Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia |
The Climax Ahead? 'New' Offensive of the Russian Army |
2025-07-15 |
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. [Korrespondent] The Kremlin is allegedly planning a new offensive within the next two months, Western media write. What they say about this in Ukraine – read in the story. Western publications have begun writing about a new offensive by the Russian army. The Kremlin is allegedly preparing a large-scale attack before the end of summer. This information appeared against the backdrop of increased enemy offensives in the Donetsk region and attempts to break through to the neighboring Dnipropetrovsk region. ![]() At the same time, the Center for Countering Disinformation warns that such headlines in the media are Russian propaganda; why this is so, read the story. WHAT JOURNALISTS WRITE AND WHO THEY REFER TO Yesterday, the German newspaper BILD published an article stating that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is ignoring calls for peace by intensifying shelling of cities in all regions of Ukraine. Moreover, the Kremlin is preparing a new offensive before the end of the summer. As journalists write, Putin allegedly takes advantage of the fact that in the fourth year of the war, interest in Ukraine in the world has diminished, so Ukrainians are subjected to constant shelling, day and night. The publication also reports, citing one of the propaganda Telegram channels, that the commander-in-chief of the Russian army personally reported to Putin on readiness for a new phase of the war. He allegedly also presented a plan for an offensive "in the second half of the summer." According to BILD, the offensive will allegedly spread not only to the occupied Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia and Kherson regions, but also beyond their borders. At the same time, Moscow is already seeking support for possible further waves of attacks. Thus, the article cites the words of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who "highly appreciated the heroic support of North Korean soldiers" during his visit to North Korea. In particular, in order to free Russian troops from border service, it is planned to transfer their functions to the North Korean military. We are talking about 30 thousand soldiers, whose training was agreed upon by the Kim Jong-un regime. Sources from Ukraine confirm in a comment to the publication: Putin is not interested in real negotiations, otherwise the conditions would be different. Today, the American publication Axios continued this topic. The media outlet, citing unnamed sources familiar with the conversation between Putin and US President Donald Trump, said the Russian dictator told the head of the White House that he intends to intensify military operations in eastern Ukraine over the next 60 days. As stated in the article, during their conversation on July 3, Putin stated that Moscow intends to continue offensive operations until it secures full control over the administrative borders of the occupied Ukrainian regions. "He wants to take everything," Trump reportedly told French President Emmanuel Macron afterward. WARNING FROM THE CPD The head of the National Security and Defense Council's Center for Countering Disinformation, Andriy Kovalenko, initially criticized BILD for its information about Russia's new offensive. "'The Kremlin is planning a new offensive' - it is always hard to find more senseless material than in BILD. There is a complete lack of understanding of either the front or the events. They read telegrams, often Russian ones, and write articles that are quoted here. By the way, they say they received this information from the 'Russian General Staff'. Well, you get the idea," he wrote. Later, Kovalenko added that Putin still plans to introduce new reserves to continue the meat assaults in the East. However, this should not be perceived as a new offensive. According to him, Russian propaganda will try to present the continuation of the summer campaign as a new stage of the military operation. "Because Putin set the task of capturing Ukrainian cities in the East back in 2024, but the Defense Forces thwarted these plans. All that Russia has done since then is introduce more and more new reserves. They have not come up with anything new now either. Changing the intensity of one offensive that has been going on for more than a year," Kovalenko explained. EVALUATION OF THE RUSSIAN SUMMER CAMPAIGN The President of Ukraine also stated the day before that the Russian army had significantly lagged behind its command’s expectations regarding the summer offensive. During a meeting with the military command, Volodymyr Zelensky discussed the situation in key defense areas: Pokrovsk, Novopavlovsk, Zaporizhzhya, Kharkiv and Sumy. "We see the enemy's intentions and attempts to develop offensive actions, and it is important that each such attempt is choked thanks to the resilience of our units and active defense. The Russian army has significantly lagged behind the expectations of its command for this summer," the president wrote. Zelensky also announced new strikes against the enemy, which will be "focused on destroying the occupier and transferring the war to Russian territory." |
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Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia |
President Trump just announced he's sending 'EVERYTHING' to NATO. |
2025-07-15 |
[X]
…What comes next is “weapons flowing at a record level to help Ukraine defend themselves.” Here’s the full scoop on Trump’s announcement today—and what it means for NATO and the war in Ukraine. 🧵 THREAD
