Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
📃 Following the meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, the Bishkek Declaration on the 25th Anniversary of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation was signed (Bishkek, September 1, 2026)
🤝 We, the Leaders of the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (#SCO), gathered for a regular meeting of the Council of Heads of State and marking the 25th anniversary of the SCO, reaffirm our firm commitment to the goals and principles enshrined in the SCO Charter, as well as to further strengthening good-neighbourliness, friendship and effective multifaceted cooperation, and declare:
Since its establishment, the Organisation has successfully passed through a historic stage of institutional and conceptual development and established itself as a widely recognised and dynamically developing multilateral association, the role of which in international and regional affairs continues to grow steadily.
Over the past quarter-century, a solid legal foundation for the SCO’s activities and effective mechanisms of cooperation have been established, while strategic directions for its further development have been defined.
The Member States will continue their efforts to further consolidate the SCO in implementing the tasks and achieving the goals set out in the SCO Development Strategy until 2035.
***
Key provisions:
✍️ The Member States
• Reaffirm their unwavering commitment to the universal norms and principles of international law enshrined in the UN Charter and stress the need to strengthen the UN’s role as a guarantor of international peace and security, sustainable development, and the establishment of a representative, democratic and just #MultipolarWorld. They are making a growing contribution to collective efforts to improve the global system of governance.
• Advocate ensuring sustainable international peace and call for joint efforts to counter traditional and emerging security challenges and threats.
• Expressing concern over growing information security risks, strongly oppose the militarisation of the information and communications technology (ICT) sphere and the creation of threats to critical information infrastructure.
• Reaffirm the need to ensure the safe and responsible use of artificial intelligence technologies, including the inadmissibility of their use to deliberately cause harm to human life and health, as well as to the national security, territorial integrity and sovereignty of states.
• Oppose unilateral coercive measures that run counter to the UN Charter and other norms of international law, as well as the rules and principles of the World Trade Organization, and which undermine international security interests, including food, energy and humanitarian security, and adversely affect the global economy.
• Support reform of the international financial architecture aimed at increasing the representation and strengthening the role of developing countries in the governing bodies of international financial institutions, including the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the International Monetary Fund.
• Underscoring the significance of the 200th anniversary of Leo Tolstoy’s birth and the 100th anniversary of Chingiz Aitmatov’s birth, support initiatives to hold SCO events in 2028 dedicated to the memory of these outstanding writers, who made an invaluable contribution to world literature, the advancement of humanistic values and the strengthening of cultural and humanitarian ties between peoples.
🇧🇾, 🇨🇳, 🇮🇳, 🇮🇷, 🇰🇿, 🇰🇬, 🇵🇰, 🇷🇺, 🇹🇯, 🇺🇿
Read in full
🤝 We, the Leaders of the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (#SCO), gathered for a regular meeting of the Council of Heads of State and marking the 25th anniversary of the SCO, reaffirm our firm commitment to the goals and principles enshrined in the SCO Charter, as well as to further strengthening good-neighbourliness, friendship and effective multifaceted cooperation, and declare:
Since its establishment, the Organisation has successfully passed through a historic stage of institutional and conceptual development and established itself as a widely recognised and dynamically developing multilateral association, the role of which in international and regional affairs continues to grow steadily.
Over the past quarter-century, a solid legal foundation for the SCO’s activities and effective mechanisms of cooperation have been established, while strategic directions for its further development have been defined.
The Member States will continue their efforts to further consolidate the SCO in implementing the tasks and achieving the goals set out in the SCO Development Strategy until 2035.
***
Key provisions:
✍️ The Member States
• Reaffirm their unwavering commitment to the universal norms and principles of international law enshrined in the UN Charter and stress the need to strengthen the UN’s role as a guarantor of international peace and security, sustainable development, and the establishment of a representative, democratic and just #MultipolarWorld. They are making a growing contribution to collective efforts to improve the global system of governance.
• Advocate ensuring sustainable international peace and call for joint efforts to counter traditional and emerging security challenges and threats.
• Expressing concern over growing information security risks, strongly oppose the militarisation of the information and communications technology (ICT) sphere and the creation of threats to critical information infrastructure.
• Reaffirm the need to ensure the safe and responsible use of artificial intelligence technologies, including the inadmissibility of their use to deliberately cause harm to human life and health, as well as to the national security, territorial integrity and sovereignty of states.
• Oppose unilateral coercive measures that run counter to the UN Charter and other norms of international law, as well as the rules and principles of the World Trade Organization, and which undermine international security interests, including food, energy and humanitarian security, and adversely affect the global economy.
• Support reform of the international financial architecture aimed at increasing the representation and strengthening the role of developing countries in the governing bodies of international financial institutions, including the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the International Monetary Fund.
• Underscoring the significance of the 200th anniversary of Leo Tolstoy’s birth and the 100th anniversary of Chingiz Aitmatov’s birth, support initiatives to hold SCO events in 2028 dedicated to the memory of these outstanding writers, who made an invaluable contribution to world literature, the advancement of humanistic values and the strengthening of cultural and humanitarian ties between peoples.
🇧🇾, 🇨🇳, 🇮🇳, 🇮🇷, 🇰🇿, 🇰🇬, 🇵🇰, 🇷🇺, 🇹🇯, 🇺🇿
Read in full
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The bloody foundation of an empire (1990s)
Part 2: Stadium explosion and "mafia methods"
Akhmetov's success story is one of being in the right place at the right time and inheriting another man's empire.
