(C) Meduza This story was originally published by Meduza and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . The Real Russia. Today. Tuesday, July 2, 2024 — Meduza [1] [] Date: 2024-07-02 The war in Ukraine 🛡️ NATO plans changes to shield Ukraine aid from shifting political winds: Citing unnamed NATO and U.S. officials, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that the alliance is planning a range of measures to safeguard the future of its assistance to Ukraine. In addition to stationing a senior civilian official in Kyiv, the bloc will reportedly establish a new command center in Wiesbaden, Germany, that will oversee the supply of military equipment to Ukraine as well as training for Ukrainian soldiers. Former U.S. Ambassador to NATO Ivo Daalder said the changes are meant, among other things, to “Trump-proof” NATO's aid to Ukraine. Citing unnamed NATO and U.S. officials, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that the alliance is planning a range of measures to safeguard the future of its assistance to Ukraine. In addition to stationing a senior civilian official in Kyiv, the bloc will reportedly establish a new command center in Wiesbaden, Germany, that will oversee the supply of military equipment to Ukraine as well as training for Ukrainian soldiers. Former U.S. Ambassador to NATO Ivo Daalder said the changes are meant, among other things, to “Trump-proof” NATO's aid to Ukraine. 🇭🇺 Viktor Orbán makes first Ukraine trip since start of full-scale war: During his first trip to Ukraine since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to consider a ceasefire along the war’s current front line. Speaking to journalists after the two leaders met, Orbán said he believes his proposal would “provide a chance to speed up peace talks” and that he was grateful for Zelensky’s “honest answers.” Zelensky did not acknowledge the suggestion in his public statements but noted that Orbán signed the joint communiqué of the Ukraine peace summit held in Switzerland last month. Orbán has been a vocal critic of the E.U.’s assistance to Ukraine. In early 2023, a worker from a Russian government organization traveled to a number of occupied towns and villages in Ukraine’s Kherson region. During the trip, this person, who we’ll refer to as “A.,” recorded candid conversations with locals and took photographs of what he saw — and then turned over all of these materials to Meduza. The following story by Meduza special correspondent Kristina Safonova weaves together A.’s observations and the firsthand accounts from locals, offering insight into the fears, thoughts, and experiences of Ukrainians living under Russian occupation. We got The Beet. Don’t miss Meduza’s weekly newsletter (separate from the one you’re reading here)! Meanwhile in Russia 📈 World Bank upgrades Russia from ‘upper-middle-income’ to ‘high-income’ country: In its upgraded classifications of countries by income level published on Monday, the World Bank upgraded Russia from an “upper-middle-income” to a “high-income” country based on its 2023 gross national income (GNI) per capita of $14,250. The organization defines “high-income” countries as ones with a GNI per capita higher than $14,005. The Bank noted that Russia’s economic activity last year was “influenced by a large increase in military related activity” and got a boost from rebounds in trade, the financial sector, and construction. Ukraine, which had a GNI per capita of $5,070 in 2023, was upgraded from a “lower-middle-income” country to an “upper-middle-income” country. In its upgraded classifications of countries by income level published on Monday, the World Bank upgraded Russia from an “upper-middle-income” to a “high-income” country based on its 2023 gross national income (GNI) per capita of $14,250. The organization defines “high-income” countries as ones with a GNI per capita higher than $14,005. The Bank noted that Russia’s economic activity last year was “influenced by a large increase in military related activity” and got a boost from rebounds in trade, the financial sector, and construction. Ukraine, which had a GNI per capita of $5,070 in 2023, was upgraded from a “lower-middle-income” country to an “upper-middle-income” country. 🚫 Russian court declares journalist and his wife ‘extremist association:’ A St. Petersburg court designated journalist Alexander Nevzorov and his wife Lydia as an “extremist association” on Tuesday, banning their “activities” in Russia. It also ordered the confiscation of the couple’s property, including three plots of land and a house, according to Nevzorov’s lawyer. The couple has lived outside of Russia since shortly after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began. In February 2023, a Moscow court sentenced Nevzorov to eight years in prison on charges related to social media posts be made about Russia atrocities in Mariupol and Bucha. A St. Petersburg court designated journalist Alexander Nevzorov and his wife Lydia as an “extremist association” on Tuesday, banning their “activities” in Russia. It also ordered the confiscation of the couple’s property, including three plots of land and a house, according to Nevzorov’s lawyer. The couple has lived outside of Russia since shortly after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began. In February 2023, a Moscow court sentenced Nevzorov to eight years in prison on charges related to social media posts be made about Russia atrocities in Mariupol and Bucha. ⛓️ Russian authorities opt not to launch criminal case over prison death of volunteer who helped Ukrainians leave Russia: The Investigative Committee in Russia’s Belgorod region decided not to launch a criminal investigation over the death of volunteer Alexander Demidenko, who reportedly helped hundreds of Ukrainians return from Russia back to Ukraine before his arrest in October 2023, the local news site Fonar reports. Demidenko died in pre-trial detention in April. State investigators said that an internal investigation into his death yielded no evidence that a crime was committed, though photos of Demidenko taken after his arrest showed bruises on his body. Demidenko’s son has said he believes his father’s death was a suicide and that the six months he spent in remand prison had “already killed [him] psychologically.” As the world turns 🤿 Bloomberg: Russian submarines carried out ‘unprecedented’ operations near Irish Sea: Russian attack submarines have carried out missions around the Irish Sea twice in the last two years, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday, citing three knowledgeable sources. The first case reportedly occurred about 18 months ago, while the second one took place “more recently.” The sources said the U.S. is aware of the incidents, which Bloomberg said “forced the UK military to take steps to protect British and Irish waters.” On June 18, 2024, Kazakhstani opposition journalist Aidos Sadykov, who received political asylum in Ukraine 10 years ago, was shot outside of his Kyiv apartment. Two weeks later, on the morning of July 2, Sadykov succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. He was 55 years old. Ukrainian investigators have identified the suspects in the shooting as Altai Zhakanbayev and Meiram Karatayev, two Kazakhstani citizens who allegedly fled Ukraine through Moldova after the shooting. Meduza shares an abridged translation of a report by Mediazona Central Asia on who Sadykov was, why he was forced into exile, and what we know about his murder. No country can be free without independent media. 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