A senior official in “NATO”: Ukraine can join the alliance if it cedes part of its territory to Russia, and Medvedev, Kiyv respond

A senior official in “NATO”: Ukraine can join the alliance if it cedes part of its territory to Russia, and Medvedev, Kiyv respond

    Wednesday, August 16, 2023   No comments

 The Director of the Office of the Secretary General of NATO, Stian Jensen, said today, Tuesday, that “Ukraine can obtain membership in the alliance in return for ceding part of its territory to Russia.”

"I think that one of the solutions that enables Ukraine to obtain membership in NATO is to give up parts of it," the Norwegian newspaper "Verdens Gang" quoted Jensen as saying.

In response to a question by the newspaper whether the alliance believes that Ukraine should cede territories in order to achieve peace with Russia and NATO membership in the future, Jensen indicated that "a discussion of a possible post-conflict situation is already underway."

He explained that the issue of transferring regions to Russia had been raised, adding, "I am not saying that this will be the case, but it is likely to be a possible solution."

In response to the statements, Ukraine ruled out the idea of ceding any part of its territory to Russia in return for joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Mykhailo Podolyak, Ukraine's presidential advisor, described on Twitter the idea of his country ceding territory in return for joining NATO as "ridiculous".

Exchanging territory for membership, Podolyak said, means "choosing to defeat democracy, encouraging a global criminal, preserving Russian order, destroying international law, and passing on war to other generations."

He explained that anything other than a "crushing defeat" for Russian President Vladimir Putin would open Russia's "appetite for more," according to the Kyiv Independent newspaper.

It is noteworthy that since 2014, Ukraine has abandoned the status of a neutral country, and has set its course towards the European Union and NATO.

During the last “NATO” summit held last month, the alliance countries agreed on a multi-year support package for Ukraine, consisting of 3 points that include an assistance plan to bring the Ukrainian Armed Forces into line with NATO standards, the establishment of the “Ukraine-NATO” Council and confirmation of Ukraine’s right to join Swearing without prior implementation of the steps to achieve membership.

At the same time, no time frame has been set for Ukraine's entry into the alliance, which Kiev has insisted on, as well as the conditions that must be met in order to receive an official invitation to join the alliance.

Medvedev comments on a "new idea" presented by NATO for Ukraine's accession to the alliance and sets Russia's conditions

The Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, considered that in order for Ukraine to "enter" NATO, the country's authorities must abandon Kiev itself.

Medvedev said: “A new idea for Ukraine from the NATO office.” Ukraine could join NATO if it gave up the disputed territories. and what? The idea is intriguing. The only question is that all of their claimed lands are highly disputed. To enter, the authorities must forsake Kiev itself, the ancient capital of Russia. They will have to move the capital to Lvov.”

The Director of the Special Office of the Secretary-General of NATO, Stian Jensen, announced that Ukraine could join the alliance in exchange for ceding part of its territory to Russia.

A Translation of Medvedev's statement:

A new idea for Ukraine from the office of the North Atlantic Alliance:

Ukraine can join NATO if it gives up the disputed territories.

And what? The idea is curious. The only question is that all allegedly their territories are highly controversial. And in order to enter the bloc, the Kyiv authorities will have to give up even Kyiv itself, the capital of Ancient Rus'.

Well, they will have to move the capital to Lviv. Unless, of course, the psheks agree to leave Lemberg to lovers of bacon with coke.

In retreating from the threat of military intervention to restore the elected government.. ECOWAS: Dialogue with the leaders of the Nigerien coup is the "basic" of efforts to resolve the crisis

In retreating from the threat of military intervention to restore the elected government.. ECOWAS: Dialogue with the leaders of the Nigerien coup is the "basic" of efforts to resolve the crisis

    Thursday, August 10, 2023   No comments

The leaders of West African countries stressed Thursday that they will make negotiations with the military leaders who seized power in Niger the "base" of their efforts to defuse the crisis, in retreat from the threat of military intervention to restore the elected government.

"We prioritize diplomatic negotiations and dialogue as the basis of our approach," said Nigerian President Paula Tinubu, who is chairing the emergency summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Abuja.

The military council in Niger forms a new transitional government that includes 21 ministers

Today, Thursday, the head of the military council in Niger, Abd al-Rahman Tiani, signed a decree forming a new transitional government, local media reported.

Actoniger reported that Tiani signed the decree forming the transitional government yesterday, Wednesday, which is composed of 21 ministers and includes a small number of military personnel.

On July 27, soldiers in the Nigerien army announced, on state television, the dismissal of President Mohamed Bazoum, his detention in his residence, the closure of borders and the imposition of a curfew, explaining that they had decided to put an end to the current regime, after the deterioration of the security situation and economic mismanagement in the country.

In response to the military council's move, the Economic Community of West African States "ECOWAS" announced the imposition of sanctions on Niger, including closing its airspace and suspending trade exchanges with it.

For his part, Tianyi rejected these punishments, describing them as illegal, unfair and inhumane.

In early August, the participants in an emergency meeting of the Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Economic Community of West African States, held in Abuja, adopted a plan in the event of a military intervention in Niger.

After mobilizing a force of 25,000 ECOWAS soldiers for possible intervention in Niger, the military council refused to receive the delegation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union and the United Nations.

Coinciding with the announcement of the African crowd of a possible military intervention, the leaders of the military council announced the appointment of Ali Mahman Lamine Zain, an economist and former minister of finance, as prime minister in the country after Bazoum was dismissed due to his allowing foreign interventions in the country.

The military council announced the cancellation of a number of military cooperation agreements with France, in addition to ending the missions of the country's ambassadors to France, the United States, Nigeria and Togo.

The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs commented on the military council's decision to cancel the agreements concluded with it, stressing that it "only recognizes the previous authorities of Muhammad Bazoum" and rejects the decision.

