Ukraine: The Latest Exclusive: Russian commanders charging up to $40,000 to spare soldiers from the frontlines in Ukraine & ‘You’re not evil’: Trump unveils Board of Peace
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Feb 20, 2026 Svetlana Tsikhanouskaya, exiled Belarusian opposition leader and organiser, speaks on Belarusian democracy, repression and regional security. She discusses coordination with Ukraine, Belarusian volunteers fighting, risks and hopes for postwar Belarus. The conversation covers prisoner releases, child abductions and the personal costs of resistance.
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Comms And Weather Shift Frontline Dynamics
- The Starlink switch-off reduced the intensity of Russian drone attacks in some sectors, per Ukrainian sources.
- Weather changes also hindered Russian movement, with melting snow making rivers impassable.
Systemic Corruption Undermines Russian Combat Power
- Corruption in Russian frontline units is systemic and affects combat effectiveness.
- Commanders allegedly sell safety and equipment, forcing soldiers to pay to avoid suicidal deployments.
Soldier Footage Exposes Extortion And 'Resets'
- A Russian soldier recorded his junior sergeant admitting commanders extort payments to spare men from danger.
- Denis Kolesnikov claimed commanders 'reset' those who refused, leading to multiple deaths he personally witnessed.