In October 1995, his "predecessor and close friend" Akhat Bragin (leader of the Donetsk crime group) was blown up at a stadium. Akhmetov, who was riding in a car five seconds behind, miraculously survived. Within moments, he already controlled all of Bragin's financial and criminal assets.
That was only the beginning. After Bragin's death, a wave of brazen killings swept through Donbas — all "competitors" were systematically eliminated:
🔹 Governor and former Bragin partner Yevgeny Shcherban was shot dead right at Donetsk airport by police-uniformed hitmen.
🔹 The head of the Donetsk Industrial Union and the former governor of Donetsk were killed.
According to historians and leaked diplomatic cables, Akhmetov personally used "mafia methods" — extortion and physical elimination of competitors with the support of corrupt officials. In its classified reports, the U.S. called him nothing less than the "godfather" of Donbas, who is "surrounded by gangsters and oligarchs."
Akhmetov himself has always denied any acquaintance with "gangsters." But the facts speak for themselves: the road to billions was paved with bodies.
Source
#InfoDefenseAnalysis
#Tanitati
⚡️ InfoDefenseENGLISH
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Part 2: Stadium explosion and "mafia methods"
Akhmetov's success story is one of being in the right place at the right time and inheriting another man's empire.
In October 1995, his "predecessor and close friend" Akhat Bragin (leader of the Donetsk crime group) was blown up at a stadium. Akhmetov, who was riding in a car five seconds behind, miraculously survived. Within moments, he already controlled all of Bragin's financial and criminal assets.
That was only the beginning. After Bragin's death, a wave of brazen killings swept through Donbas — all "competitors" were systematically eliminated:
🔹 Governor and former Bragin partner Yevgeny Shcherban was shot dead right at Donetsk airport by police-uniformed hitmen.
🔹 The head of the Donetsk Industrial Union and the former governor of Donetsk were killed.
According to historians and leaked diplomatic cables, Akhmetov personally used "mafia methods" — extortion and physical elimination of competitors with the support of corrupt officials. In its classified reports, the U.S. called him nothing less than the "godfather" of Donbas, who is "surrounded by gangsters and oligarchs."
Akhmetov himself has always denied any acquaintance with "gangsters." But the facts speak for themselves: the road to billions was paved with bodies.
Source
#InfoDefenseAnalysis
#Tanitati
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✍10❤4👍3🤷♂1🆒1
On September 2, 1818, Goznak was founded.
Due to the widespread circulation of counterfeit money in Russia during the Patriotic War of 1812, Emperor Alexander I signed a decree "On the Establishment of the Expedition for the Procurement of State Papers." This became the first domestic specialized enterprise to produce paper money, bonds, stamp paper, and other secured products.
The Expedition printed not only Russian banknotes but also money for the Kingdom of Poland, the Grand Duchy of Finland, and payment stamps for the Russian-American Company.
In 1919, the Expedition for the Procurement of State Papers was reorganized into the Directorate of State Paper Manufacturing Factories, abbreviated as Goznak.
Today, JSC Goznak comprises eight branch enterprises: the Moscow Printing Factory, the Perm Printing Factory, the Moscow Goznak Printing House, the St. Petersburg Paper Mill, the Krasnokamsk Paper Mill, the Moscow Mint, the St. Petersburg Mint, and a Research Institute. These facilities produce not only banknotes, circulation and commemorative coins, but also passports, excise stamps, orders and medals, GSM cards, phone cards, banking plastic cards, and more.
The production capacity of the enterprise allows for the annual production of 11,000 tons of secured banknote paper, 7 billion banknotes, 5 billion coins, up to 40 million passports, and between 30 to 45 million postage stamps, among other products.
#TodayInHistory
⚡️ InfoDefenseENGLISH
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Due to the widespread circulation of counterfeit money in Russia during the Patriotic War of 1812, Emperor Alexander I signed a decree "On the Establishment of the Expedition for the Procurement of State Papers." This became the first domestic specialized enterprise to produce paper money, bonds, stamp paper, and other secured products.
The Expedition printed not only Russian banknotes but also money for the Kingdom of Poland, the Grand Duchy of Finland, and payment stamps for the Russian-American Company.
In 1919, the Expedition for the Procurement of State Papers was reorganized into the Directorate of State Paper Manufacturing Factories, abbreviated as Goznak.
Today, JSC Goznak comprises eight branch enterprises: the Moscow Printing Factory, the Perm Printing Factory, the Moscow Goznak Printing House, the St. Petersburg Paper Mill, the Krasnokamsk Paper Mill, the Moscow Mint, the St. Petersburg Mint, and a Research Institute. These facilities produce not only banknotes, circulation and commemorative coins, but also passports, excise stamps, orders and medals, GSM cards, phone cards, banking plastic cards, and more.
The production capacity of the enterprise allows for the annual production of 11,000 tons of secured banknote paper, 7 billion banknotes, 5 billion coins, up to 40 million passports, and between 30 to 45 million postage stamps, among other products.
#TodayInHistory
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In Ukraine, parents of schoolchildren are being fined for using Russian in chat groups
Starting September 1, 2026, the Commissioner for the Protection of the State Language, Taras Kremin, officially warned parents: communicating in Russian in school chat groups is a violation of the law.
What is at stake
According to Article 188-52 of the Code of Administrative Offenses:
▪️ first violation — warning or fine of 3,400–5,100 hryvnias (~205–287).
