Commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) Robert “Madyar” Brovdi warned that Russia will step up attacks on civilians, calling on Ukrainians to remain vigilant in the face of Russian psychological and information warfare, according to a statement he made on August 20.

Madyar stated that Ukrainian forces are bringing the war to Russia by striking the Kremlin war machine’s sources of funding. Russian forces, meanwhile, have responded by launching massive terror attacks against Ukrainian civilians.

“We’re on our toes at the front, bringing the pain back to the enemy in their swamp – even when we’re silent,” Madyar wrote. “I wish civilians strength and resilience in the difficult trials ahead. A civilizational abyss separates us from the enemy.”

…

Madyar warned that Russia will only escalate its strategy of “punishing civilians.”

“Maintain round-the-clock vigilance and focus instead of consuming emotional content and psychological warfare that only deepen your exhaustion. Ensure you have a tested plan of action ready for unpredictable airstrikes,” Madyar said.

…

Archived

cross-posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/10870679

German intelligence believes a cache of guns found in the woods near Berlin last year was for carrying out assassinations on behalf of Russia, reports say.

Germany’s Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said federal prosecutors were investigating a suspect in Romania over suspicions of espionage and “the preparation of a serious act of violence threatening the state”.

While refusing to confirm reports of Russian links to the cache, Dobrindt said he could not rule out “the involvement of foreign powers”.

For months security agencies have warned that Russian intelligence services are planning assassinations in Germany, possibly targeting defence industry executives or opposition figures in exile.

…

Officials located the stash with the help of the Berlin State police, and found two handguns and ammunition.

The German security authorities suspect the weapons and ammunition found were intended for use in attacks.

…

Reports in German daily newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung and the public broadcasters NDR and WDR say the cache was to facilitate targeted killings on behalf of Moscow.

…

The Guardian is citing Sinan Selen, the head of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Germany’s domestic intelligence agency, who has been warning for months of more aggressive tactics by Russian secret services, including plans for targeted attacks on German soil.

…

Dobrindt said prosecutors were investigating a suspect in Romania, who is being held in connection with planned parcel bomb attacks there. He said this would be taken into account when it came to a possible extradition.

…

The investigation follows previous accusations of Russian attacks on German soil.

In 2024, German political figures reacted angrily to a CNN report that Russia had plotted to kill the head of Germany’s biggest arms company Rheinmetall, Armin Papperger.

In 2021 a German court jailed Russian national Vadim Krasikov for life for a murder in a Berlin park and said it had been ordered by Moscow. Krasikov was later freed in a prisoner swap.

Archived

German intelligence believes a cache of guns found in the woods near Berlin last year was for carrying out assassinations on behalf of Russia, reports say.

Germany’s Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said federal prosecutors were investigating a suspect in Romania over suspicions of espionage and “the preparation of a serious act of violence threatening the state”.

While refusing to confirm reports of Russian links to the cache, Dobrindt said he could not rule out “the involvement of foreign powers”.

For months security agencies have warned that Russian intelligence services are planning assassinations in Germany, possibly targeting defence industry executives or opposition figures in exile.

…

Officials located the stash with the help of the Berlin State police, and found two handguns and ammunition.

The German security authorities suspect the weapons and ammunition found were intended for use in attacks.

…

Reports in German daily newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung and the public broadcasters NDR and WDR say the cache was to facilitate targeted killings on behalf of Moscow.

…

The Guardian is citing Sinan Selen, the head of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Germany’s domestic intelligence agency, who has been warning for months of more aggressive tactics by Russian secret services, including plans for targeted attacks on German soil.

…

Dobrindt said prosecutors were investigating a suspect in Romania, who is being held in connection with planned parcel bomb attacks there. He said this would be taken into account when it came to a possible extradition.

…

The investigation follows previous accusations of Russian attacks on German soil.

In 2024, German political figures reacted angrily to a CNN report that Russia had plotted to kill the head of Germany’s biggest arms company Rheinmetall, Armin Papperger.

In 2021 a German court jailed Russian national Vadim Krasikov for life for a murder in a Berlin park and said it had been ordered by Moscow. Krasikov was later freed in a prisoner swap.

Archived

Relokatz, a platform linked to exiled Russian opposition figure Maxime Katz, said it is receiving around 120 enquiries a day from people seeking advice on moving abroad – up from 10 to 20 previously.