It is noteworthy that US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken announced in a statement that his country's government had decided to freeze some "foreign assistance programs" from which the government of Niger benefits.

Likewise, the United States and ECOWAS confirmed that they hoped to reach a diplomatic solution in Niger that would put things back in order.

It is noteworthy that both Mali and Burkina Faso supported the Transitional Military Council in Niger, and declared clearly that "any intervention by the Economic Community of West African States to return Bazoum to power would be tantamount to declaring war on them."

In the same context, Russia believed that foreign intervention would not allow a solution to the crisis in Niger, and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that "it is unlikely that the intervention of forces from outside the region will allow the situation to improve."

It is noteworthy that the countries of the European Union began yesterday, Wednesday, to prepare to impose the first sanctions on members of the military council in Niger.

The situation in Niger raises concerns about the future of the country and the region, at a time when it faces increasing security challenges due to the threat of armed groups growing in the Sahel region. It also raises concern in the West, especially France and the United States of America, because the ousted president is considered Paris's first man in the African Sahel countries.

Algeria's Lieutenant General Saïd Chanegriha, Chief of Staff of People's National Army, on an official visit to the Russian Federation

Algeria's Lieutenant General Saïd Chanegriha, Chief of Staff of People's National Army, on an official visit to the Russian Federation

    Monday, July 31, 2023   No comments

And the statement of the Ministry of National Defense stated that, "At the invitation of Lieutenant General Sergey Shoigu, Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, Lieutenant General Said Chanegriha, Chief of Staff of the People's National Army, pays an official visit to the Russian Federation, starting today."

"The visit, which falls within the framework of strengthening cooperation between the People's National Army and the Russian Armed Forces, will enable the two parties to discuss issues of common concern," the statement added.

The visit happens as Algeria’s media outlets reported on increased tension with Morocco, which appears to be using its connections to some Western governments to normalize its occupation of Western Sahara.

The Algerian newspaper, Al-Khabar, accused the UAE of supplying Morocco with a new spying system developed by the Israeli company Quadream, intended to penetrate the phones of officials and journalists in ten countries, as it was installed near the Algerian border, in a detailed report published last Thursday titled “Abu Dhabi.” The capital of confusion,” which is an Algerian slang word meaning “sedition.’

Algerian lawmakers comment on regional security matters: Tensions with Morocco are unprecedented, the return of relations is excluded, and Israel's participation in the US-led African Assad maneuver is provocative

Two Algerian parliamentarians said that restoring relations with Morocco is unlikely, and that they are going through a period of intense tension.

According to their talk, the current tensions are unprecedented in the relations between the two countries in recent years, and they are in contrast to the message of reassurance sent by King Mohammed VI in his last Throne Day speech.

Earlier, King Mohammed VI of Morocco called on Algeria to open the borders between the two brotherly neighboring countries and peoples.

This came during a speech by the King of Morocco to his people, on the occasion of Throne Day, which coincides with the twenty-fourth anniversary of his accession to the throne.

The King of Morocco said, “Our work to serve our people is not limited only to internal issues, but we are also keen to establish strong relations with brotherly and friendly countries, especially neighboring countries, according to a statement that Sputnik obtained a copy of.

"In recent months, many people have been asking about the relations between Morocco and Algeria, which are stable, and we look forward to them being better," he added.

Commenting on what was stated in King Mohammed VI's speech on Algeria, the Algerian parliamentarian, Moussa Kharfi, says that restoring relations with Morocco at the present time is not possible.

Kharfi explained, in his interview with “Sputnik”, that the matter is mainly related to relations between Morocco and Israel, as well as the issue of the Sahara.

Pointing out that the failure to settle the Sahara issue excludes the restoration of relations with him.

The Algerian parliamentarian, Riz

kani Suleiman, says that the relations between the two countries are currently farther than ever from the dialogue table.

Adding: “The statements of King Mohammed VI contradict the reality of relations between the two countries, as tension prevails in relations, which the Algerian president described four months ago as having reached the point of no return.”

And he continued, in his interview with “Sputnik”, that the prevailing tension in relations comes against the backdrop of what he describes as “provocations regarding the Sahara issue, as well as with regard to normalization with Israel.”

He believes that Israel's participation in the African Assad maneuver, led by the United States, came within the framework of provocations on the part of Morocco.

And he went on to say, “Algeria severed its relations with Morocco two years ago and prevented Moroccan airlines from passing through Algerian airspace as a response to the amount of evil that it received from Morocco.”

And he added, "Certainly no one benefits from the situation, and we all hope for a better reality for relations, especially for the common denominators that bring the two peoples together."

Earlier, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune said that severing relations with Morocco was an alternative to war.

On August 24, 2021, Algeria severed its relations with Morocco, after closing the borders between the two countries since 1994 after the “Atlas Asni” hotel bombings in Marrakech, when the late King Hassan II imposed a visa on Algerians to enter the country, which prompted Algeria at the time to close the land borders. Between the two countries, this tension was also perpetuated by the severing of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Africa's new and perennial challenges

The African continent is a state of flux as it seeks to adjust to the new multipolar world order. 

Many African leaders attended the Russia-Africa Summit hosted by Putin in Russia this week. This week also saw another military takeover of the government, the removal of the president of Niger.

Algeria will support Niger in case of external military aggression, according to the Algerian publication Intel Kirby.

They reported on the potential invasion of Niger under the leadership of ECOWAS, stating that Algeria will not remain idle while its neighboring country faces an invasion.

There were already unconfirmed reports that the Algerian army has started increasing security measures and raising its level of readiness on the border with Niger.

Iran's new missile: "Abu Mahdi", the first Iranian long-range cruise missile that uses artificial intelligence

Iran's new missile: "Abu Mahdi", the first Iranian long-range cruise missile that uses artificial intelligence

    Friday, July 28, 2023   No comments

The missile was named after Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy head of the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces, who was assassinated by the United States in early 2020, accompanied by Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, on the road to Baghdad airport.

It is a generation of Iranian ground-based cruise missiles such as the "Sumar" and "Hoveizeh", which have a range of 1,350 km. It is also an advanced version of cruise missiles owned by the Iranian Navy, with a range of 15 to 350 kilometers, including "Kawthar", "Zafar", "Qadir", "Raad" and "Naseer".

Production history

In June 2020, the former commander of the Iranian Army Navy, Amir Khanzadi, revealed that his country had produced a long-range naval missile, which he called "Talaiya". But Iran changed its name on August 20 of the same year to "Abu Mahdi," and it was revealed that day during a military parade on the occasion of Iran's Defense Industry Day, in which the Ministry of Defense displayed a model of the missile with the word "paint" engraved on it.

The Ministry of Defense put the missile into service on July 25, 2023, and delivered dozens of winged models of it to the Army and Revolutionary Guard navy in the Gulf waters, in the presence of Defense Minister Mohammad Reza Ashtiani.

Ashtiani described the "Abu Mahdi" missile as "pointed, strategic and unique in its characteristics, and has no equal in overcoming the enemy's defense systems and completely destroying enemy ships, frigates and destroyers."

Technical Specifications

• Range: more than a thousand kilometers.
• Flight: at a low altitude with the help of radar altimeters, which complicates the interception process.
• Fuel: The fuel of the first engine is solid and the fuel of the second engine (jet) is liquid.
• Diameter: 55 centimeters.
• Number of wings: 9 rectangular wings with a circular head, four of which are clipped and fixed in the sacrum, and another 3 are at the end of the missile body, and two are in the middle of the main structure.

Tactical features

The most prominent tactical features mentioned by Iranian military leaders about the "Abi Mahdi" cruise missile were:

1. The use of artificial intelligence in the flight path design, command and control program.
2. Using the dual radar seeker technology to counter electronic warfare and stealth when approaching the target.
3. The use of explosives with high destructive power in the warhead.
4. The use of integrated and advanced navigation systems makes finding the launchers a difficult task for the enemy before launching the missile.
5. The ability to choose different ways to fly towards the target and attack it from different directions after turning around.
6. It is equipped with a "Tulu" jet engine, which has proven its usefulness in Karrar drones and cruise missiles of the "Nour", "Qader" and "Qadir" generation.
7. Equipped with a radar active homing head.
8. Overcoming enemy radars and passing through other natural and artificial obstacles.
9. Launching from all fixed and mobile platforms from the coast, and by submarines and naval battleships.
10. Preparation and launch in a very short time, maximum operating speed and quick reaction.
11. Several missiles can be launched from different directions towards a target and hit it simultaneously.
12. Capable of updating target final position in flight and managing target selection in the field.
13. The ability to change course and flight altitude according to the complexities of geography and enemy air systems.
14. High controllability.
15. The possibility of increasing the missile's range to distances of more than 1,000 km.

Ahmed's Chechen special forces fighting in Ukraine alongside Russia: Origins, Development, and mission

Ahmed's Chechen special forces fighting in Ukraine alongside Russia: Origins, Development, and mission

    Saturday, June 10, 2023   No comments

Chechen forces consisting of 4 battalions, named "Ahmad's forces" after the Chechen leader Akhmad Kadyrov, numbering 10,000 and carrying out several attacks in Ukrainian cities. They are considered semi-affiliated to the Russian army, although they include volunteers from outside the army.

On June 26, 2022, Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov announced his intention to form 4 special Chechen military battalions, and declared their subordination to the Chechen Ministry of Defense.

It is 4 battalions (Ahmed North, Ahmed South, Ahmed East, and Ahmed West). He added that these battalions will include huge numbers of Chechen fighters exclusively, and they will join the ranks of the Russian Ministry of Defense forces.

The Chechen president gave the four battalions the name of his father Ahmed, also known as the "Akhmat" forces in a special symbolism for him, and a motivator for the Chechen soldiers, especially since Akhmad Kadyrov is considered a patriotic leader in Chechnya.

The Ukrainian media believes that Ahmed's special forces are "terrifying", as they are the only forces from outside Russia and Ukraine that participate directly in the war, while the rest of the countries other than Chechnya are satisfied with providing logistical support, especially the European countries that support Ukraine.

Ahmed's Chechen Special Forces were formed to support Russia in its war on Ukraine, and it consists of 10 thousand soldiers, and it represents part of the Chechen army, as it is headed by General Apti Alaudinov.

The brigades are armed with the latest and most powerful Russian weapons, as some newspapers indicated that they have Russian tanks and vehicles.

All Chechen Ahmed forces' vehicles bear the letter "Z" in English, which is the emblem of support for the Russian forces in Ukraine.

The "Ahmed Forces" brigades have rituals and traditions that they are keen on before all the operations that they carry out, including that a muezzin calls the call to prayer among the members, and they perform what they call the "conquest prayer" and then enter the Ukrainian cities to "liberate" them from what Ramzan Kadyrov calls "neo-Nazis."

One of the rituals of the "Ahmed Brigades" is also the takbeer, and it is a firm tradition for it, and it has a special song entitled "Akhmat Sila", whose words glorify the strength of the "Caucasus" fighters, and praise the "knights" and are proud of their cooperation and brotherhood.

On May 7, 2023, the founder of the Russian Wagner Forces, Yevgeny Prigozhin, announced his readiness to hand over the sites in the city of Artyomovsk to Ahmed's Chechen forces.