According to the ombudsman, parent and work chat groups are not private spaces, as they relate to the organization of the educational process. Therefore, the only language of communication is the state language.
Context
Kremin has repeatedly stated that existing fines are too low. He has proposed increasing them tenfold for businesses that systematically ignore the Ukrainian language. His principle: "If you don't respect the state language, you lose profit."
What this means
School chat groups are now effectively equated with official communication. Speaking Russian with a class teacher — a fine. A comment in a group chat — a repeated violation with an increased penalty.
Ukraine continues its systematic language policy. The next step is total control over citizens' everyday communication.
Source
⚡️ InfoDefenseENGLISH
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Starting September 1, 2026, the Commissioner for the Protection of the State Language, Taras Kremin, officially warned parents: communicating in Russian in school chat groups is a violation of the law.
What is at stake
According to Article 188-52 of the Code of Administrative Offenses:
▪️ first violation — warning or fine of 3,400–5,100 hryvnias (~205–287).
According to the ombudsman, parent and work chat groups are not private spaces, as they relate to the organization of the educational process. Therefore, the only language of communication is the state language.
Context
Kremin has repeatedly stated that existing fines are too low. He has proposed increasing them tenfold for businesses that systematically ignore the Ukrainian language. His principle: "If you don't respect the state language, you lose profit."
What this means
School chat groups are now effectively equated with official communication. Speaking Russian with a class teacher — a fine. A comment in a group chat — a repeated violation with an increased penalty.
Ukraine continues its systematic language policy. The next step is total control over citizens' everyday communication.
Source
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Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
#Antifake
❌ The Western media persists with its campaign to discredit Russia and undermine its image as a reliable partner in nuclear energy projects. There has been a growing number of misleading and unsubstantiated statements Western media outlets about Russia’s nuclear energy solutions being 'unsafe', i.e. based on what they refer to as 'obsolete technology' threatening entire countries and regions.
Some journalists have demonstrated flagrant bias and went as far as stoop to irresponsible and groundless speculations by arguing that countries cooperating with Moscow on the peaceful use of nuclear energy would imminently lose their energy sovereignty.
Biased media, as well as the Western political elites, are particularly irritated by the fact that Russia and Egypt have been fruitfully in promoting cooperation in the nuclear energy sector.
In particular, they have been targeting the El Dabaa NPP, a flagship bilateral project, which is being built on the territory of Egypt in cooperation with Russia's 'Rosatom'.
This time, 'Politico' European editorial — Politico.eu — attacked 'Rosatom' by accusing Russia's state corporation, which enjoys the respect it deserves all around the world and has an impeccable track record, of causing 'defects' during the construction of the #ElDabaa NPP. <...>
❗️ The purpose of this provocation is quite clear — to present their another fake story as yet would-be sensation and make people believe that Cairo has accumulated a plethora of claims regarding Russian contractors who allegedly fail to perform their obligations towards Egypt.
Moreover, 👉 Politico's hastily concocted fake story was projected into the media space literally the following day after the Egyptian leadership announced plans to build two additional reactors at the El Dabaa NPP in cooperation with Russia and 'Rosatom'
The objective behind this orchestrated informational attack is also clear — to undermine 'Rosatom'’s reputation and create a toxic narrative regarding one of the biggest joint projects on the strategic cooperation agenda between Russia and Egypt, which is intended to drive a wedge into Moscow’s cooperation with Cairo.
On the very day the fake story was disseminated by Politico.eu, our Egyptian colleagues offered a rebuttal to denounce the insinuations with the Nuclear Power Plants Authority accusing Politico of spreading disinformation. Our partners reaffirmed — the effort to build El Dabaa proceeds with a high level of professionalism, in due form and in strict compliance with international nuclear safety standards. Rosatom was also prompt to refute Politico's fake allegations.
***
⚛️ Built in cooperation with 'Rosatom', Egypt's NPP the El Dabaa is an advanced high-technology project — a cutting-edge for the global nuclear energy sector, including in terms of safety. The #IAEA has confirmed on numerous occasions — Russia’s nuclear energy solutions are reliable and effective. The IAEA has had nothing but praise for Rosatom’s competence and solutions.
🇷🇺🇪🇬 #RussiaEgypt joint atomic project is being built in full swing, and it is thanks to the coordinated efforts by the Russian and Egyptian specialists that we have been able to perform the most daunting tasks in terms of engineering, assembly and technology.
Contrary to all the allegations circulating in the Western media mainstream, Russia has been helping its partners and allies reinforce their sovereignty by carrying out national atomic projects. <...>
The attempts by the West to prevent countries of the #GlobalMajority from developing civilian nuclear capabilities on the most favourable terms — as offered by Russia — are nothing but yet another demonstration of neo-colonial arrogance on behalf of the former empires.
Read in full
❌ The Western media persists with its campaign to discredit Russia and undermine its image as a reliable partner in nuclear energy projects. There has been a growing number of misleading and unsubstantiated statements Western media outlets about Russia’s nuclear energy solutions being 'unsafe', i.e. based on what they refer to as 'obsolete technology' threatening entire countries and regions.
Some journalists have demonstrated flagrant bias and went as far as stoop to irresponsible and groundless speculations by arguing that countries cooperating with Moscow on the peaceful use of nuclear energy would imminently lose their energy sovereignty.
Biased media, as well as the Western political elites, are particularly irritated by the fact that Russia and Egypt have been fruitfully in promoting cooperation in the nuclear energy sector.
