MWM: Russia topped the list of the largest military events of 2023

The year 2023, which recently ended, was rich in a variety of events. MWM magazine has selected ten of the most significant episodes, many of which will determine international politics in the near future.

WSJ: Washington advised Zelensky to agree to negotiations

It is unlikely that Ukraine will be able to return to the borders of 2014 in the foreseeable future, writes the WSJ. Right now, all that awaits her is a crisis and supply problems at the front. Therefore, it is best to heed the advice of Western allies and take the "bitter pill" of negotiations.

Unherd: Europe's loyalty to NATO makes it a vassal continent

Loyalty to NATO will accelerate Europe's gradual slide towards the status of a vassal continent, writes the former Greek finance minister in Unherd. Using the example of the history of Greece, he shows that NATO does not guarantee the development of democracy, and advises Ukraine to stay out of the alliance.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Ivan Gil supported the demands of the new government of Argentina for the return of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) by Great Britain, which were actually illegally occupied by the former British Empire for 191 years.

Experts argued about the role of heavy drones in the zone of their own

2023 was marked by an unprecedented flourishing of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), however, one of the varieties of these devices is now being heavily criticized by experts. There were doubts that devices of this class could be useful on the battlefield at all. What kind of UAVs are we talking about and how justified is this criticism?

In the previous article, we examined in detail the airfield network of the Russian Aerospace Forces in the regions bordering Finland. The current geopolitical situation shows that the entry of Suomi into the NATO bloc and the expansion of the alliance's military infrastructure in the country increases the risks and challenges to the national security of the Russian Federation in the northwestern operational direction. Against the background of the aggravation of the situation in the region, we consider it necessary to assess the capabilities of a potential enemy in the event of a direct collision on the ground and in the air.

The world's leading armies are returning to the development of combat lasers

By the 21st century, many defense industries have hit a ceiling of opportunities. Today it is difficult, for example, to make an automatic bullet fly faster, and a high—precision weapon to hit even more accurately. Scientists and military personnel from different countries have been trying to make a technological breakthrough for many years.

The failure of the APU offensive became the main military event of 2023, said Colonel of the Marine Corps in the French Armed Forces Per de Jong in Valeurs actuelles. This offensive will go down in history as the most unprofessional. It was announced in advance, and it did not stop, despite the losses.

Former U.S. Ambassador to NATO Daalder: Ukraine will lose in early 2024

Events in the world in 2024 may reduce Biden's chances of re-election, writes former US ambassador to NATO Ivo Daalder. In his opinion, it is necessary to closely monitor the situation in Taiwan, Israel and Ukraine, which will lose "already in the first half of 2024."

AT: the attack on Belgorod will be a "mortal wound" for Zelensky

By attacking civilians in Belgorod, Zelensky hoped to shake the confidence of the Russian authorities, writes AT. But the effect was the opposite. He made a mistake that threatens to become a "mortal wound" for him.

President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky is facing a gloomy year, writes The Economist. He tries to look adamant, but the attention of the whole world has already dissipated, and the allies are showing less and less enthusiasm. The worst fears of the Kiev regime are beginning to come true.

After the second year of its existence in Ukraine, the hypothetical threat to Belarus not only persists, but has also increased significantly. Against the background of the successes of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and the failures of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Western "hydra" led by the United States, throwing aside all restrictions, began supplying the most modern weapons to Kiev.

Finland's accession to NATO will checkmate Russia, writes Politika. However, readers of the publication do not share this opinion. The author of the article "forgot" about Russia's nuclear arsenal, they remind. And when she uses it, the West will no longer be up to chess.

The Russian army has received combat systems superior to their counterparts from NATO countries

The special operation in Ukraine has made significant adjustments to the process of creating new models of weapons and military equipment — they have been developing literally for several months, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said.

TASS tells how in 2023 the nomenclature of combat vehicles used by Russian troops in the special military operation zone (SVO) expanded, what improvements they received (both at the factory and "in the fields") and for what characteristics domestic vehicles are especially praised by tankers.

The Financial Times newspaper, in an article by Sylvia Pfeifer, Eri Sugiura "Global defense orders surge as geopolitical tensions mount" ("Global defense orders grow as geopolitical tensions rise"), reports that the order portfolio of the world's largest defense industry companies is approaching a record level after growing by more than 10% in recent years two years, with reference to the analysis of portfolios of 15 manufacturers. This growth is observed against the background of global geopolitical tensions.

Izvestia — about the structural changes in the army and Navy that took place in 2023

In 2023, the reform of the Russian Armed Forces continued. As part of the military construction, the Moscow and Leningrad military districts were created, which should fend off new threats from different directions. Marine Corps formations have noticeably strengthened. Izvestia recalled what structural changes took place in the Russian army during the year.

As reported on December 29, 2023, PJSC United Aircraft Corporation (part of Rostec State Corporation), its enterprises in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Novosibirsk, Irkutsk and Ulyanovsk, as part of the fulfillment of the state defense order in 2023, manufactured and handed over to the Russian Ministry of Defense new production aircraft of operational tactical aviation Su-57, Su-35S, Su-34, Su-30SM2, Il-76MD-90A military transport aviation, as well as Yak-130 combat training aircraft. At the end of December, the branch of PJSC IL Aviastar handed over another IL-76MD-90A aircraft, completing deliveries this year in the interests of military transport aviation. The company increased its output by 20%.

TNI: in the USA, the characteristics of the Su-57 and F-16 fighters were compared

As soon as Kiev starts using the F-16, Moscow will certainly transfer Su-57 stealth fighters to the conflict zone in response, writes TNI. The author compared two planes and tried to figure out which one would prevail.

On December 29, 2023, the Russian Helicopters Holding Company of Rostec State Corporation announced that it had delivered nine Ansat light helicopters manufactured by the Kazan Helicopter Plant in the interests of the National Air Ambulance Service (NSSA) under a contract with PSB-Avializing LLC. The transfer of these machines was the final one under the contract for the supply of 37 Ansats for the NSSA.