Jay in Kyiv

Unrest is spreading across Russia as aging Soviet-era infrastructure continues to collapse under winter strain, leaving hundreds of thousands of people without heat, electricity, or running water across multiple regions.
Protests have erupted in Omsk as residents face freezing temperatures and prolonged utility failures. Similar crises are unfolding across the country, exposing decades of neglect and corruption embedded in Russia’s urban systems.

The situation is further inflamed by public anger over repeated explosions in Belgorod, with Russian residents increasingly accusing their own military of reckless bombardment and incompetence.

On the battlefield, Russia’s problems continue to mount. Russian forces have been evacuated from northern Syria today, marking another retreat. Attempts to deploy troops in newly issued thermal “penguin” camouflage uniforms have reportedly failed, with the equipment proving ineffective and costing soldiers their lives.

Meanwhile, Russian state propagandists are openly calling for the full genocide of Ukraine, underscoring the radicalization of Kremlin-aligned media. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded sharply, remarking that even Lukashenko’s dog lives better than people in Belarus.
Ukrainian forces continue clearing Russian units from the Kupiansk direction, maintaining pressure along the front.
Elsewhere in Europe, the Czech Republic commemorates the 1969 death of Jan Palach, whose self-immolation became a symbol of resistance to Soviet oppression, a reminder with renewed relevance today.

Finally, the Trump administration once again spreads false information about Ukraine, adding to a growing campaign of disinformation at a critical moment.
How this was made