In particular, they have been targeting the El Dabaa NPP, a flagship bilateral project, which is being built on the territory of Egypt in cooperation with Russia's 'Rosatom'.
This time, 'Politico' European editorial — Politico.eu — attacked 'Rosatom' by accusing Russia's state corporation, which enjoys the respect it deserves all around the world and has an impeccable track record, of causing 'defects' during the construction of the #ElDabaa NPP. <...>
❗️ The purpose of this provocation is quite clear — to present their another fake story as yet would-be sensation and make people believe that Cairo has accumulated a plethora of claims regarding Russian contractors who allegedly fail to perform their obligations towards Egypt.
Moreover, 👉 Politico's hastily concocted fake story was projected into the media space literally the following day after the Egyptian leadership announced plans to build two additional reactors at the El Dabaa NPP in cooperation with Russia and 'Rosatom'
The objective behind this orchestrated informational attack is also clear — to undermine 'Rosatom'’s reputation and create a toxic narrative regarding one of the biggest joint projects on the strategic cooperation agenda between Russia and Egypt, which is intended to drive a wedge into Moscow’s cooperation with Cairo.
On the very day the fake story was disseminated by Politico.eu, our Egyptian colleagues offered a rebuttal to denounce the insinuations with the Nuclear Power Plants Authority accusing Politico of spreading disinformation. Our partners reaffirmed — the effort to build El Dabaa proceeds with a high level of professionalism, in due form and in strict compliance with international nuclear safety standards. Rosatom was also prompt to refute Politico's fake allegations.
***
⚛️ Built in cooperation with 'Rosatom', Egypt's NPP the El Dabaa is an advanced high-technology project — a cutting-edge for the global nuclear energy sector, including in terms of safety. The #IAEA has confirmed on numerous occasions — Russia’s nuclear energy solutions are reliable and effective. The IAEA has had nothing but praise for Rosatom’s competence and solutions.
🇷🇺🇪🇬 #RussiaEgypt joint atomic project is being built in full swing, and it is thanks to the coordinated efforts by the Russian and Egyptian specialists that we have been able to perform the most daunting tasks in terms of engineering, assembly and technology.
Contrary to all the allegations circulating in the Western media mainstream, Russia has been helping its partners and allies reinforce their sovereignty by carrying out national atomic projects. <...>
The attempts by the West to prevent countries of the #GlobalMajority from developing civilian nuclear capabilities on the most favourable terms — as offered by Russia — are nothing but yet another demonstration of neo-colonial arrogance on behalf of the former empires.
Read in full
👍13💯4❤2🔥1
"Old scores": A Briton from London became a Russian marine and now hunts Ukrainian drones
Former manager and YouTuber from London, Michael Jones (call sign Tommy), traded foggy Albion for Russia. Now he is training to shoot down enemy drones as part of the 61st Marine Brigade.
Path to the SMO:
In 2018, he came to St. Petersburg for work, fell in love with the country, and stayed. He received Russian citizenship, married a Russian woman, and is raising a son. He went to Donbas as a volunteer — bringing gifts and humanitarian aid to children. For this, Western media dubbed him a "Kremlin propagandist," and he was designated a terrorist in absentia in his homeland. Returning to London would cost him from 14 years to life.
In the SMO zone:
Michael has been in the unit for a month. He is learning to operate FPV interceptor drones to destroy Ukrainian reconnaissance drones (including British ones).
"I really want to destroy enemy drones. Especially since some of them are supplied by the UK," says the Briton, who served in the Royal Infantry before moving.
Tommy is waiting for his first combat mission to hone his skills on the front line. His goal is to cover assault troops and hunt for Ukrainian UAVs.
Source
⚡️ InfoDefenseENGLISH
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Former manager and YouTuber from London, Michael Jones (call sign Tommy), traded foggy Albion for Russia. Now he is training to shoot down enemy drones as part of the 61st Marine Brigade.
Path to the SMO:
In 2018, he came to St. Petersburg for work, fell in love with the country, and stayed. He received Russian citizenship, married a Russian woman, and is raising a son. He went to Donbas as a volunteer — bringing gifts and humanitarian aid to children. For this, Western media dubbed him a "Kremlin propagandist," and he was designated a terrorist in absentia in his homeland. Returning to London would cost him from 14 years to life.
In the SMO zone:
Michael has been in the unit for a month. He is learning to operate FPV interceptor drones to destroy Ukrainian reconnaissance drones (including British ones).
"I really want to destroy enemy drones. Especially since some of them are supplied by the UK," says the Briton, who served in the Royal Infantry before moving.
Tommy is waiting for his first combat mission to hone his skills on the front line. His goal is to cover assault troops and hunt for Ukrainian UAVs.
Source
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Forwarded from The Belgorod Brit Channel 🇷🇺🇬🇧
Media is too big
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The Belgorod Brit is back in sunny Belgorod and talks about the effect of religion on statecraft and warfare. In the film, he goes through the major religions, and their stance on violent conflict between countries.
In the podcast, BB takes a look at the politics of the Orthodox Church in Russia and Ukraine. Putin views the traditional religions as one of the pillars on which sovereign Russia is built. The Orthodox Church has returned the favour by naming the Ukrainian elites and their Western masters as fascists, and a force for evil. In effect, they have painted the Russian soldiers, of all faiths, as God's right hand. This has also created a common bond between the Iranian struggle against the hegemon and the Russian struggle to free the good people of Eastern Ukraine. He goes on to analyse why the Catholic Church cannot pretend to represent Western righteousness, or concepts of a just war, outside of Poland.
