Mark Galeotti

Another one down. This morning, Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, head of RKhBZ, Russia's Radiological, Chemical and Biological Defence Troops, was heading

(Getty) Another one down. This morning, Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, head of RKhBZ, Russia's Radiological, Chemical and Biological

Every year, Vladimir Putin gives a marathon town hall event that lasts for hours. Every year, I feel compelled to watch. Every year, I wonder if it will be the last time I do, as these have become increasingly formulaic, but there is always something in them that rewards watching. (Or so I tell myself.)

Every year, Vladimir Putin gives a marathon town hall event that lasts for hours. Every year, I feel compelled to watch. Every year, I wonder if it will be the last time I do, as these have become increasingly formulaic, but there is always something in them that rewards watching. (Or so I tell myself.)

Putin's war provides a justification for every repression and restriction. With peace, battle-scarred veterans will return with their own tales of misery and mismanagement

The Russian Orthodox Church or state calendar doesn't recognise 25 December as a special day: their Christmas is 7 January by their old calendar

A social media post on 30 December: photographs of admittedly-splendid new year decorations in Moscow, archly captioned ‘back to 2021.'

(Getty) A social media post on December 30: photographs of admittedly-splendid new year decorations in Moscow, archly captioned “back to

Other lives: Artist whose work is held by the Auschwitz and Kraków Jagiellonskiego museums

It is intended to signal to Ukraine that the UK and Europe will continue to support Kyiv, whatever may happen in DC.