On February 13, 2023, the Chechen president announced the attempted poisoning of his aide and commander of Ahmed's special forces, Alaudinov.

And this was after Alaeddinov received, on the eighth of February, an envelope containing a letter, which later turned out to be saturated with a toxic substance.

In March, the commander of Ahmed's special forces said he had "not fully recovered yet, because it takes a long time."

In June 2023, Kadyrov announced that Akhmed's special forces were preparing to launch a new offensive in Donetsk.

He also added on his Telegram channel, "A regiment has been appointed under my command, and two other regiments, in preparation for active offensive actions," and emphasized the efficiency of Ahmed's special forces, and their ability to perform any task assigned to them.

On the part of the commander of the forces, General Alaudinov said, "If we are transferred to the Donetsk direction, I guarantee that the (Ahmed) special forces will do everything for the liberation of the Donetsk People's Republic."

US intelligence was informed of the Ukrainian plan to bomb Nord Stream.. It was carried out by Ukrainian military divers working directly under the command of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces

US intelligence was informed of the Ukrainian plan to bomb Nord Stream.. It was carried out by Ukrainian military divers working directly under the command of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces

    Tuesday, June 06, 2023   No comments

The Washington Post reported today, Tuesday, that three months before the Nord Stream pipeline bombing, "Nord Stream", the administration of US President Joe Biden learned from a close ally that the Ukrainian military had planned the secret attack.

The newspaper quoted US intelligence information suspected of being leaked earlier this year by a computer expert who holds a job in the Air National Guard and has access to many highly classified materials.

"The Kiev authorities developed the plan after a reconnaissance operation carried out by a small team of divers who reported directly to the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Navy," it added.

The leaked documents indicated that an unnamed European intelligence agency had informed the CIA in June 2022, four months after the Russian military operation in Ukraine, that Ukrainian military divers working directly under the command of the country's commander-in-chief were planning the attack.

And the newspaper continued: “European intelligence reports were shared on the Discord chat platform, which were allegedly by US Air National Guard soldier, Jack Teixeira, and the Washington Post obtained a copy from one of his online friends.”

And she confirmed that the intelligence reports were based on information from a Ukrainian element, adding that the CIA shared the report with Germany and other European countries last June.

Specific details included numbers of operatives and attack methods, according to The Washington Post. This means that for about a year, the Western allies had a basis to suspect Kiev of sabotage. This assessment is further reinforced in recent months "when German investigators uncovered evidence that the bombing bore clear similarities to what the European service said Ukraine was planning."

A few days ago, the German newspaper "Der Spiegel" confirmed that there is new evidence in the investigation indicating Ukraine's involvement in sabotage operations targeting the two "Nord Stream" gas pipelines.

The newspaper reported that the metadata of e-mail messages, which were sent during the charter of the boat, indicated the involvement of Ukraine, pointing to the finding in the yacht of traces of the explosive “HMX” substance, which is very widespread in the west as in the previous block in the east.

Numerous underwater explosions ruptured the newly built Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines connecting Russia and Germany across the Baltic Sea on September 26, 2022.

The explosions occurred in the economic regions of Sweden and Denmark. Both countries say the bombings were deliberate, but have not yet determined who was responsible. The two countries, as well as Germany, are investigating the incident.

Washington and NATO described the incident as an "act of sabotage", while Moscow blamed the West. Neither side provided evidence of the perpetrator of the attacks.

    In related news, the attacks inside Russia and the attack on the dam might be the next crises the West will be forced to manage. 

Just like the Nord Stream explosion, Ukrainian officials denied responsibility and blamed Russia. However, for the incursions inside Russian territories, the armed group was shown to have used Western provided weapons. Western countries said that they provided these weapons on the conditions that are not used to carry out attacks inside Russia. Ukrainian officials have denied any connections. However, if it turns out that Ukraine is involved, the West will have a problem of credibility no matter how one looks at it. Either they are not insisting to Ukrainians on these conditions and don't care; or Ukrainian officials agree to the terms and violate them. In either case, NATO nation-states and Western supporters of the government in Kiev will have to decide how to manage these problems of credibility and loss of control over supplied weapons.

Russian leaders seem to take it one step at the time. The Russian Foreign Ministry summoned the Belgian ambassador to Moscow.

“On June 6, Belgian Ambassador to Moscow M. Michilsen was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry, who was strongly protested in connection with the revealed facts of the use of Belgian-made weapons by sabotage groups that carried out terrorist attacks on the territory of the Belgorod Region on May 22,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

Ukrainian Counteroffensive is on and using dams as weapons of war

Ukrainian Counteroffensive is on and using dams as weapons of war

    Tuesday, June 06, 2023   No comments

According to Russian officials, the Ukrainian army started its counteroffensive two days ago. The Russian ministry of defense released its tally of the two days of action.

Meanwhile, both sides blame each other for the partial destruction of a major dam that could have significant impact on civilian populations and the environment. The next few days will bring more details.
Here is a summary of what has been put in the public domain thus far.

From the Russian Ministry of Defense:

Within three days , the Ukrainian regime launched a long-promised offensive on different sectors of the front , concentrating a large amount of equipment and manpower for this purpose.

On June 4, the forces of the 23rd and 31st mechanized brigades of the AFU attempted an offensive in five areas.

The enemy did not achieve success on any of them, suffered significant losses : 300 military personnel, 16 tanks, 26 armored combat vehicles, 14 vehicles.

On June 5 , the Kiev regime attempted an offensive in seven directions with the forces of five brigades. It was stopped , suffered even more significant losses: more than 1,600 military personnel, 28 tanks, including 8 Leopards and 3 AMX-10 wheeled tanks, 136 units of other military equipment, including 79 foreign ones.

Attempts to attack were thwarted, the enemy was stopped, Russian soldiers and officers showed courage and heroism in battles .

