Full results and write-up by @olliecarroll.bsky.social here: www.economist.com/europe/2025/...

Is Zelensky a disliked dictator or a popular hero? Our poll of Ukrainians shows a surprising shift in the president’s ratings

Our poll of Ukraine is now in (N=1000). Mr Zelensky approval at >70%, very few want elections before peace. But also suggests 58% will not want Ukraine to concede territory, and that many also expect the war to end within the year ->
www.economist.com/europe/2025/... by @olliecarroll.bsky.social

“Putin offers ceasefire” says one paper. “Putin rejects it” another. Welcome to dizzying tricksphere of a KGB officer. Real Q is not what the old manipulator says, but how the apprentice in a hurry interprets it. Putin gave Trump a pic-n-mix of narratives. Which 1 will he choose?

Donald Trump makes Ukraine an offer it can’t refuse A proposed economic deal would be punitive. Saying “no” could be worse

The Americans called it a “transaction of love.” The Ukrainian officials I spoke to called it differently: “not negotiation, but extortion”.

www.economist.com/europe/2025/...

I’d like to think I’m the first person to get into a flame war with VPOTUS from the swimming pool of Woburn Center Parcs at half-term.

This is footage of a Russian drone hitting the protective shield at Chernobyl power plant. I don't know where to begin.

Ukraine’s president fears Donald Trump is keeping him out of the loop “We haven’t heard any proposals,” he tells The Economist as peace talks loom

If Trump has a peace plan, Zelensky doesn't know about it. He is undeterred. "I won't let Putin win. This is what I live by"

New interview in this week's Economist.

www.economist.com/europe/2025/...

Why North Korea Is Planning a Second Korean War and How to Stop It YouTube video by Dmitri Alperovitch

Why North Korea Is Planning a Second Korean War and How to Stop It

My deep-dive with @andreilankov and @DrRadchenko into North Korean regime, foreign policy, daily life, surveillance state, hackers and much more!

youtu.be/hqTbLkdysBo

Amid talk of a ceasefire, Ukraine’s front line is crumbling An ominous defeat in the eastern town of Velyka Novosilka

My update on the frontline: Ukraine’s crumbling wall, and what might - more likely might not - push Putin to compromise.
https://buff.ly/40AfRcV

Историка Юрия Дмитриева отправили в ШИЗО за «неправильное выполнение зарядки» в мордовской колонии — Новая газета 17 января 68-летнего экс-главу карельского «Мемориала» Юрия Дмитриева поместили в штрафной изолятор на 6 суток. Официальной причиной наказания стало «неправильное выполнение утренней зарядки»,…

Reports Gulag historian Yury Dmitriev, 68, has been sent to solitary confinement in Russia's Mordovia colony for "unsatisfactory stretching." The most evil kind of evil. Descendants of the KGB officers he implicated first jailed him. Now they appear after after his life.

A heavy night in Kyiv with at least four dead following combined drone and ballistic missile attacks early in the morning. One of the targets appears to have been a defence facility. But much more - water pipes, McDonalds etc - hit besides.

Britain is becoming a well-mannered but deceitful society Technology and sloppy government are to blame

Here I try to describe changes in the British character, and to explain them. Brits seem to be growing both more civil and less honest, with the same people (the young) driving both trends.
www.economist.com/britain/2025...

Russian sources reporting that a record number of drones (150-200) employed in this combined Ukrainian missile-drone attack.

Ukrainian drones attacked at least 4 Russian regions in a massive attack this morning — oil and gas facilities in the main appear to have been the targets. Video from Tatarstan, (c) Astra

There is a pretty strong likelihood that Russian commanders don’t really care about the survival of Russians either

Russia is being set aflame by hundreds of arson attacks The Kremlin blames a campaign of subversion and psychological warfare

I wrote on the wave of unusual arson attacks across Russia. Unlike at start of invasion, when these were mostly driven by anti-war/mobilisation sentiment, Ukrainian psyops appear to be at work.

«Ад со всеми его демонами». Как СИЗО для подростков в Таганроге превратили в пыточный лагерь для украинских пленных Больше двух с половиной лет СИЗО-2 в Таганроге, где до войны под арестом находились подростки и женщины с детьми, остается местом заключения взятых в плен украинцев. Побывавшие там...

This, on Russian torture of Ukr POWs is very important reading. "My eyes, hands, feet were taped. I was hung upside down, wires wrapped around fingers, and electric current applied. Then vacuum bag was placed over head, while punched in stomach + ribs." https://en.zona.media/article/2025/01/10/hell

This fm Polish def minister caused my eyebrows to smile: “Fatigue in society is understandable when [u] see young Ukrainians driving the latest cars." Poles + Ukrainians—who often put all cash into a car—more different than u think.

And The Economist article about developments in drone warfare by @shashj.bsky.social and @olliecarroll.bsky.social here:
www.economist.com/europe/2024/...

This week @olliecarroll.bsky.social & I look at how Ukraine’s drone war is evolving. Ukr observing 1,000 Russian drones in each 24 hour period. Drones carrying more & flying further per dollar. More types, from bombers to interceptors. AI guidance advancing rapidly www.economist.com/europe/2024/...

Musk has now threatened the leaders of Canada,Brazil, Germany. X helped create a riot in the UK. Now it seems he doesn't want the UK to make its own legal decisions. Time to act?

We probably should be careful. Glass houses and all of that. Hi.

Yup that’s what I kind of figured. Shame. Buffer isn’t exactly seamless. I’m a bit torn between leaving the gutter and spending more time on another social media. Ah well.

For example…?

‘At times it feels like I’m managing a day-care centre rather than a combat unit.’ Quote from Ukrainian frontline commander on manpower shortages as they brace for possible Kremlin surge in the south www.economist.com/europe/2024/... by @olliecarroll.bsky.social

Who is talking about announcements? I would like to limit my social media concentration to one app, and I’d prefer it to be this one.

Just a question for a Bluesky newbie: is there a way of cross-posting content here automatically to the eugh-ther place. One that doesn’t involve posting on a third party app, just scraping content and reposting automatically?

Росія оновила рекорд запущених дронів: атакувала Україну 188 безпілотниками В ніч на вівторок 26 листопада Росія випусила рекордну кількість дронів – 188, протиповітряна оборона збила 76 безпілотників, 95 БпЛА —локаційно втрачені через дію РЕБ.

An interrupted night for most in Ukraine. Russia actually launched a record 188 drones. Oh, and 4 Iskander-Ms tactical ballistic missiles into the mix too. Which, just to remind all the tabloid writers out there are ***NUCLEAR-CAPABLE***. www.pravda.com.ua/news/2024/11...

"Belaruski Gayun" reports that at least 38 "Shaheds" violated the airspace of Belarus over the past day.

It is claimed that only 9 Russian UAVs have been confirmed to have returned to Ukrainian airspace.

I write on Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s plans for America’s intelligence agencies and what it might mean for policy, for recruitment & morale, and for intelligence sharing among allies
www.economist.com/united-state...