[NYP] Thousands of cryptic messages tying Jeffrey Epstein to Vladimir Putin have been discovered in the latest release of files related to the late pedophile financier — raising a new theory about who he was really working for.
Emails showing unnamed sources discussing meetings between Epstein and the Russian president are prompting questions about whether the disgraced Wall Street figure may have trafficked girls from Russia in a state-backed effort to run the world’s "largest honeytrap" to snare the rich and the powerful.
Putin is named almost 1,000 times in the latest tranche of documents released Friday, while there are almost 10,000 references to Moscow.
People close to the Russian tyrant say he maintained his links to Epstein even after the financier’s 2008 conviction for engaging a child in prostitution.
Other newly released documents pointed to Epstein’s alleged strong influence in Russia, with the perv sending one in November 2010 asking an unnamed recipient if they needed a Russian visa.
In another email, dated Sept. 11, 2011, an anonymous messenger discusses plans for an "appointment with Putin" on Epstein’s next trip to Russia.
"Spoke with Igor. He said last time you were in Palm Beach, you told him you had an appointment with Putin on Sept 16 and that he could go ahead and book his ticket to Russia to arrive a few days before you," the newly-released email reads.
In May 2013, Epstein wrote that he wanted to help Putin and Russia "reinvent the financial system," in an email to Council of Europe secretary general Thorbjorn Jagland.
That same month, in an email to former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak, Epstein claimed Putin had tried to set up a meeting with him, which he had turned down.
#2
Both prospective and recruited sources are monitored. Monitoring is resource heavy, both in terms of personnel and funding. If there is no tangible or actionable intelligence value, monitoring is generally terminated within a reasonable period of time, but likely much, much less than a decade. Source contact however, can be maintained in certain circumstances.
Posted by: Abu Uluque ||
02/02/2026 12:03 Comments ||
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#5
Considering Goyim was used over hundred times throughout the papers, it does lend further creditability that at least some elements of mossad was financing him and ghislaine.
#6
Capitalism is not antithetical to a blackmailer. Epstein undoubtedly had primary clients and alliances, but I doubt that prevented backdoor and side-deals. Bent sources might be worthless to once national collection priority but crucial to another. Lemons can always be made into lemonade for some customers!
#7
Everybody together: 3..2..1...
"A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject"
-- Winston Churchill, along with FDR and Stalin (yes!) the heroes of WW2.
Just as an aside, the guy who funded, _in China_, our primary national security threat, a virus that killed two million Americans, and made damn sure, as head of NIAID, that effective treatments would not be available, was an Italian Catholic who went to Georgetown ("0 Days Since Jesuit Tricks!") University and bears a Presidential Pardon from another so-called devout Catholic Irishman for unspecified acts going back to 2014.
All the distraction about "Mossad" would at least be mildly amusing if not for the source of the wall of corrupt shit we're putting up with from our domestic American intelligence agencies and the Vatican that invites Fauci to speak while lecturing us about Moslem immigrants.
#9
For information: Goyim in Hebrew just means nations. When used by Jews, this can include the nation of Israel or the Jewish people. So while sometimes it is derogatory and exclusionary, at other times it can be neutral and inclusive. The fact of the word proves absolutely nothing. In fact, given how often Jew haters use it to complain about Jews, its presence may prove that Jew haters are among the communicants. Tell us the context, and then we’ll have a better idea how to judge.
Posted by: Angel of Death ||
02/02/2026 16:05 Comments ||
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#12
Epstein and Maxwell hired a network that groomed and paid a couple of hundred underage girls to have sex with Jeff and serve all his visitors lunch. That’s the case that Maureen Comey put forward. There was no blackmail because that would mean somebody had relations with the kids. There were planes, islands, an embassy and a dude ranch. Everything was staffed as a crossover project between Playboy Enterprises a Nickelodeon.
Of course it was an intelligence operation. Not put some perverts in jail. Put some intel folks that pimped out kids in jail too. .
Posted by: Super Hose ||
02/02/2026 20:43 Comments ||
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Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited
[Korrespondent] 22.46 Since the beginning of the day, 150 combat clashes have been recorded on the front. The General Staff reported this in its evening briefing.
21.56 In January, Russian troops occupied 245 sq. km of Ukrainian territory. This is almost half the amount compared to November and December, when the pace of advance was much higher. This was reported by DeepState analysts.
21.27 Russian troops attacked a bus carrying miners in the Dnipropetrovsk region. As reported by the Minister of Community and Territorial Development Oleksiy Kuleba, 16 people were killed as a result of the enemy strike.
"The enemy attacked a bus that was transporting miners from the enterprise after a shift. 16 people were killed. There are wounded. People who were simply working and returning home. I express my sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of the deceased," the minister noted.
