Europe still does not fully understand the threat posed by Russia. There has been growing talk of a possible attack on the Baltic states, but in reality, this threat is minimal - and the real danger lies elsewhere. Putin has found a grey zone, and so far it brings far
1/18 greater benefits than any ground operation could. NATO has spent its entire existence preparing for a conventional war with infantry and tanks, but the main threat today is hybrid warfare. There is no need to launch missiles to paralyze airports or completely collapse
2/18

Russian actions around NATO borders and within its territories are becoming increasingly aggressive, and talk of a possible Russian attack on alliance members is growing. Russia is testing reactions to provocations, and so far NATO has responded with restraint. This is
1/17 understandable, since a downed aircraft could serve as a casus belli for Russia. Moreover, it will give propaganda an opportunity to call people to rally around the national leader Putin to confront the “NATO threat” with which Russians have been frightened for years.
2/17

Russia is frightened by the upcoming potential supply of American weapons, such as Tomahawk missiles, to Ukraine. It's difficult to predict what actions will follow the statements from White House officials, but the shift in rhetoric is indeed alarming Russia. Instead of the
1/6 usual threats Lavrov issued at the UN in response to the plan to shoot down Russian aircraft violating its borders, Peskov was reserved in his comments. "The question remains: who can launch these missiles, even if they end up on Kyiv regime territory? Can only Ukrainians
2/6

Russian publicist and blogger Yulia Latynina, who was placed under personal sanctions by Ukraine for participating in anti-Ukrainian propaganda, is receiving hundreds of thousands of euros for her Estonian structures, writes Postimees. This activity raises questions
1/15 considering how dramatically Latynina’s rhetoric has shifted over the years of full-scale war: from outright condemnation of the war she moved to ideas of Slavic unity and criticism of Ukrainian resistance. Yulia Latynina is a Russian publicist, writer, and video blogger.
2/15

Many people ask why Estonia did not shoot down the Russian MiGs that violated Estonian airspace. It’s very simple. Here is the list of Estonian air-defence assets we have available — ZU-23-2 23mm anti-aircraft cannons, Mistral man-portable surface-to-air missile launchers,
1/6 and Giraffe AMB fire-control radars. The Estonian sky is guarded by NATO air forces on a rotational basis. Right now those are Italian F-35s. Our approach to the Russian threat and Italy’s approach differ greatly. If an Estonian pilot were behind the stick of an F-35, they
2/6

Small arms manufactured in Russia and their ammunition are being sold to Italian criminal groups, reportedly using Russia’s shadow fleet, Italian outlet Linkiesta writes. Journalists found that new weapons without serial numbers, produced between 2010 and 2020 - including
1/6 assault and sniper rifles - are entering Italy from Russia. This is not a case of erased serial numbers but, according to a source cited by the publication, genuinely new weapons leaving the factory already unmarked. The small arms supplied to Italian groups are said to be
2/6

The EU is preparing to transfer most of the frozen Russian assets to Ukraine. The scheme is being developed so that the funds are handed over without formal confiscation. The EU plans to use the frozen assets held in depositories to purchase zero-interest EU bonds, with the
1/5 proceeds directed to Kyiv. Russia would only be able to reclaim the assets if it agrees to pay reparations to Ukraine. The amount in question is around €170 billion. Significantly, countries like Germany, along with France and Belgium—previously concerned that seizing
2/5

The discussed cancellation of tourist visas for Russians in the new package of European sanctions has caused a wave of outrage among the so-called Russian opposition. Yulia Navalnaya and her team submitted a petition to Brussels, calling to distinguish between “ordinary
1/15 Russians” and the “regime.” The Russian opposition should have long ago stopped being taken seriously. They are not concerned with the fate of Ukraine and they have no sense of responsibility for what is happening in their own country. The only thing that worries them is
2/15

The Russian army is facing a gasoline shortage in the occupied regions of Ukraine. About two weeks ago, a shortage of gasoline at gas stations began, and sales to private individuals were restricted. However, the Russian army in these areas often uses civilian gas stations,
1/10 frequently even refueling at its own expense. The reason is constant Ukrainian strikes on logistics. When a fuel truck arrives at the rear, a rush and crowd form, which Ukrainian reconnaissance drones detect and coordinate strikes on. On top of this, there are frequent cases
2/10

The economic crisis in Russia is worsening. The budget deficit already amounts to 5 trillion rubles for the first seven months of the year, or 3.4% of GDP. This figure is twice the planned value for the entire year, 1.7% of GDP. Today or tomorrow, data for August will be
1/11 published, and the number will be even higher. The main reason is the decline in oil and gas revenues. For the second month in a row, revenues remain at a record minimum of about 500 billion rubles per month, while 1 trillion rubles are needed to cover planned expenditures.
2/11