I repeat, the enemy did not achieve his goals, suffered significant and incomparable losses.

The units of the 433rd motorized rifle regiment of the 127th motorized rifle division, the 37th and 60th motorized rifle brigades have distinguished themselves in battle, showing perseverance and stamina.

Special heroism was shown by the 3rd company of the 37th motorized rifle brigade under the command of junior lieutenant Yuri Yurievich Zhelanov and the commander of the 1st battalion of the same brigade, Major Vladimir Vladimirovich Polozhentsev.

These units, being in the direction of the main attack, staunchly defended their positions and inflicted significant losses on the superior forces of the enemy's 37th Marine Brigade . Under the threat of encirclement, Junior lieutenant Zhelanov, being wounded, took his company to pre-equipped defensive positions, where he successfully stopped the advancing enemy units.

It is especially necessary to note the skillful actions of our operational-tactical, attack and army aviation . They used 50 anti-tank guided missiles . As a result , 5 tanks and 29 other armored fighting vehicles were destroyed.

 In just 3 days of hostilities in all directions, the losses of the armed forces of Ukraine amounted to 3,715 military personnel, 52 tanks, 207 armored combat vehicles, 134 vehicles, 5 aircraft, 2 helicopters, 48  field artillery guns and 53 unmanned aerial vehicles.

 Unfortunately, it was not without our losses. In total, 71 servicemen were killed and 210 were injured during the repulse of the enemy offensive in the Joint Group of Forces. We also lost: 15 tanks, 9 infantry fighting vehicles, 2 vehicles and 9 guns.

 Tonight, the Kiev regime committed another terrorist crime : the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station was blown up , which led to the flooding of large areas. The purpose of these actions , according to available data, is as follows .

 Having not achieved success in offensive operations , in order to strengthen its potential, the enemy intends to transfer units and equipment from the Kherson direction to the area of its offensive operations , thus significantly weakening its positions in the Kherson direction .  The enemy began to build defensive positions on the right bank of the Dnepr , which indicates his intention to go on the defensive here.

 In order to prevent offensive actions of the Russian army on this sector of the front , the Kiev regime carried out a sabotage , in fact, a terrorist act , which led to the flooding of large areas and will have severe and long-term environmental consequences.

 In addition, according to available data, the discharge of water from the Dnepropetrovsk hydroelectric power station has been significantly increased , which leads to even more flooding of the territories.

 This fact indicates a large-scale sabotage planned in advance by the Kiev regime.

 Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, Sergei Shoigu.

A secret meeting of the leaders of the world's major intelligence services in Singapore

A secret meeting of the leaders of the world's major intelligence services in Singapore

    Sunday, June 04, 2023   No comments

Five people told Reuters that senior officials from about two dozen of the world's top intelligence agencies held a secret meeting on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Security Dialogue meetings in Singapore earlier this week.

They added that these meetings are organized by the Singapore government and held secretly in a separate location, as well as the security summit for several years. These meetings have not been previously disclosed.

US Director of National Intelligence Avril Heinz participated in the secret meeting representing the United States, while China was among the countries present, despite the state of tension between the two great powers.

An Indian source said Samant Goel, director of India's intelligence service, Research and Analysis Wing, also attended the meeting.

“The meeting is an important component of the international shadow agenda,” said a person familiar with the discussions. “Looking at the group of countries involved, this is not an intelligence meeting, but rather a way to advance a deeper understanding of the intent.”

"There is an unspoken code among the intelligence services that they can talk when they find it difficult to communicate and engage in diplomacy," he said. "It's a very important factor during times of tension, and the Singapore meeting helps reinforce that."

The five sources who discussed the meetings declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter.

A spokesman for Singapore's Ministry of Defense said that while attending the Shangri-La Security Dialogue, "participants, including senior officials from intelligence agencies, take the opportunity to meet with their counterparts".

He added, "The Ministry of Defense in Singapore may facilitate some of these bilateral or multilateral meetings... Participants consider that these meetings held on the sidelines of the (dialogue) are useful."

The Minister of Defense of Mali is visiting Iran, on an official visit aimed at strengthening inter-military relations between the two countries

The Minister of Defense of Mali is visiting Iran, on an official visit aimed at strengthening inter-military relations between the two countries

    Wednesday, May 31, 2023   No comments

On Monday, Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Ashtiani received his Malian counterpart, Sadio Camara, in Tehran, on an official visit aimed at strengthening military relations.

Ashtiani stressed that after the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, his country continued to develop its relations with Islamic and independent countries in Africa, including Mali, which he described as "playing an important role in the African region."

He stressed that cooperation with Islamic countries in Africa is one of the priorities of Iranian foreign policy, and that, in accordance with this policy, the Iranian Ministry of Defense has made efforts to interact with the state of Mali.

The Iranian Minister of Defense also praised the position of the Mali government in support of Palestine and its people, describing Mali's insistence in supporting the Palestinian cause as "a shining example of defending the oppressed."

Referring to the convening of the first joint economic cooperation committee between the two countries, last year, Brigadier General Ashtiani shared the recent economic developments between Iran and Mali.

The Iranian Defense Minister pointed out that the presence of the financial delegation headed by the Minister of Defense to Tehran shows the intention of the financial authorities to develop bilateral relations with Iran.

Ashtiani pointed to the pursuit of some Western countries behind "colonial goals and creating tensions," to justify the reasons for their military presence in Africa.

He explained that although the clear policy of Western countries is to "establish security," they "feed the spread of terrorism under their control in independent African countries, such as Mali," and pointed out that this was to justify and legitimize their presence in the region, in internal affairs. for these countries.