19.57 Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said that the deployment of military contingents of EU or NATO countries on the territory of Ukraine is "unacceptable," Russian media reported.
"There is no difference if, say, a French corporal wears a cap with the words NATO or EU on his head. This does not change the essence. Therefore, we did not deviate from our position," he said.
19.39 EU Ambassador Katarina Maternova commented on the Russian Federation's latest shelling of Ukrainian cities, noting that Russian terror continues despite Russia's agreement to a "week-long ceasefire." The diplomat published a corresponding statement on Facebook.
Maternova noted that the Russian army attacked Ukraine with 90 strike drones during that night.
"Is this what a 'truce' looks like? Explosions. Civilians killed. Destroyed energy facilities, transport infrastructure... In Dnipro, a UAV hit a private house, killing two people. In Konotop, Sumy region, railway infrastructure was hit. There were explosions in a number of other cities. Explosions were also reported in Chernihiv and Sumy, in Kharkiv region," the ambassador noted.
17.53 Russian UAVs attacked the village of Khotimlya, Chuhuyiv district, Kharkiv region. At least three people were injured as a result of the shelling. This was reported by the press service of the State Emergency Service.
"A utility building on the territory of the private sector and two shops were on fire. The total area of the fire was about 400 sq m. Nearby residential buildings, a shop, and cars were also damaged," the report noted.
Previously, three people were injured.
17.27 In Dnipropetrovsk region, a Russian drone attacked a service bus in Pavlohrad district. 12 people are known to have died. This was reported by the press service of the State Emergency Service.
"A Russian drone attacked a company bus of one of the enterprises in the Pavlohrad district. Previously, 12 people were killed," the report said.
Seven more people were injured and taken to hospital.
Subsequently, Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal confirmed that Russian drones had hit a company bus of one of the energy companies near the Ternivska mine in the Pavlohrad district of the Dnipro region.
According to his data, 15 mine workers were killed and seven more were injured in the terrorist attack.
17.11 In January, Russian troops used more than 6,000 attack drones, about 5,500 guided aerial bombs, and 158 missiles of various types against Ukraine.
Almost all the strikes were directed against the energy sector, the railways, our infrastructure, everything that supports normal life.
16.34 Sweden is preparing one of the largest security assistance packages for Ukraine - air defense, Saab radars, electronic warfare and drones, including deep strike.
Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov, during a conversation with the Head of the Swedish Ministry of Defense, Poul Jonsson, discussed the formation of one of the largest security assistance packages.
It became known that the Swedish side is preparing a large-scale aid package, which will include air defense systems and radars manufactured by Saab, as well as contributions to the Ukrainian defense-industrial complex - additional electronic warfare systems and drones, including Deep Strike.
14.20 On the night of February 1, the Ukrainian Defense Forces struck a repair base of a unit from the engineering and sapper regiment of the invaders on the TOT of the Zaporizhia region, near the village of Rozivka.
In the Donetsk region, near the city of Myrnograd, a UAV control point, a company command and observation post, as well as a concentration of enemy manpower were hit.
In addition, units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces struck an enemy UAV control point near the settlement of Nekislitsa, Kursk Oblast, Russian Federation. A hit was also recorded on a concentration of enemy manpower near Troebortnoye, Bryansk Oblast, Russian Federation.
13.43 Three women were injured in a Russian drone attack on a maternity hospital in Zaporizhia.
The attack caused a fire on the second floor in the gynecology department's reception area. Rescuers extinguished the fire. Search and rescue operations are now complete.
13:30 In Vinnytsia, an unknown person opened fire on the alert group of the territorial recruitment and social support center. Measures are being taken to search for the shooter.
It is known that the man saw the alert group and fired several shots in their direction, after which he disappeared from the scene. No one was injured. Police teams are focused on searching for the man.
12.53 President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the dates of the next trilateral meetings of the negotiating teams of Ukraine, the United States, and Russia on achieving peace - February 4 and 5 in Abu Dhabi.
"Our negotiating team just reported. The dates for the next trilateral meetings have been set: February 4 and 5 in Abu Dhabi," he noted.
Zelensky added that "Ukraine is ready for a substantive conversation, and we are interested in the result bringing us closer to a real and dignified end to the war."
12.40 Russian troops struck a maternity hospital in Zaporizhia, injuring six people. Among the injured are two women who were being examined during the enemy strike.
12.26 American billionaire entrepreneur and SpaceX founder Elon Musk has taken steps to stop the unauthorized use of the Starlink satellite internet by the Russian military. He wrote about this in the comments under a post by Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov on the social network X.
"It appears that the steps we've taken to stop Russia's unauthorized use of Starlink have worked. Let us know if there's anything else we need to do," Musk said.
