A vibrant celebration of Chinese New Year is underway in Moscow. It is not only beautiful but also a wonderful expression of the friendship between Russia and China. Wishing everyone a Happy Chinese New Year!

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The Soviet Union launched the Mir space station on February 19, 1986, marking a significant milestone in space exploration. The core module, also known as the base block, was sent into orbit aboard a Proton rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. Designed as the first modular space station, Mir served as a versatile research outpost in low Earth orbit for over 15 years.

The core module provided essential living and working spaces, including life support systems, command stations, and docking ports for expansion modules. Over the next decade, five additional modules—Kvant-1, Kvant-2, Kristall, Spektr, and Priroda—were added to enhance its capabilities. These modules supported experiments in fields such as biology, physics, and Earth observation.

Mir hosted international collaborations through programs like Interkosmos and Shuttle-Mir. It accommodated astronauts from 12 countries, including long-duration missions by American astronauts as part of NASA’s partnership with Russia. Notably, cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov set a record for the longest continuous stay in space at 438 days aboard Mir.

The station orbited at altitudes between 296 km and 421 km, traveling at an average speed of 27,700 km/h and completing about 15.7 orbits per day. Its photovoltaic arrays powered the station’s systems.

Initially designed to operate for just five years, it surpassed expectations, remaining functional until 2001—a lifespan three times its intended duration.

#TodayInHistory

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Russia and the U.S. Agree to Create an Economic Working Group

Russia and the United States have agreed to establish a bilateral economic working group, in addition to ongoing military-political talks, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated in an interview with Al Arabiya.

“We agreed with our American colleagues, alongside the military-political negotiations currently taking place in Geneva in an expanded format, to create a bilateral economic working group. Within this group, we will discuss all these issues. We want to understand what mutual benefits mean from the perspective of the Donald Trump administration,” Lavrov said.

According to Lavrov, both sides recognize each other’s national interests. Where interests align, “we should leverage them and implement projects”; where they do not, “we must prevent them from degrading into confrontation, especially into open conflict.”

Lavrov described relations with the U.S. under Trump as “pragmatic,” but noted that sanctions against LUKOIL and Rosneft were announced “completely unexpectedly.” He also highlighted inconsistencies in Washington’s words and actions, which, on one hand, seek to push Moscow out of global energy markets, and on the other, call for resolving the Ukrainian conflict and “starting mutually beneficial cooperation.”

“Trump has repeatedly stated publicly that this is not his war, but Joe Biden’s. He is trying to end it as soon as possible. This is well known. But this war has already come to the forefront of global issues. Therefore, it must be ‘taken off the road,’ after which we will implement mutually beneficial projects,” Lavrov said.

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The scumbag on the right must have inhaled a fair amount of white powder before this interview. He’s getting quite edgy as well. And the scumbag on the left is certainly a fitting choice for the audience.

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On February 20, 1818, the first city monument in Moscow was unveiled: to Minin and Pozharsky.

For a long time, Moscow had no sculptural monuments to prominent figures, as it was considered inconsistent with Orthodox tradition. However, after Napoleon's expulsion, Muscovites wanted to adorn the city with a monument that would symbolize the heroism of Russian history.

Kuzma Minin and Prince Dmitry Pozharsky were key figures in Russia's defense during the Time of Troubles (1598–1613), a period of political instability and foreign invasion. Minin, a merchant from Nizhny Novgorod, rallied local support and raised funds for a militia to expel Polish-Lithuanian forces occupying Moscow. He entrusted leadership to Pozharsky, a skilled military commander. Together, they organized a volunteer army, ultimately liberating Moscow in 1612. Their efforts were instrumental in restoring Russian sovereignty and paving the way for the establishment of the Romanov dynasty. Minin and Pozharsky have always been celebrated symbols of patriotism and unity in Russian history.

