WW3? Ukraine/US vs. Donbass/Russia

[Ravenlocke]

MFA Russia 🇷🇺

🛬 Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrives in New York to take part in the High-Level Week of the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly

#UNGA80

https://x.com/mfa_russia/status/1970676355152105612

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RT

Lavrov and Rubio's point of view from their UN meeting

Posted by Russia's FM Spox. Zakharova

https://x.com/RT_com/status/1970888160273170838

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DD Geopolitics,

🇷🇺🇺🇸 Lavrov and Rubio began their meeting on the sidelines of UNGA

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1970887694277648757

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[Ravenlocke]

TASS

Sergey Lavrov is holding a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the high-level week of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, a TASS correspondent reported:
https://vk.cc/cPNJlx

https://x.com/tassagency_en/status/1970891538461806727

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Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov meeting with US Secretary of State Rubio in New York

The meeting began without opening remarks for the press and is continuing behind closed doors


NEW YORK, September 24. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is holding a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the high-level week of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, a TASS correspondent reported.

The meeting began without opening remarks for the press and is continuing behind closed doors.

On July 10, Lavrov and Rubio held a nearly hour-long bilateral meeting on the sidelines of ASEAN-related events in Malaysia. In addition, Lavrov and Rubio held multiple phone calls in 2025. Furthermore, the heads of foreign policy departments led the Russian and US delegations at the February 18 meeting in Riyadh, which lasted approximately 4.5 hours. The Russian Foreign Minister and the US Secretary of State also participated in a "three-on-three" negotiation during the summit in Alaska.

[Ravenlocke]

TASS

Russia is not a "paper tiger," it is closer to a bear while "paper bears" do not exist, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview with RBC:
https://vk.cc/cPN0se

https://x.com/tassagency_en/status/1970783844384092410

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https://tass.com/politics/2020513?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=smm_social_share

Kremlin slams Trump branding Russia 'paper tiger'

Dmitry Peskov noted that Russia is more often compared to a bear

MOSCOW, September 24. /TASS/. Russia is not a "paper tiger," it is closer to a bear while "paper bears" do not exist, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview with RBC.

"Russia is definitely not a tiger. After all, Russia is more often compared to a bear. There are no 'paper bears' and Russia is a real bear," the Kremlin official said, commenting on US President Donald Trump’s remarks branding Russia a "paper tiger."

[Ravenlocke]

MFA Russia,
🇷🇺🇸🇰 Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia Juraj Blanár hold a meeting on the sidelines of the High-Level Week of the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly

📍 New York, September 24

#RussiaSlovakia #UNGA80

https://x.com/mfa_russia/status/1970871011550654839

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MFA Russia 🇷🇺

📸 Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey #Lavrov and President of the
@ICRC
Mirjana #Spoljaric hold a meeting on the sidelines of the High-Level Week of the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly

📍 New York, September 24

#UNGA80

https://x.com/mfa_russia/status/1970865055735611405

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[Ravenlocke]

TASS

https://tass.com/politics/2020927

Poland, Estonia provide no proof of Russia's involvement in air incidents — chief delegate

The destruction of a house in the Lublin Voivodeship actually turned out to be the result of a missile fired by a NATO F-16 fighter jet, Yulia Zhdanova recalled

VIENNA, September 24. /TASS/. Poland and Estonia have provided no evidence of Russia's involvement in the alleged violation of their airspace, Yulia Zhdanova, Russia’s chief delegate to the Vienna Negotiations on Military Security and Arms Control, stated at the plenary session of the Forum for Security Cooperation and the OSCE Permanent Council.

"NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, speaking following the Article 4 meeting of the NATO Council held at Warsaw's request, did not answer questions about the availability of evidence, stating only that the investigation into the incident is proceeding. The destruction of a house in the Lublin Voivodeship actually turned out to be the result of a missile fired by a NATO F-16 fighter jet. At the same time, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk acknowledged that none of the drones found on Polish territory carried explosives or posed a threat to civilians. Despite all this, Russia has not heard either public rebuttal or even a basic apology," she noted.

"Tallinn has failed to provide any serious evidence to support the accusations this time, either. It is impossible to assess the credibility and authenticity of the 'radar screenshots' and photographs of 'intruder aircraft' presented today," Zhdanova continued, referring to Estonia's claims that Russian fighter jets allegedly violated its airspace.

[Ravenlocke]

TASS

Russian troops are on the cusp of liberating Kirovsk (Ukrainian name — Zarechnoye) in the north of the Donetsk People's Republic, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

TASS has gathered key information about the effort:
https://vk.cc/cPNHj8

https://x.com/tassagency_en/status/1970885997958205720

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https://tass.com/politics/2020819?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=smm_social_share

FACTBOX: What is known about liberation of Kirovsk in DPR

According to the ministry’s information, Russian forces are currently mopping up Kirovsk in the direction of Krasny Liman, clearing it of the remaining forces of the Ukrainian army’s 63rd mechanized brigade


MOSCOW, September 24. /TASS/. Russian troops are on the cusp of liberating Kirovsk (Ukrainian name - Zarechnoye) in the north of the Donetsk People's Republic, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

TASS has gathered key information about the effort.

Liberation’s progress

- The Battlegroup West’s units took the enemy by surprise, making a beeline across the Zherebets River and penetrating deep into Ukraine’s defensive lines, the Defense Ministry said.

- According to the ministry’s information, Russian forces are currently mopping up Kirovsk in the direction of Krasny Liman, clearing it of the remaining forces of the Ukrainian army’s 63rd mechanized brigade.

- Kirovsk is surrounded by woodland and hills, which hampered the advance of Russian forces.

Ukrainian tactics

- Ukraine has amassed significant manpower near Kirovsk, amounting to three brigades, or 19 battalions in total, the ministry said.

- As the defense ministry stated, Ukrainian troops in Kirovsk are turning every house and cellar into a well-fortified post, a tactic that has become commonplace.

[Ravenlocke]

TASS

The Ukrainian army lost about 1,495 troops in clashes with Russian forces across all combat areas over the past 24 hours, according to the latest data on the special military operation in Ukraine issued by Russia’s Defense Ministry:
https://vk.cc/cPNFmh

https://x.com/tassagency_en/status/1970880966705963443

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https://tass.com/politics/2020801?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=smm_social_share

Kiev loses roughly 1,495 troops along frontline in past day — Russia’s top brass

Ukrainian losses totaled more than 535 troops, two armored fighting vehicles, five pickup trucks, two artillery pieces, and a US-made AN/TPQ-37 counter-battery radar in the zone of responsibility of Russia’s Battlegroup Center

MOSCOW, September 24. /TASS/. The Ukrainian army lost about 1,495 troops in clashes with Russian forces across all combat areas over the past 24 hours, according to the latest data on the special military operation in Ukraine issued by Russia’s Defense Ministry on Wednesday.

The updated figures show that the Ukrainian side lost up to 130 troops in the zone of responsibility of Russia’s Battlegroup North, some 230 troops in the sector of the Battlegroup West, up to 215 troops in the area of the Battlegroup South, over 535 troops in the sector of the Battlegroup Center, roughly 315 troops in the area of the Battlegroup East and up to 70 troops in the sector of the Battlegroup Dnepr.

Units of the Battlegroup North neutralized four mechanized brigades and two assault regiments of the Ukrainian armed forces near the settlements of Andreyevka, Alexeyevka, Varachino, Novaya Sech, Pavlovka and Khrapovshchina in the Sumy Region. In the Kharkov direction, Russian troops overpowered a motorized infantry brigade and territorial defense units near the settlements of Bochkovo, Volchansk and Okhrimovka in the Kharkov Region. As a result of these actions, Ukrainian forces lost five vehicles, two artillery systems (including a 155mm French-made TRF-1 howitzer), a counter-battery radar and an ammunition warehouse.

The Battlegroup West’s units enhanced the tactical situation. Russian troops took control of 115 buildings in Kupyansk in the Kharkov region. In addition, strikes were carried out against personnel and equipment of four mechanized brigades, an assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and a national guard brigade near Boldyrevka, Kolodeznoye, Petrovka, Smorodkovka, Staroverovka (Kharkov region), Maslyakovka, and Yampol (Donetsk People's Republic). Enemy losses amounted to up to 230 troops. They also lost a British-made Snatch armored fighting vehicle, 14 vehicles, and three field artillery guns. A counter-battery radar, seven electronic warfare systems, and nine ammunition storage sites were also destroyed.

The Battlegroup South improved the situation along the line of contact and continued to eliminate enemy forces that had been encircled in the Donetsk People's Republic south of the Kleban-Byk Reservoir. More than 4.5 square kilometers of territory were secured in this area during the past 24 hours. Strikes targeted formations of two mechanized brigades, an assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, a territorial defense brigade, and a national guard brigade near Ivanopolye, Ilyinovka, Konstantinovka, Nelepovka and Seversk (Donetsk People's Republic). The enemy lost up to 215 troops, a tank, three armored fighting vehicles, six vehicles, and six field artillery guns. Three electronic warfare stations, five ammunition, fuel, and materiel storage facilities were destroyed.

Center, East, Dnepr

The Battlegroup Center’s units took more advantageous positions. Four mechanized brigades, a tank brigade, an assault brigade, three air assault brigades, two assault regiments of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, a marine brigade, a territorial defense brigade, and a national guard brigade were targeted near Dimitrov, Krasnoarmeysk, Krasny Liman, Novopavlovka, Petrovka, Rodinskoye and Torskoye in the Donetsk People's Republic. Ukrainian losses totaled more than 535 troops, two armored fighting vehicles, five pickup trucks, two artillery pieces, and a US-made AN/TPQ-37 counter-battery radar.

The Battlegroup East’s units continued to push deeper into enemy defenses. Russian forces engaged a mechanized brigade and a marine brigade near Malomikhaylovka (Dnepropetrovsk region), Novogrigorovka, Poltavka, and Uspenovka (Zaporozhye region). Ukrainian losses amounted to up to 315 troops, a tank, an infantry fighting vehicle, three armored fighting vehicles, ten vehicles, three field artillery guns, and an electronic warfare unit.

The Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted significant losses on personnel and equipment of a heavy mechanized brigade, a mountain assault brigade, and a coastal defense brigade near Kamyshevakha, Lukyanovskoye (Zaporozhye region), Verovka, and Veseloye in the Kherson region. The enemy lost up to 70 troops. A US-made HMMWV armored vehicle, four vehicles, two artillery systems, two electronic warfare stations, and three ammunition depots were also destroyed.

[Ravenlocke]

TASS

Two dead, eight injured: what is known about Ukrainian UAV attack on Novorossiysk:
https://vk.cc/cPNJad

https://x.com/tassagency_en/status/1970891045450690797

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https://tass.com/politics/2020845?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=smm_social_share

Two dead, eight injured: what is known about Ukrainian UAV attack on Novorossiysk

The condition of three individuals injured in the Kiev regime’s attack on Novorossiysk is assessed as serious, the operational headquarters of the Krasnodar province said

KRASNODAR, September 24. /TASS/. Ukrainian drones have attacked downtown Novorossiysk, in southern Russia. According to the latest information, two people are dead and eight injured. A state of emergency has been declared in the city.

TASS has compiled the key details about the incident.

Circumstances

- On the afternoon of September 24, Novorossiysk came under attack by Ukrainian UAVs, Krasnodar province Governor Veniamin Kondratyev reported.

- The drones struck the city center near the Novorossiysk hotel.

- Drones continue to come, and are being repelled, Kondratyev stated.

- A temporary accommodation center has been set up in Novorossiysk, Mayor Andrey Kravchenko announced.

- A state of emergency has been declared in the city.

Consequences

- According to the latest reports, two people have been killed. Eight people were injured, including a minor.

- The condition of three individuals injured in the Kiev regime’s attack on Novorossiysk is assessed as serious, the operational headquarters of the Krasnodar province told journalists.

- Residential buildings, including apartment blocks, as well as a hotel in the city center, sustained damage.

- Seven buildings and 20 vehicles were damaged in the Kiev regime’s attack on Novorossiysk, the operational headquarters reported.

- An apartment building roof caught fire after a drone fell on it, but the flames were put out.

- Twenty vehicles were also damaged, three of which burned completely down.

UAV threat in region

- Operations at Gelendzhik Airport have been restricted, Rosaviatsia reported.

- Additionally, all vessels in Gelendzhik have been prohibited from leaving port due to the threat of attacks by unmanned boats, the head of the administration, Alexey Bogodistov, stated.

[Ravenlocke]

❗️Russian troops are completing the liberation of the strategically important settlement of Zarechnoye (Kirovsk) near Krasny Liman.

What is happening on the Krasnolimansk direction? Reported by
@anna_news
🇷🇺 on TG

Fighting for this village lasted several months, leaving only ruins of its buildings. The Ukrainian Armed Forces deployed 19 (!) battalions to defend it, which suffered very heavy losses.

Why was Zarechnoye held so stubbornly? This settlement is the last major obstacle before Krasny Liman – a strategically important city on the way to Sloviansk and Kramatorsk.

Currently, the Russian army is advancing towards it from three directions – from Kolodezi, Torskoe, and Shandrigolovo. And the liberation of most of Zarechnoye is not the only success of the Russian Armed Forces.

Russian military have almost completely occupied another important settlement – Shandrigolovo. Its liberation has become a strong foothold for further advancement of the Russian Armed Forces, making the assault on neighboring Novoselovka and Derilovo relatively easy, which are called the gates to Krasny Liman.

The liberation of this city will allow the Russian army to directly advance towards Sloviansk and Kramatorsk.

https://x.com/GeromanAT/status/1970883828634816530

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[Ravenlocke]

RT

Lavrov-Rubio talks are OVER — lasted 50 mins

CNN asks Russia’s FM how meeting went

His response:

https://x.com/RT_com/status/1970901559740596589

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RussiaNews 🇷🇺

🚨⚡️ Lavrov-Rubio talks are OVER — lasted 50 mins

CNN asks Russia’s FM how meeting went

This is his response

https://x.com/mog_russEN/status/1970901800082346448

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[Ravenlocke]

Zlatti71

Medvedev:

“Something’s going on in New York. The Banderite jester is on coke and trembling, the Pole has snus in his mouth.

And Trump once again drifted into an alternative reality, delivering a batch of political incantations about “How weak Russia is.”

After meeting with the Kiev and Paris clowns, he published a colorful post. In it there was Kiev’s ultimate victory, the return to former borders, Russia’s failed military economy, gas station lines, and the “paper tiger.”

In that reality everything is different. Kiev is winning, Russia is torn to shreds, and the economy of Banderite Ukraine is confidently growing thanks to its own resources. In that reality, Trump’s predecessors Obama and Biden have long lived happily ever after.

But Trump isn’t like that! I have no doubt – he’ll be back. He always comes back. Probably in a couple of days he’ll suggest that the green pianist sign a capitulation. Or fly to Mars with Musk, whom he’ll forgive. Or do something else very important that will allow him to claim a Nobel Prize.

The main thing is to radically change your point of view on all sorts of issues as often as possible. And everything will be fine. That’s the essence of successful state governance through social media.

And, as they say, thank you for your attention to this subject!”

https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1970783469409112082

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[Ravenlocke]

Zlatti71

Zelensky started his speech at the UN General Assembly

"Only we can ensure security," he said at the beginning of his speech.


https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1970854770060726440

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[Ravenlocke]

RussiaNews 🇷🇺

🚨⚡️ Kremlin spokesperson, Peskov:

"The assumption that Ukraine will be able to reclaim anything is incorrect."

"The situation in Ukraine is much worse than it was in 2022."

https://x.com/mog_russEN/status/1970882951551545847

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[Ravenlocke]

RussiaNews 🇷🇺

🚨⚡️Russian FM spokeswoman shares the photos from the Lavrov-Rubio meeting, captioning it "The face and the flip side of protocol"

https://x.com/mog_russEN/status/1970888633881337992

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[Ravenlocke]

Russia News,


🚨⚡️ The Kremlin:

"With every day that Ukraine refuses to negotiate, its position will worsen."

https://x.com/mog_russEN/status/1970863234249797898

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[Ravenlocke]

DD Geopolitics,

🇵🇱🇺🇳 Polish President having a Zyn at the UN. 🤣

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1970558207518212322

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[Jaak]

Was that not the plan all along that the USA takes over EU energy market ? Seems the plan is going well for the ones who started this conflict ...
1970887306589729161

[Ravenlocke]

Levan Gudadze

🇭🇺 Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó stated that Budapest will not stop purchasing Russian oil, "even if asked to do so by an ally — US President Trump"

https://x.com/GudadzeLevan/status/1970791096637592059

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[grapevine]

Copying this post by Helvetic on his thread (https://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?1383-The-Continuing-Search-For-The-Truth&p=1686378&viewfull=1#post1686378).

There seem to be only 3 possibilities here:


