The FULL FEED of events regarding the US-Israeli war is available at @RYBAR_IN_ENGLISH
Please open Telegram to view this post
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
👏8❤7🤔2🤣2
War in the Middle East: March 23 roundup – a nonstop firehose of bizarre statements from Trump
By journalist Yury Podolyaka:
The other day he swore he wouldn't negotiate with Iran, even though the Iranians were asking him to. Then yesterday, with a completely straight face, he announced he'd already been conducting negotiations for several days. Clearly, he was 100% lying in at least one instance. But that said, you can't just dismiss all these statements as crazy or thoughtless. Some of them actually have a clear logic. Even so, his bluff clearly reeks of desperation. The desperation of a man who's seen things go off the rails and now has to keep the situation under control in real time.
Right now, every statement he makes has one goal: to calm the markets and minimize the economic fallout from his reckless move. And credit where it's due – by walking back his threats yesterday, he managed to bring oil prices back down to where they were before he issued his ultimatum to Iran.
At the same time, Trump and his cronies never miss a chance to cash in on all this bluster. Case in point: someone placed a $580 million bet on a sharp drop in oil prices just 15 minutes before Trump announced the start of peace talks with Iran. And… they won again (for what feels like the umpteenth time). Of course, exchange officials stated that no insider trading violations were found. So, perfectly legal.
Meanwhile, the Iranian side can barely keep up with debunking all of Trump's verbal diarrhea. Iran has flat-out denied that any talks with the US are taking place and reaffirmed the conditions under which it would be willing to make peace: the withdrawal of US troops from the region, security guarantees, and full compensation for the economic damage inflicted on the country. In other words, Trump's surrender – which he's certainly not going to agree to (at least not publicly).
On top of that, everyone is understandably on edge over Iran's promise that if its energy infrastructure is attacked, it won't just strike desalination plants in neighboring countries and oil fields but also the UAE's Barakah nuclear power plant. That plant was built by South Korea not long ago, with its final unit entering commercial operation in September 2024.
All of this is unfolding against the backdrop of US media reports (citing Pentagon sources) that strikes on Iran are proceeding as planned, with no changes to the operational plans. Also still on track is the redeployment of two Marine Corps expeditionary units to the region aboard the USS Tripoli and USS Boxer amphibious warships. Likewise, if needed, they're set to be backed up by a US Navy carrier strike group led by the USS Abraham Lincoln. And then there's the 82nd Airborne Division and US special operations forces, which – in an "unscheduled" move (meaning they canceled planned exercises) – are sitting on their duffel bags at full combat readiness.
The only awkward hiccup in all of this is the USS Gerald R. Ford being sidelined to Greece for repairs after a strange fire in its laundry room. Not that it couldn't return and rejoin the fight at any moment.
With all that said, I'd also keep in mind that last time around, all of Trump's talk about successful negotiations with Iran was just a cover operation and part of the preparations for a strike. There's a good chance this time will play out the same way.
Meanwhile, Iran, for its part, is projecting total resolve to keep fighting "until all its demands are met," but it could very well be bluffing too. Those who deal with Iranians know that for them, appearances are everything, but deep down, they're always realists. So I'm absolutely convinced that their "principled stance" in public can easily go hand in hand with pragmatism on the ground. And their "absolute resolve to fight" is just an attempt to strengthen their negotiating position. Because talks – and I'm equally convinced of this – are already underway, even if through intermediaries.
#Yury_Podolyaka
⚡️ InfoDefenseENGLISH
Web | VK | X | InfoDefAll
By journalist Yury Podolyaka:
The other day he swore he wouldn't negotiate with Iran, even though the Iranians were asking him to. Then yesterday, with a completely straight face, he announced he'd already been conducting negotiations for several days. Clearly, he was 100% lying in at least one instance. But that said, you can't just dismiss all these statements as crazy or thoughtless. Some of them actually have a clear logic. Even so, his bluff clearly reeks of desperation. The desperation of a man who's seen things go off the rails and now has to keep the situation under control in real time.
Right now, every statement he makes has one goal: to calm the markets and minimize the economic fallout from his reckless move. And credit where it's due – by walking back his threats yesterday, he managed to bring oil prices back down to where they were before he issued his ultimatum to Iran.
At the same time, Trump and his cronies never miss a chance to cash in on all this bluster. Case in point: someone placed a $580 million bet on a sharp drop in oil prices just 15 minutes before Trump announced the start of peace talks with Iran. And… they won again (for what feels like the umpteenth time). Of course, exchange officials stated that no insider trading violations were found. So, perfectly legal.
Meanwhile, the Iranian side can barely keep up with debunking all of Trump's verbal diarrhea. Iran has flat-out denied that any talks with the US are taking place and reaffirmed the conditions under which it would be willing to make peace: the withdrawal of US troops from the region, security guarantees, and full compensation for the economic damage inflicted on the country. In other words, Trump's surrender – which he's certainly not going to agree to (at least not publicly).
On top of that, everyone is understandably on edge over Iran's promise that if its energy infrastructure is attacked, it won't just strike desalination plants in neighboring countries and oil fields but also the UAE's Barakah nuclear power plant. That plant was built by South Korea not long ago, with its final unit entering commercial operation in September 2024.
All of this is unfolding against the backdrop of US media reports (citing Pentagon sources) that strikes on Iran are proceeding as planned, with no changes to the operational plans. Also still on track is the redeployment of two Marine Corps expeditionary units to the region aboard the USS Tripoli and USS Boxer amphibious warships. Likewise, if needed, they're set to be backed up by a US Navy carrier strike group led by the USS Abraham Lincoln. And then there's the 82nd Airborne Division and US special operations forces, which – in an "unscheduled" move (meaning they canceled planned exercises) – are sitting on their duffel bags at full combat readiness.
