Russia Tomorrow

Fed here! The main reason why Russian guarantees does not hold any power is not because Russia is untrustworthy (few nations actually are), but because the Russia is no longer tied by world system of checks and balances, there are no tools left to pressure Russia to stick to deals made. There was such pressure before the war, when there was a big fear of sanctions, there was such pressure in 2022, when sanctions didn't fully hit yet, there were Western weapons on the horizon and instability at home, there was such tools even in 2023, when Ukrainian counter-offensive was yet to come, Prigozhin marched to Moscow and elections were near. Now - there are no pressure tools left. All sanctions are applied, internal opposition is squashed, weapons are sent, connections are cut. The only line, which haven't been crossed yet is direct involvement of NATO contingent into the war, but few people expect it to happen. Now it seems like there are no more immediate threats, that can force Putin to end the war. The Peace summit in Switzerland is going to happen tomorrow. Let's speak sincerely - it is aimed not at finding ways to achieve peace, because there are none at the moment, but at searching for tools for further pressure on Russia. Let's wish them good luck with finding it. And good luck to anyone affected by the war, you will have to endure a lot more, but all wars end. Stay safe!

Putin for the first time named new conditions for peace negotiations with Ukraine: the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the territory of the Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions and Kyiv’s refusal to join NATO. “As soon as Kyiv declares that it is ready and begins a real withdrawal of troops, and also declares its refusal to join NATO, we will immediately order a ceasefire and begin negotiations. We guarantee the safe withdrawal of Ukrainian units and formations,” he said (quoted from RIA Novosti). As Putin emphasized, this is not about freezing the conflict, but about its final completion, assuring that the Ukrainian Armed Forces will be guaranteed a safe withdrawal of troops. “Basic agreements on a peaceful settlement must be fixed by international treaties; naturally, the lifting of sanctions against Russia is also expected,” he added. Putin also said that as part of the deal, Russia will demand “ensuring the rights of Russian speakers” in Ukraine. In reality that means that Ukrainian army would have to leave all it's defensive positions and cities that have never been under Russian occupation, like Zaporozhie, for certain "guarantees" (none of these guarantees, made in the past, stopped Russia from starting the war). Putin made this statement on the eve of the world summit in Switzerland; Russia was not invited to it. The issue of a truce is not on the summit agenda.

20 people have already been detained in connection with the terrorist attack in Crocus. It was prepared by members of the Vilayat Khorasan group, but "Ukrainian military intelligence is directly related to this attack", said the head of the FSB, Alexander Bortnikov. The head of the department made this statement in Bishkek at a meeting of the Council of Heads of Security and Intelligence Agencies (SORB) of the CIS member states. The head of the department also said that “preparatory actions, financing, attack and withdrawal of terrorists” were organized by members of the Wilayat Khorasan (a terrorist organization of the Islamic State opposing the Taliban) located in the Afghanistan-Pakistan zone - this differs from the rhetoric of the authorities who stated that the Ukrainian authorities and formations are behind the crime. However Bortnikov added that Ukrainian military intelligence is directly "related" to this attack. Bortnikov did not provide any convincing evidence of such a connection; the Russian authorities did not provide it before. Investigative Committee claimed that they allegedly found photographs on the terrorists phones with the Ukrainian flag and the inscription “Diti” (children - Ukrainian) and that there was a "window" for the terrorists on Ukrainian border.

The Purge: four top generals of the Ministry of Defense were detained in a month after Sergei Shoigu was replaced by Andrei Belousov — On April 23 , Deputy Minister of Defense Timur Ivanov , supervisor for construction, reconstruction and overhaul of Defense Ministry facilities, was detained in connection with a bribe case. The court charged him with receiving a bribe in the amount of 1 billion 185 million rubles, and the next day seized the accounts. Together with Ivanov, the investigation arrested the co-founder of OlimpCityStroy LLC, Alexander Fomin, and Sergei Borodin, the head of the Volzhsky Bereg company. According to investigators, OlimpCityStroy received orders from the Ministry of Defense worth millions of rubles under the patronage of Ivanov, and the Volzhsky Bereg company, according to journalists, helped build Ivanov’s mansion in the Tver region. — On May 13, it became known about the detention of the head of the Main Personnel Directorate of the Russian Defense Ministry, Yuri Kuznetsov . According to the Investigative Committee, during the search they found more than 100 million rubles, gold coins, collectible watches and luxury items. According to investigators, as head of the 8th Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Kuznetsov received a bribe from representatives of commercial structures for a deal in their favor. — On May 21, it became known about the detention of Major General Ivan Popov . In 2023, as commander of the 58th Army, he was repelling the counter-offensive of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Zaporozhye region. A month later he was removed from command, in his words, “for telling the truth about the problems of the Russian Armed Forces.” According to the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, Popov was taken into custody in the case of the theft of more than 1,700 tons of rolled metal products using funds of 130 million rubles. The Main Military Investigation Department of the Investigative Committee petitioned for the transfer of Popov from the pre-trial detention center to house arrest. — On May 23, it became known about the detention of the head of the Main Communications Directorate - Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the RF Armed Forces Vadim Shamarin . According to investigators, he received a bribe from the general director and chief accountant of the Perm Telephone Plant Telta in the amount of 36 million rubles for increasing the volume of products supplied to the Ministry of Defense and general patronage. — Also on May 23, it became known about the detention of Vladimir Verteletsky, an employee of the department for state defense procurement of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation . According to the Investigative Committee, in 2022 Verteletsky accepted uncompleted work as part of development work under a government contract. Verteletsky was charged with abuse of power in the implementation of a state defense order.