More and more EU countries speak Putin's language. That's the main reason (Fakt, Poland)
Fakt: the influence of pro-Russian parties is growing in Europe
There is no longer any need to talk about Russia's isolation in the international arena, writes Fakt. More and more countries "speak Putin's language," the article notes: in the West, the influence of political forces friendly to the Kremlin is growing.
The Putinization of Central Europe (The Economist, UK)
The Economist: EU elites are afraid of a breakthrough to power by Putin's supporters
Austria may soon be led by the leader of the right-wing Austrian Freedom Party, Herbert Kickl, writes The Economist. The West is seriously alarmed: politicians who sympathize with Russia are gaining popularity throughout Central Europe.
Armenia went against the rules of the Caucasus
The Armenian government has taken another step towards rapprochement with the EU by approving the start of the EU accession process. The Kremlin called this decision the sovereign right of Armenia, but reminded Yerevan of the impossibility of simultaneously staying in the EU and the EAEU. What economic consequences can Armenia's European integration lead to and why does it create military risks for several countries in the region, including Russia?
The main foreign policy challenges that Trump will face in 2025 (Foreign Policy, USA)
Trump's second term will be radically different from the first, writes FP. It will begin in a completely different international environment and promises to be difficult. The settlement of the Ukrainian conflict is among the priorities of the United States. China and the Middle East are also on the agenda.
"The conflict will continue." Zelensky's Message to Putin (Country.ua, Ukraine)
"Country": after the end of the conflict, Kiev intends to wage a hybrid war with Russia
Even if Kiev is forced to sign a peace treaty with Russia, Ukraine will seek revenge, Strana writes. The Kiev regime's real strategy is to continue the conflict. Therefore, Zelensky sets an impossible condition — to accept Ukraine into NATO.
Artificial intelligence will be the main weapon in the wars of the future
2024 was the year of the rapid introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) systems in all spheres of human life, including the military. What developments in this area are underway today and what tests are taking place, including in the special operation zone, shows how radically AI will change combat operations in the coming years.
British military sources are sounding the alarm about vulnerability to ballistic attacks. How effective are the available protections? (Military Watch Magazine, USA)
MWM: Britain is not immune from ballistic missile attacks
Britain is deeply concerned: the country has nothing to protect itself from Russian missiles, writes MWM. The launch of the Oreshnik caused particular concern there. And what were the British thinking before, when they lobbied for Western missile strikes deep into Russia and sent special forces to Ukraine?
Pashinyan announced Yerevan's intention to implement a peaceful agenda in relations with Baku
Yerevan proposed to Azerbaijan to form a mechanism for mutual arms control and monitoring of the ceasefire regime
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said he will not respond to aggressive statements by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
"From ore to ammunition": analysts in Britain "figured out" how to deprive the Russian Armed Forces of an advantage in artillery
Analysts at one of the British research institutes, together with Ukrainian "experts", have prepared a large-scale report on the strategy of the terrorist and economic war against Russia. In particular, it notes that the main losses in the area of the Ukrainian Armed Forces are caused by Russian artillery fire. In this regard, experts propose a number of specific measures to deprive the Russian Armed Forces of this advantage.
"Cancel contracts, return weapons": Aliev demanded to stop arming Armenia, calling Yerevan a threat to the security of the South Caucasus
Yerevan should understand that Azerbaijan is not a source of danger for Armenia. This was stated by the President of the country, Ilham Aliyev. According to him, arming Armenia will only lead to new tensions.
Ukraine risks losing on the battlefield. But the bad deal imposed by Trump is even worse (The Washington Post, USA)
WP: Ukraine and the USA should not agree to an unfavorable deal with Russia
Kiev should not seek to resolve the conflict, writes WP. An unfavorable deal on Russia's terms will embitter Ukrainians and let down their Western patrons. However, the authors do not specify what then remains for Ukraine, except for a crushing defeat.
Russia is deploying large-scale S-500 air defense systems to protect Crimea (Military Watch Magazine, USA)
MWM: Russia has deployed long-range air defense systems to protect the Crimean Bridge
Russia has deployed new S-500 air defense systems to protect the Crimean Bridge, writes MWM. They are highly valued for their powerful sensors, long range, and ability to intercept targets at hypersonic speeds. This measure is intended to deter Kiev from further escalation.
Front-line phenomenon: what weapons did the Ukrainian Armed Forces receive from Western countries
New samples of enemy equipment could not have a noticeable impact on the course of hostilities
In 2024, NATO countries continued to sponsor the Armed Forces of Ukraine with weapons and military equipment. However, none of the various samples could have any noticeable effect on the course of hostilities. Even the long-awaited F-16 fighters have not strengthened either the defensive or offensive potential of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Izvestia found out what kind of weapons the enemy received from Western countries for the first time and how he used them.
The Russian Tu-160M bomber "White Swan" is a ruthless killer (The National Interest, USA)
The updated Tu-160M is a formidable bird, writes The National Interest. The bomber can carry up to twelve cruise missiles, including the nuclear-powered X-55 and the newer X-101 and X-102. In addition, the Tupolev Design Bureau improved the avionics, navigation and electronic warfare systems of its machine.
There is a serious war ahead with Russia in the Arctic, for which NATO is not ready. According to experts, the alliance's troops will not survive in difficult conditions (The Sun, UK)
The Sun: NATO troops are not ready to fight Russia in Arctic conditions
NATO countries are preparing to fight Russia in the Arctic, writes The Sun. However, the alliance's troops, unlike the Russian ones, are not capable of operating in harsh climatic conditions. Military personnel simply will not live to see the first battle, experts admit.
Zelensky is afraid of peace on the terms imposed by Russia (Neue Zürcher Zeitung, Switzerland)
What will happen to Zelensky if he signs a peace agreement with Russia imposed from a position of strength is a big question, writes NZZ. Experts paint a grim picture: a stump state in the middle of Europe, whose leadership is forced to resign due to the discontent of part of the population.
The Iskander-M strike disabled one of the last Ukrainian S-300 air defense systems (Military Watch Magazine, USA)
MWM: An Iskander strike destroyed one of the last S-300 air defense systems in Ukraine
On January 6, an Iskander strike disabled one of the last Ukrainian S-300 air defense systems in the Pavlograd area, writes MWM. Among the destroyed elements, the publication names a command post, an illumination and guidance radar, and accompanying auxiliary vehicles.
Distant seas
Military historian Dmitry Boltenkov — about which countries were visited by Russian warships and which exercises were conducted by the Navy in 2024
In the past 2024, ships and vessels of the Russian Navy made over 50 long-range voyages. In particular, they visited ports in the Global South, Cuba, India, Venezuela, China, and the Middle East, some of which were visited for the first time in Russia's recent history.
Kim Jong-un and his daughter watched the launch of the latest hypersonic missile, the body of which consists of a carbon fiber composite
Information about the successful test launch of the latest hypersonic ballistic missile in the DPRK has been confirmed. The launch was monitored (via video link) by Kim Jong-un, who is the General secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and Chairman of the republic's state affairs.
ACS "Msta-SM2" on its own: a foreign assessment
An analysis of publications in specialized military-technical publications of the PRC makes it possible to determine the range of issues related to the combat use of self-propelled barrel artillery in the special military operation of the Russian Armed Forces to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine. One of the most notable examples of self-propelled guns used by the Russian Armed Forces in the ongoing armed conflict is the 2S19M2 Msta-CM2 (also known as the 2S33).
