Antti Kuronen

Ulkomaantoimittaja Yle Uutisissa. Twiittaan matkoilta ja kotoa maailman tapahtumista.

[Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський @ZelenskyyUa]

In any normal country, purchasing stolen goods is an act that entails legal liability. This applies, in particular, to grain stolen by Russia. Another vessel carrying such grain has arrived at a port in Israel and is preparing to unload. This is not – and cannot be – legitimate business. The Israeli authorities cannot be unaware of which ships are arriving at the country’s ports and what cargo they are carrying.

Russia is systematically seizing grain on temporarily occupied Ukrainian land and organizing its export through individuals linked to the occupiers. Such schemes violate the laws of the State of Israel itself. Ukraine has taken all necessary steps through diplomatic channels to prevent such incidents. However, we see that yet another such vessel has not been stopped. I have instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine to inform all partners of our state about the situation.

Based on information from our intelligence services, Ukraine is preparing a relevant sanctions package that will cover both those directly transporting this grain and the individuals and legal entities attempting to profit from this criminal scheme. We will also coordinate with European partners to ensure that the relevant individuals are included in European sanctions regimes.

Ukraine counts on partnership and mutual respect with every state. We are genuinely working to enhance security, particularly in the Middle East region. We expect that the Israeli authorities will respect Ukraine and refrain from actions that undermine our bilateral relations.

[Timothy Snyder @TimothyDSnyder]

1/2. Notice that after losing the war Trump threatens his allies rather than Russia — even though Russia quite literally helped Iran defeat the US and he knows it.

[Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський @ZelenskyyUa]

Over the past week, Russia launched nearly 1,550 attack drones against Ukraine, more than 1,260 guided aerial bombs, and two missiles. Over that same week, due to the easing of sanctions, Russia increased its crude oil sales to finance its war.

Revenues give Russia a sense of impunity and the ability to continue the war. That is why pressure must continue and sanctions must work. Russia’s shadow fleet must not feel safe in European waters or anywhere else. Tankers that serve the war budget can and must be stopped and blocked, not just let go. I thank every leader who makes such decisions. This is what brings a dignified peace closer.

[UNITED24 Media @United24media]

As Russia bombards Ukraine, the Venice @la_Biennale welcomes Kremlin-linked Russians.

So who are they?

🧵 1/12 ⬇️

[Nicholas Kristof @NickKristof]

Terrorism by Israeli settlers, sometimes protected by the IDF, is out of control.

[Olena Tregub @OTregub]

Something uncomfortable is happening in Hungary – and too few people are talking about it.

The recent detention of Ukrainian bank employees carrying cash through Hungary was not a law enforcement operation and but an FSB style operation: heavily armed officers, disproportionate force, and reportedly even interrogations conducted in Russian. Inside the EU and NATO!

I say this as someone who lived in Hungary. Hungarians used to be extremely sensitive about Russia. They remember 1956, when Soviet troops drowned their revolution in blood. Even hearing Russian spoken in public spaces could make people uncomfortable.

Which is why it feels surreal to watch parts of the society completely forgot this history lesson and support a Russian agent in power.

With elections coming and Péter Magyar polling well ahead of Orbán, there are already warnings about Russian “political technologies” being deployed. Ukrainians know these methods well.

The EU should watch these elections very closely. Letting Russia steal it would be a huge blow.

[Yarema Dukh 🇺🇦 @yarko]

It is day 4 of the @Paralympics, where Russian soldiers who invaded Ukraine are allowed to compete under the reinstated Russian flag. Here are some of their stories:

[Serhii Sternenko @sternenko]

The Ukrainian team has been banned from wearing uniforms featuring a map of Ukraine at the 2026 Paralympics. The IPC claims the map is "political."

At the same time, the Russian team includes former military personnel who participated in the illegal invasion. Russians are allowed to compete under their own flag, while Ukrainians are forbidden from showing their own territory.

Beyond Absurd...