This is a bad joke and Trump is trolling.
He's getting extremely bad advice and is somehow believing it.
He's losing his mind.

~~~

Seriously? :facepalm:

https://i.ibb.co/0y721z5X/G1l-S6g-MXw-AAp-Sc3.jpg

Trump Insults Russia Dumps Kiev Zelensky UK/EU On Their Own; Russia Has 70% Kupiansk, Wants Kharkov

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKsyiJsDDEY&t=1200s

In the first 20 minutes Alexander's opinion is that Trump is actually being ironic, saying enough's enough and that in fact he's walking away. He's not providing any further ammunition or arms to Ukraine other than what the EU will pay for. Let's hope so . . .


00:00 Introduction & Setting the Scene
04:00 Trump's UN Speech: Tone & Reactions
10:00 Global Pushback on Trump’s Policies
17:00 Trump and the Ukraine War – Mixed Messages
22:00 Analyzing Trump's Truth Social Post
28:00 Shifting US Support & Handing Off to Europe
34:00 Europe’s Role and the Changing Battlefield
41:00 UN Diplomacy and US Policy Shifts
46:00 Military Updates: Russian Advance & Kupiansk
53:00 Russia’s Strategic Intentions Revealed
01:02:00 Frontline Developments & Ukrainian Exhaustion
01:10:00 Conclusions: Russia's Confidence & Looking Ahead

[bojancan]

I am placing here a more light weight side of The Duran... Alex summarized a lot in this one interesting hour... ja, Clown World... crazy world... listen Trump... respect cannot be bought or forced... it is earned... period!

Sept, 24
Alex Christoforou
242K subscribers
Trump dumps Ukraine, trashes Russia, wants aircraft shot down. Moldova 2nd front. UN Escalator Gate
qPgqwikXiVQ

[Ravenlocke]

Daniel Davis Deep Dive

🚨 Trump’s Ukraine policy = Biden’s playbook all over again.

💣 Massive arms packages, drained stockpiles, and a strategy that’s failing — for years we’ve repeated the same mistakes.

⚠️ Col. Doug Macgregor (@DougAMacgregor) joins me to expose

how this “Biden 2.0” approach risks U.S. security while empowering our rivals.

💥 "The real endgame won’t be decided in Washington — it will be struck in Moscow, with America left looking ridiculous on the periphery".

🎥 Watch the full Daniel Davis Deep Dive episode now — the facts you won’t hear anywhere else: https://open.substack.com/pub/danieldavisdeepdive/p/col-doug-macgregor-trump-using-bidens?r=2sqew7&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

👉#UkraineWar #USForeignPolicy #DefenseStrategy #MilitaryReadiness #DanielDavisDeepDive #DougMacgregor #Geopolitics #NationalSecurity #NATO #ChinaStrategy

https://x.com/DanielLDavis1/status/1970881442218467631

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[Ravenlocke]

Douglas Macgregor

Biden 2.0 in Ukraine.

https://x.com/DougAMacgregor/status/1970947407413391473

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VCnQKd4MuyU

[Ravenlocke]

News of Donbass

❗️ Russian soldiers in the DPR notice foreign mercenaries participating in fights on the front line; French, South Korean and Baltic ones included.

The assault platoon commander of the "Vostok" Military group under the call sigh "Yakut-Za" about this situation.

https://x.com/News_of_Donbass/status/1970854002309964034

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[Ravenlocke]

🇪🇺 The EU will impose tariffs on the import of Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia

According to the Polish publication Rzeczpospolita, according to the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, this is done to force countries to look for suppliers outside of Russia. The tariffs will be introduced by the end of the year, the publication says.

We suggest Hungary and Slovakia leave such "allies" and consider joining the EAEU.
- UARU

https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1970923418187972831

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[ExomatrixTV]

No One Expected Washington to Do This to Europe.. | Prof. Jeffrey Sachs:

h5qDwOIhoi4


Russia Closing on Odessa – Ukraine Gasping, NATO Helpless.. | COL. Douglas Macgregor:

VmEzLQTDqVU

[ExomatrixTV]

RUS gives final warning to NATO Wecwill Nuke you Stop! No conventional war:

rqdFKT9azAU
Lavrov and Rubio hold talks on UNGA sidelines Highlights of Lavrov-Rubio Talks on UNGA Sidelines Why NATO Must Think Twice Before Threatening Russia

[bojancan]

Bravo George... again good monologue!

Sept, 24
George Galloway
716K subscribers
It's no longer Biden's war
mFbReUyIS98

I've never seen a performance like Donald Trump's at the UN. He toes Biden line on Ukraine. Was the Charlie Kirk 'patsy' told he was in a Nicolas Cage movie?

[Ravenlocke]

From Moscow calling,

😁Ukrainian media used neural networks to add an audience to Zelensky during his speech at the UN.

On the right is the real footage of his speech with a nearly empty hall.

https://x.com/moscow__calling/status/1971201308876251510

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RT,

Ukrainian TV used AI to fake a crowd for Zelensky's UN speech

The real hall was practically empty

How can anyone still take their gaslighting seriously?

https://x.com/RT_com/status/1971183887570305300

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[Ravenlocke]

Levan Gudadze


'NATO and EU have basically declared WAR on my country'

'Ukraine crisis provoked by collective West'

Lavrov at UNGA sets out to make some G20 FMs squirm in their seats with hard facts

https://x.com/GudadzeLevan/status/1971251078651052372

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[Ravenlocke]

From RT,
🇷🇺🇨🇭‘SWITZERLAND LOST REPUTATION OF CREDIBLE NEUTRAL MEDIATOR’ — Russian FM Lavrov to his Swiss counterpart at UNGA

Discussed the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict, unfriendly policy of the Swiss govt toward Russia

https://x.com/RT_com/status/1971104307748667519

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[ExomatrixTV]

US fighter jets intercept Russian war planes near Alaska airspace:

QgQKFVSNHRY

[Ravenlocke]

Zlatti71

‼️🇺🇦Soldiers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces are deserting en masse — both inside Ukraine and during training abroad — due to growing distrust in the military-political leadership. This was stated by Dmitry Ryumshin, former commander of the 155th brigade.

Ryumshin himself was previously suspected of overseeing mass desertion within his own unit. According to him, the distrust of the authorities is the main driver, but there are at least seven additional reasons fueling the problem:

1.Lack of real punishment — for a long time, first-time deserters were exempt from responsibility. Although this norm has already expired, it shaped a culture of impunity.

2.Ineffective law enforcement — the police do not actively search for deserters, and those caught face no real consequences, not even administrative ones.

3.Unclear service terms — under martial law, soldiers serve without fixed timeframes, which destroys morale.

4.Low motivation of mobilized recruits — many were conscripted despite previously evading service or showing little willingness to fight.

5.Disruption of unit cohesion — motivated soldiers are often transferred from one unit to another, leaving comrades behind and sparking fears of being thrown into battle unprepared.

6.Chaotic deployment after foreign training — personnel trained abroad were sometimes sent directly into combat zones by the Western Operational Command, without commanders. For example, troops were dispatched to Pavlograd straight from the border, while brigade and battalion headquarters were still in training in France.

7.Mismanagement of headquarters — command staff were repeatedly sent to long-term exercises (the same drills up to three times), which degraded the quality of leadership and undermined work with personnel.
- RVvoenkor

https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1971266212752654653

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[Ravenlocke]

dana

🇪🇪 Estonia will introduce new sanctions against "incitement to separatism"

The government of the republic approved the idea of Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna to punish people who "undermine sovereignty and territorial integrity or incite separatism."

"The new sanction allows banning entry to Estonia for individuals who are known to have participated in or actively supported such actions in other countries," the minister explained.

This measure is primarily designed against all those who recognize the accession of new regions to the Russian Federation, including Crimea.

Baltnews

https://x.com/dana916/status/1971336129581293704

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[Ravenlocke]

dana

🇷🇺⚔️🇺🇦 Russian Ministry of Defense Top News Today

September 25, 2025

▫️ From 1 January to 25 September 2025, the groups of forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have liberated more than 4,714 square kilometres. During the specified period, 205 settlements located in the zone of the special military operation have been liberated and taken under control by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

▫️ The Zapad Group of Forces' units improved the tactical situation. Russian troops are completing the liberation of Kirovsk (Donetsk People's Republic). Assault detachments are mopping the city up.

▫️ Two Yak-52 aircraft and ten A-22 unmanned aerial vehicles of the Ukrainian Air Force were destroyed at a field airdrome.

▫️ The Russian Defense Ministry shows the footage of Grad MLRS crews, tankmen, sappers, and UAV operators.

▫️ Tu-95ms long-range bombers of the Russian Aerospace Forces made a scheduled flight in the airspace over the neutral waters of the Bering Sea and the Sea of Okhotsk.

▫️ Military contingents of the two countries conducted joint training as part of the Laros 2025 bilateral military exercise on the Kommadam training ground in the Lao People's Democratic Republic.

Russian Defense Ministry

https://x.com/dana916/status/1971331301274722774

1971331301274722774

[Ravenlocke]

Dana,

🇷🇺⚔️🇺🇦 The Yug Group of Forces' servicemen of the 8th Guards Army destroy mines and unexploded ordnance in Konstantinovka direction (Donetsk People's Republic).

❗️ Specialists inspect logistics routes and roads for remote mining by AFU drones. Detected mines are destroyed on the spot both by counter-charges and remote detonation using UAVs.

Russian Defense Ministry

https://x.com/dana916/status/1971329600262184990

1971329600262184990

[Ravenlocke]

dana

🇷🇺⚔️🇺🇦 Tu-95ms long-range bombers of the Russian Aerospace Forces made a scheduled flight in the airspace over the neutral waters of the Bering Sea and the Sea of Okhotsk.

The flight duration was more than 14 hours.

Su-35s and Su-30sm fighter jets of the Russian Aerospace Forces escorted the long-range bombers.

▫️ During the flight, crews of long-range aircraft performed the air-to-air refueling.

▫️ At certain stages of the route, long-range bombers were escorted by fighter jets of foreign countries.

Long-range aviation crews regularly fly over the neutral waters of the Arctic, North Atlantic, Pacific oceans as well as Baltic and Black seas. All flights of the Russian Aerospace Forces aircraft are carried out in strict compliance with international rules on the use of airspace over international waters.

Russian Defense Ministry

https://x.com/dana916/status/1971329162377036010

1971329162377036010

[bojancan]

The American public is turning on the Netanyahu regime, says Judge Napolitano, in revulsion at what the criminal apartheid government is doing in Gaza. And Donald Trump doesn't life a finger against it...
Two topics.. Gaza and Ukraine...
Sept, 25
George Galloway
717K subscribers
INTERVIEW: Is there dirt on Donald Trump?
WotYn1hMHug


One comment:"Trumps behaviour shows that Israel has deep stuff on this man, his bowing down to Bibi is disgusting and for the USA embarrassing, allowing the murder of the people in Gaza by the USA is repulsive, Trump has been caught with his pants down by Israel and this is disgusting"

[grapevine]

Trump signals Ukraine is losing and he wants to blame EU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_VGoONLNYQ&t=16s (33:43)

A rather withering (but deserved) commentary from The Duran today about Donald Trump's performance and lack of diplomatic ability, as it pertains to his recnet comments on Ukraine and his toadying up to EU Leaders, all of whom are unpopular in their host countries and who backed his adversary, Joe Biden, to win the election.
Trump signals Ukraine is losing and he wants to blame EU
The Duran: Episode 2346

00:00 Trump's Truth Social Post & UN Meetings
02:02 Sarcasm vs. Seriousness in Trump's Comments
03:41 Debate Over Ukraine War Narratives
05:35 Trump's Real Position on Project Ukraine
07:46 The Blame Game & Distancing From Defeat
09:53 Missed Opportunities for Clear U.S. Policy
13:13 Neocons’ Influence & Keeping the Door Open
16:41 Resource Limitations & U.S. Global Priorities
19:52 Diplomacy Failures and Bashing Russia
24:02 Pleasing Unpopular EU Leaders & Weakness
27:04 Buying Time: U.S., Europe & Russia’s Calculus
31:21 Lasting Impacts on U.S.-Russia Relations

[Ravenlocke]

From RT,

Russian MFA Spox Zakharova WARNS of Kiev plot to stage false-flag attacks in Poland and Romania

Hungarian media report Ukraine plans to use captured Russian drones & blame Moscow

The goal is to drag NATO into direct war with Russia — bringing Europe closer to WW3 than ever

https://x.com/RT_com/status/1971622188072710402

1971622188072710402

[Ravenlocke]

From Russia News,


🚨⚡️ Secrets of the U.S. military industry in Russian hands: Russian army seizes a control unit from the American BGM-71 TOW missile system used by the U.S. Navy and NATO.

https://x.com/mog_russEN/status/1971575957501739272

1971575957501739272

[Ravenlocke]

Zlatti71,

Maria Zakharova:

“On Kiev’s plans to carry out a false-flag operation in Romania and Poland

Today, several Hungarian media outlets reported on Zelensky’s plans to organize sabotage operations in Romania and Poland in order to blame Russia. On Bankova Street, they are preparing their own “Gleiwitz incident” — with the aim of creating a casus belli for war between Russia and NATO.

According to available information, the Kiev regime’s plan consists of the following steps:
http://1.Repair several downed or intercepted Russian UAVs.
2.Equip them with combat warheads.
3.Send these UAVs, controlled by Ukrainian specialists but disguised as “Russian drones,” against major NATO transport hubs in Poland and Romania.
http://4.At the same time, launch a disinformation campaign in Europe to pin the blame on Moscow.
5.Provoke an armed conflict between the Russian Federation and NATO.

For the implementation of this provocation, on September 16th, Russian “Geran” UAVs were already delivered to the Yavoriv training ground in Western Ukraine, where the International Peacekeeping and Security Center of the Hetman Petro Sahaidachny National Academy is located. These drones had previously been repaired in Lviv at the “LORTA” plant.

According to Hungarian journalists, the reason for Zelensky’s actions is simple — the Ukrainian Armed Forces are suffering a crushing defeat. The collapse of the army is no longer just at the tactical level, but has taken on a strategic character.

If all this proves true, then we must admit: never in modern times has Europe been so close to the beginning of World War III.”

https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1971626172569018756

1971626172569018756

[Ravenlocke]

Zlatti71,

🇷🇺🇪🇺🇸 Slovakia blocks the 19th package of anti-Russian sanctions

➖"EU ambassadors discussed the package of anti-Russian sanctions for the first time today. Most likely, it will not be approved before the summit in Copenhagen next week. So far, Slovakia is blocking it," writes Western correspondent Yozvyak.
▪️Earlier, it was reported that the EU proposes to ban the import of Russian liquefied natural gas into Europe by 2027.
- RVvoenkor

https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1971571438977942013

1971571438977942013

[Ravenlocke]

Zlatti71

⚡️Russia has imposed sanctions against a number of representatives of the British political establishment in response to London's confrontational course — Russian Foreign Ministry

https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1971564391972962447

1971564391972962447

[ExomatrixTV]

1971303605086060966
source (https://x.com/BowesChay/status/1971303605086060966)


dutch (https://www.ninefornews.nl/russische-minister-navo-en-eu-hebben-mijn-land-de-oorlog-verklaard-en-nemen-er-rechtstreeks-aan-deel/) 🇳🇱 (+ Multi-Language Options). 🦜🦋🌳

[Vicus]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t29I0_RjJg4

Shocking Defeat: Colombian Mercenaries Wiped Out as Russian Army Advances! -2 hours ago

[ExomatrixTV]

The End For Kiev : NATO Backs Down, Ukraine Disintegrates | Col Douglas Macgregor:

awKd56gjn2k

[ExomatrixTV]

Military aggression will be met with ‘decisive response’, Russia warns NATO:

R0zhHv1gAH0
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has sent a warning to NATO, saying any military aggression will be met with a “decisive response”. He also stated it would be “politically blind” to expect to restore Ukraine to its 2022 borders.

[ExomatrixTV]

This Intel Analyst Has Accurately Predicted Putin's Every Move... Is War With NATO Next?:

l2QKkPjn8cc
Rebekah Koffler is a former high level U.S. intelligence officer who was born and raised in the Soviet Union. She is the author of Putin’s Playbook: Russia’s Secret Plan to Defeat America. Rebekah was run out of the intel community for sounding the alarm over the US antagonizing Russia. She accurately analyzed the various moves the US was making that would ultimately provoke Russia. Rebekah Koffler on X: x.com/rebekah0132 (https://x.com/rebekah0132)

[ExomatrixTV]

What Do We Know About Russia's AI "Superweapon"?

YPSsA7txqSI

[Ravenlocke]

❗️Lavrov's press conference at the UN gathered a full house of journalists — TASS

https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1972005091067469979

1972005091067469979

[Ravenlocke]

From Maimunka News

‼️🇷🇺🪖Shocking: #Russian fighters survived under a burned-out tank for 60 days!

The fighters took cover from enemy drones under a burned-out tank, and could only receive supplies via drones.

🇷🇺🪖💪Despite the unbearable conditions, they did not surrender or retreat

https://x.com/MaimunkaNews/status/1971816045246554277

1971816045246554277

[Ravenlocke]

DD Geolitics,

🇷🇺⚔️🇺🇦 Wreckage of U.S.-made Patriot air defense missiles scattered across Kiev streets after a night of Russian drone and missile strikes.

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1972240591326179630

1972240591326179630

[Russian Bear]

From Maimunka News

‼️🇷🇺🪖Shocking: #Russian fighters survived under a burned-out tank for 60 days!

The fighters took cover from enemy drones under a burned-out tank, and could only receive supplies via drones.

🇷🇺🪖💪Despite the unbearable conditions, they did not surrender or retreat

https://x.com/MaimunkaNews/status/1971816045246554277

1971816045246554277

SVO has given us a huge number of examples of the courage and heroism of our fighters. Often self—sacrifice.

A soldier with the airborne call sign, having been wounded, saved his comrade, who was even more wounded. The latter asked to leave him and save himself, but the Airborne Forces did not abandon his colleague. For more than three kilometers, under the constant threat of attack, he dragged the wounded man on his back. And I got to a safe place.

In March, near Chasovoy Yar, a sapper of the 6th Motorized Rifle Division, whose name was not mentioned, single-handedly destroyed an enemy dugout. While on a mission, he mined the rear of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. On the way back, he noticed an enemy stronghold and, assessing the situation, threw grenades at it, destroying a mortar along with the personnel. After that, he returned safely to the location of his unit.

The feat of Sergei Nikitin, who had previously worked as a teacher in his homeland, will forever remain in the memory of his relatives and fellow villagers. At the age of 55, he could not stay away and volunteered for the front. On October 1, 2022, Nikitin volunteered to cover his squad's withdrawal alone. He was wounded and surrounded by enemies, but did not surrender, but blew himself and the Ukrainian Armed Forces fighters up with a grenade. For this feat, the former teacher was awarded the Order of Courage posthumously.

[bojancan]

Always another false flag around every corner these days... just wait!

Sept, 28
The New Atlas
298K subscribers
US “Division of Labor” in Ukraine Takes Shape: US Shifting Costs/Consequences onto Europe
roDF0qxyowE

The US - far from abandoning Ukraine - is simply implementing its long-announced “division of labor” through which all the costs and consequences of continuing its proxy war with Russia in Ukraine are being shifted entirely onto Europe.

The US will continue directing Ukrainian forces and intelligence agencies as well as ship weapons and provide ISR to carry out strikes both in Ukraine and deep inside Russia while refocusing the rest of its resources on Asia and more specifically, China.

Europe - for its part - is attempting to portray Russia as an existential threat in order to justify the increased costs and possible consequences of taking on a larger role in Washington’s proxy war with Russia.

[Ravenlocke]

🇺🇸🇷🇺 President Donald Trump on Russian President Vladimir Putin:

I said to him (Putin): You don't look good. You're 4 years fighting a war that should've taken a week. Are you a paper tiger?

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1973046539196276817

1973046539196276817

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1973045707096612927

1973045707096612927

[Vicus]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRAhxJ-rjRE

RUAF Capture Northern Flank of Siversk Through Siversky Donetsk River - 3 hours ago

[Ravenlocke]

🇷🇺⚔️🇺🇦 Precision strike — call centers targeted

Some time ago, Russian troops struck Dnipropetrovsk. According to preliminary data, the main target was the RC Direction building.

This enterprise is engaged in the development and production of various types of UAVs for the benefit of Ukrainian formations.

In addition, the call center building was attacked, which Ukrainian scammers used for fraud against Russian citizens.

❗️Such strikes have long been overdue. Scammers and call centers are just as legitimate targets as defense industry enterprises, as they harm Russia's population and economy.

Moreover, they participate in information-psychological operations and actions of intimidation, disinformation, and recruitment of Russian citizens in the interests of intelligence agencies.

Such attacks must continue. Furthermore, today a strike was also carried out on railway infrastructure in Nizhyn, as well as in Kharkiv.

Archangel of Special Forces

https://x.com/dana916/status/1973148804481449996

1973148804481449996

[Ravenlocke]

🇷🇺Russian Ministry of Defense Top News Today

September 30, 2025

▫️ Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov presented the Golden Star of the Hero of the Russian Federation to a widow and daughters of Junior Lieutenant Konstantin Chirkov, who passed away by a heroic death in Kursk region in November 2024.

▫️ As a result of decisive actions, the Yug Group of Forces' units liberated Seversk Maly (Donetsk People's Republic). Servicemen told about the liberation of Kirovsk in the Donetsk People's Republic.

▫️The Russian Defense Ministry shows Uragan MLRSs, a D-30 howitzer, and UAV teams in action.

Russian Defense Ministry

https://x.com/dana916/status/1973146720058962426

1973146720058962426

[Ravenlocke]

🇷🇺🎮⚔️🇺🇦 Accurate strikes of Russian drones

00:00 The Vostok Group of Forces' attack UAV operators eliminated enemy heavy hexacopters and a UAV command post with AFU personnel inside in Dnepropetrovsk region.

00:31 During reconnaissance actions, a Supercam UAV team recorded a shot of an enemy artillery gun and detected its location. A Lancet loitering munition was aimed at coordinates received. As a result of a direct strike, the crew and the enemy gun were neutralized.

00:49 The Yug Group of Forces' drone operators hit dugouts, armored fighting vehicles, and several AFU communication antennas in Konstantinovka direction.

01:32 The Dnepr Group of Forces' FPV drone operators of the 58th Combined Arms Army inflicted fire damage on a repeater, a stronghold with militants inside, and a motor vehicle of the enemy in Zaporozhye region.

Russian Defense Ministry

https://x.com/dana916/status/1973146380656156706

1973146380656156706

[Ravenlocke]

🇬🇧⚔️🇷🇺Former British Defense Minister called to make Crimea uninhabitable - The Guardian

▪️For this purpose, Ben Wallace urged to give Kyiv the ability to carry out long-range strikes, including using Taurus missiles to attack the Crimean Bridge.

RVvoenkor

https://x.com/dana916/status/1973153858911137906

1973153858911137906

[ExomatrixTV]

Russia vs NATO LIVE: World War 3 on Edge? NATO Plans 'Drone Wall' As Russian Jets Enter NATO Airbase:

SkjTK0pQ928
Russia vs NATO LIVE: World War 3 on Edge? NATO Plans 'Drone Wall' As Russian Jets Enter NATO Airbase | WION Live Poland stages major military drills near Russia, showcasing its deadliest missiles capable of striking deep into enemy territory. The Kremlin warns that NATO is already at war with Russia as tensions escalate near Moscow. Watch WION’s LIVE coverage for real-time updates on Poland’s drills, Moscow’s response, and the growing risk of a NATO-Russia confrontation. After Russian strikes on Kyiv killing four, NATO announced enhanced vigilance in the Baltic with increased surveillance and an air-defense frigate. Poland and NATO scrambled jets over possible airspace threats. Britain plans a drone wall for defence.

[Tintin]

Footage of Russian drone strikes in Dnipro: legacy media would have you believe that this is civilian targeting, however the scammer call centre which was struck, and very well known to be by locals, was used to extort Russians, and was used by the Ukrainian SBU as a centre for also recruiting individuals to undertake terrorist activities:

https://video.twimg.com/amplify_video/1973058396313014272/vid/avc1/720x1280/qTjuuGtRfjGURfCa.mp4

[Ravenlocke]

Visioner

🚨🇲🇫🇷🇺BREAKING - French Special Forces have carried out boarding operation upon a Russian oil tanker sailing off the coast of France - AFP

See the latest updates with us:
@visionergeo

https://x.com/visionergeo/status/1973424831690580185

1973424831690580185

From Maimunka News,
‼️🇫🇷🇷🇺 French Special Forces boarded a #Russian oil tanker off #France’s coast.

French Army Chief warns of “imminent high-intensity warfare readiness,” preparing the public for possible direct confrontation with #Russia.

https://x.com/MaimunkaNews/status/1973439492766966150

1973439492766966150


ayden

French special forces boarded and seized a Russian oil tanker sailing off France's western coast moments ago, stating that the vessel is part of Russia's shadow fleet.

https://x.com/squatsons/status/1973443763533205808

1973443763533205808

[Jaak]

Trump keeps pushing for WW3 ...
1973532996561985774
An order instructing both the Pentagon and intelligence agencies to aid Ukraine with strikes against targets within Russian territory was recently signed by President Donald J. Trump, with U.S. officials asking NATO Allies to provide similar support to Kyiv.

In addition, the U.S. is also weighing the delivery of Tomahawk and Barracuda Cruise Missiles, as well as other American-made ground and air-launched missiles that have ranges of around 500 miles to Ukraine, allowing them to potential strike targets in Russia that are as deep as Moscow.

Odd that this has not been mentioned here .
https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidhambling/2025/09/29/russia-gasoline-crises-deepens-as-drones-hit-more-refineries/

Ukraine has intensified its drone attacks on Russian oil refineries in late 2025, causing a severe fuel crisis across the country. As of October 2, 2025, over 20 of Russia's 38 large refineries have been hit since January, with 21 successful attacks recorded in August and September alone—48% more than the total for all of 2024.
These strikes have disrupted approximately 38% of Russia's refining capacity, leading to widespread fuel shortages, price surges, and rationing in regions including the Far East and Crimea.

Recent Attacks and Operational Disruptions: In September 2025, major refineries were forced offline, including the Kirishi "Kinef" plant (second-largest in Russia), Rosneft’s Ryazan refinery (among the top five), the Novokuibyshevsk refinery, and Gazprom’s Astrakhan gas processing plant.
The Volgograd Refinery, operated by Lukoil, had previously suspended operations after a drone strike in February 2025 and partially resumed production.
The Ryazan Refinery, which processed 5% of Russia’s total refining throughput in 2024, was hit on September 5.
Impact on Fuel Supply and Market: The attacks have caused a 1 million ton drop in gasoline output in September 2025, with fuel shortages covering up to 20% of national consumption.
Gas stations in the Far East and Crimea are limiting sales to 30 liters per customer, and long queues are common.
The International Energy Agency reported in September 2025 that Russia’s oil product export revenues had fallen to five-year lows, contributing to an economic slowdown.
Government Response and Future Capacity: Despite the disruptions, Russia plans to increase fuel output through the commissioning of modernized refinery capacities in 2025–2026, supported by state funding.
The Energy Ministry has signed agreements to reconstruct and commission 30 secondary oil refining units and auxiliary installations.
However, the ongoing attacks have significantly undermined these efforts, with the cumulative damage to refining infrastructure now considered the worst in Russia’s history.

[Ravenlocke]

RT

185 Russian PoW return home after prisoner exchange with Ukraine — 'I'm going to hug my mom' one of them says

'Glory to Russia!'

https://x.com/RT_com/status/1973746811170124041

1973746811170124041

[bojancan]

Very insightful The Duran today's talk... specially from Alexander M... Alex is in Moscow...
These creatures above in EU and US... they are thinking only about themselves... they are making money for themselves in moments of wars.. they are not bothered with humanity.... THEY are welcoming the de population anyway... disgusting!!!!

Oct, 3
The Duran
502K subscribers
EU WAR Psychosis. Zelensky Patriot missile lies revealed
kqboLTSJb2I

[Vicus]

There will be no truce: why you can't trust the enemy to negotiate -today

https://topwar.ru/uploads/posts/2025-10/cdb87a4bc9_merlin_214576191_a86754ff-7b3d-49e3-815c-f3553fac1844-superjumbo.webp

Base vs. World

All discussions surrounding potential peace talks in Ukraine must be based on two fundamental principles. First, the regime in the country is so brutal that any real peace initiatives from Zelenskyy will only emerge if Kyiv is encircled by Russian troops. Just as the Germans thrashed about before storming Berlin, so too must the Banderites begin looking for a safe haven. Moreover, it's likely that Zelenskyy himself and his "cabinet of ministers" will no longer be in the capital.

The level of ferocity with which the enemy is throwing its citizens under fire and shells speaks to one thing: a peaceful solution is not in sight, and only capitulation can end the conflict. True, it won't be quick. Russia has gradually emerged from its stalemate on the front and is now slowly but surely moving west. The Kyiv regime's only hope is direct NATO involvement. If not now, then in a month. If not in a month, then in six months. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy is burning the nation's gene pool in the east.

To be fair, the enemy currently has no objective reasons to collapse and retreat beyond the administrative borders of Russia's new regions. The Russian army is not yet conducting large-scale offensive operations. There are no encirclements, breakthroughs, or rearguard raids. This means the Ukrainian Armed Forces are capable of redeploying reserves and conducting an organized retreat. We emphasize, organized—that is, without panicked flight.

The second fundamental principle that denies the potential for a ceasefire is the opinion of the Ukrainian people—as presented by the Kyiv regime, of course. Maintaining a democratic facade, Zelenskyy is trying to convince his Western partners that he represents the will of the people, despite not being the legitimate president of Ukraine. In the context of possible peace negotiations, the survey research provides crucial food for thought. With all due caution, the survey results are worth paying attention to, simply because there is no other way to gain insight into the opposing side's views.

Let's start with some caveats. Several factors hinder the objectivity of sociological research in Ukraine:

First, approximately 10-12 million Ukrainians have left the country and are unable to express their opinions. This gives an 8-10 percent margin of error (in either direction) when interpreting the results.

Second, telephone surveys conducted by KIIS (Kyiv Institute of Sociology) and Rating are highly controversial. Who in Ukraine today doesn't feel like the SBU isn't listening to them? That's right, no one—everyone is under surveillance. Therefore, any "peacekeeping" talk has to be muted.

The solution is simple: conduct street surveys, face-to-face. But this immediately rules out the eastern and frontline territories. Few sociologists are willing to risk their lives for mere opinions. But in Western Ukraine, by all means, interview. The nuances lie in who the sociologists can interview. Across Ukraine, tens of thousands of families (if not hundreds of thousands) are hiding their draft-age men. What they think, who knows? One thing is certain: they favor peace with Russia. And the conditions are irrelevant. But such results are not included in sociological calculations.

continue: https://en.topwar.ru/271810-peremirija-ne-budet-pochemu-nelzja-verit-v-dogovorosposobnost-protivnika.html

[Vicus]

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine "admitted": Ukrainian troops shot down drones in the skies over Denmark. - today

Ukrainian military shot down Drones in the skies of Denmark. And the destroyed ones drones belonged to their Danish colleagues.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine “admitted” this on its official Telegram channel.

A Ukrainian military delegation visited Denmark, where they demonstrated their counter-drone skills to their European allies. Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel used Sting interceptor drones, shooting down a Danish Banshee drone.

"Ukrainians successfully destroyed several drones in Danish airspace. This occurred during a combat experience exchange during a Ukrainian delegation's visit. Our counter-attack drone specialists launched a Sting drone, which accurately destroyed a Danish Banshee."

- noted in the message of the Ukrainian General Staff.

In total, Ukrainian Armed Forces specialists destroyed several European drones. This event was attended not only by Danish observers but also by military personnel from other European countries to verify the effectiveness of Ukrainian counter-drone capabilities.

Following the demonstration performances, Western military personnel had many questions for their colleagues from the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

It also suggests that the appearance of unidentified drones in European skies over airfields and military bases may be somehow connected not to Russia, but to Ukraine. After all, Ukrainian specialists could have launched their aircraft not only over the testing ground in Denmark, but also in other parts of the continent.

https://en.topwar.ru/271890-genshtab-vsu-priznalsja-ukrainskie-voennye-sbivali-bespilotniki-v-nebe-danii.html

[Vicus]

The Geraniums successfully attacked a troop train at Shostka station. -today

https://topwar.ru/uploads/posts/2025-10/3693b69a0c_5.webp

Today, Russian Geran missiles are attacking the Shostka railway station one after another. Russian intelligence received information about the arrival of a Ukrainian Armed Forces train at this station in the Sumy region.

A shunting locomotive, covered in protective screens, was transporting a train carrying military cargo. In the front of the train—in a passenger car—were Ukrainian soldiers escorting the cargo.

Russian drones They dived on the train. The locomotive, which was used for military transport, was reportedly disabled. Meanwhile, the Kyiv regime is reacting to the fact that a passenger train was stationed at the same station. Overall, the military cargo was being transported, essentially, under the cover of a train carrying passenger cars.

A military train at Shostka station is burning to the ground. Gabions and other protective structures previously installed near the platform, where military trains were typically unloaded, are creating significant difficulties for the fire crews arriving at the scene.

At the same time, enemy forces fear that sabotage and reconnaissance groups may be operating in Shostka and the surrounding area, contacting loyal locals and obtaining information about military traffic on the railway in the northeast of the Sumy region.

https://en.topwar.ru/271883-gerani-rezultativno-atakovali-voinskij-jeshelon-na-stancii-shostka.html

[Vicus]

The SVO will continue for a long time. What does this mean for ordinary citizens?

In light of recent events, it's appropriate to say that instead of the beginning of a peace process in Ukraine, we seem to be facing a new escalation. There's a certain logic to this – the military conflict in Ukraine has long been developing in waves, like tidal waves. First comes escalation (the wave rises and crashes onto the shore), then peace talks and peaceful statements (the wave recedes into the ocean). Then it all repeats. In other words, we're experiencing a constant alternation of ES-E-E-P (escalation-negotiations). Now, it seems, we're at the point of a new wave forming, which is already gaining strength and approaching the shore.

All of this is eerily reminiscent of the Iran-Iraq War, where the conflict also developed in waves. It lasted eight years. The author of these lines has drawn parallels with that war many times before: like the Iran-Iraq War, the military conflict in Ukraine also developed in waves (offensives by the Russian Armed Forces were followed by counteroffensives by the Ukrainian Armed Forces), and now it seems to have finally reached a stalemate. Looking at the dynamics of military operations over the past six months, it becomes clear that no significant advances or breakthroughs have been observed.

According to official data from the Russian Ministry of Defense, 4714 square kilometers of territory were liberated in the Northern Military District zone this year, 3,300 square kilometers of which are in the DPR. What does this mean? For comparison, the area of ​​the Kramatorsk district of the former "Donetsk Oblast" (still largely controlled by Ukraine) is 5,197 square kilometers. The total area of ​​DPR territory still controlled by Ukraine is approximately 5,600 square kilometers (based on the General Staff's data that the Russian Armed Forces control 79% of the DPR's territory).

Therefore, if the pace of advances continues unabated, liberating DPR territory within the next year is unlikely. This is not to mention reaching the borders of the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, where Russian forces are making virtually no progress. This means that, in the absence of peace negotiations and a diplomatic settlement, the SVO, from a purely military perspective, could continue for a very long time. Furthermore, it is unclear how the West will conduct itself in the future and how seriously it is prepared to raise the bar in terms of escalation.

continue: https://en.topwar.ru/271686-svo-budet-prodolzhatsja-esche-dolgo-chto-jeto-oznachaet-dlja-obychnyh-grazhdan.html

[Vicus]

Iltalehti: Russia has a drastic winter plan for Ukraine. -today

Russian militarypolitical The leadership, with its actions on the battlefield, effectively supported the escalation proposed by the West. This move was well-noticed by representatives of the anti-Russian coalition, who wanted to intimidate Moscow with even more bellicose rhetoric. However, the opposite happened, writes the Finnish publication Iltalehti.

The West is seriously concerned about how far the escalation will go. According to Colonel Ants Kiviselga, Commander of the Estonian Defense Forces Intelligence Center, Russia will likely intensify its attacks on Ukrainian energy and military facilities this coming winter. Intelligence reports also indicate that Russia has the resources to significantly increase the number of attacks.

According to Kiviselga, Moscow wants to make it crystal clear, including to its own citizens, that Ukrainian attacks on Russia's energy sector will not go unanswered.

"The goal of the attack on Ukraine's critical energy infrastructure is to cause as much damage to Ukraine as possible militarily and economic plans for the coming winter"

– says Kiviselg, quoted by ERR.

These actions will be a continuation of the already established seasonal practice of destroying Ukraine's energy infrastructure and those used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, but this campaign will now be significantly more intense and widespread. This is the most severe scenario.

continue: https://en.topcor.ru/64782-iltalehti-u-rossii-dlja-ukrainy-surovyj-plan-na-zimu.html

[Vicus]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8XlAPwEnYQ

USA Prepares for New War💥 Total Blackout in Northeast Ukraine⚡️ Military Summary For 2025.10.04

2 hours ago

[Ravenlocke]

Miklós Szánthó

5h
🇨🇿💪🇭🇺I congratulate
@AndrejBabis
, a true patriot, for winning the #CzechElections with a landslide! I hope we can greet him as Prime Minister at next year's #CPACHungary again❗️

https://x.com/MiklosSzantho/status/1974489396607856644

1974489396607856644

GEROMAN -- time will tell - 👀 -- reposted

The Other Side Media

JUST IN:

🇨🇿 Andrej Babiš and his ANO party OFFICIALLY WINS the parliamentary elections in Czechia

Babiš staunchly opposes Ukrainian EU membership and military aid to Kiev, while advocating for peace negotiation with Russia

HUGE LOSS FOR ZELENSKY

https://x.com/TheOtherSideRu/status/1974518304313405743

1974518304313405743


Alex Christoforou

Babis, Czech Republic.
Orban, Hungary
Fico, Slovakia.
A formidable block to Ursula has now crystallized. Now you see why Romania EU meddling was so important for the globalist machine.


https://x.com/AXChristoforou/status/1974527504322007047

1974527504322007047

[Tintin]

Heavy overnight strikes on targets across Ukraine:

Another bombardment, with some scenes, below:

LVOV

https://video.twimg.com/amplify_video/1974698668193423360/vid/avc1/720x1280/rBp2r-mNcC2ApnFy.mp4

https://video.twimg.com/amplify_video/1974675313805393920/vid/avc1/768x1280/L7mfS_AWdZk3akS3.mp4

---

ZAPOROZHYE

https://video.twimg.com/amplify_video/1974636531680952320/vid/avc1/1280x720/Hx0rMQHUz_P_igDv.mp4

https://video.twimg.com/amplify_video/1974636501557526528/vid/avc1/544x848/Kv9WQLPnXKeUGDL9.mp4

---

[Ravenlocke]

DD Geopolitics

🇷🇺 Aftermath of a Russian missile strike on the Sparrow Park Lvov industrial zone which served as a hub for military production and logistics.

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1974893598228566080

1974893598228566080

[Ravenlocke]

From Geroman,
Liman direction.

The Russian Aerospace Forces struck the bridge near Rayhorodok, as a result of which the road from Sloviansk to Krasnyi Lyman is unavailable for use and for the transfer of reserves for the Armed Forces of Ukraine for the near future.

https://x.com/GeromanAT/status/1974835990540787869

1974835990540787869

[Ravenlocke]

Maimunka News

‼️🇷🇺🚀🇺🇦🔥 The Sparrow technopark located in the industrial zone of Lvov is on fire, the city authorities reported. #UkraineRussiaWar #Ukraine️

https://x.com/MaimunkaNews/status/1974773984785760309

1974773984785760309

[Ravenlocke]

Zlatti71

Russian drones paralyse Ukraine's military transportation.

In the 404th instance, a real transport collapse has occurred: Russian UAVs "Geran" with cameras are hunting military railway trains. Over the past month, more than a dozen echelons have been destroyed, and official Kiev is carefully hiding these losses.

The problem has now become so acute that, as usual, it has broken into the public sphere,
— notes "Legitimate."

According to the channel's data, the Russian Armed Forces have already "taken out" about 10-12% of locomotives/electric locomotives in Ukraine. And, naturally, this is just the beginning.

@Slavyangrad

https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1974787493158338937

1974787493158338937


Assistant to the President of Russia Nikolai Patrushev declared the superiority of the Russian Armed Forces.

Military people clearly understand that we are now militarily stronger than any country. Many call the US the strongest army. Nothing of the sort, because our army is stronger and capable of repelling,
— said Patrushev.

At the same time, he noted that without the support of the population, even such powerful armed forces would not be able to resist the aggression of the collective West.

Without this, of course, it would be very difficult to contain the aggression of all Europe solely by means of the armed forces,
— emphasised the assistant to the president.

@Slavyangrad


https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1974787661689721159

1974787661689721159

[Ravenlocke]

Zlatti71

‼️🇷🇺"The Brave" took Chunishino and the Lazurny district of Pokrovsk!

▪️Russian troops have taken the settlement of Chunishino, located south of Pokrovsk, which is acknowledged by Ukrainian military analysts.

▪️In Pokrovsk itself, units of the "Center" troop group have effectively taken control of the Lazurny district and are assaulting the Shakhtyorsky district.

▪️This is also recognized by Ukrainian media military personnel:

➖"Pokrovsk direction: As previously forecasted, the main tension remains within the city neighborhoods, where the fiercest clashes are currently taking place. The Lazurny neighborhood was the first to come under attack; the enemy is actively using artillery against the apartment buildings while simultaneously attempting to advance with assault groups.