Fedorov responded by saying that the first actions are already yielding tangible results. According to him, Ukraine continues to closely cooperate with the SpaceX team.
"We are working closely with your team on the next important steps. Thank you for being with us," the Defense Minister wrote.
11.28 Ukrzaliznytsia reported on the situation with train traffic in certain regions where there is an increased risk of enemy attacks. The situation with train traffic in Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhia regions is under control, the company assured.
10.40 Russia is trying to destroy logistics and transport links between cities and communities of Ukraine. This was reported by President Volodymyr Zelensky.
"Over the past week, Russia has used more than 980 strike drones, almost 1,100 guided aerial bombs and two missiles against Ukraine. We are recording Russian attempts to destroy logistics and transport links between cities and communities," the head of state said.
Zelensky stressed that this is why the need for sky protection has not disappeared. "Missiles for Patriot, NASAMS, F-16 and other platforms are needed every day. Thank you to all partners who understand this and help," the president added.
09.16 On the night of February 1, Russian troops attacked Ukraine with 90 Shahed, Gerbera, Italmas attack UAVs and other types of drones, about 60 of them "Shaheeds".
Air defenses shot down/suppressed 76 enemy Shahed, Gerbera, Italmas and other types of drones in the north and east of the country. 14 strike UAVs were recorded at nine locations, as well as the fall of downed (fragments of) UAVs at two locations.
09.05 Partisans of the ATESH movement struck the communications system and weakened the EW of the occupiers in the Kherson region.
"On the Arabatskaya Spit, near the settlement of Spit, the ATESH agent disabled the transformer cabinet of the communications tower. The tower itself also housed electronic warfare antennas, which are currently not working," the report says.
After the damage, the equipment stopped working. Communications and electronic cover in this area are now practically non-existent, which creates an air "window" for UAV strikes on the occupiers in Crimea.
08.24 Over the past 24 hours, 338 combat clashes were recorded on the front. In particular, in the Pokrovsky direction, Ukrainian defenders stopped 80 assault actions of the Russian invaders.
Missile troops and artillery of the Defense Forces hit two areas of concentration of personnel, two control points and one other important target of the Russian army.
07.58 Two people died in Dnipro: a woman and a man, as a result of being hit by a Russian drone. The attack occurred at night. A fire broke out, a private house was destroyed, two more were damaged. A passenger car was also damaged.
Also on Saturday evening and Sunday night, Russian troops pounded Nikopol and the Marhanets community with artillery and FPV drones. Two apartment buildings and four private houses, an outbuilding, a cafe, several shops, and cars were destroyed. A gas pipeline and a power line were hit.
07.31 From February 24, 2022 to February 1, 2026, the total combat losses of Russian troops on the territory of Ukraine amounted to approximately 1,240,680 people (+1,090 per day).
03.35 Since the fall of 2025, the Russian army has been gradually increasing its grouping in the Sumy direction. This is reported by Ukrainska Prada, citing information from an intelligence source from one of the Ukrainian brigades that has been operating in this region since the beginning of the Kursk operation. According to the publication, the increase in the number of personnel and equipment has been observed for over a year. Military activity is increasingly concentrated in the direction of large forest areas located northwest of Sumy.
02.30 In the Pokrovsky direction, Ukrainian soldiers destroyed almost four platoons of Russian soldiers during the repelling of enemy assaults in the past 24 hours. According to the Spartan brigade , their fighters, together with units of the Ptakha Magyar and other allied formations, successfully restrained the attack of the Russian occupiers in this direction.
01.02 Propaganda resources claim that during a strike on a train in the Kharkiv region, a unit of the 17th Special Operations Center of the Military Law Enforcement Service of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was destroyed by a drone. The Military Law Enforcement Service of Ukraine reported that Russian propaganda is once again distorting facts and producing lies in order to mislead not only its own population, but also the international community.
00.29 Since the beginning of the last day, the situation on the front has been worsening: 303 combat clashes have been recorded. The greatest tension was observed in the Pokrovsky, Hulyaipilsky and Kostyantynivsky directions.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited
[Korrespondent] The Pokrovsky and Hulyaypil directions remain the most intense. There, the defenders have stopped more than a third of the Russian assaults since the beginning of the day.
Since the beginning of the day, 150 combat clashes have been recorded on the front. The General Staff reported this in its evening briefing on Sunday, February 1.
Thus, in the North Slobozhansk and Kursk directions today, the enemy carried out 73 attacks on the positions of our troops and settlements, including two from multiple launch rocket systems.
In the South Slobozhansk direction, the enemy stormed the positions of our units in the areas of Staritsa, Vovchansk and towards the settlements of Prylipka, Vilcha, Grafske, Vovchanski Khutory and Kutkivka. Ukrainian units repelled nine attacks by the Russian invaders.
