Ukraine, the US and new proposals. Washington is preparing another attempt to revive diplomacy while Moscow maintains contacts with the American side and increases military pressure on Ukraine. Could this produce even a limited opening in the autumn, or merely another round of contacts without substantive change?

Escalation at sea. Ukraine’s campaign against Russian shipping and Moscow’s intensified attacks on Ukrainian ports threaten the grain trade of both countries. The repercussions could extend beyond the two belligerents, creating new economic pressure on import-dependent countries.

The Sobchak leaks. The publication of purported private correspondence has offered an unusual view of the informal relationships connecting ostensibly independent media, political supervisors and senior officials. The episode raises broader questions about both the reach and the institutional fragility of the Kremlin’s system of media control.

VK under sanctions. The removal of VK applications from Western app stores is increasing pressure on Moscow to retaliate against Apple and Google. Any response, however, risks disrupting digital services on which Russian companies and users continue to depend.

Nadezhdin’s short-lived campaign. The authorities used several legal and administrative instruments to end the former presidential contender’s State Duma campaign. The episode is less about Nadezhdin himself than about how the Kremlin now assesses electoral risk and responds when a systemic actor crosses its unwritten boundaries.