In recent months, more people have asked about leaving Russia before September or October amid reports that the Kremlin is considering another mobilisation after September’s parliamentary elections.

…

Relokatz was established after the first major wave of emigration triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the partial military mobilisation ordered in 2022. The site provides practical information on visas, residence permits, document legalisation and transporting pets abroad, as well as paid administrative assistance.

…

Interest has been growing steadily since February, said Relokatz editor-in-chief Alexandra Nazarova.

“Between February and April, traffic to the site and the number of queries sent to our AI bot tripled,” Nazarova told RFI.

Where Relokatz once received between 10 and 20 enquiries a day, the figure rose to around 70 in April before climbing again over the summer.

…

“Before, people wrote for very specific reasons, because they were genuinely affected first-hand. Today, it’s a more widespread feeling: it’s impossible to live in Russia, you have to leave. And then, of course, there’s the fear of mobilisation,” says Nazarova.

…

cross-posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/10851725

Moldovan President Maia Sandu called for increased pressure on Russia following another violation of the country’s airspace by a Russian drone. She stressed that such incidents must stop.

…

The head of Moldova said that her country strongly condemned Russia’s overnight attacks on Ukraine.

“Our airspace was violated again, and a drone crashed on Moldovan territory. Much more pressure must be put on Russia to bring this to an end,” Sandu said.

…

According to experts’ preliminary findings, the debris belonged to a “Geran”-type unmanned aerial vehicle.

It was previously reported that a drone also crashed in Romania on the night of August 20. It was found in an unpopulated area.

…

Archived

Moldovan President Maia Sandu called for increased pressure on Russia following another violation of the country’s airspace by a Russian drone. She stressed that such incidents must stop.

…

The head of Moldova said that her country strongly condemned Russia’s overnight attacks on Ukraine.

“Our airspace was violated again, and a drone crashed on Moldovan territory. Much more pressure must be put on Russia to bring this to an end,” Sandu said.

…

According to experts’ preliminary findings, the debris belonged to a “Geran”-type unmanned aerial vehicle.

It was previously reported that a drone also crashed in Romania on the night of August 20. It was found in an unpopulated area.

…

Archived

cross-posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/10851386

Finland’s defence ministry said on Thursday evening it suspected that a Russian aircraft had violated its airspace earlier in the day.

“Every suspected violation of air space is taken seriously,” Defence Minister Antti Hakkanen said in a ministry statement. “An investigation is underway.”

There have been a series of such incidents in Finland, which shares a 1,340-kilometre border with Russia.

Finland suspects two Russian military aircraft of having entered Finnish airspace in May and in June, and summoned the Russian charge d’affairs at the time.

The risk of drones drifting into Finland as a result of the ongoing war in Ukraine is rising, the head of the country’s military intelligence service said in January.

Major General Pekka Turunen, chief of Finnish Defence Intelligence (FDI), was speaking ahead of the release of a Finnish military intelligence report on Thursday that updates the security situation in the country.

Archived

Finland’s defence ministry said on Thursday evening it suspected that a Russian aircraft had violated its airspace earlier in the day.

“Every suspected violation of air space is taken seriously,” Defence Minister Antti Hakkanen said in a ministry statement. “An investigation is underway.”

There have been a series of such incidents in Finland, which shares a 1,340-kilometre border with Russia.

Finland suspects two Russian military aircraft of having entered Finnish airspace in May and in June, and summoned the Russian charge d’affairs at the time.

The risk of drones drifting into Finland as a result of the ongoing war in Ukraine is rising, the head of the country’s military intelligence service said in January.

Major General Pekka Turunen, chief of Finnish Defence Intelligence (FDI), was speaking ahead of the release of a Finnish military intelligence report on Thursday that updates the security situation in the country.

Archived

[Automated translation with minimal edits from Russian article.]

A court fined a resident of Belgorod [in Russia] 30,000 roubles for comments about Vladimir Putin and the Russian military in a Telegram chat, Pepel reports. 47-year-old Grigory B. called the president a “bald dk" and his supporters "Putin’s dk suckers”.

When asked about his attitude towards the participants in the war against Ukraine, the Belgorod resident said that they were “victims of Putin’s regime”, and then added that he also considered them “fers and dheads”.

