Bridge collapse near Bryansk: FSB undermines Russia

1. Russia has been trying to force its narrative for a year now, pushing the idea wherever it can that "Ukraine is a terrorist country" (this is one of the two main Russian talking points for 2024–25).

2. On the eve of talks in Istanbul, where Russia will present deliberately unacceptable demands, it’s useful to shift the conversation. Instead of discussing those demands, the aim is to get everyone focused on the idea that you can’t negotiate with a "terrorist country" that targets civilian trains with no military purpose.

3. This bloody show is for one viewer only: Trump. Bombing trains like it’s World War II guerrilla warfare is meant to argue against tougher sanctions, for now. Let’s not forget: Putin’s main short-term goal is to block any new sanctions before Washington heads into its "summer holiday" mode.

4. For some reason, no one’s asked the obvious question: if Ukrainians planted a remote-controlled bomb under the bridge support — those same Ukrainians who blew up the Crimean Bridge and pulled off elite special ops — couldn’t they have predicted the full consequences of blowing up a passenger train?

5. The information war of “believe it or don’t” has already started. And the main battlefield is Europe and the U.S. For us, it’s a crucial fight. Whether sanctions speed up or slow down depends on how this plays out.

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About the author: Vadym Denysenko, political scientist.

The editorial staff does not always share the opinions expressed by the blog authors.