While Donbas has captured public attention, the rest of Ukraine also suffers from Russia's war. In Sumy, a growing drone campaign portends more displacement as locals fear the city becoming a 'second Kherson.' I visited Sumy for @offbeatresearch.bsky.social: offbeatresearch.com/2025/11/year...

The battle for Donbas is now fought with small arms and smaller drones, and men in teams of two or three. But the fighting is even deadlier than earlier in this war. I visited Dobropillya and spoke with some of its Ukrainian defenders, for CBC: www.cbc.ca/news/world/u...

I'm in Sloviansk, eastern Ukraine. Three massive Russian glide bombs just tore into the city a few kilometers away, big enough to feel their shockwaves in my apartment. Just an average night for Donbas.

Yesterday I had the rare opportunity to speak with infantry from Ukraine's 14th Brigade. They had just returned from a 90-day posting in Novoekonomichne - one of the hottest parts of the entire front. Their commander, 'Bobruk,' had some very interesting insights. Thread:

Dear followers, I have a request for you. I'm presently back in Ukraine again, and looking to make a reporting trip out to Donbas soon. The costs of this are not low, though, and keep growing as media budgets shrink. That's why I'm asking for your help to make this trip work. /1

More than three years into full-scale warfare, Ukraine and Russia are locked in a war of attrition, with an uncertain outcome. Yet there are some key steps that Western policymakers can take to ensure Ukraine emerges victorious. My new policy paper: carleton.ca/eetn/2025/a-...

Syria's minorities have been in the news lately, amidst uncertainty over their futures. But in the city of Aleppo, one Christian community is thriving: the Armenians. I spent a few days with them, for CTV News: www.ctvnews.ca/world/articl...

In Tbilisi for a quick visit, and it's noticably depressing here. The most common conversation with friends is 'did you make it across the border okay?', followed by stories of foreigners who were deported. This from a country that was once the light in the region.

Visiting Ottawa this week for a short conference (and presentation on Russia/Ukraine) at my alma mater, @Carleton_U. Have already met so many Ukrainians the past day here 🇺🇦🇨🇦

Have a pair of longform pieces (3,000-5,000 words) on Syria that I'm trying to find homes for. I've got good pitches drawn up for each, but struggling to find the right outlet(s). Any advice or suggestions appreciated.

Still searching, folks

Editors: I'm looking for a home for a story of mine on Latakia, Syria, where I was present just days before the the explosion of violence there this past weekend. Anyone interested? DMs are open.

Latakia, on the Syrian coast. The former heartland of the Assad regime.

On April 7, 2018, the Assad regime gassed the city of Douma. Survivors were brought to the Hague & forced to deny it. But their story didn't end there: two of the witnesses have been thrown out of their homes and threatened by HTS fighters. My latest from Syria: www.cbc.ca/news/world/s...

Meet Bakhour Chamntoub, the new head of Damascus's Jewish community (all 7 of them). The self-proclaimed 'best tailor in Syria,' Bakhour is a real celebrity - seemingly half the Old City knows him. He says he can't leave Syria because he's a womanizer and 'all my girls are here.'

Have just arrived in the southern Syrian city of Suwayda. The local Druze population were stridently anti-Assad for years - but the local leadership does not get along with the new Syrian authorities, either. Promises to be an interesting couple of days here.

Today I visited Douma, a northeastern suburb of Damascus that was one of the first strongholds of the Free Syrian Army. It spent seven years until siege and bombardment, with near-constant artillery and airstrikes - including a chemical gas attack.

Today I visited Douma, a northeastern suburb of Damascus that was one of the first strongholds of the Free Syrian Army. It spent seven years until siege and bombardment, with near-constant artillery and airstrikes - including a chemical gas attack.

13 years after I started obsessing over maps and videos of the Syrian war, I am actually here, in Free Damascus. Still feels like a dream. What an absolute privilege to be here and I can't wait to see so much of this beautiful country over the next month! 💚🤍🖤

Hello Beirut 🇱🇧! Landed in Lebanon's lovely capital today for a quick stopover and last preparations. Tomorrow, I will make the journey overland to Damascus and Free Syria 🇸🇾 (when will this emoji be updated!?).

You can find the donation link here: buymeacoffee.com/neilphauer

Re-upping this as I'm in final preparations for this trip - will be flying to Beirut on Sunday and crossing to Damascus on Monday. Any support appreciated!

Re-upping this as I'm in final preparations for this trip - will be flying to Beirut on Sunday and crossing to Damascus on Monday. Any support appreciated!

Any other journalists (freelance or otherwise) heading to Syria soon and want to split costs on fixers etc? Drop me a line if so

The sham trials of Karabakh Armenian leaders, including Russian-Armenian billionaire Ruben Vardanyan, are underway in Azerbaijan. The closed-door proceedings are a mockery of justice. I spoke with Vardanyan's son and others about the trials: www.intellinews.com/families-of-...

Dear Bluesky, I have a humble request today. I am presently planning a long reporting trip to Syria, looking to spend nearly a month in the country telling the stories of its many communities under the Assad regime, as well as their hopes - and fears - for the future.

After 14 years, the Chechen and North Caucasian fighters in Syria's rebellion have succeeded in their mission of toppling Bashar Assad. What now? Will they settle in Syria, or go next to Ukraine or, even, back home? I took a look at the possibilities: ridl.io/what-future-...

A very important extension of the EU border observation mission in Armenia for two more years. It has successfully helped prevent the attacks by Azerbaijan into Armenia that occurred regularly from early 2021 to late 2022.

Do I know any freelance journalists who have been in Syria recently? Looking to discuss costs and logistics of reporting there with someone who knows - please let me know!

As an initial offering here, read my latest on the new US-Armenia Strategic Partnership agreement, and what it could mean for Yerevan: www.intellinews.com/new-us-strat...

Welp, I have succumbed to peer pressure and joined this site. Give me the 140,000 followers I have on Twitter here.