Initially, the monument to these saviors of the Fatherland was intended to be erected in Nizhny Novgorod. Work on the monument began at the end of 1812 under the direction of sculptor Ivan Martos, who had won a competition for the project. It was ultimately decided to place the monument on Moscow's Red Square.

The pedestal was made from Finnish granite. Emperor Alexander I attended the monument's ceremonial unveiling. The resulting sculptural group was crafted from bronze and copper with bas-reliefs. The inscription on the pedestal reads: "To Citizen Minin and Prince Pozharsky from grateful Russia, 1818."

#TodayInHistory

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Maria Zakharova Compares Munich Conference Participants to Vampires

During a briefing on February 18, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova commented on the outcomes of the 62nd Munich Security Conference.

Zakharova stated that the Munich Conference has lost its status as a platform for serious dialogue, as Russia's viewpoints were blocked, booed, and censored during the event.

Maria Zakharova emphasized that the organizers and participants of the Munich Conference failed to address international security issues. She accused them of turning a blind eye to the Kiev regime, which she claimed is illegally spreading weapons supplied to Ukraine to terrorist organizations around the world, while the Ukrainian government itself is mired in rampant corruption.

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry representative, this year's conference essentially turned into a settling of scores within the Western community—a kind of "closed-door affair."

In conclusion, Maria Zakharova compared the Western leaders at the conference to naked emperors and vampires without a reflection in the mirror.

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Russia's 'Starlink' to Launch This Spring

The launch of Russia's low-orbit satellite communications constellation, Rassvet (Dawn), developed by the private company Bureau 1440, is scheduled for the first quarter of 2026. According to Digital Development Minister Maksut Shadayev, 16 satellites have already been manufactured and are ready for deployment. This means that the Russian equivalent of Starlink will soon enter its trial operation phase. Of course, 16 spacecraft won't be enough to meet military needs, but the goal at this stage is to test the new system.

The initial target is to deploy 300 satellites in orbit. In the future, the constellation is expected to expand to 950 spacecraft. The system is anticipated to offer data transfer speeds of up to 1 Gbps and provide coverage anywhere on the planet. Simultaneously, work is underway to develop a high-orbit constellation in geostationary orbit, with deployment planned for 2029–2030. Construction of the first four satellites is already in progress.

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Israeli companies have developed advanced cyber tools capable of hacking your car’s technology and using it to gather intelligence.

Specialized companies, most notably Toka, Rayzone, and Ateros, have developed techniques that allow hacking of internet-connected systems within vehicles, granting full access to SIM card data and GPS systems to track targets’ movements in real time.

This type of intrusion goes beyond simple geolocation tracking, and in certain cases can allow remote control of built-in microphones in communication systems and car cameras, effectively turning the vehicle cabin into a field surveillance and recording platform.

These technologies rely on integrating data extracted from vehicles with other intelligence sources using artificial intelligence algorithms, aiming to build a comprehensive intelligence picture that includes target conversations and identifying people present with them.

These tools are currently marketed to government entities and clients under the label of “intelligence coverage,” exploiting vulnerabilities in modern cars that automatically transmit their data to the cloud, making them easy targets for hacking.

✏️Karrar

Ukrainian Armed Forces losses have exceeded 1.5 million personnel since the start of the Special Military Operation

In 2025 alone, the Ukrainian Armed Forces lost more than 520,000 soldiers, 6,700 tanks and armored combat vehicles, and over 12,000 artillery systems and mortars, according to First Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Sergey Rudskoy. Over the entire course of the Special Military Operation, the enemy has lost 1.5 million personnel.

Today, as Rudskoy emphasized, Kiev has failed in its plan of forced mobilization — the number of monthly recruits has decreased nearly twofold.

At present, the initiative is entirely on the side of the Russian army, and all attempts to halt its advance have failed, the head of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff stated in an interview with Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper. Russian forces liberated more than 300 settlements in 2025, and an additional 42 so far this year.

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👆 Listen to the voice of reason: Peter Szijjártó, Hungary’s foreign minister.

