Ukraine Made All of Russia an Active Warzone

All of Russia is now a Warzone. Russia Airbases are on Fire. Oil Refineries going Up-in-Flames. Drones Hitting Targets Hundreds of Miles from the Front. Places that were Supposed to be Untouchable are now getting Hit. Nowhere is safe. This has been Building for years, One Strike at a time, each One Deeper, Bolder, and Harder to Stop. Russia thought it could March over Ukraine’s Borders and take whatever it wanted. It didn’t expect to Face much Opposition, and it certainly didn’t expect to ever have to Endure Retaliatory Attacks on its own Soil.

But Ukraine did Resist. It did Defend its Territory. And as time went by, it went further, launching Drones, Missiles, and even Entire Incursions into Russian Regions. Bit by bit, One Strike at a time, Ukraine brought the War Home to Russia. It Transformed the Entire Country into an Active Warzone, to the point that the Country’s former Defense Minister and current Security Council Secretary, Sergei Shoigu, Admitted in 3/2026 that “No region of Russia can feel safe.”

The Two Countries may have been Neighbors, with Close Historical Ties and Cultural Connections, but when it came to Military Matters, they were a Million Miles Apart. One was a Veritable Goliath of the Military World. A Historic Force with One of the Biggest and Strongest Land Armies Anywhere in the Wworld.

Thousands of Tanks. Tens of Thousands of Armored Vehicles. Soviet Stockpiles Filled to the Brim with Armor and Munitions. Enormous Amounts of Artillery, Bombs, and Missiles, ready to Deal Unimaginable Damage. To Top it off, Russia also Boasted World-Leading Air and Naval Forces, plus Close to a Million Members of Active-Duty Personnel.

In Contrast, Ukraine was barely a Blip on the Radar Screen when it came to Major Military Powers. It was Not at all seen as a serious Force, which is why so many Experts expected that if and when Russia Invaded, Ukraine would Struggle to put up much of a Fight. Even the most Optimistic of Aanalysts felt that Ukraine might at least be Able to Defend Parts of its Territory, but didn’t Foresee Kyiv’s Forces being able to Deal any sort of Serious Damage to Russian Assets or Infrastructure beyond their Borders.

But it didn’t take all that long for the Earliest Signs of Ukraine’s Hidden Strength to Emerge. Indeed, mere Months into the War, Rumors started to Spread. There were Whispers of Attacks on Facilities inside Russia, like an Oil Depot in the Belgorod Region. Many of these Incidents were Uunconfirmed. Some were even believed to have been intentionally made up by the Kremlin to Stir-Up Public Anger against Ukraine and Strengthen Ssupport for the War.

But as the Weeks and Months went by, more of these Incidents seemed to Start happening. There were Suspicious Explosions Throughout the Border Regions of Russia, with Fires Breaking-Out at Oil Depots and even Drone Strikes taking Place, too. It later Transpired that at least Some of these Attacks were carried out Not by Ukrainian Forces, but by Anti-War Groups within Russia. Saboteurs from the “Stop the Wagons” Group Destroyed Parts of their Country’s Own Rail Infrastructure, for example, to Delay the Flow of Supplies and Munitions to the Front Lines.

And even though Ukraine wasn’t directly Responsible for these Attacks, they were the Earliest Pieces-of-Evidence that Russia would Not simply Survive this so-called “Special Military Operation” Unscathed. And by the End of 2022, less than a year after the War had Begun, Ukraine Carried-Out its First Confirmed Strike. Two Strikes, In-Fact.

They Occurred at the Engels and Dyagilevo Airbases, Deep into Russian Territory, many Miles beyond Ukraine’s Borders. These Bases were Used to House some of Russia’s most Valuable and Advanced Bombing Aaircraft. Aircraft like the Tupolev Tu-95, a Strategic Bomber introduced during the Era of the Soviet Union and used to Carry-Out Cruise Missile Attacks on Ukrainian Infrastructure.

On 12/5/2022, both of these Airbases were set Ablaze by Ukraine, with Explosions Ringing-Out and Reports-of-Damage to both Infrastructure and Aircraft. A Follow-Up Attack Hit Engels a few weeks later, on 12/26/2022, providing Valuable Proof that the Initial Strikes were Not One-Offs or Freak Occurrences, and that Ukraine was Absolutely Ready and Capable of Hitting the Russians where and when they least Suspected. It was the First Time that Russia Truly Felt the War Hitting Home. But it would Not be the Last.

In 2023, the War began to Change. It had begun as a Conventional Conflict, with Russia relying Heavily on Tank Columns and Armored Vehicles in an Attempt to Overwhelm its Opposition. Ukrainian Defenders, meanwhile, Dug Trenches and established Fortified Positions, using whatever Arms and Artillery they could get their Hands on to Fend Off the Enemy’s Assaults. It was a Back-and-Forth Battle of Attrition, Not Dissimilar to so many other Conflicts that had taken place around the World in the 20th and early 21st Centuries. But then came the Drones.