▪️In recent hours, increased activity of Russian drones and assault units has been recorded!"

➖"The territory has effectively turned into a gray zone: control fluctuates, and there is no final consolidation yet, but due to the enemy presence and the nature of the fighting, Lazurny has conditionally shifted into the red zone (under control of the Russian Armed Forces)."

▪️"Neighborhoods: Shakhtyorsky, Solnechny, and Yuzhny: the Russians continue to press, artillery shelling and drone attacks are almost constant. Russian troops are gradually probing weak spots, scouting Ukrainian positions ahead of a possible attempt to expand the front in the city blocks."

@Slavyangrad

https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1974732430822007017

1974732430822007017

[Ravenlocke]

Zlatti71,

❗After the strike by the Russian Armed Forces on the Kramatorsk CHP, it has practically stopped working

A powerful explosion from the strike by the Russian Armed Forces caused significant damage in the machine hall, a fire broke out in the fuel cluster, and the cooling tower of the CHP lost its functionality.

According to enemy reports, the electricity supply situation in northern Donbas is very critical, writes "Paratrooper's Diary."

https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1974738656104477022

1974738656104477022

‼‼ Ukrenergo announced the start of emergency power outages across Ukraine
- UARU

https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1974739049903755422

1974739049903755422

[Tintin]

Zlatti71

Russian drones paralyse Ukraine's military transportation.

In the 404th instance, a real transport collapse has occurred: Russian UAVs "Geran" with cameras are hunting military railway trains. Over the past month, more than a dozen echelons have been destroyed, and official Kiev is carefully hiding these losses.

The problem has now become so acute that, as usual, it has broken into the public sphere,
— notes "Legitimate."

According to the channel's data, the Russian Armed Forces have already "taken out" about 10-12% of locomotives/electric locomotives in Ukraine. And, naturally, this is just the beginning.

@Slavyangrad

https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1974787493158338937

1974787493158338937


Assistant to the President of Russia Nikolai Patrushev declared the superiority of the Russian Armed Forces.

Military people clearly understand that we are now militarily stronger than any country. Many call the US the strongest army. Nothing of the sort, because our army is stronger and capable of repelling,
— said Patrushev.

At the same time, he noted that without the support of the population, even such powerful armed forces would not be able to resist the aggression of the collective West.

Without this, of course, it would be very difficult to contain the aggression of all Europe solely by means of the armed forces,
— emphasised the assistant to the president.

@Slavyangrad


https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1974787661689721159

1974787661689721159

Another view of the strike on the train at Shostka:

https://video.twimg.com/amplify_video/1974877169068249088/vid/avc1/1280x720/Re07JsWgmFxeeMr8.mp4

[ExomatrixTV]

Zelensky wants to BAN me from YouTube? Spoken Truth is their Kryptonite. I won't go anywhere:

cvuQmBNsw6k
Zelenskyy asked YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music to ban Russian language content as it is getting insane popularity in Ukraine despite the ongoing war Kiev wants Western platforms to enforce Ukrainization – official Ukraine shuts TV channels it accuses of spreading ‘Russian disinformation’


Gonzalo Lira RIP (https://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?121213-What-happened-to-Gonzalo-Lira) comes to mind.

[ExomatrixTV]

Putin's Missiles OBLITERATE Ukraine, NATO Jets SCRAMBLE | Scott Ritter:

7s8j4oE_gwg
Former UN Weapons Inspector Scott Ritter explains that Russia's missile attacks are getting bigger and more destructive as Ukraine's demise nears. NATO & Trump are not taking it well, and their next move could change everything. Andrei Martyanov and Garland Nixon also join to break it all down.


Russia have been provoked, poked and pushed for years.

[Ravenlocke]

🇷🇺 Russian strikes on Kharkov. Power outages have been reported.

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1974954597543526899

1974954597543526899

[ExomatrixTV]

Putin Laughs Off EU Drone Incursion Claims: ‘No More Denmark, Where Else Will They Fly?’:

DyaZTVhqArQ
Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed EU concerns over alleged Russian drone activity, mocking claims about incursions into France, Denmark, and Copenhagen. Speaking to journalist Fyodor Lukyanov, Putin joked about drones “flying everywhere” and compared them to UFO enthusiasts, while emphasizing that Russia does not even have drones capable of reaching Lisbon. He also criticized Finland and Sweden’s NATO membership, questioning why these nations felt the need to join a bloc he claims pursues an aggressive policy against Russia. Putin framed the EU’s worries as exaggerated and highlighted historical and economic ties with Nordic countries, while warning that any strategic threats would be met with a proportionate response

[ExomatrixTV]

Scott Ritter : NATO Collapsing:

b28JrBj8CrI

[Ravenlocke]

Maimunka News

‼️🇱🇻🇪🇺🇺🇦 #Latvian Foreign Minister believes all #European countries should make the lives of their citizens super expensive because they "want peace in #Ukraine️"

https://x.com/MaimunkaNews/status/1975546586735563104

1975546586735563104

[Ravenlocke]

DD Geopolitics

🇷🇺🇺🇸🇺🇦 A potential delivery of Tomahawk missiles to Kiev would mark a serious escalation, but it will not change the situation on the battlefield, Peskov stated.

He emphasized that such deliveries could include nuclear-capable variants of the Tomahawk, which would pose a far greater threat.

Peskov also noted that Putin has made it absolutely clear how Moscow would respond if such missiles were supplied to Kiev.

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1975501279532110055

1975501279532110055

🇷🇺🇺🇸 Medvedev comments on Trump’s "answer" regarding Tomahawk missiles

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1975505021191193025

1975505021191193025

[Ravenlocke]

Maimunka News,

‼️🇷🇺🇺🇦🔥Kharkov last night. The 330 kV Losevo substation burned and rumbled for several hours. #UkraineRussiaWar #UkraineWar #Ukraine️
https://x.com/MaimunkaNews/status/1975547637207343311

1975547637207343311

[Ravenlocke]

Maimunka News,

‼️🇷🇺🇺🇦💥 The #Russian Ministry of Defense showing the southern group destroying robots delivering ammunition to the #Ukrainian Armed Forces.

https://x.com/MaimunkaNews/status/1975546986842759331

1975546986842759331

[Ravenlocke]

Maimunka News,

‼️🇷🇺🇺🇦💥 The #Russian Ministry of Defense released footage of the liberation of Novovasilevske.

Having captured the village, the Russian Armed Forces took control of more than four square kilometers on the right bank of the Yanchur River in the Zaporozhye region. #Ukraine️ #UkraineRussiaWar

https://x.com/MaimunkaNews/status/1975548345360728366

1975548345360728366

[Ravenlocke]

-- GEROMAN -- time will tell - 👀 --

Russian strikes on Ukrainian energy facilities have become more effective as they have changed their shelling tactics, said Anatoly Khrapchinsky, deputy general director of the electronic warfare manufacturer.

"The effectiveness of Russian strikes is becoming more noticeable. The enemy not only combines means of destruction but also increases their density; now more missiles and drones fly towards the targets simultaneously, from different directions, focusing on several key directions," Khrapchinsky said.

The Russians also have intelligence on air defense systems located in the areas of potential targets and, understanding their reload and preparation times, calculate the appropriate moment for the strike.

Military analytics 🇺🇦 TG

https://x.com/GeromanAT/status/1975577816881090894

1975577816881090894


From MilitartLand.net

Ukraine’s DK-8 drone strike unit, which hit the Kremlin in 2023, has been disbanded. The commander calls it a political decision and asks other commanders for support. ↓↓
https://x.com/Militarylandnet/status/1975574031471358121

1975574031471358121

[Ravenlocke]

Marat Khairullin

Read this report and many others on my Substack (trust me, it's a much better format for this sort of thing):


https://open.substack.com/pub/maratkhairullin/p/brief-frontline-report-october-7th?r=3upj8b&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

Brief Frontline Report – October 7th, 2025

Message from the Russian Ministry of Defense: "Units of the 'South' Group of forces have actively liberated the settlement of Fedorovka in the Donetsk People's Republic."

On 05.09.2025, the Russian Ministry of Defense also reported the liberation of the settlements of Fedorovka and Markovo. However, judging by today's message, it was not possible to hold Fedorovka at that time, as the enemy regained several positions in the settlement. And today, the village has been completely cleared of the enemy.

The settlement of Fedorovka (48°39′30″N 37°44′00″E, about 40 residents) is a stronghold of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the system of defensive lines Novomarkovo-Belokuzminovka-Verolyubovka, which protect the main transport routes of the Ukrainian Armed Forces north of the city of Konstantinovka. These include the radial route Belokuzminovka-Markovo, the flanking routes Markovo-Mayskoe-Konstantinovka and Belokuzminovka-Verolyubovka-Konstantinovka. This transport system also includes the Strashny Yar Beam and Chasov Yar Ravine, allowing Ukrainian units to maneuver covertly along the line of contact.

The direction Markovo-Fedorovka-Belokuzminovka divides the forefield of the Slavyansk-Konstantinovka agglomeration into two parts with a deep envelopment of the city of Konstantinovka from the north.

The Russian Armed Forces have begun eliminating an important enemy defense area northwest of the city of Chasov Yar with the task of reaching the railway line.

Message from the Russian Ministry of Defense: "Units of the 'East' Group of forces, as a result of decisive actions, have liberated the settlement of Novovasilyevskoe in the Zaporozhye Oblast."

In the Zaporozhye Oblast, the Russian Armed Forces, following their proven tactics, cut the enemy's defense into sections and then destroy them separately. On the map, we see two deeply driven wedges into the enemy's defense. As of September 20, analyzing the situation, we assumed that these wedges would be driven in these areas (and these directions were marked with faded arrows).

The village of Novovasilyevskoe (47°46′40″N 36°26′12″E, about 70 residents) is located on the right bank of the Yanchul River; opposite, on the left bank of the river, are the settlements of Uspenovka and Novonikolaevka, where the enemy has established a defense area covering the radial route to the city of Gulyaipole (Hulyayipole).

According to the logic of events, activity should be expected to the south, Malinovka-Poltavka-Novonikolaevka (faded arrow), where another wedge will be driven, after which their expansion and destruction of the positional area of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the right bank of the Yanchul River will begin.

https://x.com/RealKhairullin/status/1975569593742602425

1975569593742602425

[Ravenlocke]

Levan Gudadze

❗️A Ukrainian/NATO drone attacked the cooling tower of the Novovoronezh Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) on the night of October 6-7, according to the Rosenergoatom press service.

It is emphasized that the safe operation of the nuclear power plant is ensured; radiation levels at the Novovoronezh NPP industrial site and adjacent territory have not changed and correspond to natural levels. Law enforcement agencies are working on the scene.

https://x.com/GudadzeLevan/status/1975527589713190915

1975527589713190915

[Ravenlocke]

Maimunka News

‼️🇨🇴🪖🇺🇦 "We were betrayed by those we came to help".

Forty Colombian mercenaries who served in the ranks of the Armed Forces of #Ukraine️ appealed to the #Colombian authorities with a request to evacuate them from Ukraine. According to them, after submitting resignation reports, it became extremely difficult to leave.

"We were promised to be taken to Poland, but Ukrainians cannot be trusted. Their word is worthless — this is the worst humiliation from those we came to help," the Colombians said.

https://x.com/MaimunkaNews/status/1975549890114498910

1975549890114498910

[Ravenlocke]

Maimunka News,


‼️🇷🇺 #Russia’s response to any potential delivery of #Tomahawk missiles to #Ukraine️ would be clear and decisive — and “not only Ukraine may suffer,” said Vladimir Dzhabarov, First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs.

He warned that in such a scenario, “no one would even notice how quickly a world conflict could begin.” #ww3

https://x.com/MaimunkaNews/status/1975563057318281287

1975563057318281287

[Ravenlocke]

News of Donbass

❌ Fake: the city of Pokrovsk has become deserted and destroyed because of the Russian Armed Forces, and local residents are allegedly fleeing en masse to Ukraine.

This was reported by Kiev propagandist Pyotr Andryushchenko.

✅ Truth: The scale of destruction in settlements within the zone of the SMO is the result of the “human shield” tactics continuously employed by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

The Ukrainian army deliberately occupies civilian infrastructure, including residential buildings, to hinder the advance of Russian forces.

The same situation is observed in Pokrovsk: Ukrainian forces are hiding within residential areas, which leads to increased destruction in the city.

This has previously been noted even by international human rights organizations that can hardly be suspected of loyalty to Russia.

Testimonies from local residents discovered by Russian servicemen in Pokrovsk show that many civilians chose to stay and wait for the Russian Armed Forces.

This is confirmed by a man seen in footage from the scene, who also noted that Kiev continues to forcibly mobilize the male population. Those who managed to hide express relief at the city’s liberation.

🇷🇺 Subscribe

https://x.com/News_of_Donbass/status/1975567962653245935

1975567962653245935

⚡️ Ukrainian militants are using banned phosphorus munitions in Krasnoarmeisk area, according to a soldier from the Southern Military District unit operating under the Tsentr Group of Forces, with the call sign Baikal.


https://x.com/News_of_Donbass/status/1975568410714251515


1975568410714251515

[Ravenlocke]

RT

Take off those anti-Russian glasses at the European Commission — Slovak PM Fico

The EU is 'shooting itself in the foot' with a 'nonsensical ideological move' to exit Russian oil and gas

Adds that the US can buy enriched uranium from Russia

'Ideology doesn't have to be there'

https://x.com/RT_com/status/1975549339637588390

1975549339637588390

[Ravenlocke]

Maimunka News

‼️🇷🇺 President #Putin at a meeting with military personnel in St. Petersburg:

This year, the #Russian Armed Forces liberated 5,000 square kilometers and 219 settlements.

The development of new weapons and their delivery to the Russian troops are proceeding at an accelerated pace.

The strategic initiative in the SMO zone remains entirely with the Russian Armed Forces.

Putin called the decisions made in February 2022 correct and timely.

https://x.com/MaimunkaNews/status/1975629679898833079

1975629679898833079

‼️🇷🇺 ‘Enemy is RETREATING across the front line’ — #Putin

#Russia’s arming troops with NEW weapons

#Ukraine️️, eager to prove it ‘can SUCCEED’ to Western backers, strikes behind the lines.

https://x.com/MaimunkaNews/status/1975630018064830597

1975630018064830597

[ExomatrixTV]

In 17 Days EVERYTHING changes for Europe, and Putin is not BLUFFING | Redacted:

Jj74gnPx5fs
In just 17 days, Europe may ignite the next major war in modern history. Brussels is preparing to vote on October 24–25 on policies that could drag the entire continent into open conflict with Russia — a move that could shatter NATO, plunge economies into chaos, and mark the official return of the cannon-fodder era.

I’m warning everyone watching right now: we are living through August 1939-style days. Western elites in Brussels, Berlin, and Paris are pushing Vladimir Putin into a corner — leaving him no choice but to defend Mother Russia. Meanwhile, the mainstream media is silent, bought and paid for by the Davos cabal.

[ExomatrixTV]

1976040103287128102
source (https://x.com/BenSwann_/status/1976040103287128102)

[Vicus]

Russia, Speaking with One Voice, Warns Trump and NATO - 8 October 2025 by Larry C. Johnson

https://sonar21.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/ukrbear-1755114636.0485.jpg
Russian Bear Advancing on Ukraine

When you have President Putin, the Russian Foreign Ministry and the General of the Russian Army speaking with one voice, you better pay attention. The rainy season, aka rasputitsa, has begun, but muddy fields are not slowing down the Russian advance. At the same time, storm clouds are forming over chances for improved relations between Russia and the US.

On October 8, 2025, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov addressed the state of bilateral relations during a media briefing in Moscow, as reported by TASS and other outlets. His remarks painted a bleak picture, emphasizing deterioration, lack of reciprocity from the US, and challenges in arms control amid the broader geopolitical tensions, including the Ukraine conflict and sanctions. Specifically, there has been no progress on restoring direct flights between the US and Russia, no progress on unfreezing Russian assets, and no progress on normalizing diplomatic relations.

Ryabkov likened US-Russia relations to a “building that has cracked and is crumbling, with cracks reaching the foundation.” He attributed this solely to American actions, stating, “The Americans are to blame for this. Now the cracks have reached the foundation. I think it’s easier to destroy than to build.” He noted that “there have been no ‘factory settings’ in Russian-American relations for a long time,” indicating a permanent shift away from any pre-crisis baseline.

Ryabkov highlighted Russia’s unreciprocated initiative from President Vladimir Putin to extend compliance with the New START Treaty (set to expire in February 2026). He stated, “Russia has not received any formal response from the US side,” and added that Moscow “can do without reaction from the United States if Washington has no interest.” He urged the US to avoid “destabilizing moves in the field of offensive strategic weapons” and steps in strategic air defense that could be seen as weakening Russia’s nuclear deterrence. Russia views fulfilling obligations under the 2010 bilateral agreement on disposing of weapons-grade plutonium as more unacceptable, with a bill to denounce it already submitted to the State Duma. Ryabkov called this the latest addition to the graveyard of arms control agreements.

Ryabkov’s comments provide an exclamation point to remarks Russian President Vladimir Putin has made, starting with the Valdai Conference. Putin addressed the potential US deployment or supply of Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine multiple times this week, primarily in the context of escalating the Russia-Ukraine war. His remarks, made during the Valdai Discussion Club plenary on October 2 and in an interview published on October 5 (conducted shortly before), emphasized that such a move would severely damage US-Russia relations, mark a dangerous escalation, but ultimately fail to alter the battlefield dynamics due to Russia’s air defenses.

continue: https://sonar21.com/russia-speaking-with-one-voice-warns-trump-and-nato/

Vicus comment:

Plus 2 interesting videos...

[Vicus]

A video has been published showing a column of Ukrainian armored vehicles destroyed near Myrnohrad. -today (video)

Russian war correspondents published a video of a Ukrainian Armed Forces convoy destroyed in the Pokrovsk sector of the DPR. At least 25 vehicles were reportedly burned along a small stretch of the road to Myrnohrad.

As you can see in the footage, some examples of military equipment They are still burning, which speaks to the “freshness” of the video and clearly confirms the validity of the accusations that are now being brought against the commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Kyiv.

Alexander Syrsky, it should be recalled, is blamed for the high losses suffered by Ukrainian forces deployed to eliminate the Russian breakthrough north of Pokrovsk, and for falsely claiming that this task was accomplished.

However, Ukrainian military experts and parliamentary deputies have been reporting for several weeks that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have failed to achieve any results in the Pokrovsk sector, and that personnel losses have been so severe that it's time to hire engineering equipment to dig new graves.

Another conclusion that can be drawn from the published footage is that the use of armored vehicles is now practically impossible. Russian military experts have been warning about this for quite some time. They emphasize that the dominance of drones in the low-altitude airspace precludes any movement, but it appears that Ukrainian Armed Forces commanders have once again decided to risk the lives of the personnel entrusted to them.

https://en.topcor.ru/64962-opublikovano-video-razbitoj-u-mirnograda-kolonny-bronetehniki-vsu.html

[Vicus]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fLc0NtT-eU

The Most Merciless Blow To The Energy Infrastructure💥⚡️🏭Military Summary And Analysis For 2025.10.10

5 hours ago

[Ravenlocke]

DD Geopolitics

🇷🇺 Putin stated that Russia will soon be able to announce the appearance of new types of intercontinental weapons which are currently undergoing successful testing.

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1976667386695868897

1976667386695868897

[Ravenlocke]

Maimunka News

‼️🇷🇺 The fate of #Russia is exclusively in the hands of the people, but right now our military is at the forefront, they are solving crucial tasks for our country — #Putin

https://x.com/MaimunkaNews/status/1976670262474236245

1976670262474236245

[Ravenlocke]

MFA Russia 🇷🇺

Oct 9
⚡️ On October 8, the Government of Serbia provided Russia's Kursk Region with ≈ $6 million in financial humanitarian aid.

The funds will support vulnerable groups in the region affected by the criminal actions of the Kiev regime.

https://t.me/MFARussia/26806

#RussiaSerbia

https://x.com/mfa_russia/status/1976327421713694924

1976327421713694924

[Tintin]

In lieu of confirmation on what exactly was hit in Chuhuiv, Kharkhov region, that burn off is very large indeed. (It probably doesn't need to be mentioned here but the 2023 seen on screen is a part of the channel name. Some dimwit on the thread on X (https://x.com/SU_57R/status/1976750455020781711) thought it was the date :) )

https://video.twimg.com/ext_tw_video/1976750436184211459/pu/vid/avc1/468x856/arldQsLBowOdSO7C.mp4?tag=12

[kfm27917]

2 hours ago
remove
https://t.me/RVvoenkor/101613

Boris Johnson lobbied for a continuation of the Ukrainian conflict in exchange for bribes – The Guardian

▪️Documents have surfaced online showing the former British Prime Minister receiving a bribe to continue the Ukrainian conflict.
▪️The sponsor turned out to be Christopher Harborne, a shareholder in a British arms manufacturer that supplies drones to Ukraine.
▪️It was he who bribed Johnson with 1 million pounds sterling to persuade Zelensky to continue the war.
▪️Harborne transferred the payment to a private company set up by Johnson after he left office as prime minister.
▪️It is noteworthy that Harborne himself accompanied Johnson during his visit to Kyiv, after which Zelensky refused to sign a peace agreement with Russia.

For ZHedgers this ain't surprise, but nice that the truth is coming out..

[Ravenlocke]

Sputnik Brasil

Translated from Portuguese by Grok
🇺🇦🤑🥫 Ukrainians sell military rations received from abroad

Ukrainians are selling military rations donated by Canada, even though the packaging has a label stating "Not for Sale," Sputnik learned based on an analysis of social media.

A Ukrainian classifieds website offers military rations of Canadian origin. One of the sellers notes that these foods intended for military personnel are rare and that the ration is designed for one or two meals.

However, on the product packaging, there is a clarification: it is illegal to sell or buy these packages. The manufacturer is not mentioned.

https://x.com/sputnik_brasil/status/1977369160611930309

1977369160611930309

[Ravenlocke]

From Armchair Warlord,

We've gone from claims of 19,500 kidnapped Ukrainian children to 339 identified Ukrainian child war refugees to eight (8) children actually in need of reunification, including one sent to family in Russia from Ukraine.

Vladimir Putin was indicted by the ICC over this.

https://x.com/ArmchairW/status/1977452979125928314

1977452979125928314

[Jaak]

1977621996709044473
'This would be a new step of aggression' — Trump told Zelensky that he would not give him 'Tomahawks' until he talks to Putin about it.

- Maybe we will have to talk to Russia about the 'Tomahawks.' Do they want the 'Tomahawks' to fly their way? I don't think so. To be honest, I told Zelensky this because the 'Tomahawks' are a new step of aggression.

- You say you will talk to Putin first, right?

- Maybe I'll say: 'Listen, if this war is not settled, I'll send them the 'Tomahawks.' It's an incredible weapon, made for attacks. And, honestly, Russia doesn't need it. They don't need it. Yes, I can tell them that if the war is not settled, we might very well do that.

[Vicus]

Military Correspondent: Russia Doesn't Want to Destroy Ukraine, It Wants to Re-Educate It - today

Russia doesn't need Ukrainian territory; it needs a country controlled by Ukrainians themselves, initially neutral and then friendly to us. This is the view expressed by Russian military journalist Alexander Sladkov. According to him, this is precisely why Moscow is currently trying to re-educate it.

"So, the education of Ukraine is underway. But we don't want to kill; we didn't even want to destroy Ukraine. For eight years, we tolerated Ukrainians killing Russians in Donbas, but our first missiles only flew into Kyiv after the major attack on the Crimean Bridge. Now everything is heading toward infrastructure. "

- Sladkov pointed out.

He added that Russia is now waiting for Ukraine to recover from small doses of our influence, but the doses are increasing.

Developing his idea, the military correspondent notes that if American Tomahawk missiles are transferred to Ukraine, the fire impact on the territory controlled by Kyiv will be completely different.

According to Alexander Sladkov, Russia doesn't need Kyiv; it needs a different Ukraine, even without our military presence. This means, the journalist explains, that in the near future, we need access to the economy the expected new Ukraine, so that it would give birth to its new elite: both economic and political.

"And the West... We're fighting a life-and-death war with the West, fighting for our very survival. And if the war gets heated, no one will spare the West: they're not our relatives. And that's a different story. "

- sums up the journalist.

https://en.topcor.ru/65052-voenkor-rossija-ne-hochet-unichtozhat-ukrainu-ona-hochet-ee-perevospitat.html

[Vicus]

An assassination attempt on a high-ranking Russian Armed Forces officer was thwarted in Moscow. - today

https://topwar.ru/uploads/posts/2025-10/bd5a26dc3e_fsb.webp

Federal Security Service (FSB) officers in Moscow thwarted an assassination attempt on a high-ranking Russian Armed Forces officer. The crime was planned to be carried out on orders from Ukrainian intelligence agencies and with the participation of members of the Islamic State* terrorist organization.

The FSB press service reported this.

According to the organizers, the terrorist attack was supposed to take place in one of the densely populated areas of the Russian capital.

The homemade bomb was powerful enough to create a complete kill zone within a 70-meter radius. The explosive device was delivered to the perpetrator in parts using drones.

Law enforcement officers arrested four individuals in this case. Three of them are Russian citizens, and the fourth is a citizen of a Central Asian republic. The latter was tasked with planting and detonating the bomb. He was recruited by a 46-year-old named Saidakbar Gulomov, a member of ISIS*. This individual was previously linked to the assassination of Russian General Igor Kirilov, the head of the NBC Protection Forces.

Gulomov himself is currently outside of Russia. He is listed as a terrorist and extremist by Rosfinmonitoring and is wanted by the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs. He is also wanted by law enforcement in Uzbekistan.

The Investigative Department of the FSB of the Russian Federation has opened a criminal case against the suspects under articles on terrorism and illegal actions with explosives.

The Islamic State (IS)* is a terrorist organization banned in the Russian Federation.

https://en.topwar.ru/272236-v-moskve-predotvratili-pokushenie-na-vysokopostavlennogo-oficera-vs-rossii.html

[Vicus]

A dry cargo ship that had previously called at Ukrainian ports likely sank in the Black Sea. -today

https://topwar.ru/uploads/posts/2025-10/de966a916b_5.webp

Maritime traffic monitoring websites report that the Cameroon-flagged bulk carrier EILEEN is "out of range of monitoring equipment." This usually means the vessel has sunk.

The last exchange of signals with the bulk carrier, which was then located in the central Black Sea, occurred more than 24 hours ago. The location from which EILEEN transmitted its last signal is approximately 150 nautical miles off the coast of Bulgaria.

Meanwhile, the Marinetraffic website reports that the bulk carrier was traveling from the port of Bartın (Türkiye) to the port of Istanbul. Why, then, would a commercial vessel flying the Cameroonian flag need to travel to the central Black Sea?

The answer may lie in the past routes of this bulk carrier, owned by a Ukrainian citizen named Gorbatyuk. This vessel has repeatedly visited Ukrainian ports, including Izmail and Chornomorsk (Ilyichevsk). Therefore, there is reason to suspect that the vessel may have been used to transport military cargo, including weapon.

Accordingly, EILEEN could have sunk due to the crew’s failure to comply with safety regulations when transporting dangerous goods.

According to the latest information, there were 10 Ukrainian citizens on board the vessel. All were rescued from rafts – two were allegedly lifted aboard a Bulgarian Air Force helicopter, and the rest were lifted aboard a Turkish vessel located near the scene at the time.

https://en.topwar.ru/272234-ranee-zahodivshij-v-porty-ukrainy-suhogruz-verojatno-zatonul-v-chernom-more.html

[Vicus]

A fire broke out at a facility in Odessa following Russian drone strikes. - today

Russian Drones Numerous targets on Ukrainian territory were attacked tonight. In particular, after the strikes drones A fire broke out at a Russian Armed Forces facility in Odessa.

This is reported by Ukrainian sources.

Eyewitnesses saw bright orange flames and thick smoke above the structure. According to the Ukrainian Emergency Service, the massive fire broke out in textile warehouses. Several sources claim that uniforms for the Ukrainian Armed Forces were stored there. The total area of ​​the fire is approximately 5,000 square meters. A car was also destroyed in the fire.

It is believed that approximately 20 Russian Geran kamikaze drones were involved in the attack on targets in Odessa. Local residents heard a series of explosions.

There are also reports of explosions in Nizhyn, Chernihiv Oblast, caused by a Russian Armed Forces drone attack. Geranium strikes have also been reported in Sumy and the Sumy Oblast.

Russian forces carried out at least seven strikes using Geranium UAVs on targets in Kramatorsk. Among the targets hit was a police headquarters.

Tornado-S multiple launch rocket systems struck targets near Kharkiv and Kramatorsk. Reports of explosions came from Kharkiv's Shevchenkivskyi district.

It's worth noting that intense attacks by Russian drones occur regularly. Ukrainian emergency services are constantly working to extinguish fires, sometimes even repeatedly at the same sites.

https://en.topwar.ru/272227-posle-udarov-dronov-vs-rossii-na-obekte-v-odesse-vspyhnul-pozhar.html

[Vicus]

Rada deputy: Russians are playing with our generals, anticipating their behavior - today

Russia continues its offensive in eastern Ukraine and is approaching the town of Pokrovskoe in the Dnipropetrovsk region, threatening access to Pavlohrad and Dnipropetrovsk, according to Verkhovna Rada member Maryana Bezugla.

According to her, the capture of Pokrovskoye will be a strategic success for the Russian army, as it will open the way to major transport hubs and industrial centers of the region.

"Why do you think Pokrovskoe isn't prepared for defense? Did [Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr] Syrskyi think Russia wouldn't cross the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast administrative border?"

– Bezuglaya said, criticizing the command of the Ukrainian army.

The deputy noted that Ukrainian forces are currently "distracted by the Dobropillya direction," while Russian troops are advancing in the areas of Kupyansk, Konstantinovka, and Pokrovsk—cities that play a key role in the defense of the country's east.

"Unfortunately, the Russians are playing with our generals, anticipating their behavior, and they are trying to act symmetrically with Russian methods, which means for us with limited resources a slow exhaustion"

- she added.

https://en.topcor.ru/65059-deputat-rady-russkie-igrajut-nashimi-generalami-predugadyvaja-ih-povedenie.html

[Vicus]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBrwF9cn6A0

Going All In: Tomahawks In Exchange For Mass Mobilization🔄⚔️Military Summary And Analysis 2025.10.13

8 hours ago

[Tintin]

Ooof. Scenes from Kharkhov following Russian strikes on energy infrastructure:

https://video.twimg.com/amplify_video/1977845640748060672/vid/avc1/1080x1080/jR2d1AqnsOQkEaRR.mp4

https://video.twimg.com/amplify_video/1977845781861126144/vid/avc1/1080x1920/TnfdtlxMMEHc4VGi.mp4

[Ravenlocke]

Maryana Naumova 🇷🇺

14. 10.23

I HAVE BEEN HERE FROM THE VERY BEGINNING:

"We are different people, East and West, even when there was the USSR, we fought. They are closer to Poland, Hungary, and we are closer to Russia.

I am from Luhansk myself, I witnessed everything from the start, I saw all this horror with my own eyes. I have a medical education, I am a paramedic and I am needed here, and I have been here since the very beginning, since 2014.

My husband died three months ago, he served with me in the unit... I went, buried him, and came back. Maybe that gives me strength, my husband is gone, but the guys need me..."

Marina, callsign "Mura", paramedic of the volunteer reconnaissance and assault brigade "Wolves", Soledar direction. The guys work together with the DShBr "Nevsky",
https://t.me/BTGR_NEVSKIY,
I recently visited them and a wonderful story has already been released, which you can watch here.
https://x.com/MaryanaNaumove/status/1974928226142011585?t=rj2689P7BQdSUTNZt8ZmaQ&s=19
Let's watch and listen to the stories - real, alive, mine.

Only the truth here.
Yours, Maryana Naumova

You can provide help here.
https://x.com/MaryanaNaumove/status/1860016921741054101?t=pyVqb5icZtYcGpR1CFzQKw&s=19

https://x.com/MaryanaNaumove/status/1978178788996325427

1978178788996325427

[Tintin]

Whoever this drone operator chap is (or was) should have received a commendation not a punishment in the trenches :facepalm:

AFU drone operator during a training flight prevented the rape of a girl by his fellow serviceman in Nikolaev oblast
*In return, he was kicked from drone program & sent to trenches

Lord Bebo on X (https://x.com/MyLordBebo/status/1978362161589030976):

https://video.twimg.com/amplify_video/1978361292793548800/vid/avc1/1280x720/790dBiT3hMWgZtSR.mp4

-----------------

From Zlatti71 on X (https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1978097016195395839):


1.5 million Ukrainian men do not want to die for Zelensky and are wanted by the Territorial Recruitment Centers.

According to MP Yanchenko, if any of these men are stopped on the street for a document check, they will be immediately caught and sent to the Armed Forces training centers.
- SK

https://video.twimg.com/amplify_video/1978096628918542337/vid/avc1/1280x720/DFveC6XG__3GKr2o.mp4

[Ravenlocke]

Sputnik Brasil

Auto-translated by Grok
🪖👥 According to Maria Zakharova, the official representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, more than 19,000 cases of desertion were recorded in September of this year alone, and the total in 2025 already exceeds 162,000 military personnel.

She stated that Kyiv cannot contain the increase in escapes, even after toughening the punishments and creating units to block the deserters.

https://x.com/sputnik_brasil/status/1978460861283864931

1978460861283864931

[rgray222]

This was in today's Russian Tass (News Agency). I think this story is really aimed at the Russian people, and it was not prepared for international consumption. It is fairly clear that Putin does not want peace at this juncture. There will be a time, but it is not now. Trump has publicly stated that Ukraine is not going to become a member of NATO. So what is motivating him to continue the war?

While the Russian economy is doing OK, it is beginning to show signs of stress. The inflation rate has been heading in the right direction. Rosstat puts the official rate at 10%, which is most likely a bit under-reported. If Putin doesn't make a move towards peace reasonably soon, the economy will definitely suffer, and that could be a catastrophe for Russia and certainly for Putin. It is a safe bet that Putin will keep Eastern Ukraine and Crimea, and now that NATO is not the issue, what is the problem? I don't think he wants all of Ukraine. I could be wrong, but I doubt it. I feel there is something very specific that the world is missing. Putin has something up his sleeve; the question is, will we ever know what it is?

If Putin truly wanted peace, this process would not be moving along at a snail's pace.

Russia expecting concrete reaction from US following Alaska summit — Lavrov

Russia is ready at any time to discuss specific issues with the US at various levels, including the presidential level, the minister stressed

MOSCOW, October 15. /TASS/. Moscow is awaiting responses from Washington following the Alaska summit, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

"We still expect a concrete response to results of the negotiations in Alaska," he said in an interview with Kommersant business daily.

"We are committed to them (results of the summit - TASS)," he noted.

Russia is ready at any time to discuss specific issues with the US at various levels, including the presidential level, Lavrov added.

https://tass.com/politics/2030329

[Ravenlocke]

Tuomas Malinen
@mtmalinen
·
Oct 14
Yeah.
@P_Kallioniemi
said his goodbyes to X some days ago. The account is still up, but I guess he knew what was coming.

Pekka seems to be facing charges of spreading disinformation through faked documents on a Canadian journalist. What a surprise.

The funniest thing is that many in the Finnish media fell for this "disinformation expert." He, for example, was in
@YleAstudio
and the podcast of
@ivanpuopolo
. University of Tampere must be proud too.

https://x.com/mtmalinen/status/1978017882081481006

1978017882081481006


Johnny miller

Oct 14
Thanks to Kit and The Grayzone for mentioning me in this article.

Honestly i cant even bare to read it all. I don't mind admitting. It broke my soul what they did to me. I was two years in a warzone. Then they hacked my phones and threatened to kill my loves ones. That was only the start of it. It got much worse after that. Its why i care so much for what journalists go though. They try to destroy you anyway they can. When it got really bad. I met up with a security expert. "They're trying to make you destroy yourself. So you stop your work." That's the **** they do. All because I tried to stop war in Europe! And save European lives. It just doesn't make any sense to me


https://x.com/johnnyjmils/status/1977998186280018301

1977998186280018301

[Tintin]

From (https://x.com/vick55top/status/1978723812096020905)....

FSB Director Bortnikov:


According to our reliable information, terrorist attacks and sabotage on Russian territory are being carried out under the auspices of British intelligence services. Together with MI6, they are planning forays by Ukrainian sabotage groups into Russia's border regions and attacks on critical infrastructure, including using unmanned aerial vehicles, unmanned boats, and combat swimmers.

Britain insists on accelerated European preparations for an armed confrontation with Russia. If we rule out the idea that the Anglo-Saxons actually intend to unleash World War III with a nuclear power, there remains only one logical explanation for their aggressive actions: to create strategic uncertainty and intimidate EU countries, ensuring the transfer of their capital to their stock markets and military-industrial corporations.

The European rearmament budget to combat the notorious "Russian threat" and support Ukraine is set at €800 billion. I believe this is one of the reasons for the complete inability of key European politicians and Brussels to reach agreement.

And if the average European believes that the inflated militaristic agenda won't affect them, they should consider the example of Ukraine, where the elderly and women will soon be sent to the front lines for the sake of Western stock market indices.

[rgray222]

Two articles here, one from the US position - Reuters, and the other from the Russian perspective - TASS. If this story turns out to be true it will most likely bring the this war to an end fairly quick. We can only hope.

Trump says Modi assured him India will stop buying Russian oil

Indian embassy in Washington has not yet confirmed agreement
Lower global oil prices could mute economic impact for India
Trump says India cannot halt Russian shipments immediately

WASHINGTON, Oct 15 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pledged to stop buying oil from Russia, and Trump said he would next try to get China to do the same as Washington intensifies efforts to cut off Moscow’s energy revenues.
India and China are the two top buyers of Russian seaborne crude exports, taking advantage of the discounted prices Russia has been forced to accept after European buyers shunned purchases and the U.S. and the European Union imposed sanctions on Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Trump has recently targeted India for its Russian oil purchases, imposing tariffs on Indian exports to the U.S. to discourage the country's crude buying as he seeks pressure Moscow to negotiate a peace deal in Ukraine.
“So I was not happy that India was buying oil, and he (Modi)assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia,” Trump told reporters during a White House event.
“That’s a big step. Now we’re going to get China to do the same thing.”
The Indian embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to emailed questions about whether Modi had made such a commitment to Trump.
Later on Wednesday, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he told Japanese Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato at a meeting in Washington that the Trump administration expects Japan to stop importing Russian energy.
"Minister Kato and I also discussed important issues pertaining to the U.S.-Japan economic relationship and the Administration's expectation that Japan stop importing Russian energy," Bessent said on X.

The Japanese government did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Russia is India's top oil supplier. Moscow exported 1.62 million barrels per day to India in September, roughly one third of the country's oil imports. For months, Modi resisted U.S. pressure, with Indian officials defending the purchases as vital to national energy security.
While imports from other producers would likely cost India more, lower oil prices would temper the impact. Benchmark Brent crude futures hit a five-month low on Wednesday on concerns about a growing surplus in the market.
A move by India to stop imports would signal a major shift by one of Moscow’s top energy customers and could reshape the calculus for other nations still importing Russian crude. Trump wants to leverage bilateral relationships to enforce economic isolation on Russia, rather than relying solely on multilateral sanctions.
The announcement comes just days after Trump’s new pick for Indian ambassador, Sergio Gor, met with Modi. The two discussed defense, trade and technology issues. The appointment of Gor, a close confidant to Trump, was widely seen as a positive move for the U.S.-India bilateral relationship.
During his comments to reporters, Trump added that India could not "immediately" halt shipments, calling it "a little bit of a process, but that process will be over soon."
Despite his push on India, Trump has largely avoided placing similar pressure on China. The U.S. trade war with Beijing has complicated diplomatic efforts, with Trump reluctant to risk further escalation by demanding a halt to Chinese energy imports from Russia.
Trump imposed a 25% tariff on India this summer after the two countries failed to reach an initial trade agreement. He followed up with an additional 25% because of the country’s purchases of Russian oil.
India chafed at the move because no other top purchasers of Russian oil, like China or Turkey, were hit with similar tariffs.
Reporting by Nandita Bose in Washington and Jarrett Renshaw in Philadelphia; additional reporting by Tim Gardner and Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Chris Reese, Rami Ayyub, David Gregorio and Lincoln Feast.

https://www.reuters.com/world/india/trump-says-modi-has-assured-him-india-will-not-buy-russian-oil-2025-10-15/

