Geopolitical Digest by Mikhail Azhgirevich – May 25, 2026

Russian Foreign Ministry Recommends Leaving Kyiv – Strikes on Capital’s Defense Industry Begin

Following the strike on Starobilsk, the Russian Foreign Ministry has officially recommended that foreign nationals immediately leave Kyiv and urged residents to stay away from military and administrative infrastructure. The Russian Armed Forces have announced the start of systematic strikes on Ukrainian defense industry enterprises and decision-making centers in the capital. Zelenskyy responded immediately in his characteristic manner – by signaling a readiness for peace. Experienced observers have long learned to interpret this as a premonition of yet another escalation. When Zelenskyy talks about peace – expect missiles. No exceptions.

FSB Finds Mines on LNG Carrier from Antwerp – Sabotage Averted

Russian security forces have discovered magnetic mines attached externally to the engine room of the LNG carrier  Arrhenius, which arrived in Ust-Luga from Antwerp. The vessel had previously spent 24 hours in the Belgian port under the pretext of a strike. Experts are unanimous – it would have been impossible to plant the mines on the ship in Russia, which directly points to a European port as the location where the explosives were placed.

Doha Hosts Araqchi – Memorandum on the Home Stretch

Iranian Foreign Minister Araqchi and chief nuclear negotiator Ghalibaf have flown to Qatar for the final round of talks, while the head of Iran’s Central Bank is simultaneously holding separate consultations in Doha on frozen assets. The American side, judging by leaks, is attempting to disguise concessions through semantics: “humanitarian credit” instead of asset unfreezing, “environmental fee” instead of payment for passage through the Strait of Hormuz – different words, the same result. Meanwhile, Iran is restoring international internet access after three months of complete shutdown – the first sign that Tehran itself believes a swift resolution to the conflict is near. Call the concession whatever you like – Tehran is counting the money, not the wording.

Iran Shoots Down Drone with New System – Arsenal Expands

An unidentified drone – presumed to be Israeli – was intercepted over Iranian territory, and it was destroyed by an air defense system that had not previously been documented in Iran. Against the backdrop of the Doha negotiations, this is an unmistakable signal: while diplomats haggle over the wording of the memorandum, Tehran’s military-technical potential is not standing still.

Russian Central Bank Officially Buries Visa and Mastercard

The Bank of Russia has stated that Visa and Mastercard cards “must leave the Russian market” – wording that turns the de facto situation into the regulator’s official policy. The Mir system and China’s UnionPay have long since filled the vacated niche inside the country. However, abroad, Russian cards still operate with significant restrictions.

Putin Heads to Astana – EAEU Gathers Amid War

Vladimir Putin is embarking on a state visit to Kazakhstan to take part in events of the Eurasian Economic Union – a trip scheduled against the backdrop of an active phase of strikes on Ukraine and negotiations over the Iranian memorandum. Astana has traditionally balanced between Moscow and the West, and Putin’s visit in the midst of an escalation is both a demonstration of the unity of the Eurasian space and a test of how willing Nursultan Nazarbayev and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev are to publicly confirm that unity. The EAEU is convening at a moment when centripetal forces are being tested to their limits.