Four attacks were repelled by Ukrainian defenders in the Kupyansk direction, in the Zagryzove area, and towards Kurylivka, Kupyansk.
In the Lyman direction, Ukrainian soldiers stopped six attacks towards Novosergiyevka, Drobysheve, and Dibrova.
In the Slavyansk direction, our defenders repelled 12 attempts by the occupiers to advance, in the areas of Dronivka, Platonovka, Svyato-Pokrovsky towards Zakitne, and Rai-Oleksandrivka. One clash is ongoing.
In the Kramatorsk direction, our defenders stopped one offensive operation in the Pryvillya area.
In the Kostyantynivka direction, the invaders stormed the positions of our defenders 10 times today near the settlements of Kostyantynivka, Kleban-Byk, Shcherbynivka, Stepanivka, Yablunivka, and Sofiivka.
In the Pokrovsk direction, the enemy carried out 31 attacks. The occupiers tried to advance in the areas of the settlements of Rodynske, Pokrovsk, Udachne, Novopidhorodne, Shevchenko, Myrnograd, Kotlyne, Dachne, Filiya and towards Bilytskyi, Vilny and Sergiyevka. In some locations, fighting is still ongoing.
According to estimates, today in this direction our soldiers eliminated 40 occupiers and wounded 27; destroyed 26 unmanned aerial vehicles, four units of automobiles and four units of special transport, an anti-tank missile system, an ATV, two personnel shelters, and also hit a multiple launch rocket system, two units of automobile equipment, and 18 enemy personnel shelters.
In the Oleksandrivka direction, Ukrainian units stopped three attacks by the occupiers, in the areas of Verbovye and Vyshneve.
In the Hulyaipil direction, Ukrainian defenders repelled 23 attacks by the invaders, in the Hulyaipil area and towards Staroukrainka, Varvarivka, Zelene, Svyatopetrivka and Zaliznychne. Three more clashes are ongoing. Zaliznychne, Lyubitske, Vozdvizhivka, Barvinivka, Rizdvyanka were hit by airstrikes.
Recall that last day, the Armed Forces of Ukraine eliminated 1,090 occupiers. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Russian army has lost 1,240,680 soldiers.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited
[Korrespondent] It became known how much Ukrainian territory the enemy occupied in January. Despite the fact that the Pokrovsky direction accounted for more than 30% of all assaults, the negative record holder was the Slavyansky sector, where 3% of assaults accounted for almost 20% of territorial losses.
In January, Russian troops occupied 245 sq. km of Ukrainian territory. This is almost half the amount compared to November and December, when the pace of advance was much higher. This was reported by DeepState analysts on Sunday, February 1.
"An unexpected fact was the percentage drop in assault activity - only 4% less than in December, although most military personnel say that January is still relatively less intense than last month," the report noted.
Analysts said that 33% of all assaults fell on the Pokrovsky section. Gulyaipilsky came in second place, where 21% of all attacks were carried out, the increase in assaults increased by 1.75 times. They are immediately followed by the Kostyantynivsky (12%), Lymansky (8%) and Oleksandrivsky (8%) directions.
While the negative record holder was the Slavyansky sector, where 3% of assaults accounted for almost 20% of territorial losses.
Recall that throughout 2025, Russia occupied 4,336 sq km of Ukrainian territory , which is approximately 0.72% of the entire territory of Ukraine.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited
[NewsFront] 20:50 Severyan drones destroyed positions of an American howitzer from World War II near the village of Ivolzhanskoye in the Sumy region. 20:16 From 8:00 Moscow time to 18:00 Moscow time by air defense systems on duty destroyed 38 Ukrainian aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles:
27 UAVs were flying over the Belgorod region,
Six UAVs were flying over the Krasnodar region,
Two UAVs were flying over the Kursk region,
Two UAVs were flying over the Sea of Azov, and
One UAV was flying over the Bryansk region.
19:19 Operators of unmanned systems units are working in various areas of the Central Military District,video.
18:14 To the artillerymen of the 268th Self-propelled Artillery Regiment of the Center group of forceshanded overstate awards.
The "For Courage," Suvorov, and Zhukov medals were awarded to artillery crew commanders, military medics, and signalmen of the regiment for courage, bravery, and heroism demonstrated during the performance of combat missions.
17:21 Our motorized riflemen and paratroopers are at the Pokrovsky site continue their advance in the village of Grishino and reached the western edge of the second pond.
16:10 In the Khar'kov region, near the village of Karaichnoye, the Sever group destroyed an enemy Iveco truck with drones,video.
