Notes and Essays -- John Brown

Serhii Boychuk said he suffered sexual torture at the hands of his Russian guards. [more on  Serhii Boychuk and others below] By Alistair MacDonald , Serhi Bosak and Ivegeniia Sivorka Photography by Sasha Maslov for WSJ  July 25, 2026 11:00 pm ET JB:  See also  Chatham House, which notes, " A recent report by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine found that sexual violence has been used systematically by Russian authorities as a method of torture in detention settings. The report underscores that conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) affects civilians and prisoners of war alike and constitutes a significant proportion of war crimes being prosecuted in Ukraine." Quick Summary -- Growing testimony suggests Russian sexual violence against Ukrainian POWs and civilian prisoners has been systematic and condoned by senior Russian officials. -- The Unit ed Natio ns has gathered testimo ny about 310 cases of sexual violence by Russian forces. --...

The right-wing provocateur and Trump ally says she had a change of heart after realizing she was being duped by Russian misinformation: ‘I made a mistake ’ By Philip Wegmann July 24, 2026 7:12 pm ET The Wall Street Journal Quick Summary [JB - such is named for the below text] -- Trump ally Laura Loomer said she was duped by Russian misinformation and now views Ukraine as an essential ally after visiting the country . -- During her trip, Loomer interviewed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and called Trump twice to keep him apprised of her travels.  -- Loomer said her shift began after she realized Russian propaganda channels were leading a foreign- interference operation. This summary was generated with AI and reviewed by an editor Laura Loomer is on a journey . For years, the right-wing provocateur parroted Russian talking points, urging U.S. leaders to abandon Ukraine and calling the country’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, “an actual Nazi.” But after a trip to war-torn U...

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has pivoted from unpopular moves before, but a recent decision about military leadership and strategy could weaken his position. President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine during a visit to Paris this month. His country is in the grips of some of the worst turbulence in domestic politics since Russia’s all-out invasion in 2022. Credit... Pool photo by Teresa Suarez By Andrew E. Kramer  Reporting from Kyiv, Ukraine The New York Times July 23, 2026 The article contains links Before he became president, Volodymyr Zelensky played Napoleon in a comedic film that portrayed his character as a headstrong idiot who refused to change course even as he led his army to ruin . As president, Mr. Zelensky has been the opposite of his depiction of the French general — being, perhaps, flexible to a fault. He has so often reversed decisions on appointments and policies that confusion and personnel churn are risks in his wartime leadership, analysts say. In the l...