Throughout the latter Stages of 2022 and into the Early parts of 2023, Russia began using Drones on an Increasingly frequent Basis to Carry-Out Aerial Attacks on Ukrainian Front-Line Positions and Civilian Infrastructure. Ukraine was Forced to Defend itself against a New and Terrifying Threat. One that was Quick, Cheap, and Easy for Russia to make en Masse. One that it could Deploy in Vast Quantities, Buzzing Swarms of Aerial Explosives, Difficult to Detect on Radar Screens and Surprisingly Tricky to Intercept via Conventional Defenses, Capable of Dealing Terrible amounts of Damage in the Span of a Single Night.

But Ukraine didn’t just Suffer through this New Age of Drone Warfare. It Learned from it. It Adapted. And it started Developing its Own Domestic Drone Industry. If Moscow could do it, so could Kyiv. And on 5/3/2023, the World got a Glimpse at what Ukraine’s Drones could Do when Several of them Struck another Russian Airfield, this time in the Bryansk Region. Two Targets were Struck. Two more were taken Out-Eentirely. Another Drone was Not Found. The very same Day, Reports also Emerged of a Drone Attack on the Kremlin itself, the Home of Russia’s Government.

Later that same month, more Drones were Spotted in Moscow. Eight of them entered the Capital, and while they didn’t deal much Damage at the time, this was still an Enormous Story. Ukraine, managed to Orchestrate an Attack on the Russian Capital, almost 300 miles beyond its Borders. The Capital and Biggest City in Russia. The Home of more than 13 million People. The same Place where the Country’s Wealthiest Oligarchs and its seemingly all Powerful President, Vladimir Putin, spent much of their Time, Struck by Ukrainian Weapons.

If Kyiv could pull off something like that Only a year into the War, and while still having to Fend-Off Heavy Russian Front Line Assaults and Near-Constant Aerial Attacks, Day and Night, what else might it be capable of? As 2023 went on, Ukrainian Drone Strikes became more of a Regular Occurrence, but Kyiv had something even Bigger in Store.

In late Spring, Armed Forces Crossed over the Borders of Ukraine and into the Russian Region of Belgorod, Signaling the Start of the First Major Ground Incursion that Russia would have to Contend with. The Forces were mainly made up of Non-Ukrainian Volunteers, like Anti-Kremlin Russian Groups like the “Freedom of Russia Legion”, as well as other Combatants from Places like Poland and Belarus. But this was Still the Biggest Cross-Border Attack of the War up to that Point.

The Volunteer Fighters Sabotaged, Damaged, and Destroyed Russian Infrastructure and Equipment, while Supporting Ukrainian Defenders along the Sumy and Kharkiv Axis. They also had a Profound Impact on the Morale of the Kremlin’s Troops. So many of those Soldiers had been fed a Lie. They had been told that they were Heroes, sent on a Mission to Liberate Ukraine. They were led to Believe that the Ukrainian People would Welcome them with Open Arms, that their “Special Military Operation” would be Over and Done with in a Matter of Weeks, and that Russian Flags would be Hoisted over the Streets of Kyiv with Ease. Not only had those Statements Proven to be Demonstrably False.

But now there were quite Literally Opposition Forces at Russia’s Gates, Breaking through and into their Own Home Territory. None of this was Supposed to Happen. And for Many in Russia, this was the moment when it First felt as though the War was Sspiraling Rapidly and Dangerously Out of the Kremlin’s Control. And it was about to get a whole lot Worse. 2024 would prove to be a Pivotal year in the Conflict, in more ways than One.

Putin and His Kremlin Cronies hoped that this would be the year that the Russian Army Broke Ukraine’s Back, Once and for All, with an Overwhelming Effort Far and Wide along the Front Lines, aimed at Smashing the Country’s Defenses and Paving the Path to Victory. It didn’t Work Out that way at All.

Instead of Growing Weaker, Ukraine became Significantly Stronger in 2024. Its Drone Attacks against Russian Targets became more Frequent and more Strategic. Kyiv’s Commanders began to Select their Targets with additional Care, Focusing not just on the likes of Aairbases and Munitions Stockpiles, but Oil iIfrastructure, too. They Recognized that Oil was arguably the most iImportant Resource Russia had at its Disposal.

Because it was Oil that Powered the Kremlin’s War Machine, both Directly and Indirectly. It was used for the Fuel that kept the Tanks chugging along and Bombers in the Air. And it also brought Huge Amounts of Money into the Russian Economy, which Putin could use to keep the War going, to keep Covering the Costs of Soldier Ssalaries and Large-Scale Military Equipment Production.