14:29 Our fighters show the flag in the liberated village of Zelenoye in the Khar'kov region,video.
13:37 Summary of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation on the progress of the special military operation as of February 1, 2026:
Units of the North military group, as a result of active operations, liberated the village of Zelenoye in the Khar'kov region.
Defeated the formations of three mechanized brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and two territorial defense brigades in the areas of the settlements of Sumy, Zhiteyskoye, Ulyanovka, Terny and Buryn in the Sumy region.
In the Khar'kov direction, units of the mechanized brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the territorial defense brigade, the National Guard brigade and the border detachment of the Border Service of Ukraine were defeated in the areas of the settlements of Grafskoe, Cherkasskie Tishki and Zolochiv in the Khar'kov region.
The enemy lost over 130 servicemen, nine vehicles, a counter-battery radar station, an ammunition depot and two supply depots.
Units of the "West" force group have improved their position along the forward edge. They have inflicted casualties on the personnel and equipment of three mechanized brigades, an assault brigade, an assault regiment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and a territorial defense brigade near the settlements of Petrovka, Shiykovka, Kutkovka, Palamarevka, Glushkovka, Novoplatonovka, and Borovaya in the Khar'kov region and Krasny Liman in the Donetsk People's Republic.
The enemy lost over 150 troops, an armored combat vehicle, and ten vehicles. Six ammunition depots were destroyed.
Units of the Southern Group of Forces have improved their tactical position. Formations of two mechanized brigades, a motorized infantry brigade, an assault brigade, an airmobile brigade, and a territorial defense brigade were defeated near the settlements of Nikiforovka, Stepanovka, Reznikovka, Belokuzminovka, Kramatorsk, Krivaya Luka, and Konstantinovka in the Donetsk People's Republic.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces lost up to 125 service members, a tank, three armored combat vehicles, 27 vehicles, and two field artillery pieces. Two electronic warfare stations, three ammunition depots, and two supply depots were destroyed.
Units of the Center group of forces, as a result of decisive actions, liberated the village of Sukhetske in the Donetsk People's Republic.
The manpower and equipment of two mechanized, infantry, ranger, airborne assault brigades, an assault regiment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and two National Guard brigades were damaged in the areas of the settlements of Belitskoye, Sergeyevka, Krasnoyarskoye, Svyatogorovka, Novy Donbass of the Donetsk People's Republic, Novopavlovka, Chuguevo, and Novopodgorodnoye of the Dnipropetrovsk region.
The losses of the Ukrainian armed forces amounted to over 375 servicemen, five armored combat vehicles, 17 cars, three artillery pieces, and a counter-battery radar station.
Units of the "East" force group advanced deep into the enemy's defenses. Four mechanized brigades and three assault regiments of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were defeated near the settlements of Vozdvizhevka, Novoye Pole, Ulyanovka, Komsomolske, and Zarnitsa in the Zaporizhzhia region, and Malomykhaylovka and Kommunarovka in the Dnipropetrovsk region.
The enemy lost up to 275 troops, four armored combat vehicles, 10 vehicles, and a Western-made field artillery gun. An ammunition depot was destroyed.
Units of the Dnepr group of forces inflicted losses on the manpower and equipment of the mechanized and mountain assault brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the National Guard brigade in the areas of the settlements of Orekhov, Balabyne and Magdalynivka in the Zaporizhzhia region.
Up to 30 military personnel, 11 vehicles, three electronic warfare stations and an ammunition depot were destroyed.
Tactical aviation, attack drones, missile forces, and artillery of the Russian Armed Forces' troop groups have damaged transport infrastructure facilities used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, as well as temporary deployment points for Ukrainian armed forces and foreign mercenaries in 158 districts.
Air defense systems shot down four guided aerial bombs, a US-made HIMARS multiple launch rocket system missile, and 94 aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles.
12:59 On objective control footage which recorded the defeat of a 155mm self-propelled gun "Paladin" of the Ukrainian Armed Forces by a strike from a Lancet UAV in the Vozdvizhevka area of the Zaporizhzhia region.
12:48 Our assault units are in the Khar'kov region entered Chugunovka north of Melovoye.
12:34 In the Khar'kov border region of the Russian Armed Forces entered the territory of the Krugloe tract.
12:26 Appeared information about the liberation of the village of Sukhetskoye in the DPR.
11:54 Recorded advance of the Russian Armed Forces in the Velikoburluk direction.
11:53 Units of the Center group of forces continue their offensive on the Dobropolye salient.
11:39 The Naval Institute's front-line concert brigade performed for naval infantry in the Special Operations Zone, video.
11:03 In the Khar'kov border area, assault units of the Sever group released the village of Zelenoye.
