Foreign affairs broadcaster and author BBC presenter Russia / Ukraine / Orthodox Church expert The Baton and The Cross is now in paperback https://www.iconbooks.com/ib-title/the-baton-and-the-cross-3/ lucyashjournalism.comhttps://bsky.app/profile/lucyaash.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/lucyaash.bsky.social/post/3mvari24ob22y14th century bone fragments to incentivise 21st century killing. https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.rferl.org/amp/russia-orthodox-putin-dmitry-donskoi-sacred-relics/33851764.html&ct=ga&cd=CAEYASoTODc1NjM5NTg0ODE2NzYyMzEzMzIcMGVkNTk5YmM0ZTA4ODkxZDpjby51azplbjpHQg&usg=AOvVaw3Zgvk6V21bwJ2v00R6kVKB11 Sep 2026 14:25 +0000at://did:plc:mi7s76kp7aolaudugx2qt2py/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvari24ob22yhttps://bsky.app/profile/lucyaash.bsky.social/post/3muoctn2xu22tStop polluting our waterways with sewage. We’re handing in our petition next week, and we need to make sure the Government can’t ignore us. We’re pushing for 350,000 signatures — can you add your name and help us get there? https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/end-the-profit-driven-sewage-pollution-scandal-1?source=bluesky&utm_medium=socialshare&utm_source=bluesky&share=75509eb4-3921-4f96-86a2-baf0d57c063a04 Sep 2026 06:15 +0000at://did:plc:mi7s76kp7aolaudugx2qt2py/app.bsky.feed.post/3muoctn2xu22thttps://bsky.app/profile/lucyaash.bsky.social/post/3mrpkuuir622mhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002yvkx A few weeks back I visited a psychological retreat for traumatised soldiers from Ukraine's frontline. Third item in this show.28 Jul 2026 13:56 +0000at://did:plc:mi7s76kp7aolaudugx2qt2py/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrpkuuir622mhttps://bsky.app/profile/lucyaash.bsky.social/post/3mpgj6xgr622vThe head of the TV channel pushing Kremlin narratives, once said it was "out of the question" that Russia would attack the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, home of Orthodoxy's most sacred shrines. But this month it was in flames. Why? I'll discuss this at St James Church Norlands W11 tomorrow. Deets in comment29 Jun 2026 12:42 +0000at://did:plc:mi7s76kp7aolaudugx2qt2py/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpgj6xgr622vhttps://bsky.app/profile/lucyaash.bsky.social/post/3mo3lxguaxs2dAn account of what its really like in the Russian army by two soldiers who escaped to Finland: https://www.thebarentsobserver.com/news/all-right-im-a-soldier-im-ready/45219812 Jun 2026 11:07 +0000at://did:plc:mi7s76kp7aolaudugx2qt2py/app.bsky.feed.post/3mo3lxguaxs2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/lucyaash.bsky.social/post/3mntrqefhj222A troubling development https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/06/08/why-is-the-russian-orthodox-church-encouraging-people-to-volunteer-in-occupied-ukraine-a9295609 Jun 2026 08:29 +0000at://did:plc:mi7s76kp7aolaudugx2qt2py/app.bsky.feed.post/3mntrqefhj222https://bsky.app/profile/lucyaash.bsky.social/post/3mnhczvvwx227Why has the head of Russia's Orthodox Church sprinkled holy water on weapons and sanctified Putin's invasion of Ukraine? I’m talking about that at St James Norlands Church London W11 on June 30th as part of a series Making Sense of a Dangerous World. Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/summer-speakers-2026-making-sense-of-a-dangerous-world-tickets-198883787361804 Jun 2026 09:34 +0000at://did:plc:mi7s76kp7aolaudugx2qt2py/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnhczvvwx227https://bsky.app/profile/lucyaash.bsky.social/post/3mncad7zvl22cMy piece on how Putin is failing and flailing around in the global south. https://inews.co.uk/opinion/putins-fight-global-influence-quiet-disaster-4440326?utm_campaign=PNIkeO62Atacxch&ito=gifted_article&data-target=gifted_article&utm_source=XJPLeh5koSHChZEU02 Jun 2026 09:02 +0000at://did:plc:mi7s76kp7aolaudugx2qt2py/app.bsky.feed.post/3mncad7zvl22chttps://bsky.app/profile/lucyaash.bsky.social/post/3mltaq6ixtc2mPrinceton history and music scholar Simon Morrison says Moscow is a hard city to love - I spent a lot of time there back in the 1990s and would have to agree - here’s my review of his extraordinary history of Москва https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/lucy-ash-how-moscow-became-the-loneliest-big-city-in-the-world/?utm_campaign=f2ee3c37-555d-4568-a1f7-8bc8e82003a9&utm_source=1234588&fbclid=IwY2xjawRtUFxleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFXT1dNWTZGN3Z2czBWT284c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHkYamrhj9H9LHjafr9qzH1XYw4VdKz9-VI3mLdg-aKPku2K2sKDfifJSehqw_aem_JeQqANt1dmMqT_aaK_2XOQ?utm_campaign=f2ee3c37-555d-4568-a1f7-8bc8e82003a9&utm_source=123457814 May 2026 16:34 +0000at://did:plc:mi7s76kp7aolaudugx2qt2py/app.bsky.feed.post/3mltaq6ixtc2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/lucyaash.bsky.social/post/3mldko5tkrs2hI spoke with @rolandebrown.bsky.social about why Putin insists Ukraine belongs to Russia’s so-called “spiritual space,” and why his pliant Patriarch,Kirill, blames the war on European gay pride parades preaching that Russians killed fighting for “Holy Rus” are going to heaven. youtu.be/DYNaLOM-Wfs https://youtu.be/DYNaLOM-Wfs08 May 2026 10:49 +0000at://did:plc:mi7s76kp7aolaudugx2qt2py/app.bsky.feed.post/3mldko5tkrs2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/lucyaash.bsky.social/post/3mkms6brqns2shttps://cepa.org/article/putins-censors-lashed-by-popular-rage/ Very interesting read29 Apr 2026 09:32 +0000at://did:plc:mi7s76kp7aolaudugx2qt2py/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkms6brqns2shttps://bsky.app/profile/lucyaash.bsky.social/post/3mk5whji2t22mI'll be in Cambridge tomorrow talking about religion, politics and power in Russia with Mary Hockaday - do come along! https://www.cambridgeliteraryfestival.com/events/lucy-ash-russias-church-from-pagans-to-putin/23 Apr 2026 11:39 +0000at://did:plc:mi7s76kp7aolaudugx2qt2py/app.bsky.feed.post/3mk5whji2t22mhttps://bsky.app/profile/lucyaash.bsky.social/post/3mk3vuam2us22https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/04/22/russias-blasphemy-laws-are-just-kremlin-censorship-in-disguise-a9256822 Apr 2026 16:23 +0000at://did:plc:mi7s76kp7aolaudugx2qt2py/app.bsky.feed.post/3mk3vuam2us22https://bsky.app/profile/lucyaash.bsky.social/post/3mk3jdwrvx22qhttps://open.substack.com/pub/zygaro/p/monaco-the-kremlin-and-a-viral-revolt?r=6kda3v&utm_medium=ios In a true sign of the times - the latent anger at being treated with contempt is beginning to surface. Bonya talks candidly about the climate of fear in Russia - even if it is from the safety of Monaco. And it has obviously struck a chord.22 Apr 2026 12:39 +0000at://did:plc:mi7s76kp7aolaudugx2qt2py/app.bsky.feed.post/3mk3jdwrvx22qhttps://bsky.app/profile/lucyaash.bsky.social/post/3mhxzhrfx4s2qThanks to the Oxford Literary Festival for inviting me to speak about The Baton and The Cross and life in Russia today with fellow authors Jana Bakunina, Joe Luc Barnes and Alex Diggins. And thanks to Blenheim Palace park for a beautiful walk at sunset!26 Mar 2026 16:27 +0000at://did:plc:mi7s76kp7aolaudugx2qt2py/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhxzhrfx4s2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/lucyaash.bsky.social/post/3mhxvxlhmok2qPoland