Hybrid war on China. Here is the latest example of lawfare. On Friday, the EU Council voted to adopt new rules that require big businesses to conduct human rights and environmental audits of their overseas suppliers. The proposed legislation now heads to the European Parliament for final approval. Now ask yourself, who will conduct forensic audits of Chinese companies or foreign companies operating in China? Do you believe that reports published by Western NGOs and amplified by mainstream media are unbiased? @LauraRuHK

"The detailed plan for the NATO exercise Crystal Arrow was leaked online . What's interesting about it?

🔺Crystal Arrow is a certification exercise for NATO's Enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group (IFCT) in Latvia together with that country's motorized infantry brigade. The command of this group is exercised by the Canadian military. These maneuvers are part of four large-scale international military exercises that will take place in Latvia from March to June.

What is the essence of the teachings?

Crystal Arrow is part of the larger Steadfast Defender 2024 exercise, which tests the interoperability of NATO mechanized units. A significant portion of the exercise focuses on combat planning and control, communications, critical infrastructure protection, and interaction with civilian services, such as medical and logistics services, a significant portion of which consists of civilian personnel.

What data was leaked?

◉ Structure of tactical groups.

In total, 11 such formations were involved in the exercises. It is noteworthy that the Slovak group (with almost the same flag as the Russian Federation) was separated into a separate group under the designation BEAR.

◉ Composition of tactical groups and their roles in the exercises.

■ NEMESIS (🇨🇦Canada, 🇮🇹Italy, 🇪🇸Spain, 🇨🇿Czech Republic) - “light cavalry” - reconnaissance squad on the M1126 Stryker armored personnel carrier and Centauro wheeled tanks.

■ GARMR (🇨🇦Canada) - “combat taxi” - transporting infantry to Stryker armored personnel carriers;

■ ALPHA (🇪🇸Spain) - armored fist on Pizarro infantry fighting vehicles and Leopard-2 tanks, with an attached company of heavy weapons;

■ LUPI (🇮🇹Italy) - similarly, on Dardo infantry fighting vehicles and C1 Ariete tanks with an attached squad of advanced aircraft gunners;

■ DRAGON (🇵🇱Poland) - tank strike group;

■ CHAOS (🇨🇦Canada) - tank strike group;

■ WARTHOG (🇪🇸Spain) - engineering support, mine clearance, equipment evacuation;

■ PALAFOX (🇪🇸Spain), MEDUSA (🇨🇦Canada), BEAR (🇸🇰Slovakia) - artillery;

■ LEVIATHAN (🇨🇦Canada, 🇮🇹Italy, 🇪🇸Spain) - connection.

◉ Type of radio communication used

From the leak it also became known that the exercises used secure radio stations L3 Harris RF-5800, RF-7800V-HH, AN/PRC-152A and other equipment necessary for data exchange on the battlefield.

◉ Personnel accommodation locations

Indicating the type of building: barracks, equipment hangar, fuel depot, etc.

◉ Data transmission scheme when detecting a UAV ;

Judging by the document, it includes 5 links - from the unit that discovered the UAV to the command and control authority that makes the final decision.

◉ Communication system

NATO officers have the opportunity to use special chats where information is collected in 5W format (who, what, when, where, and why.)

◉ Personal data of officers (rank, surname)

Based on the information in the leak, it became clear that the Crystal Arrow exercise headquarters worked in two shifts.

The day shift was apparently led by Major General Sylvain Menard (Canadian Air Force), the night shift senior was also a Canadian, Captain Jim McKenzie , as well as Lieutenant Colonel David Maclet .

The ISTAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Acquisition and Reconnaissance) officers at headquarters during the day shift are Major Brad Benns and Master Corporal Jeff Rowen (Canadian Air Force).

What conclusion can be drawn?

The leak of a detailed exercise plan serves as further evidence of problems with the protection of NATO infrastructure, along with the recent publication of intercepted conversations between the highest leadership of the Bundeswehr: Air Force Inspector Ingo Gerhartz, head of operations and exercises of the German Air Force Command Frank Graefe, discussing attacks on the Crimean Bridge and the transfer of Taurus cruise missiles.

⚠️Bundeswehr officers, by the way, command a similar battle group of NATO’s enhanced forward presence in Lithuania (headquarters - Rukla).