The Iranian minister also stated that "the Islamic Republic of Iran respects the decision of the government and nation of Mali regarding the diversification of its international partners, and considers it a sign of a good understanding of international developments," stressing that Iran "will spare no effort in strengthening Mali's defense capabilities against the threats of terrorist groups."

For his part, Malian Defense Minister Sadio Camara expressed his satisfaction with Iran's visit, explaining that the aim of this visit is to strengthen and consolidate bilateral relations.

He also referred to the experiences achieved by Iran in the field of combating terrorism, as well as the popular role and the involvement of citizens in achieving their security, asking for benefit from Iranian experiences in this field.

Camara criticized Western colonialism, as well as the security trends of some West African countries, considering them destabilizing, stressing that "the people and government in the Republic of Mali have decided to preserve their sovereignty, security and self-determination," noting that Iran's experiences and support are very valuable to Mali.

An Israeli Institute for Studies publishes a video about a secret Iranian drone base dedicated to carrying out the “swarm attack”

An Israeli Institute for Studies publishes a video about a secret Iranian drone base dedicated to carrying out the “swarm attack”

    Wednesday, May 17, 2023   No comments

The Israeli “Alma” research institute published a video clip that monitors details, which it said is of a secret base for Iranian drones dedicated to carrying out large-scale attacks, or the so-called “swarm attack.”

According to the video, which was published by the Institute on its official page on “Twitter”, yesterday, Tuesday, the base of the Iranian marches is located underground in a mountainous area around the city of Shiraz, southern Iran.

The institute stated that the march base is located about 16 kilometers from an Iranian army air base, noting that it could threaten any country in the Middle East if Iran decided to use it at any time, according to the Russian “Sputnik” agency.

According to the explanatory video published by the institute, the base has about 5 launch silos inside the rocks, each of which has 3 launchers.

The video also indicated that there are tunnels intended for loading vehicles to reach the base of the marches, which are estimated to be 3 kilometers long inside the mountain.

The video pointed out that the air base near the base is dedicated to securing the area using the Russian Su-24MK fighter.

And the Israeli research institute says that Iran has offensive drones that can reach a range of two thousand kilometers, which means that it can reach Israel and bypass it.

Iran has become among the best countries in the world to manufacture drones locally, especially by providing them with technologies that allow them to be used in carrying out the "swarm attack", which represents one of the most dangerous offensive tactics in modern warfare.

It is noteworthy that the Iranian army announced, last April, that it had received more than 200 strategic drones, to enhance its capabilities in the drone force.

Iran’s Inside man who sold secret information to Britain's MI6 for power and greed

Iran’s Inside man who sold secret information to Britain's MI6 for power and greed

    Monday, May 01, 2023   No comments

 In April of 2008, a senior British intelligence official traveled to Tel Aviv, in addition to several European capitals, with the aim of conveying unusual information to his counterparts.

The British official said that Britain has a spy in Iran who has access to the country's nuclear and security secrets.

The identity of the spy remained unknown for many years, but at the beginning of this year, with the execution by hanging of former Deputy Minister of Defense Ali Reza Akbari, who was convicted of espionage, what had been kept secret for 15 years was revealed, as Akbari was the British spy.

In a comprehensive investigative article published by The New York Times, in which journalist Ronen Bergman, a journalist for Yedioth Ahronoth, participated, it was revealed that Akbari was responsible for delivering the most important piece of information that came from Iran, which is the existence of an underground enrichment site in Fordo, according to the “Acre” website.

Over the years, Akbari lived a double life. He was known to the Iranian public as a religious fanatic, political hawk, senior commander in the Revolutionary Guards, deputy defense minister, and later moved to London and the private sector, but he never lost the confidence of the leadership in Tehran.

  But in 2004, according to sources, he began sharing Iran's nuclear secrets with Britain's MI6 intelligence service.

European intelligence officials said Akbari provided important information, and continued to do so for years. The intelligence proved crucial to dispelling suspicions in the West that Iran was indeed seeking nuclear weapons. The information Akbari provided convinced the world to impose heavy sanctions on Tehran.

Akbari was arrested in 2019 after Iran discovered with the help of Russian intelligence that he was the one who revealed the existence of a secret Iranian nuclear program deep in the mountains near Tehran.

In addition to revealing nuclear and security secrets, Iran claimed that Akbari revealed the identity and activities of more than 100 high-ranking officials, the most important of whom was Mohsen Fahrzadeh, “the father of the Iranian nuclear program,” who was liquidated in 2020 in an operation attributed to Israel.

Britain has never publicly admitted that Akbari, who became a British citizen in 2012 and has been described by Iranian media as a "veteran spy", had spied for it.

A British Foreign Office spokesman said: "We do not comment on intelligence matters, as this has always been our policy."

The US State Department and the US National Security Council did not respond to questions on this matter.

In September 2019, The New York Times reported that the source of the intelligence about the Purdue nuclear site was a British spy.

Britain transferred that information to Germany, the United States and Israel.

Akbari was a teenager at the time of the Iranian revolution in 1979, and he joined the army and left it after six years. Akbari also advanced quickly in the leadership ladder until he was appointed Deputy Minister of Defense and worked as an advisor to the Supreme National Security Council, and he had close relations with two senior figures in Iran, namely the nuclear scientist Fahrzadeh, Ali Shamkhani, former defense minister and head of the Supreme Security Council.

In eight short videos shown on state television after his execution, Akbari is seen describing his espionage operations and how he was recruited by Britain.

The motives behind his actions remain unknown, but he said in one of the videos that he did so out of “greed and power” while denying that he was in financial difficulty.

In the videos, Akbari said he was recruited in 2004 and a year later he traveled to Britain and met his handler at MI6.

In the years that followed, Akbari opened companies in Austria, Spain and Britain to serve as a cover for his meetings with his operators, and Iran said MI6 paid Akbari $2.4 million.

