The prolongation of the war in Ukraine and the challenges to Russia’s military strength may lead to more armed conflicts all over the post-Soviet sphere, as countries in the region try to capitalise on Russia’s weakness.

Autocracy is not only about a set of institutions—it is also about how people live their lives in a political sytem. As opposed to what the misguided vote in the European Parliament that classified Hungary as an ‘autocracy’ insinuates, Hungarians live freely, which is a testimony to the fact that Hungary is a democracy.

Although Putin was the first world leader Xi Jinping met with outside China since the outbreak of the pandemic, Beijing is probably more interested in a West divided over Ukraine than in Russia itself.

Russia is turning to Iran and North Korea due to Western sanctions preventing its access to cutting-edge technology. Rapprochement between these countries, however, does certainly not serve the interest of the West.

The mural of hugging Russian and Ukrainian soldiers was removed upon the uproar of the Ukrainian community. Given rising dissent in the Russian army, however, there is a case to be made that the mural was appropriate.

Moscow sees the UK’s new prime minister as hostile and incompetent as a result of her Russia-related gaffes and warmongering rhetoric.

On 30 August, Navalny was sent to solitary confinement for the third time in two weeks in the penal colony where he is serving a nine-year term.

Russia has introduced new compulsory ’patriotic rituals’ that all school children are required to perform in schools. The new patriotic lessons include discussions of the ‘special military operation’ in Ukraine and the ‘NATO threat’.

The UK economy is under great pressure from the sanctions imposed on Russia. Energy prices have soared, and inflation is sky high. putting a strain on the population’s wellbeing. Meanwhile. the government keeps funding Ukraine.

While joint US-Korean military drills were scaled down in the last couple of years, now they have returned in their past size as tens of thousands of soldiers train for a potential invasion of South Korea until 1 September. The drills are a show of force not only to Pyongyang, but to Beijing, too.