US to send Patriot air defense system to Ukraine as furious Trump blasts two-faced Putin: 'He talks nice, then bombs everybody' [Daily Mail, where America gets its news] President Donald Trump ![]() announced on Sunday he will send Patriot air defense missiles to Ukraine in its war against Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has asked for more defensive capabilities to fend off a daily barrage of missile and drone attacks from Russia. 'We will send them Patriots, which they desperately need, because [Russian President Vladimir] Putin really surprised a lot of people. He talks nice and then bombs everybody in the evening,' Trump told news hounds at Joint Base Andrews just outside of Washington DC. 'But there's a little bit of a problem there. I don't like it,' he said. 'We basically are going to send them various pieces of very sophisticated military equipment. They are going to pay us 100 percent for that, and that's the way we want it,' Trump said. The stunning announcement comes just days after it was revealed that the president told a private meeting he once warned Putin he would 'bomb the **** out of Moscow' if he were to attack Ukraine. Apparently in reference to his first term, Trump said: 'With Putin I said, "If you go into Ukraine, I’m going to bomb the **** out of Moscow. I'm telling you I have no choice."' Related from regnum.ru Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. Guterres Reacts to Trump's Threats to Impose Anti-Russian Sanctions Anything that will help the ceasefire is important, but it must be done in accordance with international law. This is how UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres commented on US President Donald Trump's threats to impose new sanctions against Russiaon July 14. "We absolutely need an immediate ceasefire that would pave the way for a political solution based on the Charter, international law and the various resolutions of UN bodies. Anything that can help achieve these goals will of course be important, if, of course, it is done in accordance with international law," he said at a press conference. Earlier in the day, Trump said he was unhappy with the delays in resolving the conflict in Ukraine and threatened to impose secondary tariffs of 100% on goods from Russia if progress was not made in the next 50 days. As reported by the Regnum news agency, on July 14, Trump emphasized that he was still committed to a peaceful resolution of the Ukrainian conflict and expressed confidence that Washington would not impose new anti-Russian sanctions. According to the head of the White House, Russia has incredible potential, including in the area of trade. |
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Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia |
Commander of the 155th Separate Guards Naval Infantry Brigade Sergei Ilyin died in the SVO zone |
2025-07-12 |
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. [Regnum] The commander of the 155th Separate Guards Naval Infantry Brigade of the Russian Armed Forces, Sergei Ilyin, died in the zone of a special military operation. This was reported on July 11 by the RT television channel. ![]() Ilyin was born in the village of Musirmy in the Chuvash District. He served in the Marine Corps for over 20 years, rising from junior commander to colonel. "Sergey Yuryevich carried out combat missions with honor and courage, demonstrating exceptional bravery and heroism. He performed an immortal feat, giving his life for our Motherland. Giving one's life for one's country is the highest patriotic act that will forever remain in people's memory. His bravery and selflessness serve as an example for future generations," the TV channel quotes the message from the administration of the Urmarsky Municipal District of Chuvashia, which was later deleted. The 155th Separate Guards Naval Infantry Brigade is a tactical unit of the Pacific Fleet's naval infantry. The unit is stationed in Vladivostok and in the village of Slavyanka in Primorsky Krai. The brigade is currently named after Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Navy Mikhail Gudkov. As previously reported by the Regnum news agency, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Navy Mikhail Gudkov died in the Kursk region on July 2. His comrade Nariman Shikhaliev died along with the commander. Russian President Vladimir Putin awarded Gudkov the Gold Star medal posthumously. The second special distinction was awarded to Major General Gudkov for courage and heroism displayed during a special military operation. He was awarded the title Hero of Russia in October 2023 for courage, heroism and skillful command of subordinate units. According to another decree of the president, the 155th separate guards Kursk orders of Zhukov and Suvorov marine brigade was awarded the honorary title “named after twice Hero of the Russian Federation Major General M. E. Gudkov.” |
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Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia |
Residents of 325 settlements are being evacuated from the Kharkiv region |
2025-07-11 |
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. [Regnum] Residents are being evacuated from 325 settlements in the Kharkiv region. This was announced on July 10 by the head of the regional military administration Oleg Sinegubov on the air of the Ukrainian telethon. ![]() "There are 325 settlements under evacuation status. Some of them are already practically empty of population, we have evacuated everyone... Mandatory evacuation from the Shevchenko community continues," he wrote. Sinegubov added that the Kupyansk direction remains the most difficult for the region, and it is necessary to increase the pace of evacuation there. According to him, if the pace is unsatisfactory, people will have to be forcibly evacuated. Earlier, Regnum news agency reported that the Ukrainian authorities of Zaporizhia, temporarily occupied by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, may declare a forced evacuation of the population. In early June, forced evacuation was declared in seven settlements in the Kharkiv region. Local