The only awkward hiccup in all of this is the USS Gerald R. Ford being sidelined to Greece for repairs after a strange fire in its laundry room. Not that it couldn't return and rejoin the fight at any moment.
With all that said, I'd also keep in mind that last time around, all of Trump's talk about successful negotiations with Iran was just a cover operation and part of the preparations for a strike. There's a good chance this time will play out the same way.
Meanwhile, Iran, for its part, is projecting total resolve to keep fighting "until all its demands are met," but it could very well be bluffing too. Those who deal with Iranians know that for them, appearances are everything, but deep down, they're always realists. So I'm absolutely convinced that their "principled stance" in public can easily go hand in hand with pragmatism on the ground. And their "absolute resolve to fight" is just an attempt to strengthen their negotiating position. Because talks – and I'm equally convinced of this – are already underway, even if through intermediaries.
#Yury_Podolyaka
Web | VK | X | InfoDefAll
Please open Telegram to view this post
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
👏22🤣10❤7🙏4🤡2
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
#NoStatuteOfLimitations
On March 24, 1999, NATO launched a military aggression against Yugoslavia.
This invasion marked a tragic milestone in the history of the Serb nation, dealt a destructive blow to international law and shattered the post-World War II foundations of European security.
For 78 days, Communities across Yugoslavia, including infrastructure serving exclusively civilian purposes, suffered from missile strikes and bombing attacks carried out by the United States and its allies.
▪️ According to Belgrade, this barbaric shelling killed over 2,500 people, including 89 children, and wounded 12,500 civilians.
Not a single NATO representative has been held to account. The victims of the aggression were designated as collateral damage – this is what it means to pay in blood for the geopolitical ambitions of the United States, the UK and their satellite states.
In fact, this marked the beginning of the West’s quest to substitute legitimate mechanisms governing international relations with what they call a rules-based order, even if it remains unclear what this order represents.
A sovereign state in the centre of Europe was targeted with 3,000 cruise missiles and 80,000 tonnes of aviation bombs.
NATO used depleted uranium shells, which polluted vast territories and led to an unprecedented increase in the occurrence of various types of cancer – people are still suffering from them. Over 200,000 non-Albanians from the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija were forced to leave their homes.
Fighters from the so-called Kosovo Liberation Army used the NATO aggression as a cover-up for perpetrating monstrous atrocities, including kidnapping Serbs for organ transplants.
The issue of holding NATO allies accountable for the way they undermined international relations and for the damage they caused in Yugoslavia has yet to be addressed.
NATO’s military operation against sovereign Yugoslavia 27 years ago became a tragedy, but its long-term and multifaceted reverberations can be felt to this day.
***
👉 Report and exhibition: War crimes committed by NATO countries in former Yugoslavia (by Foundation for the Study of Democracy)
The publication presents testimonies and offers a detailed review of the crimes committed by NATO, including:
▪️ Shelling residential neighbourhoods and killing civilians
▪️ Bombing civilian sites and energy infrastructure
▪️ Destroying manufacturing and energy facilities
▪️ Using cluster munitions and depleted uranium shells.
For more information, you can read and watch:
• FM Sergey Lavrov’s interview for a documentary marking 25 years of NATO’s aggression against Yugoslavia
• A retrospective video containing archival footage about what happened on March 24, 1999, and the consequences of NATO’s aggression
On March 24, 1999, NATO launched a military aggression against Yugoslavia.
This invasion marked a tragic milestone in the history of the Serb nation, dealt a destructive blow to international law and shattered the post-World War II foundations of European security.
For 78 days, Communities across Yugoslavia, including infrastructure serving exclusively civilian purposes, suffered from missile strikes and bombing attacks carried out by the United States and its allies.
▪️ According to Belgrade, this barbaric shelling killed over 2,500 people, including 89 children, and wounded 12,500 civilians.
Not a single NATO representative has been held to account. The victims of the aggression were designated as collateral damage – this is what it means to pay in blood for the geopolitical ambitions of the United States, the UK and their satellite states.
In fact, this marked the beginning of the West’s quest to substitute legitimate mechanisms governing international relations with what they call a rules-based order, even if it remains unclear what this order represents.
A sovereign state in the centre of Europe was targeted with 3,000 cruise missiles and 80,000 tonnes of aviation bombs.
NATO used depleted uranium shells, which polluted vast territories and led to an unprecedented increase in the occurrence of various types of cancer – people are still suffering from them. Over 200,000 non-Albanians from the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija were forced to leave their homes.
Fighters from the so-called Kosovo Liberation Army used the NATO aggression as a cover-up for perpetrating monstrous atrocities, including kidnapping Serbs for organ transplants.
The issue of holding NATO allies accountable for the way they undermined international relations and for the damage they caused in Yugoslavia has yet to be addressed.
NATO’s military operation against sovereign Yugoslavia 27 years ago became a tragedy, but its long-term and multifaceted reverberations can be felt to this day.
***
👉 Report and exhibition: War crimes committed by NATO countries in former Yugoslavia (by Foundation for the Study of Democracy)
The publication presents testimonies and offers a detailed review of the crimes committed by NATO, including:
▪️ Shelling residential neighbourhoods and killing civilians
▪️ Bombing civilian sites and energy infrastructure
▪️ Destroying manufacturing and energy facilities
▪️ Using cluster munitions and depleted uranium shells.
