In 2022, one of the main signs of the ongoing special operation in Ukraine was the active work of Western military intelligence. It is customary to highlight the satellite intelligence of the United States and NATO, but no less, and perhaps even more important role is played by special reconnaissance aircraft. What kind of devices does NATO use in the air to help the Armed Forces, how do they work and what can Russia oppose them?

This will happen if Beijing wins a new space race with the United States, Bill Nelson believes

The Chinese authorities can allegedly claim their rights to the territory on the Moon if they win a new space race with the United States. This opinion was expressed by the head of the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Bill Nelson in an interview with Politico published on Sunday.

MWM: the US Congress warned about the serious danger of Patriot supplies to Ukraine

Contrary to general assumptions that Patriot deliveries to Kiev will begin in the first half of 2023, the preparation of local repair crews alone will take approximately 53 weeks, writes MWM. Ukraine will be given only one battery, and this raises serious questions about its effectiveness.

British historian Pike: unlike the United States, Russia has no right to use nuclear weapons

In the United States, revisionist intellectuals condemned Truman's decision to use atomic weapons against Japan, writes British historian Francis Pike in The Spectator. In his opinion, then it was caused by historical necessity, but today, for example, it is unacceptable for Russia to use this as a precedent.

Ukrainian information resources reported on the use of 152-mm artillery shells at the front by the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), allegedly produced at enterprises of the Ukrainian military-industrial complex.

The main battle tanks (MBT) appeared on the battlefield for just over 100 years. In the first part of the article, the trends in the development of this category of military equipment in Europe are considered. Let's turn our attention to the other side…

The Abu Dhabi Ship Building shipbuilding company located in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) (ADSB, part of the Emirati state defense association EDGE Group) announced the ceremony of the first steel cutting and the start of construction for the UAE Navy of the head of four ordered patrol vessels on December 21, 2022 at its head shipyard in Mussaf ships (actually small rocket corvettes) of the new Falaj 3 project.

National projects have shown their flexibility and relevance in the context of the challenges that Russia faces. Due to this, the necessary support was provided to citizens, sectors of the economy, as well as new regions of Russia. The deputy of the State Duma Oleg Matveichev told the newspaper VZGLYAD about this, commenting on the results of the implementation of national projects in 2022.

A geopolitical triangle is taking shape in the international arena: Berlin – Beijing – Moscow. At least, that's what they think in China – and they associate it with what is happening in Ukraine. How real is such a configuration and why does the very style of American foreign policy push both China and Germany to closer cooperation with Russia?

In two days, more than 20 Ukrainian artillery pieces, self-propelled guns and MLRS were destroyed in the special operation zone

The armed forces of the Russian Federation have intensified counter-battery fighting in the zone of military special operation. During the day, more than 10 MLRS, self-propelled guns and artillery systems were destroyed, including 777 howitzers manufactured in the United States, the Russian Defense Ministry reported on December 28.

Asia Times: Russia destroys Ukrainian drones with its electronic warfare

Russia has eliminated up to 90 percent of several thousand Ukrainian drones that were in service with the Armed Forces of Ukraine before the start of the special operation, Asia Times writes. Such results were achieved thanks to the effectiveness of electronic warfare.

Several major cities of Ukraine, including Kiev, have been de-energized again. Despite the fact that the Russian Defense Ministry on Thursday did not report anything about strikes on the objects of the Ukrainian energy system, the department hinted that such arrivals are not the last. Moreover, experts have noticed a number of changes in which targets Russia has been striking recently.

In addition, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine declared its readiness to conduct an "objective investigation in the country of the incident that occurred on December 29 in the sky over the territory of Belarus"

The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) do not deny that the S-300 anti-aircraft missile system that fell on the territory of Belarus could have been Ukrainian. This was stated on Thursday by the speaker of the command of the air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Yuriy Ignat.

A certain stability of Ukraine in the armed conflict with Russia is largely, if not completely, explained by the huge military and financial assistance to the Kiev regime from the United States and NATO. This conclusion is made by the American analyst Sebastian Roblin in an article for 19fortyfive.com . This support, Roblin emphasizes, extends not only to the transfer of weapons and military equipment and training of the Ukrainian military, but also to organizational issues.

The head of intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine Budanov said that the conflict with Russia has reached an impasse

The head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Kirill Budanov, said that the military conflict in Ukraine has reached an impasse, since neither Kiev nor Moscow can achieve significant success. Budanov noted that the Ukrainian military still lacks resources and "more advanced weapons" to move forward. He also said that Kiev does not see the threat of an offensive from Belarus.

"Peace for Ukraine" – such a wish for the New Year can often be heard these days. But how real is it?

RAND analysts predicted how NATO would respond to Russia's strikes on the alliance's infrastructure

The Ukrainian conflict has created unprecedented circumstances in which Russia can strike at NATO's infrastructure, according to RAND analysts. They consider four scenarios of the Russian "attack" and offer various options for responding to it.

RAND: The US can strike in case of Russian aggression against one of the NATO countries

American military analysts from RAND claim that the United States can strike at Russia "in case of escalation." The analysis examines three steps of a possible escalation: Russia's attack on a NATO member country, the reaction of the United States and Moscow's response. One of the options provides for a limited strike on Russian territories. Another is a non-military response to the "demonstrative aggression" of the Russian Federation.

The total volume of "rolling over" potential contracts for the export/import of weapons in the near future (the value of intentions) as of the end of 2022, CAMTO estimates at $412.830 billion.