If Ukraine could Wipe-Out Russia’s Ooil Infrastructure, it could, potentially, Win the War. So, that’s what it did. Over the course of 2024, there were at least 84 Confirmed Ukrainian Attacks on Russia’s Oil Infrastructure, mostly Refineries, but also Pipelines and Storage Tanks. Military Infrastructure felt the Full Force of Ukraine’s Ferocity, too.

And it wasn’t just Drones Anymore. Kyiv’s Rapidly evolving Domestic Defense Industry was also Producing Bigger and Better Missiles, Capable of Flying Further and Faster than those that had come Before, even Exceeding the Capacities of many of the Western Munitions that had been sent to Ukraine by its Allies across Europe and Beyond. There were over 50 Neptune Missile Strikes during this Period, for Example, and even Long-Range Drone Strikes on Targets that were Close to 1,000 miles into Russian Territory, like the Kupol Electromechanical Plant in the Izhevsk Region.

This was also around the same time that Ukraine’s Allies at last Allowed it to use their Weapons to Strike Targets within Russia, Not just Iinside the Occupied Territories. That, too, makes Ukraine a Bigger Threat for Moscow to Worry about, with the likes of European Storm Shadows and American-made Missiles Raining Down on Airfields and other Important Sites.

At Sea, too, Ukraine was Highly Active in its Attacks. It Carried Out Numerous Devastating Strikes on Russia’s Infamous Black Sea Fleet, Sinking its Flagship Cruiser, the Moskva in 2022, and Taking Out many more Landing Ships, Missile Ships, and even Submarines in the current War. Eventually, the Damage was so Great that Russian Commanders Decided to Relocate Most of the Fleet to Safer Waters, Withdrawing Vessels that had Previously been Stationed in Strategic Locations just off the Crimean Coast.

This not only made those Ships Less of a Threat in Terms of Missile Strikes on Ukrainian Soil, but it also Opened up Passageways for Grain and other Ggoods to be Exported from Ukraine, Breathing some Life back into the Country’s Struggling Economy.

On 8/6/2024, Ukrainian Forces Brought the Bitter Reality of the War back to Russia like never before, establishing their Own New Front Line within the Kursk Region. They had No Intentions of Taking over Russian Territory or Slaughtering Civilians, as the Kremlin’s War Machine had Done in Ukraine. Instead, this was a Strategic Decision, a Way to Redirect Russian Forces, which had started to Outnumber and Overwhelm certain Ukrainian Positions in other Regions, Forcing them to Spread Out and Divide their Resources to Counteract the Kursk Invasion, Buying Time and Breathing Room for Ukraine’s Brave Defenders.

At First, Ukraine’s Forces faced Little Resistance. There weren’t enough Russian Troops in the area to put up much of a Fight, and many were Inexperienced and Unprepared to Deal with an Incursion of this Kind. As a Result, Kyiv’s Army Quickly Seized Strategically Valuable Towns and Villages, Capturing Troops and Destroying or Seizing any Russian Equipment they Found along the Way. At its Peak, the Ukrainian Armed Forces had a Military Presence in over 80 Russian Settlements, and it held its Ground until March 2025, when Kyiv’s Commanders made the Sensible Call to Withdraw. Russia Tried to Portray it as some Sort of Victory. In Reality, it was a Crushing Loss.

It was the First time in Decades that any Enemy Force had Managed to Cross Russia’s Borders and take Control of Parts of its Territory, and even though Ukraine Eventually Left the Area, they Still caused a Lot of Damage and Casualties, as well as Leaving Mines and Improvised Explosives for the Russians to Deal with. It also Distracted the Enemy long enough for Ukraine to Recover and Regroup in other Front Line Locations, Preventing the Kremlin from Capturing any Major Towns or Cities. By and Large, 2024 had been an Impressive year for Ukraine when it came to Successfully Striking back at its Enemy.

2025 was even Better. The year had barely begun when Ukrainian Drones were already Targeting Moscow, with a Massive Strike involving 240 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Dispatched from Ukraine, Crossing over the Border, and Targeting both Military and Oil Infrastructure Locations across Russian Regions.

Through 2025, Ukrainian Drone Strikes on Russian Positions went from Monthly or Bi-Weekly to Nnear-Daily Occurrences. Ukraine had, by this Stage, Mastered the Art of Drone Warfare and Surpassed its Opponent when it came to Producing a more Diverse and Effective Array of Drones, and Using them to both Wipe out Infrastructure and Crush the Opponent’s Morale. It was also Manufacturing UAVs in far Greater Quantities than ever before, going from 20,000 a Month up to 200,000.

Military Production Plants, Oil Rrefineries, Storage Facilities, Airfields. One Target after Aanother was Blown-Up and Set Ablaze by Ukraine’s kamikaze Strikes. Strikes on Oil Infrastructure became more Frequent, and Putin began to Feel the Effects where it Matters to Him the Most, the Economy. Ukraine’s Strikes Cost Russia an Estimated $12 billion as Countless Gallons of Oil went up in Flames and Production Capacity was Slashed.