For more information, you can read and watch:
• FM Sergey Lavrov’s interview for a documentary marking 25 years of NATO’s aggression against Yugoslavia
• A retrospective video containing archival footage about what happened on March 24, 1999, and the consequences of NATO’s aggression
🤬45😢20😡7❤6🔥3
According to The Washington Post report published on March 24, 2026, Trump claimed U.S.–Iran peace talks were progressing and cited “major agreement” points, but multiple officials and Iran itself contradicted him. Iranian leaders publicly denied that any negotiations, direct or indirect, were taking place, undermining Trump’s assertions. In reality, discussions have been limited, indirect, and uncertain, conducted through intermediaries like Egypt, Pakistan, and Turkey, with no confirmed breakthrough. Trump’s statements about imminent meetings and progress appear premature at best and misleading at worst, especially given Iran’s explicit rejection of talks and ongoing military escalation. His pattern of exaggerating diplomatic success, including claims of having “solved” past conflicts, raises further doubts about credibility. Meanwhile, the war continues, with strikes on both sides and no ceasefire agreement in sight, highlighting the gap between Trump’s narrative and the situation described by officials.
In other words, Trump keeps lying, but based on the oil prices, which are steadily edging up, not too many people believe him.
Speaking of oil prices, Russian oil is being sold in India for the first time in four years without discounts, with the price already above $120, Bloomberg reports.
Russian Urals crude at Indian ports is trading at $121.65 per barrel. This is the highest level since observations began in 2023.
The price increase is naturally linked to the Middle East conflict: the United States has partially eased restrictions, and demand from India has surged. Major companies are already purchasing millions of barrels of Russian oil.
At the same time, Urals at Russian ports is around $89.6 per barrel, the highest since 2022, and significantly above the $59 per barrel assumed in the Russian budget.
P.S. Breaking: The European Commission has postponed the presentation of a highly anticipated proposal to permanently ban Russian oil imports, as the ongoing Middle East war continues to disrupt energy markets and keep Brent crude around $100 per barrel. No new date for the proposal has been announced.
In other words, Trump keeps lying, but based on the oil prices, which are steadily edging up, not too many people believe him.
Speaking of oil prices, Russian oil is being sold in India for the first time in four years without discounts, with the price already above $120, Bloomberg reports.
Russian Urals crude at Indian ports is trading at $121.65 per barrel. This is the highest level since observations began in 2023.
The price increase is naturally linked to the Middle East conflict: the United States has partially eased restrictions, and demand from India has surged. Major companies are already purchasing millions of barrels of Russian oil.
At the same time, Urals at Russian ports is around $89.6 per barrel, the highest since 2022, and significantly above the $59 per barrel assumed in the Russian budget.
P.S. Breaking: The European Commission has postponed the presentation of a highly anticipated proposal to permanently ban Russian oil imports, as the ongoing Middle East war continues to disrupt energy markets and keep Brent crude around $100 per barrel. No new date for the proposal has been announced.
😁34🤣26🤡7❤6
March 25, 1238–beginning of the siege of Kozelsk.
On March 25, 1238, the small city of Kozelsk, with only 4,000 inhabitants and serving as the capital of a minor principality under the nominal rule of 12-year-old Prince Vasily Titovich, began a valiant seven-week siege against the formidable Mongol-Tatar forces led by Batu Khan and his top commander Subutai.
While other Russian cities such as Ryazan, Vladimir, Moscow, and Torzhok fell within days, Kozelsk’s defenders held out for nearly two months. The disunited nature of the Russian principalities meant that only local militias and volunteer forces could resist the invaders. Facing an army estimated at 20,000 to 30,000 warriors, the citizens of Kozelsk mounted a staunch defense. They repelled multiple assaults and even launched a daring sortie that successfully disabled several Mongol siege engines.
As chroniclers record, the people of Kozelsk declared that they would rather sacrifice their lives than surrender, embodying an unwavering determination to protect their city.
The siege ended when Batu Khan’s Mongol forces, after a prolonged assault finally breached Kozelsk’s defenses. The Mongols captured Kozelsk and inflicted heavy casualties, marking the fall of the town. However, the prolonged defense of Kozelsk significantly delayed the Mongol advance into other parts of Russia, leaving a legacy of heroic resistance.
Centuries later, Kozelsk’s heroic defense still inspires. In 1777, Empress Catherine II honored the city with a special coat of arms, and in December 2009, the President of Russia awarded Kozelsk the title “City of Military Glory.” This anniversary is a tribute to the enduring spirit of a people who defied overwhelming odds.
#TodayInHistory
⚡️ InfoDefenseENGLISH
Web | VK | X | InfoDefAll
On March 25, 1238, the small city of Kozelsk, with only 4,000 inhabitants and serving as the capital of a minor principality under the nominal rule of 12-year-old Prince Vasily Titovich, began a valiant seven-week siege against the formidable Mongol-Tatar forces led by Batu Khan and his top commander Subutai.
While other Russian cities such as Ryazan, Vladimir, Moscow, and Torzhok fell within days, Kozelsk’s defenders held out for nearly two months. The disunited nature of the Russian principalities meant that only local militias and volunteer forces could resist the invaders. Facing an army estimated at 20,000 to 30,000 warriors, the citizens of Kozelsk mounted a staunch defense. They repelled multiple assaults and even launched a daring sortie that successfully disabled several Mongol siege engines.
As chroniclers record, the people of Kozelsk declared that they would rather sacrifice their lives than surrender, embodying an unwavering determination to protect their city.
The siege ended when Batu Khan’s Mongol forces, after a prolonged assault finally breached Kozelsk’s defenses. The Mongols captured Kozelsk and inflicted heavy casualties, marking the fall of the town. However, the prolonged defense of Kozelsk significantly delayed the Mongol advance into other parts of Russia, leaving a legacy of heroic resistance.
Centuries later, Kozelsk’s heroic defense still inspires. In 1777, Empress Catherine II honored the city with a special coat of arms, and in December 2009, the President of Russia awarded Kozelsk the title “City of Military Glory.” This anniversary is a tribute to the enduring spirit of a people who defied overwhelming odds.