…

The man’s messages were discovered by officers from the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for Countering Extremism (Centre “E”), and they drew up reports against him for insulting a representative of the authorities and “discrediting” the Russian army. In court, the Belgorod resident pleaded guilty, but stated that he “had no intention of discrediting” and wrote the comments while intoxicated.

He also asked to be allowed to pay the fine in installments due to his difficult financial situation, explaining that his only income is a disability pension of 19,000 roubles. The court granted the request, allowing the obligations to be settled within three months.

The number of cases involving insults against Putin increased sharply after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. According to “Verstka”, in 2021, courts considered 33 such reports, and in 2022, there were already at least 84. In 2023, the figure decreased to 54, but in 2024 it increased again to 91. In the first seven months of 2025, courts considered at least 35 such cases.

In all cases, it was about minor hooliganism (Article 20.1 of the Code of Administrative Offences). Most of the reports were drawn up under Part 3 of this article, which allows for punishment for “disrespect” towards the authorities on the Internet. It was introduced in March 2019 on the initiative of United Russia.

Archived

Israel’s plans to open up tenders for the construction of some 1,200 settlement homes in a strategically important part of the occupied West Bank have sparked fresh condemnation by major Western powers.

In a joint statement, the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Canada called the decision “unacceptable” and urged Israel to “retract the plans immediately”.

All settlements are illegal under international law and, under international pressure, Israel held off for decades on plans to build in E1 to the east of Jerusalem.

Many of its allies and Palestinians argued this development would deal a major blow to hopes of a two-state solution, effectively cutting the West Bank in two and isolating east Jerusalem.

…

Archived

cross-posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/10850511

A total of 40 non-governmental organizations in Romania and Bulgaria have asked their environment ministers to launch transboundary consultations on plans for the Čukaru Peki and Malka Golaja mining and metallurgical complex near Bor and Zaječar in the eastern part of neighboring Serbia, the Timočka buna initiative said. It added that the groups warned that the planned expansion could affect both countries via the rivers Timok and Danube.

…

The planned complex is located in the Timok river basin in eastern Serbia, close to the country’s borders with Bulgaria and Romania. The Timok flows into the Danube at the tripoint border. Its mouth is only a few kilometers from the Romanian commune of Gruia, while the Bulgarian municipalities of Bregovo, Vidin and Lom are also nearby.

…

The organizations want their countries to ask Serbia to include them in transboundary consultations as potentially affected parties … This would enable public authorities, local authorities and citizens in Romania and Bulgaria to receive the draft plan and strategic environmental assessment report in Romanian and Bulgarian languages, respectively, and participate in public consultations.

The organizations are also seeking independent assessments of transboundary and cumulative impacts. They want the assessments to include the expansion of the Južni revir open pit in Majdanpek and the diversion of the Mali Pek river. The Bulgarian organizations additionally requested that Serbia provide a written explanation if it decides not to include their country in the process.

…

The project includes the expansion of the Čukaru Peki underground mine and a new combined open pit and underground copper and gold mine, Malka Golaja, covering more than 1,000 hectares.

The proposed concept also includes a flotation tailings storage facility covering around 1,900 hectares in the Kriveljska river valley and a new metallurgical complex outside the urban part of Bor. The complex would comprise a smelter with an annual capacity of up to 400,000 tonnes and a sulfuric acid plant.

…

The planned use of water is of particular concern to the Romanian organizations. The documentation envisages the abstraction of more than 800 liters of water per second from Black Timok (Crni Timok or Crna reka in Serbian language), equivalent to approximately half of the river’s summer flow … The petitioners warn of risks to water resources.

…

The plan envisages the possible resettlement of part of the local population. In their letter to the Romanian minister, the organizations particularly highlighted the potential impact on the Vlach ethnic minority, which accounts for around 60% of the population of the village of Krivelj.

The letter also states that more than 280 protected plant and animal species and 16 types of habitats of international importance have been identified within the planning area. The area includes archaeological sites around the villages of Nikoličevo and Slatina. Gamzigrad-Romuliana, which the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declared a World Heritage Site , is located about six kilometers from the planned Malka Golaja mine.

…

The requests by the Romanian and Bulgarian organizations followed a criminal complaint against Zijin over suspected illegal logging at Malka Golaja. Serbia’s national forestry inspectorate subsequently ordered the work to be halted.