authorities specified that this concerns residents of the villages of Baranovka, Berezovka, Novonikolayevka, Podobovka, Staroverovka, Duvanka and Fedorovka. Also in early June, the Dnipropetrovsk region authorities decided to expand the forced evacuation zone by adding 14 settlements. The forced evacuation should be in effect in the region for two months. Russian President Vladimir Putin noted on June 20 that Russian troops are advancing daily along the entire line of contact. They are expanding their area of operations to create a border security zone, which is exacerbating the problems of Ukrainian troops, who are experiencing a shortage of personnel. More from regnum.ru TASS: Ukraine burns bodies of Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers transferred to it — 1232nd day of SVO The bodies of soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), handed over by the Russian side as a gesture of goodwill following the Istanbul agreements, are being burned so as not to pay compensation to their relatives. The corresponding video footage, filmed by a CCTV camera, presumably from a crematorium in the Ternopil region, was published on July 10 by TASS. It shows the moment when three men in protective suits and masks wheel a body in a white bag on a gurney and place it in an oven through a door. The new, 1232nd day of the SVO was marked by discussion of this news, among other things. Agreements on the transfer of bodies and the exchange of prisoners were reached at the talks between the Russian Federation and Ukraine in Istanbul on June 2. The first 1,212 dead Ukrainian soldiers were delivered to the designated exchange site on June 6, but Kiev postponed their acceptance without explanation. Refrigerated trucks with frozen corpses, the abandoned "cargo 200," stood for several days on the border with Ukraine. On June 9, presidential aide and head of the Russian delegation at the negotiations with Ukraine, Vladimir Medinsky, pointed out, in particular, that it is difficult for Kiev to acknowledge large losses, and the money for compensation to the families of the dead soldiers has probably already been spent. Meanwhile, military correspondent Alexander Kots calculated Ukraine's approximate expenses due to the bodies of soldiers handed over by Russia. According to him, based on the fact that for each dead Ukrainian soldier, relatives were promised 30 million rubles, Kiev will be forced to pay the families of the dead 180 billion rubles. |
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Britain |
Britain to supply 5,000 air defense missiles to Ukraine |
2025-07-11 |
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. [Regnum] The UK will supply Ukraine with 5,000 air defense missiles manufactured at the Thales defense plant in Belfast. This was announced by the British government on July 10. "The deal will see the delivery of more than 5,000 air defence missiles from the UK-based Thales plant, which will not only significantly enhance the UK's defence capability but will also enable Ukraine to continue the fight," the statement said. Ukraine is running out of time... The document also notes that the deliveries will be made within the framework of a loan agreement, which the parties are to sign at a conference on the restoration of Ukraine, which will be held in Rome on July 10 and 11. Britain will provide a £2.5 billion loan with a 19-year repayment period for the delivery of missiles. Earlier, US President Donald Trump announced the resumption of arms supplies to Ukraine. According to the American leader, the Kiev regime must be able to "defend itself", and Ukrainian troops are currently receiving very strong blows. Russia has repeatedly pointed out that arms supplies to Ukraine will not change the course of the special operation. Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the West's military aid to the Kiev regime proves NATO's involvement in the conflict. On July 8, Russian Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov noted that pumping weapons into the Kiev regime is not in line with attempts to promote a peaceful settlement. |
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Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia |
'America's Fall from Europe': How Russia Has Saved the US More Than Once |
2025-07-09 |
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. by Mikhail Kucherov [REGNUM] Russia may revise the list of unfriendly countries, which currently includes the United States. In fact, this list is not a dogma, Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov noted on June 8, speaking about the possibility of restarting contacts between Moscow and Washington. Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump stated in a telephone conversation on July 3 that relations between our country and the United States have deep historical roots. ![]() Moreover, as Putin noted both in his conversation with Trump and in a recent interview, Russia played a decisive role in the very emergence of the United States. Indeed, when a new state appeared on the map in 1776 – the United States of America – it was a surprise for the entire world. But not for our country. Even before the start of the War of Independence, in the autumn of 1774, the Russian envoy to London, Alexei Musin-Pushkin, reported to St. Petersburg about the uprising being prepared in England’s 13 North American colonies. The diplomat called for the brewing conflict to be treated as “worthy of any serious note.” Musin-Pushkin explained to Catherine's nobles: the war between Britain and the American colonists "seems all the more inevitable because they (the Americans) have been driven... to extremes." Therefore, they can no longer obey English "legislations" and will resist them "as burdensome and restrictive of their natural and legal rights." Informed sources overseas told our diplomat that "the people there, leaving