Drones and Missiles also Wwiped-Out some of the Kremlin’s most Valuable Military Assets, like Air Defense Systems and Radars worth Billions of Ddollars in Total. Then came the most Devastating and Iconic Attack of them All.

Operation Spiderweb: On 6/1/2025, Ukraine Executed a Plan that had been more than a Year in the Making. It Concealed Dozens of Ddrones on Board a Series of Trucks, which were then Dispatched to Several Strategic Locations across Russia, Right Beside Major Airbases. Once in Position, the Trucks Slid Open, and the Swarms were Unleashed, Raining Down Fire on Russia’s Nuclear-Capable Bombers and other Aircraft.

According to Reports, the Attack Eliminated around a Third of the Russian Bomber Fleet, Destroying or Damaging Billions of Dollars of Kremlin Hardware, All in the Span of a Single Day. The Black Sea Fleet was also in Kyiv’s Crosshairs, with Several Major Attacks across the Course of 2025 Damaging and even Sinking several Russian Ships, Destroying Important Marine Infrastructure, like the Novorossiysk Submarine Port, and Sending a Clear Message to the Kremlin: it doesn’t Matter how Far you Run or where you Hide your Ships, they will be Found, and they will be Destroyed.

And so we enter 2026. Another Pivotal Year in a War that, according to Russia, was only supposed to last a few Weeks. After years of Effort, years of Suffering, years of Enduring Russia’s Relentless Attacks, Ukraine could have begun to Waver. In fact, that’s exactly what Putin had been Banking on, Hoping that if He could keep the War going long enough, Ukraine would eventually Start to Buckle, Bend, and Break beneath the weight of His Gigantic War Machine. But it hasn’t. As 2026 kicked off, Ukraine didn’t Ease Off, it didn’t Back Down. It Upped the Ante.

It continued to carry out Devastating Strikes on Oil Iinfrastructure within Russia’s Regions. It Accelerated the Development and Deployment of Brand-New Weapons, like the Long-Range Flamingo Missile, while continuing to Wage War with the Weapons provided by its Allies, like Storm Shadows from France and the United Kingdom, and other Foreign-Made Missiles.

In 2/2026, Ukraine Struck Russia’s Missile Fuel Plant in the Tver Region. In 3/2026, it followed up with an Attack on a Microchip and Missile Part Production Factory. The Flamingo Started to be seen with increasing Regularity, First Striking the Kapustin Yar Test Range, then Hitting the Votkinsk Plant, a Key Site in the Russian Defense Complex.

Ukraine also Leveled-Up its Drone Tactics, Breaking New Ground and Setting New Records, like Overnight on 3/8/2026, when it Launched a Staggering 754 Drones, more than ever before, at Targets across Russia and the Occupied Regions. Thousands more Drones were Dispatched in the Days and Weeks that followed, Traveling Hundreds of Miles across Russian Airspace, Bypassing the Kremlin’s so-called World-Leading Air Defense Systems, and Hitting their Targets in Dozens of Different Regions.

Like in late March, when Ukraine Struck several of Russia’s most Important Oil Export Ports on the Baltic Sea, causing Large-Scale Fires and Unprecedented Disruption to the Oil Industry. All of a Sudden, it’s Not just the Odd Refinery or Pipeline being hit once a month or every few weeks. It’s some of the most integral, important cogs of Russia’s economic machine being struck on a nearly Daily Basis. Countless Gallons of Oil, Dillions of Dollars of Damage. Over and Over again.

The Russian Economy is at its Weakest Point in Years. The Country’s Central Bank has been Forced to Raise Interest Rates to Record Levels. Regular Russian Families are Footing the Bill for Putin’s War, as the Cost of Everyday Essentials Surges and More of the Country’s Budget is Splurged on Missiles and Death Machines instead of Healthcare and Education.

With every Month that Passes, Russia Grows Weaker, and Ukraine goes Stronger. And the Data backs that Up. Even though Russia continues to Bombard Ukrainian Towns and Cities, Kyiv’s Forces have Dished out Significant Military and Economic Damage in Return. Their Strikes on Oil Infrastructure and other Key Locations have made the Conflict Dramatically more Costly for the Kremlin in every possible way, and they’re still Not letting up.

Drone Production in Ukraine Rose from 800,000 a year in 2023, to 4 Million in 2025, with Estimates Ranging from 5 to 10 million for 2026. Missile Production is on the Up, too, and Ukraine’s Offensive and Defensive Capacities have never been Stronger, making it even Easier for them to bring the War Home to Russia’s Regions even those that are Hundreds or Even Thousands of Miles from the Border. “Shoigu was right. Nowhere in Russia is safe, and Putin only has himself to blame.”