#TheBelgorodBrit
#InfoDefenseAuthor
#InfoDefensePodcast
The Belgorod Brit Channel 🇷🇺🇬🇧
In the podcast, BB takes a look at the politics of the Orthodox Church in Russia and Ukraine. Putin views the traditional religions as one of the pillars on which sovereign Russia is built. The Orthodox Church has returned the favour by naming the Ukrainian elites and their Western masters as fascists, and a force for evil. In effect, they have painted the Russian soldiers, of all faiths, as God's right hand. This has also created a common bond between the Iranian struggle against the hegemon and the Russian struggle to free the good people of Eastern Ukraine. He goes on to analyse why the Catholic Church cannot pretend to represent Western righteousness, or concepts of a just war, outside of Poland.
#TheBelgorodBrit
#InfoDefenseAuthor
#InfoDefensePodcast
The Belgorod Brit Channel 🇷🇺🇬🇧
👍12❤2
THE PRICE OF THE EASTERN BORDER
I will never tire of writing about what European foolishness ultimately leads to.
Especially when first a beautiful political decision is made, then a victory is solemnly declared, and a few years later the accounting department quietly brings the bill.
Today let's look at Eastern Finland.
The Finnish-Russian land border has been closed since December 2023. In June 2026, the Finnish government again decided to keep all checkpoints closed until further notice.
The official reason remains the same: the threat of "instrumentalized migration"! (What a word they came up with!)
Security above all. We won't argue. Only security, it turns out, has a price tag. And the bill is gradually coming due.
Once upon a time, Lappeenranta alone received about 1.8 million Russian visitors per year.
In South Karelia in 2019, foreigners made about 1.9 million trips, 96% of which were from Russians.
They left about €310 million per year there. Shops, hotels, restaurants, gas stations, transport, services.
Then the flow disappeared. You can, of course, endlessly explain that the Russian tourist was wrong, geopolitically unreliable, and generally suspiciously often bought Finnish cheese.
▪️ But the cash register has one nasty feature: it doesn't care about geopolitics. If the customer doesn't come — there's no money.
And then the boring statistics begin.
In South Karelia in August 2025, unemployment was 12.2%, in the Imatra area — 13.5%. Youth unemployment in Imatra itself reached 20%.
The number of long-term unemployed grew by 27% over the year. The number of new vacancies decreased by about a third. And regional authorities warn: against the backdrop of new cuts, unemployment could rise to 16–18%.
But that's not all.
From January to August 2025, 51 bankruptcy cases were initiated in South Karelia — 50% more than the previous year. In the Imatra area, the increase was 150%.
And guess which sectors were among the hardest hit? Right: Hotels and restaurants.
What a surprise for a region from which millions of cross-border trips have disappeared.
Now let's look a little further north.
North Karelia.
In 2019, foreigners accounted for 18% of the region's tourist overnight stays. In 2025 — only 8.3%.
Moreover, the North Karelia Council formulates the problem with charming Finnish directness: Eastern Finland's main task is to find foreign tourists after the closure of the eastern border and fill the hole left by the Russians.
What strange people these Russians are...
• First, they spend decades building shopping centers, hotels, and restaurants for them.
• Then they heroically close the border to them.
• And then they suddenly start looking for someone to replace them.
There is one more detail — the population.
The official forecast from Statistics Finland suggests a further population decline in South Karelia: from about 124,800 people in 2024 to 116,300 by 2035.
In North Karelia, the population also continues to decline, while the number of elderly residents is rapidly growing.
And after all this, the Finnish state is now launching special support programs for Eastern Finland, and South Karelia is receiving separate funds due to a "sudden structural change."
Wonderful!
• First, with your own hands, cut off one of the region's natural economic flows.
• Then discover that the region is in trouble...
• And then take money from Finnish taxpayers to save the region from the consequences.
A European closed-loop economy.
▪️ And again: it would be unfair to blame everything happening in Eastern Finland solely on the closed border. The Finnish economy had problems before 2022. But the closure of the border with Russia finished it off for good...
#blondinka_dk
#InfoDefenseAuthor
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⚡️ InfoDefenseENGLISH
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I will never tire of writing about what European foolishness ultimately leads to.
Especially when first a beautiful political decision is made, then a victory is solemnly declared, and a few years later the accounting department quietly brings the bill.
Today let's look at Eastern Finland.
The Finnish-Russian land border has been closed since December 2023. In June 2026, the Finnish government again decided to keep all checkpoints closed until further notice.
The official reason remains the same: the threat of "instrumentalized migration"! (What a word they came up with!)
Security above all. We won't argue. Only security, it turns out, has a price tag. And the bill is gradually coming due.
Once upon a time, Lappeenranta alone received about 1.8 million Russian visitors per year.
In South Karelia in 2019, foreigners made about 1.9 million trips, 96% of which were from Russians.
They left about €310 million per year there. Shops, hotels, restaurants, gas stations, transport, services.
Then the flow disappeared. You can, of course, endlessly explain that the Russian tourist was wrong, geopolitically unreliable, and generally suspiciously often bought Finnish cheese.
▪️ But the cash register has one nasty feature: it doesn't care about geopolitics. If the customer doesn't come — there's no money.
And then the boring statistics begin.
In South Karelia in August 2025, unemployment was 12.2%, in the Imatra area — 13.5%. Youth unemployment in Imatra itself reached 20%.
