Free Republic

In a landmark case highlighting a deepening purge within Russia's defense and security establishment, a court in Moscow sentenced former Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov to 13 years in prison. The Moscow City Court on July 1 found Ivanov, the most visible figure in a massive probe into alleged military corruption that also targeted several other top officials close to former Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, guilty of large-scale embezzlement and money laundering. In addition to the prison sentence, Ivanov was fined 100 million rubles ($1.1 million), and stripped of his state honors, including the prestigious Order "For Merit to the...

Former Iranian deputy parliament speaker on Monday criticized Russia for refusing to provide Iran with the S-400 air defense system, despite Tehran supplying drones used in the war in Ukraine. “Russia has given the S-400 air defense system to Turkey and Saudi Arabia, but does not give it to Iran, which has provided it with drone assistance in the war with Ukraine, because it might be used against Israel,” Ali Motahari wrote in a post on X. “This is what the strategic cooperation with Iran that Mr. Putin talks about looks like,” he added.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been seen mourning over his soldiers believed to have been killed in the Russia-Ukraine war, images aired by state media showed on Tuesday. Aired by Korean Central Television, the images showed Kim solemnly placing a North Korean flag over a coffin during a ceremony for the return of the remains of North Korean soldiers who were deployed and killed in the conflict. The images showed photos of Kim in the background footage during a joint cultural event co-hosted by North Korea and Russia in Pyongyang on Sunday, marking the first anniversary of the...

The chief obstacle in preparing these pilots so far has been language training. The cockpit audio system of the F-16 that provides important warning messages to the pilot only “speaks” English. Any pilots not completely fluent in the language will be handicapped—and possibly also in danger—if they lack the required level of fluency.

Three people were killed and 35 others injured in a Ukrainian drone strike on a factory in the Russian city of Izhevsk, regional governor Alexander Brechalov on his Telegram channel on Tuesday. Brechalov did not name the targeted facility, but a Ukrainian security official earlier told Reuters that at least two long-range drones operated by the Security Service of Ukraine struck the Kupol plant, which manufactures drones and air defenсe systems, and caused a fire. A column of black smoke could be seen billowing into the sky from the site of a fire at a cluster of buildings in videos...

Two Cameroonian men fighting for Russia were captured by Ukrainian forces in the Donetsk region. The men, identifying themselves as Metugena Una-na Jean Pafe and Anatole Frank, initially claimed to Ukraine's 20th Separate UAV Regiment that they had come to Russia for work, with one claiming "to make shampoo" and the other claiming "to fix teeth." However, they later admitted that they had signed contracts to join Russia's fight in Ukraine in exchange for 1.1 million rubles ($13,000), which is way less than Russian citizens are earning but still substatial for people from developing countries such as Cameroon and reports...

The 17-year-old son of Chechen Head Ramzan Kadyrov, Adam, has been married to a local girl named only as Medni, reportedly a relative of Adam Delimkhanov, an MP from Chechnya and close ally of Ramzan Kadyrov. The large-scale wedding took place over three consecutive days, from Thursday to Saturday, in the village of Akhmat-Yurt (formerly Tsentoroy), the ancestral home of the Kadyrov family in Chechnya. According to unconfirmed reports, Adam Kadyrov married the daughter of Chechen Senator Suleiman Geremeev, who is a close ally of Ramzan Kadyrov and is a cousin of Russian MP Adam Delimkhanov. The ceremony was preceded...

North Korea's state television has aired footage of leader Kim Jong Un viewing, together with a delegation from Russia, an art performance honoring soldiers. A program broadcast on Monday by Korean Central Television featured Kim watching the performance together with Russian Minister of Culture Olga Lyubimova, who was visiting Pyongyang. Behind singers on stage singing a song honoring soldiers was a large screen displaying various images. They included photos of soldiers raising the national flags of both countries, as well as of Kim welcoming what appeared to be a flag-draped coffin and paying tribute. Some audience members from the two...

Vladimir Putin has been dealt a massive setback after more than 20,000 soldiers deserted the front line in the war against Ukraine – leaving Kremlin forces even more depleted. Courts have received 20,538 cases of service personnel absent without leave, desertion or refusing orders since the illegal invasion began in February 2022, according to Russian independent news service Mediazone. The majority – 18,159 – were for soldiers going awol, with 17,721 being prosecuted under Russia’s Criminal Code. The maximum punishment is a 10-year jail term. However, those found guilty could commute their sentences by serving in the Storm-Z convict assault...

HOVELTE, Denmark (AP) — Peering across a dense stretch of woodland outside of Denmark’s capital with camouflage paint smeared across her face, 20-year-old Katrine scans the horizon for approaching threats. After nearly four months of military training, the young soldier and the rest of her unit spent early June completing their final exercises near the Danish army’s barracks in Hovelte, 25 kilometers (15 miles) north of Copenhagen. Katrine and other female soldiers, all of whom spoke to The Associated Press on June 11 on the condition that only their first names be used because of operational security, volunteered for military...