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit has shown that a power capable of posing an economic challenge to the US and the EU has taken shape in the world, and it is directed from Beijing. Putin arrived in China for a four-day visit. Such a long trip by the Russian
1/16 dictator is called, on the one hand, a triumph after his return from Alaska, where US President Trump solemnly welcomed him on the red carpet and did not impose sanctions. On the other hand, relations between Beijing and Moscow are not equal: China benefits from preventing
2/16

Europe once again demonstrates its toothlessness towards Russia. The incident with von der Leyen’s plane is a serious event, where the lives of everyone on board were put at risk. An excellent comment on this matter was written by Former Foreign Minister of Lithuania
1/11 Gabrielius Landsbergis: "Deeply concerned to hear about the deeply concerning GPS interference that diverted @vonderleyen 's flight. Europe stands united in expression of deep concerns and must commit to the deployment of ever-deepening concerns moving forward." Expressing
2/11

Russia’s budget deficit has surged to around ₽5 trillion (about $62.5 billion). That’s 130% of what was planned, and there are still four months left in the year. Another round of inflation is expected this autumn. The central bank’s decision to cut the key interest rate
1/12 in June has triggered a new problem—a sharp increase in household debt. Russian consumers typically lack financial literacy, and in hard times they don’t cut back or save; instead, they live day to day, as if it’s their last, without thinking of the future. It’s the classic
2/12

Russia has carried out its first successful naval drone attack on the Ukrainian ship Simferopol. The Simferopol is a medium-sized Ukrainian reconnaissance vessel. The Russians struck the ship in the Danube River estuary. One sailor has been confirmed dead, while several
1/6 others are reported missing. A breach opened in the ship’s hull, causing it to capsize. The vessel was built on the hull of a Project 502EM fishing trawler and was launched in 2019. According to military sources, the strike was conducted by a newly formed unit of the Russian
2/6

The fuel crisis in Russia will most likely only get worse. The first Russian region — the Kuril district of the Sakhalin region — has completely stopped selling gasoline to the public. Now, only special transport can access it. Remote regions are suffering first, since
1/7 most of Russia’s refineries and storage facilities, as well as its industrial and economic centers, are concentrated in the western part of the country. With the increasing range of Ukrainian drones, fewer and fewer refineries remain operational. While there is still no
2/7

Systematic destruction of Russian oil refineries by Ukraine is not only a response to Russia’s aggression, but also a signal to the Trump administration: Ukraine cannot be bent. With Trump’s return to power, the U.S. has been seeking a peace deal with Russia, pressuring
1/17 Ukraine in the process. One of the first steps was a restriction on the use of American weapons against Russian territory, a policy approved by the previous administration. While not a formal ban, every ATACMS strike has to be cleared with the Pentagon, which simply does not
2/17

Ukrainian sanctions in the form of drones are working. The fuel crisis in Russia is worsening. The most difficult situation is in Primorye, affected by the influx of tourists. The authorities in Crimea admit the situation is critical. After a series of Ukrainian strikes
1/14 on oil refineries, they have gone into repair. Since the beginning of August alone, at least 7 Russian refineries have been attacked, four of which completely stopped operations – Novokuybyshevsk, Saratov, Volgograd, and Samara. The Ryazan refinery has lost more than half of
2/14

The past week can be considered a turning point in relations between the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine. Putin’s fiasco in Alaska and Zelensky’s success at the White House define the future of relations between these countries. For Trump, it is crucial to feel important and to be
1/11 at the center of attention. This is a trait of any narcissist. Until recently, he saw Russia as a superpower, but after six months of Putin constantly wiping his feet on him, the American president became deeply disappointed. Trump still has an obsessive idea in his head:
2/11

Putin, in calling for new negotiations, is counting on Trump to pause sanctions and pressure Ukraine. This is the sole purpose of the meeting in Alaska, and once again Trump has fallen for the same old bait. While Trump delays new sanctions in the hope of striking a deal with
1/7 dictator Putin, the EU is already working on a new sanctions package that could be introduced as early as September. During the informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in the “Gymnich” format on August 29–30 in Copenhagen—an event traditionally held every six months by the
2/7

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rules out the possibility of withdrawing Ukrainian troops from the unoccupied part of Donetsk region as a precondition for a complete ceasefire. “We will not leave Donbas. We cannot do that. For the Russians, Donbas is a bridgehead for a
1/5 future new offensive. A few years – and Putin will have an open path to Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions. And not only that. Also to Kharkiv. Right now, they want to give them about 9,000 square kilometers, which is about 30% of the entire Donetsk region (the size
2/5

Bad news is coming from the Pokrovsk direction, where Russian forces have broken through the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ defensive line and penetrated deep into the rear. The Russians are using small-unit tactics with groups of 3–5 men, which are difficult to track, in order to
1/10 infiltrate behind the lines, set up ambushes, carry out sabotage operations, and sow confusion among Ukraine’s defenders. These small groups are very hard to detect, as they use random cover and cloaks to avoid thermal cameras. Their survival rate is very low—about 80% of
2/10