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Sued for Failing to Release the Epstein Files

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche (R) is being Sued for Failing to Release the Full Jeffrey Epstein Files as Required by Law. The Lawsuit was Filed in Federal Court in Washington, D.C, on 4/27/2026 by Lawyer and Political Commentator Katie Phang, who Slammed Blanche and Demanded that the Justice Department (DOJ) Release All Documents, along with an Explanation for any Redactions.

She is also calling for the Courts to Appoint an Expert to Ensure that Blanche Complies with the Law. “This case is about Defendant Todd Blanche’s brazen, shocking, and ongoing violation of the Epstein Files Transparency Act,” the 15-page Lawsuit Reads.

It Argues that the DOJ’s Failure to Follow the Law and Release the Files Harmed Phang as a Journalist who has extensively Covered the Convicted Ssex Offender. “Phang’s inability to report with substance on all of the documents she should be able to access has hurt her ability to do her job, and made it harder to fulfill her mission as a journalist and legal analyst,” the Lawsuit said.

It comes after Congress Passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act (H.R.4405) in (11/2025), which Required All Documents with Limited Redactions to be Released within 30 days. However, the DOJ Failed to Meet the 12/2025 Deadline, and Months later, it still has Not Released the Full Files or Fully Explained the Redactions.

Critics have Accused the DOJ of Orchestrating a Massive Cover-Up for Trump (R), who has Appeared Thousands-of-Times in the Epstein Files and was a Longtime Associate of the Pedophile. On 2/2/2026 the DOJ Released what it Claimed would be the “Final” Batch of Documents, along with a Six-Page Letter Summarizing Categories of Records Withheld and Reasons for Redactions.

The Lawsuit not only Accuses the DOJ of Failing to Explain the Redactions but also of making Inappropriate Redactions that did Not Comply with the Law, which Specifically aimed to Protect Victims while Blocking the Withholding of Information about Alleged Co-Conspirators. Phang wants the DOJ to be Compelled to Produce any Documents required by Law that have Not yet been Released, and to Remove any Unlawful Redactions and Explain any Remaining Ones. She’s also Calling for a Special Master to be Appointed to make sure the Department under Blanche is Complying.

The Lawsuit comes after Blanche, who Previously served as Trump’s Criminal Attorney, claimed earlier this month, that the DOJ has Released All the Documents it would Release. “We have released everything,” Blanche told Fox News Earlier 4/2026. “We reviewed six million pieces of paper. What we released, anything associated with the Epstein files, so we are not sitting on a single piece of paper. Nothing that should be released.”

While Blanche said Six million Pieces of Paper were Reviewed, about 3.5 million have been Released, suggesting that Millions of Documents remain Withheld. Blanche took over as Head of the Justice Department at the start of 4/2026, when Trump Fired Attorney General Pam Bondi (R).

It happened just days before Bondi had been Required to appear before the House Oversight Committee to be Questioned-under-Oath about the Administration’s Handling of the Documents. The DOJ Argued Ahead of the Scheduled Deposition that Bondi No Longer had to Comply with the Subpoena because She was No longer Serving as Attorney General. It led to Bipartisan Outrage, but Bondi’s Appearance before the Committee has Not yet been Rescheduled.

Right after being Named Her Replacement, Blanche Argued it was Time for People to Move on from the Epstein Files and Insisted the Administration has been “totally transparent.” But last week, the Justice Department Revealed that the Office of the Inspector General would Audit the Department’s Compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

William Blier, a Longtime DOJ Employee who is Currently Serving as Acting Inspector General for the Department, said in a Statement that the Objective of the Audit is to “evaluate the DOJ’s processes for identifying, redacting, and releasing records in its possession as required by the Act.” But just Days before the Announcement, Trump also Nominated Don Berthiaume (R), another Longtime Federal Watchdog, to Fill the Role of DOJ Inspector General Permanently.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

VA Court OKs Democrats Redistricting Case

A Virginia Court Ruled in Favor of Democrats, in a Case of the Old Dominion’s Congressional Lines on 4/26/2026, Ddenying a last-minute Republican Effort Challenging Democrats’ Redistricting Referendum and the Composition of the New House Map passed by Voters.

Richmond Circuit Court Judge Tracy Thorne-Begland Denied a Request by the Republican National Committee (RNC), Virginia GOP, and Others to Block the Results of a Redistricting Referendum held last week, when Voters narrowly Passed a Set of Congressional Lines that gives Democrats Four Additional Pickup Opportunities in 11/3/2026.

The Virginia Congressional Delegation Currently has a 6-5 Democratic Edge, but the New Map would give the Party a 10-1 Edge in November.

“[T]his Court knows its role is clear. It is not to assess the wisdom of public policy nor to engage in policy making from the bench,” Thorne-Begland wrote. “Instead, it is to decide if those with whom we have entrusted power have exercised that power in conformance with their constitutional mandate. On this question, the Court’s answer is in the affirmative.”