Russian President Vladimir Putin has refrained from providing military support to Iran amid its recent 12-day standoff with Israel and the United States, despite years of defense cooperation between the two nations. Observers say this calculated distance, particularly during Iran’s time of need, signals a shift in Moscow’s foreign policy priorities — one that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is likely watching with unease. On June 23, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visited Moscow amid the conflict, seeking at least diplomatic backing. Putin’s response was limited to describing the airstrikes as “acts of aggression.” There was no mention of...

Russia’s summer offensive in Ukraine is faltering just weeks after it began, despite a record number of attacks across multiple fronts. Data analysis by The Telegraph shows Moscow is on track to break its own record, which was set last month, for offensive operations in June. Yet the sheer volume of assaults has not translated into meaningful breakthroughs on the battlefield. The offensive – launched in May but planned over the winter – stretches from the northern border regions of Sumy and Kharkiv to the front lines in Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk, into which Russian forces are attempting to break for...

Russian President Vladimir Putin made one of his starkest declarations of the war this week, stating at a St. Petersburg forum that "all of Ukraine is ours" because Russians and Ukrainians are "one people." -The imperialistic claim, met with applause, effectively torpedoes any near-term hope for peace negotiations. Putin's comments came as Russia's ground forces continue to make slow but steady progress in Donetsk and after he presented maximalist demands at the failed Istanbul peace talks. -Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded by warning that Putin's ambitions extend beyond Ukraine to any country "Russian killers can reach."

U.S. Ambassador to Russia, Lynne Tracy, who was appointed by Joe Biden, has departed her position in Moscow as U.S. Ambassador to Russia. There has been no announced name for replacement. [¹Get the friggin’ BBB passed!] ... Remember, in the last 20+ years, no American official has spent more face-to-face time with Vladimir Putin than U.S. Special Envoy, Steve Witkoff. On behalf of President Trump Witkoff has held multiple meetings and discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin lasting more than 4 and 5 hours at a time. U.S. Ambassador Lynne Tracy was not present. Do not forget, nor overlook this...

Housing and utility bills in some parts of Russia are expected to soar by up to 25% as the country's economic meltdown worsens. Russian media reports that tariffs on housing, gas, water and electricity will go up by an average of 11.9% on July 1, but some regions will see an increase between 23% and 25%. Mortgage rates have also soared to 25% in recent months. One Russian newspaper, translated into English by the BBC's Russia Editor Steve Rosenberg and shared on social media, says the increase will be "painful for many families". The same publication reports the experience of...

The Belarusian ruler’s price controls have backfired. Alexander Lukashenko’s stubborn grip on the Belarusian economy plunged the potato-happy country into a spud shortage this spring. Critics of the authoritarian ruler, who in January grabbed a seventh term in power, say he has warped the economy with strict price controls on staples like potatoes — while encouraging citizens to snitch on grocery stores that flout regime rules. The limits, launched by Lukashenko in October 2022 as he aimed to keep prices low and stave off inflation, instead made potatoes far less profitable for farmers to produce. Opponents say that decisions made...

Vladimir Putin has lost four warplanes worth £37 million each despite stepping up their defences after Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb. A pair of Su-34 fighters were destroyed and two more damaged after an attack on on Marinovka military airfield in Volgograd. Ukraine used long range drones to fly more than 200 miles to inflict the latest £148 million blow to Putin’s aerial firepower. It came less than a month after Russia supposedly tightened its military air base security after 40-plus strategic bombers and spy planes were hit in Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb. Russia responded by hitting Ukrainian civilians with a strike on...

"They have to proclaim Israel...their faith and loyalty in Israel...Wait a minute what about our own country..."...Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene... In Israel late tonight Jewish settlers on a rampage in a Palestinian... Russian air defenses taking down... The US Senate turning down a resolution to prevent future military action... In the US Senate this weekend a vote on the massive federal spending plan... At the White House a peace agreement signed ending the conflict...mineral rich eastern region of Congo... US President Donald Trump expressing hope... In Budapest, Hungary preparations for the Pride March tomorrow in spite of a ban... President...

Vladimir Putin has announced plans to scale back military spending after Kremlin officials warned that Russia is “on the brink of recession”. The Russian leader said he would reduce defence spending “next year and the year after, over the next three-year period” at an economic summit of five post-Soviet states in Minsk on Friday. Responding to Nato’s plans to raise defence spending to 5 per cent of GDP, Putin said the alliance’s members would spend on “purchases from the USA and on supporting their military-industrial complex”. “So who is preparing for some kind of aggressive actions? Us or them?” he...

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that the country was dismissed regarding its concern about NATO expansion. "We emphasized that the security of one nation or a group of nations cannot come at the expense of another's security. This principle is enshrined in international agreements that all parties have ratified," Putin said. "Yet, in practice, what transpired?" Putin continued. "One NATO expansion after another. We were consistently reassured, 'there's nothing to fear; it doesn't pose a threat to you.' When we expressed our concerns, asserting that we believed it did threaten us, what was the response? Nothing at all. We...