Timočka buna also noted that in 2020, the City of Bor filed a criminal complaint against the management of the existing smelter on its territory, over high concentrations of sulfur dioxide. In addition, Zijin was fined RSD 2 million (EUR 17,000) in 2024 for the illegal construction of a mining facility in Bor.

…

Meanwhile, a similar development regarding water resources appear to have found an end in Hungary after the election this spring and the subsequent change in government as the days when Chinese industry received a free pass from the Budapest government are over, a water shortage has seen to that.

Hungary faces an unprecedented water crisis. There are several causes, among them the years-long campaign by Viktor Orbán’s [former] government to lure heavily polluting and water-hungry Chinese battery factories to the country.

During Orbán’s 16 years in power, he guaranteed to Chinese investors vast amounts of water necessary for the production of batteries at Chinese-owned factories in the city of Debrecen and elsewhere.

Climate-driven droughts and soaring industrial water demands have made those promises impossible to keep without imposing unacceptable consequences on the population. That means difficult decisions have been dumped firmly in the lap of the country’s new leader, Péter Magyar.

Magyar is facing an immediate environmental emergency characterized by a severe nationwide drought and critically low water levels in rivers and groundwater. Following his victory in the April election, Magyar is also charting a path starkly different from the acquiescence of the Orbán government, and Chinese investors are falling in line …

Archived

A total of 40 non-governmental organizations in Romania and Bulgaria have asked their environment ministers to launch transboundary consultations on plans for the Čukaru Peki and Malka Golaja mining and metallurgical complex near Bor and Zaječar in the eastern part of neighboring Serbia, the Timočka buna initiative said. It added that the groups warned that the planned expansion could affect both countries via the rivers Timok and Danube.

…

The planned complex is located in the Timok river basin in eastern Serbia, close to the country’s borders with Bulgaria and Romania. The Timok flows into the Danube at the tripoint border. Its mouth is only a few kilometers from the Romanian commune of Gruia, while the Bulgarian municipalities of Bregovo, Vidin and Lom are also nearby.

…

The organizations want their countries to ask Serbia to include them in transboundary consultations as potentially affected parties … This would enable public authorities, local authorities and citizens in Romania and Bulgaria to receive the draft plan and strategic environmental assessment report in Romanian and Bulgarian languages, respectively, and participate in public consultations.

The organizations are also seeking independent assessments of transboundary and cumulative impacts. They want the assessments to include the expansion of the Južni revir open pit in Majdanpek and the diversion of the Mali Pek river. The Bulgarian organizations additionally requested that Serbia provide a written explanation if it decides not to include their country in the process.

…

The project includes the expansion of the Čukaru Peki underground mine and a new combined open pit and underground copper and gold mine, Malka Golaja, covering more than 1,000 hectares.

The proposed concept also includes a flotation tailings storage facility covering around 1,900 hectares in the Kriveljska river valley and a new metallurgical complex outside the urban part of Bor. The complex would comprise a smelter with an annual capacity of up to 400,000 tonnes and a sulfuric acid plant.

…

The planned use of water is of particular concern to the Romanian organizations. The documentation envisages the abstraction of more than 800 liters of water per second from Black Timok (Crni Timok or Crna reka in Serbian language), equivalent to approximately half of the river’s summer flow … The petitioners warn of risks to water resources.

…

The plan envisages the possible resettlement of part of the local population. In their letter to the Romanian minister, the organizations particularly highlighted the potential impact on the Vlach ethnic minority, which accounts for around 60% of the population of the village of Krivelj.

The letter also states that more than 280 protected plant and animal species and 16 types of habitats of international importance have been identified within the planning area. The area includes archaeological sites around the villages of Nikoličevo and Slatina. Gamzigrad-Romuliana, which the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declared a World Heritage Site , is located about six kilometers from the planned Malka Golaja mine.

…

The requests by the Romanian and Bulgarian organizations followed a criminal complaint against Zijin over suspected illegal logging at Malka Golaja. Serbia’s national forestry inspectorate subsequently ordered the work to be halted.

Timočka buna also noted that in 2020, the City of Bor filed a criminal complaint against the management of the existing smelter on its territory, over high concentrations of sulfur dioxide. In addition, Zijin was fined RSD 2 million (EUR 17,000) in 2024 for the illegal construction of a mining facility in Bor.

…

Meanwhile, a similar development regarding water resources appear to have found an end in Hungary after the election this spring and the subsequent change in government as the days when Chinese industry received a free pass from the Budapest government are over, a water shortage has seen to that.

