Fail of the day. A Russian defence ministry expert doesn't realise he is already on air and says: 'Just don't ask too much about these Iranian drones. We all know they are Iranian, but the authorities don't want to admit it'.

In addition to martial law in the 4 Ukrainian regions, Putin also ordered the rest of Russia put into different levels of “readiness”.
That imposes some powers similar to those under martial law.
Looks like Putin putting the whole country onto something closer to a war footing.

Russia's bombing campaign targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure is starting to have an effect. Zelenskyy says Russia has destroyed 30% of Ukraine's power stations in a week. Ukrainian officials urging people to conserve power.
Russia hoping to freeze Ukrainians this winter.

Let me try to explain what's wrong with the new wave of deployment of Russian troops in Belarus and why the threat of a new attack on Kyiv from the north is a bluff.

A🧵 1/

Grim footage from the blast site in central Kyiv beside the HQ of the energy grip operator Ukrenergo. Mayor says 18 people have been rescued from the rubble of this residential building, says unclear yet if anyone has been killed. Video shared by President Zelensky.

Russians mobilized to fight in Ukraine are coming back in coffins. Relatives are asking why they were sent to the front so fast. Often, they’re told nothing at all. “All we have is a date and a place.” A possible inflection point at home in Russia’s war. theguardian.com/world/2022/oct…

Talk shows on Russian state TV and hardline Z channels on Telegram are not the same as public opinion. There are many war supporters among the public. But there is a difference between that and state-sponsored activism. You can't turn on TV and say 'this is what Russians think.'

Russian opposition politician ⁦Vladimir Kara-Murza⁩ in a courtroom cage in Moscow yesterday

Arrested in April, denied calls to his family, he’s now been accused of treason - on the basis of 3 speeches including one which highlighted Russia’s persecution of political opponents

Putin and Russian officials acting as though this is the first time Russia has moved seriously against Ukraine.
It's absurd, as though a full-scale invasion was just them warming up.
In reality, Russia's ability to strike against Ukraine is much weaker now than 8 months ago.

The Russian strikes on Ukraine today are a sign of weakness not strength.
The Crimean bridge Ukraine hit was of huge military and symbolic significance.
Putin has been unable to hit anything comparable, instead bombing civilians with no military effect.

The pedestrian bridge Russia targeted in Kyiv this morning is a walkway through a park with no use other than sightseeing.
The Crimean bridge Ukraine hit is a huge strategic, military and symbolic target.
Unlike the Crimean bridge, the Kyiv bridge is also still intact.

Horrible. Russian speakers in Zaporizhzha, being defended by Russia once again. 17 dead. 40 injured.

Traffic is pretty normal. There are no military movements. It’s just a normal Saturday evening in Moscow.

1/ What is the price of defeat? Few episodes in the Ukraine war illustrate this more vividly than the five-month battle for the village of Dovhenke, an episode which likely cost hundreds of lives but was entirely futile for Russia. A 🧵.

«Эту премию дают не странам, а людям и организациям. Мы рискуем потому, что у нас война. Россияне рискуют свободой, потому что у них диктатура»
Лауреаты премии из украинского центра гражданских свобод и российского «Мемориала» говорят о том, как они работают вместе во время войны