their usual trades, voluntarily engage in military exercises. This spirit of hostility equally infects all ranks and titles." When on April 19, 1775, Massachusetts militia defeated Colonel Francis Smith's detachment at Lexington, London realized that it was impossible to suppress the separatist movement by police measures. Especially since after the first successes of George Washington's army, the war between the self-proclaimed USA and Britain was closely watched by the main rivals of the English - the French (since 1778, Louis XVI officially sanctioned the entry of the kingdom into the war). That is why, at the very beginning of the uprising in the colonies, the English King George III desperately sought allies. Turning his gaze to the Russian crown, the British monarch asked Catherine II to send an auxiliary corps of 20 thousand people to America. Not long ago, during the Russo-Turkish War of 1768-1774 and the Russian fleet's campaign from the Baltic to the Mediterranean, England essentially helped Russia. The Royal Navy did not allow a French squadron into the Mediterranean, ready to help the Turks (France's long-standing partners). Of course, this was not about Albion's altruism, but about the enmity between the English and the French, but, acting in their own interests, the British objectively played in our favor. And now they were waiting for reciprocal favors. Without waiting for Catherine's response, the English prepared the text of the corresponding agreement. The response from St. Petersburg was negative, although diplomatic - with a sober-sounding thesis that the Russian Empire needed peace. "With all my heart I wish that my English friends would get along with their colonies... But so many of my predictions have come true that I fear that in my lifetime we will have to see America break away from Europe," the empress prophetically noted. Russia also acted in its own interests. Britain not only tried to defeat the separatists on the battlefield, but also strangled the rebellious colonies with a naval blockade, cutting off the flow of goods to America. The Russian Empire (guided by the principle of free trade, which, we note, was bequeathed by the British economist Adam Smith ) did not want to participate in the blockade. That is why in 1780 St. Petersburg adopted a declaration of armed neutrality. Our country warned the great powers and England first and foremost that it would defend its right to free trade. It is curious that it was after this declaration that France openly supported the American colonists, and at the same time Holland, England's long-time rival at sea, joined in supporting the rebels. The rebels could not help but appreciate Russia's involvement in their fate. Washington declared that Catherine's decision "bears the imprint of respect for the rights of humanity." As we see, even then the US began to appeal to human rights when it was advantageous for them - and then our country, which in Europe was accustomed to revile for "Asian despotism," suddenly turned out to be their stronghold. The US Continental Congress, after reviewing the document, adopted a separate resolution, fully approving the Russian declaration and notifying the St. Petersburg envoy to The Hague, Dmitry Golitsyn, in writing; according to many historians, this is the first diplomatic document exchanged between the countries. The American Revolution, as we know, resulted in the Treaty of Paris in 1784 (initiated by Louis XVI, who, by historical irony, soon fell victim to the revolution in his own country). The mistress of the seas, England, recognized 13 of its former overseas possessions as sovereign and independent states and renounced its claims to govern them. Such a "happy ending" would not have happened if not for the intransigence of Catherine the Great. It is understandable why, on the sidelines of the Peace of Paris, Benjamin Franklin handed over to the Russian envoy Ivan Baryatinsky “the book-constitution of the United American Provinces and a medal struck for their independence” for subsequent sending to the empress. So the two Founding Fathers that Americans should know at least from their images on dollar bills – Washington and Franklin – were also the founders of Russian-American contacts at the highest level. CALIFORNIA BALLS The Americans repaid Russia with approximately the same kind of benevolent neutrality during the Crimean War, sending 30 surgeons and 15 engineers to the tsarist army units besieged by Anglo-French troops, who were engaged in laying railway tracks. Petersburg went further at this stage of Russian-American interaction: formally maintaining neutrality, several years later it sent two naval squadrons to America, which was engulfed in civil war, to help the northerners. The St. Andrew's flag off the coast of New York and California became a symbol of protection from a possible attack by the French and British fleets for the local population. Alexey Bogolyubov. Russian squadron on the way to America. 1880s According to eyewitnesses, the Russian sailors were surrounded by the attention of Secretary of State William Seward (the same one who organized the deal to purchase Alaska), congressmen and members of their families: "Your Excellency, of course, already knows from the newspapers with what sympathy we have been received here. On the 5th, the city of San Francisco gave a ball as a sign of general favor to the sovereign and Russia, which in the annals of San Francisco will certainly remain as the most magnificent on the shores of the Pacific Ocean," wrote Rear Admiral Andrei Popov in 1863 to the naval minister of the Russian Empire, Nikolai Krabbe. Recordings of speeches from farewell banquets have survived, where Americans highly praised the “ sense of international brotherhood ” and “ moral assistance ” brought by the Russians. According to newspaper headlines of the time, many parents in the United