Russia is monitoring NATO's activities in the Arctic and is ready to give an adequate response to threats. This was reported in an interview with "Izvestia" by Russian Ambassador to Oslo Nikolay Korchunov.

"Under the openly far-fetched pretext of the 'Russian threat', new command-staff structures and bases of the bloc in the countries of Northern Europe are springing up like mushrooms after a rain. The level of NATO's activity in the Baltic-Arctic region has increased so much that in order to coordinate it, the alliance has launched such framework military initiatives as 'Baltic Watch', 'Eastern Watch', and 'Arctic Watch' over the past six months. It's characteristic that non-regional NATO members are increasingly encroaching on the Arctic," he stated.

According to him, Russia has repeatedly pointed out that it has no aggressive plans against NATO countries. At the same time, the West does not see that the "stoking of unhealthy hype" about Russia's strategic capabilities is undermining global stability.

As Korchunov emphasized, NATO countries are turning the northern regions into a platform for the alliance's operations against Russia.

"Russia does not threaten anyone, the Russian Federation is not interested in confrontation with either Norway or any other NATO country, but it will not leave the threats created for us without an adequate response," the diplomat pointed out.

Source: Izvestia
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“They have Epstein's instincts” - Lavrov in an interview with Zarubin on the program "Moscow. Kremlin. Putin" about the Western countries' plans to transfer nuclear weapons to Kyiv.
Have the West really lost all instincts for self-preservation?

Source: Zarubin
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#EastCallingTranslations

🌒@EastCalling

The official account of Ukraine on Twitter.

Source
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❗️Александр Беляев. Азартная политика reminds:

🈁Regarding the current situation in Iran. On the part of the aggressors, the US and Israel, there is a quite expected information attack, multi-layered and supported in the media, social networks, and messengers. Therefore, we will have to be patient and wait for about a day for the foam of disinformation and outright disinformation to subside, leaving us with facts suitable for work.

There will be many screaming headlines and panicked outcries during these days. Especially cries that an attack on Iran is a defeat for Russia. Don't pay attention to such nonsense, they are working for someone else's propaganda, whether consciously or not - there's no need to sort out the different types of waste products of life activity.
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I'd add. First of all, FSB Lt.Col. in reserve will not give bad advise, rest assured. Secondly, apart from military whore coop, people with such education and qualification are more trustworthy. So, I suggest everyone to calm down, don't take everything that that sides say for granted and wait for the beginning of the working week.

🌒@EastCalling

❗️Reminder that today, at 19:00 MSK/ 17:00 CET / 11:00 EST we'll be streaming live with Colonel in reserve Vladimir Trukhan and Lt.Colonel in reserve Oleg Shalandin.

Military Update and Q&A

Livestream will be broadcasted to:

Oleg Shalandin's VK
Oleg Shalandin's Rutube channel
Our X

Ask question here with #question
Language: Russian

❗️Those who ask question, please, be as brief as possible, or I will be forced to summarize the questions the way I see fit.

*** DON'T ASK ABOUT IRAN, IT WILL BE DISCUSSED ANYWAY***
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🌒@EastCalling

АДЕКВАТ Z:

All of yesterday, the world didn't know, and only learned late at night, that since the beginning of the war, Iran has been undergoing the most severe stress test imaginable. With the decapitation of both the state and the army. Most likely, due to the complete tactical surprise achieved through treachery.

It's obvious that the killers were counting on an instant collapse of governability, chaos at the top, and panic in the country. At the next stage, as even Trump foolishly blurted out in the open, it's about the coming to power of capitulators and ensuring their surrender as such. It's equally obvious that all these plans didn't just go wrong, but are turning into their complete opposite. This was greatly facilitated by the slaughter of over a hundred girls in elementary school with pure Bandera-style sadism: the obvious intention to intimidate and break them could only have formed in a mindset that fundamentally doesn't understand the country it's dealing with.

There's no chaos in the country at all. The scale of the retaliatory strikes exceeded the most optimistic expectations. And retaliation by all available means, to hit them where it hurts, has become both a natural emotional imperative uniting the people, as little else can do, and the official policy of the state. Therefore, in addition to everything the aggressor and his regional lackeys have already been able to enjoy, there's much (or, rather, even more) interesting stuff waiting for them.