Akbari retired from his official duties in 2008, but continued to serve as an advisor to Shamkhani and other officials.

Akbari's brother said that in the same year Akbari was arrested for four months on charges of spying for Britain, but several senior officials testified on his behalf and he was released on bail and the case was closed.

According to a former senior German intelligence official, in April 2008 Britain received information about the Perdue site, a uranium enrichment site built on a mountainside that was part of Iran's plan to develop a nuclear reactor.

The Perdue revelations changed the world's understanding of Iran's nuclear program and led to the development of military and cyber programs to deal with it.

In September 2009, then-US President Barack Obama revealed that Fordo is an enrichment site.

Western intelligence agencies had long known about it from satellite images showing underground construction work in Fordo but thought it was a military equipment storage facility and did not know it had become a secret nuclear site.

Akbari was a frequent traveler between Tehran and London, and in 2010 he claimed that he had a heart attack and remained living in London, and then his wife and two daughters joined him and he was subsequently granted citizenship.

During his confession, Akbari said he faked his heart attack in order to stay in Britain, and subsequently traveled to Iran at least three times.

In 2019, Akbari traveled to Iran for the last time, and this happened after the head of the Supreme National Security Council, Shamkhani, informed him that the council needed him in an urgent security and nuclear issue. A few days after his arrival in Tehran, he was summoned by the intelligence and arrested.

According to Iranian officials who spoke to the New York Times, it was the Russian intelligence services that revealed to Iran that Akbari was a spy and he was the one who revealed the secret of the Fordo enrichment site.

Strong reaction by Medvedev to South Korea's readiness to supply Kiev with weapons: What will the South Koreans say if Russian weapons reach their northern neighbor?

Strong reaction by Medvedev to South Korea's readiness to supply Kiev with weapons: What will the South Koreans say if Russian weapons reach their northern neighbor?

    Wednesday, April 19, 2023   No comments

It would seem that Russian leader have a counter-move to every move by Western countries who are increasing or thinking about increasing their support to Ukraine. To this end, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev commented on South Korean President Yoon Sok Yul's statement of his country's readiness to supply weapons to the Kiev regime. He asked: What will the South Koreans say if Russian weapons reach their northern neighbor?

This came in a post by Medvedev on his official channel on the “Telegram” application, where he wrote: There are new people willing to help our enemies, as South Korean President Yoon Sok Yul said that this country, in principle, is ready to supply weapons to the Kiev regime.

And this is given that the South Koreans have been asserting strongly, until recently, that the possibility of supplying Kiev with lethal weapons is completely excluded.

What will the people of this country say when they see the latest Russian weapons designs in their closest neighbours, our partners from North Korea?

This is called bartering.

The Kremlin said on Wednesday that South Korea's provision of military aid to Ukraine would mean Seoul's participation in the conflict to some extent.

Here is a translation of his statement:

There are new ones willing to help our enemies. South Korean President Yun Sok-yeol said that, in principle, this state is ready to supply weapons to the Kyiv regime. 

Moreover, until recently, the South Koreans ardently assured that the possibility of supplying lethal weapons to Kyiv was completely ruled out.

I wonder what the inhabitants of this country will say when they see the latest designs.

Russian weapons from their closest neighbors - our partners from the DPRK?

What is called 

Quid pro quo…

War News In Review: Is there going to be a Ukrainian spring offensive this year?

War News In Review: Is there going to be a Ukrainian spring offensive this year?

    Monday, April 17, 2023   No comments

Since Russian troops pulled back from the Kherson region west of the Dnipro River, Ukrainian politicians built a narrative about a counter offensive that would result in their troops taking back Crimea. It was convincing enough of a sales pitch that many previously hesitant NATO nations decided to supply the Ukrainian government with almost everything they asked for, including advanced tanks, guided missiles, and more ammunitions.

The counteroffensive that was supposed to start late in winter was rebranded as the Spring Offensive. Halfway through spring 2023, and no major Ukrainian troop movement has been detected anywhere in the frontlines except the redirection of elite troops to defend the Russian offensive already underway in Bakhmut and Avdeeva (Avdiivka) fronts. 

From studying the control maps compiled by multiple sources, including Ukrainian activists, over the past three months (not the year), for every square mile reclaimed by Ukrainian forces, Russian forces gained more than 100 square miles. Importantly, the gained territories are cities and towns, including Bakhmut and Avdeeva, turned by the armed forces of Ukraine into shielded fortresses, protective trenches, and secretive tunnels and underground bunkers.

Over the past year, the only zone Russian troops were forced out of because of a Ukrainian offensive was in the northeast region of the Donbass region—Kharkiv front. There, Russian troops were pushed back from areas they wanted to control. Russian generals believed that the loss there was due to their forces being spread too thin over a long active frontline. 

The generals who suffered the loss were rotated out and new generals were appointed, many of whom had experience fighting urban warfare in Syria. Soon after taking over command, they recommended the creation of fortified, defensible frontlines. The plan was approved and troops were pulled to the west side of the major river dividing Ukraine into the Western territories and the eastern territories—Dnipro River. Russian generals did not just use the Dnipro River as a defensive line that separated them from Ukrainian troops, they destroyed the bridges once they moved to the east side; they conducted a similar tactical retreat in the northeast using the Oskil River to limit a massive attack by Ukrainian troops. These moves essentially cut the open active frontlines by about 40%, leaving them with only 60% of contact space, to which they allocated more resources.

In fact, it is conceivable that the gains in Bakhmut and Avdiivka were made possible by the adjustments made in Kharkiv and Kherson Oblasts—thanks to the use of natural barriers, rivers and dams, to make any large-scale attack by Ukrainian troops very risky and manageable by fewer Russian troops while the majority are utilized elsewhere. This worked in favor of Russia since it needed time to train and equip the newly mobilized troops--about 300,000 of them, many are still going through specialized training.

