#BREAKING | Ukrainian Forces Destroy Russian Ballistic Missile Launcher prepared to attack Kyiv

Ukrainian forces have struck a Russian Iskander mobile short-range ballistic missile system (range: ca. 500km/310mi) in Russia's Bryansk as it prepared to attack a Ukrainian city, likely the capital Kyiv.

At least one launcher destroyed and two others likely damaged, per Ukraine's General Staff.

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Russia continues to impress with its achievements and growth, reporting 33,000 deaths from HIV/AIDS in 2024, according to the Russian Federal Health Agency Rospotrebnadzor. Over the past five years, the death toll has increased significantly—from 20,000 HIV/AIDS-related deaths reported in 2018. For perspective, Germany reported fewer than 500 such deaths in 2021, and globally, HIV/AIDS mortality fell by 40% between 2010 and 2021.

According to Rospotrebnadzor, the number of people living with HIV in Russia increased by 27% between 2017 and 2023, while globally the number of HIV infections declined by 22% from 2010 to 2021.

The data becomes even more alarming when broken down by demographic groups. 4% of Russian men aged 30 to 40 are HIV-positive. In 2022, there were 25 regions in Russia where more than 1% of pregnant women were HIV-positive. Among the population aged 15 to 49, 1.5% are infected with HIV—higher than in African countries: 0.9% in Ethiopia, 0.7% in Congo, 1.1% in Chad and Liberia, and 1.3% in Nigeria. In Germany, for example, just 0.1% of people aged 15–49 are HIV-positive.

At the same time, Russia may resort to various tricks when presenting statistics in official statements. For example, instead of disclosing actual numbers of positive HIV tests, they may report how many individuals have registered with healthcare facilities and are receiving antiretroviral therapy. Official data on mortality and birth rates have already been classified by Russian authorities, and HIV statistics are likely next. Still, infection rates may begin to decline in the coming years—not due to improvement, but due to testing issues. In 2020, a decline in newly identified HIV cases was reported for the first time, only to be quickly attributed to reduced testing during the COVID pandemic. Russia remains highly dependent on HIV test kit manufacturers from Western countries. Although sanctions technically do not cover medicines or medical equipment, payment issues often prevent transactions even in these areas, and last year, HIV test kit procurement for clinics fell by one-third.

#NEWS | Russia's Yandex Accidentally Exposes Military Sites by Blurring Them

In an attempt to conceal military facilities in Moscow, Russian tech giant Yandex has inadvertently revealed their precise locations. The blurred spots on Yandex Maps, intended to obscure sensitive defense sites, instead act as glaring markers, making these locations easily identifiable.

Meanwhile, Google Maps continues to display these sites without any blurring, leaving them fully visible to the public.

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