The number of long-term unemployed grew by 27% over the year. The number of new vacancies decreased by about a third. And regional authorities warn: against the backdrop of new cuts, unemployment could rise to 16–18%.
But that's not all.
From January to August 2025, 51 bankruptcy cases were initiated in South Karelia — 50% more than the previous year. In the Imatra area, the increase was 150%.
And guess which sectors were among the hardest hit? Right: Hotels and restaurants.
What a surprise for a region from which millions of cross-border trips have disappeared.
Now let's look a little further north.
North Karelia.
In 2019, foreigners accounted for 18% of the region's tourist overnight stays. In 2025 — only 8.3%.
Moreover, the North Karelia Council formulates the problem with charming Finnish directness: Eastern Finland's main task is to find foreign tourists after the closure of the eastern border and fill the hole left by the Russians.
What strange people these Russians are...
• First, they spend decades building shopping centers, hotels, and restaurants for them.
• Then they heroically close the border to them.
• And then they suddenly start looking for someone to replace them.
There is one more detail — the population.
The official forecast from Statistics Finland suggests a further population decline in South Karelia: from about 124,800 people in 2024 to 116,300 by 2035.
In North Karelia, the population also continues to decline, while the number of elderly residents is rapidly growing.
And after all this, the Finnish state is now launching special support programs for Eastern Finland, and South Karelia is receiving separate funds due to a "sudden structural change."
Wonderful!
• First, with your own hands, cut off one of the region's natural economic flows.
• Then discover that the region is in trouble...
• And then take money from Finnish taxpayers to save the region from the consequences.
A European closed-loop economy.
▪️ And again: it would be unfair to blame everything happening in Eastern Finland solely on the closed border. The Finnish economy had problems before 2022. But the closure of the border with Russia finished it off for good...
#blondinka_dk
#InfoDefenseAuthor
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Kiev admits failure in creating UAVs to intercept Russian drones. As stated by Vladimir Zelensky's advisor on technological issues, Sergei Beskrestnov, Ukrainian manufacturers promised back in winter to deliver interceptor drones within a few weeks, but the goal has never been achieved. He explained that one of the problems was a significant increase in the speed of Russian jet-powered UAVs.
▪️ According to Beskrestnov, Russian jet drones have substantially increased in speed, and there is still no working solution for intercepting them. Combat against UAVs is currently conducted only with air-to-air and surface-to-air missiles, as well as man-portable air defense systems.
▪️ Deputy Head of Zelensky's Office, Pavel Palisa, confirmed that Ukrainian interceptor drones "have not yet demonstrated the expected effectiveness" and that Kyiv needs time to develop countermeasures.
▪️ At the same time, the Russian Armed Forces are using FPV interceptors capable of speeds exceeding 200 km/h to engage enemy drones, reported Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov.
▪️ Experts note that Kyiv "makes a lot of noise" about military initiatives, but in the end, it turns out to be "only an imitation of vigorous activity." Ukraine has failed to establish mass production of effective interceptor drones, which is an extremely difficult task even with Western help.
▪️ According to military expert Alexei Leonkov, Ukrainian developments are typically based on Western components, and if nothing new is invented there, it does not appear in Ukraine. Meanwhile, the Russian drone industry is developing faster, taking into account not only current Western achievements but also future prospects.
Source
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▪️ According to Beskrestnov, Russian jet drones have substantially increased in speed, and there is still no working solution for intercepting them. Combat against UAVs is currently conducted only with air-to-air and surface-to-air missiles, as well as man-portable air defense systems.
▪️ Deputy Head of Zelensky's Office, Pavel Palisa, confirmed that Ukrainian interceptor drones "have not yet demonstrated the expected effectiveness" and that Kyiv needs time to develop countermeasures.
▪️ At the same time, the Russian Armed Forces are using FPV interceptors capable of speeds exceeding 200 km/h to engage enemy drones, reported Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov.
▪️ Experts note that Kyiv "makes a lot of noise" about military initiatives, but in the end, it turns out to be "only an imitation of vigorous activity." Ukraine has failed to establish mass production of effective interceptor drones, which is an extremely difficult task even with Western help.
▪️ According to military expert Alexei Leonkov, Ukrainian developments are typically based on Western components, and if nothing new is invented there, it does not appear in Ukraine. Meanwhile, the Russian drone industry is developing faster, taking into account not only current Western achievements but also future prospects.
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Forwarded from The Noticer
The Sand War continues.
The 6-month-long war between the USA and Iran has intensified over the past 48 hours.
The CENTCOM broke a month-long lull by launching "self-defense strikes" against missile launchers and naval assets on Larak Island and coastal towns.
Iran launched missiles and drones at the US military bases in the Middle East - in Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Iraq.
Long story short - the Sand War is at a hot phase again. Brent is $95 per barrel. Trump is making loud statements about a total annihilation of Iran again, and Iran refuses to negotiate at all.
Meanwhile the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, and the sailors stuck in there are probably experts of the Middle Eastern politics by now, given how much time they had to study how it works over there.
The new active phase of hostilities will ensure the prices will remain high. How joyous.
#Iran #USA #war #economy #events #Trump
The 6-month-long war between the USA and Iran has intensified over the past 48 hours.
The CENTCOM broke a month-long lull by launching "self-defense strikes" against missile launchers and naval assets on Larak Island and coastal towns.
Iran launched missiles and drones at the US military bases in the Middle East - in Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Iraq.