11:02 A mobile fire team from the Bars-Kursk detachment destroyed a Lyuty strike UAV of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Kursk border region,video.
10:59 Tonight the Russian Armed Forces inflicted Geranium strikes on the Konotop railway station in Sumy Oblast.
10:15 Frontline summary on the morning of 01.02.26
The Zaporizhzhia Front
of the Russian Armed Forces is fighting in the areas of Primorskoye and Rechnoye. The battles for Novoyakovlevka, Pavlovka, and Novoboikovskoye continue.
In the Hulyai-Polye direction, the Russian Armed Forces are expanding their zone of control near Ternovatoye. The Russian Ministry of Defense reported the liberation of the village of Petrovka (Svyatopetrivka).
Donetsk Front.
Russian Armed Forces are advancing toward Belitsky in the Krasnoarmeysky direction. The Russian Ministry of Defense reported the release of Toretsky. There are gains in Novopavlovka.
In the Konstantinovka sector, Russian Armed Forces are advancing south of Berestok. In Konstantinovka, there are gains near the railway station. Fierce fighting is ongoing in the Verolyubovka-Mayskoye sector, as well as in the Golubovka area and on the western outskirts of Minkovka.
Russian Armed Forces are reported to have made gains in Markovo.
In the Krasnolimansky direction, Russian Armed Forces are advancing toward the eastern part of Aleksandrovka.
Fighting is ongoing in Svyatogorsk near the hospital. Russian forces repelled an enemy counterattack near Yarovaya and Drobyshevo.
There is progress in Krasny Liman itself.
In the Seversky direction, fighting continues near Nikiforovka.
Heavy fighting is ongoing on the Kupyansk front. Russian Armed Forces are expanding their zone of control near Petropavlovka, taking up new positions on the approaches to Kucherovka. Footage from Kupyansk-Uzlovaya has emerged, confirming Russian Armed Forces control in the northern part of the town.
Russian Armed Forces are reportedly taking up positions south of Boguslavka.
In the Volchansk direction, Russian troops are advancing near Staritsa and in the forest near Simonovka.
Russian forces have reportedly entered the village of Zelenoye.
The Sumy Front
of the Russian Armed Forces repelled a Ukrainian counterattack south of Yunakovka and near Varachino.
In the Komarovka area, Russian troops are expanding their zone of control east of the village of Belaya Bereza.
9:58 Summary about the operational situation in the Kursk region over the past 24 hours.
In total, 37 enemy drones of various types were shot down between 9:00 a.m. on January 31 and 7:00 a.m. on February 1. The enemy used artillery on evacuated areas 17 times. Drones attacked our territory three times, dropping explosive devices.
Falling debris in Kursk damaged the windows of three apartment buildings and damaged cars. In the village of Nikolaevka in the Kursk district, the roof of a private home was damaged. In Zheleznogorsk, a drone crashed into a house's courtyard without detonating or causing any damage.
8:34 Investigative Committee of Russia will investigate further crimes committed by Ukrainian armed forces against civilians in the Belgorod, Bryansk, Kursk, and Kherson regions
According to government authorities, a Ukrainian Armed Forces drone struck a hospital in Grayvoron, Belgorod Oblast, killing the hospital's driver. A married couple was also injured in the drone attack on their car.
In the Klimovsky district of the Bryansk region, two local residents were wounded as a result of Ukrainian armed aggression.
In the village of Begoshcha, Rylsky District, Kursk Oblast,
two Ukrainian Armed Forces FPV drones attacked a house. Two people were injured in the attack.
In the Kherson region, two civilians were wounded during shelling by the Kyiv regime.
8:06 During the past night, air defense systems on duty intercepted and destroyed 21 Ukrainian aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles:
14 – over the territory of the Belgorod region,
Five – over the territory of the Voronezh region,
One – over the territory of the Astrakhan region,
One – over the territory of the Kaluga region
Commentary by Russian military journalist Boris Rozhin:
[ColonelCassad] Today, more talks will be held in Abu Dhabi.
This time, the Russian and Ukrainian delegations will meet, roughly the same composition as last time. The Russian delegation is led by Admiral Kostyukov, Chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces (GRU)
The Emirates are acting as mediators.
The Americans will not attend. In light of the cocaine-fuehrer's statements about wanting to fight for Donbas and the Zaporizhzhya NPP, little progress is expected. Kirill Dmitriev met with Witkoff and Kushner in Florida yesterday, where they discussed negotiations on Ukraine.
According to Dmitriev, there was some progress. Today, the notorious "energy ceasefire" also expires, and renewed strikes on Ukraine's energy sector are expected, as it is experiencing a partial blackout with cascading consequences.
Kyiv regime leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on the evening of February 1 that his "team" would depart for a trilateral meeting in Abu Dhabi on February 2.