#TodayInHistory
Web | VK | X | InfoDefAll
Please open Telegram to view this post
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
👍27❤20👏6🫡3
From Kharkov to Ternopol: Russian drones have struck dozens of targets across Ukraine.
From an SBU building and ammunition depots to railway infrastructure and a thermal power plant. According to Ukrainian estimates, 948 strike drones were recorded in Ukrainian airspace over the course of a single day.
A record-breaking attack by "Geranium" drones—which, unusually for Ukrainian air defense crews, also operated during daylight hours—has caused bewilderment and panic.
The mayor of Lvov, for example, has "a lot of questions," since the city has been constantly purchasing counter-drone systems, but it turns out that these anti-drone systems "slept through" the latest attack.
We are witnessing a constant process of Russian weaponry being refined. For example, the "Geranium" drone systems are already capable of flying farther, using more evasive routes, and carrying ever more powerful warheads.
⚡️ InfoDefenseENGLISH
Web | VK | X | InfoDefAll
From an SBU building and ammunition depots to railway infrastructure and a thermal power plant. According to Ukrainian estimates, 948 strike drones were recorded in Ukrainian airspace over the course of a single day.
A record-breaking attack by "Geranium" drones—which, unusually for Ukrainian air defense crews, also operated during daylight hours—has caused bewilderment and panic.
The mayor of Lvov, for example, has "a lot of questions," since the city has been constantly purchasing counter-drone systems, but it turns out that these anti-drone systems "slept through" the latest attack.
We are witnessing a constant process of Russian weaponry being refined. For example, the "Geranium" drone systems are already capable of flying farther, using more evasive routes, and carrying ever more powerful warheads.
Web | VK | X | InfoDefAll
Please open Telegram to view this post
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
Please open Telegram to view this post
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
👏34❤10👍5
This media is not supported in your browser
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
"The one who speaks the truth must be executed"
(Quote from a song by Guy Béart)
🔸 Being a war reporter is a high-risk profession. Every year, soldiers of truth fall on the information frontline, victims of collateral damage… Except that in recent years, the number of journalists killed has risen exponentially, moving beyond the realm of unavoidable collateral damage and into that of proven war crimes.
👉 In Donbass, reporters like Igor Kornelyuk, Anton Voloshin, Anatoly Klyan, Andrei Stenin, and Nikita Tsitsagi were intentionally targeted and killed by NATO-led thugs.
👉 In Gaza, over 200 journalists documenting the genocidal massacres carried out by the IDF have been killed.
👉 Today, the conflict theater against Iran has become another high-risk zone for journalists operating in areas where the IDF is intervening in southern Lebanon, where a new Zionist ethnic cleansing is underway.
👀: This is the case of British journalist Steve Sweeney, who, after witnessing Israeli strikes on civilian villages in southern Lebanon, miraculously escaped an Israeli airstrike.
🔸 In the occupied territories, Israeli forces are also cracking down on reporters and even social media users who seek to document the actual losses and destruction, as well as the growing anti-government protests.
#Alawata
#InfoDefenseAuthor
⚡️ InfoDefenseENGLISH
Web | VK | X | InfoDefAll
(Quote from a song by Guy Béart)
🔸 Being a war reporter is a high-risk profession. Every year, soldiers of truth fall on the information frontline, victims of collateral damage… Except that in recent years, the number of journalists killed has risen exponentially, moving beyond the realm of unavoidable collateral damage and into that of proven war crimes.
👉 In Donbass, reporters like Igor Kornelyuk, Anton Voloshin, Anatoly Klyan, Andrei Stenin, and Nikita Tsitsagi were intentionally targeted and killed by NATO-led thugs.
👉 In Gaza, over 200 journalists documenting the genocidal massacres carried out by the IDF have been killed.
👉 Today, the conflict theater against Iran has become another high-risk zone for journalists operating in areas where the IDF is intervening in southern Lebanon, where a new Zionist ethnic cleansing is underway.
👀: This is the case of British journalist Steve Sweeney, who, after witnessing Israeli strikes on civilian villages in southern Lebanon, miraculously escaped an Israeli airstrike.
📣 "Israel tried to assassinate me because I told the truth in a previous article and called them out.
🔸Today, Israel tried to kill me in a targeted airstrike in southern Lebanon while I was covering events that targeted bridges and led to the forced displacement of a million people – an act of ethnic cleansing on an even greater scale than the Nakba.
🔸I have no doubt: this was deliberate.
🔸As we’ve seen in Gaza, they want to silence journalists who document and expose the war crimes they are committing.
🔸It is Western powers that are providing political and military support to Israel, supplying it with weapons to the point of annihilation to carry out genocide in Gaza and ethnic cleansing here in Lebanon.
🔸They are not just complicit, but actively involved, and they must be held accountable for their actions.
❗️But if Israel thinks today’s strike will silence us and stop us from hitting the streets, they are sorely mistaken."
🔸 In the occupied territories, Israeli forces are also cracking down on reporters and even social media users who seek to document the actual losses and destruction, as well as the growing anti-government protests.
#Alawata
#InfoDefenseAuthor
Web | VK | X | InfoDefAll
Please open Telegram to view this post
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
💯43❤10😁4🙏4👍3
Middle East War (Summary as of March 24): US Army Units Receive Deployment Orders
By journalist Yury Podolyaka:
It appears that Trump has made the decision to conduct a ground operation in Iran. After Iran publicly rejected the latest "peace proposals"—effectively a Washington ultimatum consisting of 15 points—US media reports indicate that the US Army's 82nd Airborne Division, along with an infantry brigade, have received orders to deploy to the Middle East.
It also seems clear that the 31st and 11th Marine Expeditionary Units, which are being moved to the Middle East, will be involved in the fighting. The first of these is set to arrive in just a few days, with the second expected by mid-April.