According to Politico, Europe's new €5 billion fund for Ukraine is more of an accounting procedure than an actual pile of cash as bilateral weapons shipments can count as “in-kind contributions” to the "fund". https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-weapons-fund-ukraine-war/

Nuland, the cookie monster, had bilateral meetings with Italian officials, spooks and assorted arse-lickers (referred to as "thinkers" in official docs) as well as G7 Political Directors from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the EU, and the UK. ▪️The next G7 Summit will be held in Borgo Egnazia, in Apulia, on June 13-15, 2024.@LauraRuHK

The budget for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative (PDI) is growing from this year’s US$9.1 billion to US$9.9 billion in 2025 – a rise of 8 per cent. As the Pentagon focuses more and more on the Asia-Pacific, the burden of dealing with the Ukrainian mess will fall squarely on European vassals. @LauraRuHK

Norway as an Arctic frontline state?
The US is opening 12 military bases in Norway to confront Russia in the Arctic (https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/security/2024/02/norway-expands-defense-agreement-american-troops)
- The main objective is to contest Russia's Northern Sea Route and the Russian claims to energy resources in the Russian Arctic
- The US has not ratified the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and does not recognise the Russian or Canadian Arctic claims. The US considers this to be "international waters" where it will exercise "freedom of navigation"

- Norway has a policy of not allowing foreign bases on its soil, but this issue was resolved by calling the US military bases "dedicated areas". Norway is transferring sovereign control over territories to the US military outside that falls under US legal jurisdiction, but they cannot be referred to as military bases. It's like referring to torture as "advanced interrogation techniques" to legalise torture

- During the Cold War, Norway had a policy of being a good neighbour to the Russians and a good ally to the Americans. The balance meant we were part of NATO as a deterrent but did not invite foreign troops to the high north or host foreign military bases as it would be provocative to the Russians and trigger a response.

- This policy is gone. In the tradition of NATO incrementalism, Norway first had American troops in Norway on rotation to suggest they were not permanently deployed and thus not breaching our policy of no foreign bases. In 2021, Norway and the US agreed on a few military bases but called them "dedicated areas" and reassured us they were not to target Russia. Now there will be 12+ US military bases and Washington no longer conceals its intentions.

- We wrote a warning in the Norwegian media in 2019 that we were being converted into an American frontline state in the Arctic, an Arctic Ukraine. This was dismissed as Russian talking points as US has seemingly no other interest in the Arctic than to offer free protection (https://aftenposten.no/meninger/kronikk/i/qLr8z0/norge-som-frontlinje-mot-russland-diesen-og-treholt)

- Norway's interest is to maintain peace and stability on the Russian border, while the US seeks to destabilise Russian borders. RAND, a think tank linked to the intelligence agencies, wrote a report sponsored by the US army in 2019 about how to destabilise Russian borders. Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, and Central Asia were identified as key regions to "extend" Russia and drain it of resources (https://rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR3063.html). In a future update, Norway could be be added to this list

- The West also suspended cooperation with Russia in the Arctic Council, an organisation for positive-sum and friendly cooperation that was previously divorced from geopolitics. With the entry of Sweden and Finland to NATO, all Arctic states besides Russia are NATO states. Russia subsequently invites China, India and other non-Arctic powers in the East to cooperate in the Russian Arctic. Why is there no debate about the logic of suspending diplomacy when there is conflict?

- You may think there would be a vigorous debate about abandoning the balanced foreign policy and instead become a frontline state. But you would be wrong. All discussions are dumbed down to a narrative of good versus evil. We can safely outsource our foreign policy and territory to the Americans as they are our allies and their interests are thus supposedly identical to ours, while the Russians are enemies with evil intentions so there is no need to discuss our provocations. Suggesting that our policies are provocative and may undermine our own security is dismissed as "Russian propaganda". (Source: Glenn Diesen on X) @LauraRuHK

Elezioni russe. La situazione a Pechino? Come in tutte le altre citta' del mondo dove i cittadini russi stanno esercitando il loro diritto di voto, lunga fila fuori dall'ambasciata. Nel video si vedono anche i membri di un gruppo folk in tournee' in Cina e personale della compagnia aerea Aeroflot. @LauraRuHK https://t.me/rian_ru/235832

Turnout for Russian General Election Exceeds 70% by 4pm Moscow Time. Very high turnout in the new regions. https://t.me/rian_ru/235920

Guess who is leading the Chinese delegation of observers at the presidential elections of the Russian Federation? Li Hui, China's Special Representative on Eurasian Affairs. Li Hui engaged in a second round of shuttle mediation between Russia, Ukraine and other European countries in an effort to build consensus on a political resolution for the Ukraine crisis.
Li visited Russia, the EU headquarters, Poland, Ukraine, Germany, France...and is back in Russia. In fact, he will spend four more days in Moscow. 😏 @LauraRuHK

