Russia recently unveiled its Alabuga industrial park as the “largest and most secret” drone factory, capable of producing thousands of Geran-2 drones monthly. This facility, located in Tatarstan, employs teenagers, some as young as 15, in the assembly process, as highlighted by state media. The plant, which has been targeted by Ukrainian drones, relies on components from Iran and has seen significant production increases. Concerns have been raised about potential human trafficking related to the recruitment of workers for the facility, while Ukraine is also ramping up its own drone production capabilities in response.
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Overnight, Russia launched a barrage of 450 missiles and drones targeting Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, resulting in casualties and widespread damage. While the majority of the projectiles were intercepted, several struck residential areas and critical infrastructure, sparking fires and causing significant destruction. Simultaneously, long-range drone attacks by Kyiv caused travel disruptions at Moscow airports, leading to flight delays and cancellations. Ukrainian President Zelensky called for talks with Russia to negotiate a ceasefire amidst increasing pressure.
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Iran and Russia Begin Joint Naval Drills in Caspian Sea: So, the news is out that Iran and Russia have kicked off joint naval drills in the Caspian Sea, and, well, it’s stirring up quite a bit of discussion. You’ve got folks joking about the “world’s most incompetent navies,” and even tossing around the idea of the exercises being target practice for Ukrainian drone boats or Storm Shadows. Honestly, the image of those two navies together just conjures up some pretty wild mental scenarios, doesn’t it? Some are envisioning Francis playing with those warships in his enormous indoor-pool-bathtub.
Considering the players involved, there’s speculation swirling around the actual purpose of these drills.… Continue reading
On July 21, a fire erupted at a train station in the village of Kamenolomni in Rostov Oblast, approximately 38 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, due to falling drone debris. Simultaneously, Moscow experienced a drone attack, with reports of multiple drones being shot down by air defense systems. Emergency services were deployed to the crash sites, and flight restrictions were implemented at Moscow’s Domodedovo and Zhukovsky airports. This surge in drone attacks reflects a strategic shift in Ukraine’s campaign, aiming to disrupt Russian aviation and potentially weaken internal control.
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Following a directive from President Vladimir Putin, Russia is developing new restrictions on foreign messaging apps and software originating from “unfriendly countries.” This initiative aims to lessen Russia’s reliance on technologies from nations perceived as hostile. WhatsApp, owned by the Meta organization, is considered a likely target for blocking, having been declared an “extremist organization” in 2022. Meanwhile, Russian officials have been mandated to use Max, a messenger app with extensive surveillance capabilities that automatically transmits user data to servers linked to the Russian social network VK.
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Ukraine, as stated by President Volodymyr Zelensky, is pursuing the collection of $6.9 billion in international arbitration rulings against Gazprom. These rulings, along with a recent $1.37 billion win in Switzerland, demonstrate Russia’s responsibility and the strength of international law. Ukrainian ambassadors will receive instructions on how to recover these funds. This follows previous rulings finding Russia liable for Naftogaz asset expropriation in Crimea, with a French court authorizing the enforcement of a $5 billion award.
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Multiple powerful earthquakes struck off the coast of Russia’s Far East on Sunday, prompting a tsunami alert. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported a 7.4-magnitude earthquake, approximately 144 km east of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, as the most significant event. This was preceded by quakes of magnitudes 5.0 and 6.7. The USGS warned of potential hazardous tsunami waves within 300 kilometers of the epicentre due to the final, stronger quake. The Kamchatka peninsula, a seismic hot zone where the Pacific and North American tectonic plates meet, experienced these events.
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An OSINT investigation has revealed the internal structure and geographic footprint of Russia’s Center 16, a secretive FSB unit involved in electronic surveillance and cyber espionage. The findings, based on analysis of commemorative badges, identified at least ten directorates within the unit, each associated with a unique Cyrillic letter, as well as two regional branches. These badges also provided clues about the functions of each department, such as network operations and internal communications security, and allowed researchers to geolocate ten radio-electronic surveillance facilities across Russia. These facilities, including sites near Sochi and in Kaliningrad, form a strategic interception network for monitoring communications, including potential surveillance of NATO operations.
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Azerbaijan demands Russia admit guilt in downing passenger jet with air defense as Moscow stonewalls investigation, and frankly, it’s a familiar story. It’s a scenario we’ve seen before, unfortunately, and the likely outcome paints a rather grim picture. Russia’s response, we can almost predict with a certain degree of accuracy, will probably involve a deflection, perhaps even a complete fabrication. Think about it, are they going to simply fess up, apologize, and offer compensation? History suggests that’s highly unlikely. It’s more plausible they’ll launch a smear campaign, perhaps even accuse Azerbaijan of something outlandish. We’ve seen this playbook before, haven’t we?… Continue reading
Speaking at the LandEuro symposium in Wiesbaden, Germany, Gen. Alexus G. Grynkewich emphasized the potential for simultaneous conflicts in Europe and the Pacific, possibly by 2027, requiring immediate preparation. He highlighted the need for increased weapons production across the 32-nation NATO alliance and closer military collaboration with industry. Grynkewich, also the NATO supreme allied commander, addressed ongoing efforts to increase support for Ukraine, particularly in air defense, and the importance of allies meeting defense spending pledges. Furthermore, he cautioned against viewing the threats posed by Russia and China as separate, stressing the need for a global approach to deterrence.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood