Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) in conversation with Sberbank boss German Gref.Image: keystone
July 1, 2026, 3:58 p.mJuly 1, 2026, 3:58 p.m
The Kremlin is currently considering new options for attacks on Kyiv. According to Ukrainian army chief Oleksandr Syrskyj, the next advance threatens primarily from the Russian Bryansk region towards Chernihiv. Moscow’s strategic goal is to artificially lengthen the front line in order to lure Ukrainian defense forces away from other important zones.
As a new escalation threatens at the border, the facade of the Russian elite is showing cracks. German Gref, head of the state-owned Sberbank and one of the regime’s most important financial pillars, is surprisingly open in calling for a quick end to the military operations. This comes from a report by United24 a platform run by the Ukrainian government. The desire for peace unites the Russian population.
Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyj (right).Image: keystone
Faced with the crushing economic costs, the top banker who helped finance the war despite international sanctions switches from unconditional loyalty to visible concern. He is not alone in his desire for peace in his own country: independent surveys show that 81 percent of the Russian population now supports an immediate stop to the invasion.
Evacuation ordered
Ukraine is pulling the emergency brake in the north. The mandatory evacuation was ordered or extended for a total of 19 border settlements in the Chernihiv region.
A renewed advance through Belarusian territory is considered unlikely due to the difficult access to the terrain. Extensive swamp areas block heavy equipment, and practically all bridges that could be used for military purposes have been dismantled on the Ukrainian side. (val)