Russian troops have also learned from their mistakes during the early days of the military operation. They realized that drones, though have limited effects compared to fighter jets, they can nonetheless inflict huge damage on troops bogged down in open spaces.

Ukrainian troops were able to inflict some losses using Turkish drones; Ukrainians even made a song about the Bayraktar TB2 Drones. From that experience, Russians learned that cheap drones can in fact change the outcomes of battles and they can inflict crippling damage on exposed troops marching on the offense. Russian leaders not only reached out to allies to purchase drones, which was quickly used, but they ramped up production of their own drones and guided ammunition.

When all this is taken together, it becomes clear that moving heavy war machines to retake territories, in the presence of cheap drones and guided missiles that can be launched from afar, is very risky. Even if Ukraine receives enough of the promised tanks from US, EU, and NATO, these tanks will be vulnerable especially when they have to be moved across river and open spaces.

For Ukrainian troops to retake Crimea, they will have to use a large number of armored vehicles and tanks and they have to be able to cross the mentioned natural barriers. This makes the Zaporizhzhia frontline the likely path for launching an attack southward.

Ukrainian politicians may have set the bar too high for themselves. Perhaps they had to do so to be able to get more weapons from their NATO allies. However, now that they have received the weapons they asked for, they must show that they can deliver on their promises.

From what is known from the data in the public domain, if they do undertake a massive counteroffensive, they will lose the battle and such a loss may decide the outcome of the war. But because of the rhetoric they put out, and the support they received, it is possible that they know that the outcome of the war will be decided this year one way or another. That does not mean that the war will end this year; but the direction of the war will be decided this year. If a pridiction must be made, then it can be concluded that there will be no Ukrainian spring offensive this year that will result in Ukrainian forces taking back Crimean or any other major regions; and if Ukrainians muster one, they will lose the war because of it.

 

 

In a move that gives meaning to "borderless" partnership, the Kremlin announces Putin's meeting with the Chinese Defense Minister in Moscow

In a move that gives meaning to "borderless" partnership, the Kremlin announces Putin's meeting with the Chinese Defense Minister in Moscow

    Sunday, April 16, 2023   No comments

 Russia's Tass news agency quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying that Russian President Vladimir Putin held a working meeting with Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu in Moscow on Sunday.

Beijing announced Li's visit to Moscow last week, saying he would meet defense officials, but made no mention of his meeting with Putin.

Peskov told TASS news agency that details of the meeting would be published later.

On Sunday, Chinese Defense Minister Li Changfu praised relations with Moscow during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin.

"We have very strong relations," he said, in translated remarks carried by Russian television. It transcends military and political alliances during the Cold War era.. It is very stable.”

Russia and China announced a "borderless" partnership and tended to consolidate their economic, political and military relations since Moscow sent tens of thousands of its forces to Ukraine in February 2022.

A senior official in Kiev said on Friday that Ukrainian forces were finding an increasing number of components from China in Russian weapons used in Ukraine. China has repeatedly denied sending military equipment to Russia.

Translation of Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu statements after the meeting with Putin: 

“We have a very strong relationship. They are superior to the military-political alliances of the Cold War, built on the principles of non-alignment, non-opposition to a third party. They are very stable. Under the strategic leadership of you and Xi Jinping, we are developing cooperation in practical areas, and our relationship has already entered a new era. And we understand the responsibility that lies with our powers. Especially considering that the biggest change in a 100 years is now taking place. We stand shoulder to shoulder and work to improve the well-being of our peoples. Whereas the economic recovery is very slow. The world is very restless, peace and peaceful relations between countries are in great demand.”

A Translation of Putin's response: 

“You arrived in Russia after a visit to our country by our great friend, my friend, President of the People's Republic of China Comrade Xi Jinping. I want to emphasize once again that the visit was very productive. We also touched upon, of course, cooperation between military departments. There is a very good development of relations between our countries in all areas, in the economy, social, cultural and educational sectors. Through the military departments, we are working actively, regularly exchanging information useful to us, cooperating in the field of military-technical cooperation, conducting joint exercises, moreover, in different theaters: in the Far East region, and in Europe, both at sea and on land, and in the air. I think that this is, of course, another important area that strengthens the exclusively trusting, strategic nature of relations between Russia and China.”

China's Taiwan Strategy is about Isolating the island and claiming the space around it for China

China's Taiwan Strategy is about Isolating the island and claiming the space around it for China

    Saturday, April 08, 2023   No comments

Aware of the cost of war experienced by Russia, China seems to have a different strategy for taking back Taiwan: it is about isolating the island and claiming the space around it for China.

China seems to be methodically increasing its preparedness to isolate Taiwan and subdue it without military invasion

China practiced maneuvers to encircle Taiwan during military exercises near the island. 

The military also conducted exercises to seize dominance at sea and in the air.

This was announced by the command of the People's Liberation Army of China.

Meanwhile, the Taiwanese Defense Ministry said it had detected 71 Chinese aircraft approaching the island as PLA military exercises were taking place around the island. They will last until April 10th.

 

Russia is now planning for long lasting war

Russia is now planning for long lasting war

    Thursday, April 06, 2023   No comments

 

The images coming out of Russia suggest that Russian leaders are now convinced that the conflict in Ukraine is going to drag for years and to sustain that, they are allocating resources to the production of modern weapons systems, most of which are designed for the kind of war that is fought in a place like Ukraine.

This must be bad news for NATO nations that have complained recently about their weapons’ supplies running low; some even complained that the Ukrainian military is being careless with the weapons and systems they are receiving. Images of western equipment destroyed or abandoned in the battle field has raised concerns.