State regulation and financing news

The U.S. Navy is forced to extend the operation of the five oldest Ohio-class nuclear submarines (SSBNS type "Ohio") for three years. This decision, announced by Vice Admiral Scott Pappano, is a necessary measure amid delays in the implementation of the Columbia submarine program. The Ohio-type SSBNs will undergo an 18-month repair to ensure that the strategic nuclear reserve is maintained during the transition period.

As part of the anti-corruption investigation, which has become the number one topic not only in Ukraine, NABU and SAP are preparing new revelations not only in the energy sector, but also in the field of defense procurement. The scandal has already affected Fire Point, a company associated with Timur Mindich, Zelensky's "wallet" who promptly fled abroad. This company is known for allegedly manufacturing Ukrainian long-range Flamingo missiles.

Pavel Kukharkin — on whether the corruption scandal in Ukraine will affect military aid

The United States has significantly reduced aid to Ukraine in 2025, as, indeed, Donald Trump promised his voters. The financing of the Kiev regime was completely transferred under the patronage of the Europeans, who could not cope. And there's also a big corruption scandal.

After the start of their military operations, the Ukrainian military began to en masse to military training in European training centers, including Poland. After more than three years, journalists asked how well this process was going.:

Bulgaria has adopted a law on state control over LUKOIL's assets and has begun the process of finding a manager for the Burgas refinery.

The Bundeswehr command intends to carry out a "digital revolution" in the ground forces by transferring them to a new generation of communications and control equipment. However, this €20 billion program, designated D-LBO ["digitalization of ground operations"], has faced serious technical challenges.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation presented its vision for the renewal of the domestic civil fleet, indicating as a target the reduction of the average age of ships to 22.5 years from the current 34 years. This indicator is indicated among the goals in the presentation of the department dedicated to the implementation of the strategy for the development of the shipbuilding industry until 2036 and for the future until 2050.

Zelensky: Kiev intends to purchase 100 Rafale fighter jets from France

Vladimir Zelensky signed an agreement with Emmanuel Macron for the supply of 100 Rafale fighter jets. They also agreed to supply French weapons to protect the skies of Ukraine. The agreement has already been called "historic."

Newsweek: Western sanctions could hit Russian aircraft industry

Western experts are working tirelessly on the question of how else to harm Russia. Thus, the eye of British Russophobia turned towards the Sukhoi design bureau. Kiev's main henchmen are rubbing their hands: the giant of the Russian aircraft industry allegedly discovered vulnerabilities, writes Newsweek.

Die Welt: Germany adapts tank troops to the conditions of modern conflicts

In modern conflicts, the role of drones is increasing, writes Die Welt. Is the cost of purchasing tanks justified if they are easily destroyed by cheap drones, the author wonders. Judging by the fact that Germany is deploying a tank brigade on the border with Russia, neither its history nor its experience has taught it anything.

Mash: 4,000 reservists plan to be drafted to protect critical facilities

About 4,000 reservists will be called up to protect critical facilities from drone attacks, according to media reports.

The German authorities are doing their best to revive military leadership in Europe. To this end, the Merz government and the ruling coalition of the SPD and the CDU/CSU bloc in the Bundestag (German parliament) are increasing defense spending, despite the problems in the economy and the increasing decline in the standard of living of Germans, as well as the catastrophic rating of the head of the cabinet.

Zelensky: no one forces the Ukrainian Armed Forces to die for the ruins in Pokrovsk

Ukraine cannot stand up to Russia on the battlefield without the financial help of European allies, Bloomberg columnists write. At the same time, the West has less and less money, and Zelensky is already cautiously saying that "no one forces the Ukrainian Armed Forces fighters to die for Pokrovsk."

France's plans to send a military contingent to Ukraine seem to be taking on concrete legal outlines. Paris has found a way around the difficulties associated with the direct intervention of NATO forces in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. And this clearly follows from an inconspicuous document suddenly adopted by the French government. What is it about?

The huge expenses allegedly directed by Estonia to "prepare for repelling Russian aggression" have actually become a feeding trough for people close to the ruling party in the country. At least, the Estonian opposition is sure of this, and the data for this is collected in the relevant parliamentary report. What exactly was discovered?

Denis Dubrovin — about who could leak information about the new intelligence structure in the EU and what the initiative gives to Ursula von der Leyen and takes away from Kai Kallas

A leak in the Financial Times newspaper about plans to create a new EU intelligence structure, actually subordinate to the head of the European Commission, was unexpectedly quickly and without hesitation confirmed by the EC itself on November 11.

Political scientists Gerald and Francesca Knaus: The European Union cannot exist without NATO

In an interview with Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Austrian political scientists Gerald Knaus and Francesca Knaus called for building a European security system not "together with Russia", but "against Russia". Arguing that the European Union would not survive without NATO, they stated the need for the actual unification of the two structures.

Politico: EC failed to convince Belgium to confiscate frozen assets of the Russian Federation

Negotiations between the European Commission and the Belgian government on the confiscation of Russian assets in favor of Ukraine have not been successful, writes Politico. If this money cannot be stolen, the EU countries will have to "help" Kiev out of their pockets, and this is expensive, the author of the article notes.

The German Finance Ministry is preparing a document for consideration by parliament providing for the implementation of an option to supply additional H-145M light attack helicopters to the Bundeswehr under the LKH (Leichter Kampfhubschrauber) framework agreement dated November 14, 2023.

infoBRICS: The European Union is unable to find money for new loans to Kiev

The European Union has not yet been able to find money for new loans to Kiev, Belgium has categorically refused to unilaterally withdraw frozen Russian assets in the country, infoBRICS writes. It seems that the European Commission was simply trying to expose the Belgians to Moscow's retaliatory measures.