Moscow relies on official statements from India, China on oil purchases — Kremlin

MOSCOW, October 16. /TASS/. Moscow is guided by the statements regarding Russian oil purchases that are officially made by New Delhi and Beijing, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, commenting on US President Donald Trump's remarks.

According to the US President, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi allegedly assured him that the country would not buy Russian oil.

"We rely on the official statements issued by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi, as well as a statement from Beijing. These statements are publicly available, and we are guided by them," Peskov said.

Earlier, Indian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Randhir Jaiswal stated that Indian authorities are prioritizing the interests of their consumers when it comes to energy imports.

In turn, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated that Trump is undermining global supply chains with his demands that other countries stop buying oil from Russia.

https://tass.com/economy/2030649

[Ravenlocke]

TASS

Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump are currently holding a telephone conversation, Dmitry Peskov confirmed to VGTRK reporter Pavel Zarubin:
https://vk.cc/cQqrpL

https://x.com/tassagency_en/status/1978862065906229643

1978862065906229643

https://tass.com/politics/2030999?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=smm_social_share

Kremlin confirms ongoing Putin-Trump telephone conversation

The last conversation between the leaders took place nearly two months ago

MOSCOW, October 16. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump are currently holding a telephone conversation, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed to VGTRK reporter Pavel Zarubin.

"Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed to me that a conversation between the Russian and US presidents is taking place right now," Zarubin wrote on his Telegram channel.

This is the eighth conversation between Putin and Trump since the beginning of the year. The last conversation took place nearly two months ago, a few days after the summit in Alaska. According to Axios, the US leader interrupted a meeting with EU representatives and Vladimir Zelensky to talk to the Russian leader.

The Ukrainian settlement remains the central topic of the conversations between the Russian and US presidents. Moscow has expressed the firmness of its goals and put forward a number of peace initiatives, such as the idea of a moratorium on strikes against energy facilities. However, Kiev has not supported these initiatives. Other topics of discussion between the two leaders include normalizing bilateral relations and the situation in the Middle East.

[Ravenlocke]

DD Geopolitics

🇮🇳🇺🇸 In response to questions about India’s energy imports — following Trump’s remarks that Modi had pledged to stop buying Russian oil — Official Spokesperson Shri Randhir Jaiswal stated:

India is a significant importer of oil and gas. It has been our consistent priority to safeguard the interests of the Indian consumer in a volatile energy scenario. Our import policies are guided entirely by this objective.

Ensuring stable energy prices and secured supplies have been the twin goals of our energy policy. This includes broad-basing our energy sourcing and diversifying as appropriate to meet market conditions.

Where the US is concerned, we have for many years sought to expand our energy procurement. This has steadily progressed in the last decade. The current Administration has shown interest in deepening energy cooperation with India. Discussions are ongoing.

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1978792243155624020

1978792243155624020

[Ravenlocke]

Sprinter Press News

India’s Foreign Ministry says it has no record of a conversation between Prime Minister Modi and President Trump on Wednesday, contradicting Trump’s claim that Modi pledged to stop buying Russian oil during a call that day.

https://x.com/SprinterPress/status/1978801428274786751

1978801428274786751

[Ravenlocke]

🅰pocalypsis 🅰pocalypseos 🇷🇺 🇨🇳 🅉 reposted

🇷🇺Russia is not Enemy

☝️ "Everything that the US did in previous years - the toughest things, thousands of miles away from their national territory - they did without any authorization from the UN Security Council. Under what pretext did they destroy Yugoslavia? Where's Yugoslavia and where is the US? Who gave them the right to strike a European capital? They just decided to, and their satellites ran after them and yapped. That's it, that's all the international law. What was the pretext for the invasion of Iraq? The development of weapons of mass destruction? They went in, destroyed the country, created a hotbed of international terrorism and then said 'our intelligence let us down'. Imagine destroying a country and then saying it was a mistake, there were no weapons of mass destruction. How did they invade Syria? Did the UN Security Council authorize any of this? Whatever they want, they do. But what they are doing now in Ukraine is not thousands of miles away from our national borders; it is on our doorstep. And they must realize that we simply have nowhere else to retreat to." - President Putin

https://x.com/RussiaIsntEnemy/status/1978500666608742545

1978500666608742545

[Ravenlocke]

The Associated Press

BREAKING: Trump says he’ll meet with Putin in Hungary to try to resolve the war in Ukraine.

https://x.com/AP/status/1978876167076581434

1978876167076581434


DD Geopolitics

🇷🇺🇺🇸🇭🇺 Russia and the USA will hold a high-level meeting next week in Hungary, the White House said following the conversation between Putin and Trump.

Thanks to today's phone call, great progress was made. — Trump

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1978873439013474416

1978873439013474416

[Ravenlocke]

Sputnik Mundo

Auto-translated by Grok
🇺🇸🇭🇺 Trump and Orban hold phone call for potential Russia-US summit

"The preparations for the peace summit between the United States and Russia are underway," wrote Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on X, after speaking with his US counterpart, Donald Trump.

Previously, Russian President Vladimir Putin had a phone conversation with the North American head of state, in which they agreed on a potential bilateral meeting in Budapest to try to resolve the Ukrainian crisis.

https://x.com/SputnikMundo/status/1978910119057379524

1978910119057379524

[Ravenlocke]

News of Donbass

❗️⚡️Russian Presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov revealed details of the conversation between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump

🔺The conversation lasted nearly two and a half hours and was very substantive and extremely frank and confidential.

🔺Particular emphasis was placed on the Ukrainian crisis: the Russian President assessed the situation and expressed Russia's interest in achieving a peaceful political and diplomatic settlement.

🔺Putin noted that Russia holds the strategic initiative, while the Kiev regime is resorting to terrorist methods, to which Russia is forced to respond.

🔺Trump, in turn, repeatedly emphasized the need to quickly establish peace in Ukraine. The idea that the Russian-Ukrainian conflict had proven the most difficult was a recurring theme throughout the conversation. The US President pointed out that ending the conflict would open up enormous prospects for cooperation.

🔺The conversation also touched on the issue of possible supplies of long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine. Putin repeated that they would not change the situation on the battlefield, but would cause significant damage to relations between the countries.

🔺The heads of state also discussed the possibility of holding a new meeting. An agreement was reached that representatives of the two countries would immediately begin preparations for the meeting, which could take place, for example, in Budapest.

🔺The contact was "very useful," and the two leaders agreed to stay in touch, Ushakov added.

https://x.com/News_of_Donbass/status/1978938128665579938

1978938128665579938

[Ravenlocke]

Sota News

One "War Correspondent" for "RIA Novosti" Killed, Second Seriously Wounded in Zaporizhzhia Region

The man killed is Ivan Zuyev, and the wounded man is Yuri Voitkevich.

In 2024, Zuyev, as a correspondent for the diplomatic editorial staff of "RIA Novosti," received an award for covering the activities of the Investigative Committee during the war. Voitkevich, who started as an editor for a Donetsk TV channel, received a Russian government award at the beginning of 2025.

Zuyev and Voitkevich were partners with another "RIA Novosti" "war correspondent," Rostislav Zhuravlev, a National Bolshevik who was killed in July 2023. A year later, they participated in the ceremony to establish an award named after him.
Ivan Zuyev. Photo: Alexander Chernykh

https://x.com/sotanews/status/1978938094289043574

1978938094289043574

[bojancan]

Rachel Blevins
152K subscribers
Col. Macgregor: Putin Gives Trump a REALITY CHECK on Tomahawks for Ukraine
ZsKMRI5DnoU

President Trump spoke on the phone with Russian President Putin for over two hours on Thursday, and he described it was a “productive” conversation, where they made plans for an upcoming summit in Budapest.

The Kremlin noted that the issue of the U.S. supplying long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles to Kiev was raised during the call, and that Putin emphasized the fact that the weapons would not change the situation on the battlefield, but would destroy the progress the U.S. and Russia have made this year.

Ret. U.S. Army Col. Douglas Macgregor noted that if Trump does approve Tomahawks for the war against Russia, Moscow would rightfully see it as “an act of war,” due to the constant involvement from the U.S. Military that is required in each attack. And Russia would respond accordingly.

00:00-01:29 - Intro
01:30-04:31 - Trump, Putin Speak
04:32-09:41 - Tomahawks for Ukraine
09:42-11:25 - Zelensky to visit Trump
11:26-14:45 - CIA Ops in Venezuela
14:46-19:08 - Media Role in the War
19:09-23:15 - War with Iran Incoming
23:16-28:39 - More Endless War
28:40-29:17 - Thanks for Watching!

[rgray222]

Rachel Blevins
152K subscribers
Col. Macgregor: Putin Gives Trump a REALITY CHECK on Tomahawks for Ukraine

President Trump spoke on the phone with Russian President Putin for over two hours on Thursday

The Kremlin noted that the issue of the U.S. supplying long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles to Kiev was raised during the call, and that Putin emphasized the fact that the weapons would not change the situation on the battlefield, but would destroy the progress the U.S. and Russia have made this year.

Ret. U.S. Army Col. Douglas Macgregor noted that if Trump does approve Tomahawks for the war against Russia, Moscow would rightfully see it as “an act of war,” due to the constant involvement from the U.S. Military that is required in each attack. And Russia would respond accordingly.


A better reality check is that Tomahawks can reach the well-known locations where drones and missiles are made; this is precisely why Putin wanted to speak to Trump.

The Kremlin says it will destroy the progress the U.S. and Russia have made this year. What progress, there hasn't been any. The day after the Alaska peace summit, Putin put more missiles into Ukraine than he had in two years, and he destroyed an American factory in that same attack. If anything, the progress was moving entirely in the wrong direction.

Peace really needs to take hold. Something is preventing that from happening. It really is a mystery. The war is unsustainable for both Ukraine and Russia, so I would think both of them would jump at the opportunity for peace. The only redeeming factor is that peace is at least being discussed, which never happened while Biden was in office, nor did any peace proposal come from China or Europe, so the logical conclusion is that all the parties that are in favor of globalism have no real desire to stop war. War truly is the tool of the globalist.

[Tintin]

🅰pocalypsis 🅰pocalypseos 🇷🇺 🇨🇳 🅉 reposted

🇷🇺Russia is not Enemy

☝️ "Everything that the US did in previous years - the toughest things, thousands of miles away from their national territory - they did without any authorization from the UN Security Council. Under what pretext did they destroy Yugoslavia? Where's Yugoslavia and where is the US? Who gave them the right to strike a European capital? They just decided to, and their satellites ran after them and yapped. That's it, that's all the international law. What was the pretext for the invasion of Iraq? The development of weapons of mass destruction? They went in, destroyed the country, created a hotbed of international terrorism and then said 'our intelligence let us down'. Imagine destroying a country and then saying it was a mistake, there were no weapons of mass destruction. How did they invade Syria? Did the UN Security Council authorize any of this? Whatever they want, they do. But what they are doing now in Ukraine is not thousands of miles away from our national borders; it is on our doorstep. And they must realize that we simply have nowhere else to retreat to." - President Putin

https://x.com/RussiaIsntEnemy/status/1978500666608742545

1978500666608742545

Note to anyone viewing: taking a closer look at this piece of film yesterday it seems as if this was recorded in 2021 based on the screen legend behind Vladimir Putin.

[sdv]

Rachel Blevins
152K subscribers
Col. Macgregor: Putin Gives Trump a REALITY CHECK on Tomahawks for Ukraine

President Trump spoke on the phone with Russian President Putin for over two hours on Thursday

The Kremlin noted that the issue of the U.S. supplying long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles to Kiev was raised during the call, and that Putin emphasized the fact that the weapons would not change the situation on the battlefield, but would destroy the progress the U.S. and Russia have made this year.

Ret. U.S. Army Col. Douglas Macgregor noted that if Trump does approve Tomahawks for the war against Russia, Moscow would rightfully see it as “an act of war,” due to the constant involvement from the U.S. Military that is required in each attack. And Russia would respond accordingly.


A better reality check is that Tomahawks can reach the well-known locations where drones and missiles are made; this is precisely why Putin wanted to speak to Trump.

The Kremlin says it will destroy the progress the U.S. and Russia have made this year. What progress, there hasn't been any. The day after the Alaska peace summit, Putin put more missiles into Ukraine than he had in two years, and he destroyed an American factory in that same attack. If anything, the progress was moving entirely in the wrong direction.

Peace really needs to take hold. Something is preventing that from happening. It really is a mystery. The war is unsustainable for both Ukraine and Russia, so I would think both of them would jump at the opportunity for peace. The only redeeming factor is that peace is at least being discussed, which never happened while Biden was in office, nor did any peace proposal come from China or Europe, so the logical conclusion is that all the parties that are in favor of globalism have no real desire to stop war. War truly is the tool of the globalist.

China has been trying to get a peace deal for the Ukraine conflict. It came up with a detailed ceasefire and peace agreement. South Africa still has a team in Ukraine trying to achieve the same. When Trump and Putin met in Alaska, the South African team left, because they believed that Trump would achieve what they could not. People in the Ukraine government (not Zelenskey) asked them to stay. I think there are also European leaders not aligned with the imperialist ambitions of the EU and NATO who are still trying to get a peace deal.

But China and South Africa are two BRICS countries who are working in the background to try and stop the war and create a lasting peace.

Trump is a bully, as well as being a grandiose narcissist. Especially Americans see his social media posts and actions as strength and grand strategy. It is straightforward bullying. That is one of the reasons Musk fell so in love with Trump ... the biggest bully on the world stage was his friend, unlike the bullies who beat him up when he was at school.

The UK, NATO and the EU want the war to continue (with the ultimate aim of breaking up Russia into smaller countries), and Zelensky does their bidding. Trump wants the war to stop so he can plunder for America and he can get the Nobel Peace Prize. Russia is caught in a war that it cannot stop. (Different, but Israel cannot stop its violence in Gaza.) Russia has not achieved its goals, and Ukraine has unrealistic goals. Sorry to be pessimistic, but there are too many actors with unrealistic goals to stop the war, even though BRICS countries and others are trying.

Getting rid of Zelensky and Putin is not the answer as they might be replaced by a Hitler or Netanyahu. Zelensky has had no opportunity to show that he can be a good leader as all he has done is entrench himself through emergency powers, beg for money and go globe trotting in his presidential plane. Putin has a long record of being a great president for Russia, but Russia has had some really bad leaders in its past.

However, I am optimistic. Wars do end, and sworn enemies learn to get along and even become friends.

[bojancan]

Talk below about next meeting Trump/Putin... IMO.. they should... better said NEED to come to an agreement... in opposite way.. the all hostility and uncertainty what is going on now, will remain for decades... will be so uncertain way of living for young generation... all that is not good, for Russia, Ukraine nor US/West... not good for humanity!
Interesting debate ...

Putin-Trump summit. Orban outsmarts warhawks
EN_0OvxRI7A


0:00 - Discussion of the Putin-Trump phone call
0:38 - Initiation of the call by Russia and its implications
1:47 - Analysis of the readout and tone of the conversation
3:28 - Key topics discussed: Ukraine war and economic opportunities
6:43 - Proposal for a second meeting location in Budapest
8:00 - Significance of the Budapest location and its risks
10:12 - Speculation on Orban's involvement in arranging the meeting
11:28 - Analysis of the potential pressures on both Trump and Putin
15:34 - Comparison to previous diplomatic efforts and their outcomes
19:43 - Discussion of the implications of Tomahawk missiles in Ukraine
24:10 - Concerns about media narratives and perceptions of the war
30:34 - The importance of effective communication in the upcoming meeting
36:10 - Final thoughts on the potential outcomes of the Budapest meeting

[bojancan]

I am placing video with Berletić here... I forgot about that talk I was watching three days ago... it seams to me Berletić and Diesen's talk are great... very deep into facts... specially Trump's behaviour... it's interesting to hear all of it specially now before meeting Trump/Putin....

Oct, 13
Glenn Diesen
257K subscribers
Brian Berletic: Trump's War on Russia & Pending Retaliation
2SWhVR_cOjY

Brian Berletic is a former US Marine, author, international relations expert and host of the New Atlas. Berletic discusses how Trump's effort to present himself as a mediator in the Ukraine War has now collapsed.

[Ravenlocke]

-- GEROMAN -- time will tell - 👀 --

Putin Warns Trump On Tomahawks;

Agrees Last Ditch Budapest Summit;

Orban Happy;

Zelensky EU Furious

https://x.com/GeromanAT/status/1979281312017269171

1979281312017269171

[norman]

Trump And Zelensky Take Questions From Reporters During White House Meeting
4 hours ago


sesSpWfm1wc






President Zelenskyy speaks to the Press about his meeting with President Trump - 10/17/2025
2 hours ago

BsG5awStQ6Y

[Tintin]

Rina Lu knows her history (https://x.com/rinalu_/status/1979225219609907367) very well. This is one of the neatest summaries of the last World War, and of course the same mindset is behind this new hybrid WW3 using Ukraine as the kinetic ground:

-----------------------


The Second World War is truly surrounded by myths but only in the West.

One side speaks only about the murdered Jews, while conveniently forgetting that Slavs were exterminated in far greater numbers. Another side laments the “poor Germans.”

But no one tells you who actually brought Hitler to power - Wall Street: the Dawes Plan, the Young Plan, the BIS, Ernst Hanfstaengl, Hjalmar Schacht.

Few remember that the first thing Hitler did after taking power was to sign the Haavara Agreement with British Zionists, which transferred wealthy Jews from Europe to Palestine along with $2.16 billion worth of assets in today’s value.

Britain did everything possible to turn Hitler eastward, toward destroying the USSR, including handing over Czechoslovakia, Europe’s key arms producer.

Meanwhile, Hitler was perfectly clear in Mein Kampf about his intentions:
to expand eastward and eradicate the Slavs as an inferior race.

An army united under Europe, the Wehrmacht, systematically exterminated Slavs in the USSR, Poles in Poland, and Serbs in Yugoslavia. Operations Intelligenzaktion, Außerordentliche Befriedungsaktion, and the Generalplan Ost were all designed to wipe out the Slavic world.

The Nazis also recruited ethnic groups within Soviet territory, Germans, Tatars, and others, many of whom openly sided with Hitler. And yet, it was the heroic Red Army that not only fought back but also liberated half of Europe.

After the war, however, Europe turned savage. Czechs massacred Germans.
Poles, Hungarians, and Romanians expelled them by the hundreds of thousands, many died along the way.

The British and Americans bombed civilians “to break morale,” and then erased Hiroshima and Nagasaki from the face of the earth, literally evaporating civilians.

European men humiliated their own women shaving their heads for “sleeping with Germans,” while those same men had once run away and hid.

And when the war was over, the United States hired Nazi scientists (Operation Paperclip) and used Nazi agents against the USSR (Operation Aerodynamic).
The Vatican hid war criminals in monasteries and helped them escape to Latin America and Canada via ratlines.

All of this is well-documented.

What is not documented, however, is that the USSR ever did any of this:


It didn’t execute German civilians as revenge.
It didn’t shave its women.
It didn’t hire Nazis to destroy America.
It didn’t bomb cities to “break morale.”
It didn’t plan to drop atomic bombs on 66 U.S. cities.

You’ve never heard this before, have you?
Now ask yourself why.

----------------------------

[rgray222]

The ripple effect of war can be fairly large and often unseen by people viewing the conflict from a distance. The rush to NATO by Finland and Sweden should tip people off that things are in play all over the region. Most unintended consequences go unseen and unreported, but they are very real to the people living next to conflict. It is truly hard for me to believe that Europe has been living through an extremely violent war for more than two years. It makes no difference who is perceived to be at fault or who is actually at fault; the answers should always be found with words, not guns. Wars like this hold back the entire human race on Earth from progressing.

Spooked by the war in Ukraine, Russia's Baltic neighbors prepare for future conflict

https://media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com/image/upload/t_fit-1000w,f_auto,q_auto:best/rockcms/2025-10/251014-riga-nato-mb-1107-34745c.jpg

RIGA, Latvia — They’re dotted on dozens of buildings across the Latvian capital: signal green signs with white stick figures of a family and the word “patvertne,” which means shelter.

Installed everywhere from art deco buildings to wooden gates, the signs alert people to places to hide in the event of an attack — and have become one of many symbols of war preparedness in this charming city, which is crisscrossed with canals and looks nervously east at its Russian neighbor.

After a string of recent aircraft incursions along NATO’s eastern flank and suspicious drones shutting down airports in several European countries including Germany, Denmark and Norway, fears about Russian aggression are growing in Latvia and its fellow Baltic nations, Estonia and Lithuania, already spooked by Moscow’s war in Ukraine.

“We are on the front line. We are the eastern flank countries. We are neighboring Russia, an aggressive country,” Andris Sprūds, Latvia’s defense minister, told NBC News earlier this month at the Riga Conference, a meeting of international political and military leaders.

He added that Latvia, which launched a drone initiative earlier this year, had to some extent “already developed some resilience” in the face of any Kremlin aggression.

Other attendees openly talked about a direct conflict between NATO and Russia. In an onstage discussion at the conference, Matthew Whitaker, the U.S. ambassador to the organization, publicly theorized with his fellow panelists about weapons systems, including long-range missiles and strategic bombers, that could be used against the Kremlin’s forces.

But he also emphasized that modern warfare begins before troops and military hardware are deployed.

“The first shot of the next war is not going to be tanks through the Suwalki Gap,” he said in a separate interview with NBC News, referring to the narrow land bridge between Poland and the Baltic states, seen as a potential attack point in a Russian invasion. “It’s going to be a cyberattack. It’s going to be knocking out airports or critical infrastructure.”

Latvia and other Baltic countries have been very receptive to recent NATO initiatives and are on track to reach defense spending targets soon, he said, adding that they were “investing in things that are going to field more capabilities for our defense and deterrence.”

“The investments that make each individual ally stronger and therefore the collective alliance stronger are the important investments, and a country like Latvia is certainly doing it best in class right now,” he added.

Adm. Rob Bauer, who chaired NATO’s military committee from June 2021 until January, also suggested that a new conflict with Russia would be fought “in a different way.”

Ukraine, he said, lacked air power and strong naval assets, adding that NATO fighter jets had been carrying out missions over the Baltics from the USS Gerald Ford after it was deployed to the North Sea earlier this year.

Others, like Roberta Metsola, the president of the European Parliament, openly acknowledged that it took “way too long” for other nations to listen to Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania, which were occupied by the Soviet Union for decades and more recently have been at the forefront of pushing NATO allies to take the Russian threat seriously.

Airis Rikveilis, the national security adviser to Latvia’s Prime Minister Evika Silina, said his country was not only focusing on increasing military capabilities, but also on preparing civil society for conflict.

“This is not going to be 1940,” he said, referring to the first Soviet occupation, when the Red Army was able to take over within weeks. “Should that battle start tomorrow, we’ll be ready to fight tomorrow with what we have,” he added.

After Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, there have been visible changes across Latvia, which has installed a fence along its 176-mile border with Russia. It has also cut itself off from the shared power grid with Russia and Kremlin ally Belarus, which sits to Latvia’s south, and is now relying on energy from its other neighbors.

Full story: https://www.nbcnews.com/world/europe/baltic-states-nato-defense-latvia-war-in-ukraine-rcna237489

[Vicus]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Arj4fjy_e0

Trump Gave Zelensky An Ultimatum🗣️⏳Pokrovsk - Only A Few Days Remain 🏢📅 Military Summary 2025.10.20📊

8 hours ago

[Ravenlocke]

THE ISLANDER

The $50,000 Hit on Truth Itself

They put a price on her head because she built something they couldn’t control. Two neo-Nazis, tied to handlers hiding behind Western shadows, have been charged with plotting to assassinate RT Editor-in-Chief Margarita Simonyan
@M_Simonyan
— the woman who built RT into a juggernaut that speaks truth to the empire’s lies.

For two decades she’s faced smear campaigns, sanctions, and now an actual hit squad, all for breaking the monopoly of Western propaganda. RT didn’t just report the news, it exposed the hypocrisy of those who claim to defend “democracy” while funding terror.

The same machine that armed radicals in Ukraine now sends them to silence Russian journalists. They can’t win on the battlefield, so they’ve declared war on the messengers.

And yet, Margarita endures, unbroken, unbowed. Her courage reminds us that journalism isn’t a job, it is the frontline. That every headline carries risk when you refuse to kneel.

They wanted to silence her. Instead, they amplified her voice. Because the more they try to kill truth, the louder it speaks.

https://x.com/IslanderWORLD/status/1980302617700925812

1980302617700925812

Chay Bowes

A plot to murder Margarita Simonyan, the Editor in Chief of RT, has been foiled. The killers were to get $50,000 to murder the mother of 3 kids

She recently lost her husband and was diagnosed with Cancer, Yet these monsters wanted her dead. Her crime?

Telling you the Truth

https://x.com/BowesChay/status/1980262235038474477

1980262235038474477

[Ravenlocke]

Scott Ritter

An Historic night at the Restaurant of the House of Writers: I had the honor and privilege of participating in a wide ranging, substantive and important conversation about war and peace with General Apti Alaudinov, Steven Seagal, Larry Johnson, Anton Karpov (the CEO of the restaurant), Roman Mex, Konstatin Antipin (the Director of the Konseption publishing house), and Alexandra Madornaya, the producer of The Russia House.
I wish there was a way to have captured this moment so that the wisdom and insights it contained could be shared with the world—especially those who struggle with the issue of resolving the conflict between Russia and Ukraine


https://x.com/RealScottRitter/status/1980161598229512532

1980161598229512532

[BMJ]

“Ukraine will be DESTROYED” Putin and Trump are done playing games with Zelensky | Redacted News

tmg9e9bPqNs

Redacted
Oct 22, 2025
Trump and Zelensky just had one of the most explosive White House meetings in modern history — insiders say Trump shouted, cursed, and even threw maps across the table, warning Zelensky that if he doesn’t accept Putin’s peace terms, Ukraine will be destroyed.

In this video, we break down everything we know about that meeting — Trump’s fury, Putin’s latest offer to end the war, and why Hungary’s Viktor Orbán stepping in as mediator changes everything. This could be Ukraine’s last chance at peace before total collapse.

[Bill Ryan]

There are "no plans" for US President Donald Trump to meet Russia's Vladimir Putin "in the immediate future", a White House official has stated.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gjp73gp41o

[Vicus]

The Ukrainian Armed Forces are leaving Pokrovsk, fearing complete encirclement; half of the city has been captured by the Russian Armed Forces. - today

Ukrainian troops are slowly withdrawing from Pokrovsk, fearing complete encirclement. This is reported by Russian sources, who have published video footage showing Kyiv regime militants leaving the city while they still have the chance.

As a reminder, Russian troops currently control at least 50% of Pokrovsk and continue to advance. Meanwhile, north of the city, the village of Krasny Liman has come under Russian control, while further south, Russian army assault groups have entered Rodinskoye.

Thus, the Kyiv regime's militants are now facing the threat of several "cauldrons" forming simultaneously. Meanwhile, supplying the Ukrainian Armed Forces garrison in Pokrovsk itself is virtually impossible due to its complete blockade.

It's worth noting that the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces did not issue an official order to the city garrison to withdraw from Pokrovsk. Therefore, it's likely that the militants currently attempting to leave the town are doing so at their own risk.

They understand perfectly well that there is no longer any prospect of holding Pokrovsk, and that the transfer of the city under the control of the Russian Armed Forces is a matter of time.

Western military experts are also currently reporting the futility of further resistance by Kyiv regime militants in Pokrovsk. They acknowledge that the Ukrainian Armed Forces can only delay the city's fall for a short time, but will no longer be able to stop the Russian army.

https://en.topcor.ru/65327-vsu-uhodjat-iz-pokrovska-opasajas-polnogo-okruzhenija-polovina-goroda-vzjata-vs-rf.html

[Vicus]

EU "values"

The European Parliament refused to recognize Lukashenko as the legitimate president of Belarus.

The European Parliament does not recognize Alexander Lukashenko as the legitimate president of Belarus. This is stated in a resolution adopted by the EU legislative body. The document was adopted by an overwhelming majority of votes – 458 in favor, 18 against, and 84 abstentions.

"Members of the European Parliament reaffirm their support for the Belarusian democratic forces led by Svetlana Tikhanovskaya. There is ample evidence indicating that she was the legitimate winner of the 2020 presidential election, while the Lukashenko regime illegitimately held power. "

- the document says.

It was also emphasized that the European Parliament strongly condemns the repression in Belarus and expresses solidarity with the opposition. Members also demanded the immediate release of all political prisoners and the restoration of their rights.

It should be added that the legitimacy of the current head of the Kyiv regime, Volodymyr Zelensky, is not in doubt among members of the European Parliament.

https://en.topcor.ru/65340-evroparlament-otkazalsja-priznat-lukashenko-legitimnym-prezidentom-belarusi.html

Vicus comment.

in the same breath The EU continue to support the looong ago expired mandate from clown Zelensky ... well, what you gonna do?, right,continue barking,like castrate little dogs all of you are. :dog:

[Vicus]

Russian missiles hit a NATO command bunker housing officers. -today

https://topcor.ru/uploads/posts/2025-10/thumbs/c32f5c233d_3.webp

During the missile blow Last night, a command bunker housing NATO officers was struck by enemy military targets, according to Russian sources. A workshop producing UAV engines in the Zhulyany area was also destroyed.

"A 100-person training center near the Boryspil airport was destroyed. Around a dozen people were killed, and 17 were taken away by ambulance. "
– industry resources report.

It's worth noting that while the enemy's resources acknowledge the effectiveness of Russian strikes on military targets, they remain silent about the specific targets and consequences of their destruction. The truth usually comes to light some time later, when obituaries for Ukrainian and NATO officers killed in "accidents" appear in Ukrainian and Western media.

In recent times alone, Russian military forces have launched several strikes on Ukrainian Armed Forces training grounds and command posts housing Western military instructors and advisers.

Each time, serious scandals erupted in Ukraine. The Ukrainian Armed Forces command was accused of unwillingness to learn from its mistakes. The fact is that soon after the destruction of the training ground, a large number of personnel were again stationed there, forcing the Russian military to launch a second strike.

https://en.topcor.ru/65320-rossijskie-rakety-nakryli-shtabnoj-bunker-s-oficerami-nato.html

[Vicus]

Odessa and Kharkiv are back on the menu for Russians – McGregor -today

Following Ukraine's latest rejection of Russia's peace terms, Russia will once again set its sights on liberating Odesa and Kharkiv. This is the view expressed by retired US Army Colonel Douglas MacGregor. He asserted that Russian troops will make significant advances in the near future.

"I'm surprised the Russians offered anything at all. Looking at the map, I think it would have been unreasonable for them to make such an offer. But the fact that even if it had been made and the Ukrainians had refused, tells Moscow that negotiations are impossible and that the only solution is one determined on the battlefield. "

– McGregor admitted.

He added that in the near future, Russian troops could make significant advances in several directions at once, reaching the Dnieper.

"I think Odessa and Kharkiv are back on the menu, as they were from the start, and we'll see what happens when the inevitable happens, which is that the Ukrainians can't do anything to stop the Russians. "

– the retired American Army colonel emphasized.

As a reminder, Kyiv recently reiterated its intention to withdraw its troops from the DPR, LPR, and the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, as demanded by the Russian Federation. However, the situation in many areas of the Northern Military District is currently unfavorable for the Ukrainian army.

The day before there were are named Seven cities that could soon be liberated by the Russian army. Experts are confident that this isn't the worst-case scenario for Ukraine.

https://en.topcor.ru/65326-odessa-i-harkov-snova-v-menju-u-russkih-makgregor.html

[Vicus]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSuPDCWJE8I

Negotiations On The Brink💥🤝Devastating Exchange Of Strikes💢 Military Summary And Analysis 2025.10.22

8 hours ago

[Ravenlocke]

RT

4m
Suspected TERROR ATTACK rocks Russia’s Stavropol

Blast near military unit building

At least 1 wounded — bomber suspect reportedly detained after hiding explosives in BABY STROLLER

Preliminary version of events: attack carried out on Zelensky's orders

Police source tells RT there was NO kid in stroller when explosive went off

https://x.com/RT_com/status/1981073416217378988

1981073416217378988

[Ravenlocke]

TASS

There are no significant obstacles to the meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov told reporters:
https://vk.cc/cQA7ZI

https://x.com/tassagency_en/status/1980971197111193985

1980971197111193985

https://x.com/tassagency_en/status/1980971197111193985

No significant obstacles to Putin-Trump meeting — senior diplomat

Sergey Ryabkov said the question is whether the parameters defined by the presidents of Russia and the US at the summit in Anchorage will be fleshed out

MOSCOW, October 22. /TASS/. There are no significant obstacles to the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov told reporters.

"I don't see any significant obstacles. The question is whether the parameters defined by the presidents [of Russia and the US at the summit] in Anchorage will be fleshed out, and it's a difficult process, we must admit. But that's what diplomats are there for: to deal with this," Ryabkov said in response to a question on the topic.

Following his October 16 telephone conversation with Putin, Trump announced that they had agreed to meet in Budapest soon. The US president later explained that this could happen within the next two weeks. After the leaders' conversation, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said that Moscow and Washington would "without delay" begin preparations for a new meeting between the two leaders, which could be held in Budapest. In turn, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban instructed to set up an organizational committee to prepare for the summit, adding that this work "began on Thursday evening."

[Vicus]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHGz3rEBIfE

Russian Special Forces Set an Ambush for Ukrainian Soldiers!

1 hour ago

[Ravenlocke]

☦️Jacob🇷🇺Charite☦️ Иаков

The people of the small Russian town of Kropotkin learned a train with wounded would be stopping for 1 minute at their station, and this was their reaction.

Translated from Russian
Country of People.
The residents of the small town of Kropotkin learned that a train with the wounded would stop at the station for exactly one minute. Watch

https://x.com/jaccocharite/status/1981236228935872847

1981236228935872847

[Ravenlocke]

Daniel Davis Deep Dive

It would b laughable that you are pulling out the credibility of the United States in an effort that is 100% certain to fail to force Ru into a ceasefire they have the power to reject, unilaterally. But it’s an unforced error that can only **further** diminish our power and reduce our influence.

This action won’t cause “bone crushing” harm to Russia, it won’t compel them to bend to our will, and it likely *will* increase the death and destruction on Ukraine.

This action has no line bt actions and desired outcome. It’s just “action” that will further damage our engagement w Russia after this war ends and keep alive the possibility of escalating this war.

None of this is in American interests.

https://x.com/DanielLDavis1/status/1981129072253018598

1981129072253018598

[Ravenlocke]

DD Geopolitics

🇺🇸🇷🇺 The U.S. Treasury has announced new sanctions against Lukoil and Rosneft, targeting key pillars of Russia’s energy sector.

The Trump administration is trying to bully Russia into a ceasfire, without addressing the root causes of the conflict.

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1981106817506881976

1981106817506881976

[Ravenlocke]

☦️Jacob🇷🇺Charite☦️ Иаков

The perfect visual of how a war of attrition works


DD Geopolitics

🇷🇺⚔️🇺🇦 Another body exchange took place today. Ukraine received 1,000 bodies of its fallen soldiers, while Russia received 31.

Across all such exchanges, the ratio of returned bodies stands at nearly 6 to 1 in Russia’s favor.

https://x.com/jaccocharite/status/1981352083531211105

1981352083531211105

[Ravenlocke]

Maimunka News

‼️🇷🇺🇺🇸 #Putin comments on #Trump’s sanctions. #Russia

https://x.com/MaimunkaNews/status/1981401645045956821

1981401645045956821

‼️🇷🇺🇪🇺 #Putin comments on the #EuropeanUnion toilet ban. #Russia

https://x.com/MaimunkaNews/status/1981401433783365950

1981401433783365950


Zlatti71

😂🤣😂

Putin on the 19th EU sanctions package

‘Europe will need toilets if they continue their policy towards Russia’.
- SK

https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1981391717749108942

1981391717749108942

[Ravenlocke]

Zlatti71

'US sanctions are an attempt to put pressure on Russia, but no self-respecting country and self-respecting people ever decide anything under pressure. And Russia has such a privilege,' — Putin.

https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1981397061615460843

1981397061615460843

Putin to Europeans and Zelensky:

'If Western long-range weapons [Tomahawks] strike Russia – the response will be stunning. Let them think about it'
- SK

https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1981397251957412134

1981397251957412134

'It is impossible to replace all Russian oil on the world market. Only a part, but this requires time and large investments' – Putin.

https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1981400308031889879

1981400308031889879

Investing in alternative energy sources is necessary, but we won't be able to do without hydrocarbons in the coming decades — Putin

https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1981404384019050625

1981404384019050625

⚡️Russian energy sector feels confident despite certain losses — Putin on new sanctions against Russia

https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1981405226818031736

1981405226818031736

[Ravenlocke]

Zlatti71

The EU stated that the 19th sanctions package includes additional export bans on goods that Russia could use in the military sector: salt, sulfur, graphite, metal ores, rubber products, and ceramic materials.

As a result, motorized toys, toilets, bidets, and other plumbing fixtures have been banned 🤣
- SK

https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1981354513375117597

1981354513375117597

[Ravenlocke]

Maimunka News

‼️🇭🇺💬🇪🇺 #Hungary will not take part in the EU’s “coalition of the willing” formed to provide military support to #Ukraine, Orban said. #EuropeanUnion

https://x.com/MaimunkaNews/status/1981351305722392919

1981351305722392919



Maimunka News

‼️🇭🇺📢💬🇺🇦 Hungarians Will Not Die
for the so-called Ukraine — that's for sure.

In Budapest, hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets under the slogan "We Do Not Want to Die for Ukraine".

The "Peace March" was timed to the national holiday commemorating the 1956 uprising and the proclamation of the Hungarian Republic in 1989. The event concluded with a programmatic speech by the country's Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

"Peace Marches" have been a regular action by Hungarian authorities since 2012, and since the start of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, they have been held three times — in October 2021, March 2022, and June 2024. Each time, hundreds of thousands of people came out, demonstrating massive support for the government's pacifist policy.

However, on the same day in Budapest, an opposition demonstration was also held, organized by Orban's main rival — European Parliament deputy Peter Magyar, leader of the Tisa party. As is known, Magyar is backed by Western structures, including those responsible for color revolutions, and his path to power followed very familiar routes. Therefore, it is impossible to speak of real opposition to Orban — this is just an attempt to overthrow his cabinet.

🚩At the same time, Hungarian society generally shares the authorities' anti-war position. Moreover, Hungarians are against the so-called Ukraine joining the EU and its financial support.

Now, with six months left until elections in Hungary, the political situation is becoming increasingly heated: hence the desire to mobilize the electorate around themselves as much as possible. Especially since in the European Parliament elections in June 2024, the Fidesz party showed its worst result in its entire history of participating in European elections, while Magyar's Tisa party suddenly became increasingly popular.

There is no doubt that the situation in Hungary will continue to be escalated: not only through mass opposition actions, but also through sabotage, such as fires at oil refineries. All this will lead to a noticeable increase in social anxiety, but in Budapest they clearly do not intend to surrender just like that.
