Raine Wireman

NEW: Russian forces in April 2026 suffered a net loss of territory controlled in the Ukrainian theater for the first time since Ukraine’s August 2024 incursion into Kursk Oblast. Other Key Takeaways: The relative decline in the rate of Russian advances may be related in part to annual seasonal patterns. The rate of Russian advances has slowed in 2026 compared to 2025, but the changing character of the war, particularly Russia’s increased use of infiltration tactics over the course of 2025, makes year-on-year comparisons difficult. The Kremlin uses Russian infiltration tactics in part to exaggerate Russian control of terrain. ISW has reviewed and refined its mapping data and methodology, identifying and rectifying some data artifacts that did not affect the visible map geometry but did affect some calculations of area. These changes have not affected ISW’s previously assessed trendlines of the Russian rate of advance. Russian milbloggers identified problems with the Russian air campaign and assessed that Russian forces may not be able to take advantage of reported increased bombing capabilities. Russian forces recently advanced near Novopavlivka and in western Zaporizhia Oblast. Ukrainian forces recently advanced in the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka tactical area. Ukrainian forces likely struck a Russian air defense system during their April 30 to May 1 overnight strike against Krasnodar Krai. Russian forces launched 163 drones toward Ukraine overnight.

❗️Russia possibly lost an An-26 transport aircraft over Crimea with the crew reported dead, alongside the confirmed loss of a Su-34 fighter jet. Verification of the An-26 incident remains pending. #Russia

Interesting fact for you. During the CAS court hearing, IOC lawyers used the fact that I was awarded a state decoration (which took place after my disqualification) as evidence that my helmet had a political character. At the same time, they did not explain in any way how exactly this was connected. In the photo, you can see Russian Paralympian receiving awards from Putin. But this time, neither the IOC nor the International Paralympic Committee has any questions or comments. It seems to me that these organizations would be much better suited to the name “International Committee of Double Standards.”

@WarMonitor3 Ultra distance running.

Off topic, but serious question: what’s actually the most physically challenging sport?

If Ukraine has no choice but to accept “de facto” occupation — that’s because WE failed. Not because Ukrainians failed, not because some mysterious “shit happened”, but because for years we ignored all the warnings, repeated all the mistakes of history, kicked the can down the road and refused to do what it takes to defend the rules and principles that enable sustainable peace and prosperity. This is on us. We are the architects of this de facto defeat, so now we are trying to pretend it came out of nowhere and we did the best we could to stop it. In a spectacular display of unbombed westsplaining, Mark Rutte is suggesting that everything will be OK in the long run, like it was OK in the Baltic States after decades of de facto occupation by jolly old Uncle Joe Stalin. Well, I have shrugged off a lot of dumb hot takes about my country over the last few years, but this one is literally sickening. Rutte is revealing that the latest genius 5D chess move to save Ukraine is to casually throw millions of people into a black hole of oppression, torture, rape, kidnapping, murder and destruction of national identity — “de facto, but not de jure”. And the proponents of this plan will keep a straight face while they cite the misery of the occupation of the Baltic States as a shining example that Ukraine should happily walk into. In his FT column, Gideon Rachman says little to fill the gap in Rutte’s world view: "The Soviet Union’s annexation of the Baltic states after 1940 was never legally recognised by the US and most European countries. But it was a fact of life, until, eventually, the Baltic states regained their independence." Yikes, let’s unpack that. The occupation wasn’t “a fact of life”, it was a fact of death. “Eventually” was after decades of deportations, killing, grinding terror and violent attempts to turn everybody into russians. “Regained their independence” was being crushed under Gorbachev’s tanks while western leaders pleaded with us to give up our fight for freedom. So… this is the path to peace we are supposed to offer to Ukraine with a smile? These are the glorious new security guarantees that will erase the shame of the Budapest Agreement and allow Ukrainians to have faith in the future? There are even US Ambassadors talking about how countries can “earn” certain territories and therefore presumably “deserve” them. Would it be paranoid of me to wonder if we just opened the door for Russia to “earn” Narva and Vilnius “de facto”? The full article is continued at the link below.