Osservatori da tutto il mondo, affluenza superiore a quella registrata durante le elezioni presidenziali del 2018, ma i media occidentali vi raccontano che le elezioni sono una farsa e che in Russia non c'e' democrazia. Boh, forse sta tutta in Ucraina, dove Zelensky ha sospeso le elezioni e messo fuorilegge l'opposizione. @LauraRuHK

Celebrate the end of winter and the arrival of spring with Maslenitsa, a traditional Russian festival filled with pancakes, music, and cultural activities!

Recently, Beijing residents joined in the festivities with circle dances, folk songs, and mouthwatering food. Organized by the Russian-Chinese Friendship, Peace, and Development Committee, "Seeing off the Russian Winter in China" showcased Russian culture and arts at the Beijing Exhibition Center.

From pancake feasts to masterclasses on sabrage, the event highlighted the joy and camaraderie of Maslenitsa. As part of the intercultural years between Russia and China, Maslenitsa marks a new chapter in cultural exchange and celebrations.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin forecast that Russia-China relations would become stronger in the coming years.
Putin spoke on Sunday after partial results showed he had won Russia’s presidential election by a landslide. "Our relations have been taking shape over the past two decades. They are very strong and we are complementing each other. I’m sure that this relationship will be maintained, including, to a great extent, thanks to our good personal relationship with the president of the People’s Republic of China," the Russian leader told reporters.

"But the most important thing is that our national interests coincide, and this creates a favorable environment for resolving our common tasks and in the sphere of international relations, where relations between Russia and China serve as a factor of stability," he added.
Attempts by China’s foes to stage provocations around Taiwan, which is China’s territory, are doomed to fail utterly.
(Source: TASS) @LauraRuHK

Space has become a new battleground. Elon Musk's SpaceX is building a network of spy satellites under a classified contract worth $1.8 billion with a US intelligence agency called the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) ▪️A special business unit under SpaceX, Starshield, is undertaking the project, and if successful, it would advance the US military's ability to quickly spot potential targets almost anywhere on the globe. ▪️Prior to this program, the Pentagon was already a big customer of SpaceX, using its Falcon 9 rockets to launch a dozen military payloads into space. ▪️Wei Dongxu, a Beijing-based military expert and media commentator, told the Global Times: "This move is very dangerous, as once space becomes another arena for arms race, the company's assets could be in jeopardy. In addition, if this spy satellite network gets involved in a US-instigated space war and thus poses threats to other countries, SpaceX may become a target for retaliation or counterbalance." ▪️Wang Ya'nan, chief editor of Aerospace Knowledge magazine, believes that countries and regions will definitely take countermeasures once the network become operational, such as by moving facilities underground or using optical camouflage for concealment. As a result, obtaining sensitive information would still not be "a piece of cake" for US intelligence agencies. @LauraRuHK https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202403/1308988.shtml

#RussianElections Very high turnout in the 4 historic regions that have joined the Russian Federation in 2022 - between 83 and 88%, and a landslide victory for Vladimir Putin. ▪️The presidential election was monitored by observers from all over the world. @LauraRuHK

#RussianElections - Vladimir Putin leads the Russian presidential race with 87.32%. For comparison, here are Putin’s performances in the previous four Russian presidential elections that he participated in as candidate:
2018 – 76.69%
2012 – 63.6%
2004 – 71.3%
2000 – 52.9%

❗️Key takeaways from Vladimir Putin’s statements at a press conference at his campaign headquarters:

▪️ Putin says all Russians are one family; hopes the country will achieve its goals

▪️ Will of Russians can never be crushed from abroad

▪️ Election results show that Donbass and Novorossia are thankful to Russia for protection

▪️ Putin names special operation tasks, strengthening Russia’s defense capabilities among the priorities for his next presidential term

▪️ Attacks on borderline Russian regions continue now, but the enemy’s losses are nearly 100%

▪️ Russia destroys nearly 100% of the enemy’s forces trying to sneak into its soil

▪️ Enemy amassed around 5,000 troops in the border areas and immediate rear zone

▪️ Russia favors peace talks but not only because the enemy is short of ammunition

▪️ Russia has no preferences on US presidential candidates, will work with anyone who is elected

