Tuesday briefing: With unease at home spreading, what next for Russia’s isolated leader?

In today’s newsletter: Our Russian affairs reporter on Vladimir Putin’s slipping approval and singular goal – as discontent ripples from wider society to the reachers of the Kremlin Good morning. There is little doubt that when Vladimir Putin ordered his invasion of Ukraine in 2022, he did not expect his troops to still be embroiled there in 2026. And he surely never envisaged a scaled-down victory parade in Moscow, stripped of military hardware, for fear of Ukrainian drone attacks on his own...

By Martin Belam

Woman, 68, imprisoned by Russia for donation to Ukrainian military is rapidly losing weight as health worsens

Halyna Bekhter, a 68-year-old Ukrainian woman "convicted" by Russian occupation authorities for allegedly donating to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, has suffered a significant deterioration in her health since being imprisoned in a Russian pre-trial detention centre in the temporarily occupied city of Simferopol.

By Anna Kovalenko

Putin offers debt relief to new recruits for Ukraine war

New recruits for Russia's war in Ukraine will have debts up to 10 million rubles canceled under a presidential decree. Another new law reportedly foresees the use of Russian armed forces to protect citizens abroad.

Russian businesses tell Putin they will fund their own air defences after surge in Ukrainian drone attacks

Ukrainian attacks have targeted Russian oil refineries and ports this year

By James C. Reynolds

Russia and Kazakhstan will sign nuclear power deal during Putin trip, Kremlin says - The Straits Times

Russia and Kazakhstan will sign nuclear power deal during Putin trip, Kremlin says  The Straits Times

Leaked documents show Russian plans to unseat Pashinyan, ties between Karapetyan and Putin

The revelations were the latest in a series of leaked documents that have been made public in the runup to the election on 7 June.

By Xandie (Alexandra) Kuenning

Peter Caddick-Adams: Ukraine has neutered Vladimir Putin’s advantage, victory is in their grasp

Decisive battles in the sky now pivotal as Ukraine utilises drones and tech and gaming enthusiasts’ skills

By Peter Caddick-Adams

Putin Signs Law Forgiving Up to $140K in Debt for New Military Recruits

The measure is the latest in a growing list of economic incentives the government has introduced over the last four years to boost troop numbers without resorting to a politically risky mandatory mobilization.

Head of State Duma defense committee says Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada and Zelensky’s office don’t qualify as ‘decision-making centers’ Russia has threatened to strike

The head of the State Duma’s defense committee, Andrei Kartapolov, told the Russian government newspaper Parlamentskaya Gazeta that neither Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada nor the presidential office qualifies as a “decision-making center” of the kind Russia has threatened to strike.

Putin offers debt relief for newly recruited fighters in Ukraine - Arab News

Putin offers debt relief for newly recruited fighters in Ukraine  Arab News

Ukraine should continue strikes on Russian military infrastructure in rear areas – Estonian FM

Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin constantly plays on Europeans' fears of escalation in an attempt to pressure them into reducing support for Ukraine and discouraging Ukrainian strikes on targets inside Russia, but partners are not yielding to this pressure.

Former Air Force chief: Most Ukrainian drones head toward their intended targets

Former Estonian Air Force commander Jaak Tarien said Russia cannot easily hijack Ukrainian drones, with most continuing toward their targets despite electronic jamming.