#Hungary #Ukraine

https://x.com/MaimunkaNews/status/1981350479780077706

1981350479780077706

[Ravenlocke]

Russian Market

Putin was shown archival maps of Novorossiya from the Russian Empire era.

Hmm.. why now?

https://x.com/runews/status/1981407283977605272

1981407283977605272

[Ravenlocke]

RussiaNews 🇷🇺

🚨⚡"The USA is our enemy, and their talkative "peacemaker" has now fully taken up the path of war with Russia."

- Dmitri Medvedev

https://x.com/mog_russEN/status/1981341712812286425

1981341712812286425

[Ravenlocke]

TASS

Vladimir Putin, speaking at the congress of the Russian Geographical Society, instructed the government to explore the possibility of declaring 2027 as Year of Geography:
https://vk.cc/cQCCsb

https://x.com/tassagency_en/status/1981410869612253204

1981410869612253204

https://tass.com/politics/2034313?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=smm_social_share

Sovereign AI, Year of Geography in Russia: Putin's statements at RGS Congress

TASS has compiled the president’s key statements

MOSCOW, October 23. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking at the congress of the Russian Geographical Society (RGS), instructed the government to explore the possibility of declaring 2027 as Year of Geography.

The RGS's experience in the Arctic, he believes, should be used in implementing Russia's development programs: from the economy and infrastructure to the environment, tourism, and the social sphere.

TASS has compiled the president’s key statements.

On RGS activities

The RGS's experience in the Arctic should be used for the country's development: "Certainly, it should be used in implementing development programs - from the economy and infrastructure to the environment, tourism, and the social sphere." Putin supported Sergey Shoigu's reelection as President of the Russian Geographical Society: "I hope that all voters will keep in mind his contribution to the revival of the Russian Geographical Society."

The achievements of current RGS members "are comparable in many ways to those of their predecessors."

On the importance of developing geography

It has been proposed to declare 2027 as Year of Geography in Russia: "I am asking the government to consider the possibility of declaring 2027 as Year of Geography."

Geography is important for Russia from a political perspective, including the creation of new geographical maps.

The decision to involve the Russian Geographical Society in the compilation of a unified geography textbook is "absolutely correct."

On Russia's AI policy

Russia will be able to create sovereign models of artificial intelligence only if it relies on its own culture, history, and traditional values: "Only by relying on our culture, history, linguistic richness, traditions, and traditional values will we be able to create truly sovereign models of artificial intelligence, rather than copying others' solutions." Copying others’ products leads to "technological and ideological dependence," and ultimately "to the loss of sovereignty."

[Ravenlocke]

-- GEROMAN -- time will tell - 👀 --

No More Trump Illusions,
War Till Victory;
US Sanctions Russia Oil Pressures India;

Pokrovsk

https://youtu.be/zo8OOkhNmDg?si=wAT1FBwlMWppFZx8 via
@YouTube

https://x.com/GeromanAT/status/1981409073997185474

1981409073997185474

zo8OOkhNmDg

[Ravenlocke]

TASS

The new sanctions imposed by the US Treasury Department against Rosneft and Lukoil will not cause problems for Russia, Maria Zakharova said at a briefing:
https://vk.cc/cQBWfL

https://x.com/tassagency_en/status/1981320504179888472

1981320504179888472

https://tass.com/politics/2034113?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=smm_social_share

New anti-Russian sanctions, continued dialogue with US: what Russian diplomat said

Maria Zakharova noted that Moscow sees no significant obstacles to agreeing on the framework for a settlement in Ukraine that was discussed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump

MOSCOW, October 23. /TASS/. The new sanctions imposed by the US Treasury Department against Rosneft and Lukoil will not cause problems for Russia, which has developed a strong immunity to such restrictions. However, they send a counterproductive signal, including from the point of view of the Ukrainian settlement, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a briefing.

She noted that Moscow sees no significant obstacles to agreeing on the framework for a settlement in Ukraine that was discussed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump.

TASS has compiled the key statements made by the spokeswoman.

On dialogue with US

Moscow paid attention to Trump's latest statements: "Of course, we assume that the press service of the Russian president will make relevant comments on this matter."

The Russian Foreign Ministry is "open to continuing contacts" with the US State Department.

The purpose of these contacts is "to specify the parameters of the Russia-US dialogue on various aspects of bilateral relations and further joint steps in the Ukrainian settlement process."

Moscow sees no significant obstacles to agreeing on the framework for a settlement in Ukraine that was discussed by Putin and Trump: "We see no significant obstacles to continuing the process initiated by the presidents of Russia and the US to agree on the political framework for a settlement in Ukraine and to fill it with concrete results."

On US sanctions

Russia considers the US Treasury Department's sanctions against Lukoil and Rosneft to be counterproductive: "We consider this step to be exclusively counterproductive."

The US sanctions will not cause Russia any particular problems, as the country has "strong immunity" to Western sanctions.

On 19th package of EU sanctions

Russia will comment on the new EU sanctions when their details are published: "We will comment in detail on all the consequences, as we always do. We will do so when it becomes clear what restrictions this decision contains."

EU sanctions against Russia are backfiring on Brussels, and the possibilities for their expansion "are largely exhausted."

Brussels has "already tried almost all options" for implementing the concept of inflicting, "as they came up with there, a strategic defeat on Russia, damaging the Russian economy, and defense capabilities."

Russia reserves the right to respond to EU sanctions, "even if they are obviously unsuccessful attempts" to harm it: "As always, we will respond appropriately, carefully, and with our fundamental interests in mind."

On situation around Russian assets

Any EU confiscation initiatives targeting Russian assets "will provoke a guaranteed, painful response."

There is no legal way under international law "to take someone else's money without hurting the expropriators' pockets and prestige."

On arms supplies to Ukraine

"No amount of Western arms supplies" will help the Kiev regime.

On NATO countries' nuclear weapons

Russia does not rule out the possibility that some NATO countries, which still have restrictions on the deployment of nuclear weapons on their territory, may abandon them completely in the future.

NATO nuclear drills are "deeply destabilizing."

On decision of Court of Arbitration for Sport

Moscow considers the Court of Arbitration for Sport's (CAS) decision on table tennis "exemplary" and believes it will help defend the rights of all Russian athletes.

The Olympic Charter's fundamental principles "prohibit any discrimination against athletes:" "Politics should not be a criterion for determining who has the right to participate in sports and who does not."

On special military operation goals and protection of Russian speakers in Ukraine

Russia's stated goals for the special operation remain unchanged: "This is a starting point for our dialogue with the US, as well as with other interested countries that seek to contribute constructively to the settlement."

The Kiev regime's persecution of the Russian language grossly violates the Ukrainian Constitution, in particular Article 10, which "specifically guarantees the protection and development of the Russian language."

On international agenda

The US' use of force in Latin America "raises more and more questions."

Russia supports Venezuela and calls for restraint in escalating the conflict, as well as advocating "for the region's stable and independent development and the peaceful resolution of all differences."

Russia hopes that Republika Srpska's decision to redistribute presidential functions will help resolve Bosnia and Herzegovina's "acute political crisis."

[Ravenlocke]

Moon of Alabama

New on MoA:

Trump Fails To End His Proxy War With Russia

https://moonofalabama.org/2025/10/trump-fails-to-find-a-way-out-of-his-war-with-russia.html

https://x.com/MoonofA/status/1981386424688791616

1981386424688791616

https://www.moonofalabama.org/2025/10/trump-fails-to-find-a-way-out-of-his-war-with-russia.html

Trump Fails To End His Proxy War With Russia – Moon of Alabama
October 23, 2025

Is there any politician who is less reliable than U.S. President Donald Trump?

At the August summit in Anchorage with President Vladimir Putin of Russia Trump had aimed at a ceasefire along the frontline in Ukraine. But Putin made clear that the war required a long term solution of the underlying problem, NATO enlargement, and that a preliminary ceasefire would not be helpful in that regard. Russia also demanded full control of the Donbas and other regions.

Trump did agree to that and announced it as the brilliant result of the talks. This was his first turn on the issue.

But Ukraine’s (former) President Zelenski rejected any retreat from the regions Russia intends to acquire. European politicians, who fear losing the war against Russia, chimed in. Republican war hawks in Congress likewise put pressure on Trump.

A month after the talks in Alaska Trump again changed his position. This was his second turn. He criticized Putin and threatened Russia with new sanctions. Talk about sending Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine crept up.

A day before Zelenski was supposed to visit the White House Putin preemptively intervened (https://www.moonofalabama.org/2025/10/a-preemptive-putin-trump-call-and-the-prospects-of-a-new-summit.html) by holding a phone call with Donald Trump. There followed another, the third, change in mind. Trump announced that there would soon be another summit. The Kremlin was more cautious with that claim. It said that a summit would need extensive preparation.

The Europeans, Zelenski and Republican hawks immediately renewed their campaign against any agreement with Russia.

A phone call between the Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov followed. After the call any further preparations for another summit were called off.

Trump turned again – the fourth time – and again demanded a ceasefire in Ukraine. The Russians said that this constitutes a breach of the agreements reached during the Anchorage talks.

While Trump nixed any talk of Tomahawks for Ukraine he lifted restriction on Ukraine’s use of long-range missiles (https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/u-s-lifts-key-restriction-on-ukraines-use-of-western-long-range-missiles-5a15c12d) (archived (https://archive.ph/pmXHs)) to be fired into Russia:
The unannounced U.S. move to enable Kyiv to use the missile in Russia comes after authority for supporting such attacks was recently transferred from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon to the top U.S. general in Europe, Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, who also serves as NATO commander.
The U.S. also issued sanctions (https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sb0290) against two major Russian oil companies (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/22/us/politics/trump-sanctions-russia-ukraine.html) (archived (https://archive.ph/GDSae#selection-503.0-507.163)) and their subsidiaries:

President Trump announced on Wednesday that he was imposing significant new sanctions on Russia for the first time in his second term, underscoring a new degree of frustration with President Vladimir V. Putin after a plan for the two leaders to meet in Budapest fell apart.
The new sanctions were announced just as the president sat down in the Oval Office with NATO’s secretary general, Mark Rutte, who had flown to Washington on behalf of a coalition of European leaders desperate to keep Mr. Trump on the side of Ukraine.
…
Mr. Trump’s irritation with the Russian leader was evident on Wednesday. “Every time I speak with Vladimir, I have good conversations, and then they don’t go anywhere,” he said. “They just don’t go anywhere.”
He explained his decision to scupper the Budapest summit that had been planned for some time in the coming weeks. “It just it didn’t feel right to me,” Mr. Trump said. “It didn’t feel like we were going to get to the place we have to get. So I canceled it.”
As for the sanctions?
“I just felt it was the right time,” he said.
On the same day Russia’s President Putin felt it was the right time to test Russia’s nuclear tirade (https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/putin-supervises-readiness-drills-for-russian-nuclear-forces/ar-AA1OZiUP):
“Today, we are conducting a planned – I want to emphasize, planned – nuclear forces command and control exercise,” Putin said in a video conference with the top military brass.
…
Videos shared by the state-owned military TV channel Zvezda showed the launch of a Yars intercontinental ballistic missile from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Russia’s north and a Sineva ballistic missile fired from the Bryansk nuclear-powered submarine in the Barents Sea. Tu-95MS long-range bombers also fired air-launched cruise missiles, the defense ministry said.
The new sanctions will, like any before them, have little effect on Russia. Global oil prices will increase and Russia will find ways to market its oil at higher prices.

Sanctions don’t work. The U.S. Government Accountability Office recently found (https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-25-107079.pdf) that the U.S. is flying blind and even lacks the means to measure the effect of sanctions it imposes:
U.S. agencies primarily responsible for implementing sanctions and export controls on Russia have not established clearly defined objectives linked to measurable outcomes with targets for their activities. As a result, agencies cannot fully assess progress towards achieving their objectives, thus limiting the U.S. government’s ability to determine the effectiveness of its broader sanctions and export controls efforts related to Russia. This information is crucial for improving current efforts and informing the future use of sanctions and export control.
China has already announced that it rejects any secondary sanctions the U.S. will try to impose as China continues to buy Russian oil. India, which pays for Russian oil in Yuan, will likely react in kind.

The EU just issued its 19th round of sanction against Russia. None of these rounds have influenced Russia while all of them have damaged economies in Europe. As a saying, misattributed to Albert Einstein, goes: “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

There is simply no way for the U.S. and/or its European vassals to prevent a Russian victory in Ukraine. To insist on a different outcome will not change the facts on the ground.

As Aaron Maté writes (https://www.aaronmate.net/p/trump-rejects-zelensky-on-tomahawks):
When it comes to intransigence, the Beltway’s is not in dispute. The prevailing outlook was captured earlier this year by longtime Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell. “It seems to me pretty obvious that America’s reputation is on the line,” McConnell told Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. “We don’t want a headline at the end of this conflict that says Russia wins and America loses. That’s extremely important if we’re going to continue to play the role in the world that the vast majority of members of Congress think we should still play.”
…
The alternative to McConnell’s refusal to “lose” is compromise. As Fiona Hill, a Russia expert who served in Trump’s first term, recently put it: the Russians are “always want something they can take to the bank, an agreement they can hold the U.S. to.” In other words, the Russians are interested in diplomacy – a concept foreign to veteran lawmakers and bureaucrats in Washington. If Trump is serious about ending the Ukraine proxy war, he will have to move beyond his ritual back and forth with Zelensky and defy a more powerful obstacle to peace in Washington.
Trump seems to know that he can only end the war with a compromise that will largely give Russia whatever it wants. But lacks the support, will and power to achieve it.

[grapevine]

INTERVIEW: The problem is that we continually grossly underestimate Russian military power

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYPZLk7zLmE 2:04
"I don't think President Trump is in a position to solve very much, says Col Douglas Macgregor. He's surrounded by people who want Russia's unilateral surrender and humiliation"

[rgray222]

Now that the Budapest summit has been cancelled, it is clear that Putin's objectives extend far beyond territorial concessions and are not aligned with leaving Ukraine as a sovereign nation. It is becoming increasingly clear to anyone paying attention that NATO may have been an issue with Putin, but it was in no way the driving force that caused this war in which a million souls have been lost. At one time, I blamed Biden for this war by his words and his actions, particularly when it came to NATO. But now it appears that this war is on Putin and no one else. Putin has chosen not to engage in peaceful diplomatic efforts but to pursue his military goals. It now seems clear that Putin's goal is to extinguish Ukrainian statehood rather than find a much-needed path towards peace.

[Ravenlocke]

Anadolu English


#BREAKING Beijing slams EU over fresh Russia sanctions targeting Chinese firms, says it 'is not creator of' Ukraine crisis, 'nor a party to it'

https://x.com/anadoluagency/status/1981261117830684808

1981261117830684808

Global Times
@globaltimesnews
·
11h
In response to a media inquiry regarding the #EU's announcement on Thursday of the inclusion of #Chinese companies in its 19th round of sanctions on Russia, including, for the first time, large Chinese refineries and oil traders, a Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) spokesperson stated that despite China’s repeated representations and warnings, the EU has acted arbitrarily, once again listing Chinese companies in the 19th round of sanctions and, for the first time, targeting large Chinese refineries and oil traders. China expresses strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition to this move, the spokesperson added.

https://x.com/globaltimesnews/status/1981340605428208042

1981340605428208042

[Tintin]

Maimunka News

‼️🇷🇺🇪🇺 #Putin comments on the #EuropeanUnion toilet ban. #Russia

https://x.com/MaimunkaNews/status/1981401433783365950

1981401433783365950


"...given the situation they are now in (EU) I would have thought they'd come in handy"

Priceless.

:ROFL: :ROFL: :laughs:

[Tintin]

I think many of us here who have been following this so very closely over the years had drawn the conclusion that (some of) these drone incursions into Russia couldn't possibly be being launched from Ukraine; more confirmation here (https://x.com/RWApodcast/status/1981382601647804638):


For the first time, there is hard proof that these drones are not flying 2000km from Ukraine across all of Russia, as Kiev would have us believe, but are, instead, launched from across the Kazakh border (which is much, much closer). The Kazakh Ministry of Defence has confirmed that a drone crashed in Kazakh territory just south of the Russian border.

Based off the photos published by the Kazakh MOD, it was a Ukrainian FP-1 drone.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/G39I96FXQAEnMBe?format=jpg&name=medium

----------

A reminder via that thread:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/G39OaI3XoAARczX?format=jpg&name=large

[Bill Ryan]

Now that the Budapest summit has been cancelled, it is clear that Putin's objectives extend far beyond territorial concessions and are not aligned with leaving Ukraine as a sovereign nation. It is becoming increasingly clear to anyone paying attention that NATO may have been an issue with Putin, but it was in no way the driving force that caused this war in which a million souls have been lost. At one time, I blamed Biden for this war by his words and his actions, particularly when it came to NATO. But now it appears that this war is on Putin and no one else. Putin has chosen not to engage in peaceful diplomatic efforts but to pursue his military goals. It now seems clear that Putin's goal is to extinguish Ukrainian statehood rather than find a much-needed path towards peace.
Well (a) it's not 'Putin' — who doesn't make unilateral decisions in Russia, and is merely the executive presiding over a complex consultative process which many in the west either don't understand or just ignore. But I do realize you may well just have been using shorthand here ("Putin" = "Russia", etc).

The important thing is (b), the goals of the SMO. As far as the Russians are concerned (including the great majority in the Russian public), those cannot and will not be diluted or compromised.

Below is a useful Russian page which lays out all the goals (and the reasons for them), as a reminder to anyone in the west who might be influenced by relentless western media propaganda.

One might doubt if Trump really understands any of this, despite Putin's repeated attempts to explain it all.


https://pekin.mid.ru/en/news/about_the_special_military_operation_in_ukraine

About the special military operation in Ukraine

(I've omitted Part I, as it's a kind of overview introduction)

II. The direct reasons for the special military operation

2.1. "After supporting the coup d'etat in Ukraine in February 2014, the United States and European countries pursued their own aggressive policy towards Russia, cynically using Ukraine as a tool to achieve their geopolitical goals.

A large-scale militarization of Ukraine has begun, and the encouragement of radical neo-Nazi sentiments in Ukrainian society has been intensified. The Ukrainian authorities have activated the process of glorification of fascists’ collaborators followed with torchlight processions in honor of war criminals. Stepan Bandera was declared a national hero."

2.2. "Russia was ready to provide full support to V. Zelensky in fulfilling his election promises to restore peace in Ukraine. However, he deceived Ukraine, Russia and the world community by continuing and even surpassing policy of P. Poroshenko to connivance and encouragement of nationalist, neo-fascist, militaristic ideology.

Despite of anti-Russian, nationalist and militaristic ideology imposition, the presidential and parliamentary elections in Ukraine in 2019 showed that this ideology is rejected by the overwhelming majority of Ukrainians.

In April 2019, before the second round of elections, representatives of V. Zelensky got in touch with representatives of Russia. They suggested to resolve the conflict in the Donbas in full compliance with the Minsk Agreements and restore relations between Ukraine and Russia as soon as V. Zelensky becomes a president (it was supposed to cancel mutual trade restrictions, restore air traffic, even water supply to the Crimea).

As part of the advisory assistance, Russia prepared several versions of Roadmaps, which, with the general declarative support of the Ukrainian leadership, were distorted and filled with opposite meanings and contents during their revision.

Adherence to the Minsk agreements turned out to be a bluff. The restoration of relations with Russia was forgotten. In November 2019, bilateral cooperation on this topic was curtailed. Ukraine's relations with Russia and the process of resolving the conflict in the Donbas continued to degrade."

2.3. "For 8 years, the new Ukrainian "authorities" have openly demonstrated their interest in maintaining the conflict in a "semi-hot phase" as well as unwillingness to return Donbass to the Ukrainian political, economic and legal space. The lives and sufferings of Ukrainian citizens on both sides of the contact line were not taken into account.

The Minsk agreements were sabotaged, the ceasefire obligations were not fulfilled, the negotiation process was delayed under far-fetched absurd pretexts. Any proposals by representatives of Donbass on the peaceful end of the conflict were frankly ignored by Ukraine. Kiev refused to give either a positive or negative answer to them.

The reasons and goals of such policy were clear, first by the team of P. Poroshenko, and then by V. Zelensky.:

1) under the pretext of "war", the retention of power with evasion of responsibility for fulfilling obligations to the citizens of Ukraine and Western sponsors to carry out socio-economic and political transformations, with the exclusion of pro-Russian residents of Donbass from the political life of Ukraine, as well as with the persecution of opposition media and political opponents;

2) asking for financial and other material support from Western states to counteract Russia- the "aggressor";

3) lack of resources to restore the destroyed industrial and social infrastructure of Donbass and unwillingness to bear political responsibility for solving this problem;

4) inflicting maximum political and economic damage to Russia through the sanctions pressure and maintaining the problem of spending on humanitarian support for the residents of Donbass.

For reference: Ukrainian officials, including V. Zelensky, in their public statements claimed that the Minsk agreements are a "noose around Ukraine's neck" that are necessary only to maintain sanctions against Russia. The head of the Ukrainian delegation to the Contact Group even called Donbass a "cancerous tumor" for Ukraine, "which needs to be cut off."

2.4. "The United States and its allies opposed the settlement of the conflict in the Donbas and actively encouraged Kiev's policy of confrontation with Russia.

In 2019 Germany and France, which are members of the Normandy format, expressed their indignation by the attempts of Russia and Ukraine to work out solutions to normalize relations between our countries and implement the Minsk Agreements in order to resolve the conflict in the Donbas on a bilateral basis (through unofficial channels) (see paragraph 2.2.).

In March 2020, they refused to support and practically "torpedoed" the agreement reached in the Contact Group on the establishment of an Advisory Council as a platform for dialogue between representatives of Ukraine and Donbass on the settlement of the conflict.

Western states have always on public "exposed" Russia as a party to the conflict that is absolutely groundless, contrary to the spirit and letter of the Minsk agreements. The United States, Germany, France and Ukraine have never been able to formulate any of Russia's obligations under these agreements. In September 2021, Germany and France "agreed" to the point that they proposed "let Russia come up with its own obligations."

For 8 years, Western countries did not notice facts of genocide in Donbass carried out by Kiev as through the use of shelling and the economic blockade of this region."

2.5. "Ukraine's entry to NATO with the background of non-recognition of Crimea's secession from Ukraine and the unresolved conflict in the Donbas would mean an automatic declaration of war between NATO and Russia for Crimea, as well as the use of NATO armed forces in the Donbas to restore the territorial integrity of Ukraine in accordance with Article 5 of the Washington Treaty.

Despite this obvious threat of the 3rd World War, Ukraine has significantly intensified its efforts to join NATO in 2021."

For reference: NATO countries have been "pumping" Ukraine with weapons for all 8 years and training the Ukrainian army with foreign instructors, turning it into a springboard of a constant threat to Russia. NATO military exercises were continuously conducted near the Russian borders. Nine of them were planned for 2022 on the territory of Ukraine.

"The United States and other NATO member states, instead of reaching concrete agreements to ensure mutual security on the "eastern flank" of NATO, proclaimed a far-fetched principle of "open doors" that is not written in any NATO documents.

2.6. "Russia was ready for various compromises in order to provide an opportunity to "save face" for Western politicians after their absolutely irresponsible statements.

However, in response, there was a "double game", outright deception, tactics of "blurting out", substitution of concrete decisions with endless bureaucratic negotiations with the obvious goal of "buying time" for the further militarization of Ukraine.

In the absence of concrete counter-arguments and proposals regarding the settlement of the conflict in the Donbas and Russian security concerns, the "democratic" USA, France, Germany, and Ukraine have consistently insisted on the "confidentiality" of negotiations, and even officially proposed to adhere to the principle of "constructive ambiguity" on key issues of the proposed agreements.

It is known that, at the talks in Moscow in early February 2022, E. Macron agreed to convince V. Zelensky that Ukraine should independently assume obligations under a neutral demilitarized status so that NATO member states would not have to publicly abandon the "open doors" principle advertised by them. However, as it turned out (according to information from the Office of the President of Ukraine), he did not even bring this position to V. Zelensky.

After allegedly searching for compromises during the "conciliatory" talks in Moscow and Kiev on February 07 and 08, 2022 by E. Macron, February 14 and 15, 2022 by O. Scholz, February 12, 2022 by telephone talks by J. Biden, V. Zelensky at the Munich Conference on February 19, 2022 announced the possibility of Ukraine's withdrawal from the Budapest Memorandum which is equivalent to claims to acquire their own nuclear weapons."

III. Consequences of the operation

3.1. "The main aims of the special military operation are the protection of the DPR and LPR, forcing Ukraine to a neutral status, demilitarization and denazification of its state and social life, elimination of threats to Russia emanating from Ukrainian territory due to its development by NATO countries. The operation is not directed against the people of Ukraine.

The main aims of the special operation in Ukraine are:

1) the consolidation in the Constitution of Ukraine of the new outlines of the country's border (without Crimea, the DPR and the LPR), the permanent neutral status of Ukraine, implying the refusal to participate in any military alliances and a prohibition on the deployment of any foreign military bases on its territory;

2) demilitarization, which provides for a significant reduction of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, a prohibition on the possession of nuclear weapons, offensive weapons and military infrastructure that poses a potential military threat to neighboring states;

3) denazification, the result of which should be the eradication of any neo-Nazi, misanthropic and discriminatory ideology against any groups of citizens by nationality or other feature, which should be enshrined in the permanent legislation of the country. Moreover, discriminatory laws that have already been adopted should be repealed, nationalist associations should be prohibited, and should be lustrated.

After the conclusion of the peace treaty with the current authorities of Ukraine and after completing the tasks of the special operation, hostilities will immediately cease, and Russian troops will be withdrawn from the territory of Ukraine after the completion of internal procedures ensuring a neutral and demilitarized status.

If the Ukrainian authorities refuse to conclude a peace agreement on the above conditions and continue armed resistance after the completion of the operation, in Ukraine and in its regions will be formed temporary civilian military administrations to achieve the designated tasks, whose tasks will be the full restoration of peaceful life in Ukraine, the formation of state authorities and local government via democratic elections."

[Ravenlocke]

Zlatti71 reposted

THE ISLANDER

First Italy, now Belgium. The West is about to torch 200+ billion € in Russian sovereign reserves to fund a war it’s already lost, and suddenly, some of looters looks over their shoulders. Meloni warned it violates international law. Belgium’s sweating liability.

Because deep down, they know: if you rob a nuclear superpower’s central bank, you’re not a rules-based order, you’re a mob.

At the October 23 EU Summit in Brussels, a plan to use €210 billion in frozen Russian central bank assets, most of it held in Euroclear, a Belgian clearinghouse — was expected to be rubber-stamped.
Instead? Delayed. Pushed to December. Why?

Because Belgium blinked.

Despite the propaganda spin, Belgian officials demanded legal guarantees that they wouldn’t be left holding the bag if Russia sues, which it inevitably will. They know that using those funds, even just as collateral for loans to Ukraine, transforms a freeze into a constructive expropriation, which violates customary international law, sovereign immunity, and treaty obligations.

Euroclear, a private entity tasked with safeguarding sovereign assets, holds over €190 billion in Russian state reserves. It’s not just a custodian. If it allows EU leaders to use those funds for war, it becomes complicit in theft. That’s why Belgium demanded a firewall. And that’s why the EU couldn’t push the plan through.

Let’s be crystal clear:
•Sovereign immunity prohibits one state from seizing the central bank assets of another.
•The UN Convention on Jurisdictional Immunities of States (Article 21) guarantees protection of central bank property used for non-commercial purposes.
•The Articles on State Responsibility (ARSIWA) demand any “countermeasures” be proportional, reversible, and aimed at dispute resolution, not economic annihilation.
•And yet here we are: the EU wants to borrow against Russia’s frozen reserves to hand Ukraine €140 billion in new war funding.

That’s not sanctions. That’s financial warfare. It’s what banana republics do after coups, not what so-called liberal democracies do that pretend to subscribe to a rules based order.

And Belgium, seat of Euroclear, just admitted the obvious: this will end in lawsuits, chaos, and precedent-shattering collapse of trust. Trust, the only thing underwriting the post war Breton Woods financial order. Without it, fiat ponzi collapses.

What happens when the precedent is set that a G7 bloc can seize and monetize the sovereign reserves of a nuclear superpower?

Here’s what happens:
•Every BRICS central banker pulls funds out of Western custody.
•The petrodollar dies faster.
•The euro becomes toxic as a reserve currency.
•Nations ask: If they’ll rob Russia today, who will they rob tomorrow?

Trust, the last pillar of Western financial supremacy is gone.

The dollar isn’t backed by gold. The euro isn’t backed by industry. The pound isn’t backed by anything except the illusion of rules and property rights.

Break that illusion, and what’s left?

Answer: Fear. Retaliation. Collapse.

This was never about Ukraine.
It’s about control. Narrative control. Financial control. Legal control.

You can’t run a global empire if nobody trusts your vaults. And if EU elites thinks they can test up the law to rob Russia today, the whole world will ensure it pays the price tomorrow.

This is no longer about frozen assets. It’s about a frozen order, cracking under the weight of its own moral and legal bankruptcy.

And Hungary, Italy, Belgium, one by one, are stepping out of the blast radius.

https://x.com/IslanderWORLD/status/1981567726914036206

1981567726914036206




THE ISLANDER

🇮🇹 When Giorgia Meloni told the EU to think twice before stealing Russia’s frozen assets, it wasn’t Kremlin propaganda. It was the final voice of sanity in a Brussels asylum. Because what the Eurocrats are doing isn’t just illegal, it’s suicidal piracy. The theft of sovereign reserves will detonate the post-war financial system, and the rest of the world is already taking notes.

“We believe, and we are not the only ones, that it is necessary to respect international rules and the principle of legality,” Meloni said, adding that the EU must protect “the financial and monetary stability of our economies and the euro area.”

There’s a reason even the IMF and ECB are sweating behind closed doors. The European Commission’s plan to use over €210 billion in frozen Russian central bank assets as collateral to fund Kiev in 2026–27 is not just lawless, it’s existentially reckless. The entire post-Bretton Woods financial architecture rests on the idea that sovereign reserves, held in trust, are sacrosanct. Break that trust once, and every single sovereign creditor from Africa to Asia starts asking: “Who’s next?”

The moment a Western financial institution like Belgium’s Euroclear, becomes an instrument of political confiscation, it ceases to be neutral infrastructure. It becomes a battlefield. Sovereign reserve managers from Saudi Arabia, Brazil, India, and China are watching this unfold not with shock, but with clarity. The West has weaponized the monetary system. That means the game is over. De-dollarization, de-euroization, and dedollar-denominated trade routes aren’t just theoretical anymore, they are now mandatory self-defense mechanisms.

This is no longer about Ukraine. That war is already lost. What’s unfolding now is a rearguard scorched-earth policy: the EU, unable to win on the battlefield, is trying to win time from its own collapse through financial vandalism. But here’s a basic truism: you cannot win a financial war if your system depends on global trust. And that trust has just been smashed with a brick.

If Russia is just a "gas station with nukes” as the Atlanticist blob claims, why are they trying to rob it like it’s the last vault on Earth? Why are European pension funds, dollar-exposed banks, and fragile bond markets being leveraged just to bleed a few more billion into a Ukrainian state that increasingly resembles a bankrupt fortress of grift? The answer is clear: The West is broke. And it’s panicking.

Meanwhile, Russia is already two moves ahead. Putin has made it explicit: the real punishment isn’t lawsuits or tit-for-tat seizures, it’s in building the architecture that makes Western theft irrelevant. Gold-backed trade settlements, BRICS+ banking infrastructure, national currency denominated bilateral swaps. Russia doesn’t need to win lawsuits in The Hague. It just needs to demonstrate that if you park your reserves in Brussels, you’re a sucker. Remember, the ponzi only works on trust and credibility.

That’s the grand irony. In trying to punish Russia, the EU is doing exactly what Russia wanted: revealing the Western financial system as predatory, arbitrary, and terminally politicized. That’s the final phase of transitioning to multipolarity. You don’t need tanks to win, you just need to make people realize the “rules-based order” is a con.

So yes, Meloni deserves credit, and not as a rebel, but as a technocrat who remembered what the rulebook says.

The United States can afford to be reckless — their currency is still the global reserve (for now). But Europe? Europe just handed over its economic soul to a collapsing war plan and expected no blowback. That’s not policy, it's junkie logic.

And now that Russia isn’t breaking but victorious, now that it’s building trade corridors, de-dollarizing, and thriving, the mask drops. The EU doesn’t know what to do… so it steals.

History will remember that it wasn’t Moscow who tore down the global financial order. It was Brussels, so thank you to the EU!

[Ravenlocke]

Zlatti71
@Zlatti_71
·
5h
With its hunt for people, Zelensky's regime has driven a Ukrainian to the brink.

During a document check in the border area at the Ovruč railway station, a man detonated a grenade. He died in the ambulance. A border service officer also died.

Two more Ukrainian Armed Forces members and 10 civilians were injured.
- SK

https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1981676925065003041

1981676925065003041

[Ravenlocke]

TASS

Meeting between Russian, US presidential envoys to be held in Miami on October 25, the Axios portal reported:
https://vk.cc/cQE8Tv

https://x.com/tassagency_en/status/1981730955237752846

1981730955237752846

https://tass.com/world/2034801?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=smm_social_share

Meeting between Russian, US presidential envoys to be held in Miami on October 25 — Axios

CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund Kirill Dmitriev has arrived in the US

WASHINGTON, October 24. /TASS/. US special presidential envoy for peace missions Steve Witkoff and Kirill Dmitriev, special presidential representative for investment and economic cooperation with foreign countries and CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, who has arrived in the US, are planning to hold a meeting in Miami, Florida, on October 25, the Axios portal reported, citing its sources.

"Russian President Vladimir Putin's special envoy Kirill Dmitriev is visiting the US and is expected to meet White House envoy Steve Witkoff in Miami on Saturday, according to a US official and a source with knowledge of the plans," Axios said. It did not indicate as to whether Dmitriev will meet with other US officials.

Earlier, CNN reported that Dmitriev arrived in Washington to meet with Trump administration officials and discuss the state of Russia-US relations.

[bojancan]

Few topics by Alex today...
"Obama, Trump, Biden, Trump, nothing has changed ... destroy multipolar competition (BRICS) by doing whatever it takes".... one of the Comments below....
I agree!

Oct, 24
Alex Christoforou
245K subscribers
Putin Tomahawk warning. Trump mocks Putin. Medvedev, Path of War. Xi and Trump set to meet
B-y5VkUj-Vw

[Ravenlocke]

Mats Nilsson

Translated from Swedish
Fico explains how the EU works to enlarge the EU.




Robert Fico 🇸🇰

The entire European Union was crying today over its weak competitiveness. The only one who has it all figured out is Mr. Šimečka from the Progressive Slovakia party. The Slovak government is to blame.


https://x.com/mazzenilsson/status/1981683692713148817

1981683692713148817

[Bill Ryan]

For those with the patience to deal with the voiceover translations, this may be a delicious treat. Judge Andrew Napolitano and Larry Johnson recently spent a few days in Moscow, and here they were hosted by TASS in an hour-long conversation with Maria Zakharova. (I'd love to know how many millions watched this in Russia.)

The first few YouTube comments:


Maria Zakharova — sharp, fearless, brilliantly educated. Truly a tough and formidable woman. Always impressed by her wit and presence.
Lavrov's right hand lady, formidable indeed.
If only America had someone like Maria, who is beautiful inside and out.

Maria praises Trump, which some commenters found hard to understand. But others pointed out (correctly) that Maria is not only the Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, she's also a highly experienced politician and diplomat in her own right. She understands perfectly that Trump loves and needs to be flattered. Others, like Medvedev, can lay on the good-cop-bad-cop insults. :ROFL:

Judge Napolitano & Larry Johnson chat with Maria Zakharova : Moscow, Russia


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57eLgIYKMQM

[Tintin]

For those with the patience to deal with the voiceover translations, this may be a delicious treat. Judge Andrew Napolitano and Larry Johnson recently spent a few days in Moscow, and here they were hosted by TASS in an hour-long conversation with Maria Zakharova. (I'd love to know how many millions watched this in Russia.)

The first few YouTube comments:


Maria Zakharova — sharp, fearless, brilliantly educated. Truly a tough and formidable woman. Always impressed by her wit and presence.
Lavrov's right hand lady, formidable indeed.
If only America had someone like Maria, who is beautiful inside and out.

Maria praises Trump, which some commenters found hard to understand. But others pointed out (correctly) that Maria is not only the Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, she's also a highly experienced politician and diplomat in her own right. She understands perfectly that Trump loves and needs to be flattered. Others, like Medvedev, can lay on the good-cop-bad-cop insults. :ROFL:

Judge Napolitano & Larry Johnson chat with Maria Zakharova : Moscow, Russia


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57eLgIYKMQM

Interesting, I'll definitely view this over the weekend.

What may not be known, or remembered, is that Maria Zakharova spent some years in New York, as did Kirill Dmitriev (about 10 years I think), and Sergey Lavrov as well. They understand the American mind very well :sun:

[bojancan]

All is crazy... those puppets.. this coalition is insane... :facepalm:

Starmer 5 point plan to checkmate Putin. RUBIO Russia sabotage. US Carrier STRIKE group to Venezuela
9KuhGfqEybk

[Ravenlocke]

DD Geopolitics

🇷🇺 Russia is using BM-35 drones and striking Ukrainian wind turbines in Kramatorsk.

Winter is coming.

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1982127477238718469

1982127477238718469

[bojancan]

Here is Alex's video from today... placing here... I will listen later in the evening...
I like his talk every day... he makes all heavy topics easier digestible by his sarcasm and witty humour...


Oct, 26
Pokrovsk & Kupiansk encirclement. Burevestnik missile. Germany rare earth dilemma. Ireland elections
Wcv1YHi-Bu4


0:51 - Update on Ukraine troop encirclement in Pakarovsk and Kupansk
1:15 - Confirmation of encirclement by Putin and Yarasimoff
5:20 - Discussion on the implications of the encirclement for Ukraine
9:10 - Introduction of the new Burvestnik missile by Russian officials
13:28 - Overview of Russian military actions against Ukraine's energy infrastructure
15:04 - Trump's involvement in ceasefire agreements during his trip to Malaysia