States began to name their children Ivan or simply Russian. There are also known cases of direct participation of Russians in military actions. Colonel Ivan Turchaninov, without sanctions from the command, joined the northerners and, having distinguished himself in the battles of Chickamauga and Chattanooga, not only became John Turchin, but also received the stars of a brigadier general. John Turchin in the uniform of the 19th Illinois Regiment commander. Abraham Lincoln, whose authority grew thanks to the presence of Russian squadrons, did not hesitate to call Russia “ despotism in its purest form,” but he did not remain in debt - he saved Turchaninov, who was brought to trial during intrigues, by raising him to the coveted rank: in the USA, army arbitration had no jurisdiction over generals, which allowed the military leader to avoid going to jail. True, later the soldier, considered a deserter in his homeland, began to criticize the American socio-political order: “My disappointment is complete; I do not see any real freedom here. <…> This republic is a paradise for the rich; they are truly independent here; the most terrible crimes and the blackest intrigues are repaid with money. <…> As for me personally, I thank America for one thing: it helped me to kill outright the lordly prejudices and brought me down to the level of an ordinary mortal <…> no work is terrible for me.” "OBLIGATED FOR HELP" Historical sources preserve the memory of years of friendship, pragmatic on the political level and quite sincere on the human level. Mark Twain, who visited Crimea with a group of his compatriots, was fortunate to have an audience with Alexander II, whom he considered more majestic than Napoleon and the Turkish Sultan. The writer openly admitted that America owed much to Russia for its help during the "great disasters." It is unknown how long it will take for a constructive seed to sprout in the current dialogue between Moscow and the current American administration. But it is obvious that Russia, as it did 150 years ago, wants to act in accordance with the principles of “preserving the American Union as an undivided nation” voiced by the outstanding Alexander Gorchakov. These two historical episodes became prototypes of further rapprochement in relations between the USA and Russia. One can recall the mediating role of Theodore Roosevelt in stopping the Russo-Japanese War - essentially inspired by Britain to the common disadvantage of Russia and the USA. The two powers were allies in World War I. Incidentally, a curious piece of evidence of this has been preserved in St. Petersburg: during the Great War, an image of the US coat of arms, a bald eagle with a star-spangled shield, was installed on the roof of the representative office of the American firm Singer (which almost everyone considered a German firm because of the owners' surname). Thus, Singer's house on Nevsky avoided German pogroms. Finally, the most recent rapprochement that Donald Trump also recalls is the joint fight against Nazism and Japanese militarism in World War II. But the American leader, who claims that it was the United States that was the main victor over Hitler, would do well to remember how our country saved the United States – in the 1770s, the 1860s, and the 1940s. |
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Government Corruption |
CIA review suggests Brennan misled Congress on Steele Dossier and 2016 intel, lawmakers want probe |
2025-07-08 |
[JustTheNews] An anal probe, with a cactus, please A new report by the CIA revealed new details about infirmities and failures with the U.S. intelligence community’s assessment of Russian influence in the 2016 election, criticizing now-former CIA Director John Brennan for his actions and raising the possibility he may have misled Congress. Brennan is currently a Senior National Security Analyst for NBC. Last week, CIA Director John Ratcliffe released a "lessons learned" review of the December 2016 Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA). That review sharply criticized Brennan for allegedly joining with anti-Trump forces in the FBI, pushing to include British ex-spy Christopher Steele’s baseless anti-Trump dossier in the assessment. In the review, the CIA’s new review also critiqued the “high confidence” assessment by the FBI and the CIA that Russian leader Vladimir Putin had “aspired” to help President Donald Trump win in 2016. Now-former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., spoke on the John Solomon Reports podcast for Just the News on Monday, arguing that the Justice Department should investigate Brennan over his denials about pushing to include the Steele dossier in the ICA. The former congressman said that “there’s a pretty clear shot at Brennan for a review of lying to Congress.” Brennan was not one of the recipients of then-President Biden's 4,245 pardons or clemency granted, and lying to Congress can be a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. § 1001, which forbids making false statements to the federal government, including Congress. Unlike perjury, it is not limited to statements made under oath, but the statement must be "materially false" and made knowingly and willfully. |
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Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia |
Putin appoints Andrey Nikitin as Russia's acting transport minister |
2025-07-08 |
