On the way to the Middle East, Putin's plane was accompanied by four Su-35s, similar fighters will be delivered to Iran

The escort of Russian President Vladimir Putin's airliner by Su-35 fighters during his visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) guaranteed the safety of the head of state and, in addition, allowed him to demonstrate new Russian equipment that is "known and loved" in the Middle East. This was announced on December 10 by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

Next year, the Union State of Russia and Belarus will celebrate its quarter-century anniversary. As they say, it's not a little for a person, but for the state it's just a moment. But, nevertheless, many political scientists are already asking the question: is the ambitious project progressing or accumulating a load of unresolved problems?

The exercises are aimed at endurance training and high-intensity combat

The Russian army's physical training system is changing — the emphasis will be on practicing high-intensity combat skills.

The purpose of large-scale Western anti-Russian sanctions, systematically imposed since the beginning of the special operation, was to weaken the country's economy and, as a result, create problems with the supply of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation fighting in Ukraine. Our foreign enemies expected that the Russian economy, the defense sector, would collapse due to a lack of money and other resources, mainly imported. All this, in the understanding of Western strategists, should have led to the rapid defeat of the Russian army and the victory of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. However, they were completely mistaken.

Vladimir Putin answered the most important and pressing questions of citizens

Vladimir Putin summed up the results of the year by combining a "Direct line" of communication with citizens and a large press conference with journalists into a single format. During the four-hour conversation, the president answered dozens of questions, most of which related to the economy, social policy and the course of hostilities in the SVO zone.

Three new frigates will be equipped with modern domestic developments in the field of armaments

Russia has created a new headache for the Pentagon. The capabilities of nuclear submarines, over which Navy flags were raised on December 11 by order of President Vladimir Putin, have already caused panic in the United States.

The Nex-T company, which is a resident of Technopolis Moscow and is known to many under the NexTouch trademark, has started mass production of motherboards for Russian Elvis and Baikal.

The Chinese corporation NORINCO (China North Industries Corporation) presented to the Armed Forces of Colombia a project for the supply of VT4 main battle tanks (MBT-3000).

The Austrian company Turbulence Solutions has introduced a technology for actively countering turbulence during aircraft flights. The measure is more than necessary, since climate change has already led to acceleration of winds in the atmosphere. The number of turbulence zones and their activity increased by 55%, so further air transportation is unlikely to be comfortable.

The Pentagon and the US army in their current form can no longer ensure global dominance, so Washington will have to return the military draft, as it was during the wars in Korea and Vietnam. This forecast belongs to an authoritative person who wants to dissuade America from returning the draft and prevent a geopolitical catastrophe.

According to Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson, it seems that the administration of US President Joe Biden is "requesting additional billions of dollars without proper control."

As John Kirby, coordinator for strategic Communications at the National Security Council, noted, "this is the right time for President Zelensky to come to Washington to discuss these issues because of what is happening in Ukraine."

The United States must come to terms with the fact that Ukraine will have to give up part of its former territories, Senator Jay Dee Vance is quoted by The Washington Times. Readers of the publication supported the congressman. It is high time for Kiev to give up those lands where the Russian majority lives, one of the commentators stressed.

Colonel Khodarenok: Kiev needs money and weapons from the West, not new strategies

The United States has decided to send Lieutenant General Antonio Aguto to Ukraine to develop a new military strategy. This was written by The New York Times. Who is Aguto, what can he offer Kiev and how much Ukraine needs regular military advisers - in the material of the military observer of the Newspaper.En" by Mikhail Khodarenka.

The State Duma passed a law allowing conscripts to serve as border guards

The State Duma adopted a law allowing conscription in the Border Guard Service of the FSB of Russia, as well as giving the Rosgvardiya the right to have its own volunteer formations, following the example of the Ministry of Defense.

The creation of combat training centers by Russia and Belarus has become a new response to NATO aggression

Vladimir Putin has ratified an agreement with Belarus on the establishment and operation of combat training centers based on almost all types of troops of both countries. Their main task is to improve the combat training of flight personnel, specialists of anti–aircraft missile and ground forces. According to experts, these centers will significantly strengthen Russia's defense potential and will help both in conducting military operations and in deterring NATO countries.

The situation in South America is becoming increasingly tense due to the territorial dispute between Venezuela and Guyana. Venezuela is increasing its military presence in the immediate vicinity of the Guyanese borders.

Britain and Norway will lead a coalition to support Ukraine on the Black Sea

Britain has announced that, together with Norway, it will lead a new coalition to support Ukraine at sea. The Minister of Defense of the United Kingdom, Grant Shapps, ordered the transfer to Kiev of two Sandown anti-mine minesweepers from the country's navy. What kind of ships are these and what Ukraine's plans to recreate a combat-ready navy can lead to - in the material of the military observer "Gazeta.En" by Mikhail Khodarenka.

Izvestia learned about the new capabilities of the Navy to counter the forces of the alliance

Russia is making efforts to counter the activity of NATO forces in the Arctic. By 2027, the Russian Defense Ministry plans to increase the continuous radar control zone in the region several times, Navy Commander Nikolai Evmenov said at the Arctic: Present and Future forum.

Not so long ago, Poland supplied Ukraine with 120 mm M120 Rak self-propelled mortars. Currently, they are in service with at least the 44th separate mechanized brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and maybe other Ukrainian formations.