19:00 - Trump's conditions for meeting with Putin regarding ceasefire
24:22 - Discussion on Germany's reliance on Chinese rare earths and implications
30:02 - Ursula von der Leyen's plan to reduce EU's dependence on Chinese minerals
33:03 - Results of the presidential elections in Ireland and implications for military policy
36:43 - Reports on German companies warning against seizing Russian assets
39:14 - Kamala Harris hints at a potential presidential run in 2028

[rgray222]

Here is Alex's video from today... placing here... I will listen later in the evening...
I like his talk every day... he makes all heavy topics easier digestible by his sarcasm and witty humour...


Oct, 26
Pokrovsk & Kupiansk encirclement. Burevestnik missile. Germany rare earth dilemma. Ireland elections
Wcv1YHi-Bu4


0:51 - Update on Ukraine troop encirclement in Pakarovsk and Kupansk
1:15 - Confirmation of encirclement by Putin and Yarasimoff
5:20 - Discussion on the implications of the encirclement for Ukraine
9:10 - Introduction of the new Burvestnik missile by Russian officials
13:28 - Overview of Russian military actions against Ukraine's energy infrastructure
15:04 - Trump's involvement in ceasefire agreements during his trip to Malaysia
19:00 - Trump's conditions for meeting with Putin regarding ceasefire
24:22 - Discussion on Germany's reliance on Chinese rare earths and implications
30:02 - Ursula von der Leyen's plan to reduce EU's dependence on Chinese minerals
33:03 - Results of the presidential elections in Ireland and implications for military policy
36:43 - Reports on German companies warning against seizing Russian assets
39:14 - Kamala Harris hints at a potential presidential run in 2028

I often wonder if people know that rare earth minerals are not rare. This entire discussion about China holding all the cards (over the USA, Germany or any other country) because they have a large deposit of rare earth minerals doesn't ring entirely true. While it is true that China has rare earths, so do the USA, Australia, Canada, India, and Russia. Also, the United States has recently confirmed a major discovery of rare earth, which may be the largest deposit of rare earths ever found.

So, when Alex brings this up and claims that Germany and others have to sell their soul to get rare earths, it just doesn't ring entirely true.

Here's what comes up on a quick Google search.

The term "rare earth" originated in 1788 when a miner in Ytterby, Sweden, discovered an unusual black rock. The ore was called "rare" because it had never been seen before and "earth" because that was the 18th-century geological term for rocks that could be dissolved in acid. The name reflects the initial perception of these minerals as scarce and unusual, despite their actual abundance.

Contrary to the name, rare earth elements are not rare. They are quite common in the Earth's crust, with some elements being more abundant than silver, gold, platinum, and even lead. Cerium, the most abundant rare earth element, is the 25th most abundant element in the world, comparable in abundance to copper.
The term "rare" is a misnomer, stemming from the difficulty in finding these elements in concentrated, economically exploitable deposits rather than their scarcity in nature.

They are typically dispersed in minerals and mixed together, making separation and purification challenging. The primary minerals mined for rare earths include bastnäsite, monazite, loparite, and xenotime, found in hard-rock deposits, ionic clays, and mineral sands. The search for large-scale rare earth deposits has dramatically increased in the last two years.

[Bill Ryan]

Here is Alex's video from today... placing here... I will listen later in the evening...
I like his talk every day... he makes all heavy topics easier digestible by his sarcasm and witty humour...


Oct, 26
Pokrovsk & Kupiansk encirclement. Burevestnik missile. Germany rare earth dilemma. Ireland elections
Wcv1YHi-Bu4


0:51 - Update on Ukraine troop encirclement in Pakarovsk and Kupansk
1:15 - Confirmation of encirclement by Putin and Yarasimoff
5:20 - Discussion on the implications of the encirclement for Ukraine
9:10 - Introduction of the new Burvestnik missile by Russian officials
13:28 - Overview of Russian military actions against Ukraine's energy infrastructure
15:04 - Trump's involvement in ceasefire agreements during his trip to Malaysia
19:00 - Trump's conditions for meeting with Putin regarding ceasefire
24:22 - Discussion on Germany's reliance on Chinese rare earths and implications
30:02 - Ursula von der Leyen's plan to reduce EU's dependence on Chinese minerals
33:03 - Results of the presidential elections in Ireland and implications for military policy
36:43 - Reports on German companies warning against seizing Russian assets
39:14 - Kamala Harris hints at a potential presidential run in 2028

I often wonder if people know that rare earth minerals are not rare. This entire discussion about China holding all the cards (over the USA, Germany or any other country) because they have a large deposit of rare earth minerals doesn't ring entirely true. While it is true that China has rare earths, so do the USA, Australia, Canada, India, and Russia. Also, the United States has recently confirmed a major discovery of rare earth, which may be the largest deposit of rare earths ever found.

So, when Alex brings this up and claims that Germany and others have to sell their soul to get rare earths, it just doesn't ring entirely true.

Here's what comes up on a quick Google search.

The term "rare earth" originated in 1788 when a miner in Ytterby, Sweden, discovered an unusual black rock. The ore was called "rare" because it had never been seen before and "earth" because that was the 18th-century geological term for rocks that could be dissolved in acid. The name reflects the initial perception of these minerals as scarce and unusual, despite their actual abundance.

Contrary to the name, rare earth elements are not rare. They are quite common in the Earth's crust, with some elements being more abundant than silver, gold, platinum, and even lead. Cerium, the most abundant rare earth element, is the 25th most abundant element in the world, comparable in abundance to copper.
The term "rare" is a misnomer, stemming from the difficulty in finding these elements in concentrated, economically exploitable deposits rather than their scarcity in nature.

They are typically dispersed in minerals and mixed together, making separation and purification challenging. The primary minerals mined for rare earths include bastnäsite, monazite, loparite, and xenotime, found in hard-rock deposits, ionic clays, and mineral sands. The search for large-scale rare earth deposits has dramatically increased in the last two years.Yes, that's all 100% correct. :thumbsup: The real issue is with the extraction and processing, which is very difficult indeed.

That's what China has a near-monopoly of — not the raw minerals, but the processed final product.

[Ravenlocke]

dana

🇺🇦⚔️🇺🇦 Hundreds of thousands of slaves are fleeing: the reason for mass desertion from the Armed Forces of Ukraine - heavy losses, corruption during mobilization, and extreme exhaustion of the troops, - Berliner Zeitung

▪️Since the beginning of the war, about 290,000 criminal cases have been initiated against military personnel who abandoned their posts — comparable to the size of the Bundeswehr. However, observers believe the real scale of desertion is higher: many commanders hide cases of desertion, fearing blame for every missing soldier.
▪️According to officers, soldiers leave due to exhaustion, poor training, unclear service terms, disappointment, poor leadership, and loss of trust in orders that lead to heavy losses.
▪️Defense Commissioner Olga Reshetilova notes that recruits often run away from training camps or on the way to the front — not only out of fear but also as a protest against endless service and injustice.
▪️Many volunteers compare themselves to slaves chained to the army with no right to return home. The lack of clear terms and corruption undermine morale.
▪️The publication concludes: the scale of desertion and evasion of mobilization calls into question Zelensky's statement that Ukraine only needs Western weapons, not NATO soldiers. Without solving problems in the army, even the most powerful weapons will be useless — soon there may simply not be enough people to use them.

RVvoenkor

https://x.com/dana916/status/1982566780452405404

1982566780452405404

[Ravenlocke]

dana

🇺🇦⚔️🇷🇺The Ukrainian enemy struck apartment buildings in Donetsk and houses in Luhansk

▪️Airplane-type drones damaged 3 residential buildings in Luhansk, reports the LPR government (in the video).
▪️Also, the Armed Forces of Ukraine struck apartment buildings in Donetsk, apartments are on fire. Preliminary data indicates there are casualties.

RVvoenkor

https://x.com/dana916/status/1982566236115398720

1982566236115398720

[Ravenlocke]

dana

🇷🇺⚔️🇺🇦Chronicle of the Special Military Operation for October 25-26, 2025

Russian forces delivered massive strikes on targets in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Kamianske, hitting objectives with precision weapons and UAVs. Ukrainian formations attacked regions of Russia, launching hundreds of drones, several of which were shot down approaching Moscow.

On the Slobozhansky direction, fighting continues on the outskirts of Volchansk and in the Tatarsky Forest. The enemy is attempting to break through the dam of the Belgorod Reservoir, but the structure held, and a controlled water release is underway.

On the Lyman direction, Russian forces are fighting near Yarova and Novoselivka, trying to break through to Stavky. The enemy holds a fortified line between Stavky and Zarechnyi, but the Russian Armed Forces are advancing in the forests south of Zarechnyi and around Yampil.

On the Seversk direction, Russian units are tightening the encirclement of Seversk itself, securing strongpoints two to three kilometers from the city. UAV operators and aviation are actively working over the city.

On the Konstantinovka direction, fighting continues near Chasiv Yar and in Konstantinovka itself. Small groups of Russian forces are advancing through dacha areas, but consolidation is complicated by Ukrainian strongpoints in Santurinovka.

On the Pokrovsko-Myronhrad direction, the enemy is attacking near Kucherov Yar and Sukhetsky. Fighting is ongoing in Pokrovsk, where Russian assault groups are pushing deeper into the city and forming an encirclement of the entire agglomeration.

On the Novopavlivka direction, Russian forces are advancing from Filiya towards Novopavlivka and have liberated a large strongpoint on the border with Dnipropetrovsk Oblast near Novonikolaivka.

rybar

https://x.com/dana916/status/1982569713780789292

1982569713780789292

[Ravenlocke]

Zlatti71

❕ In the Dnipropetrovsk region, the Russian army is breaking through the enemy's defense

"War correspondents of the Russian Spring" report that our fighters have raised the flag over Yegorovka, threatening the key settlement of Huliaipole at the junction of the Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions.

Behind Yegorovka is Danylivka, from which there is a direct road to Zaporizhzhia's Huliaipole. There is also an assault on Vishneve, neighboring Yegorovka.

These villages are located on the western bank of the Yanchur River, at the junction of the Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia regions.
- UARU

https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1982492859237347590

1982492859237347590

[Ravenlocke]

Zlatti71

❕ The dam of the Belgorod reservoir was damaged after a HIMARS strike

According to "Military Chronicle," as a result of the shelling, the dam of the Belgorod reservoir sustained significant damage. The structure as a whole remains intact, but the extent of the damage to the hydro gate has not yet been determined.

The published footage shows water gradually seeping through the damaged section.
- UARU

https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1982517926474207608

1982517926474207608

[Ravenlocke]

Zlatti71

🇷🇺⚔️🇺🇦The Russian army raised the flag in the center of the important city of Rodinskoye near Mirnograd!

▪️In the Pokrovsk direction, fighters of the Storm detachment of the 9th brigade raised the Russian flag in the administrative building in the center of Rodinskoye.
▪️Russian troops continue to advance and clear city blocks, gradually encircling Mirnograd itself.
▪️Yesterday it was reported that the Russian Armed Forces began an operation to split the city into two parts, attacking the central part and the private sector in the south. Progress of our troops was also recorded near the city market, close to the "Shakhter" Palace of Culture.
- RVvoenkor

https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1982539947598078354

1982539947598078354

[Ravenlocke]

Zlatti71

The Kupiansk left bank is completely cut off for the Armed Forces of Ukraine in terms of logistics. All the equipment that is still moving will soon stop without refueling. And the opponents' personnel are running out of rear support and, prospectively, also ammunition. Well, that's for those who survive...
- Condottiero

https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1982545311668023564

1982545311668023564



Zlatti71

❗Frontline report for October 26 from the "Paratrooper's Diary" channel:

🟥 Sumy direction. The Russian Armed Forces regained control over Alekseevka. The enemy is counterattacking; our paratroopers are advancing south of Yunakovka. North of Kondratovka, the Ukrainian Armed Forces' counterattack attempt failed;

🟥 Konstantinovka direction. Russian units are fighting in the areas of Predtechino and Ivanopol; in the east of Konstantinovka, the Russian Armed Forces are destroying enemy personnel; clashes continue north of the Kleban-Byk reservoir;

🟥 Krasnoarmeysk direction. Our troops are conducting combat operations inside the city, the Russian Armed Forces are securing the railway line; the clearing of Rodinskoye is being completed; from the east of Dimitrov (Mirnograd), our units continue liberating territory;

🟥 Kharkiv direction. Advancement is underway along the entire line of the sector with support from aviation and artillery.
- UARU

https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1982555969419943978

1982555969419943978

[Ravenlocke]

Zlatti71

Vladimir Putin announced that Russia has successfully tested the Burevestnik missile.

- According to Valery Gerasimov (Chief of the General Staff), the missile on 21 October flew about 14,000 km (~ 8,700 miles) and remained airborne for about 15 hours.

- The missile is described as nuclear-capable and nuclear-powered, meaning it uses a nuclear reactor for propulsion.

- Putin called it a “unique weapon which nobody else in the world has.”

- He also stated that the “crucial testing” phase is concluded and ordered preparations for infrastructure and deployment in the Russian Armed Forces.

https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1982384529709969472

1982384529709969472

Zlatti71

🇺🇸 Retired U.S. Army Major Mike Lyons warned two years ago about the capability of the Russian "Burevestnik" cruise missile to strike any targets on U.S. territory:
- FRWL

https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1982560877728637171

1982560877728637171

[Ravenlocke]

Aleksey Berezutski 🇷🇺🎖

🚨BREAKING NEWS

The Russian military announced the test of the unlimited-range nuclear-propelled "Burevestnik" cruise missile.

The missile remained airborne for approximately 15 hours and traveled 14,000 kilometers.

https://x.com/aleksbrz11/status/1982355451514597831

1982355451514597831

Sprinter Press News

🇷🇺The Russian military tested a new missile, the 9M730 Burevestnik, an intercontinental, nuclear-powered cruise missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.

❗️The missile flew for 15 hours, traveling 14,000 km!

🇷🇺Putin said it was "unparalleled in the world."

➡️The missile also boasts the ability to bypass air defense systems.

https://x.com/SprinterPress/status/1982421456135827827

1982421456135827827

🔥🗞The Informant
@theinformant_x
·
13h
❗️🇷🇺⚔️🇺🇦 - Russian President Vladimir Putin declared on Sunday that Russia has completed the final tests of the Burevestnik (NATO: SSC-X-9 Skyfall), a groundbreaking nuclear-powered cruise missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads and flying at low altitudes to evade defenses.

In a Kremlin video released during a meeting with military leaders—amid Russia's ongoing offensive in Ukraine—Putin hailed the weapon as a "unique creation" unmatched globally, emphasizing its virtually unlimited range due to a nuclear air-breathing propulsion system.

The latest test, conducted on October 21, saw the ground-launched missile fly approximately 8,700 miles (14,000 km) for about 15 hours, according to Russia's Chief of the General Staff, Gen. Valery Gerasimov—far from its maximum potential.

He noted its technical specs ensure "guaranteed precision" against heavily fortified targets at any distance.

Putin directed the military to build infrastructure for deploying the Burevestnik into service.

First unveiled by Putin in 2018 as part of Russia's advanced arsenal, the project has faced delays, including a 2019 test explosion that caused a radiation leak and killed five scientists.

Despite these setbacks, the missile's stealthy, intercontinental profile positions it as a strategic deterrent.

In related remarks, Putin vowed a "very strong" retaliation if Russia faces attacks with U.S. Tomahawk missiles.

https://x.com/theinformant_x/status/1982392205592424898

1982392205592424898



Maimunka News

‼️🇷🇺☢️🚀 Congratulations to all #Russia's friends on the successful test of the unlimited-range Burevestnik (Storm petrel) cruise missile with a nuclear engine and warhead - Medvedev

https://x.com/MaimunkaNews/status/1982494832951177368

1982494832951177368

[Ravenlocke]

TASS

Russia’s Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile has no analogues in the world, Russian President Vladimir Putin said:
https://vk.cc/cQHTbd

https://x.com/tassagency_en/status/1982373968142074332

1982373968142074332

https://tass.com/politics/2035205?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=smm_social_share

Russia’s Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile has no world analogues — Putin

The Russian President emphasized that the product is unique
MOSCOW, October 26. /TASS/. Russia’s Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile has no analogues in the world, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday.

On October 26, Putin visited one of the Russian command posts of the joint group of forces and held a meeting with Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov and commanders of the battlegroups involved in the special military operation.

"I have a report from the industrial bodies, and in general I am familiar with the estimates of provided by Defense Ministry. It's a unique product that no one else in the world possesses," he said.

"I remember quite well when we announced that we were in the development stage of such weapons and even high-level experts told me that it worthy objective indeed, but in the historical short term was unrealizable. I reiterate that this opinion was voiced by high-class experts," Putin added.

TASS

Russia’s Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile with unlimited flight range traveled a distance of 14,000 kilometers (some 8,700 miles) and was in the air for about 15 hours, Russian Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov said:
https://vk.cc/cQHVwG

https://x.com/tassagency_en/status/1982379001466204522

1982379001466204522

https://tass.com/defense/2035207?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=smm_social_share

Russia’s Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile covers 8,700-mile distance

The missile was in the air for about 15 hours, said Russian Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov
MOSCOW, October 26. /TASS/. Russia’s Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile with unlimited flight range traveled a distance of 14,000 kilometers (some 8,700 miles) and was in the air for about 15 hours, Russian Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov said on Sunday.

"The test was conducted on October 21. We have launched a multi-hour flight of a nuclear-powered missile and it covered a 14,000-kilometer distance, which is not the limit," Gerasimov said at a meeting with Russian President and Supreme Commander-in-Chief Vladimir Putin.

"The missile was in the air for about 15 hours and this is not the limit as well," he continued.

Gerasimov stressed that during the test flight of the Burevestnik missile, all the of specified vertical and horizontal maneuvers of the missile were met and "therefore, it demonstrated high capabilities to bypass missile and air defense systems.".

[Ravenlocke]

News of Donbass

#HeroesZ
💬 We will not allow Bandera to be glorified anywhere in Donbass — legendary commander and hero of the DPR, Mikhail Tolstykh (Givi)

▪️Mikhail Tolstykh was born on July 19, 1980, in Ilovaisk. With the start of Kiev's armed aggression against #Donbass in 2014, Givi stood alongside the first wave of militiamen who took up arms to defend their homeland.

▪️From May 2014, he took part in the battle for Slavyansk, and in the summer of 2014, for Ilovaisk. From September 2014, he participated in the battle for Donetsk Airport. Thanks to his professionalism, dedication, and charisma, Givi quickly became a commander and one of the most famous representatives of the DPR militia.

▪️The hero died on February 8, 2017 as a result of a terrorist attack. The Ukrainian sabotage-reconnaissance group fired at his office at the battalion base with a Shmel rocket launcher. Givi's name and his heroic fate have become part of Russia's history. Eternal memory!

https://x.com/News_of_Donbass/status/1982452266234704214

1982452266234704214

[Ravenlocke]

News of Donbass

#WarData
🪖In 2014, Andrey Skory, a Ukrainian government official, sided with #Donbass and became the leader of the Lugansk People’s Republic militia. Eight years later, he was among those who raised the Russian flag over the liberated city of Lisichansk.

💥Once the largest industrial center of the former Lugansk Oblast, Lisichansk now lies in ruins — Ukrainian troops left devastation in their wake as they retreated. Today, those who defended their native city are determined to rebuild it. As mayor, Andrey Skory is doing everything possible to help residents return to a peaceful and normal life.

🎞 The documentary "Donbass. Faces of War" by Tatiana Borsh is available for international audiences on the website https://en.rtdoc.tv/films/1590-donbass-faces-of-war

https://x.com/News_of_Donbass/status/1982428876912377971

1982428876912377971

[Ravenlocke]

News of Donbass

❗️#Putin orders any measures necessary to minimize victims by making sure enemy soldiers that want to surrender can do it.

'Ukrainian soldiers shot in back trying to surrender'

'Everything must be done to ensure safety of civilians used by Ukrainian soldiers as shield'

https://x.com/News_of_Donbass/status/1982405416966644186

1982405416966644186

[Tintin]

All is crazy... those puppets.. this coalition is insane... :facepalm:

Starmer 5 point plan to checkmate Putin. RUBIO Russia sabotage. US Carrier STRIKE group to Venezuela
9KuhGfqEybk

I haven't viewed this and likely probably won't but based on the title description I have one question for Starmer: can you name one British chess grandmaster? Ever?

Or, better stated perhaps: the Russians have had dozens and dozens, and bar one or two exceptions kind of 'own' chess. Starmer is a delinquent squalid homunculus, as are most of the British deep-state :)

[Tintin]

Battle for Pokrovsk - animation: the period May 1st to October 25th, 2025:

https://video.twimg.com/amplify_video/1982717804101955584/vid/avc1/640x352/2HcrfNlA8ryoZok9.mp4

[Tintin]

The commentator here (Anatomy of Truth on X (https://x.com/e_l_g_c_a/status/1982574646290465191)) has correctly pointed out what I've witnessed whilst monitoring the Avalon Forum X account feed, and has added some particularly necessary statistical data concerning trafficking, that ought to be recorded here. United24 should be kept at a very long arms length, along with its blatant misinformation, should you come across them on X. Note: DV here means 'domestic violence':

--------------


United24 has raised $2,700,460,980, 91% of which has been allotted to the defence budget. The platform was designed to support Ukraine in all relevant sectors, including humanitarian needs, yet the folks running the official X account dedicate an exuberant amount of time to harassing Russian travel bloggers, painting a poorly sourced bleak misrepresentation of Russia’s domestic misfortunes and partaking in shameless culture vulture expeditions. Their time may be better spent in addressing their own issues

In Ukraine, DV affected about 1-2 million people annually with a 20% increase in reported cases in 2024.

There are at least 5.2 million children at risk of abuse, neglect, exploitation, and trafficking.

Institutionalized children are particularly vulnerable, with reports of facilities acting as "feeders" for exploitation, including sexual slavery and pornography.

Ukraine is classified as a primary origin country for trafficking victims. It ranks in Tier 2 of the U.S. State Department's 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report.

What’s worse is that billions of dollars from foreign governments and NGOs have been provided to Ukraine to help address these issues with nothing to show for it.

I don’t quote scripture often, but in this case it’s fitting “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?”.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/G4OFIaBWQAAy43J?format=jpg&name=large

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/G4OFIZ-XgAAsTBX?format=jpg&name=large

[Ravenlocke]

News of Donbass

❗️#Putin orders any measures necessary to minimize victims by making sure enemy soldiers that want to surrender can do it.

'Ukrainian soldiers shot in back trying to surrender'

'Everything must be done to ensure safety of civilians used by Ukrainian soldiers as shield'

https://x.com/News_of_Donbass/status/1982405416966644186

1982405416966644186



DD Geopolitics

Oct 26
🇷🇺 Key points from Putin’s statements during his visit to the Joint Forces Command Center:

🔸Russia’s nuclear forces are the most advanced in the world.

🔸Putin discussed successful tests of the Burevestnik — a nuclear-powered cruise missile with unlimited range. There are no equivalents to it globally.

🔸He ordered preparations to begin for the deployment of Burevestnik within the Russian Armed Forces.

🔸Putin congratulated the Russian military on their successes in encircling Kupyansk and for fulfilling combat objectives on other fronts.

🔸He instructed commanders to create conditions for Ukrainian soldiers to surrender safely in order to minimize casualties.

🔸According to Putin, Ukrainian troops attempting to surrender are being shot in the back or targeted by their own drones.

🔸Preserving the lives of Russian servicemen remains a top priority and must guide all decisions on the battlefield.

🔸Russia will not time its operations in the Special Military Operation to any symbolic dates — decisions will be based solely on military necessity.

🔸When clearing territories of Ukrainian forces, Russia must ensure the safety of local civilians.

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1982369160471462233

1982369160471462233

Maimunka News

‼️🇷🇺🪖 President #Putin makes rare appearance in military camouflage for a front like briefing. #Russia

https://x.com/MaimunkaNews/status/1982721074438525427

1982721074438525427

[Ravenlocke]

Zlatti71

🇺🇦🇺🇸 Ukraine demands that the United States reinstate sanctions against the special representative of the Russian president, Kirill Dmitriev.

This appeal was made by Ukraine's ambassador to the US, Olga Stefanishina. She stated that Dmitriev's "activity" on American soil is "dangerous."

Earlier, the US government temporarily lifted sanctions on the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) so that he could obtain a visa and come to Washington for negotiations.

During his visit to the States, Dmitriev emphasized that Moscow will convey to Washington that Kiev is disrupting the peace dialogue.
- FRWL

https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1982838451851374643

1982838451851374643

[Ravenlocke]

Zlatti71

‼️🇷🇺🇺🇦 No progress on the issue of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, — Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation

▪️ Two rounds of negotiations took place in May and June, the parties agreed on prisoner exchanges and exchanged conditions for ending the war, M. Galuzin reported.

▪️ After that, Russia held negotiations with the USA - their last round took place with the participation of Putin's special representative Dmitriev, who was in Washington until yesterday.
- RVvoenkor

https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1982836864965836830

1982836864965836830

[Ravenlocke]

MFA Russia 🇷🇺

3h
🇷🇺🇰🇵 President of Russia Vladimir Putin received Foreign Minister of the DPRK Choe Son Hui at the Kremlin on October 27, 2025.

💬 President Putin: Please convey my very best wishes to Chairman of State Affairs Kim Jong-un.

https://t.me/MFARussia/27004

#RussiaDPRK

https://x.com/mfa_russia/status/1982819530209378581

1982819530209378581



Zlatti71

'Everything is going according to plan with Kim Jong Un' – Putin at a meeting with the DPRK Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui
- SK

https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1982834441446949377

1982834441446949377


RT

North Korea and Russia 'are strengthening tactical and strategic cooperation between diplomatic agencies of our two countries by coordinating our positions’ — DPRK FM Choe Son Hui

‘On the occasion of the 80th anniversaries of Korea’s liberation and the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea, a Russian delegation visited our country’ — DPRK FM Choe Son Hui

‘We plan further exchanges in science, healthcare, education and sport’

https://x.com/RT_com/status/1982741081226633597

1982741081226633597



RT

‘Over the past 3.5 months, our relations have received a very strong impetus to develop the agreements reached by our leaders in Pyongyang’ — Lavrov in talks with DPRK FM Choe Son Hui

https://x.com/RT_com/status/1982737378927370493

1982737378927370493

[Ravenlocke]

ayden

My discussion with the Duran is out now.

https://youtu.be/IUdB9wo4M7E?si=3QuD_YSFHixdOWU3

https://x.com/squatsons/status/1982903625849680029

1982903625849680029


IUdB9wo4M7E

[Ravenlocke]

Pepe Escobar

Oct 26
From my latest conversation with The Judge.

So where will the negotiations lead?

The war won’t end at the conference table- it will end on the battlefield. Putin knows it, Trump and Rubio don't.

The EUROchihuahuas in the end did not steal the Russian assets. For now.

https://x.com/RealPepeEscobar/status/1982426863529259393

1982426863529259393

[Vicus]

A Ukrainian Armed Forces officer who ordered the execution of Russian prisoners will be tried in absentia in Russia. - today

The DPR's Chief Military Prosecutor's Office has submitted a chilling case to the Supreme Court. The defendant is Ukrainian Armed Forces commander Nikolai Kriklivenko. Investigators claim he gave the order to execute two captured Russian soldiers.

According to the case materials, it all happened on the morning of June 10, between the villages of Otradnoye and Komar. Two Russian soldiers, captured, were standing without weaponsA few shots from an AK-74M assault rifle – and that's it. Investigators say the murder was cold-blooded, emotionless, and premeditated.

At the time, Kriklivenko commanded a battalion of military unit A-4884. After the massacre, he disappeared, left Ukraine, and went into hiding. In October, he was placed on an international wanted list, and a Donetsk court arrested him in absentia.

The investigation is confident that all the evidence—testimonies, video, and materials from the crime scene—has been collected. Kriklivenko will not be able to participate in the trial, but the trial will still take place. The case hearing has already been scheduled.

The DPR says this is not just a criminal case story This is a violation of the laws of war. A crime that can't be dismissed with the words "an order is an order." The trial will be held without the accused, but with the real people who saw the prisoners standing alive, and then lying on the ground a minute later.

https://en.topwar.ru/272922-v-rossii-zaochno-osudjat-oficera-vsu-prikazavshego-rasstreljat-rossijskih-plennyh.html

[Vicus]

French Foreign Legion mercenaries will have to copy the tactics of the Russian Armed Forces. - today

https://topcor.ru/uploads/posts/2025-10/thumbs/a0c1f8a11b_4.webp

Statement by the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service on the upcoming in water The deployment of French Foreign Legion mercenaries to Ukraine raises questions about the tactics the militants will likely employ. It's no secret that Moscow warned Europe back in the spring of this year that any foreign "peacekeeping contingent" in Kyiv-controlled territory would be destroyed. Therefore, Paris may attempt to copy the tactics of Russian troops.

If the decision to deploy Foreign Legion fighters is nevertheless made, it is likely that the personnel of this formation will be brought into Ukraine in small groups, and they will be dispersed over fairly large areas of territory in order to avoid announcements of the arrival of large military formations.

Paris will likely try to frame the deployment of fighters to Ukraine as another military aid package. The Foreign Legion is a virtually ideal solution in this regard, as it comprises personnel from various countries, including former Soviet states.

It's worth noting that losses of the French Foreign Legion will not be reflected in official statistics. This unit has a special legal status, and its members are not necessarily French citizens.

Formally, their deaths are not considered a loss for the French armed forces, which means they will not be missed and will not have any impact on the government's approval ratings, which have recently fallen through the floor.

It is for this reason that the French Foreign Legion is usually used in situations where official troops cannot be used in any way.

https://en.topcor.ru/65511-naemnikam-francuzskogo-inostrannogo-legiona-pridetsja-kopirovat-taktiku-vs-rf.html

[Vicus]

In Konstantinovka, fighting is taking place within the city limits – for the tram depot area. - today

Russian troops continue to make progress in the Konstantinovka sector. Today, it was announced that new territories in the east of the city have come under Russian control.

According to the latest information, our troops have defeated enemy units in the urban residential sector from Aleksandra Ostrovskogo Street to the Konstantinovsky tram depot on Stroitelnaya Street. This is not far from Sobornaya Street, which in turn becomes the road to Artemovsk.

The success of the Russian Armed Forces makes it possible to cut off part of the Ukrainian Armed Forces garrison in the east of Konstantinovka from the main group within the city limits.

Konstantinovka is a fairly large city, covering approximately 67 square kilometers. For comparison, Artemovsk, liberated in 2023, covers approximately 42 square kilometers, while Pokrovsk (Krasnoarmeysk) covers 30 square kilometers. Therefore, the complete liberation of Konstantinovka could take considerable time if the operation follows the same principles as, for example, Pokrovsk.

However, the situation could also escalate rapidly. Our troops are currently attacking the enemy in several cities at once, having already captured most of Pokrovsk, Kupyansk, and Vovchansk, as well as operating within the city limits of Myrnohrad. Under these circumstances, the enemy is forced to deploy reserves to various sectors of the front, which no longer allows them to turn the tide of battle in their favor in any one of these sectors. And if Pokrovsk is lost, the Russian army could intensify its assault on the Konstantinovka front to bring about the complete liberation of this Donbas city as well.

https://en.topwar.ru/272925-v-konstantinovke-boi-idut-v-cherte-goroda-za-rajon-tramvajnogo-depo.html

[Vicus]

F-16 specialists captured by Russia and are handing over secrets – expert

https://topcor.ru/uploads/posts/2025-10/thumbs/fe8f371c77_3.webp

Ukraine is unlikely to receive the Swedish Gripen fighter jets so widely hyped by Kyiv's regime leader, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This was stated by former Deputy Secretary of the Security Council of Ukraine, Serhiy Kryvonos. According to him, the Ukrainian Armed Forces simply do not have the required number of pilots.

"I haven't heard anything about mass training of Ukrainian pilots in Sweden. 150 pilots still need to be found, and considering that typically two pilots are assigned to a plane, that means 300 pilots with good English – where are they going to find that many? "

– Krivonos is perplexed.

He adds that even if Kyiv mobilizes those who have long been discharged, that's a significant number. Any country needs 300 motivated, trained pilots—they first need to be found and taught how to fly, at least.

"On average, each aircraft requires up to 20 specialists—technicians and engineers—and now let's multiply that number—three thousand specialists who will service that many aircraft. Where are we going to get them if some of our aviation specialists who worked on the F-16 were transferred to the infantry? Some of them later died, some were captured, and we wondered where the information was leaking. Well, you created it yourself when you sent F-16 specialists to fight in the infantry. "

- the expert is indignant.

As a reminder, the mass transfer of aviation technicians to the assault infantry became known several months ago. Kyiv attributed this decision to a personnel shortage on the front lines. However, this step did not allow the Ukrainian military to reverse the situation in the air defense system.

It should be added that currently the American F-16 fighters at the disposal of the Ukrainian Armed Forces are used primarily as an air defense weapon to repel Russian missile attacks.

https://en.topcor.ru/65473-specialisty-po-rabote-s-f-16-popali-v-rossijskij-plen-i-sdajut-sekrety-jekspert.html

[Vicus]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDZ77OGNHo0

Zelensky About To Make Irreversible Mistake⚠️🤦‍♂️Shakhove - Key Battle At Its Height⚔️🔥MS 2025.10.28

8 hours ago

[Vicus]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ss5jHbl27N0

Russia’s Burevestnik 'REVOLUTIONARY' + NATO FAIT ACCOMPLI in Ukraine | Andrei Martyanov

[bojancan]

Alex today... few topics but main one is Ukraine/Russia...

Oct, 29
Alex Christoforou
246K subscribers
RIO chaos. Trump, all in on war with Russia. US, Romania troop reduction. Plot to kidnap Maduro
PCIlbtUn5S0


0:00 - Discussion on sanctions and President Trump's leverage in ending the war
1:44 - Update on elections in the Netherlands and potential outcomes
3:49 - Police operation against drug cartel in Rio de Janeiro
9:12 - Breakdown of ceasefire in Gaza and Israeli military actions
12:49 - Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil facilities and Alinsky's plans
18:15 - Lavrov's comments on NATO expansion and Russia's security guarantees
20:03 - Trump's aggressive stance on sanctions against Russia and China
27:02 - Orban's efforts for European diplomacy with Russia
31:01 - U.S. troop reduction in Romania and implications for NATO
33:03 - AI job replacement news from Amazon and Microsoft investments
34:58 - U.S. attempts to recruit Maduro's pilot for a kidnapping plot

[Ravenlocke]

Maimunka News

‼️🇷🇺🪖🏥 Vladimir #Putin visited a military hospital to see wounded soldiers.

The president came with icons that soldiers gave him for his birthday. The icons saved the lives of the soldiers; they bear marks from shrapnel and bullets. #Russia

https://x.com/MaimunkaNews/status/1983564970643071463

1983564970643071463


Zlatti71

Putin suggested that foreign and Ukrainian journalists personally see the surrounded Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers in Kupyansk and Krasnoarmiisk

‘The situation in the special military operation zone is developing favorably, the guys are pushing forward. In two places, in Kupyansk and Krasnoarmiisk, the enemy is surrounded. We have no objection to allowing foreign and Ukrainian journalists into the encirclement zone to see the surrounded Ukrainian Armed Forces troops.’
- SK
https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1983512436733882399

1983512436733882399

Nuclear Powered Poseidon

Putin on Russia's new weapon - ‘Poseidon’.

‘Yesterday we conducted another test of another promising system — this is the unmanned underwater device ‘Poseidon’ also with a nuclear power plant. For the first time, it was possible not only to launch it from the carrier submarine with the starting engine, but also to start the nuclear power plant, on which the device operated for a certain amount of time’.
- SK

https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1983515009440153804

1983515009440153804


The power of the 'Poseidon' significantly exceeds the power of the 'Sarmat' missile, which will soon be on combat duty. There are no ways to intercept the 'Poseidon' – Putin.
- SK

https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1983528399567036642

1983528399567036642


'I hope everyone hears us now. We cannot sit down and all be at the same table, but we know about the work and feats of the fighters. We know and remember' – Putin.
- SK

https://x.com/Zlatti_71/status/1983528611689701429

1983528611689701429

[Ravenlocke]

The Duran

Burevestnik negates US geography advantage

https://x.com/TheDuranReal/status/1983550376142905582

1983550376142905582


98UhoMpiyS0

[Vicus]

Russia recognizes Ukraineś independence but not its Nazi regime - Lavrov

One of the root causes of the conflict is Kiev's "extermination of everything Russian" in violation of international law and conventions, the foreign minister has said.

In an interview with Hungarian YouTube channel Ultrahang aired on Sunday, the top diplomat said today's Ukraine differs greatly from the one whose sovereignty Moscow supported after the fall of the USSR.

"We recognize the independence of Ukraine, no doubt about this, [but] we recognized Ukraine on the basis of its own Declaration of Independence and Constitution... which defined Ukraine as a non-nuclear, neutral, non-bloc country guaranteeing the rights of all national minorities."

He stated that following the 2014 Maidan coup, Ukraine turned into "a bluntly Nazi regime" that "shows open contempt for anything Russian," including its history, media, culture, religion, education, and language.

Lavrov noted that the post-coup Ukrainian government quickly moved to revoke the official status of the Russian language, introducing laws that stripped it of regional recognition and curtailed its public use. He called Ukraine "the only country on Earth" to ban a UN language and said Kiev's actions had relegated Russian speakers in Donetsk and Lugansk - now part of Russia after referendums - to "second-sort people," despite constitutional guarantees of minority rights. One of Moscow's key goals, he added, is to protect these people from persecution.

"We are convinced that we must save people from the Nazi regime - people who have always been part of Russian culture," Lavrov said, arguing that instead of asking Russia "when will you end the war," Kiev's Western backers should first demand that Ukraine restore language and minority rights.

Lavrov also stressed that Donetsk and Lugansk, as well as Kherson, Zaporozhye, and Crimea, are "not actually new" but "historic Russian territories" that remained within the former Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, which later became modern Ukraine.

Moscow has long maintained it seeks a lasting settlement to the Ukraine conflict by addressing its root causes rather than pursuing a temporary pause. Lavrov said the focus should be on resolving the underlying issues and protecting people's rights, not on reclaiming territories or propping up what he called "political losers" in Kiev.

https://www.sott.net/article/502641-Russia-recognizes-Ukraines-independence-but-not-its-Nazi-regime-Lavrov

[Ravenlocke]

teleSUR TV

Translated from Spanish
Russian President 🇷🇺, Vladimir Putin, announced that #Russia successfully tested the nuclear submarine drone Poseidon. "Yesterday we conducted a test of another promising system: of the unmanned submarine system Poseidon, also with a nuclear warhead," Putin commented

https://x.com/teleSURtv/status/1983582463755436531

1983582463755436531

[rgray222]

It is hard to find consistent, reliable and accurate info on Russia's inflation rate, and other economic data, but this news source is probably the most accurate I have come across. The conclusion of this article is that the sanctions that Trump has put in place will cause Russia some serious economic problems, but most likely not enough to force it into peace.

Russia's economy has been significantly benefiting from the war in Ukraine, though the growth is uneven and comes with substantial long-term risks. Putin and his advisors have been masterful at bringing the economy back from the disastrous 1990s. But the most recent rebound has been driven by a massive increase in public spending, especially on military procurement and defense. If one component gets too far out of spec, the entire system could suffer. Even stopping or dramatically slowing down the war could cause serious economic problems. Also, the Russian economy has become more military dependent, which is not a good thing for Russia or the world.

Raising the pressure, Trump is hitting Russia with sanctions that even Biden shied away from. Can its war-weary economy handle them?

https://meduza.io/impro/biU7agQyBQA0pyqj1x7HVidS1hnIvNmyZBlU5PKVR7Y/resizing_type:fit/width:980/height:0/enlarge:1/quality:80/aHR0cHM6Ly9tZWR1/emEuaW8vaW1hZ2Uv/YXR0YWNobWVudHMv/aW1hZ2VzLzAxMS83/MDcvMjI1L29yaWdp/bmFsL04taFFCdlJp/bkxGb2gxclJYbDZR/cmc.webp
