This was Russia today Monday, December 1, 2025

Howdy, folks. Today, I’m looking at an essay by a Russian journalist who volunteered as a humanitarian worker in occupied Ukraine and now wrestles with online accusations that he “collaborated” with the invasion. Keep reading for Sudan’s offer to host a Russian naval base, plus Ukraine’s “record wave” of drone attacks. If you’re enjoying the newsletter’s new approach (or want to complain), please let me know. Yours, Kevin.

Journalist’s essay explores moral backlash against Russian volunteers in occupied Ukraine

In October, the news outlet Novaya Vkladka (The New Tab) introduced a “Diary” section, featuring personal essays by Russian journalists designed to capture the “tenor of the times.” On November 26, the site published an article attributed to Fyodor Krylov about the moral dilemma of humanitarian work in occupied Ukraine. In A Choice That Twitter Will Condemn, Krylov writes about his volunteer work in Luhansk and Donetsk and about the work of four women who also delivered “criminal aid” to locals in territory now controlled by Russia.

Krylov introduces readers to Masha, Zhenya, Marina, and Margarita. In Donetsk, Masha became an elderly man’s lifeline to the outside world. Zhenya cared for a double amputee, changing the elderly woman’s diapers and suffering her outbursts, even when it meant being splattered with food, both before and after it had been digested. Marina came to Donetsk and used her skills as a lawyer to help families navigate local bureaucracy and secure repairs to their homes damaged by shelling. She volunteered despite ridicule from her veteran husband (whom she later divorced). Margarita left her disabled child with her mother for two weeks and drove to Kherson to help care for other children with disabilities.

“Are these people scum?” Krylov asks, reflecting on Twitter discourse, where ostensibly pro-Ukrainian users sometimes denounce Russians’ humanitarian activity in occupied Ukraine as collaboration with the invasion. (As the essay’s title suggests, Twitter altercations weigh heavily on his conscience.) Krylov points out that some of the women in his story present themselves politically in ways that would invite online condemnation. Zhenya, who dressed in camo, had a “military vibe.” Margarita even wore a Z-cap. Krylov self-identifies as an “anti-war Russian,” but he had to declare his support for the “special military operation” to guards at checkpoints when entering Ukraine. Indeed, this humanitarian work is illegal in the eyes of the Ukrainian authorities. On social media, critics claim that such volunteers free the Kremlin to devote even more resources to the war by lending their time and energy to civilians in occupied territories.

“The Russian volunteers I met in the so-called LNR, DNR, and other ‘new territories’ don’t think in those terms,” Krylov explains. “They aren’t trying to convince anyone to thank Russia or pledge their loyalty.” On one trip, his group leader told him: “Fyodor, don’t forget — we’re in Ukraine. They don’t believe in Russia — and that’s fine. We’ve got a mission here, and that’s what matters.” 

The Archive Collection: Nothing can stop Meduza from releasing anniversary merch — even if we have to make it ourselves. Check out our latest drop now!

We have a new tradition here at Meduza: every year on our birthday, we update the merch in our online store, Magaz. In 2025, we turned 11 — and despite the considerable challenges we’ve faced this year, we’ve found a pretty original way to bring you a new collection. Here’s a look at the latest clothing and accessories you can buy to rep Meduza and support our work.

News you don’t want to miss today

⚓ Sudan offers Russia its first naval base in Africa 🌍

Sudan’s military government has proposed granting Russia a 25-year lease for a Red Sea naval base that could host up to 300 troops and four warships, including nuclear-powered vessels.

• The prospect: The port at Sudan’s Red Sea coast would give Russia a rare warm-water outpost overlooking routes to the Suez Canal, where Moscow has long sought a foothold as it competes with the U.S. and China for influence in Africa. A permanent base in Port Sudan would extend Moscow’s naval reach into the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean and challenge U.S. efforts to restrict Russian military expansion around key global trade lanes.
• The bargain: In return, Sudan wants advanced Russian air-defense systems and discounted weapons to bolster its forces in a civil war against the Rapid Support Forces rebels, despite concerns this could trigger Western backlash. | WSJ

🛢️ Ukraine ramps up strikes on Russian oil and tankers 📉

Ukraine launched a record wave of drone attacks on Russian refineries and oil-loading sites in November 2025, expanding its campaign to hit tankers in the Black Sea as Washington pushes for renewed peace talks.

• The context: The strikes — at least 14 on refineries plus multiple hits on tankers and Black Sea terminals — come amid a grinding frontline stalemate and an intensifying energy war between Kyiv and Moscow.
• The escalation: Ukraine also damaged key infrastructure at the Caspian Pipeline Consortium terminal and disrupted vessels linked to Russian oil flows, while Kazakhstan warned the attacks threaten global energy security. | Bloomberg

🧱 Would a ‘drone wall’ solve the E.U.’s Russian incursion problem? German military expert Frank Sauer is skeptical. | German military expert rank Sauer argues that Europe’s real vulnerability lies not in drone detection gaps but in political disunity and an overreliance on defensive measures that can’t deter Russia’s escalating aerial provocations.

🛢️ Expanding the war at sea, Ukraine attacks two Russian ‘shadow fleet’ oil tankers off the Turkish coast | Moscow condemned the strikes as a breach of Turkish sovereignty after naval drones set one vessel ablaze and disrupted oil infrastructure linked to Kazakhstan’s exports.

🕊️ Ukrainian political scientist Volodymyr Fesenko explains what Yermak’s resignation means for Zelensky and the peace process | A corruption probe that forced Andriy Yermak from Zelensky’s inner circle has upended Kyiv’s power dynamics and raised questions about who will now lead Ukraine’s negotiations with Washington.

🎲 Ukrainian war-tracking project DeepState accuses crypto prediction platform Polymarket of using its battlefield data for real-time gambling | Polymarket’s visualization tool briefly integrated DeepState’s live battlefield map without permission, sparking criticism over gambling on the war before the feature was removed and an apology issued.

😷 As Russia conceals HIV data, report finds rising infection rates among pregnant women | Researchers say inconsistent government reporting and reduced testing among high-risk groups are obscuring the scale and patterns of Russia’s HIV epidemic, even as regional data shows the virus spreading beyond traditionally vulnerable populations.

No country can be free without independent media. In January 2023, the Russian authorities outlawed Meduza, banning our work in the country our colleagues call home. Just supporting Meduza carries the risk of criminal prosecution for Russian nationals, which is why we’re turning to our international audience for help. Your assistance makes it possible for thousands of people in Russia to read Meduza and stay informed. Consider a small but recurring contribution to provide the most effective support. Donate here.