[Meduza in English @meduza_en]

A Russian general texted his wife a photo of severed ears taken from Ukrainian POWs and promised to string them into a gift. Her response: "Like pig ears to go with beer." RFE/RL obtained the messages, and they reveal far more than one general's crimes. https://t.co/0T7RRb9okH

[Iuliia Mendel @IuliiaMendel]

In 2025, civilian suffering from Russian attacks in Ukraine intensified sharply: according to Action on Armed Violence (AOAV), explosive violence killed 2,248 civilians and injured 12,493, a 26% rise in total casualties compared to 2024. On average, nearly 5 civilians (4.8) were killed or wounded per attack—up 33% from the previous year—despite fewer recorded incidents overall. The deadliest strike hit Dnipro on June 24, when missiles targeted a passenger train, homes, and schools, killing 21 people and injuring 314, including 38 children. These figures, drawn from English-language reports, highlight a worrying escalation in harm to civilians amid ongoing Russian missile and drone campaigns.

[Antti Kuronen @YLEKuronen]

Totta. Ilman riittävää tukea Ukrainalle sota pitkittyy..

[Tymofiy Mylovanov @Mylovanov]

Sanna Marin: Ukraine has shown incredible resilience. But they are constantly in a situation where they are begging for things they needed yesterday.

If we give too little, too late, the war will only continue. We need to support more, regardless of what the US does.

[Antti Kuronen @YLEKuronen]

Miettimisen aihetta..

[Velina Tchakarova @vtchakarova]

My gravest takeaways from Zelensky‘s speech is that the richest nations in the world with the biggest common market are not capable & willing to produce missiles and air-defence systems at scale after four years of the most brutal war on the old continent since the end of WW2.

[David Steadson #NAFO 🇦🇺🇸🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺🌍 @DavidSteadson]

The IOC originally claimed they banned @heraskevych from the @Olympics under Rule 50 governing "political propaganda".

When the claim his helmet was "political propaganda" failed under scrutiny, they changed the alleged breach to rule 40.2 - the helmet would distract from "focus on the field of play".

His helmet became a distraction ONLY after @iocmedia made it a distraction. They caused the disruption, then they banned him for it.

[Antti Kuronen @YLEKuronen]

Tässä video ja listaus kaikista Venäjän tappamista ukrainalaisurheilijoista, joiden muotokuva oli kelkkailija Vladyslav Heraskevytšin kypärässä. Nuorin uhri oli 9-vuotias. Olympialiike diskasi Heraskevytšin, koska kypärä oli sen mielestä 'propagandistinen'..

[UAVoyager🇺🇦 @NAFOvoyager]

This is who is depicted on Vladyslav Heraskevych’s helmet.

▪️Alina Perehudova – 14 years old
▪️Karina Dyachenko – 11 years old
▪️Viktoriia Ivashko – 9 years old
▪️Maria Lebid – 15 years old
▪️Nazar Zuy – 13 years old
▪️Volodymyr Androshchuk – 22 years old
▪️Oleksii Khabarov – 31 years old
▪️Yevhen Malyshev – 19 years old
▪️Dmytro Sharpar – 25 years old
▪️Pavlo Ishchenko – 33 years old
▪️Maksym Halinichev – 22 years old
▪️Andrii Kutsenko – 34 years old
▪️Oleksii Lohinov – 23 years old
▪️Karina Bakhur – 17 years old
▪️Mykyta Kozubenko – 31 years old
▪️Roman Polishchuk – 29 years old
▪️Andrii Yaremenko – 25 years old
▪️Taras Shpuk – 34 years old
▪️Kateryna Troyan – 32 years old
▪️Fedir Epifanov – 19 years old
▪️Daria Kurdel – 20 years old
▪️Ivan Kononenko – 42 years old

They are not just names — lives taken, stories ended.

They will not be forgotten; no IOC bans will make us forget or forgive russia for all the evil they brought to our land.

[Euromaidan Press @EuromaidanPress]

Ukraine built a database naming 156,000 dead and 96,000 wounded Russian soldiers - with units, service numbers, and medical records. Updated weekly.

Russia's response: block the site so its own citizens can't see it.

https://t.co/nAtjHehrfF

[Antti Kuronen @YLEKuronen]

Venäjä spinnaa Trumpia muun muassa taloudella. Vaikea nähdä, että Venäjällä aidosti olisi kovin paljon tarjottavaa tällä saralla.
https://t.co/pctPOxd5CQ

[Antti Kuronen @YLEKuronen]

En tunne olympialiikettä kovin hyvin, mutta aika kyyniseltä vaikuttaa..

[Vladyslav Heraskevych OLY @heraskevych]

The International Olympic Committee is rotten from the inside.