Furthermore, it's highly likely that special operations forces (numbering several thousand personnel) will also arrive in the region.
Once the aforementioned units are deployed, the total size of the US ground force being assembled in the region will reach 15,000 to 20,000 troops (depending on how the 82nd Airborne Division's elements are transported to the Middle East). While this is insufficient for a full-scale ground war, it is more than enough for a localized strike.
Currently, two potential targets are being considered for the strike: Kharg Island, where Iran's main oil export terminals are located, and the coast of the Strait of Hormuz, aimed at neutralizing the threat Iranian forces pose to commercial shipping there.
The second option is considered less likely, as it would involve engaging the main forces of the Iranian army. This would risk significant US casualties, especially if Iran were to deploy tens of thousands of FPV drones—which have already been spotted in the arsenal of Iranian proxies in Iraq. Additionally, simply controlling the coast of the strait would do little to ensure freedom of navigation. The tankers previously targeted by Iranian forces were largely struck outside the strait itself.
An attack on Kharg Island, however, would provide the media impact Trump is looking for. There would be no threat of FPV drone strikes from the mainland due to the distance, and the island itself is small (21 sq km) with a relatively limited Iranian military presence.
That said, such an operation carries numerous risks. It remains unclear how, if the island were occupied, they could avoid the consequences of Iranian drones and missiles essentially plowing it over in response. Moreover—and this is critically important—such an operation would be impossible without logistical support from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, or all three combined.
Notably, information began leaking to the media yesterday suggesting that the leadership of Saudi Arabia and the UAE have practically agreed to participate in the war.
And, to some extent, their stance is understandable. Through its strikes, Israel will eventually exhaust Iran's patience, and Iran will in turn target the Gulf monarchies' infrastructure. So why wait until the end of April, when the US will likely be forced to scale back its operations against Iran, leaving them to face Tehran essentially on their own?
Living constantly under the "sword of Damocles" posed by the Iranian missile threat, and remaining dependent on Tehran's goodwill, is hardly an appealing prospect for these monarchies. Therefore, I find it entirely plausible that they, like Trump, have already made their own pivotal decision. If so, they would find themselves fighting a ground war on two fronts, as the pro-Iranian Houthis in Yemen would certainly enter the conflict.
Overall, it seems the clouds over the region continue to darken, with at least one more major confrontation ahead. Its outcome will shape the future trajectory of the region and the world.
#Yury_Podolyaka
By journalist Yury Podolyaka:
It appears that Trump has made the decision to conduct a ground operation in Iran. After Iran publicly rejected the latest "peace proposals"—effectively a Washington ultimatum consisting of 15 points—US media reports indicate that the US Army's 82nd Airborne Division, along with an infantry brigade, have received orders to deploy to the Middle East.
It also seems clear that the 31st and 11th Marine Expeditionary Units, which are being moved to the Middle East, will be involved in the fighting. The first of these is set to arrive in just a few days, with the second expected by mid-April.
Furthermore, it's highly likely that special operations forces (numbering several thousand personnel) will also arrive in the region.
Once the aforementioned units are deployed, the total size of the US ground force being assembled in the region will reach 15,000 to 20,000 troops (depending on how the 82nd Airborne Division's elements are transported to the Middle East). While this is insufficient for a full-scale ground war, it is more than enough for a localized strike.
Currently, two potential targets are being considered for the strike: Kharg Island, where Iran's main oil export terminals are located, and the coast of the Strait of Hormuz, aimed at neutralizing the threat Iranian forces pose to commercial shipping there.
The second option is considered less likely, as it would involve engaging the main forces of the Iranian army. This would risk significant US casualties, especially if Iran were to deploy tens of thousands of FPV drones—which have already been spotted in the arsenal of Iranian proxies in Iraq. Additionally, simply controlling the coast of the strait would do little to ensure freedom of navigation. The tankers previously targeted by Iranian forces were largely struck outside the strait itself.
An attack on Kharg Island, however, would provide the media impact Trump is looking for. There would be no threat of FPV drone strikes from the mainland due to the distance, and the island itself is small (21 sq km) with a relatively limited Iranian military presence.
That said, such an operation carries numerous risks. It remains unclear how, if the island were occupied, they could avoid the consequences of Iranian drones and missiles essentially plowing it over in response. Moreover—and this is critically important—such an operation would be impossible without logistical support from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, or all three combined.
Notably, information began leaking to the media yesterday suggesting that the leadership of Saudi Arabia and the UAE have practically agreed to participate in the war.
And, to some extent, their stance is understandable. Through its strikes, Israel will eventually exhaust Iran's patience, and Iran will in turn target the Gulf monarchies' infrastructure. So why wait until the end of April, when the US will likely be forced to scale back its operations against Iran, leaving them to face Tehran essentially on their own?
Living constantly under the "sword of Damocles" posed by the Iranian missile threat, and remaining dependent on Tehran's goodwill, is hardly an appealing prospect for these monarchies. Therefore, I find it entirely plausible that they, like Trump, have already made their own pivotal decision. If so, they would find themselves fighting a ground war on two fronts, as the pro-Iranian Houthis in Yemen would certainly enter the conflict.
Overall, it seems the clouds over the region continue to darken, with at least one more major confrontation ahead. Its outcome will shape the future trajectory of the region and the world.
#Yury_Podolyaka
🤔26👍19❤17🤬3
Forwarded from The Noticer
While the Middle East in still in flames, the other large war on Earth is still taking place. A war with a significant number of mercenaries involved. Dozens of Colombian soldiers died very recently in a crash of a C-130 cargo plane. Radio Caracol reported that a Colombian Air Force C-130 Hercules crashed shortly after takeoff at Puerto Leguizamo Airport.