Republican Plaintiffs, whose Llawsuit was Filed before the April Referendum, had Argued in their Initial Motion that the New House Map Ppassed by Lawmakers, and later Approved by Voters, Violated the State Constitution and was “adopted without legal authority when enacted.” Republicans also Argue that the Map Passed was Not Compact.

“Unconstrainted by any traditional criteria, and intent on enacting an extreme partisan gerrymander [the new House map] rips the Commonwealth into pieces, tearing apart communities with actual shared interests in pursuit of a singular partisan objective,” the Republican Lawsuit Alleged.

Thorne-Begland wrote in His Ruling on Sunday, that Republicans were Unlikely to Prevail in Several of their Key Arguments, though the Judge did Acknowledge that the New Congressional Lines were Less Compact than the Ones the State Previously had Implemented.

“The 2026 maps are undoubtedly less compact than the ones they replace. They are certainly partisan gerrymanders. They displace both representatives and voters into new, oddly shaped districts,” the Richmond Circuit Court judge Wrote.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Zelensky Accuses Putin of Nuclear Terrorism

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of "Nuclear Terrorism" on the 40th Anniversary of the Chernobyl Disaster, on Sunday, 4/26/2026, amid Deadly New Drone Attacks.

In the Latest Nightly Attack, Five People were Killed across Ukraine, after Moscow Launched more than 100 Drones.

In a Social Media Post marking the 40th Anniversary of the Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster, Zelensky said Russia, through its Invasion, was "again bringing the world to the brink of a man-made disaster."

The Ukrainian Leader Highlighted Russian Drones regularly Pass Over Chernobyl and that One had Hit its Protective Shell in 2025. "The world must not allow this nuclear terrorism to continue, and the best way is to force Russia to stop its reckless attacks." He added.

Rafael Grossi, the Head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and Moldovan President Maia Sandu, joined the Commemorative Events.

Speaking about the Damage to the Shell, Grossi said, "repairs should start as soon as possible and that leaving the situation as it is now is problematic."

According to Greenpeace, which says the Damage Risk of a Radioactive Leak, Repairs could take up to 4 years, are Virtually Impossible due to Russia's Invasion.

"To remember Chernobyl means to remember the people who bore the brunt of the disaster, and to take that experience into account in every decision we make today, to prevent a similar catastrophe." Russia's Nuclear Agency Rosatom, which Managed the Facility, said.

The Agency took over the Plant in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia, Europe's Bbiggest Civilian Nuclear Power Complex, after it was Occupied by Russia Early in the Invasion. The Plant is now in Shutdown Mode. But Moscow and Kyiv Repeatedly Accuse each Other of Targeting the Plant during the War.

The Explosion at the Chernobly Nuclear power Plant in 1986 is considered the Worst Civilian Nuclear Disaster in Hhistory and Changed Global Perceptions of Nuclear Energy, Resulting in Thousands Dying as a Result of Exposure to the Radiation.

Some 600,000 People involved in the Clean-Up Operation were Exposed to High Levels of Radiation, and Hundreds of Thousands more were Evacuated Due to the Radioactive Contamination.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Mood in Russia Turns Bleak as War Drags on and Economy Suffers

President Vladimir Putin is Facing rising Discontent across Russian Society as the War against Ukraine drags on, the Economy Flounders and public Dissatisfaction Mounts over Government Restrictions on Internet Access. Russia’s Biggest State-Owned Pollster, the Russian Public Opinion Research Center, on 4/24/2026 recorded that Putin’s Approval Rating Fell to 65.6%, its Lowest Level since before the Beginning of the War and a Drop of 12.2 percentage points since the Start of the Year.

Gauging Genuine Public Opinion is Difficult under an Authoritarian Regime that Exiles, Imprisons or even Kills Political Opponents and where Criticism of the War is Illegal, but Compared to Putin’s Historical Ratings, as high as 88%, the Falling Poll Numbers signal growing Weariness with the War now in its Fifth year, and with Negotiations to End it Largely Stalled as the Trump (R) Administration Focuses on Iran. Economic Sanctions are Biting ever Deeper into Russia’s Economy, Hitting Pocketbooks, and the Government’s Push to Limit Access to the Internet, citing Security Concerns, is Rankling a Society that long Enjoyed a High Level of Digitalization.

“The overall mood is that’s enough already; you’ve been fighting for long enough,” said One Russian Official Speaking on Condition of Anonymity for Fear of Retribution. “It seems to everyone that it’s been going on for longer than World War II, the Great Patriotic War — and at the same time we can’t even take one region,” the Official said Referring to Russia’s Failed effort since the Full-Scale Invasion in 2022, to take Full Control of the Donetsk Region in Eastern Ukraine.

