. Euphoria over extra revenues from high oil prices is unjustified.” #ReadingRussia

I must say that I wouldn’t have imagined four years ago that as a result of the Russian invasion Ukraine would become a diplomatic heavyweight and security contributor in the Middle East.

MORE: Russian officials have repeatedly attempted to perpetuate a false narrative that the Ukrainian frontlines are on the verge of collapse in an effort to convince the West to capitulate to Russian demands that Russia cannot secure militarily. Ukraine’s recent successes indicate that Ukraine is not at risk of collapse, however.

Notes from the much larger and more significant war: in March Russia gained no net territory in Ukraine, and lost more soldiers than it was able to replace.

Wenn der Krieg die Seele frisst: zehntausende ukrainische Soldaten leiden psychisch. Manche trifft es besonders hart. Ich habe in Lviv eine psychiatrische Klinik besucht, in der schwer traumatisierte Kämpfer behandelt werden. srf.ch/play/tv/-/video/-?urn…

The dayslong outage in the most important part of Moscow crystallized fears that Putin would go further than Russians imagined to cut them off from the world & interrupt their lives as he brings the nation’s internet fully under Kremlin control. @PaulSonne nytimes.com/2026/03/31/world…