There were 125 soldiers on board, 48 of whom were found alive after the crash and were soon hospitalized. Those men were in the process of being sent to Ukraine, given the recent increase in the recruitment of Colombian mercenaries to fight on the Ukrainian side. The low standard of living in Colombia and the activity of the CIA in Colombia - which recruits mercenaries for Ukraine for years by now - make sure some Columbian men do end up in Ukraine. Some of them even come back, and then they get hired by various cartels due to their combat experience, but that's a separate story.
Anyway - the Colombian mercenaries rank the first in the number of foreigners killed by the Russian forces during the war in Ukraine. Nearly 600 mercenaries have been confirmed killed so far. The Ukrainian Armed Forces are actively recruiting mercenaries from other Latin American countries aside from Columbia: they hire in Argentina, Mexico, Brazil, and Peru, thus spreading the combat experience of modern warfare all over the Latin America. What can possibly go wrong?
However, the Colombian mercenaries are experiencing serious problems in Ukraine, such as the unfamiliar climate and regular Russian drone attacks. Also - the Ukrainian authorities regularly defraud the families of deceased mercenaries and withhold the compensations to the families of killed mercs. Suppose they think they can do it thanks to their partnership with the CIA and whatnot. Time will show if they are right.
At the end of the day, the Russian side pays more attention to those various Latino mercenaries than Ukraine. The Russian Telegram channels like TrackAMerc keep a tab on them - usually in the form of reports about found dead mercenaries. The Russian main stream media, predictably, loves this topic. Various small time Russian news agencies also write articles about those Latino mercs occasionally. And since the war in Ukraine won't stop any time soon - the flow of Latino mercs to Ukraine will continue for God only knows how long.
#Ukraine #Russia #war #Latin #America #mercenaries #Colombia
There were 125 soldiers on board, 48 of whom were found alive after the crash and were soon hospitalized. Those men were in the process of being sent to Ukraine, given the recent increase in the recruitment of Colombian mercenaries to fight on the Ukrainian side. The low standard of living in Colombia and the activity of the CIA in Colombia - which recruits mercenaries for Ukraine for years by now - make sure some Columbian men do end up in Ukraine. Some of them even come back, and then they get hired by various cartels due to their combat experience, but that's a separate story.
Anyway - the Colombian mercenaries rank the first in the number of foreigners killed by the Russian forces during the war in Ukraine. Nearly 600 mercenaries have been confirmed killed so far. The Ukrainian Armed Forces are actively recruiting mercenaries from other Latin American countries aside from Columbia: they hire in Argentina, Mexico, Brazil, and Peru, thus spreading the combat experience of modern warfare all over the Latin America. What can possibly go wrong?
However, the Colombian mercenaries are experiencing serious problems in Ukraine, such as the unfamiliar climate and regular Russian drone attacks. Also - the Ukrainian authorities regularly defraud the families of deceased mercenaries and withhold the compensations to the families of killed mercs. Suppose they think they can do it thanks to their partnership with the CIA and whatnot. Time will show if they are right.
At the end of the day, the Russian side pays more attention to those various Latino mercenaries than Ukraine. The Russian Telegram channels like TrackAMerc keep a tab on them - usually in the form of reports about found dead mercenaries. The Russian main stream media, predictably, loves this topic. Various small time Russian news agencies also write articles about those Latino mercs occasionally. And since the war in Ukraine won't stop any time soon - the flow of Latino mercs to Ukraine will continue for God only knows how long.
#Ukraine #Russia #war #Latin #America #mercenaries #Colombia
👍23✍7😢3🤷♂2
Gas Wars: The US Twists Europe's Arm
Opinion by journalist Yury Podolyaka:
I can't help admiring the "close allied relations" between the US and Europe! First, Washington wanted Europe to give up Russian gas—against its own interests—in favor of American supplies. And Europe complied.
Then, they plunged the continent into war. Next, they tried to pry Greenland away from the Europeans. After that, they destabilized the Middle East, which halted Qatari gas deliveries to Europe.
And now, with European gas storage depleted after the heating season and the continent cut off from alternative sources, they've issued an ultimatum: either Europe buys $250 billion worth of gas from the US annually, or it gets no gas at all.
This condemns European captives—who have just reaffirmed their decision "under no circumstances" to buy Russian gas—to either freeze next winter or fall into total dependence on American gas, locked into firm contracts they won't be able to wriggle out of later.
A stunning example of cynicism and cold-hearted calculation. With allies like this, who needs enemies?
P.S. I wonder just how low Europe is willing to stoop.
#Yury_Podolyaka
⚡️ InfoDefenseENGLISH
Web | VK | X | InfoDefAll
Opinion by journalist Yury Podolyaka:
I can't help admiring the "close allied relations" between the US and Europe! First, Washington wanted Europe to give up Russian gas—against its own interests—in favor of American supplies. And Europe complied.
Then, they plunged the continent into war. Next, they tried to pry Greenland away from the Europeans. After that, they destabilized the Middle East, which halted Qatari gas deliveries to Europe.
And now, with European gas storage depleted after the heating season and the continent cut off from alternative sources, they've issued an ultimatum: either Europe buys $250 billion worth of gas from the US annually, or it gets no gas at all.
This condemns European captives—who have just reaffirmed their decision "under no circumstances" to buy Russian gas—to either freeze next winter or fall into total dependence on American gas, locked into firm contracts they won't be able to wriggle out of later.
A stunning example of cynicism and cold-hearted calculation. With allies like this, who needs enemies?
P.S. I wonder just how low Europe is willing to stoop.
