The Real Russia. Today. Friday, April 26, 2024

The war in Ukraine

🔮 Zelensky administration adviser Mykhailo Podolyak on what the new U.S. aid package means for the war’s future (10-min read)

After months of congressional negotiations and public uncertainty, U.S. President Joe Biden signed a bill into law on Wednesday that will grant nearly $61 billion worth of economic and military aid to Ukraine. The package will provide a lifeline to Ukraine in its war effort, but the future of the country’s fight for survival against Russia remains far from certain; Kyiv will still likely receive less U.S. aid this year than last, when its highly-anticipated counteroffensive failed to yield significant results. To find out what effect Ukraine’s leadership expects this new tranche to have, Meduza spoke to Mykhailo Podolyak, a top adviser to the Zelensky administration.

🪖 What we know about the balance of power between the Russian and Ukrainian armies — and how mobilization could change it (16-min read)

In May, a new law tightening mobilization procedures will come into force in Ukraine. While the law doesn’t specify how many people the Ukrainian authorities may call up for service, the number 500,000 was mentioned repeatedly during discussions over the draft legislation. Meanwhile, rumors suggest that Ukraine’s mobilization efforts could prompt a similar response from Russia. Meduza analyzed the current strength of both countries’ armies to better understand how mobilization could change the power balance and whether the armies are equipped to accommodate such a significant influx of new troops.

📍 Readers, check out our interactive map and see where y’all are in the world

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The law and political freedom

• 🚫 Another ‘movement’ with no members: Russian authorities ask Supreme Court to ban non-existent ‘Anti-Russian Separatist Movement’ as ‘extremist organization’
• 🖼️ Security officials go to the art museum: The Russian authorities raided Moscow’s Garage Museum of Contemporary Art on Friday, according to multiple Telegram channels. Novaya Gazeta Europe said officers spent about two hours searching the building, while a source close to Russia’s law enforcement agencies told RBC that the FSB was responsible. One gallery employee told Mediazona that about “15–20 security officials” entered the institution’s main office and ordered the workers to the go to third floor without their belongings. “After that, some people in plainclothes came in” and asked the workers questions about “certain people,” the employee said. What triggered the search is unclear, but the channel Ostorozhno, Novosti reported that some gallery workers suggested the officers may have been looking for banned “LGBT literature” in the museum’s archives.

👨🏻‍⚖️ Russia is reportedly ramping up prosecutions for involvement with independent media. The majority of cases are related to Meduza.

The Russian authorities have ramped up prosecutions for alleged involvement with media outlets declared “undesirable” in recent months, according to Mediazona, with at least 19 cases filed since the start of 2024. In some instances, people have been charged for as little as sharing articles or posts from independent news outlets online. Twelve of the 19 cases reportedly involved content from Meduza.

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☠️ Don’t miss this week’s issue → Panicking for Putin: Terrorism has returned to Russia, and the Putin administration may not be too upset about it

As the world turns

• 🇰🇿 A grueling trial continues: The judicial investigation of former Kazakh Economic Minister ​​Kuandyk Bishimbayev, who’s standing trial for killing his wife, Saltanat Nukenova, in an Astana restaurant in November 2023, came to a close on Thursday. The month-long process included video footage of the fatal assault and detailed descriptions from Nukenova’s autopsy report. The latter were reportedly so distressing to Nukenova’s family members that they were nauseated and left the courtroom. Bishimbayev maintained his innocence for weeks, but on Wednesday admitted to delivering the blows that led to Nukenova’s death. He denied that he intended to kill her. The ex-minister’s cousin, who stands accused of deleting security footage of the assault at Bishimbayev’s request, has pleaded not guilty. Closing arguments are set to begin on Monday.
• 🇬🇧 British men charged with aiding Russia: The UK authorities’ investigation into a suspected arson attack has led to charges against two men for allegedly assisting Russian intelligence services. According to prosecutors, 20-year-old Dylan Earl and 22-year-old Jake Reeves “engaged in conduct targeting businesses which were linked to Ukraine in order to benefit the Russian state.” Three other men have also been charged in connection with the fire.

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