[AA.COM.TR] Russian President Vladimir Putin![]() on Monday announced the appointment of Andrey Sergeyevich Nikitin as the country's acting transport minister, after removing Roman Starovoyt from the post. ''Andrey Sergeyevich (Nikitin), I would like to invite you to take another step forward on your career ladder and work as the acting Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation,'' Putin said during a meeting with Nikitin, according to a video published by the Kremlin. Putin expressed his intention to submit Nikitin's candidacy to the State Duma, Russia's lower house of parliament, after which he would sign the decree on the final appointment if politicians support it. ''I hope that you will apply all your efforts, knowledge, skills, and organizational abilities to solve those tasks, the most important tasks that are in this area,'' he added. The move came after Putin signed an executive order on the dismissal of Starovoyt, who was appointed to the post just a year ago in May 2024. No reason was provided for his removal. In a press briefing Kremlin front man Dmitry Peskov said that Starovoyt's dismissal is not due to a "loss of trust." Peskov further said that Putin believes Nikitin's "working qualities and work experience" currently best serve the needs of the ministry. Nikitin had been serving as the deputy transport minister since February, and was previously the governor of Russia's northwestern Novgorod region. Says Russian military journalist Boris Rozhin: [ColonelCassad] The Russian Minister of Transport and former Governor of Kursk Oblast, Roman Starovoit, who was fired today (Putin's decree was published this morning), shot himself today at his dacha in Odintsovo. Apparently, a criminal case became inevitable and he decided to end it this way. The investigation into theft during the construction of fortifications in Kursk Oblast has been ongoing for a long time. Khinshtein's predecessor is involved in this case. But part of the investigation touches upon the period when Starovoit was still governor and at the beginning of the year there were many publications on the topic of whether Starovoit could not have known about the fraudulent schemes associated with fake contractors, through whom huge amounts of money allocated for the construction of field fortifications leaked out. One way or another, the investigation will still continue and then it will be clear from the facts - what exactly prompted Starovoit to commit suicide. The media reports that former Governor of Kursk Oblast Smirnov, who is under investigation, testified against Starovoit. Starovoit was at the ministry this morning, said goodbye to everyone, then went home and shot himself in his car in a parking lot in Odintsovo. |
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Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia |
Current information on the situation on the front line on July 7 (updated) |
2025-07-08 |
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. [NewsFront] 19:31 UAV calculations of the Rubicon Center struck equipment, elements of communication systems, manpower and firing positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. ![]() – An FPV drone operator of the North group of forces destroyed a 122mm D-30 howitzer of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Sumy region. 19:28 Rubicon Center specialists rammed Ukrainian Armed Forces drones. 19:04 Joint work of the Dnepr Guards crews from the 18th Combined Arms Army to destroy the M-777, a 155mm towed howitzer made in the USA, video. 18:45 Persons without Russian citizenship allowed serve under contract in the RF Armed Forces. The law was signed by Russian President Putin. 18:00 Convicted a spy who worked for Ukrainian intelligence The court found local resident Anzhelika Demyanenko guilty - she was transmitting data on the movement of Russian equipment and soldiers on assignment from Ukrainian intelligence. Such "messages" are enough to put the lives of our soldiers in real danger. The result is 10 years and 6 months of imprisonment. The law does not forgive betrayal. 17:32 Two Ukrainian servicemen convicted for committing a terrorist act on the territory of the Kursk region The evidence collected by the Main Military Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation was found by the court to be sufficient to sentence soldiers serving in military unit A-3283 (17th Separate Tank Brigade), grenade launcher operator Maksim Starinets and assistant grenade launcher operator Yuri Sinkevich. They were found guilty of committing a terrorist act in the Kursk region (subparagraphs "a" and "c" of Part 2 of Article 205 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). 16:46 Artillerymen of the "Center" group using rockets leafed through positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces with propaganda materials about voluntary surrender in the Krasnoarmeysk direction. 16:06 Fighting in the Velikoburluk direction: electronic warfare reveals, and artillery are being destroyed enemy UAV calculations Our short video shows the coordinated work of electronic warfare units and Severyan artillerymen from the 44th Motorized Rifle Corps and the 69th Motorized Rifle Division of the Leningrad Military District in the Khar'kov region. Our servicemen from the electronic warfare units intercepted control of the enemy FPV drone and calculated the exact location of the Ukrainian occupiers' UAV crew. 15:44 period from 14:15 Moscow time to 14:40 Moscow time by air defense systems on duty destroyed two Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles of the airplane type over the territory of the Belgorod region. 14:55 Investigators from the Russian Investigative Committee will investigate crimes of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as a result of which civilians of the Belgorod, Kherson and Bryansk regions were killed and injured According to reports from executive authorities, two people were killed and two were wounded in the Belgorod region as a result of attacks by Ukrainian Armed Forces drones. In the Kherson region in Nova Kakhovka, a woman was killed and a man was wounded as a result of shelling by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Ukrainian militants also shelled the city hospital building with barrel artillery, wounding a security guard. In the Bryansk region, as a result of an attack by the Ukrainian Armed Forces using kamikaze drones, a civilian was wounded in the village of Kamensky Khutor in the Klimovsky district. 