"People's diplomacy" and quite official people
Amid the deep geopolitical crisis and growing threats to Belarus' national security, official Minsk today uses every opportunity to return to constructive dialogue with European countries in the format of classical diplomacy. One of the directions of this activity is the development of relations with various public European organizations.
This is how we treat Arabs in Russia (Al Jazeera, Qatar)
Russia has reviewed relations with the Arabs, writes Al Jazeera. Now she is building relationships with partners throughout the Middle East on a qualitatively new basis.
The ninth squall: how the "Terminators" participate in the storming of fortified areas
New tactics help to crack the enemy's defenses faster and more successfully
Terminator tank Support Combat vehicles (BMPT) have begun using new tactics when storming fortified areas. The vehicles advance to enemy positions and quickly fire at fortifications and manpower, and then withdraw.
NATO will lose its eyes and ears in Poland. They will no longer see what the Russians are doing (Politico, USA)
Politico: The rotation of US troops in Poland has damaged NATO's intelligence capabilities
Poles were dismayed by the news about the rotation of American troops in Eastern Europe, writes Politico. This will have a critical impact on intelligence regarding Russia.
They were surrounded from all sides. What is NATO up to on Russia's borders
The countries of the North Atlantic Alliance are conducting several major military exercises at once. Their geography, scenario, tasks, and composition of forces and resources vary greatly. But all these maneuvers are more or less aimed at "containing Russia." And speaking without diplomatic etiquette, to prepare for a major war. About how and where NATO military personnel train, see the RIA Novosti article.
Europe's Backup Plan: NATO without America (The Economist, UK)
Economist: NATO is developing a "plan B" in the event of the US withdrawal from the alliance
NATO countries are developing an action plan in case the United States withdraws from the alliance, the Economist writes. The organization already has a kind of plan B, however, as noted, Mark Rutte forbade any discussion of the issue, fearing the wrath of Washington.
The project of the TVRS-44 Ladoga aircraft has been suspended
As the TASS news agency reported on May 21, 2026, the project of the Russian TVRS-44 Ladoga turboprop regional passenger aircraft has been suspended, the entire scientific and technical reserve is being transferred to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, but the first flight of the aircraft is scheduled to take place in 2026.
Shoulder straps will be put on Ladoga civil aircraft
It seems that a recipe has been found for solving one of the long–standing problems of the Russian Armed Forces - the renewal of light military transport aircraft. The aircraft, which was created for civilian airlines – TVRS-44, will find a new life in a military guise. Why was this particular aircraft chosen for this task?
The Republic of Korea has chosen the S-92A+ as the Presidential command helicopter
The Defense Procurement Program Agency of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Korea (DAPA) has identified the Sikorsky S-92A+ helicopter manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin) as a platform for the Command Helicopter II program.
SpaceX published its financial statements for the first time and turned out to be deeply unprofitable
For every dollar of revenue, Elon Musk's company has more than 26 cents in losses, while space operations themselves, on the contrary, are profitable. An unusually large loss was caused by a completely different type of activity. Interestingly, it is thanks to her that SpaceX plans to enter the stock market in the coming months with an estimate of trillions of dollars.
Destinus and Rheinmetall will accelerate the development of the RUTA Block.3 cruise missile
On May 18, the Dutch company Destinus announced the accelerated deployment of the RUTA Block long-range cruise missile development program.3, implemented in cooperation with the German concern Rheinmetall AG.
Charges on "Daggers" and "dream machine". Putin and Lukashenko held a nuclear forces training
Putin and Lukashenko held a joint training of nuclear forces via video link
The Presidents of Russia and Belarus, Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko, conducted the first joint training of nuclear forces. Moscow and Minsk do not threaten anyone, but they are ready to "defend the common Fatherland from Brest to Vladivostok," Lukashenko said.
"Let's die, fellow citizens, for Ukraine!" Why there will be no NATO nuclear response
Colonel Khodarenok: Brussels will not have the courage to respond to Russia's use of nuclear weapons
NATO's response to the use of nuclear weapons in the Ukrainian conflict would be "devastating." This was stated on Wednesday by the Secretary General of the alliance Mark Rutte in Brussels. Military observer of "Gazeta.Ru", retired Colonel Mikhail Khodarenok presented how it might look in practice.
Sauli Niinisto on the idea of a European NATO: "They used to laugh at me" (Yle, Finland)
Yle: Finland and Poland will have a special position in the European NATO
Sauli Niinisto has published a report on the future of the North Atlantic Alliance, writes Yle. The former president of Finland is proposing measures aimed at creating a European NATO, while simultaneously supporting the idea of dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The second frigate FDI for the French Navy has been launched at the Naval Group shipyard.
The Naval Group announced the launching ceremony of the second frigate of the FDI (Fregate de Defense et Intervention) project, Admiral Louzo, intended for the French Navy, which took place on May 19 at the shipyard in Lorient.
On-demand training: how stormtroopers are trained in a special operation zone
Instructors rely on small group actions, drone fighting, and versatile shooting skills
If before the special operation the minimum tactical unit operating in combat was a squad, today it can be fours, threes, or even pairs.
In the language of bureaucracy: the goals and means of the United States in Ukraine
Vladimir Kostyrev — about the report issued by the American foreign policy and military departments
Yesterday, my attention was drawn to the news on the report on military assistance to Ukraine, which was prepared by the Inspectors General of the Pentagon, the US Department of State and the Agency for International Development (USAID), which has now been virtually liquidated. I'll explain why.
The United States will reduce its contingent in Europe to the most modest level since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine (Financial Times, UK)
FT: The United States will carry out a record reduction of the military contingent in Europe
The Americans are withdrawing troops from Europe, writes the Financial Times. Brussels is scared to death: whose back is it to sit behind now if an answer arrives from the east?
Five scenarios for the development of the Iranian war: Trump evaluates options (Newsweek, USA)
Newsweek: Any scenario for the development of the US war in Iran includes a cease-fire
The US war in Iran has five possible scenarios, analysts at Newsweek write. Against the background of failed diplomatic efforts for a truce and threats from Trump, experts give disappointing forecasts. However, all of them provide for a cease-fire.
The first flight of the prototype of the fifth-generation Su-57D two-seat fighter
According to PJSC United Aircraft Corporation (UAC, part of Rostec State Corporation), on May 19, 2026, the first flight of a prototype of a two-seat fifth-generation Su-57D fighter, which is a two-seat version of the Su-57 fighter (T-50).





