Hungary faces an unprecedented water crisis. There are several causes, among them the years-long campaign by Viktor Orbán’s [former] government to lure heavily polluting and water-hungry Chinese battery factories to the country.

During Orbán’s 16 years in power, he guaranteed to Chinese investors vast amounts of water necessary for the production of batteries at Chinese-owned factories in the city of Debrecen and elsewhere.

Climate-driven droughts and soaring industrial water demands have made those promises impossible to keep without imposing unacceptable consequences on the population. That means difficult decisions have been dumped firmly in the lap of the country’s new leader, Péter Magyar.

Magyar is facing an immediate environmental emergency characterized by a severe nationwide drought and critically low water levels in rivers and groundwater. Following his victory in the April election, Magyar is also charting a path starkly different from the acquiescence of the Orbán government, and Chinese investors are falling in line …

Archived

cross-posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/10839724

Serbia is the only country in the European Union (EU) – Balkans zone where journalists have had to leave for reasons connected to their work. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls on the EU to stop turning a blind eye on media freedom in the EU candidate country.

…

Journalist Marko Vidojković, a columnist … the Serbian online outlet Nova.rs, left Serbia in 2023 due to death threats after being the target of a public smear campaign led by President Aleksandar Vučić. As recently as August 16, 2026, calls for his murder were made against him, according to the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (IJAS). The police investigation into threats against Marko Vidojković has so far produced no result.

…

Marko Vidojković is one of the six Serbian journalists working from exile, according to RSF’s information. One left in 2024, another four left Serbia this year.

…

The most recent departure is that of Aleksandar Radić, a freelance journalist specialising in military affairs and among the first to state publicly – in line with other media reports – that a sonic weapon had probably been used against the participants at the anti-government protest in Belgrade on March 15, 2025. Belgrade’s Higher Prosecutor’s Office has since been investigating whether that account was fabricated. Radić was detained for an “informational interview”, after which pro-government media published surveillance footage of him and his underage daughter, along with his private exchanges with other journalists. Threatened with political attacks and a possible arrest, Aleksandar Radić left Serbia at the end of June 2026. On July 17, the Interior Ministry filed a criminal complaint accusing him of preparing acts against the constitutional order and security of Serbia and of disclosing classified information.

…

RSF knows the identities and host EU countries of the other exiled journalists, but has chosen to withhold the information for their safety … A recent report on media freedom co-signed by RSF condemned the spiral of violence which affects the whole journalism profession in Serbia. RSF listed Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić as a “press freedom predator” in 2025.

…

Although the European Commission (EC) concluded in July in its Rule of Law Report that “the safety of journalists further deteriorated” in Serbia, that same month the EC proposed opening a new cluster of chapters in Serbia’s accession negotiations, deeming that the necessary overall balance had been achieved. Eight member states objected, citing the state of the rule of law and effectively blocking the opening of the new negotiation chapters.

Serbia ranks 104th out of 180 countries and territories in the 2026 RSF World Press Freedom Index, the last spot among the 40 countries of the EU-Balkans zone.

Archived

cross-posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/10835654

• Brochure says helpline serves exiles from Russia, China and Iran
• Callers are encouraged to help BfV analyse and counter repressive strategies
• Proposed ​new powers would let BfV and BND hack communications ‌and disrupt operations

…

People exiled in Germany under threat or attack from agents of their repressive home countries now have a support ​line to call, courtesy of the country’s domestic intelligence ​service.

Germany’s BfV, the Office for the Protection of ⁠the Constitution, on Thursday published a brochure advertising a helpline ​for people who found refuge in Germany from authoritarian nations such ​as Russia, China or Iran.

…

Those people, who increasingly face intimidation, surveillance, repression or even abduction and assassination attempts, are encouraged to help the BfV ​in analysing repressive strategies and how to counter them.

The ​brochure, which addresses people under threat for being dissidents, journalists or members of ‌the ⁠LGBTQ community, even offers hope that the BfV can thwart the specific threats a caller is facing.

“Through both its own investigations and information provided by the individuals concerned, the domestic ​intelligence service is ​able to track ⁠down those responsible,” a section in the 16-page brochure reads.

The outreach comes as Berlin seeks ​to grant intelligence services new powers to hack communications and ​disrupt ⁠foreign adversaries’ operations to counter what officials have described as a growing threat from cyber and hybrid attacks.