"I've scheduled a meeting to agree on the framework for the conversation and prepare everything. The team will leave for the talks on Monday evening," Zelenskyy said on Telegram.
He said that the negotiations should take place on February 4 or 5.
On January 31, the Kyiv regime's leader announced that Ukraine was preparing to hold a new round of conflict resolution talks in early February. Zelenskyy emphasized his readiness to work across all working formats and noted the importance of achieving concrete results from the meetings. However, he did not specify who would participate in the meetings.
The New York Times previously reported that a new round of talks in Abu Dhabi involving representatives from Russia, the United States, and Ukraine had been postponed for several days. The newspaper did not specify the reasons for the postponement.
On January 31, Russian Presidential Special Envoy Kirill Dmitriev held talks in Miami with US Presidential Special Envoy Steven Witkoff. Witkoff described the meeting as productive. Dmitriev, for his part, stated that the talks were constructive. The two discussed the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict. A discussion within the Russian-American Economic Working Group also took place.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited by Daniil of Moscow
[REGNUM] The unusually cold weather that hit the European part of the country in the last days of January proved a challenge for public utilities—but also a gift for lovers of rare natural phenomena.
On the night of January 31, Muscovites and residents of the Moscow region observed three moons in the sky, and forecasters promised that during clear weather over the weekend, they would be able to see a "false sun" and a winter rainbow.
Where do these optical wonders come from, why are they so closely associated with frost, and what did our ancestors think about them?
WHEN THE SKY MULTIPLIES THE LUMINARIES
Social media was flooded with photos of an unusual sight: three lunar disks simultaneously shone over the capital and surrounding region—one bright central one, and two fainter ones flanking it. Experts attributed the sighting to a phenomenon known as a paraselena, or "false moon."
Sometimes called a moon dog in English, with the same Latin term, of course.
The principle is that moonlight is refracted by flat, hexagonal ice crystals floating high in the atmosphere. Each crystal acts as a miniature prism, and when there are millions of them and they are oriented in a certain way, the illusion of multiple stars is created.
However, forecasters warn that some of the "triple moon" photos circulating online are actually the result of photography through double-glazed windows. When a bright object is photographed through double or triple glazing, the light is reflected between the layers of glass, creating duplicate images.
A true parselene is easy to distinguish: in it, the “doubles” are located strictly on the sides of the moon at a distance of approximately 22 degrees, and do not overlap each other.
A parselene is a rare phenomenon, much rarer than its daytime counterpart. For it to occur, the moon must be bright, meaning full or nearly full. The atmosphere must also be saturated with regularly shaped ice crystals.
If all conditions are right, moonlets can even take on a faint color: the side closest to the real satellite takes on a reddish tint, the far side a bluish one. However, these hues are difficult to detect with the naked eye—the brightness of the "doubles" is barely enough to excite the color-sensitive cells in our retinas.
The daytime equivalent of this phenomenon—a parhelion, or "false sun"
… sometimes a sun dog in English…
—occurs in clear, frosty weather, creating ideal viewing conditions. The best time is in the morning, around sunrise, when the sun is low on the horizon.
Then, two bright rainbow spots may light up on either side of the sun, and the celestial body itself will appear to have “ears”—as people have long called this effect.
PHYSICS OF ICE PRISMS
All these wonders—parselenes, parhelions, winter rainbows, light pillars—belong to a broad family of atmospheric optical phenomena collectively known as halos. The principle by which they occur is the same and surprisingly simple: sunlight or moonlight interacts with tiny ice crystals that form in the atmosphere.
These crystals form in cirrus and cirrostratus clouds at altitudes of 5 to 10 kilometers, where temperatures are always below freezing. When freezing, water droplets form hexagonal prisms or flat plates—water molecules arrange themselves in groups of six, so ice crystals almost always have hexagonal symmetry.
As they fall through the atmosphere, they experience air resistance and tend to settle into a specific position—usually horizontal. The larger the crystal and the calmer the air, the more orderly their arrangement becomes.
When a beam of light passes through such a crystal, it is refracted—just like in a glass prism. The angle of refraction depends on the crystal's geometry. For hexagonal prisms, the typical angle is 22 degrees—this is why the most common type of halo forms a ring with a radius of 22 degrees around the star.
Less commonly, one can see a ring of 46 degrees, and even more rarely, a ring of 90 degrees, the so-called Hevelius halo.
When white light is refracted, it is broken down into its component colors—dispersion occurs. However, unlike a rainbow, which displays all seven colors, a halo is usually quite faintly colored.
The inner edge of the circle has a reddish tint, the outer edge has an orange or yellowish tint, and the rest appears white due to the multiple mixing of refracted rays. A full-color halo is a rarity.
