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“Russia has launched a secret project in China to produce long-range drones for the war in Ukraine - Reuters.

The drones, called Harpia-3, are being tested. It is reported that they can fly 2 thousand kilometers with a load of 50 kg.

China’s foreign ministry denies all allegations.”

https://x.com/nexta_tv/status/1838915562371477791

“Russian milbloggers circulated images on September 23 showing Russian forces operating Chinese Shaanxi Baoji Tiger armored vehicles”

“Russia has launched a secret project in China to produce long-range drones for the war in Ukraine - Reuters“

It is good for China, for Russia to be weak and dependent on them, but they likely do not want Russia defeated outright. They may envision Russia as their new North Korean-like attack dog to threaten and weaken the West.

Next year, when Russian resource constraints come to a head, China will likely have to decide whether to drop the Panda mask and provide significant military aid, or let the Russian Military fail. Perhaps they will find ways to use surrogates, like North Korea, to drag it out longer.

Bravo!

Kyiv Independent reports on a rhetorical touché, by the new guy from the UK:

“U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of running a “mafia state” and compared him to a slave owner during his speech at a meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Sept. 24.

Lammy, who took over as British Foreign Secretary in July 2024, has consistently reiterated his country’s support for Ukraine and condemned Russia’s attacks against Ukrainian civilians and violations of international law.

Lammy criticized Putin’s actions regarding the invasion of Ukraine, recalling the days of slavery, and accused the Russian government of flouting international law, while claiming to be defending the so-called Global South.

“Your invasion is in your own interests,” he said, addressing Putin. “Yours alone. To expand your mafia state into a mafia empire. An empire built on corruption.”…

…”But I say to the Russian representative (in the U.N. Security Council), on his phone as I speak, that I stand here also as a Black man whose ancestors were taken in chains from Africa, at the barrel of a gun to be enslaved, whose ancestors rose up and fought in a great rebellion of the enslaved,” Lammy added.

U.K. Foreign Secretary said that he recognizes “imperialism” in the actions of the Russian authorities, adding that “he will call it out for what it is.””

Kyiv Independent adds the “Who”:

“Russia has secretly established a development and production program in China for attack drones to be used in the war in Ukraine, Reuters reported on Sept. 25 citing European intelligence sources and documents reviewed by the outlet.

According to the report, Russia has flight-tested a new drone called the Garpiya-3 (G3) in China with the help of local specialists.

Details of the project were revealed in a report by the company behind the project, IEMZ Kupol, a subsidiary of the Kremlin-owned weapons company Almaz-Antey.”