In recent weeks, Putin’s Government has faced Unusually Oopen and Strident Criticism from Members of Russia’s Financial Elite over its Handling of the Economy, which Contracted by 1.8% in the First Two Months of the Year as Tougher Sanctions and High interest rates intended to combat inflation continue to choke investment and led nonpayments of commercial bills to reach a Record high of $109 billion in January, according to Rosstat, Russia’s Federal Statistics Service. The number of companies owing taxes to the Government, meanwhile, has Climbed to 439,900 according to Aktion Accounting, a Russian Firm.

One by One, Businessmen and Economists attending an Economic Forum in Moscow earlier this Month, Upbraided the Government over the Shrinking Economy. “The people at the top have completely lost touch with the reality on the ground, in the economy,” Vladimir Bogalev, the Head of a Russian Tractor Manufacturer, said, According to Online Video footage from the Forum. Those in a Position of Ppower are Actively “Discrediting” Themselves, Bogalev said.

Robert Nigmatulin, an Economist at the Russian Academy of Sciences, told the Forum that Russia was Lagging China and that Inflation had far Outstripped Economic Growth. “We’ve lost everything and still we are the poorest. Even in the poorest regions of China incomes are higher than in our poorest regions,” Nigmatulin said. “GDP growth since 2015 — that’s 11 years — is about 1.5 percent per year. Do you know how much consumer prices have increased by? Seventy-seven percent.”

He added: “Can we invest in a country with leadership like this? You can’t run an economy this way.” Meanwhile, a Video posted by a Monaco-based Social Media Influencer Victoria Bonya railing against the Online Restrictions, and Denouncing the Government’s Hhandling of Other Problems facing Ordinary Russians went Viral, Forcing the Kremlin to Respond by Insisting that it was Working on All the Issues She Raised.

Gennady Zyuganov, the Longtime Leader of Russia’s Communist Party, took things further during a Speech in Parliament this week, Warning that “economic collapse is inevitable” if Issues go Unaddressed. “By autumn we will face what happened in 1917,” He said, Referencing the Bolshevik Revolution. Sanctions and Putin’s Heavy Military Spending Drove Inflation Sky-High, Forcing the Central Bank to raise Interest Rates above 20% to Cool Down the Economy. Though the Central Bank has since pulled Rates Back, they now stand at 14.5%, Economists Increasingly have Warned of “overcooling” and Recession.

Russia’s Economic Development Minister, Maxim Reshetnikov, this week said Russia’s Reserves “are largely exhausted,” while Putin last week Publicly Acknowledged that the Economy was in Trouble and Called on the Central Bank and His Government to Explain the Slowdown in Growth. The Russian Economy, Heavily Dependent on Oil Revenue, has Won some Respite from a Surge in Oil Prices caused by the U.S.-Israeli War against Iran, but Economists said Only a much Longer, Sustained Period of High Prices would let Russia Balance its Budget.

“Right now, the Russian economy is in a strange twilight zone between the positive effects that can be expected from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the high commodity prices, and at the same time Russia’s own economic dynamic, which was worsening significantly in the last months,” said Janis Kluge, an Economist with Germany’s Institute for International and Security Affairs.

In addition, increasing Attacks by Ukrainian Drones on Russian Ports and Refineries Forced Russia to Slash Oil Production in April by 300,000 to 400,000 Barrels per Day, Reuters Reported, potentially Undermining some of the Windfall Moscow anticipated from Higher Prices and Trump’s (R) Temporary Waiver of Sanctions on Russian Oil.

“Problems are growing and we have spoken for a long time about how this time would come,” said a Russian Academic with Close ties to Senior Russian Diplomats. As Citizens are Forced to Cut back on Basic Expenses and Internet Restrictions Disrupt Daily Life, Divisions are Emerging across All Sectors of Society, Analysts said.

“Dissatisfaction is very strong,” said Tatiana Stanovaya, a Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, a Think Tank based in Berlin. “There is the dragged out war and the financial complications, while the youth is not happy it is being cut off from its usual environment in social media. Wherever you look there are problems … and where this will lead to we cannot say.”

“People are beginning to speak out more bravely now,” Stanovaya said, Adding, however, that the Authorities are likely to Respond with further Repression and there is No Sign the Regime is at Risk of Losing Control.

Mikhail Khodorkovsky, once Russia’s Richest Man and now a Leading Opposition Figure based in London, said an Initial Patriotic Boost from the War has Dissipated. “The war has been going on for too long and there are no clear changes,” Khodorkovsky said. “The fact that they won or lost three villages is not helping very much.” For some in Russia, Trump’s seemingly Arbitrary Decision to go to War against Iran offered Justification for Putin’s own War of Choice against Ukraine, and could Prompt the Kremlin to Dig in its Heels in Pursuit of its Military Objectives, especially Seizing Donetsk.