The strain is beginning to show

The Russian economy is under pressure, with civilian industries struggling and growth barely holding up. The Central Bank has so far acted cautiously, cutting its key rate by just half a percentage point. Inflation, meanwhile, shows no signs of slowing, keeping loans expensive and demand muted. On top of that, the U.S. has sanctioned Russia’s biggest oil companies, threatening to further weaken revenues and strain the broader economy. How serious could the impact be? Meduza examines the myriad challenges now facing Russia’s economy.

Why didn’t Russia’s Central Bank cut its key rate more?

On October 24, the Russian Central Bank lowered its key interest rate by 50 basis points — from 17 percent to 16.5 percent. This half-measure reflects the regulator’s effort to balance several conflicting forces within the country’s economy:

Russia’s war-weary economy continues to lose steam. GDP is still showing modest growth in the third quarter, driven largely by the defense sector, while civilian industries remain in decline. But in its updated October forecast, the Central Bank projects that GDP could shrink by 0.5 percent or grow by no more than 0.5 percent in the fourth quarter. For 2025 as a whole, the Bank has cut its growth outlook to 0.5–1 percent, down from 1–2 percent in its July forecast. Sustaining even this fragile growth will require reviving lending and demand — which, in turn, calls for lower interest rates.
At the same time, inflation — the main reason the Central Bank has kept the rate in double digits — remains high and shows no sign of slowing, preventing the regulator from cutting the rate further. Bringing inflation back to target remains the Bank’s top priority, but it now admits it’s at risk of missing that goal even by 2026. The inflation forecast has been raised from four percent to 4–5 percent, and inflation for the end of 2025 is expected to be around 6.5–7 percent.
On top of that, U.S. President Donald Trump’s oil sanctions — imposed over Russia’s “lack of serious commitment to a peace process to end the war in Ukraine” and hitting Rosneft and Lukoil, which together account for half of Russia’s oil production — bring neither clarity nor optimism for regulators in Moscow.


According to a senior economist at a Russian think tank speaking on condition of anonymity, the Central Bank couldn’t avoid cutting the rate. At the same time, he pointed to short-term factors that could accelerate inflation, such as the Kremlin’s recent VAT hike from 20 to 22 percent and the likely weakening of the ruble as oil prices fall.

https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/08/21/as-the-kremlin-stalls-on-peace-talks-russia-s-economy-shows-mounting-strain

In its updated forecast, the Central Bank (https://www.cbr.ru/Content/Document/File/184551/forecast_251024.pdf) raised its prediction for the average key rate in 2026 from 12–13 percent to 13–15 percent. That means borrowing costs will remain high for quite some time, keeping credit expensive across the economy.

One clear beneficiary of the Bank’s position is the ruble. Economist Dmitry Polevoy noted on Telegram that it will likely stay relatively firm for now, gradually weakening later as exports decline.

Meanwhile, the Center for Macroeconomic Analysis and Short-Term Forecasting (CMASF), a think tank with ties to the Russian government, warns of a growing risk of recession. Its surveys indicate that both public and corporate sentiment toward the economy have turned persistently negative.

What shape is the Russian economy in today?

The combination of sluggish economic growth and high inflation has prompted a growing number of experts to warn about the risk of stagflation. Analysts and the Center for Macroeconomic Analysis and Short-Term Forecasting (CMASF) echoed this concern in their latest report.

Back in November 2024, Elvira Nabiullina, the head of Russia’s Central Bank, told the State Duma that she didn’t see such risks. “In essence — and we can look at the experience of other countries that have gone through stagflation — this happens when monetary policy is kept unjustifiably loose, when in fact it should be tightened,” she explained to lawmakers.

Indeed, demand in the economy still hasn’t fallen below potential, and unemployment isn’t rising, so it’s too early to call this stagflation, a chief economist at a European bank told Meduza. The economy’s weak growth, he said, is largely the result of resources being siphoned from the civilian sector into the military and the impact of sanctions.

“I’m not too fond of calling the current situation in the Russian economy stagflation,” agreed an economist from a Russian analytical center, “as long as production capacity and the labor force remains fully employed.”

According to Russia’s Federal State Statistics Service, Russia’s unemployment rate fell to 2.1 percent of the active labor force in August, marking a new historic low.

Why are Trump’s oil sanctions such a threat to Russia?

The new sanctions against Rosneft and Lukoil, which the U.S. Treasury announced on October 23, are a serious blow to the Russian economy. They could trigger a cascade of harmful effects: a weaker ruble, shrinking oil and gas revenues, and a recession coupled with high interest rates and inflation. Yet, as the years since February 2022 have shown, much will depend on how strictly the sanctions are enforced and monitored.

The U.S. has warned that any foreign companies — including banks, refineries, ports, and shipping firms — that continue doing business with Russia’s oil giants will face secondary sanctions. Washington has given Rosneft’s and Lukoil’s trading partners one month to wind down existing deals and complete all transactions. In practice, though, payments under those contracts have already stopped, since the companies’ accounts are frozen.

Vladimir Putin’s argument that “a sharp reduction in Russian oil and petroleum products on the global market will drive prices up” also carries weight. Immediately after the U.S. Treasury’s announcement, the price of Brent crude jumped five percent.

Even so, the timing of the sanctions works in Trump’s favor. Unlike in the immediate post-2022 period — when Joe Biden’s administration hesitated to sanction Rosneft and Lukoil for fear of fueling oil price shocks and inflation — the market outlook is now bearish. Analysts expect Brent to trade between $60 and $70 a barrel by late 2025–2026, and possibly lower, sanctions expert George Voloshin told RBC. The International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts a record global oil surplus in 2026. The Russian Finance Ministry itself expects a gradual $1-per-year decline in the base oil price in the federal budget until 2030; by 2026, it expects a price of $59 per barrel.

For Russia, the key now lies in the actions of China and India, its two biggest oil buyers. Over the first nine months of this year, 84 percent of Russian crude exports — 2.1 million barrels per day to China and 1.9 million to India — went to those markets. The infrastructure to bypass sanctions already exists or can be set up quickly. Rosneft and Lukoil will likely have to offer bigger discounts and cut back on new investment, but ultimately everything depends on whether Beijing and New Delhi are willing to risk U.S. penalties. It also remains to be seen whether Washington has the political will to sanction Chinese giant CNPC and its subsidiary PetroChina.

According to Bloomberg, India’s purchases of Russian oil could drop to zero, while Reuters reports that Chinese state companies have already refused to buy seaborne Russian crude. Still, as the outlet The Bell noted in a sanctions analysis, past experience shows a familiar pattern: large Chinese state firms, especially those with foreign shareholders or Western contracts, tend to comply with sanctions, while smaller traders continue buying restricted Russian oil without hesitation.

There’s also precedent for sanctions on major Russian oil producers. Surgutneftegaz and Gazprom Neft were included in the final round of Biden-era sanctions, recalled Sergey Vakulenko, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center in Berlin. “And what happened? Nothing. Those companies kept trading oil as before. There was a brief panic — not so much about those companies, but about Biden’s broader sanctions package — that lasted about a month. The spread between Russian oil and Brent widened for a while, but by March everything was back to normal,” he told Deutsche Welle.

Whether Trump’s sanctions will prove more effective remains to be seen. “Maybe the problem before was that they were Biden’s sanctions, so Trump didn’t care if they worked,” Vakulenko suggested. “He might take his own sanctions more seriously and make sure they’re properly enforced.”

Based on past experience, he believes the most likely outcome is that India will temporarily cut back purchases, while China will maintain current volumes but not replace India’s share. That would mean a drop in Russian oil exports of at least 700,000 barrels per day, reducing foreign currency oil revenues by about 15 percent. “That will certainly create difficulties for both the government and oil companies,” Vakulenko concluded, “but they’re unlikely to be serious enough to change Putin’s stance on the war.”

https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/10/28/raising-the-pressure

[Ravenlocke]

Kalevi Nissilä

Translated from Finnish
Alastair Crooke: The power holders – the dark forces behind Trump – have clearly stated: "No, the United States and Russia will not establish relations." As a result, the situation will likely escalate.

https://x.com/apocalypseos/status/1983453861823303857

1983453861823303857

Alastair Crooke: The powers that be—the dark forces that are behind Trump—have clearly said, “No, you are not going to have a relationship between the United States and Russia.” Therefore, the consequence of this is likely to be escalation.

I don’t know what sort, but I think they will have to take the message that was delivered by Dmitri this weekend about the Burevestnik quite seriously.

This is in addition to the Oreshnik, which can reach any part of the European landmass. Where’s the leverage today?

[Ravenlocke]

TASS

The collective West is attempting to wage hybrid aggression against all those who advocate the truth as it loses its dominance, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at the Dialogue on Fakes 3.0 forum:
https://vk.cc/cQOxcf

https://x.com/tassagency_en/status/1983569348053639195

1983569348053639195

https://tass.com/politics/2037019?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=smm_social_share

Fakes about contacts with US, West’s hybrid assault: Foreign Ministry statements

According to Maria Zakharova, the collective West is attempting to wage hybrid aggression against all those who stand for the truth

MOSCOW, October 29. /TASS/. The collective West is attempting to wage hybrid aggression against all those who advocate the truth as it loses its dominance, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at the Dialogue on Fakes 3.0 forum.

She said that the upcoming Russian-American contacts were accompanied by misinformation, leaks and information from anonymous sources in the Western media.

TASS has compiled the key statements of the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman.

On hybrid aggression from the West

The collective West is attempting to wage hybrid aggression against all those who stand for the truth: "We see their [Western countries'] attempts, these are futile attempts, but they are making these attempts [to] keep their hegemony as it is floating away."

On the fakes about Russian-American contacts

The Russian-American contacts that were being readied were accompanied by fakes, leaks, and information from anonymous sources in the Western media: "And how it all migrated from anonymous social media accounts to traditional respectable - they love that word - mass media."

"Pseudo-sources replaced sources, quotations turned into slogans," and the only criterion was the benefit "for a certain part of the world elite."

On artificial intelligence (AI)

AI and other digital technologies can become a tool for enslaving the world in the hands of the Anglo-Saxons: "It is important that the new information and technological capabilities do not become this most fatal tool for enslaving us not physically, but morally, including intellectually."

In the post-truth era, the truth is not objective reality and facts, "but what will be embedded in the artificial intelligence model."

"We also need to prevent people from being deprived of the opportunity to use verification information in general, so that artificial intelligence technologies trained by the Anglo-Saxons do not flood the world to the extent, where we cannot, in principle, find necessary data, facts, documents. This threat also exists."


Ignorance, the root and stem of all evil

Today, there's a colossal demand for truth worldwide, but people's trust in the media is at a historic low, according to Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova.

She made this statement at the third international forum, which is taking place in Moscow on October 29.

"This has happened because the media have so often and so often discredited the right they were endowed with by humanity: to speak for and on behalf of the many, to be a moral authority. They have literally trampled on this right. The path humanity will take, the future of our children and grandchildren, is being determined right now. The invisible scales are constantly shifting. We must do everything in our power to ensure that the scale that holds truth and validity tips the scales."

https://x.com/ivan_8848/status/1983557318936547554

1983557318936547554

[Ravenlocke]

It is hard to find consistent, reliable and accurate info on Russia's inflation rate, and other economic data, but this news source is probably the most accurate I have come across. The conclusion of this article is that the sanctions that Trump has put in place will cause Russia some serious economic problems, but most likely not enough to force it into peace.

Russia's economy has been significantly benefiting from the war in Ukraine, though the growth is uneven and comes with substantial long-term risks. Putin and his advisors have been masterful at bringing the economy back from the disastrous 1990s. But the most recent rebound has been driven by a massive increase in public spending, especially on military procurement and defense. If one component gets too far out of spec, the entire system could suffer. Even stopping or dramatically slowing down the war could cause serious economic problems. Also, the Russian economy has become more military dependent, which is not a good thing for Russia or the world.

Raising the pressure, Trump is hitting Russia with sanctions that even Biden shied away from. Can its war-weary economy handle them?

https://meduza.io/impro/biU7agQyBQA0pyqj1x7HVidS1hnIvNmyZBlU5PKVR7Y/resizing_type:fit/width:980/height:0/enlarge:1/quality:80/aHR0cHM6Ly9tZWR1/emEuaW8vaW1hZ2Uv/YXR0YWNobWVudHMv/aW1hZ2VzLzAxMS83/MDcvMjI1L29yaWdp/bmFsL04taFFCdlJp/bkxGb2gxclJYbDZR/cmc.webp
The strain is beginning to show

The Russian economy is under pressure, with civilian industries struggling and growth barely holding up. The Central Bank has so far acted cautiously, cutting its key rate by just half a percentage point. Inflation, meanwhile, shows no signs of slowing, keeping loans expensive and demand muted. On top of that, the U.S. has sanctioned Russia’s biggest oil companies, threatening to further weaken revenues and strain the broader economy. How serious could the impact be? Meduza examines the myriad challenges now facing Russia’s economy.

Why didn’t Russia’s Central Bank cut its key rate more?

On October 24, the Russian Central Bank lowered its key interest rate by 50 basis points — from 17 percent to 16.5 percent. This half-measure reflects the regulator’s effort to balance several conflicting forces within the country’s economy:

Russia’s war-weary economy continues to lose steam. GDP is still showing modest growth in the third quarter, driven largely by the defense sector, while civilian industries remain in decline. But in its updated October forecast, the Central Bank projects that GDP could shrink by 0.5 percent or grow by no more than 0.5 percent in the fourth quarter. For 2025 as a whole, the Bank has cut its growth outlook to 0.5–1 percent, down from 1–2 percent in its July forecast. Sustaining even this fragile growth will require reviving lending and demand — which, in turn, calls for lower interest rates.
At the same time, inflation — the main reason the Central Bank has kept the rate in double digits — remains high and shows no sign of slowing, preventing the regulator from cutting the rate further. Bringing inflation back to target remains the Bank’s top priority, but it now admits it’s at risk of missing that goal even by 2026. The inflation forecast has been raised from four percent to 4–5 percent, and inflation for the end of 2025 is expected to be around 6.5–7 percent.
On top of that, U.S. President Donald Trump’s oil sanctions — imposed over Russia’s “lack of serious commitment to a peace process to end the war in Ukraine” and hitting Rosneft and Lukoil, which together account for half of Russia’s oil production — bring neither clarity nor optimism for regulators in Moscow.


According to a senior economist at a Russian think tank speaking on condition of anonymity, the Central Bank couldn’t avoid cutting the rate. At the same time, he pointed to short-term factors that could accelerate inflation, such as the Kremlin’s recent VAT hike from 20 to 22 percent and the likely weakening of the ruble as oil prices fall.

https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/08/21/as-the-kremlin-stalls-on-peace-talks-russia-s-economy-shows-mounting-strain

In its updated forecast, the Central Bank (https://www.cbr.ru/Content/Document/File/184551/forecast_251024.pdf) raised its prediction for the average key rate in 2026 from 12–13 percent to 13–15 percent. That means borrowing costs will remain high for quite some time, keeping credit expensive across the economy.

One clear beneficiary of the Bank’s position is the ruble. Economist Dmitry Polevoy noted on Telegram that it will likely stay relatively firm for now, gradually weakening later as exports decline.

Meanwhile, the Center for Macroeconomic Analysis and Short-Term Forecasting (CMASF), a think tank with ties to the Russian government, warns of a growing risk of recession. Its surveys indicate that both public and corporate sentiment toward the economy have turned persistently negative.

What shape is the Russian economy in today?

The combination of sluggish economic growth and high inflation has prompted a growing number of experts to warn about the risk of stagflation. Analysts and the Center for Macroeconomic Analysis and Short-Term Forecasting (CMASF) echoed this concern in their latest report.

Back in November 2024, Elvira Nabiullina, the head of Russia’s Central Bank, told the State Duma that she didn’t see such risks. “In essence — and we can look at the experience of other countries that have gone through stagflation — this happens when monetary policy is kept unjustifiably loose, when in fact it should be tightened,” she explained to lawmakers.

Indeed, demand in the economy still hasn’t fallen below potential, and unemployment isn’t rising, so it’s too early to call this stagflation, a chief economist at a European bank told Meduza. The economy’s weak growth, he said, is largely the result of resources being siphoned from the civilian sector into the military and the impact of sanctions.

“I’m not too fond of calling the current situation in the Russian economy stagflation,” agreed an economist from a Russian analytical center, “as long as production capacity and the labor force remains fully employed.”

According to Russia’s Federal State Statistics Service, Russia’s unemployment rate fell to 2.1 percent of the active labor force in August, marking a new historic low.

Why are Trump’s oil sanctions such a threat to Russia?

The new sanctions against Rosneft and Lukoil, which the U.S. Treasury announced on October 23, are a serious blow to the Russian economy. They could trigger a cascade of harmful effects: a weaker ruble, shrinking oil and gas revenues, and a recession coupled with high interest rates and inflation. Yet, as the years since February 2022 have shown, much will depend on how strictly the sanctions are enforced and monitored.

The U.S. has warned that any foreign companies — including banks, refineries, ports, and shipping firms — that continue doing business with Russia’s oil giants will face secondary sanctions. Washington has given Rosneft’s and Lukoil’s trading partners one month to wind down existing deals and complete all transactions. In practice, though, payments under those contracts have already stopped, since the companies’ accounts are frozen.

Vladimir Putin’s argument that “a sharp reduction in Russian oil and petroleum products on the global market will drive prices up” also carries weight. Immediately after the U.S. Treasury’s announcement, the price of Brent crude jumped five percent.

Even so, the timing of the sanctions works in Trump’s favor. Unlike in the immediate post-2022 period — when Joe Biden’s administration hesitated to sanction Rosneft and Lukoil for fear of fueling oil price shocks and inflation — the market outlook is now bearish. Analysts expect Brent to trade between $60 and $70 a barrel by late 2025–2026, and possibly lower, sanctions expert George Voloshin told RBC. The International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts a record global oil surplus in 2026. The Russian Finance Ministry itself expects a gradual $1-per-year decline in the base oil price in the federal budget until 2030; by 2026, it expects a price of $59 per barrel.

For Russia, the key now lies in the actions of China and India, its two biggest oil buyers. Over the first nine months of this year, 84 percent of Russian crude exports — 2.1 million barrels per day to China and 1.9 million to India — went to those markets. The infrastructure to bypass sanctions already exists or can be set up quickly. Rosneft and Lukoil will likely have to offer bigger discounts and cut back on new investment, but ultimately everything depends on whether Beijing and New Delhi are willing to risk U.S. penalties. It also remains to be seen whether Washington has the political will to sanction Chinese giant CNPC and its subsidiary PetroChina.

According to Bloomberg, India’s purchases of Russian oil could drop to zero, while Reuters reports that Chinese state companies have already refused to buy seaborne Russian crude. Still, as the outlet The Bell noted in a sanctions analysis, past experience shows a familiar pattern: large Chinese state firms, especially those with foreign shareholders or Western contracts, tend to comply with sanctions, while smaller traders continue buying restricted Russian oil without hesitation.

There’s also precedent for sanctions on major Russian oil producers. Surgutneftegaz and Gazprom Neft were included in the final round of Biden-era sanctions, recalled Sergey Vakulenko, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center in Berlin. “And what happened? Nothing. Those companies kept trading oil as before. There was a brief panic — not so much about those companies, but about Biden’s broader sanctions package — that lasted about a month. The spread between Russian oil and Brent widened for a while, but by March everything was back to normal,” he told Deutsche Welle.

Whether Trump’s sanctions will prove more effective remains to be seen. “Maybe the problem before was that they were Biden’s sanctions, so Trump didn’t care if they worked,” Vakulenko suggested. “He might take his own sanctions more seriously and make sure they’re properly enforced.”

Based on past experience, he believes the most likely outcome is that India will temporarily cut back purchases, while China will maintain current volumes but not replace India’s share. That would mean a drop in Russian oil exports of at least 700,000 barrels per day, reducing foreign currency oil revenues by about 15 percent. “That will certainly create difficulties for both the government and oil companies,” Vakulenko concluded, “but they’re unlikely to be serious enough to change Putin’s stance on the war.”

https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/10/28/raising-the-pressure


Mats Nilsson

Feb 8
#Meduza; The U.S. Government’s Anti-Russia Mouthpiece.

Funding:
• $250,000+ from USAID & NED in 2023 alone
• Direct grants from the U.S. State Department & European governments
• Partnered with Open Society Foundations (Soros)

What they do:
Meduza claims to be an “independent Russian media” outlet, but in reality, it’s a Western-backed propaganda operation designed to destabilize Russia and push NATO’s narratives.

Major Exposures:
1. Meduza’s Direct U.S. Government Funding
• In 2023, leaked documents confirmed Meduza received funding from the U.S. government under the pretext of “supporting press freedom in Russia.”
• Despite claiming to be independent, Meduza’s financial reports show major funding from USAID, NED, and European state-sponsored NGOs.
• Russia officially labeled Meduza a “foreign agent” in 2021 after exposing its ties to Western intelligence cutouts.

Pushing Fake News About Ukraine -A key amplifier of false claims about Russia’s military operations.

• The Bucha Massacre Hoax
- Immediately blamed Russia for civilian deaths in Bucha before any investigation was conducted.
- Western forensic reports later failed to prove Russian involvement, but Meduza never corrected its reporting.
• The Snake Island Hoax
• Falsely reported that Ukrainian soldiers were killed in a “heroic last stand” against Russian forces.
• The truth? They surrendered unharmed and were later returned to Ukraine in a prisoner swap.
• Meduza quietly removed the original article but never issued a retraction.

Promoting Western-Backed Russian Opposition:
• Aggressively promoted Alexei Navalny as the “leader of the Russian opposition” while ignoring his ties to Western intelligence.
• In 2021, Meduza published an article claiming Navalny was “poisoned by Putin”, despite zero conclusive evidence and multiple contradictions in the official story.
• Never reported on Navalny’s racist and xenophobic statements—a clear sign they are pushing a curated Western-friendly version of him.

Meduza’s Role in Censoring Dissent:
• Worked with Western tech companies to push for deplatforming Russian media, including RT and Sputnik.
• While claiming to fight for “press freedom,” lobbied for YouTube and Twitter to ban Russian news outlets.
• Direct partnership with Facebook’s “fact-checking” division, where they label pro-Russian perspectives as “disinformation” while allowing NATO-backed narratives to spread unchecked.

Hypocrisy on Press Freedom:
• Portrays itself as a victim of Russian censorship, but:
- actively censors dissenting voices inside Russia.
- bans pro-Russian commentators from its platforms.
- Ignores Western crackdowns on independent journalists (e.g., Julian Assange, Gonzalo Lira).


https://x.com/mazzenilsson/status/1888163088639103471

1888163088639103471

[Ravenlocke]

ChemicallyAlteredSPUDS

Mar 18
Replying to
@_The_Wub_
As
@KitKlarenberg
notes, Meduza was started by Galina Timchenko after his firing from "one of Russia’s most popular news portals for publishing an interview with the leader of Western-backed Ukrainian fascist paramilitary group, Right Sector" Their funding has always been secret

https://x.com/_The_Wub_/status/1902137555904078285

1902137555904078285

A team of contractors operating out of London helped Meduza as well. This team included the Zinc Network, which worked directly with USAID to manipulate Russian-language media throughout Eastern Europe. Zinc also provided counselling & mental health support to these media outlets

https://x.com/_The_Wub_/status/1902137566704627797

1902137566704627797


https://thegrayzone.com/2025/03/18/independent-russia-outlet-us-funding-slashed/

‘Independent’ anti-Russia outlet Meduza faces collapse after US funding slashed

Kit Klarenberg
March 18, 2025

After fervently denying that they relied on financial support from the US government, the supposedly “independent” Russian language paper Meduza has been thrown into existential crisis following the Trump administration’s pause on foreign development assistance

Alexey Kovalev, a self-described “Russian journalist currently living in exile for fear of persecution back home,” had spent much of his career at Meduza, the leading opposition media outlet in Russia. Since leaving the paper under mysterious circumstances in the summer of 2023 and relocating to London, Kovalev has split time writing commentaries for Foreign Policy and attacking reporters at The Grayzone, whom he has falsely painted as Russian assets, while calling for their imprisonment.

“The Grayzone is Russia’s US-based disinformation laundromat,” Kovalev ranted in a July 2024 blog post. “This conspiracy blog’s founders, Aaron Mate and Max Blumenthal, help the Kremlin disseminate its false narratives in exchange for favors from a senior Russian government official Dmitry Polyansky, the country’s deputy ambassador to the UN. They act as unregistered foreign agents and should be investigated by the Department of Justice for possible FARA violations.”

Nearly every word Kovalev wrote was false; The Grayzone has no financial or political relationship with the Russian government, and none of its reporters have received favors from Polyansky or any other Russian official.

Now that the self-exiled troll’s former employers at Meduza have been plunged into a financial crisis by the Trump administration’s pause on foreign development assistance, Kovalev’s smears of The Grayzone have been exposed as an exceedingly embarrassing exercise in projection.

As The New York Times reported this February 26, grants from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) reportedly accounted for 15% of the outlet’s budget. So while The Grayzone accepts no foreign state support, it turns out that Meduza can not survive for a day without a constant cash infusion from its government sponsors in Washington.

Meduza’s covert US funding was revealed in a New York Times article lamenting the Trump administration’s dramatic cuts in funding for various US-financed destabilization and regime change programs across the world. According to the Times, the cuts to USAID could potentially damage Meduza’s operations more than “cyberattacks, legal threats and even poisonings of its reporters.”

The outlet went on to note that while a handful of other Western countries like Germany and Norway “contribute to independent media,” their share is “tiny in comparison with American funding.” Simultaneously, “many traditional media supporters” – including the CIA-connected Ford Foundation, and George Soros’ Open Society Foundations, a “giant grant maker” – have “abandoned much of [their] media funding.” A Columbia University lecturer complained the Trump administration’s aid pause was “really a blood bath.”

While a 2021 investigation by The Grayzone’s Max Blumenthal revealed several grants and pledges of assistance from NATO states to Meduza, the outlet’s leadership fervently denied any suggestion of foreign sponsorship. The new revelations by the Times reveal Russia’s top opposition outlet as anything but the “independent” paper they marketed to the public.

Leaked UK files suggest Meduza’s role as NATO state-backed project

Rumors about Meduza’s Western funding have swirled since its creation in October 2014, after its founder, Galina Timchenko, was fired from one of Russia’s most popular news portals for publishing an interview with the leader of Western-backed Ukrainian fascist paramilitary group, Right Sector. That same month, Meduza cofounder Ivan Kolpakov flatly refused to reveal the outlet’s funding sources in discussions with Western media:

“I can’t tell you whether those financing the Meduza Project are Russian or foreign. There’s a huge discussion about our investors among Russian journalists, with some saying we have to tell people who they are. Yes, in a fairer world we probably should, but not in Russia in 2014. We have to protect our product and we have to protect our investors.”

A leak of sensitive British Foreign Office files obtained by The Grayzone in early 2021 contained clear indications that the outlet was funded by Western governments. The documents named Meduza as one of the “specific outlets” whose “viability… as long term partners” was being assessed as part of a broader clandestine effort by London to “weaken the Russian state’s influence.” Several veteran-run contractors charged with achieving this goal named the publication as an ideal conduit for anti-Kremlin propaganda.

We are currently delivering audience segmentation and targeting support for two of Russia's leading independent media outlets, Meduza and MediaZona and a range of independent investigative journalists in conjunction with data analysts at King's College London. The outlets lack the expertise and tools to understand their audience profiles or consumption habits, and to therefore promote content effectively to new audiences. Using action research methodology, our team is translating data provided by King's College London into audience segments that can be tracked online and offline and conducting weekly mentoring sessions with specialists from the outlets, upskilling them to create targeting profiles that reach these segments and adjusting their editorial and commercial strategy accordingly. This innovative model, bringing together leading academia, local journalists and cutting edge digital marketing helps outlets to reach broader audiences and create common framings of issues, thus contributing to healthy democratic
public discourse.

Chief among these shady groups was a psyop specialist firm called the Zinc Network. In confidential submissions to the British government, Zinc noted that it was “delivering audience segmentation and targeting support” to both Meduza and MediaZona, another supposedly independent outlet launched by US-funded anti-Putin provocateurs Pussy Riot. Zinc stated, “the outlets lack the expertise and tools to understand their audience profiles or consumption habits, and to therefore promote content effectively to new audiences.”

A separate submission stated Zinc Network was “supporting Russian language media outlets across Eastern Europe by developing audience growth strategies,” under the auspices of a “pioneering media development programme for USAID,” strongly indicating its cloak-and-dagger collaboration with Meduza was financed by Washington. Elsewhere, the contractor committed to providing intensely intimate assistance to all its Russian assets, including “counselling and mental health support.” This was inspired by the politically motivated June 2019 arrest of Meduza reporter Ivan Golunov, for which law enforcement officials involved were fired.

The same document also contained a pledge to “increase search ranking and visibility” of media platforms like Meduza, by teaching them search engine optimization techniques, as well as “paid search activity for priority phrases” training in order to direct people searching for the phrase “news in Russian” away from RT. Fittingly, in a dig at the Russian state broadcaster, Meduza adopted the slogan “The Real Russia, Today,” sarcastically tweaking RT’s former name.


At the time, this journalist submitted questions to Kolpakov, as well as then-Meduza investigations editor Alexey Kovalev, about the documents suggesting NATO state support for their outlet. In one email correspondence, Kovalev alleged Meduza was financed purely by online advertising revenue from “high profile clients,” supposedly even including the Kremlin itself.

Albany expressed particular interest in Meduza’s online games, which “encourage participation through social media and mobile platforms” and “embrace political themes (e.g. “Putin Bingo,” “help Putin get to his meeting with the Pope on time” and “help the Orthodox priest get to his church without succumbing to earthly pleasures”).

The contractor hoped to assist the outlet in creating more online games, “the aim [being] to create content which is good enough to have a pull effect amongst Russian-speaking youth” in Moscow’s near abroad. Ultimately, the aim was to create “satirical games” which would demonstrate the superiority of Western European culture over Russia’s, or as (they put it) that “the offer of a fairer, respectful, and caring society is better than that of an arrogant, nationalistic regime.”

It is uncertain if this British-financed sponsorship materialized. However, these disclosures led to Meduza being labelled a “foreign agent” by Russian authorities. The outlet complained that on top of being compelled to report all the website’s income and expenses to Moscow’s Justice Ministry, the classification also had the potential to damage Meduza’s advertising revenue. The label was slammed as a gross attack on independent media by Western press rights groups, and the European Union.

These days, Meduza apparently needs all the overseas financial help it can get. As the NY Times noted, Meduza was just one “of hundreds of newsrooms in dozens of countries” collectively raking in $180 million annually in funding from USAID, the State Department, and the National Endowment for Democracy to “support journalism and media development.”

“Kill all the bad people”: diaries of a madman

With its financial pipeline to Washington severed by the Trump administration, mass layoffs at Meduza seem inevitable. Meanwhile, after spending months falsely accusing Grayzone reporters of serving as Russian assets, the former Meduza reporter Kovalev has gradually descended into a state of apparent madness.

In a widely ridiculed Telegram post on February 13, 2025, Kovalev declared that one of his goals for 2025 was to “kill all the bad people… and oppress our enemies,” declaring, “I will need the help of the community.”

The “bad people,” he explained, were not just the Russian nationalists who follow Putin, but those among his liberal opponents who had grown weary of the Ukraine proxy war, and begun calling for a settlement to end the killing. “These are worse than the [Russian nationalists]… But it is good that it is becoming crystal clear. All the whores felt they could no longer hide, and are exposing themselves. But we will not forget and will not forgive. Stay tuned.”

Weeks later, as the lights flickered off at Meduza, Kovalev locked his Twitter/X account and continued his increasingly ravings within the confines of his digital “community.” Foreign Policy has not yet responded to a request for comment on its contributor’s call to “kill all the bad people.”

[Ravenlocke]

🅰pocalypsis 🅰pocalypseos 🇷🇺 🇨🇳 🅉 reposted

Kirill Dmitriev

EXPOSED: ISW is panicking about my US-Russia dialogue and comments to US media. They call themselves “independent” — but are funded by General Dynamics, DynCorp, and CACI — military contractors who profit from war. What can you do ? Understand their bias.
🧵Kagan/Nuland’s ISW👇

https://x.com/kadmitriev/status/1983236540600930732

1983236540600930732

Read 1/2: https://responsiblestatecraft.org/russia-ukraine-war-isw/
“Funded by important military contractors in America’s military industrial complex such as General Dynamics, DynCorps International, and CACI International, ISW is also a creation of the “Kagan industrial complex.”

Read 2/2: https://responsiblestatecraft.org/2022/06/12/a-case-study-in-american-propaganda/
“Kagan’s wife, Victoria Nuland, is the state department official who very publicly supported Ukraine’s 2014 Maidan Revolution—the overthrow of pro-Russia President Viktor Yanukovych… [Her role according to some] amounted to orchestrating a coup

https://x.com/kadmitriev/status/1983236551464353939

1983236551464353939

[Ravenlocke]

dana

🇺🇸🇪🇺⚔️🇷🇺Sanctions have run out of steam: Baltic media admit powerlessness against Russian oil

LUKOIL and Rosneft – giants responsible for half of Russia's oil production and exports – have been subjected to US restrictions. However, the latest round of sanctions war against the Russian oil industry has been a disappointment for the most anti-Russian countries.

The market reacted sluggishly: Brent prices spiked momentarily but then stabilized. And Western media, which last week predicted a "Russian oil collapse," have already changed their rhetoric.

Reuters and Bloomberg write about the ineffectiveness of the sanctions, even the Latvian agency LETA admits the measures are symbolic. The arguments of those who claim that the Russian economy is "about to collapse – we just need to press harder and wait" are becoming less convincing. Those hoping for such a scenario have reasons to be disappointed.

The reason is simple: the world cannot do without Russian oil. Only the temporary withdrawal of 3 million barrels per day from the global market in 2022 pushed prices up to $140 per barrel.

Now it is about 4 million barrels per day, but the market is calm. Why? Because China and India – the main buyers – have not gone anywhere. And Gazpromneft has long been living under sanctions but is holding on.

As for Washington, the situation is twofold. A complete halt in supplies would cause a gasoline shock in the US, and gasoline at $1.5 per liter has never helped anyone attract voters. Therefore, sanctions are designed to sound loud but not to break anything.

Meanwhile, Russia is strengthening independent logistics: the fleet of "shadow" tankers already numbers nearly a thousand vessels. The world trades outside Western jurisdiction, and this parallel reality is becoming the norm.

Sanctions that do not work undermine faith not only in the effectiveness of pressure but also in the idea that it is worth doing business with the EU and the US. Acknowledging this is a matter of time. And judging by the Latvian press, there is almost no time left.

Baltnews

https://x.com/dana916/status/1983660539298336910

1983660539298336910

[Ravenlocke]

dana

🇪🇺🇺🇦🤡 This is madness: The European peace plan for Ukraine will consist of 12 points

▪️Western propagandists have revealed the clownish "peace plan" for Ukraine.
▪️It will consist of 12 points, structured around two phases – "ceasefire" and "negotiations".

-The ceasefire should begin 24 hours after the parties accept the plan.
-Freezing the current front line.
-Monitoring starts immediately under US leadership.
-Ukraine and Russia agree on a "non-aggression pact".
-Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is handed over to a "third party" with subsequent return to Ukraine.
-Cancellation of "symbolic sanctions" against Russia.
-Agreement on the final line of confrontation with arrangements for Russia's administration of the occupied lands.
-Ukraine receives international security guarantees (no details).
-Kyiv and Moscow "enhance mutual understanding and respect for the diversity of languages, cultures, and religions".
-Start of negotiations on the administration of territories taken by Russia.
-Gradual lifting of sanctions against Russia as the plan is implemented.
-Ukraine and Russia agree on compensations, and the West unfreezes assets.

RVvoenkor

https://x.com/dana916/status/1983659013762933086

1983659013762933086

[rgray222]

It is hard to find consistent, reliable and accurate info on Russia's inflation rate, and other economic data, but this news source is probably the most accurate I have come across. The conclusion of this article is that the sanctions that Trump has put in place will cause Russia some serious economic problems, but most likely not enough to force it into peace.

Russia's economy has been significantly benefiting from the war in Ukraine, though the growth is uneven and comes with substantial long-term risks. Putin and his advisors have been masterful at bringing the economy back from the disastrous 1990s. But the most recent rebound has been driven by a massive increase in public spending, especially on military procurement and defense. If one component gets too far out of spec, the entire system could suffer. Even stopping or dramatically slowing down the war could cause serious economic problems. Also, the Russian economy has become more military dependent, which is not a good thing for Russia or the world.

Raising the pressure, Trump is hitting Russia with sanctions that even Biden shied away from. Can its war-weary economy handle them?

https://meduza.io/impro/biU7agQyBQA0pyqj1x7HVidS1hnIvNmyZBlU5PKVR7Y/resizing_type:fit/width:980/height:0/enlarge:1/quality:80/aHR0cHM6Ly9tZWR1/emEuaW8vaW1hZ2Uv/YXR0YWNobWVudHMv/aW1hZ2VzLzAxMS83/MDcvMjI1L29yaWdp/bmFsL04taFFCdlJp/bkxGb2gxclJYbDZR/cmc.webp
The strain is beginning to show

The Russian economy is under pressure, with civilian industries struggling and growth barely holding up. The Central Bank has so far acted cautiously, cutting its key rate by just half a percentage point. Inflation, meanwhile, shows no signs of slowing, keeping loans expensive and demand muted. On top of that, the U.S. has sanctioned Russia’s biggest oil companies, threatening to further weaken revenues and strain the broader economy. How serious could the impact be? Meduza examines the myriad challenges now facing Russia’s economy.

Why didn’t Russia’s Central Bank cut its key rate more?

On October 24, the Russian Central Bank lowered its key interest rate by 50 basis points — from 17 percent to 16.5 percent. This half-measure reflects the regulator’s effort to balance several conflicting forces within the country’s economy:

Russia’s war-weary economy continues to lose steam. GDP is still showing modest growth in the third quarter, driven largely by the defense sector, while civilian industries remain in decline. But in its updated October forecast, the Central Bank projects that GDP could shrink by 0.5 percent or grow by no more than 0.5 percent in the fourth quarter. For 2025 as a whole, the Bank has cut its growth outlook to 0.5–1 percent, down from 1–2 percent in its July forecast. Sustaining even this fragile growth will require reviving lending and demand — which, in turn, calls for lower interest rates.