14:17 Servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine inflicted targeted attack on a residential area of the city of Vasilyevka. A 19-year-old guy who was in the courtyard of the house died. Unfortunately, he received injuries incompatible with life. There are also wounded, six victims were hospitalized in the city hospital, they are receiving medical care. Doctors are also working with the relatives of the deceased. More than 10 apartments in the building were damaged. People left homeless will be provided with temporary housing. Emergency services and employees of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia for the Zaporozhye region are working at the scene. 13:57 Novopavlovskoe direction Units of the "Vostok" group continue offensive. After the liberation of the villages of Poddubnoye and Tolstoy, the group's units surrounded Karl Marx (Mirnoye) from three sides and are fighting in the village. Fighting on the outskirts of Maliyevka and in the eastern part of Voznesenka. 13:20 Krasnolimanskoe direction According to operational information, the enemy is still entrenched on farms and partly in Redkodub. The Ukrainian Armed Forces sabotage and reconnaissance groups reached the Katerinovka area. 13:03 Sever Electronic Warfare Units intercept and destroy enemy FPV drones Servicemen of the "North" group from the electronic warfare units of the Toronto group intercept signals from enemy FPV drones and destroy enemy birds in the forests and fields of the border area. 12:30 Russian Armed Forces are systematically encircling Krasnoarmeysk in the DPR to liberate it from the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Denis Pushilin told the media. Other statements by the head of the DPR: – Russian troops expanded their zone of control and improved their positions in the Krasnolimansky and Velikonovoselkovsky directions; 12:13 According to operational data from the Russian Ministry of Defense: Units of the Russian Federation's "West" military groupimprovedposition along the front line. They defeated the formations of two mechanized, assault brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and a territorial defense brigade in the areas of the populated areas of Petro-Ivanovka, Kupyansk in the Khar'kov region, Zelenaya Dolina and Torskoye in the Donetsk People's Republic. 12:04 RF Armed Forces released the settlements of Dachnoye in the Dnepropetrovsk region, Bessalovka in the Sumy region - the Russian Ministry of Defense. 11:49 A report has been received of another US mercenary killed in Ukraine. According to preliminary information, near Khar'kov liquidated Benjamin Joseph Dettore. 11:40 Recorded work of "Geraniums" in Khar'kov Up to 10 flights to targets in Khar'kov. The Geranium drones came in virtually unopposed, and air defense work was minimal. The targets included the TCC buildings in Khar'kov and Zaporozhye, as well as manufacturing facilities. Destruction and fires were noted at the sites of the strikes. 11:09 OTRK Iskander inflicted an attack on the air defense post of the 154th Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the area of the settlement of Chuguev in the Khar'kov region. Destroyed: 10:00 Russian army drones are vigorously destroying the enemy in all directions, –video. — UAV operators of the Tula paratroopers destroyed Ukrainian equipment in the Sumy region; 9:45 In the period from 8:00 Moscow time to 8:30 Moscow time, air defense systems on duty destroyed two Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles of the airplane type over the territory of the Belgorod region. 9:05 Drone Drivers cheerfully start the week – UAV operators of the Tula paratroopers destroyed military equipment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Sumy region. 8:25 During the past night, air defense systems on duty destroyed and intercepted 91 Ukrainian aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles were : – 20 UAVs over the territory of the Belgorod region, 8:05 Crews of D-30 howitzers of the 25th Combined Arms Army of the West group of forces struck the take-off and basing point of enemy drones, along with the personnel and ammunition located there. |
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Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
Iran's President Says Israel Attempted His Assassination |
2025-07-08 |
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. [Regnum] Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told American journalist Tucker Carlson that Israeli authorities had attempted to assassinate him. The interview appeared on the journalist's website on July 7. ![]() “Yes, they tried, they acted accordingly, but they failed,” the Iranian leader said in response to Carlson’s question on the matter. Pezeshkian noted that he was at a meeting where the future of the country was being discussed, while Israel attempted to strike the area where the meeting was taking place. He added that this attempt was made about a year and a half ago, and the United States was not involved in it. They're better now. Earlier, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said that Israel's goal in the conflict with Iran is not a change of power in the Islamic Republic. He named three declared goals of the Zionist regime: the elimination of the nuclear program, the elimination of the missile program, and the elimination of the Iranian command. Later, US President Donald Trump did not rule out the possibility of a change of power in Iran if the current leadership fails to implement the slogan "Make Iran Great Again." Russian leader Vladimir Putin, in a conversation with the heads of international news agencies, refused to discuss the possibility of Israel killing Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the reaction to this. |