“Everyone believes that the war in the Persian Gulf gives Russia and Putin the chance to fight for longer against Ukraine and to take more territory,” One Moscow Businessman said. “No one understands how long the war is going to last and on the other hand people increasingly fear that the state is going to take more and more away from them.”

Against that backdrop, despair is growing, especially over the internet restrictions, which are reviving potent memories of Soviet repression. “People like us are very worried, because we were born in a country you couldn’t leave,” said Tatyana, 53, a manager in a logistics company, who spoke on the condition that she be identified only by her first name. “We already lived behind the Iron Curtain once, and then we were sure it would never happen again. But in reality, it has. Now we have a digital Iron Curtain.”

Others spoke of the desolate economic landscape. “From a business perspective, I can see things are a complete mess — sales have dropped, people have less and less money, there are far fewer people in shopping malls, prices have doubled, and for fruit and vegetables they’ve tripled,” said Irina, 46, a sales manager who spoke on the condition that she be identified only by her first name. “Utility bills have gone up, taxes have been raised too.”

Igor, 19, a student, described growing despondence. “Overall, both I and the people I know feel a complete sense of hopelessness that nothing can be done about,” said Igor, who also spoke on the condition he be identified only by his first name. “Everyone wants to leave, but most don’t have that option. No one wants to tie their future to this country. Living here is difficult, expensive, and bleak.”










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Putin Continues to Block End of Ukraine War

Dan Rice, former Special Adviser to Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief and now President of American University Kyiv, said Saturday that a Fresh Prisoner Swap is Welcome on Humanitarian Grounds but does Not Signal the End of the War, telling Newsmax that Russian President Vladimir Putin remains the Obstacle to Peace.

Rice spoke on "America Right Now" a day after Ukraine and Russia Exchanged 193 Captured Personnel, each in a Transfer both sides said was Facilitated by the U.S. and the United Arab Emirates. Returning Ukrainian Troops included Soldiers, Border Guards, and Police, some Wounded and some who had faced Criminal Charges in Russia, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

A West Point Graduate and Iraq and Afghanistan Veteran who Advised Gen. Valerii Zaluzhnyi from May 2022 until March 2023, Rice said Ukraine Shares the U.S. Military's Creed to "never leave a fallen comrade" and called the Reunions Important. He said Exchanges cannot Substitute for Ending the Conflict. "Until that psychopath decides to stop the war, the war will continue," He said of Putin.

Rice pointed to the Withdrawal of U.S. Trainers before the February 2022 Invasion as a Signal to Moscow, "that, hey, the door is yours." The Pentagon Ordered roughly 150 American Personnel, including Elements of the 10th Special Forces Group, out of Ukraine in Mid-February 2022 as Russian forces Massed on the Border.

Rice said Members of the Group "wanted to stay and fight" but were Pulled Out, Opening the Door for Him to Volunteer in Kyiv as a Private Citizen. Rice called the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, under which Ukraine Surrendered its Soviet-era Nuclear Arsenal in Exchange for Security Assurances from the U.S., U.K., and Russia, "a terrible document" that Failed to Deliver Real Protection.

He said the U.S. and its Partners must now provide Concrete Security Guarantees to Prevent a Future Invasion. The Memorandum Committed the Signatories to Respect Ukraine's Borders and Refrain from using Force, but did Not Obligate the U.S. or the U.K. to take Military Action.

Friday's Exchange was the Second this month, part of a Long Series of Swaps that have Remained among the Few Sustained Channels of Cooperation between Moscow and Kyiv as Broader Cease-Fire Talks remain Stalled. "The security guarantees need to be real. We need to provide a security blanket for Ukraine so this never happens again," He said.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Ukrainian Drones Hit Key Russian Oil Station

A Massive Overnight Drone Attack has Shaken Russia, with Ukraine Reportedly Targeting Critical Oil Infrastructure Deep Inside its Territory.

According to a Ukrainian Security Source, Drones Struck the Gorky Oil Pumping Station in Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, Damaging Storage Tanks and Triggering a Huge Fire.

This Facility Plays a Key Role in Transporting Crude Oil across Russia, Meaning the Impact could go far Beyond the Explosion itself. Disruptions to Oil Flow can Increase Costs, Reduce Refinery Efficiency, and Affect the Revenues that Help Fund the War.

But that was Not the Only Strike. Explosions were also Reported in Occupied Crimea, Melitopol, and Russia’s Samara Rregion.

In Samara, Drone Impacts caused Casualties and Damage to Residential Buildings, forcing Evacuations and Emergency Response Operations.

While Russian Officials Claim Air Defenses Intercepted many Drones, Footage and Eyewitness Reports suggest Widespread Damage across Multiple Regions. This Attack Highlights a Growing Trend, Ukraine is Not just Fighting on the Front Lines, but Targeting the Infrastructure that Powers Russia’s Wwar Effort.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker