1/ Russian troops have been forbidden to ride in vehicles that don't have electronic warfare equipped, but there's a shortage of EW devices. To get around this, Russian soldiers are reportedly painting plastic dishwashing bowls and sticking them on the roofs of their vehicles. ⬇️
2/ The 'Two Majors' Telegram channel reports:
"In a certain kingdom, the enemy began to hit equipment with drones. Then the soldiers were forbidden to ride in the equipment if there was no miracle electronic warfare system on the roof."
3/ "And the military police were strictly told to watch for external signs of electronic warfare on the vehicles, so that the soldiers would take care of themselves.
4/ "But they have to ride. The army is moving forward, they can't carry ammunition and food on donkeys, and other types of supplies.
5/ "What to do? They ordered electronic warfare, but while it was coming, while they were cutting it off, while they were installing it... They took plastic basins and covered them with "secret paint that deflects enemy drones."
6/ "At the same time, it looks like it's an electronic warfare system, and now the military police posts frown from afar, but let them through: there is a yellow [dome] on the roof, which means there is order.
7/ "Well, then they finally got through to their senses after a couple of weeks, and that requirement naturally disappeared."
1/ The US government has ordered the Swedish city of Stockholm to end its diversity, inclusivity and equality (DEI) programmes within 10 days. The city authorities say the demand is "bizarre" and they won't be complying. ⬇️
2/ The Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter reports that the Stockholm city planning office has received a letter from the US embassy explaining that every organisation doing business with the US government must sign a contract within a few days and agree to end their DEI programmes.
3/ Since February 2025, US embassies around the world have been sending letters to local contractors making similar demands. This seems to be the first time that it's been reported that a similar letter has been sent to a foreign government organisation.
1/ THE SINKING OF MOSKVA, PART 6: The Russian missile cruiser Moskva participated in Russia's invasion of Ukraine for only 48 days before being sunk. Her logbook, published here in English for the first time, gives a granular account of her activities. ⬇️
2/ This is the final instalment of a 6-part series of threads. For the first part, describing events leading up to the missile strikes that sunk Moskva on 13 April 2022, see below.
1/ THE SINKING OF MOSKVA, PART 5: In this penultimate thread on the sinking of the Russian missile cruiser Moskva on 13-14 April 2022, we'll look at how Moskva was nearly decommissioned because of her poor condition before being reactivated in time for the invasion of Ukraine. ⬇️
2/ For part 1, describing events leading up to the missile strikes, see the thread below.
1/ Here's how insane Trump's newly announced movie tariff is. As announced, it would apply to US productions filmed outside the US, as well as purely foreign-made films (which are often made with US involvement).
2/ So let's take the upcoming Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. It's been filmed primarily here in the UK, with United Kingdom, with Malta, South Africa and Norway also used. It cost $400 million to make - one of the most expensive films ever.
3/ Trump's tariff would apply a 100% tax to the production cost. So a $400m production would face an approximately $400m tariff charge, doubling the cost to the studio. Great for the US Treasury, right?
1/ THE SINKING OF MOSKVA, PART 4: The Russian Black Sea flagship Moskva sank on 14 April 2022 after being hit by two Ukrainian missiles the day before, inflicting the Russian Navy's biggest loss in 80 years. This thread looks at possible lessons learned from the sinking. ⬇️
2/ For part 1, describing events leading up to the missile strikes, see the thread below.
1/ THE SINKING OF MOSKVA, PART 3: After being struck by Ukrainian missiles on 13 April, the Russian missile cruiser Moskva was abandoned and left to drift burning overnight. This thread tells the story of the ship's final hours, and what happened next. ⬇️
2/ These threads are based on a newly published dossier compiled by Dmitry Shkrebets, the father of a conscript sailor who died in the attack on Moskva. For part 1, describing events leading up to the missile strikes, see the thread below.