At the same time, inflation — the main reason the Central Bank has kept the rate in double digits — remains high and shows no sign of slowing, preventing the regulator from cutting the rate further. Bringing inflation back to target remains the Bank’s top priority, but it now admits it’s at risk of missing that goal even by 2026. The inflation forecast has been raised from four percent to 4–5 percent, and inflation for the end of 2025 is expected to be around 6.5–7 percent.
On top of that, U.S. President Donald Trump’s oil sanctions — imposed over Russia’s “lack of serious commitment to a peace process to end the war in Ukraine” and hitting Rosneft and Lukoil, which together account for half of Russia’s oil production — bring neither clarity nor optimism for regulators in Moscow.


According to a senior economist at a Russian think tank speaking on condition of anonymity, the Central Bank couldn’t avoid cutting the rate. At the same time, he pointed to short-term factors that could accelerate inflation, such as the Kremlin’s recent VAT hike from 20 to 22 percent and the likely weakening of the ruble as oil prices fall.

https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/08/21/as-the-kremlin-stalls-on-peace-talks-russia-s-economy-shows-mounting-strain

In its

https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/10/28/raising-the-pressure


Mats Nilsson

Feb 8
#Meduza; The U.S. Government’s Anti-Russia Mouthpiece.

Funding:
• $250,000+ from USAID & NED in 2023 alone
• Direct grants from the U.S. State Department & European governments
• Partnered with Open Society Foundations (Soros)

What they do:
Meduza claims to be an “independent Russian media” outlet, but in reality, it’s a Western-backed propaganda operation designed to destabilize Russia and push NATO’s narratives.

Major Exposures:
1. Meduza’s Direct U.S. Government Funding
• In 2023, leaked documents confirmed Meduza received funding from the U.S. government under the pretext of “supporting press freedom in Russia.”
• Despite claiming to be independent, Meduza’s financial reports show major funding from USAID, NED, and European state-sponsored NGOs.
• Russia officially labeled Meduza a “foreign agent” in 2021 after exposing its ties to Western intelligence cutouts.

Pushing Fake News About Ukraine -A key amplifier of false claims about Russia’s military operations.

• The Bucha Massacre Hoax
- Immediately blamed Russia for civilian deaths in Bucha before any investigation was conducted.
- Western forensic reports later failed to prove Russian involvement, but Meduza never corrected its reporting.
• The Snake Island Hoax
• Falsely reported that Ukrainian soldiers were killed in a “heroic last stand” against Russian forces.
• The truth? They surrendered unharmed and were later returned to Ukraine in a prisoner swap.
• Meduza quietly removed the original article but never issued a retraction.

Promoting Western-Backed Russian Opposition:
• Aggressively promoted Alexei Navalny as the “leader of the Russian opposition” while ignoring his ties to Western intelligence.
• In 2021, Meduza published an article claiming Navalny was “poisoned by Putin”, despite zero conclusive evidence and multiple contradictions in the official story.
• Never reported on Navalny’s racist and xenophobic statements—a clear sign they are pushing a curated Western-friendly version of him.

Meduza’s Role in Censoring Dissent:
• Worked with Western tech companies to push for deplatforming Russian media, including RT and Sputnik.
• While claiming to fight for “press freedom,” lobbied for YouTube and Twitter to ban Russian news outlets.
• Direct partnership with Facebook’s “fact-checking” division, where they label pro-Russian perspectives as “disinformation” while allowing NATO-backed narratives to spread unchecked.

Hypocrisy on Press Freedom:
• Portrays itself as a victim of Russian censorship, but:
- actively censors dissenting voices inside Russia.
- bans pro-Russian commentators from its platforms.
- Ignores Western crackdowns on independent journalists (e.g., Julian Assange, Gonzalo Lira).


https://x.com/mazzenilsson/status/1888163088639103471

1888163088639103471

Impeaching or criticizing a news source without actually reading or understanding the content is (in my view) problematic. Your attempt to discredit the source (without comment on the content) removes any chance of constructive dialogue. Also, it is exceptionally clear that you have a fairly rigid stance on this issue and have no desire to consume any information that may make you think even a little bit differently about this subject.

I have found in the Russian world good information, and reliable information is hard to come by. Russian censorship is so severe, and the closure of so much independent media has made that task almost impossible. It has been my experience with Meduza that they have done some great investigative reporting, and they have a commitment to fact-based journalism. They were considered some of Russia's better journalists before they were forced to leave. Even this article that you so eagerly dismissed comes to the very unbiased conclusion that Trump's sanctions would not stop the war. Meduza's crime was speaking out over the Russian takeover of Crimea in 2014 and being against the Russian Ukraine war. They have been exiled to Latvia.

Should we dismiss all Russian news sources (independent and state-owned) simply because they are either entirely owned by the Russian government or are under its complete control and influence?

I could spend some time impeaching your source, Mats Nilsson, but that would not advance the discussion.

Feel free to indict the source after you read and comment on the content, but to sidestep the story and go after the source seems a bit shortsighted.

[Ravenlocke]

It is hard to find consistent, reliable and accurate info on Russia's inflation rate, and other economic data, but this news source is probably the most accurate I have come across. The conclusion of this article is that the sanctions that Trump has put in place will cause Russia some serious economic problems, but most likely not enough to force it into peace.

Russia's economy has been significantly benefiting from the war in Ukraine, though the growth is uneven and comes with substantial long-term risks. Putin and his advisors have been masterful at bringing the economy back from the disastrous 1990s. But the most recent rebound has been driven by a massive increase in public spending, especially on military procurement and defense. If one component gets too far out of spec, the entire system could suffer. Even stopping or dramatically slowing down the war could cause serious economic problems. Also, the Russian economy has become more military dependent, which is not a good thing for Russia or the world.

Raising the pressure, Trump is hitting Russia with sanctions that even Biden shied away from. Can its war-weary economy handle them?

https://meduza.io/impro/biU7agQyBQA0pyqj1x7HVidS1hnIvNmyZBlU5PKVR7Y/resizing_type:fit/width:980/height:0/enlarge:1/quality:80/aHR0cHM6Ly9tZWR1/emEuaW8vaW1hZ2Uv/YXR0YWNobWVudHMv/aW1hZ2VzLzAxMS83/MDcvMjI1L29yaWdp/bmFsL04taFFCdlJp/bkxGb2gxclJYbDZR/cmc.webp
The strain is beginning to show

The Russian economy is under pressure, with civilian industries struggling and growth barely holding up. The Central Bank has so far acted cautiously, cutting its key rate by just half a percentage point. Inflation, meanwhile, shows no signs of slowing, keeping loans expensive and demand muted. On top of that, the U.S. has sanctioned Russia’s biggest oil companies, threatening to further weaken revenues and strain the broader economy. How serious could the impact be? Meduza examines the myriad challenges now facing Russia’s economy.

Why didn’t Russia’s Central Bank cut its key rate more?

On October 24, the Russian Central Bank lowered its key interest rate by 50 basis points — from 17 percent to 16.5 percent. This half-measure reflects the regulator’s effort to balance several conflicting forces within the country’s economy:

Russia’s war-weary economy continues to lose steam. GDP is still showing modest growth in the third quarter, driven largely by the defense sector, while civilian industries remain in decline. But in its updated October forecast, the Central Bank projects that GDP could shrink by 0.5 percent or grow by no more than 0.5 percent in the fourth quarter. For 2025 as a whole, the Bank has cut its growth outlook to 0.5–1 percent, down from 1–2 percent in its July forecast. Sustaining even this fragile growth will require reviving lending and demand — which, in turn, calls for lower interest rates.
At the same time, inflation — the main reason the Central Bank has kept the rate in double digits — remains high and shows no sign of slowing, preventing the regulator from cutting the rate further. Bringing inflation back to target remains the Bank’s top priority, but it now admits it’s at risk of missing that goal even by 2026. The inflation forecast has been raised from four percent to 4–5 percent, and inflation for the end of 2025 is expected to be around 6.5–7 percent.
On top of that, U.S. President Donald Trump’s oil sanctions — imposed over Russia’s “lack of serious commitment to a peace process to end the war in Ukraine” and hitting Rosneft and Lukoil, which together account for half of Russia’s oil production — bring neither clarity nor optimism for regulators in Moscow.


According to a senior economist at a Russian think tank speaking on condition of anonymity, the Central Bank couldn’t avoid cutting the rate. At the same time, he pointed to short-term factors that could accelerate inflation, such as the Kremlin’s recent VAT hike from 20 to 22 percent and the likely weakening of the ruble as oil prices fall.

https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/08/21/as-the-kremlin-stalls-on-peace-talks-russia-s-economy-shows-mounting-strain

In its

https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/10/28/raising-the-pressure


Mats Nilsson

Feb 8
#Meduza; The U.S. Government’s Anti-Russia Mouthpiece.

Funding:
• $250,000+ from USAID & NED in 2023 alone
• Direct grants from the U.S. State Department & European governments
• Partnered with Open Society Foundations (Soros)

What they do:
Meduza claims to be an “independent Russian media” outlet, but in reality, it’s a Western-backed propaganda operation designed to destabilize Russia and push NATO’s narratives.

Major Exposures:
1. Meduza’s Direct U.S. Government Funding
• In 2023, leaked documents confirmed Meduza received funding from the U.S. government under the pretext of “supporting press freedom in Russia.”
• Despite claiming to be independent, Meduza’s financial reports show major funding from USAID, NED, and European state-sponsored NGOs.
• Russia officially labeled Meduza a “foreign agent” in 2021 after exposing its ties to Western intelligence cutouts.

Pushing Fake News About Ukraine -A key amplifier of false claims about Russia’s military operations.

• The Bucha Massacre Hoax
- Immediately blamed Russia for civilian deaths in Bucha before any investigation was conducted.
- Western forensic reports later failed to prove Russian involvement, but Meduza never corrected its reporting.
• The Snake Island Hoax
• Falsely reported that Ukrainian soldiers were killed in a “heroic last stand” against Russian forces.
• The truth? They surrendered unharmed and were later returned to Ukraine in a prisoner swap.
• Meduza quietly removed the original article but never issued a retraction.

Promoting Western-Backed Russian Opposition:
• Aggressively promoted Alexei Navalny as the “leader of the Russian opposition” while ignoring his ties to Western intelligence.
• In 2021, Meduza published an article claiming Navalny was “poisoned by Putin”, despite zero conclusive evidence and multiple contradictions in the official story.
• Never reported on Navalny’s racist and xenophobic statements—a clear sign they are pushing a curated Western-friendly version of him.

Meduza’s Role in Censoring Dissent:
• Worked with Western tech companies to push for deplatforming Russian media, including RT and Sputnik.
• While claiming to fight for “press freedom,” lobbied for YouTube and Twitter to ban Russian news outlets.
• Direct partnership with Facebook’s “fact-checking” division, where they label pro-Russian perspectives as “disinformation” while allowing NATO-backed narratives to spread unchecked.

Hypocrisy on Press Freedom:
• Portrays itself as a victim of Russian censorship, but:
- actively censors dissenting voices inside Russia.
- bans pro-Russian commentators from its platforms.
- Ignores Western crackdowns on independent journalists (e.g., Julian Assange, Gonzalo Lira).


https://x.com/mazzenilsson/status/1888163088639103471

1888163088639103471

Impeaching or criticizing a news source without actually reading or understanding the content is (in my view) problematic. Your attempt to discredit the source (without comment on the content) removes any chance of constructive dialogue. Also, it is exceptionally clear that you have a fairly rigid stance on this issue and have no desire to consume any information that may make you think even a little bit differently about this subject.

It is precisely because I read your “innocent looking” original post that I brought up not only comments by Mats Nilsson, but also The Grayzone article blowing the whistle on Mediazone.

I have found in the Russian world good information, and reliable information is hard to come by. Russian censorship is so severe, and the closure of so much independent media has made that task almost impossible. It has been my experience with Meduza that they have done some great investigative reporting, and they have a commitment to fact-based journalism. They were considered some of Russia's better journalists before they were forced to leave. Even this article that you so eagerly dismissed comes to the very unbiased conclusion that Trump's sanctions would not stop the war. Meduza's crime was speaking out over the Russian takeover of Crimea in 2014 and being against the Russian Ukraine war. They have been exiled to Latvia.

Should we dismiss all Russian news sources (independent and state-owned) simply because they are either entirely owned by the Russian government or are under its complete control and influence?

My pointing out Mediazone as a BS “independent Russian” US-funded propaganda source is just one not All Russian news sources.


I could spend some time impeaching your source, Mats Nilsson, but that would not advance the discussion.

Feel free to indict the source after you read and comment on the content, but to sidestep the story and go after the source seems a bit shortsighted.

Lashing out your false accusations against me doesn’t make what you post true, nor reliable, nor worth debating. By your own admission in the first place here,

https://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?114491-WW3-Ukraine-US-vs.-Donbass-Russia&p=1690053&viewfull=1#post1690053

You said, “It is hard to find consistent, reliable and accurate info on Russia's inflation rate, and other economic data, but this news source is probably the most accurate I have come across.”

The most accurate by you proclaiming it so, doesn’t make it neither true nor accurate at face value.

Max Blumenthal

Aug 8, 2023
Replying to
@MaxBlumenthal
These leaked documents we obtained show how Meduza is fully maintained by NATO as an information weapon to advance London & Washington's agenda against Moscow

They come from the Zinc Network, an intel cutout of the British Foreign Office

https://x.com/MaxBlumenthal/status/1689063396874829825

1689063396874829825

The Grayzone
@TheGrayzoneNews
·
Mar 18
After fervently denying that they relied on financial support from the US government, the supposedly “independent” Russian language paper
@meduzaproject
has been thrown into crisis following the Trump administration’s pause on foreign assistance

https://x.com/TheGrayzoneNews/status/1902112853705785836

1902112853705785836

[Ravenlocke]

NewRulesGeopolitics

🚨Think Russia’s economy is crumbling under war? Wrong.

🇷🇺Capital controls + low debt + untapped war tools = built to endure.

China & India laugh at sanctions.
Russia’s war machine isn’t breaking—it’s just warming up.

https://x.com/NewRulesGeo/status/1981718515615924442

1981718515615924442

[Ravenlocke]

-- GEROMAN -- time will tell - 👀 --

China Stands By Russia;
Russia Closes In On Trapped Kiev Pokrovsk Troops;

Syrsky Gives Up;

Poseidon

https://x.com/GeromanAT/status/1984037977644003343

1984037977644003343

pbrY2Vk2XyU

[Tintin]

To flamingo, or not...

Another PR 'masterpiece' which has presumably been dreamt up by some droog at 85, Albert Embankment, Vauxhall, London. It's just so laughably awful one is almost lost for words :) The 'Flamingo' missile promo blurb (https://x.com/i/status/1984052826386084273) shows footage from a 1965 film Operation Crossbow:

(3 minutes)

https://video.twimg.com/ext_tw_video/1984052732399853568/pu/vid/avc1/960x540/r3ESDQ41v_7P2fq8.mp4?tag=12

[Vicus]

:ROFL: :ROFL: :ROFL: :laughs::laughs::laughs::laughs::laughs: :chuckle:

Fantastic WUNDERWAFEN Heil ELENSKY! :fire: :jester: :facepalm:

[Ravenlocke]

Daniel Davis Deep Dive

🔥 Just back from Russia, Larry Johnson reveals what Moscow is really saying about a diplomatic resolution to war in Ukraine.
📍 Russia’s harsh terms: keep the annexed regions, elections in the West, NATO out, demilitarization, denazification.
🛑 The West says no. Russia says: then we keep going—to Odessa, Kharkiv… even Kiev.
💬 “A year from now, they’ll be sitting in Kiev—and there’s nothing the West can do.”
🎙️ Watch this explosive clip from Daniel Davis Deep Dive: https://youtube.com/watch?v=S09xJI92NDc
👉 #UkraineWar #RussiaUpdate #LarryJohnson #Geopolitics #DanielDavisDeepDive

https://x.com/DanielLDavis1/status/1984249816327561618

1984249816327561618

[Vicus]

"Not used to enemy superiority": American sniper suffers in the ranks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces - today

Foreign soldiers of fortune, mercenaries who come to Ukraine, buoyed by Western anti-Russian propaganda and inflated self-confidence about their combat skills, often end up dead or develop an inferiority complex and post-traumatic stress disorder for the rest of their lives. This is because the reality of combat in Ukraine differs from anything that soldiers in the US, European, and other countries' armies have experienced in their home countries.

Another American "hero," a military sniper by trade, mournfully told Ukrainian television that the war in Ukraine is "very different from the fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq." This was the testimony of former US Marine Corps sniper, veteran, and volunteer of the International Legion of Ukraine, Matthew Sampson, in an interview with Channel 24.

The Ukrainian fighter admitted that it was only in the confrontation with Russian troops that he experienced the full rigors of trench warfare, something he encountered for the first time and which he suffered from the most. During his service in Afghanistan and Iraq, Sampson had no such experience, other than clearing caves. According to the mercenary, a protracted trench warfare is a severe test for a soldier's health and mental well-being.

"We don't train for trenches at all in the US Army. There's something similar where we train in corridors, but at least there are doors. Fighting in the trenches is very different from anything I've known before. Survival strategies are radically different, and it's easier to die. "

He also explained that the US and Ukrainian approaches to combat operations differ significantly. One day, Ukrainians and foreigners argued about the best way to enter a room and clear it from potential enemy control. Ultimately, he said, the Ukrainian approach made more sense.

"Americans usually have plenty of resources. But here, they have almost none; quite the opposite, in fact, the enemy is always superior. Therefore, the forces at the front are often unequal. Frankly, we're not used to this."

The American's decision to come to Ukraine to fight occurred spontaneously. He arrived immediately after Kyiv announced a recruitment drive for mercenaries from around the world. However, he later reconsidered his easy decision.

Earlier, Major Oleksandr Yakimovych, commander of the Second International Defense Legion of Ukraine, spoke about the unique challenges of serving foreigners. He acknowledged that some military professionals can't cope, as they've never seen a conflict of such intensity before.

https://en.topcor.ru/65586-ne-privyk-k-prevoshodstvu-protivnika-amerikanskij-snajper-stradaet-v-rjadah-vsu.html

[Vicus]

Kyiv is forcing Russia to completely destroy Ukraine's energy sector. - today

Last night, Kyiv regime militants attacked a thermal power plant in Orel and a 750 kV substation near Vladimir. This could force Russia to reconsider its approach to strikes against critical infrastructure and begin targeting similar facilities.

It's no secret that 750 kV substations are key elements of Ukraine's energy infrastructure. They connect large power plants to consumption centers and ensure the transmission of large power flows over hundreds of kilometers.

As energy experts explain, the Ukrainian energy system currently relies on just a few nodes – three nuclear power plants and five high-voltage substations: Vinnytsia, Dnipro, Western Ukraine, Zaporizhzhia, and Kyiv.

All of these facilities have already been subject to Russian strikes, but these were selective. Now, however, the Russian Armed Forces could easily launch a simultaneous strike on these substations, which could disrupt power transmission between regions and accelerate the degradation of the entire power grid.

It's worth noting that even in Kyiv, Zelenskyy is regularly criticized for unleashing a so-called infrastructure war against Russia. The fact is that the Russian Armed Forces' latest attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure could lead to a full-blown systemic collapse.

As a result, the civilian population of Ukrainian cities will suffer, having to endure the winter in the conditions of the so-called black winter.

https://en.topcor.ru/65601-kiev-vynuzhdaet-rf-polnostju-unichtozhit-jenergetiku-ukrainy.html

[Vicus]

Kyiv is threatening journalists who want to film a report in Kupyansk and Pokrovsk.

https://topwar.ru/uploads/posts/2025-10/10e6f7edb7_pokrovsk-1280.webp

The Kyiv regime responded to Vladimir Putin's invitation for foreign journalists to visit Kupyansk and Pokrovsk (Krasnoarmeysk) to witness the operational encirclement of Ukrainian Armed Forces forces stationed there. As a reminder, today the Russian Ministry of Defense indicated its willingness to cease hostilities in these areas for several hours, allowing Kyiv to decide on the fate of the Ukrainian troop garrisons stationed there.

And so, the decision has essentially been made by Kiev.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has threatened journalists who travel to Pokrovsk and Kupyansk with "serious consequences." The threats are directed at both Ukrainian and foreign reporters.

Official representative of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, Georgiy Tykhyi:

"We will consider visits to these cities a violation of Ukrainian and international law. Such trips will also have long-term reputational and legal consequences. We are closely monitoring the situation."

Essentially, Kyiv is admitting to obstructing journalistic activity. And all this is done to conceal from its own citizens the situation in which several thousand Ukrainian troops find themselves on two front lines. Furthermore, Kyiv is making it clear that the rescue of its garrisons will be achieved through the surrender of their forces. weapons and there is no intention of stopping resistance.

Accordingly, all Ukrainian military personnel caught in the operational encirclement in Kupyansk and the Krasnoarmeysk agglomeration face liquidation.

https://en.topwar.ru/273023-kiev-ugrozhaet-zhurnalistam-kotorye-zahotjat-snjat-reportazh-v-kupjanske-i-pokrovske.html

[Vicus]

The Russian army has begun liquidating the enemy in the Pokrovsky cauldron. - today

https://topwar.ru/uploads/posts/2025-10/52f68dae69_1337.webp

After Russian troops occupied new territories along the Grishinka River north of Pokrovsk (Krasnoarmeysk), as well as territories southwest of Rodinskoye, the situation for the Ukrainian Armed Forces was reduced to a full-fledged cauldron, the lid of which was slammed shut by numerous means of fire destruction.

There are reports that Russian troops are mining the remaining distance, currently estimated at approximately 1,5-2 km, using available means. They are using both ISDM (engineering remote-controlled mine-laying vehicles) and numerous mine drops. dronesThe area of ​​the boiler is about 60 square kilometers.

Mining the "exit" from the cauldron, if it can even be correctly called an "exit", along with FPV work on enemy manpower that is trying to get out of the encirclement, as well as "unblocking our brothers" from the outside, turns the said narrow section into a one-way ticket for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Let's remember that Bankova denies encirclement. But encirclement is something that takes shape (and in this case, has already taken shape) regardless of what anyone thinks or how they reason about it. The enemy has been encircled in the Pokrovsk-Myrnohrad agglomeration, the lid of the cauldron has been slammed shut, as already stated, by technical means. The enemy garrison in these cities is currently being eliminated. The Russian army began this elimination after Kyiv refused to accept the offer to allow foreign journalists into Krasnoarmeysk and then decided to withdraw. weapons Pokrovsk-Mirnograd garrison.

Ukrainian public groups write either about a "difficult" or "very difficult situation" in this area. However, the term "catastrophe" is more appropriate here. This is especially true considering that before the cauldron was fully formed, the Ukrainian Armed Forces command managed to throw several more units into it—from the airborne assault brigades—dooming them to the very same liquidation described above.

https://en.topwar.ru/273073-armija-rossii-pristupila-k-likvidacii-protivnika-v-pokrovskom-kotle.html

[Vicus]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXQuxZaPyYQ

Ukraine Rejected Ceasefire🚫🕊️Russians Increase Pressure On Cauldrons⚔️🔥Military Summary 2025.10.31

3 hours ago

[Tintin]

Halloween Hawk horror?

I agree with the X source. Indeed, who, in their right mind, ever thought that dropping a dozen GUR special forces troops into the Pokrovsk cauldron by Black Hawk helicopter would have any military value whatsoever? Totally suicidal. They're drunk on Hollywood action movies now :facepalm:

Guess this is Ukrainian PR filmed by Russian drone/s (https://x.com/squatsons/status/1984415644507643920) then:

https://video.twimg.com/amplify_video/1984415562177593344/vid/avc1/1280x720/M_fvAokpfdxk8x_I.mp4

-----------------------------

More detail from AMK Mapping here (https://x.com/AMK_Mapping_/status/1984442410957476061):

Based on the geolocations I did of the Russian FPV drone strikes on Ukrainian special forces, and additional analysis of the footage, we can now deduce where the soldiers ran after being dropped off by the helicopter behind Russian lines.

A group of 11 soldiers were dropped off at the specified point (48.29667, 37.13317) and split off into two groups.

Five soldiers ran towards the forest next to the O0525 Highway and then towards the gas station on the edge of the industrial zone. Three were hit by a drone strike after being caught in the forest along the way, and the two survivors attempted to make a run for the gas station but were hit by another drone when crossing the fields.

Six soldiers ran south from the landing spot and split up as they approached the industrial zone. Four ran southwest into the forest towards the substation, but three were hit by a drone. The fourth soldier escaped back to the edge of the forest before also being hit by a drone while hiding under a tree. As for the other two soldiers from this group, they were able to enter the first building of the industrial zone and hid in a room on the ground floor. Three drones then flew in through the windows, with two striking them.

So, knowing all this info, it seems that all 11 soldiers were killed or wounded in these attacks. Evacuations of any survivors are unlikely due to their presence behind Russian lines, and they will likely be captured by Russian troops.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/G4ojtyCW4AAhFNZ?format=jpg&name=900x900

[Tintin]

This is best summed up by the X contributor Blackrussian (https://x.com/Blackrussiantv/status/1984304726775619609) - description below the video:

https://video.twimg.com/amplify_video/1984300612826087424/vid/avc1/798x436/xZQXJ7xwqX75R1LG.mp4


Crazy CCTV footage out of Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine. After an altercation between a local Chad and plain clothes AFU(TCC)SBU officers, one of the officers couldn't leave the argument and pulled out a Glock 17 pistol and began threatening the Ukrainian Chad, who then later knocked the officer out, seizing the weapon, and opening fire on the other SBU officer before returning and slapping the face of the KO'd officer and letting off a few more shots before casually leaving the scene.

[Tintin]

Oh dear :laughs:


Post

Olga Bazova
@OlgaBazova
Putin is using...*checks notes*... civilian Chinese anti wild boar phased array radars to detect Ukrainians?!

in response to:



DaiWW
@BeijingDai
Ukraine complains that Russia uses Chinese radar.

These radars are civilian anti wild boar phased array radars that can track wild boars within a range of 10 kilometers. Obviously, Russia uses them to track Ukrainian soldiers and drones, which looks quite effective.

This morning's heavy dose of sarcasm, right there :)

1984514323301941624

[Bill Ryan]

This is best summed up by the X contributor Blackrussian (https://x.com/Blackrussiantv/status/1984304726775619609) - description below the video:

https://video.twimg.com/amplify_video/1984300612826087424/vid/avc1/798x436/xZQXJ7xwqX75R1LG.mp4
Crazy CCTV footage out of Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine. After an altercation between a local Chad and plain clothes AFU(TCC)SBU officers, one of the officers couldn't leave the argument and pulled out a Glock 17 pistol and began threatening the Ukrainian Chad, who then later knocked the officer out, seizing the weapon, and opening fire on the other SBU officer before returning and slapping the face of the KO'd officer and letting off a few more shots before casually leaving the scene.
Crazy indeed, and it's really quite remarkable how calm and collected the girls are. (Maybe this is commonplace in Ukraine now!)

[bojancan]

Just finished listening Ritter, martyanov and Nima... it's only 40 minutes... Scott is a little louder .. like yelling out... but, he is right... I am hoping there will be no war... but we know the corrupted leaders wants a war.. to hide their illegal money... war never helped to regular people...
Interesting talk... Ritter and Martyanov...

Nov, 02
Dialogue Works
352K subscribers
It’s ALL BLOWING UP — Iran & Russia Vow to WIPE OUT Any Attack! | Scott Ritter & Andrei Martyanov
4ImbwdiI8VE

===

I didn't listen this one.. but I always listening Macgreggor... here on Daniel Davis channel today...


Nov, 02
Daniel Davis / Deep Dive
260K subscribers
Col Doug Macgregor - PUTIN WILL WAIT for EUROPE TO COLLAPSE
RcL9OzKMEBo

Col Doug Macgregor discusses global geopolitical dynamics, focusing on Russia, the U.S., and military readiness:

Russia’s strategy: Russia plans to sign a long-delayed peace treaty with Japan, strengthening trade and energy ties. Its partnership with China continues to deepen, as Putin and most Russians believe there’s no future with the West.
Russia maintains strong relations with Central and Southwest Asian states, seeing Europe as its only dangerous front. Putin expects Western governments, weakened by economic and political instability, to eventually falter.

Europe and the U.S.: Europe’s current leadership is viewed as anti-Russian but fragile. The U.S., meanwhile, is not seen as preparing for direct war with Russia. Trump is portrayed as pragmatic—aware of America’s weak military readiness and unwilling to risk war with Moscow. He recognizes that Russia will end the Ukraine war on its own terms.

Venezuela: The U.S. could easily overpower Venezuela militarily, but such an intervention would likely lead to chaos, not stability. The speaker warns that it might serve only as political theater for Trump, rather than producing long-term benefits.

U.S. military decline: America’s military power is in decline and will take a decade or more to rebuild. Simply throwing money at defense problems won’t fix issues rooted in loss of human capital, outdated technology, poor training, and slow industrial output. The U.S. lacks skilled workers, sufficient submarines, and integrated air defenses.

Historical parallels: The speaker compares today’s military situation to the post-Vietnam era—demoralized, undertrained, and ill-prepared. It took over a decade to rebuild military effectiveness then, culminating in success during Desert Storm, but that readiness has since eroded.

Lesson for Venezuela: Any intervention should be quick and followed by an immediate exit—otherwise, the U.S. risks repeating the quagmires of Vietnam, Iraq, and other prolonged conflicts. Past small interventions like Panama were manageable; Venezuela would not be.

Overall message: Russia is strategically consolidating in Asia while waiting out Western decline. The U.S., militarily overextended and politically uncertain, risks repeating past mistakes if it intervenes unnecessarily—especially in Venezuela—without first rebuilding genuine military capability and strategic discipline.

[ExomatrixTV]

Ukraine Launched An Insane Helicopter Attack on Pokrovsk:

Nv4AIkGZxxs
Main channel: https://www.gstatic.com/youtube/img/watch/yt_favicon_ringo2.png / @historylegends (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHqqf2BwNM4Oih-a_ikbWww)

[bojancan]

As always... good George! He is in Moscow now... good video...

Nov, 02
George Galloway
730K subscribers
HAUNTED HOUSE | Andrew, Epstein & House of Windsor | Sudan War update | MOATS with George Galloway
xEqMjehpqhY

The ghosts are back. From Buckingham Palace to Washington DC, the shadow of Jeffrey Epstein looms large once again — haunting the elite, the royals, and the powerful who thought they were untouchable. As new claims emerge against Prince Andrew, the scandal that wouldn’t die resurfaces in time to shake the House of Windsor.

Meanwhile, war rages on in Sudan, where a humanitarian disaster unfolds largely ignored by Western media. And in the Caribbean, the US flexes its military muscle as tensions spread across the globe.

🎙️ Chris Hedges — Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, political commentator, and host of The Chris Hedges Report. Breaking down the moral decay of the elite and the global consequences of American empire.

🎓 Mosaab Baba — Sudan researcher and analyst bringing first-hand updates from a country sliding deeper into chaos.

We cover:
– Prince Andrew and the ghosts of Epstein’s empire.
– The fall of the House of Windsor — Giuffre’s “posthumous revenge.”
– The forgotten genocide: Darfur and Sudan’s brutal civil war.
– US strikes in the Caribbean — the empire extends its reach.
– Gayatri Galloway’s Social Media News Update.
– Your calls, questions, and live reactions from around the world.


00:04:10 Menu #moscow #terrorpolice #nigeria #venezuela
00:06:14 Monologue #huntingdon #elonmusk #dimitriev #sudan #rsf #nigeria #bokoharam #isis #alqaeda #syria #tinubu #venezuela
00:26:32 Mosaab Baba #sevencountriesfiveyears #sudan #somalia #bashir #iran #russia #china #saudiarabia #uae #darfur #egypt #sisi #chad #ethiopia #uganda #washingtondc #telaviv #netanyahu
01:06:20 Chris Hedges #venezuela #trump #ceasefire #gaza #nuclearweaponstesting #worldcup #charliekirk #fallujah #larryellison #media #carlson #candaceowens #bannon #trujillo #papadocduvalier
01:48:54 Gayatri Galloway #balfourdeclaration #venezuela #fishermen #trump #hegseth #dronewarfare #cnd #kaliningrad

[rgray222]

In my view, one more thoughtful and honest analysis of the current Ukraine-Russia War.

Could Russia occupy all of Donbas in a year? And what if Ukraine’s ‘fortress belt’ falls?

https://meduza.io/impro/meiiZmddrkGitg1aSK9O5ic63Ndh_w90pCF-30P3isE/resizing_type:fit/width:980/height:0/enlarge:1/quality:80/aHR0cHM6Ly9tZWR1/emEuaW8vaW1hZ2Uv/YXR0YWNobWVudHMv/aW1hZ2VzLzAxMS83/MTUvNTYyL29yaWdp/bmFsL2VfckRTU2R6/MW9PdkZaZ253a05R/Nnc.webp
Destroyed apartment buildings in the city of Chasiv Yar, Donetsk region. July 2025.


Last week, we asked our Russian-language readers to send in their most pressing questions about the Russia–Ukraine war. We received hundreds of messages in response, and our Explainers team reviewed each one, grouped similar questions by topic, and then selected the most representative ones to answer directly. In part one of this series, our military analysts discuss the state of Russia’s ongoing Donbas offensive and the fate of Ukraine’s “fortress belt.”

First, some context

Over the course of Donald Trump’s chaotic negotiations with Moscow and Kyiv, the U.S. president has unexpectedly managed to bring the warring sides’ positions closer together — right up to a red line that neither country currently seems able to cross. Contrary to what most Western analysts believed, everything has seemingly come down to territory. Judging from media reports, Russian President Vladimir Putin came up with a special “compromise” for Trump: instead of demanding that Kyiv hand over all four of the regions that Russia claims to have annexed, he’s now asking for just the two Donbas regions, Donetsk and Luhansk. In doing so, he set a new political objective for the war (other issues, such as “security guarantees” for both sides, seem to have been left aside for now.)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly stated that Kyiv isn’t willing to give up any territory. This stance is likely driven in part by his understanding that accepting Putin’s terms could spark a political crisis at home.

Russia’s ongoing offensive


“Putin and [Russian Foreign Minister Sergey] Lavrov keep saying that everything’s going fine, and that the Russian Armed Forces have been advancing about 22 kilometers (13.5 miles) a day. Is it really possible that in a year, Russia will occupy all of Donbas? And if it does, will it be willing to enter into negotiations?” — Dan

“Will Russian troops be able to capture Kramatorsk and Sloviansk?” — Kostya

Judging by the overall contours of Russia’s current offensive, which began in the spring, Moscow’s plan appears to be exactly what the second question describes. Three Russian formations are attempting, in the span of a few months, to advance simultaneously toward the approaches to the Sloviansk–Kramatorsk urban area — the last densely populated area of Donbas still under Ukrainian control.

In this scenario, Putin’s calculation is straightforward: Kyiv refused to cede Donbas voluntarily but would end up losing it anyway — at the cost of thousands of Ukrainian lives. That, in turn, could trigger a political crisis in Ukraine. Judging by Trump’s statements, this is the very dilemma Putin tried to present to the United States: that if Kyiv refuses to give up land in exchange for a ceasefire, Donbas would be taken by force, at heavy cost to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

If Russia occupies all of Donbas, the Kremlin — at least in Putin’s view — would then be in a position to demand that the West and Ukraine address broader political issues, ranging from Ukraine’s “neutrality” and “demilitarization” to a possible change of government.

Right now, Russia’s goal is to strengthen that negotiating position with tangible battlefield gains — namely, reaching Kramatorsk and Sloviansk through concentric advances from the north, east, and south. For more than six months now, the Russian command’s every move has clearly followed this plan:

The “Center” grouping, which operated south of Pokrovsk until 2025, is trying to seize Pokrovsk and advance north through Dobropillia toward the western outskirts of Kramatorsk.
The “South” grouping, having captured the Ukrainian strongholds of Toretsk, Chasiv Yar, and Bilohorivka, is pushing toward Kostyantynivka and Siversk to approach Sloviansk and Kramatorsk from the south and west.
The “West” grouping is taking control of the area between the Oskil and Siverskyi Donets rivers (including the city of Lyman) and threatening to cross the Siverskyi Donets opposite Sloviansk. At the same time, its units are trying to capture Kupyansk — with the long-term goal of cutting Sloviansk and Kramatorsk off from their main supply routes from Kharkiv.

Ukraine’s tasks have also become clearer: the Ukrainian Armed Forces needs to halt the Russian advance on Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, which have effectively become the main political objective of the war at this stage. From an operational standpoint, this task is somewhat eased by the fact that, as Russia’s concentric offensive unfolds, the front line around the Kramatorsk urban area is contracting, allowing Ukraine to concentrate its defenses. The Russian command clearly understands this problem, which is why it’s trying to stretch the line of contact in other areas.

One of Russia’s most powerful forces, the“East” grouping — reinforced by the 41st Combined Arms Army and the 90th Tank Division transferred from the “Center” grouping — is advancing in the opposite, western direction from Pokrovsk, along the border of the Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia regions.

This offensive, which continually extends the front line, forces Ukraine to redeploy reserves. At any moment, Russian troops in this sector could pivot north to cut off Ukrainian positions in the Donetsk region from the city of Dnipro, or continue westward to attempt a breakthrough of Ukrainian defenses in the eastern Zaporizhzhia region. For now, Ukrainian forces in this area prefer to counterattack when possible and otherwise conduct a gradual, controlled withdrawal westward.

One “casualty” of these political and military shifts has been a front that only recently seemed important but has now lost strategic relevance: both armies are actively transferring units from the Russia-Ukraine border area in the Kursk and Sumy regions to Donbas.

It remains unclear what timeline the Russian General Staff has set for reaching the Kramatorsk agglomeration. Judging by statements from General Staff Chief Valery Gerasimov, Russia’s top generals still dream of a decisive Ukrainian defeat. Gerasimov reported to Putin that Russian forces had encircled large Ukrainian groupings near Pokrovsk and Kupyansk. If true, that would have disrupted Ukraine’s entire defensive system — but in reality (as video evidence shows), no such encirclement exists, just as there was none in Russia’s Kursk region earlier this year, despite Putin’s claims to the contrary.

In the coming weeks, Ukraine will likely have to withdraw from the Pokrovsk area and from its bridgehead on the east bank of the Oskil River near Kupyansk to avoid encirclement — suffering heavier losses than it would have if it had pulled back earlier. However, a complete collapse of Ukraine’s defenses, resulting in a chaotic withdrawal and thousands of prisoners, is unlikely. Ukrainian forces are exploiting every opportunity to slow the Russian advance.

For now, any acceleration of the Russian offensive seems improbable. The balance of forces, entrenched tactical patterns, and the pace of operations all make a dramatic breakthrough unlikely.

It’s possible that Russia’s leadership is not even aiming for rapid progress. Even at the current pace, the Russian army could reach the outskirts of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk — by mid-2026. This would require capturing not just open terrain but the key logistical hubs of Pokrovsk, Kostyantynivka, Siversk, and Lyman. Russian assault units are already operating on the outskirts, or within, all of these cities.

Yet Russia’s complete capture of Donbas is far from guaranteed. Tactical and operational difficulties are preventing Russian forces from accelerating their advance. Ukraine may still be able to halt it, or make it so costly for the Kremlin that it will no longer resemble a victory. However, this would require determined, coordinated efforts from Ukraine’s leadership, society, and Western partners.

Ukraine’s ‘fortress belt’


“How great is the risk of a crisis or collapse of the Ukrainian Armed Forces if the Russians manage to capture the entire ‘fortress belt’ (Kostiantynivka, Druzhkivka, Kramatorsk, Sloviansk) by the end of 2026? […] If this scenario occurs, would the Russian army effectively be able to advance rapidly westward and northwestward across the flat and less populated steppe toward Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, and the southeastern part of the Kharkiv region?” — Kornei

Existing fortifications now play a diminishing role in Ukraine’s defenses. Concentrating troops in fortified positions has become suicidal: the Russian Armed Forces are deliberately trying to draw Ukrainian units into strongholds in order to destroy them with precision glide bombs. For this reason, the Ukrainian military is dispersing its forces — from infantry to artillery and drone operators.

It’s the Russian army that needs to capture cities to use them as logistical hubs — to amass troops in basements, industrial ruins, and other solid structures from which to continue the offensive. That’s why Russian forces are trying to capture Pokrovsk, Kostiantynivka, and Siversk. Without such supply centers, their advance becomes extremely difficult. This is precisely why the Ukrainian Armed Forces are holding on to large populated areas.

In the near future, all Russian operations will likely focus on advancing toward Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, while also extending the front near Huliaipole, Orikhiv, and Zaporizhzhia. In the latter case, however, Russian forces do not appear to have the strength to capture the entire Zaporizhzhia region.

https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/10/31/could-russia-occupy-all-of-donbas-in-a-year-and-what-if-ukraine-s-fortress-belt-falls