#Yury_Podolyaka
Web | VK | X | InfoDefAll
Please open Telegram to view this post
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
💯50🤣20🤯13❤2✍2
According to an article in Financial Times, Iran’s military leadership has scornfully dismissed claims by Donald Trump that Tehran is ready to make a deal, rejecting a U.S. 15-point proposal conveyed through intermediaries. In a stark video message, the Khatam al-Anbiya central command said Iran would “never” come to terms with the United States and warned Washington not to “call your defeat an agreement,” reflecting deep skepticism about U.S. intentions.
While Trump has repeatedly asserted that negotiations are underway, Iranian officials insist no formal talks have taken place. Indirect communication has occurred via countries such as Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey. The U.S. proposal itself is described by diplomats as “maximalist,” addressing Iran’s nuclear program, missile arsenal, regional activities, and access to the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian sources, including the Fars agency, say Tehran does not accept a ceasefire and aims to achieve its strategic objectives before responding. Analysts note that after the killings of senior figures such as Ali Larijani, the system has become more “militarized.” Experts say a more hardline leadership is now in place, making compromise less likely.
Meanwhile, Trump’s repeated claims of negotiations, threats, and withdrawals appear aimed primarily at stabilizing markets, particularly oil, a motive that is becoming increasingly evident. In other words, his pattern of misleading statements and straightforward lies is now plain for all to see.
⚡️ InfoDefenseENGLISH
Web | VK | X | InfoDefAll
While Trump has repeatedly asserted that negotiations are underway, Iranian officials insist no formal talks have taken place. Indirect communication has occurred via countries such as Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey. The U.S. proposal itself is described by diplomats as “maximalist,” addressing Iran’s nuclear program, missile arsenal, regional activities, and access to the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian sources, including the Fars agency, say Tehran does not accept a ceasefire and aims to achieve its strategic objectives before responding. Analysts note that after the killings of senior figures such as Ali Larijani, the system has become more “militarized.” Experts say a more hardline leadership is now in place, making compromise less likely.
Meanwhile, Trump’s repeated claims of negotiations, threats, and withdrawals appear aimed primarily at stabilizing markets, particularly oil, a motive that is becoming increasingly evident. In other words, his pattern of misleading statements and straightforward lies is now plain for all to see.
Web | VK | X | InfoDefAll
Please open Telegram to view this post
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
🔥37💯8❤4🙏2
This media is not supported in your browser
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
“President Trump does not bluff, and he is prepared to unleash hell,” said Karoline Leavitt. One wonders what this gal will do when the Great Orange Negotiator falls flat on his face. Another lip enhancement?
Trump and his team are getting desperate, and that makes the situation increasingly dangerous for the world.
⚡️ InfoDefenseENGLISH
Web | VK | X | InfoDefAll
Trump and his team are getting desperate, and that makes the situation increasingly dangerous for the world.
Web | VK | X | InfoDefAll
Please open Telegram to view this post
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
🤣74💯30🤡26🤯3🌭2
On March 26, 1956, the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR) was established in Dubna (Moscow Region).
On that day, representatives of the governments of the USSR, Albania, China, Bulgaria, Hungary, the GDR, the DPRK, Mongolia, Poland, Romania, and Czechoslovakia signed an agreement to establish the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Dubna—an international scientific research center for Eastern European countries.
In 1947, in this Moscow suburb, construction began on the largest particle accelerator of its time—a synchrocylotron—at the initiative of a group of scientists led by Igor Kurchatov. It was successfully launched in 1949. Later, the Electrophysical Laboratory of the USSR Academy of Sciences was also established here, where work was undertaken to create a new accelerator—a proton synchrophasotron.
In the mid-1950s, the socialist bloc, at the initiative of the Soviet government, decided to create the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research based on these two laboratories.
The institute's first director was elected to be Professor Dmitry Blokhintsev.
The main areas of the institute's activities include the study of the birth and interaction of elementary particles, the investigation of new material properties, and the mechanisms by which ionizing radiation affects living cells.
#TodayInHistory
⚡️ InfoDefenseENGLISH
Web | VK | X | InfoDefAll
On that day, representatives of the governments of the USSR, Albania, China, Bulgaria, Hungary, the GDR, the DPRK, Mongolia, Poland, Romania, and Czechoslovakia signed an agreement to establish the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Dubna—an international scientific research center for Eastern European countries.
In 1947, in this Moscow suburb, construction began on the largest particle accelerator of its time—a synchrocylotron—at the initiative of a group of scientists led by Igor Kurchatov. It was successfully launched in 1949. Later, the Electrophysical Laboratory of the USSR Academy of Sciences was also established here, where work was undertaken to create a new accelerator—a proton synchrophasotron.
In the mid-1950s, the socialist bloc, at the initiative of the Soviet government, decided to create the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research based on these two laboratories.
The institute's first director was elected to be Professor Dmitry Blokhintsev.
The main areas of the institute's activities include the study of the birth and interaction of elementary particles, the investigation of new material properties, and the mechanisms by which ionizing radiation affects living cells.
#TodayInHistory
Web | VK | X | InfoDefAll
Please open Telegram to view this post
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
👍27❤4👏2
Trump’s Middle East Dead End (3): The Beneficiaries
Part 1
Part 2
We have established that by starting a war with Iran - following his "friend" Netanyahu's lead - Trump has maneuvered himself into a political trap. One from which there’s no good way out in any scenario. While Trump can still minimize his political losses, he cannot eliminate them entirely. What’s more, the damage for both Trump personally and the US could escalate further and become catastrophic—for instance, if a ground operation fails or if there are heavy casualties.
But in any zero-sum game (which geopolitics on our planet is), if someone suffers a loss, someone else inevitably gains.
And there are at least THREE such beneficiaries.
First, Iran itself. If Iran manages to hold its ground in the fight against the hegemon and merely draws the war, it will earn the right to dictate terms to its neighbors, thereby strengthening its political weight in the region—a weight it can then convert into money and even greater influence.