The measures, which have been ⁠under ​discussion for months, would give the ​BfV, as well as the foreign intelligence service BND, broader authority to collect ​data and thwart attacks.

…

• Brochure says helpline serves exiles from Russia, China and Iran
• Callers are encouraged to help BfV analyse and counter repressive strategies
• Proposed ​new powers would let BfV and BND hack communications ‌and disrupt operations

…

People exiled in Germany under threat or attack from agents of their repressive home countries now have a support ​line to call, courtesy of the country’s domestic intelligence ​service.

Germany’s BfV, the Office for the Protection of ⁠the Constitution, on Thursday published a brochure advertising a helpline ​for people who found refuge in Germany from authoritarian nations such ​as Russia, China or Iran.

…

Those people, who increasingly face intimidation, surveillance, repression or even abduction and assassination attempts, are encouraged to help the BfV ​in analysing repressive strategies and how to counter them.

The ​brochure, which addresses people under threat for being dissidents, journalists or members of ‌the ⁠LGBTQ community, even offers hope that the BfV can thwart the specific threats a caller is facing.

“Through both its own investigations and information provided by the individuals concerned, the domestic ​intelligence service is ​able to track ⁠down those responsible,” a section in the 16-page brochure reads.

The outreach comes as Berlin seeks ​to grant intelligence services new powers to hack communications and ​disrupt ⁠foreign adversaries’ operations to counter what officials have described as a growing threat from cyber and hybrid attacks.

The measures, which have been ⁠under ​discussion for months, would give the ​BfV, as well as the foreign intelligence service BND, broader authority to collect ​data and thwart attacks.

…

cross-posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/10832548

Fuel purchase restrictions are beginning to make a comeback in some regions as persistent shortages continue to dog the domestic market following months of Ukrainian drone strikes on oil refineries, in what Russian media is calling the “second wave” of the summer fuel crisis.

In Moscow and the surrounding region, Gazprom Neft gas stations have reinstated purchase limits of 60 liters (16 gallons) per customer for regular gasoline. The new limits follow a brief rollback earlier this month when Gazprom Neft eased restrictions across 13 Russian regions.

Tatneft, another major producer, has capped sales at 50 liters (13 gallons) of regular gasoline and 60 liters of diesel per vehicle across its network of gas stations in Moscow, according to the business news outlet RBC.

…

Some impressions from Russia: “Honestly, the situation isn’t funny anymore” (video, 1 min)

…

Archived

cross-posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/10832548

Fuel purchase restrictions are beginning to make a comeback in some regions as persistent shortages continue to dog the domestic market following months of Ukrainian drone strikes on oil refineries, in what Russian media is calling the “second wave” of the summer fuel crisis.

In Moscow and the surrounding region, Gazprom Neft gas stations have reinstated purchase limits of 60 liters (16 gallons) per customer for regular gasoline. The new limits follow a brief rollback earlier this month when Gazprom Neft eased restrictions across 13 Russian regions.

Tatneft, another major producer, has capped sales at 50 liters (13 gallons) of regular gasoline and 60 liters of diesel per vehicle across its network of gas stations in Moscow, according to the business news outlet RBC.

…

Some impressions from Russia: “Honestly, the situation isn’t funny anymore” (video, 1 min)

…

Archived

cross-posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/10832494

[Automated translation with minimal edits from original in Russian.]

Forced mobilisation is gaining momentum in Russia. New cases of men being detained and subsequently sent to the war against Ukraine have been recorded in Udmurtia, the Krasnodar Krai, the Arkhangelsk Region, the Jewish Autonomous Region and Buryatia, according to the “Idite Lesom” project. In total, from 10 to 18 August, human rights activists received 14 reports from relatives of the victims. Men were taken from the street, from work, and after being detained by the police. One was seized as he was leaving a shop, another while returning from a class reunion, and a third was taken to a department allegedly for a document check.

…

In Izhevsk, a man was detained on the street on 10 August and taken to the military enlistment office. Three days later, he was already being taken to a military unit in the Rostov region. In another case in Udmurtia, relatives were unable to prevent a man who was registered with a psychiatrist from being sent to the Donetsk region: the relevant insert disappeared from his military ID card, after which he was deregistered and forced to sign a contract.

