Russian Digest-3/23

Top daily stories I'm keeping an eye on

1. A rare face-to-face meeting between Russian and US military officials last week led to an "outburst" of emotion from a normally stoic Russian general, a "revealing moment" that the Americans present believe hinted at larger morale problems in Russia's military, according to a closely held US military readout of what transpired. via CNN

2. Russia may be preparing mass atrocities in Kherson that are similar to what is happening in Mariupol.

   The Kremlin is plotting to unleash a “great terror” on the city of Kherson by kidnapping residents and taking them across the Russian border, an FSB whistleblower has claimed. via The Times

3. Resignations and purges: As an isolated Putin suffers humiliation and heavy losses, we see signs of friction developing inside Russia, particularly with Putin’s agencies. via

   Signs of instability in the Kremlin as Putin begins his purges

   4. The Russian deputy ambassador to the UN says Russia retains the right to use nuclear weapons if the country is “provoked” by NATO. via Sky News

   5. Not Ukraine related but extremely important and appalling. Manhattan DA drops the case against Trump and former prosecutor, Mark Pomerantz, who had investigated Trump

      issues a scathing response in his resignation letter. via NYT