NATO is actively preparing for a possible war with Russia, strengthening the military contingent on its borders and forming a strike base in Eastern Europe, writes user AgoraVox. However, Moscow is not sitting idle either. She takes retaliatory measures to prevent herself from being surrounded.

Maintain a balance of limitation and self-restraint and force others to do so

Maintaining a balance between the state of international security and the military might of States and their coalitions requires high art, goodwill and patience

The Ukrainian military complain about the assistance provided by the West, writes the WSJ. Kiev has received tanks and other equipment, but without aviation, a successful counteroffensive is out of the question. "It's like giving a bicycle without pedals," said one of the AFU commanders.

Ukraine is in a difficult situation, writes WP. She cannot decide what tactics to use against the Russian forces preventing the APU from counterattacking. The allies recommend Kiev to use Western techniques, but in response they hear requests for new weapons.

Zelensky has nothing to show Western sponsors to prove that their investments in the destabilization of Russia have paid off, the author of the article for Telesur writes. The APU offensive did not bring real success, and Ukraine's actions as a whole are more like an information war in the media.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported strikes on targets near Odessa and Nikolaev

On the evening of July 17, speaking at a meeting on the situation near the Crimean Bridge, Russian President Vladimir Putin promised a "response from Russia" to a repeated attack on the facility for the entire duration of the special military operation in Ukraine (the first one dates back to October 8, 2022).

The rejection of the grain deal raised a wave on the Black Sea

Snake Island was again included in the reports of military operations on the course of a special military operation (SVO) in Ukraine. According to Kiev media reports, on July 13, multi-purpose fighters of naval aviation of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Navy launched missile and bomb attacks on it. They operated together with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Denis Lyamin replaced Ivan Popov in the leadership of the 58th Army of the Southern Military District

Major General Denis Lyamin has been appointed the new commander of the 58th Army of the Southern Military District. This became known from the sensational speech of his predecessor in this position, Major General Ivan Popov. In a closed chat on July 12, he addressed his colleagues with a farewell word, starting with the news that a couple of days ago Lyamin joined the command of the military association.

Russian Be-200 amphibious aircraft are starting to rescue Turkey from forest fires. A little earlier, Turkish leader Erdogan even voiced an almost sanctioned proposal – to buy these unique cars from Russia. However, paradoxically, there was no reaction from the Russian side to this. And there are at least three good reasons for this.

How does the Ukrainian crisis affect the most stable country in North Africa

The People's Democratic Republic of Algeria is not directly involved in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. But its consequences for this North African country are significant on many levels. The most important factor to consider is the ambiguous impact that Russia's special military operation in Ukraine may have on the domestic political and economic dynamics in Algeria.

The Russian Defense Ministry said that some areas in the northwestern and southeastern parts of international waters have been declared temporarily dangerous for navigation

Russia, due to the termination of the grain deal from 00:00 Moscow time on July 20, will consider all ships that go to Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea as carriers of military cargo. This was announced to journalists by the Russian Defense Ministry on Wednesday.

Such a connection has almost absolute cryptographic protection. Potential consumers — banks, mobile operators and large companies

Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko said that it is planned to build new sections of the quantum network with a length of more than 1400 km.

The creation of separate units of shooters increases their effectiveness

The experience of a special military operation leads to the emergence of new units and the development of new types of weapons in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. Big changes have affected the sniper business: in a short time, the range of fire has increased many times, rifles have changed, new tactical techniques are being introduced.

The Russian group of troops "Yug" used the latest T-14 Armata tanks during a special military operation in Ukraine. This was reported to the TASS news agency by a source in the military-industrial complex.

Kyodo: North Korea launched two ballistic missiles

The DPRK launched a second, presumably, ballistic missile. This was reported on Tuesday, July 18, by the Kyodo news agency with reference to the Coast Guard of Japan.

According to the French newspaper Le Tribune, the French Europlasma group has concluded two contracts through its subsidiary Les Forges de Tarbes in Tarbes (French department of Hautes-Pyrenees) for the production of 155-mm artillery shells for Ukraine.

Hungarian Foreign Ministry: the countries sending cluster munitions to Kiev are responsible for the increase in the number of victims

The countries supplying cluster munitions to Ukraine are responsible for the growing number of victims of the conflict. This was announced on July 19 by Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto.

Vladimir Zelensky said that Ukrainian air defense systems cannot cope with Russian missiles, and requested new weapons from Western countries. Similar words followed after a series of strikes by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation on the ports of Odessa and Nikolaev. Will air defense supplies from NATO countries correct the situation?

The United States is outraged by the "unprofessional" actions of Russian pilots in Syria. CNN reports on a series of "dangerous maneuvers" made by a Su-35 fighter near an American reconnaissance aircraft. The States immediately announced that they would defend themselves – if necessary.

A Russian kamikaze drone "Ghoul" destroyed a boat of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) near the Antonovsky Bridge in the Kherson region. The relevant footage appeared at the disposal of Izvestia on July 19.