After several years of writing, it's amazing to finally get my hands on actual copies. As I mention in the book, writing about the future of this region can often feel like a pointless task. But I think we've also been stuck arguing about our past rather than looking at what the future might look like if nothing changes. You can order pre-order yours here geni.us/gLHAW

#Breaking German Finance minister says Berlin is open to cutting #Russia from SWIFT

Cyclist passes Russian troops in Rostov while blasting "Because I got high". That's it, that's the tweet.

#Ukraine Ministry of Interior asks people to turn off geolocation on their cell phones - they say #Russia is beginning to track gatherings of people

It's HIMARS o'clock

A story in two parts: First part a #Russian reported excitedly reports on the Russian army shelling Ukrainian position using a 2S4 Tyulpan self-propelled mortar, revealing its position

The fact that absolutely no one at the #Shifa Hospital spoke about the presence of hostages inside the hospital during the past month and a half, I think is clear evidence, that #Hamas has a more permanent presence there. You would not bring hostages to a place you though could be compromised by ennemy intelligence, but to a place you felt absolutely certain you can control. This level of control and operational security is not achieved by operating there "from time to time". It means you know no one will speak, either because they are complicit, or because they're scared for their life.

Ukrainian army: Current mood

The fact that the Russian leadership looked at the performance of the Russian army in #Ukraine and thought "now let's stir things up in Moldova" says a lot about how disconnected they are from reality

#Russia's special operation in #Ukraine, in one image

In one of several similar incidents, one of the Hamas attackers who broke into the home of a grandmother in Nir Oz, near #Gaza, killed her, filmed it with her phone and uploaded the video to her Facebook - which is how her grand-daughter found out.

Don't try this at home. This stunt was performed by one of the best armies in the world

This is a critical point made by Zelenskyy #Ukraine's own public opinion is completely overlooked by those pushing for an end to the conflict because continuing it would lead to "more suffering". They refuse to see Ukraine and the Ukrainians as sovereign actors who can make decision as to what they consider acceptable or not. In doing so, the self-portrayed "supporters of peace" are (deliberately or not) aligning themselves with Russia's position, which is that Ukraine "does not exist". But it does, and their president can do no less than act upon the people's will - which is what the leader of a democratic government does.

Streets of Sumy, where intense street battles took place. "Slava Ukraini!" (Glory to #Ukraine)

Second part: Boom

Israeli soldiers who are due to escort the children hostages to be released in the agreement with #Hamas have received specific instruction drafted by the Welfare Ministry to deal with the psychological trauma they suffered. Among these instructions is one not to respond to their questions about their parents and wait until they are in Israel. This is because many of them have lost at least one of their parents, if not both.

Hopefully, this Russian journalist can do some more solid on the ground reporting on Russian artillery positions. Opsec is for losers.

Russian armored column destroyed near Kharkiv, amidst reports of Ukrainian counter-offensive

Israel is giving intel on Russia's Iranian drones to #Ukraine jpost.com/israel-news/articl…

The Ukrainian ability to still be flying at this stage of the war is one of the developments I would definitely not have predicted when it started

In an interview, President Macron says France delivered Caesar self-propelled artillery to #Ukraine ouest-france.fr/politique/em…

During a video address President Zelensky called on Europeans with military experience to volunteer and come to #Ukraine

The fire is still burning this morning in Bryansk

President Zelensky visited Ukrainian forces in the Kharkiv region #Ukraine

The Belaya airbase is more than 4,000 km from Ukraine. Either Kyiv made some dramatic improvement to its drone capabilities, or Ukrainians are operating from within Russia

NEW - #France is now seriously investigating the possibility that #Russia was indeed behind the marking of buildings with David Stars, in an attempt to destabilize the country. Following the antisemitic vandalism, a couple from Moldova was arrested and confirmed multiple times during their detention that they took orders from Russia. Last week, 200 stencils were found in several areas of Paris (Hauts de Seine, Seine-Saint-Denis). Another couple was identified, but has since left the country. Investigators think those two attempts are tied, and that the methods point towards a "commando operation" (per a police officer quoted in the article, and in the sense that it was fast and organized). francetvinfo.fr/societe/anti…

I am not going to post them, but have been shared in a group of first responders who are at the music festival that was targeted by Hamas, and are finding awful videos of Hamas members executing wounded civilians. The scope of this single attack - which is said as of now to have killed more than 240 - is difficult to understand.

Filming while Hamas members were breaking into houses, killing civilians. But sure let's call him a journalist.

NEW - French radio Europe 1 says a couple from Moldavia, who have been arrested and were behind the painting of around 60 David Stars on buildings in #Paris were guided by an "individual in #Russia". europe1.fr/societe/info-euro…

Bradleys spotted in a country close to #Ukraine (not clear that they are for Ukraine though)

Russian armoured vehicles had a bit of a mishap while fleeing Russa Lozova near #Kharkiv

An Estonian cargo ship has been hit by an explosion & has sunk off the coast of Odessa, #Ukraine - Reuters citing ship manager

#NEW - According to a report by Le Monde, French Intelligence services believe the two couples responsible for the star of David's graffiti in Paris were all in contact with the same person, Moldovan businessman Anatoli Prizenko, and were tied to a #Russian disinformation network. The operation was exploited by a network called Doppelgänger "RRN" (Reliable Recent News) on twitter and Facebook, which largely distributed and covered the graffitis. The network was already exposed as a Russian disinformation operation, including in an official statement by the French Foreign Ministry in June. In conjunction, the Doppelgänger network also published articles emphasizing the rise of antisemitism in France since the Hamas attacks, accusing French authorities of doing nothing to protect its citizens. Prizenko is a pro-Russian Moldovan businessman, who was a former candidate for the Europsceptic and pro-Moscow Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova. The first couple is suspected of having already executed identical operation in other European countries - unrelated to the Middle East - but linked to issues of societal debate Le Monde article: lemonde.fr/societe/article/2… Article on MFA statement regarding Doppelganger: france24.com/fr/france/20230…

So when a Ukrainian tells you to go "f... yourself", I guess one should take it seriously.

A French TV crew managed to get to one of the cemeteries of the Mariupol region, finding at least 3,000 graves...

NEW: Video of one of the trucks self-destructing (as one person appears to be inside)

🚩Ukrainian forces have reportedly recaptured Makariv near #Kyiv, putting the Ukrainian flag back in the town (not going to post a geolocation, but this is geolocated). This further isolates Russian forces south of the E40 highway

Emily Damari lost her fingers while she was trying to reassure her dog - whom Hamas militants shot in her arms. But there are still people here arguing that she is "smiling" on the picture of her release because she was "well treated"

Iranian drones have been used to bomb a European capital. But sure #EUSolidarity.

In other news, Ukrainian farmers are well on their way to being the third largest army in Ukraine, if not the second.

A French journalist who visited the morgue where bodies of Israelis are still being identified, reports what many other sources had hinted: Many Israeli victims were tortured before being executed, including having fingers and toes cut off. Some were beheaded.

Weapons are being distributed to #Ukrainians volunteering to fight the Russian attack

#Breaking Russian forces are shelling the pre-arranged route the IAEA mission to the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant was supposed to take, according to a Ukrainian official. The mission cannot proceed as a result of the shelling.

Residents of #Kherson who escaped Russian shelling as they were evacuated from flooded areas (video by Hromadske)...

The US is sending equipment to repair #Ukraine's Electric grid

Let me say this clearly: Iran very much tried to overwhelm Israel's air defenses. The idea that this was just a symbolic attack, designed to fail is wrong (and I was of the opinion that Iran would go for more of a "symbolic" attack, and was proven wrong)

Turns out, you don't need cards, you just need a little bit of creativity.

🚩The Ukrainian army reportedly recaptured Lukyanovka, east of Kyiv, destroying three tanks and 9 Infantry Fighting vehicles in the process. This is an important counter-offensive, as Lukyanovka is on the Russian supply line to Velyka Dymerka, near Brovary.

Explosion reported around half an hour ago in Belgorod #Russia, with initial reports suggesting it may be a weapons depot

#Breaking French President Macron, German Chancellor Scholz and Italian PM Draghi are on their way to #Ukraine

Several rumours are circulating suggesting #Ukrainian forces have pushed Russian forces back to the border in Kharkiv, by capturing the town of Ternova

Ukrainian PM: "Russian soldiers, you were brought to our land to kill and die. [...] Do not follow criminal orders of those who have lied to you for years about Ukraine and Ukrainians. We guarantee you full amnesty and financial compensation if you voluntarily lay down a weapon

Russia: "We didn't strike Odessa" Also Russia: "Our strike in Odessa hit a military infrastructure".

The Ukrainian military has released several images of US M777 howitzers in action, with the motto "Artillery sweat saves infantry blood."

One note regarding being "neutral" or unbiased. When one side has repeatedly been caught lying and manipulating information on purpose, as opposed to the other, putting both on equal footing is not being "neutral" or unbiased. I'd say it's just the opposite.

On the incident Irpin ⬇️. Shells damaged the train track and two empty train cars. Irpin mayor confirmed the incident, says evacuation be carried out by bus.

More footage of Biden in #Kyiv, walking with President Zelenskyy

Spot the issue with some of this "footage" of the fighting in #Ukraine shown on an Israeli channel

#Breaking Ukrainian sources report that Russian forces have withdrawn from Snake Island in the Black Sea, following a series of #Ukrainian missile and artillery attacks

#Breaking #Ukraine's emergency service says that as of 06:20, the fire at Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant has been extinguished

🚩Ukrainian armed forces claim that they have cut the Russian supply lines to Bucha, Irpin and Hostomel near #Kyiv - major development if confirmed (and if Ukrainian forces can hold their position)

The Ukrainian National Guard releases another video of the incident, while also politely thanking the Kremlin propagandist who kindly helped them destroy the Russian heavy mortar.

#Breaking: The EU expects to receive a request by Ukraine to join the union soon, according to an official

Funny how Russia has a way of climbing down on some of its threats, when the West demonstrates it is undeterred.

As expected, Nimrod Aloni, who was "captured" by Hamas according to multiple unverified tweets based on pictures published by Hamas accounts, reappears during a situational assessment of the southern command of the IDF (last commander on to the left of the Israeli Chief of Staff).

Protest in Bilokurakyne in the Luhansk province against the Russian occupation

The Ukrainian military claims that Russian forces have exhausted their reserves and began to transfer additional units from the Eastern and Southern Military Districts, as they continue to try and and surround Kyiv

View from the Kharkiv subway #Ukraine

Russian aircraft in Tel Aviv, gets its signal with the Ukrainian flag

The Vinnitsya airport is completely destroyed following a Russian cruise missile strike earlier today

Looks like Ukraine is planning to send Territorial Defense Units as reinforcements in some areas: The Ukrainian parliament reportedly passed a law allowing those local units to be deployed outside of their homebase regions

#Breaking US Embassy in #Moscow issues a security warning regarding possible threats of attacks against a number of public places, including in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

The Pentagon has informed European diplomats it will halt part of its military assistance to Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and all NATO members bordering Russia in Baltic Sea in a meeting last month, per Reuters

Ukrainian Defense Ministry claims to have discovered documents maps and plans for the #Russian invasion of #Ukraine, approved back in January (January 18)

Hello there

Video of Natanz from 20 km afar, posted by Iranian opposition channels

The video you didn't know you needed: #Ukraine's military orchestra performing the song "Bayraktar" (named after the Turkish-made drone)

"I see us taking Kyiv in three days"

Russian tennis player Andrey Rublev writes "No War Please" on the camera filming him during Dubai Championships #Russia #Ukraine

Another view of the large explosion in Novofedorovka in Russian-occupied #Crimea

The #US hesitations regarding the delivery of advanced long-range MLRS to #Ukraine really shows that the West hasn't grasped how decisions are made in Moscow, months after the beginning of the war.