Long story short - the Sand War is at a hot phase again. Brent is $95 per barrel. Trump is making loud statements about a total annihilation of Iran again, and Iran refuses to negotiate at all.
Meanwhile the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, and the sailors stuck in there are probably experts of the Middle Eastern politics by now, given how much time they had to study how it works over there.
The new active phase of hostilities will ensure the prices will remain high. How joyous.
#Iran #USA #war #economy #events #Trump
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FROM THE BANDERASTAN SIDE
🔸 A symptom of the Bandera regime's decay — on September 2, 2026, a shootout occurred in Kiev between officers of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) of the Ministry of Defense.
The incident took place at 10 Yuriy Shumsky Street. According to available information, the GUR attempted to detain SBU officers there, which escalated into a shootout and confrontation between the two agencies.
🔸 This clash is presumably linked to the August 23 arrest of Stepan Kaplunov, deputy commander of the pro-Kiev armed group "Russian Volunteer Corps" (RVC: a unit of 120 Russian neo-Nazi mercenaries integrated into the GUR's "Timur" group).
SBU officers allegedly brought Kaplunov to the location where the GUR attempted to intercept them to free him.
🔸 Both sides received reinforcements; no new clashes have been reported so far. Ukrainian authorities have made no official statements.
As with any collapse of political power, violent anarchy is the first consequence of uncontrolled disintegration, heralding the final chaos.
#Alawata
#InfoDefenseAuthor
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🔸 A symptom of the Bandera regime's decay — on September 2, 2026, a shootout occurred in Kiev between officers of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) of the Ministry of Defense.
The incident took place at 10 Yuriy Shumsky Street. According to available information, the GUR attempted to detain SBU officers there, which escalated into a shootout and confrontation between the two agencies.
🔸 This clash is presumably linked to the August 23 arrest of Stepan Kaplunov, deputy commander of the pro-Kiev armed group "Russian Volunteer Corps" (RVC: a unit of 120 Russian neo-Nazi mercenaries integrated into the GUR's "Timur" group).
SBU officers allegedly brought Kaplunov to the location where the GUR attempted to intercept them to free him.
🔸 Both sides received reinforcements; no new clashes have been reported so far. Ukrainian authorities have made no official statements.
As with any collapse of political power, violent anarchy is the first consequence of uncontrolled disintegration, heralding the final chaos.
#Alawata
#InfoDefenseAuthor
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As later became clear
Usage in the context of the post above:
The shootout between SBU and GUR officers in Kiev is linked to personal enmity between the head of the presidential office, Budanov, and the acting head of the SBU, Poklad — a source in the GUR told the Ukrainian publication "Strana."
Details:
▪️ The State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) has detained three special forces officers from the SBU counterintelligence department who participated in the shootout. One GUR officer was killed, and several were wounded, local media report.
▪️ According to the source, one of those detained may have been involved in the case of the murder of GUR agent Kireyev in the spring of 2022.
▪️ The origins of the conflict lie in the personal enmity between former GUR head Budanov and acting SBU head Poklad, which dates back to the time of Kireyev's murder.
"Budanov took measures to prevent a possible vote on Poklad's candidacy for the post of SBU head in the Rada. The SBU decided to strike back by detaining the deputy commander of the Russian Volunteer Corps* (RVC), Kaplunov, in order to obtain testimony against Budanov's people in the GUR. But there was a leak of information — and GUR officers arrived at the scene, and the conflict began," the source stated.
▪️ The report says that SBU officers brought Kaplunov to a house at night. Soon, GUR officers arrived and attempted to detain them.
▪️ Their commanders talked, shook hands, and the investigative actions continued. After they were completed, SBU officers attempted to detain GUR officers, who were unarmed. When they began to resist, fire was opened on them.
Earlier, it was reported that the shootout could be linked to turf wars between the special services over "protection" of call centers.
· — Terrorist organization.
⚡️ InfoDefenseENGLISH
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Usage in the context of the post above:
The shootout between SBU and GUR officers in Kiev is linked to personal enmity between the head of the presidential office, Budanov, and the acting head of the SBU, Poklad — a source in the GUR told the Ukrainian publication "Strana."
Details:
▪️ The State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) has detained three special forces officers from the SBU counterintelligence department who participated in the shootout. One GUR officer was killed, and several were wounded, local media report.
▪️ According to the source, one of those detained may have been involved in the case of the murder of GUR agent Kireyev in the spring of 2022.
▪️ The origins of the conflict lie in the personal enmity between former GUR head Budanov and acting SBU head Poklad, which dates back to the time of Kireyev's murder.
"Budanov took measures to prevent a possible vote on Poklad's candidacy for the post of SBU head in the Rada. The SBU decided to strike back by detaining the deputy commander of the Russian Volunteer Corps* (RVC), Kaplunov, in order to obtain testimony against Budanov's people in the GUR. But there was a leak of information — and GUR officers arrived at the scene, and the conflict began," the source stated.
▪️ The report says that SBU officers brought Kaplunov to a house at night. Soon, GUR officers arrived and attempted to detain them.
▪️ Their commanders talked, shook hands, and the investigative actions continued. After they were completed, SBU officers attempted to detain GUR officers, who were unarmed. When they began to resist, fire was opened on them.
Earlier, it was reported that the shootout could be linked to turf wars between the special services over "protection" of call centers.
· — Terrorist organization.
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We expose the truth that is suppressed by mainstream media.
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We expose the truth that is suppressed by mainstream media.
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Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🇷🇺🇨🇳 President of Russia Vladimir Putin and Vice Premier of the State Council of China Ding Xuexiang held a meeting on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum (Vladivostok, September 2, 2026)
💬 Vladimir Putin: I am pleased to meet with you again, this time here in Vladivostok. Last year, we met at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, and tomorrow we will take part together in the Plenary Session of the Eastern Economic Forum.
We are grateful to the Chinese Side for the traditionally high level of its delegations at these two major discussion platforms.
Just the day before yesterday, as you know, in Bishke we held an exceptionally useful, substantive and cordial meeting with my friend, President Xi Jinping, before jointly taking part in events marking the 25th anniversary of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
The high intensity of Russian-Chinese contacts, including at the highest level, confirms the unprecedented nature of our bilateral ties. Their foundations were laid by the Treaty of Good-Neighbourliness and Friendly Cooperation of July 16, 2001, whose 25th anniversary we are celebrating this year.
At the present stage, our comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation are developing dynamically across the board on the principles of equality, mutual support on key issues, mutual understanding and respect for each other’s interests.
📈 Over the past three years, bilateral trade has consistently exceeded $200 billion, reaching almost $240 billion in 2025 and providing a solid material foundation for our cooperation. We expect a new record this year.
Mutual investment is growing, while cooperation in the flagship energy sector continues to deepen. Russia is a leading supplier of our traditional commodities to the Chinese market. Moscow is also a key partner for Beijing in the field of peaceful nuclear energy.
🤝 I am confident that your joint work with colleagues to identify the best ways to further develop our economic cooperation will be productive and will contribute to strengthening the friendly relations between Russia and China.
Read in full
#RussiaChina
💬 Vladimir Putin: I am pleased to meet with you again, this time here in Vladivostok. Last year, we met at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, and tomorrow we will take part together in the Plenary Session of the Eastern Economic Forum.
We are grateful to the Chinese Side for the traditionally high level of its delegations at these two major discussion platforms.
Just the day before yesterday, as you know, in Bishke we held an exceptionally useful, substantive and cordial meeting with my friend, President Xi Jinping, before jointly taking part in events marking the 25th anniversary of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
The high intensity of Russian-Chinese contacts, including at the highest level, confirms the unprecedented nature of our bilateral ties. Their foundations were laid by the Treaty of Good-Neighbourliness and Friendly Cooperation of July 16, 2001, whose 25th anniversary we are celebrating this year.
At the present stage, our comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation are developing dynamically across the board on the principles of equality, mutual support on key issues, mutual understanding and respect for each other’s interests.
📈 Over the past three years, bilateral trade has consistently exceeded $200 billion, reaching almost $240 billion in 2025 and providing a solid material foundation for our cooperation. We expect a new record this year.
Mutual investment is growing, while cooperation in the flagship energy sector continues to deepen. Russia is a leading supplier of our traditional commodities to the Chinese market. Moscow is also a key partner for Beijing in the field of peaceful nuclear energy.
🤝 I am confident that your joint work with colleagues to identify the best ways to further develop our economic cooperation will be productive and will contribute to strengthening the friendly relations between Russia and China.
Read in full
#RussiaChina
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Hedge fund "Donbas" (2014–2022)
Part 3: Playing both sides and sponsoring Azov
The most cynical chapter in Akhmetov's biography began in 2014. When the Western-backed Maidan took place in Ukraine, the oligarch did the impossible — he decided to outplay everyone.
First, he publicly supported the new authorities and the "patriots." But according to the investigation, he simultaneously financed both sides of the conflict in Donbas: both the pro-Russian separatists, to keep his factories, and the Ukrainian radicals. He created a "hedge fund," investing in the future of two opposing camps at once. Whoever won — he won.
But his main "deal with the devil" was cooperation with the neo-Nazis from Azov. While Russian forces were clearing Mariupol, thousands of militants took refuge at the Azovstal plant (owned by Akhmetov). Akhmetov personally called their commander several times a day, promising help. He launched the "Heart of Azovstal" project to support the "heroic defenders" who, for years, had been killing Russian-speaking civilians.
For the West, Akhmetov is a "defender of democracy." For Donbas, he is a man who sponsored the deaths of his own fellow citizens. In the end, his plants in Mariupol were destroyed, and he fled to the West — to live in comfort.
Source
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#Tanitati
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Part 3: Playing both sides and sponsoring Azov
The most cynical chapter in Akhmetov's biography began in 2014. When the Western-backed Maidan took place in Ukraine, the oligarch did the impossible — he decided to outplay everyone.
First, he publicly supported the new authorities and the "patriots." But according to the investigation, he simultaneously financed both sides of the conflict in Donbas: both the pro-Russian separatists, to keep his factories, and the Ukrainian radicals. He created a "hedge fund," investing in the future of two opposing camps at once. Whoever won — he won.
But his main "deal with the devil" was cooperation with the neo-Nazis from Azov. While Russian forces were clearing Mariupol, thousands of militants took refuge at the Azovstal plant (owned by Akhmetov). Akhmetov personally called their commander several times a day, promising help. He launched the "Heart of Azovstal" project to support the "heroic defenders" who, for years, had been killing Russian-speaking civilians.
For the West, Akhmetov is a "defender of democracy." For Donbas, he is a man who sponsored the deaths of his own fellow citizens. In the end, his plants in Mariupol were destroyed, and he fled to the West — to live in comfort.
Source
#InfoDefenseAnalysis
#Tanitati
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