▪️ Putin says he was ready to swap Alexey Navalny for inmates from Western jails

▪️ At some point, Ukraine’s attacks on Russian border areas may force Russia to create a ‘buffer zone’

▪️ Russia-NATO conflict will lead to a situation only one step away from World War III – Putin. (Source: TASS) @LauraRuHK

🎶 A Tchaikovsky Conservatory will be opened in China.
💬 China is set to establish a Tchaikovsky Conservatory in the near future, as announced by Mikhail Shvydkoy, the special representative of President of the Russian Federation for international cultural cooperation.
🔹 This ambitious and long-term educational project, supported by the leadership of the People's Republic of China, will be based on the Moscow State Conservatory named after Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, in collaboration with a Chinese university.
⚡️The newly established music university will employ teachers who have graduated from the Moscow Conservatory and are well-versed in traditional Russian teaching methods, which enjoy global recognition. Mikhail Shvydkoy emphasized that while the conservatory will be open to all applicants, its primary focus will be on catering to the Chinese audience.
Photo: official website of the International Tchaikovsky Competition (source: Russian Consulate General in Hong Kong) @LauraRuHK

Elezioni in Russia. Anche quando la propaganda occidentale si arrampica sugli specchi collezionando figuracce, potete stare sicuri che il fido Iacoboni la rilancera' eroicamente, sfidando gli abissi del ridicolo. Ieri ci mostrava foto di schede elettorali annullate dagli insulti, foto che ha preso da Novaya Gazeta, testata finanziata dai soliti noti. Ai fact checkers di regime ovviamente non interessa smascherare questi fake visto che sono impegnati a diffonderli. Ma chiunque abbia votato sa che prima di entrare nella cabina con la scheda in mano deve lasciare fuori borse e telefoni. La regola vale in tutto il mondo, Russia compresa. Quindi, o le foto sono un falso, o chi le ha fatte ci vuole raccontare che anche in Russia si annullano le schede. A questo punto, dove starebbe la notizia? Forse che in Italia e altrove cio' non avviene? @LauraRuHK

Elezioni in Russia - Il risultato, che alle 7 del mattino ora di Mosca vede l' 87,32% dei voti per il presidente russo - un vero plebiscito - eccede anche le stime derivanti dai sondaggi pre-elettorali che gia' davano Vladimir Putin intorno all'80%. Quali conclusioni si possono trarre? Una su tutte. Quando il popolo russo e' sotto attacco, mette da parte le divisioni politiche e si stringe intorno al suo leader. E' esattamente l'opposto di quanto avviene in Occidente, dove le crisi minano la fiducia popolare nel governo in carica, gia' bassa in partenza, e inaspriscono il conflitto sociale e politico. In Russia chi aveva votato per gli altri maggiori partiti nel 2018, come il Partito Comunista o il Partito Liberal-Democratico, nel 2024 ha deciso di sostenere Putin. Le ragioni sono diverse. In gran parte gli elettori condividono le scelte del loro presidente, scelte difficili e di portata storica, hanno compreso che non era possibile agire diversamente, e ora intendono dimostrare unita' nel perseguimento degli obiettivi dell'operazione militare in Ucraina e sostenere il corso intrapreso dal governo sia in politica interna che in quella estera. Putin ha dato prova di quelle qualita' di leadership che i russi si aspettano dal capo del loro governo. All'Occidente puo' non piacere, ma ai russi ormai interessa poco o nulla quello che l'Occidente pensa di loro e lo hanno dimostrato sia recandosi alle urne (l'affluenza piu' alta dal 1991!) che votando per Putin. @LauraRuHK

🔺The latest results of Russian presidential election.

🔺What awaits Russia under Putin’s new term? Scott Ritter shares his view

🔺The record turnout in Russian presidential election is ‘powerful endorsement of Putin’s leadership’

🔺What unites Russian people behind Putin?

🔺Ex-CIA officer explains what earned Putin animosity in the West

🔺Putin’s victory to ensure Russia's economic rise and military-technical development, experts agree

🔺Putin’s speech at his election HQ after the results showed his landslide victory

🔺What did Putin tell the media at his election campaign headquarters?

🔺What is Putin’s stance on the likelihood of a conflict between Russia and NATO?

🔺If our enemy likes a ‘meat grinder’, we are ok with that, Putin said

🔺How much is to buy a mail-in ballot in the US? Putin knows the answer.

🔺Putin: Taiwan is part of China

🔺Looking back: how Putin faced the challenges and triumphs that marked his decades-long leadership.

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