…

In Novorossiysk, a detainee was beaten at the police station and, according to his sister, drugs were planted on him. He was then offered a choice between a criminal case with a sentence of up to 20 years and being sent to war. In the end, he signed a contract and was taken to a military unit.

In the Arkhangelsk region, a man was detained for drinking alcohol in a public place. The next day, his relatives learned that he had signed a contract and was being prepared to be sent to war.

…

A similar situation occurred with a 62-year-old man with health issues and an exemption from mobilisation obtained at work. According to his relatives, after his arrest, a passport and a military ID card were issued for him in a few hours so as not to let him go home to get his documents, and he was taken to Crimea.

Forced mobilisation also continues in Omsk. Human rights activists have reported at least two new cases. One man was taken straight from work and held at the department. In the end, according to his relatives, the police signed a contract for him. Another was stopped near a shop by people in civilian clothes under the pretext of a drug test, after which he was sent for a medical examination. The man claimed that he did not sign the contract, but he was still taken out of the region.

Earlier, there were reports of forced mobilisation in Penza and Ulyanovsk. “Ideite Lesom” advises relatives of detainees to find out their whereabouts as quickly as possible and to check the documents they have signed. The project also recommends documenting the circumstances of the detention, the names of officers, calls and correspondence, and seeking help before a person is sent to another region or military unit.

Archived

Fuel purchase restrictions are beginning to make a comeback in some regions as persistent shortages continue to dog the domestic market following months of Ukrainian drone strikes on oil refineries, in what Russian media is calling the “second wave” of the summer fuel crisis.

In Moscow and the surrounding region, Gazprom Neft gas stations have reinstated purchase limits of 60 liters (16 gallons) per customer for regular gasoline. The new limits follow a brief rollback earlier this month when Gazprom Neft eased restrictions across 13 Russian regions.

Tatneft, another major producer, has capped sales at 50 liters (13 gallons) of regular gasoline and 60 liters of diesel per vehicle across its network of gas stations in Moscow, according to the business news outlet RBC.

…

Some impressions from Russia: “Honestly, the situation isn’t funny anymore” (video, 1 min)

…

Archived

[Automated translation with minimal edits from original in Russian.]

Forced mobilisation is gaining momentum in Russia. New cases of men being detained and subsequently sent to the war against Ukraine have been recorded in Udmurtia, the Krasnodar Krai, the Arkhangelsk Region, the Jewish Autonomous Region and Buryatia, according to the “Idite Lesom” project. In total, from 10 to 18 August, human rights activists received 14 reports from relatives of the victims. Men were taken from the street, from work, and after being detained by the police. One was seized as he was leaving a shop, another while returning from a class reunion, and a third was taken to a department allegedly for a document check.

…

In Izhevsk, a man was detained on the street on 10 August and taken to the military enlistment office. Three days later, he was already being taken to a military unit in the Rostov region. In another case in Udmurtia, relatives were unable to prevent a man who was registered with a psychiatrist from being sent to the Donetsk region: the relevant insert disappeared from his military ID card, after which he was deregistered and forced to sign a contract.

…

In Novorossiysk, a detainee was beaten at the police station and, according to his sister, drugs were planted on him. He was then offered a choice between a criminal case with a sentence of up to 20 years and being sent to war. In the end, he signed a contract and was taken to a military unit.

In the Arkhangelsk region, a man was detained for drinking alcohol in a public place. The next day, his relatives learned that he had signed a contract and was being prepared to be sent to war.

…

A similar situation occurred with a 62-year-old man with health issues and an exemption from mobilisation obtained at work. According to his relatives, after his arrest, a passport and a military ID card were issued for him in a few hours so as not to let him go home to get his documents, and he was taken to Crimea.

Forced mobilisation also continues in Omsk. Human rights activists have reported at least two new cases. One man was taken straight from work and held at the department. In the end, according to his relatives, the police signed a contract for him. Another was stopped near a shop by people in civilian clothes under the pretext of a drug test, after which he was sent for a medical examination. The man claimed that he did not sign the contract, but he was still taken out of the region.

Earlier, there were reports of forced mobilisation in Penza and Ulyanovsk. “Ideite Lesom” advises relatives of detainees to find out their whereabouts as quickly as possible and to check the documents they have signed. The project also recommends documenting the circumstances of the detention, the names of officers, calls and correspondence, and seeking help before a person is sent to another region or military unit.

Archived