After all, in this scenario, Iran would be the one deciding which ships pass through the Strait of Hormuz, ensuring its own interests are securely protected. As a result, Iran could ultimately achieve what it has sought for over 40 years: freedom and the lifting of sanctions. And any future attempt to reimpose sanctions would risk a blockade of the strait—since the agreements to keep it open would have been violated.
Second, Russia. Moscow has already seen the main US oil sanctions against it lifted, bringing in an "extra" $150–170 million a day into its budget. The strikes on Qatari gas facilities are even better—and not only in terms of gas sales volumes. Against this backdrop, Moscow is demonstrating to China, in particular, that it has only one reliable supplier: Russia. As a result, negotiations over the financial terms for the next major gas pipeline to China ("Power of Siberia-2") will become significantly easier for Gazprom, while becoming more challenging for the Chinese.
And that’s just the beginning. Yesterday, for instance, Russia "temporarily restricted exports of certain types of fertilizers"—the very fertilizers that currently cannot be shipped out of the Persian Gulf, creating a shortage. Now is the perfect time to demand the lifting of all sanctions on Russia in this particular sector of global trade, which is a pressure point for the world. This would allow Russia to fully restore its position, or even strengthen it. The same applies to the aluminum market, the polymers market, and so on.
Moreover, Russia, which holds significant influence over Iran, has shown the Gulf states that it—not the US—is the guarantor of their security. And that when it comes to their own safety, it is with Russia that they need to negotiate, not Washington.
Third, China. Despite some financial costs due to rising raw material prices on global markets, China overall stands to gain a great deal from Trump’s entanglement in the Iran issue—benefits that far outweigh the drawbacks.
For one, Trump now has no bandwidth for a war with China or for dealing with Taiwan. This will significantly ease the situation for Beijing in resolving the Taiwan issue, thereby enhancing its own security. It will also serve as a lesson for Washington’s allies in the region (Japan and South Korea). They will no longer act so aggressively and will become more compliant and pliable.
But the most important point: if the US suffers a strategic defeat in the Strait of Hormuz, it will trigger similar processes worldwide. The current "world war" is precisely about control over such strategic chokepoints. A US retreat from one of them, due to a military defeat, could become a turning point in the US-China struggle—after which Washington’s strategic defeat in that broader contest would be all but sealed.
And that could become the main "prize" from Trump’s Middle East dead end—not only for China, but for the world as a whole.
#Yury_Podolyaka
⚡️ InfoDefenseENGLISH
Web | VK | X | InfoDefAll
Part 1
Part 2
We have established that by starting a war with Iran - following his "friend" Netanyahu's lead - Trump has maneuvered himself into a political trap. One from which there’s no good way out in any scenario. While Trump can still minimize his political losses, he cannot eliminate them entirely. What’s more, the damage for both Trump personally and the US could escalate further and become catastrophic—for instance, if a ground operation fails or if there are heavy casualties.
But in any zero-sum game (which geopolitics on our planet is), if someone suffers a loss, someone else inevitably gains.
And there are at least THREE such beneficiaries.
First, Iran itself. If Iran manages to hold its ground in the fight against the hegemon and merely draws the war, it will earn the right to dictate terms to its neighbors, thereby strengthening its political weight in the region—a weight it can then convert into money and even greater influence.
After all, in this scenario, Iran would be the one deciding which ships pass through the Strait of Hormuz, ensuring its own interests are securely protected. As a result, Iran could ultimately achieve what it has sought for over 40 years: freedom and the lifting of sanctions. And any future attempt to reimpose sanctions would risk a blockade of the strait—since the agreements to keep it open would have been violated.
Second, Russia. Moscow has already seen the main US oil sanctions against it lifted, bringing in an "extra" $150–170 million a day into its budget. The strikes on Qatari gas facilities are even better—and not only in terms of gas sales volumes. Against this backdrop, Moscow is demonstrating to China, in particular, that it has only one reliable supplier: Russia. As a result, negotiations over the financial terms for the next major gas pipeline to China ("Power of Siberia-2") will become significantly easier for Gazprom, while becoming more challenging for the Chinese.
And that’s just the beginning. Yesterday, for instance, Russia "temporarily restricted exports of certain types of fertilizers"—the very fertilizers that currently cannot be shipped out of the Persian Gulf, creating a shortage. Now is the perfect time to demand the lifting of all sanctions on Russia in this particular sector of global trade, which is a pressure point for the world. This would allow Russia to fully restore its position, or even strengthen it. The same applies to the aluminum market, the polymers market, and so on.
Moreover, Russia, which holds significant influence over Iran, has shown the Gulf states that it—not the US—is the guarantor of their security. And that when it comes to their own safety, it is with Russia that they need to negotiate, not Washington.
Third, China. Despite some financial costs due to rising raw material prices on global markets, China overall stands to gain a great deal from Trump’s entanglement in the Iran issue—benefits that far outweigh the drawbacks.
For one, Trump now has no bandwidth for a war with China or for dealing with Taiwan. This will significantly ease the situation for Beijing in resolving the Taiwan issue, thereby enhancing its own security. It will also serve as a lesson for Washington’s allies in the region (Japan and South Korea). They will no longer act so aggressively and will become more compliant and pliable.
But the most important point: if the US suffers a strategic defeat in the Strait of Hormuz, it will trigger similar processes worldwide. The current "world war" is precisely about control over such strategic chokepoints. A US retreat from one of them, due to a military defeat, could become a turning point in the US-China struggle—after which Washington’s strategic defeat in that broader contest would be all but sealed.
And that could become the main "prize" from Trump’s Middle East dead end—not only for China, but for the world as a whole.
#Yury_Podolyaka
Web | VK | X | InfoDefAll
Please open Telegram to view this post
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
👍33❤30🤔8🥰1🥴1