For these phenomena to occur, three factors must combine: clear skies, low temperatures, and high humidity. It might seem that frost and humidity are incompatible, but that's not true. Moisture can come from unfrozen bodies of water, rise from the snow surface, or be carried by air masses.
During a sudden cold snap, it instantly crystallizes, saturating the atmosphere with myriads of ice particles. This is why halos are more often observed during the transition from one type of weather to another—they often precede snowfalls or even more severe frosts.
In severe frost, crystals can form not only high in the clouds but also close to the ground. This creates a phenomenon poetically called "diamond dust": the air becomes filled with glittering particles that shimmer in the sun, and if the sun is low, the lower part of the halo becomes visible against the snowy landscape.
This picture is especially often observed in Antarctica and in the Far North of Russia – in Yamal, Taimyr, and Yakutia.
HEAVENLY SWORDS AND OMENS
Today we understand the nature of these phenomena, but for our ancestors, they were a mystery and a sign. Multiple suns or moons in the sky evoked awe, and sometimes even outright terror.
The most famous mention of parhelion in Russian literature is in "The Tale of Igor's Campaign." Before the prince's fateful battle with the Polovtsians, "four suns shone over the Russian land," and then "black clouds came from the sea, trying to cover the four suns... There will be great thunder."
The four suns symbolized the four princes participating in the campaign: Igor, Vsevolod, Vladimir Igorevich, and Oleg. The ominous omen came true—the army was defeated, and Igor himself was captured.
However, scholars disagree on whether the text refers specifically to a parhelion or to a solar eclipse, which actually occurred on May 1, 1185. Either way, celestial signs play a key role in the "Word"—nature itself warns the prince against an unwise decision, but he ignores its warnings.
Forecaster Shuvalov warned Muscovites of -20°C temperatures this weekend.
In Europe, parhelions have also influenced the course of history more than once. In 1551, during the siege of Magdeburg by Emperor Charles V's troops, sun dogs suddenly appeared over the city. The besiegers interpreted this as heavenly intercession for the besieged and lifted the siege.
Shakespeare describes the sunhelion in Henry VI, linking it to the Battle of Mortimer's Cross during the Wars of the Roses. The three suns in the sky frightened the soldiers, but the future King Edward IV convinced them that it represented the Holy Trinity and a sign of God's favor.
Folk omens had a dual attitude toward halos. On the one hand, a winter rainbow around the sun was considered a harbinger of frosts and snowstorms—and this makes scientific sense, as halos often appear before the arrival of atmospheric fronts.
On the other hand, seeing this rare phenomenon was considered good luck. Russian superstitions held that a ring around the moon meant wind and bad weather, while sundogs in winter meant continued frosty weather. The Chuvash believed that the appearance of light circles and spots foreshadowed a cold snap.
Our ancestors believed that pillars of light—vertical streaks of light extending from the sun at sunrise or sunset—were the fiery swords of angels. When the pillar intersected with the halo ring, a cross-like figure emerged, which was perceived as a sign from above.
HUNTING FOR WINTER BEAUTY
Modern city dwellers rarely look up at the sky, and if they do, their vision is obscured by light pollution and smog. Meanwhile, observing atmospheric optical phenomena requires no equipment and is accessible to everyone. You just need to know when and where to look.
Halos and parhelia are most likely to occur in frosty, clear weather with the sun low in the sky—at sunrise or sunset. The Moscow region is expecting just such conditions in the coming days: according to the Hydrometeorological Center, temperatures will drop 7–17 degrees below normal.
In Moscow and the surrounding region, minimum temperatures will reach -22 to -27 degrees Celsius, in the Nizhny Novgorod region -28 to -31 degrees Celsius, and in the Volgograd region -25 to -26 degrees Celsius. Such cold temperatures are rare for these latitudes and offer an excellent chance to see the "eared sun."
Those who want to be guaranteed to witness these phenomena should head north. In Yamal, Yakutia, and Taimyr, halos and sunhelia are frequent visitors. In Salekhard, the only city in the world located directly on the Arctic Circle, sundogs appear regularly. In the village of Nakhodka in the Tazovsky District, according to the local administration, sunhelia are seen especially frequently.
On the Kola Peninsula—in the vicinity of Murmansk, Teriberka, and the Khibiny Mountains—optical wonders are complemented by the northern lights, which promise to be especially bright this season: solar activity is approaching the peak of the 25th cycle.
The current cold wave, though uncomfortable for everyday life, offers a unique opportunity to experience what has inspired admiration and awe in people for centuries. And while the thermometer stubbornly creeps downward, the sky is preparing new gifts for us—we just need to be willing to look up.
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