By the time we'll have some evidence as to what happened in #Gaza, a very large majority of people will already have made up their mind, distributed along partisan lines and their own preconceptions.

Ukrainian soldiers belonging to the 80th Brigade near the Oskil River. Destroyed bridge can be seen behind them

🚩Clearest footage of the drone attack against the #Kremlin

Explosion in Nova Kakohvka - reports that a Russian ammunition depot was targeted #Ukraine

#Russia defaults on its foreign-currency sovereign debt for the first time in a century - Bloomberg

NEW - A French teacher has been stabbed and killed, others wounded, by an assailant who shouted "Allahu Akbar" inside a high-school in Arras #France. The assaillant has been detained. lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/attaq…

Putin: "If you supply X weapon system, nuclear war awaits, ya better watch out" [West supplies X weapon system to #Ukraine] Putin: "it's all gooood" Pro-Russian trolls: "Twas a feint"

"The supply of American MLRS to Ukraine essentially doesn't change anything: Kyiv had missiles of this range before, and they simply make up for losses" according to Putin (via TASS) #Ukraine #Russia

Residents of Berdyansk near Mariupol protest the Russian occupation

Russia just lacked the tow-how.

Already some Wagner channels expressing discontent with the decision to turn back.

Soldiers have also received specific instructions to make sure they ask before taking a child in their arms or helping a child who cannot walk. They must ask the child before doing so.

Is it me or has something changed in Russian media? They are reporting all of the many strikes against cities in Ukraine and damage to infrastructure, quoting Ukrainian authorities. Seems like they don't care to hide that they are deliberately hitting civilian targets

Klitschko brothers posing with @elonmusk's starlink system. They say the system is ready for use in #Kyiv

Taking a walk in #Kyiv

#Russian tanks (marked "O") passing through Bakhmach near Chernihiv #Ukraine Someone actually tried to stop one (!) and more joined.

This is quickly becoming the narrative now, that Russia and Iran just said "meh", and chose not to support #Assad in his time of need because they didn't see sufficient value in it. I personally very much disagree with this. Iran has invested significantly in Syria, and was looking to leverage multiple economic projects across Syria to recoup some of its "investments". At the time of Assad's fall, it was still sending tankers loaded with crude oil, who had to turn back once the regime fell. It still had militias inside Sayyeda Zeinab. Hezbollah sent troops to Homs and Qusayr. Russia was still striking opposition fighters, in the hours that preceded the fall. There are claims that some Russian soldiers are stranded because of how fast things went. For Russia this is potentially a massive loss, that puts into question how they will continue to project influence outside of their immediate vicinity, including in Africa, the Mediterranean and to a lesser extent Libya. The Russian "life insurance for dictators" has shown itself to be empty. I think there is a much simpler explanation: Given how fast things went (less than two weeks in a conflict that last more than 10 years!), Russia and Iran were completely stunned, and unable to decide and quickly sent enough reinforcements. The regime was hollowed out by its own corruption, and the fallout of continued economic crises (including in Lebanon). Reconciled rebels switched side. Former rebel groups re-emerged. The whole thing was a dried out tree branch waiting to catch fire. Russia and Iran (particularly Iran) seemed to have rested their hopes on diplomacy (I know, quite unusual, but that's what they had). They hoped contacts through the Astana format would help stop or delay the offensive. That the diplomatic clock would stop the military clock. It didn't, and there you are. But to say they just looked at Assad and said "no thank you" - I don't believe it.