Since the start of Russian invasion in 2022, #Kremlin played the nuclear card – to frighten Ukraine & deter West from assisting
Putin cast a nuclear threats over his full-scale invasion from the start. After Russian troops invaded Ukraine Putin put his nuclear forces on special combat readiness
The Kremlin’s most recent nuclear card was May 6. Russia held exercises involving tactical nuclear weapons
UK man arrested on suspicion of helping #Russian intelligence
Uptick reported in Russia-linked espionage cases across Europe in recent months, with suspected spies or saboteurs being arrested in the UK, #Poland, #Germany, #Greece, #Austria, #Latvia, #Italy, #Estonia, & other countries
UK authorities did not clarify the specifics of Phillips’ alleged #espionage activities but said that there was unlikely to be a threat to the public
♲ @mlansbury@despora.de:> ## Opinion: The West should launch a new economic Cold War against Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin is trying to revive the Soviet Union, but two can play this game. To complete the Kremlin’s grotesque historical reenactment, the West should launch a new economic Cold War in response.
In addition to the war of aggression waged against the civilians and cities of Ukraine, Russia has also waged an asymmetrical economic war against the global economy and the international trade system that underpins it.
Russia’s #weaponization of trade, particularly of energy supplies, has caused massive disruptions in international markets and triggered a cascade of economic setbacks globally.
During Operation Barbarossa, German invasion of the Soviet Union, Nazi forces occupied much of Soviet Ukraine, executing civilians, destroying cultural heritage & infrastructure
The same Ukrainian regions that were once invaded by Nazis are now suffering from Russian attacks, killings
This visual piece, we are looking at similarities between WWII & the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.
2 Russian-born #Czech citizens ran a #hotel in #Greece that doubled as #SafeHouse for infamous unit of Russia’s military intelligence agency (GRU) as it carried out #bombings & #poisonings across Europe
Husband/wife Nikolay & Elena #Saposnikov ran Villa Elena, a 3-story hotel hosted members of #Kremlin's “most grimly accomplished #assassination and #sabotage squad,” Unit #29155, on a regular basis for the last 15 years.
Over 18,000 Russian Southern Military District troops #deserted
According to many observers, low morale is a recurring problem for the #Russian Armed Forces
Of the 18,000 deserting #soldiers, around 12,000 of them belonging to the 8th Combined Arms Army – a unit often deployed in hostilities in eastern Ukraine.
Of this number, around 10,000 are mobilized #conscripts and 2,000 contract soldiers
Proposal would target those responsible for threatening the stability, security or #sovereignty of EU member states or third countries by undermining elections, the rule of law, facilitating acts of #violence or do so through the use of information manipulation and interference
Ukraine’s forces ‘stabilize situation’ in the east
After the capture of #Avdiivka several other settlements shortly after, #Russian forces were concentrating their efforts on a breakthrough near the fallen town in #Donetsk Oblast. Avdiivka fell as Ukraine was facing an ongoing ammunition shortage.
Czechia to propose EU-wide grain import ban on Russia, Belarus
There is no reason why we should support the aggressor by buying Russian grain in Europe, as reported on Czech TV, insisting that grain must be added to sanctions list
Last year, 1.5 mil tons of grain were imported into EU from Russia - more grain than was imported before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine
♲ @mlansbury@despora.de:> ## Historian Jade McGlynn: Putin 100% believes Russia’s distorted history
Russian President Vladimir Putin has consistently weaponized and distorted history throughout his time in power since 2000.
In a recent interview Putin went back more than 1,000 years to justify Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Dr. Jade McGlynn has dedicated years to researching and analyzing the political manipulation of history in Russia under Putin's rule. She is a research fellow at the Department of War Studies at King’s College London, a linguist, and historian specializing in modern Eastern Europe, particularly Russia.
♲ @mlansbury@despora.de:> ## Lithuanian intelligence: Russia preparing for long confrontation with NATO
Lithuanian intelligence published its annual report, revealing that Russia is expending vast resources not only on the war with Ukraine but also preparing for a long-term confrontation with #NATO. During the press conference presenting the contents of the book, it was also announced that Belarusian spies were caught last year, and the activities of Russian hackers were discussed.
"This reform is a long-term project that requires significant resources and is expected to take up to ten years," representatives of Lithuanian intelligence noted.
They stated that the overall pace and scope of the reform depend directly on the course, duration and outcomes of military actions in Ukraine.
All 298 people on board, including 80 children, were killed when Russian proxy forces used BUK missile system to shoot down the #Malaysia Airlines flight
Two Russian nationals, Igor Girkin & Sergey Dubinsky, & Ukrainian Leonid Kharchenko, found guilty of shooting down MH17 at the #Hague in 2022
Ukraine’s allies are not fatigued & this narrative is wrongly amplified by the media
"The panel I participated in Munich was called “Ukraine Fatigue,” Kuleba stated. “But no one talked about Ukraine fatigue, except for Nancy Pelosi, who said: ‘Why is this the title of the panel if there is no fatigue? Why are you imposing this narrative?’