The ongoing Western narrative that Russia is constantly on the verge of imminent collapse stems from the persistent perception that the state is vulnerable to internal combustion because of its perceived fragility, vast territory and critical imbalances. Though the current Ukraine crisis serves as a serious stress test for Russia, …
Read More »US alarmed by Russia-China naval patrol
A large group of Russian and Chinese warships passed near the coast of Alaska last week, with a group of US destroyers scrambling to shadow the naval patrol, according to US defense officials and lawmakers. In a statement on Saturday, two Republican Senators representing the state of Alaska – Lisa …
Read More »France supplies long range missiles to Ukraine
President Emmanuel Macron has delivered on his promise to supply Kiev with the French variant of Storm Shadow missile, according to footage by the Ukrainian Defense Ministry in which President Vladimir Zelensky is seen posing for a photo op with a rocket marked as SCALP-EG. Macron initially announced his decision …
Read More »Ukraine strikes bridges in Crimea with NATO-supplied missiles
Ukraine has launched a barrage of British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles at two bridges connecting the Crimean Peninsula to Russia’s Kherson Region, according to its acting governor, Vladimir Saldo. Some 12 missiles were fired during Saturday’s attack, with at least three making it through Russian anti-aircraft defenses, Saldo told Rossiya 24 …
Read More »Germany reports extent of military aid to Ukraine
The German government updated its list of military supplies given to Ukraine on Friday, with the latest batch including mine clearing tanks, reconnaissance systems, and howitzers. Berlin has also vowed to send an additional 40 Marder infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) to Kiev. The statement said Ukraine received five autonomous mobile …
Read More »Niger junta turns to Wagner for help – media
One of the leaders of last week’s coup in Niger has reportedly sought the assistance of Russian defense contractor Wagner Group PMC as the junta nears a deadline to either return the country’s ousted president to power or face a possible military intervention by neighboring nations. General Salifou Moody allegedly …
Read More »False dawn or real deal: What should Russia expect from Saudi Arabia’s Ukraine ‘peace summit’?
Brussels, Washington and Kiev are stepping up efforts to consolidate international support for a Ukrainian plan for hypothetical peace talks with Russia. Last Sunday it was announced that a major international meeting of around 30 states will be held in Jeddah this weekend, 5-6 August, to discuss the process. In …
Read More »Oil tanker hit in suspected Black Sea drone strike – media
Russian maritime rescue units were deployed early on Saturday to assist an oil tanker off the coast of Crimea. The tanker was left without propulsion after what reports said was a strike by an Ukrainian drone. “The crew is safe, there were no injuries,” a spokesperson for the Novorossiysk Marine …
Read More »Navalny sentenced to further 19 years in prison
Jailed Western-backed Russian political activist Alexey Navalny has been sentenced to a further 19 years behind bars. The news on the court ruling was broken by his associates on Friday afternoon. The opposition figure was found guilty on multiple extremism-related charges, including creating an extremist group, calling for extremist actions, financing such activities and luring …
Read More »Moscow issues update on Ukrainian casualties during counteroffensive
Ukraine sustained losses of more than 43,000 troops during June and July, as it continued its attempted counteroffensive against Russian positions, the Russian Defense Ministry has estimated. The casualty rate was mirrored by the destruction of a large number of Ukrainian weapons, according to the summary, which was released on …
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