At the 144th IOC Session held in Greece from March 19 to 21, Shamil Tarpischev was re-elected as an IOC member until 2028.

Shamil Tarpischev, a russian tennis player, coach, sports official, and President of the russian Tennis Federation. In the 1990s, he was a close ally of russian President Boris Yeltsin and led several state sports organizations. His 30-year tenure as head of the russian Tennis Federation would be unimaginable without state backing, as major sports federations in russia are tightly controlled by the government.

Tarpishchev has a reputation as a person close to the Kremlin "elites", frequently appearing alongside putin at public events, particularly sports-related ones. In July 2022, after russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, Tarpischev was awarded the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" II degree by putin’s decree.

In autumn 2022, Tarpischev enthusiastically supported the idea of forming military units composed of russian professional athletes to commit atrocities in Ukraine. He stated, “Creating volunteer units from professional athletes is a good idea. I can’t say more at this point. We need to meet and discuss this proposal with its developers.”

Despite this, just two weeks ago, Tarpischev was re-elected to the IOC. Footage shows the future IOC President warmly greeting him with a kiss and posing for a photo with a smile alongside an individual who openly supports russia’s war against Ukraine.
Is this the IOC’s version of “solidarity” with Ukraine?

russian scum who support the war have no place in the IOC.
❗️Tarpischev must be removed from his position in the IOC❗️

[Antti Kuronen @YLEKuronen]

Ukrainan ulkoministerin lausunto olympialiikkeen päätöksestä sulkea ulos Skeleton-kelkkailija Vladyslav Heraskevytš. Yhteenvetona: Hän ei ole tyytyväinen..

[Andrii Sybiha 🇺🇦 @andrii_sybiha]

The IOC has banned not the Ukrainian athlete, but its own reputation. Future generations will recall this as a moment of shame.

He simply wanted to commemorate fellow athletes killed in war. There is nothing wrong with that under any rules or ethics.

The IOC intimidated, disrespected, and even lectured our athlete and other Ukrainians on how they should keep quiet about “one of 130 conflicts in the world”.

The IOC has also systemically failed to confront the greatest abuser of international sports and the Olympic Charter — Russia.

A country that started three invasions during the Olympic Truce in the past three decades, implemented the largest state-funded doping program, killed 650 Ukrainian athletes and coaches, and damaged 800 sports facilities in Ukraine.

These are Russians who must be banned, not the commemoration of their victims. None of them are “neutral”.

If the Olympic Creed says that “the most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part”, then @iocmedia betrayed it completely by preventing @heraskevych from taking part and betrayed 650 Ukrainian athletes and coaches killed by Russia.

We are proud to have Vladyslav who has not betrayed them. Thank you for your principles and bravery.

[Antti Kuronen @YLEKuronen]

Hmm.. Tässä toinen tapaus, joka olympialiikkeen mukaan törkeää propagandaa kypärässä...

[WarTranslated @wartranslated]

A third Ukrainian athlete has been banned from using his helmet. The International Skating Union did not allow Ukrainian short track skater Oleh Handei to compete in his own gear.

Handei told Ukrainian media that he was forced to change his usual equipment:

"I have a quote by Lina Kostenko on my helmet: ‘Where there is heroism, there is no final defeat.’ They banned it, saying it’s a political slogan, that it’s about the war, that it’s not allowed. I translated it word for word for them - no, they said it’s political. These are simply motivational words for me, for my team, and for my country. Why not? They said it’s political and it’s propaganda."
https://t.co/kZopsSqXFK

[Antti Kuronen @YLEKuronen]

Että mitä?!? Ukrainalainen heitettiin olympialaisista, koska halusi kunnioittaa puolustustaistelussa kaatuneita muotokuvilla kypärässään. "Ilman heidän uhraustaan en olisi täällä", hän sanoi kaatuneista sotilaista ja pysyi päätöksessään olla sensuroimatta kypärää. Kaikki kunnia ukrainalaiselle urheilijalle, olympiapäättäjistä en niinkään tiedä. Kuvat esittävät urheilijoita ja valmentajia, jotka Venäjä on tappanut hyökkäyssodassaan. Olympialiikkeen mielestä kuvat ovat propagandaa..
https://t.co/0Tbu0JO9oy