Russia has admitted that the occupied territories in eastern Ukraine are facing a humanitarian catastrophe. President Vladimir Putin stated that these areas became uninhabitable during the fighting, while placing blame on the Ukrainian side.
Putin remarked there is no water, waste is not removed, and sewer systems do not function in these regions. Before the Russian occupation, cities in these areas had operational utilities and general stability.
Meanwhile, Poland is discussing new laws regarding historical memory. The legislative proposal introduces criminal liability for glorifying OUN-UPA and for publicly stating alternative versions of the Volyn tragedy, raising concerns about freedom of speech.
Russian propaganda channels accuse Ukraine of planning provocations in Poland with Russian and Belarusian sabotage groups, a claim rejected by Ukraine.
Polish politicians are taking actions that observers say may weaken the country's position amid ongoing Russian threats. At the same time, EU countries such as Denmark are mobilizing reservists in response to increased tensions and the European Commission allocates extra funds for security.
Currently, the US is focused on internal budgetary issues, leaving Europe to respond independently to Russian challenges. In parallel, Hungary is restricting access to Ukrainian independent media, raising questions about the state of democracy in some EU and NATO countries. Analysts note that a strong Ukraine and a weakened Russia are key for a safe Europe.