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Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia |
Major General Mikhail Gudkov became twice Hero of Russia |
2025-07-07 |
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. Commentary by Russian military journalist Boris Rozhin. [ColonelCassad] Putin posthumously awarded the deceased brigade commander of the 155th Guards Naval Infantry Brigade, Mikhail Gudkov the title of Hero of Russia. ![]() This is Gudkov's 2nd Hero Star, which is extremely rare by the standards of the SVO. The brigade itself will receive the official name "named after Mikhail Gudkov". "To assign (...) the brigade (...) the honorary name (...) and henceforth to call it: the 155th Separate Guards Kursk orders of Zhukov and Suvorov Naval Infantry Brigade named after twice Hero of the Russian Federation Major General M.E. Gudkov."Quite a set of honorifics... The corresponding decree has already been signed. Considering Gudkov's merits on the battlefield and in organizing marine units - more than deserved. The 155th brigade showed itself well in battles both in the south and in the north. This year it played an important role in the liberation of the Kursk region. A serious loss for us. Such personnel must be protected. More from regnum.ru Putin called the deceased Major General Gudkov a real Russian officer Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, Hero of Russia Mikhail Gudkov, who died in the border area of the Kursk region, was a real Russian officer. This was stated by Russian President Vladimir Putin at the People's Front forum on July 6. "On July 2, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy Mikhail Evgenievich Gudkov, a native of the Donetsk region, died at his combat post. A true Russian officer. From the first day, he participated in a special military operation, commanded the legendary 155th Separate Guards Naval Infantry Brigade of the Pacific Fleet," Putin said. The head of state emphasized that he defended and liberated the Kursk land and died in the combat zone, fulfilling his military duty. Putin recalled that he promoted Gudkov to the level of deputy commander-in-chief, and the officer had no direct need to be in combat formations and at command posts. “But he considered it his duty and fulfilled it to the end for Russia,” the Russian leader noted. The President also announced that the name of the deceased officer will be borne not only by the 155th Brigade, which he commanded, but also by a street in Donetsk and a school in the DPR, as well as a branch of the Nakhimov Naval School in Mariupol. Putin, addressing those gathered, called for a minute of silence in memory of Gudkov and all the soldiers who died during the special operation. As reported by the Regnum news agency, the death of the Hero of Russia was reported on July 3 by the governor of Primorye Oleg Kozhemyako. He said that Gudkov died while performing his duty as an officer together with his fellow soldiers. |
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-Short Attention Span Theater- | ||
Kommunist Party Russian Federation Recognizes Khrushchev's report as 'politically erroneous' | ||
2025-07-07 | ||
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. Commentary by Russian military journalist Boris Rozhin: [ColonelCassad] At the congress, the Communist Party of the Russian Federation is going to call on Putin to rename Volgograd to Stalingrad. Putin has previously spoken out on this issue, pointing out that it is up to the city's residents to decide. Now the city is renamed Stalingrad several times a year for holidays and this year the city airport was named Stalingrad. ![]() They also finally decided to review the results of the 20th Congress and recognize Khrushchev's report on Stalin as erroneous and politically biased. In fact, Khrushchev's report was more than a mistake - it caused enormous damage to both the USSR and the entire socialist camp. In 2026, it will be 70 years since the 20th Congress. It's time to call a spade a spade. More details from Boris Rozhin: Communist Party of the Russian Federation officially condemned Khrushchev's report at the 20th Congress of the CPSU Yesterday evening, after discussions, the CPRF officially recognized Khrushchev's report "On Stalin's Personality Cult" as a serious mistake. Zyuganov in his speech called Khrushchev's report a crime against the peoples of the USSR. Yes, all this is very late, of course, but better late than never. Khrushchev with his "de-Stalinization" campaign caused enormous damage to the USSR, the Soviet bloc and the international communist movement. One of the greatest ideological sabotage of the 20th century. It took our Communist Party 69 years to officially recognize this. Well, I repeat - "mistake" is putting it mildly. We are still dealing with many of the consequences of that policy.
Another noteworthy event was the presence at the congress of Kiriyenko, who oversees domestic policy and spoke at the podium with a portrait of Lenin. In addition to the protocol message from Putin, Kiriyenko in his speech noted the patriotic position of the CPRF in supporting the SVO and many years of work on delivering humanitarian aid to Donbass. Dozens of party members died at the front. The main message is the need for a stable rear to achieve victory in the war against Nazism. He did not elaborate on the recent excrements of the Black Hundreds
Generally speaking, in the coming years, the participation/assistance of the army in the SVO will play a pressing role in matters of domestic policy and elections. The "SVO Participant" card is already in high demand among people who plan their political careers in advance (including by means of forgery). Accordingly, active assistance from the SVO for the CPRF may become a guarantee of improved results in the next elections. | ||
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