@reshetz Bro that’s a green beret. He knows war, bro.

Are the gloves off yet

@NOELreports Lol. Lmao, even.

🧵 Unconfirmed rumors spreading in Russian media claim Russian delegation leader Medinsky voiced the following demands to Ukraine in Istanbul: 1. Neutral status like Austria (no foreign troops/WMDs) 2. No war reparations from either side 3. Rights for Russian speakers & end to “nationalist propaganda” 4. Recognition of Russia’s claims to Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia & Crimea 5. Immediate ceasefire tied to Ukrainian withdrawal from these regions

@NOELreports Escalation: managed

Kim Jong-un announces North Korea will enter the "conflict" under Article 4 of the North Korea–Russia treaty, officially notifying Moscow. — Yonhap reports. A confirmation of DPRK presence against Ukrainian forces.

JD Vance is wrong. America’s military equipment is evolving and Ukraine was given the old hand me downs. When America gave weapons to Ukraine, it actually “re-industrialized” America because most of America’s spending went to American factories and America’s workers to build new weapons and ammunition for America.

One of the biggest lessons from Syria is that, just a month ago, almost no one could have predicted the Assad regime would fall today. The "realities on the ground" crowd would have denied such a possibility. A reminder of why people in Ukraine fight rather than surrender.

@WarMonitor3 Not the first time a Chinese ship has done this. Stop letting them into the Baltic Sea.

“Chinese-flagged bulk carrier MV Yi Peng 3 appears to have deliberately dragged anchor to break two underwater telecoms cables in the Baltic Sea.” Sink it

Let's set some basic accents correctly... Forcing #Ukraine to negotiate on any unfavorable terms (about which the Western media constantly publish marvelous insights) looks extremely strange. Because, in essence, they propose to force Ukraine to give up its resistance. And they do not discuss real scenarios of forcing #Russia (the aggressor) to stop aggression, to pay the maximum financial and legal price for aggression. Why? And what kind of absurd "moral imperative" is this – peace at the expense of the victim only, of the country that was attacked. And at the expense of openly incentivizing the aggressor to continue aggression, because there will be no need to pay anything for aggression? Where does this come from? And why should this strange construct lead to peace, but not to the scaling up of aggression, the final humiliation of international law?

@WarMonitor3 But won’t you think of their public transit, free healthcare, and other social services?!

Germany your defence spending is a joke. Invest in your security stop relying on your allies.

@freds_sir @J_Carlberg @KyivIndependent Not with English like that. I almost had an aneurysm reading that.

@J_Carlberg @KyivIndependent Am not an African for the fact. Am an American citizen taxpayers who payers tax to be used by fucker like zeleskii

⚡️NATO to expand military forces and air defense due to increased threats, Die Welt reports. NATO has been advised to significantly bolster its defense capabilities, as outlined in a report by German newspaper Die Welt. This includes increasing the number of combat brigades from 82 to 131 and creating new corps and divisions, raising their number from 24 to 38, to meet the minimum defense requirements. kyivindependent.com/die-welt-nato-…

@NOELreports What a coward

US House Speaker Mike Johnson will not meet with President Zelenskyi today, citing a busy schedule and his potential absence from Washington. Instead, Zelenskyi will attend two closed bipartisan meetings: at 9:00 AM with Senate leaders, including Senators Chuck Schumer and Mitch McConnell, and at 11:00 AM with members of the House Armed Services Committee.

THREAD: 🔥 There’s a “cozy” little corner on Telegram where Russian soldiers and ordinary citizens pour out their fears and regrets, anonymously. But don’t worry—I took a peek, and here are some highlights. 🧵👇

Absolutely hilarious Romanian comedian @VictorPatrascan roasts a russian crowd member at a show in Belgrade😂😂😂 "Coca Cola Refugee" is the perfect nickname

@georgian_legion Wait, have you guys been in West BY GOD Virginia this whole time?!?! Appalachian kin!

I'm not here to deliver thoughts and prayers. I'm here to commit to victory, as short as it takes.

No, no, it’s a documentation of people going through hell and telling their story in hopes to be heard. Not everything exists for your entertainment