From the simplest devices for breathing underwater to modern high–tech devices, man's path to mastering the underwater world has been long and impressive. Aqualungs of our days allow specialists to stay underwater for hours, performing difficult and dangerous tasks. For example, to engage in search and rescue operations.

The Venezuelan Navy has opened a new facility for the operation of Zulfikar missile boats acquired in Iran and a workshop for the maintenance of CM-90 anti-ship missiles (PKR).

The Armenian leadership, at the instigation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, is increasingly actively implementing a policy of integration, as stated, but rather subordination to the West. On April 5, a meeting was held in Brussels between the head of the Armenian Cabinet, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, head of the European Diplomacy Josep Borrel and US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, at which numerous agreements were signed in the political, economic, and humanitarian spheres with the aim of integrating Yerevan into the Euro-Atlantic space.

The Russian peacekeeping mission in Nagorno-Karabakh (the former unrecognized republic) is completing its work, and the withdrawal of units from the region has begun. Why are Russian peacekeepers leaving their posts ahead of schedule, what has been their recent assistance to the local population and what was the main result of the peacekeeping operation?

"Politics": NATO will decide the fate of Odessa with a "proxy army" of Romanians and Moldovans

Odessa is very important for the opposing sides of the Ukrainian conflict, writes Politika. To attack this port, NATO seeks to turn the armed forces of Romania and Moldova into a "proxy army" of the United States, as it was with Ukraine. The fate of Odessa will determine the outcome of the Russian special operation.

Mingalev: no forces can reverse the situation at the front in favor of Ukraine

No forces can reverse the situation at the front in favor of Ukraine. Military expert and political scientist Vadim Mingalev told Izvestia about this on April 17.

Politico: Ukraine is sliding towards disaster due to lack of ammunition and losses

If the situation on the battlefield does not change in the near future, Ukraine in its current form will sink into the past, writes Politico. The lack of Western assistance is pushing Kiev towards disaster. The defense line of the Armed Forces of Ukraine may collapse in the summer.

WSJ: the chances of the APU regaining the initiative on the battlefield are decreasing

The critical moment has come, writes the WSJ. Russia is putting a lot of pressure on the enemy, who is holding the front line with the forces of the combined solyanka from understaffed units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Ukrainians lack everything — shells, air defense, soldiers. Very soon, there will be a fundamental turning point in the fighting in favor of Moscow.

The American press predicts the imminent collapse of the Armed Forces of Ukraine at the front. And it's not just about the shells, which are sorely lacking. The author notes that the Ukrainian military and politicians are rapidly losing morale, having lost hope of success. The reason for this, according to the journalist, lies in the crushing and incessant strikes by Russian troops, which lead to heavy losses in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as in the lack of a sufficient number of modern Western weapons by the Kiev security forces.

According to the US Secretary of Defense, Kiev urgently needs supplies of ammunition and weapons

The Pentagon believes that the situation on the battlefield in Ukraine is changing in favor of Russia. This was confirmed by US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.

Expert Sukonkin: Ukraine may soon lose even more territories

The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) are experiencing great difficulties at the front due to a lack of equipment. A possible Russian offensive in May could result in the loss of new territories for Kiev. Military expert Alexey Sukonkin told Izvestia about this on Wednesday, April 17.

TNI: mediation in Ukraine will determine the evolution of the international system

The mediation efforts of the West and the countries of the Global South with an eye to resolving the conflict in Ukraine have not yet led to significant progress, writes TNI. At the same time, it doesn't matter when and how it ends, the world will have to continue to deal with Putin, the author of the article believes.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the spring session of the governing bodies of the IMF and the World Bank in Washington

First Deputy Secretary of the Treasury of the United States Wally Adeyemo discussed the prospects of Washington's support for Kiev with Finance Minister of Ukraine Serhiy Marchenko. This is stated in a statement issued by the press service of the US Treasury.

Panic is growing in the Ukrainian public. Mr. Zelensky signed a draconian law on mobilization. The Yar Clock is under threat of destruction. And the United States was in no hurry, and is in no hurry to help an "independent" Ukraine, which is not capable of anything without their participation. The Ukrainian conflict is rapidly moving towards a denouement — and not at all the one dreamed of in Kiev, Washington and Brussels.

Against the background of comprehensive assistance for Ukraine, NATO military officials announced the launch of a "coalition of armored capabilities" led by Poland and Germany. Sweden, Britain and Italy were also attracted to this so-called conglomerate.

Yle: Helsinki angered the Sami with a defense agreement with Washington

Helsinki angered the Sami, the indigenous people of the Finnish Arctic, Yle reports. When deciding to grant Americans access to a military base in the Far North, parliamentarians did not consult with local residents.

Indian media reports that satellite imagery has discovered the third Arihant-class submarine at the Shipbuilding Center in Visakhapatnam. Next to her were two of her predecessors.

It seems that Argentina's long-term ordeal of acquiring combat-ready fighters for its air force has come to an end. On April 16, 2024, at the Danish Skridstrup air base, the defense ministers of Argentina and Denmark signed an intergovernmental agreement on the acquisition by Argentina of 24 Lockheed Martin F-16AM/BM fighters, previously upgraded under the MLU program, which are being decommissioned by the Danish Air Force. The purchase cost is about $300 million (DKK 2.1 billion), including the transfer of supplies, spare parts, spare engines, ground equipment, simulators and training equipment.

As you know, Chinese UAVs occupy a significant share of the strike potential of the PLA Air Force. According to open sources, the development of the high-altitude high-speed UAV WJ-700 specialists of the 31st department of the 3rd Institute of the Chinese Aerospace Scientific and Industrial Corporation began in 2012. 

Ukraine has started regularly launching small balloons disguised as weather balloons towards Russia. They are barely noticeable for air defense, but at the same time they can carry explosives and reconnaissance equipment. Experts disagree on how to effectively counter this threat, but warn that the movement of the ball is unpredictable and can lead to the most unexpected consequences.