‘Russia is not the enemy‘ That's the message of a pro-Kremlin campaign targeting European audiences. Meanwhile, Russian state TV openly threatens Europe, while Moscow's hybrid operations target its infrastructure, institutions and security.

Ukraine has carried out its first-ever evacuation of a wounded soldier by drone.   While the Kremlin invents new ways to target civilians and justify it through propaganda, Ukraine invents new methods to save lives.

In a press statement yesterday, Russian MFA spokesperson Maria Zakharova mockingly asked what it is that Russia has ever done to the Netherlands. On 17 July 2014, a Russian missile downed MH17 over eastern Ukraine. All 298 people on board were killed, including 80 children. Among the victims were 196 Dutch nationals.

Russian outlets promote a proposed BRICS Grain Exchange as evidence of Moscow’s commitment to fairer global food trade. At the same time, they portray Russian strikes on Ukrainian ports and grain infrastructure as justified, despite their impact on agricultural exports destined for countries around the world. Moscow presents itself as a champion of global food security while its own attacks disrupt Ukraine’s ability to help feed the world.

Russia struck Ukraine’s energy infrastructure 76 times during the US-declared truce. In the past week, it launched nearly 2,700 drones, 1,700 guided aerial bombs, and 66 missiles at Ukrainian cities. The Kremlin’s understanding of a truce appears to be that Russia can continue striking Ukraine with impunity while Ukraine must refrain from defending itself or retaliating.

Russia’s latest strikes have damaged residential buildings in cities all across Ukraine.   Moscow repeatedly insists it does not target civilians.   The damage and casualties are there for all to see, regardless of how Moscow describes its strikes.

Russia continues to target Ukraine’s culture, identity, and heritage, with publishing houses and printing presses among the prime targets of Russian strikes. Russian missile and drone strikes have destroyed around 13 million Ukrainian books this year, roughly a third of the country’s annual print output.

Kremlin spokesperson Peskov claimed Ukraine had opened ‘Pandora’s box’ by attacking Russian infrastructure, presenting Moscow’s strikes on Black Sea shipping as a response.    That is a political justification, not an explanation of why international food shipments should be targeted.    The ships carry grain that feeds millions. The Kremlin rhetoric carries excuses.

While the Kremlin continues to flood the information space with AI-generated posts and bot accounts claiming that Russia is not Europe’s enemy, Russian outlets continue to very openly debate how best to destroy Europe. Threats on one front, manufactured pacifism on the other.

Russian state media promote Moscow as a reliable supplier of food to the world.   The same outlets justify Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports which disrupt the global food supply.

The claim that Ukraine doesn’t want peace, like most claims coming from the Kremlin, is a lie. Last year, the Kremlin rejected seven peace proposals, including a Christmas truce. Peace requires Russia to end its aggression, not Ukraine to surrender.

A baby in a stroller. Families spending an afternoon in the park. Children playing.   Russia struck them with a drone. Six people died, including two children.   The reality of the attack deserves more attention than Moscow’s claims.

Russia continues to rank among the world’s worst for corruption and press freedom, placing 157thout of 182 countries for corruption and 172ndout of 180 for press freedom. Few things expose the Kremlin’s hypocrisy more clearly than its eagerness to lecture Europe on principles it systematically and ruthlessly undermines at home.

Kyiv’s metro carries commuters during the day and shelters civilians at night.    Russia’s overnight missile attack on Kyiv damaged a metro station, severing tracks and disrupting vital public transport. A 21-year-old woman was killed in the attack.    A transport network that helps people live through the war has itself become a Russian target.

In an attempt to sow distrust between Poland and Ukraine, the Kremlin has again revived the false claim that Poland plans to annex Ukrainian territory. The only country trying to redraw Ukraine’s borders by force is Russia, which invaded Ukraine and continues to illegally occupy its territory.

Russian diplomatic accounts promote friendship with Europeans.    Russian state television broadcasts threats against Europe.    And European security services investigate hostile operations linked to Moscow.    Quite a gap between the messaging and the behaviour.

In a classic Kremlin tactic to deflect responsibility, Russia continues to blame Ukraine for global food insecurity. In reality, Russia’s illegal invasion, attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure, and disruption of Black Sea shipping are the real threats to global food supplies, not Ukraine’s legitimate self-defence.

Russia suspended grain export duties through the end of 2026 to support its agricultural exporters.   Meanwhile, Russian attacks have disrupted Ukraine’s access to international grain markets.   Moscow is protecting its own export capacity while its military undermines Ukraine’s.

Russia’s Defence Ministry acknowledged striking six power plants in and around Kyiv and Kharkiv.   The Ukrainian authorities reported damaged energy infrastructure, widespread outages, and even civilian deaths.   Whatever Moscow’s justification, the disruption to civilian life is neither theoretical nor incidental.

‘Russia is not an enemy’, says a Russian official channel.   Meanwhile, European authorities investigate arson, sabotage and covert operations attributed to Russian intelligence.

The Kremlin insists its strikes on Ukraine are ‘directed at military targetsʼ.   Last week, Russian attacks on Kyiv’s energy infrastructure disrupted electricity supplies, bringing metro services and escalators to a halt, interrupting public transport and affecting water supplies.   These are essential services used by civilians every day. The consequences are neither exclusively military nor abstract.