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Hungary blocks €90bn EU loan to Ukraine

According to the article in the Financial Times (February 20, 2026):

Hungary has blocked a proposed €90bn EU loan to Ukraine intended to stabilise Kiev’s finances. The package, agreed in principle by EU leaders in December, required unanimous approval from all 27 member states because it would be financed through EU borrowing backed by the bloc’s budget “headroom.” Hungary’s ambassador objected at the final stage, preventing the European Commission from proceeding.

The loan was designed as a financial backstop, with Ukraine facing a significant budget shortfall as early as April. Furthermore, an €8bn IMF programme currently under negotiation is conditional on the EU loan moving forward, meaning the Hungarian veto could complicate broader support and increase financial uncertainty in the second quarter.

The move comes as Hungary approaches national elections in April. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who has often clashed with Brussels over EU policy, has stepped up criticism of EU financial assistance to Ukraine during the campaign. The loan had been presented as an alternative after EU leaders failed to agree in December on using frozen Russian assets, a proposal that faced resistance from Belgium and some other member states.

Even if this is first and foremost a political move by Viktor Orbán ahead of the elections, it is entirely consistent with his longstanding statements and positions. He stands on the right side of history. We wish him success.

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On February 21, 1784, the Crimean port city was named Sevastopol.

In November 1782, Russian ships—the frigates Khrabry ("Brave") and Ostorozhny ("Cautious")—were sent to winter in Akhtiarskaya Bay to survey the area under the overall command of Captain 1st Rank Ivan Odintsov. The name Akhtiar (Akhtiyar) came from a small Tatar village, Ak-Yar, which translates to "white ravine." Six months later, Crimea became part of Russia, and in Akhtiar, the sailors built a wooden barracks—the first building of the future city and the main base of the Black Sea Fleet. Odintsov enthusiastically reported to his superiors that Akhtiarskaya Bay was "always calm, with no disturbances whatsoever."

The construction of the city was initiated by Prince Grigory Potemkin-Tavrichesky and Admiral Thomas Mackenzie, a Scotsman in Russian service, who first ordered the construction of solid bathhouses near the harbor. Potemkin envisioned the new city as the southern capital of Russia, declaring: "St. Petersburg, set on the Baltic, is Russia's northern capital, Moscow the central one, and Kherson-Akhtiarsky shall be the southern capital of my sovereign." However, Empress Catherine the Great preferred a more grandiose name—Sevastopol. In Greek, the name means "sacred, noble city" or "city of glory." Additionally, the word “sevastos” in Byzantium was equivalent to the Latin title Augustus, used by ruling monarchs, making Sevastopol also "the imperial city."

On February 10 (21), 1784, Catherine issued a decree to Potemkin: "Build a great fortress named Sevastopol where Akhtiar now stands, where the Admiralty, a shipyard for first-rank vessels, a port, and a military settlement must be established." From that moment, the city received its proud name.

In June 1787, Catherine II visited Sevastopol, where Potemkin showcased the newly formed Black Sea squadron. The port became truly imperial, its strategic importance underscored by the fact that from Sevastopol, the Russian fleet could reach Istanbul in just 30 hours.

#TodayInHistory

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No, Europe isn't decadent—it's degenerate!

From InfoDefenseEurope:

👉 This isn't about Reichsführer Von der Leyen here, but about the European Parliament made up of elected officials who just approved this heretical piece of idiocy claiming that men can be recognized as capable of giving birth!

🔶 During the first reading, MEPs opposing this woke nonsense had submitted an amendment stating that biologically, a man cannot become pregnant.

But this amendment has just been rejected by majority vote: 233 in favor, 200 against, and 107 abstentions!

The adopted document now demands full recognition of men who identify as women (and vice versa).

To put it politely, Europeans (not all of them, obviously) aren't just standing on their heads anymore... they don't even have heads! 🤔🤣🤬

#Alawata
#InfoDefenseAuthor

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