isn’t just debating its future - it’s fighting over its past. In today’s deeply polarised climate, history has become a battleground and museums are on the frontline. https://ip-quarterly.com/en/polands-history-war26 Mar 2026 15:24 +0000at://did:plc:mi7s76kp7aolaudugx2qt2py/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhxvxlhmok2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/lucyaash.bsky.social/post/3mhsowjslhc2sMy take on 2 wars 4 decades apart. https://inews.co.uk/opinion/worst-war-soviets-fought-is-now-haunting-putin-4253352?utm_campaign=PNIkeO62Atacxch&ito=gifted_article&data-target=gifted_article&utm_source=XJPLeh5koSHChZEU24 Mar 2026 13:35 +0000at://did:plc:mi7s76kp7aolaudugx2qt2py/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhsowjslhc2shttps://bsky.app/profile/lucyaash.bsky.social/post/3mh6pmba62s2dPatriarch Kirill has degraded his church by turning it into an army recruitment office. My piece today for @chathamhouse.org https://www.chathamhouse.org/publications/the-world-today/2026-03/how-russian-orthodox-church-recruiting-ukraine-war-and?utm_source=bsky.app&utm_medium=organic-social&utm_campaign=twt-mar26-russia-influence&utm_content=twt-mar26-russia-influence-content16 Mar 2026 14:54 +0000at://did:plc:mi7s76kp7aolaudugx2qt2py/app.bsky.feed.post/3mh6pmba62s2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/lucyaash.bsky.social/post/3mgnbvc3a6k2gOutrageous that Austria's former foreign minister has earned over 1 million roubles for regurgitating Kremlin propaganda on Russian TV ...but this is a woman who danced with Putin on her wedding day. https://novayagazeta.eu/articles/2026/03/09/eto-khoroshaia-zhizn09 Mar 2026 16:33 +0000at://did:plc:mi7s76kp7aolaudugx2qt2py/app.bsky.feed.post/3mgnbvc3a6k2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/lucyaash.bsky.social/post/3mgmyoq3nak2rSome very interesting reflections on fasting in wartime and forgiveness by Father Andrey Kordochkin in @themoscowtimes.com https://ru.themoscowtimes.com/2026/03/08/post-vo-vremya-voini-ili-mozhno-li-prostit-vraga-a189115?fbclid=IwY2xjawQbrihleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFibUxaQll6NVkzb1pSbERnc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHjbLZxcj_qkiBbgKm9_bCsOc9d_hwLfTK5jv9BCG68s2aWPy3Ok4S9uJ221K_aem_eOS_2rS2bCo3_fsWT85aEg09 Mar 2026 13:48 +0000at://did:plc:mi7s76kp7aolaudugx2qt2py/app.bsky.feed.post/3mgmyoq3nak2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/lucyaash.bsky.social/post/3mfotslmph22zPushkin House, which describes it self as "the only independent cultural organisation in the West whose mission is to deepen understanding of Russia" asked for my thoughts on the 4th anniversary of Putin's assault on Ukraine. https://www.pushkinhouse.org/pages/24-February-2026#part54925 Feb 2026 14:01 +0000at://did:plc:mi7s76kp7aolaudugx2qt2py/app.bsky.feed.post/3mfotslmph22zhttps://bsky.app/profile/lucyaash.bsky.social/post/3mfbtohmmdk2dHuge thanks to Helen Shair for the invite to @authorsinoundle.bsky.social and to Russian military expert @keirgiles.bsky.social for expertly steering our chat on The Baton and the Cross. Also discovered he reads Old Church Slavonic - did not see that one coming!20 Feb 2026 09:54 +0000at://did:plc:mi7s76kp7aolaudugx2qt2py/app.bsky.feed.post/3mfbtohmmdk2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/lucyaash.bsky.social/post/3mf7fborjgc2rhttps://www.thenewworld.co.uk/lucy-ash-the-return-of-the-german-military/?utm_campaign=f2ee3c37-555d-4568-a1f7-8bc8e82003a9&utm_source=123457319 Feb 2026 10:31 +0000at://did:plc:mi7s76kp7aolaudugx2qt2py/app.bsky.feed.post/3mf7fborjgc2r