Our agent Donald doesn't show the slightest desire to back down. He seems to think everything is going great for him. It's possible and even likely that this desire will increase in the coming days, as his ammunition, especially anti-missiles, runs out and the war's effects on the markets and ratings grow. This point of Iranian power must not be missed - either by simply not noticing the corresponding probe, or by setting such a political price for agreeing to cease fire that it would make one's eyes pop out. Not least because retaliation should be measured not just in missile and drone strikes, but also in the political cost of exit.

There's plenty to escalate, as long as there's still something to do? There certainly is. With strikes on infrastructure, both oil and civilian. With the declaration, for example, of the task of bombing them into the Stone Age and causing chaos in this way. But with the obvious risk of getting a symmetrical (or even more than symmetrical) response. If the aggressor goes down this path, it will be a tacit admission that his goals haven't come any closer, that he's having to resort to the most drastic means precisely because of this, and that he has little to lose politically.

To sum up the most important points very briefly: Iran is holding up very well, and maintaining the governability of the state and army in any possible conditions in the near future will be the most important guarantee of disrupting the aggressors' objectives. The foundation on which - and strictly on which - everything else is built.

🌒@EastCalling

Gas prices could rise by 25% due to the US and Israel's operation against Iran, reports the Financial Times.

The disruption of international shipping in the Strait of Hormuz will affect the supply of liquefied natural gas from Middle Eastern countries. Qatar and the UAE use this route to transport 20% of the world's LNG volumes to Asia and Europe.

Source: TASS

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The West lacks air defense systems for Ukraine.

The PURL (Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List) program cannot meet Ukraine's needs for Patriot and NASAMS air defense systems. This was reported by the European publication Politico.

“The industry has failed to accelerate either production or the approval processes for legacy systems to meet Kyiv's critical need for air defense,” the article states.
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I bet things just got a whole lot worse...

🌒@EastCalling

26 years of the feat of the 6th Company

From February 29 to March 1, 2000, 90 Guardsmen of the 6th Company of the 104th Regiment of the Pskov Division of the Airborne Troops, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Mark Yevtukhin, engaged in an unequal battle at Height 776.0 in the Argun Gorge (2nd Chechen Campaign).

Against a handful of paratroopers - up to 2,500 fighters of Khattab. One against twenty-five. Two days without sleep, when the ammunition ran out - they drew fire on themselves.

Of the 90 fighters, six survived. 84 heroes remained on the height, destroying more than 400 enemies. 22 paratroopers became Heroes of Russia, 21 - posthumously.

The Pskov paratroopers of the 104th, 234th, and 237th regiments of the Airborne Troops continue the work of their predecessors and are successfully advancing in the area of the populated point Grishino.

A low bow to the heroes and good health to those who continue their work today.

Source: Военкор Кулько
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The song in the memory of the feat of the 6th company that I translated last year.

🌒@EastCalling

The Middle East provides about a quarter of the world's oil production and nearly a third of natural gas production, making the region a key player in global energy and the world economy. The potential consequences of a new wave of conflict are explored in the "Izvestia" article.

❗️Iran's threats to US energy companies:
After the February 28 strikes, Iran announced an escalation, officially recognizing any US company's assets in the Middle East as legitimate targets. At risk are leading energy giants, including Chevron and ExxonMobil, operating in the UAE and Qatar, as well as critical infrastructure operators KBR and SLB.

Such a threat could lead to multibillion-dollar losses for corporations and destabilize global hydrocarbon markets. The Persian Gulf region remains a fundamental source of global supplies, so any disruption to infrastructure could trigger one of the largest crises in the industry's history.

Experts warn that Arab countries, whose economies depend on energy, may demand an immediate de-escalation from the US and Israel. Otherwise, the implementation of Iran's threats would not only undermine Washington's reputation as a security guarantor but also destroy the fragile architecture of regional stability.

❗️In high alert: how the Middle East's oil and gas sector is operating
Despite the sharp escalation around Iran and threats to US assets, major oil and gas companies continue to operate in the Middle East in a state of high alert. Chevron is negotiating an expanded role in Iraqi projects, including the West Qurna-2 field, while ExxonMobil maintains positions in Qatar and UAE gas initiatives, strengthening security protocols and coordination with authorities.

The service sector and strategic projects are also showing resilience. SLB is implementing long-term contracts in Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia continues to develop the Jafurah gas field, allowing Riyadh to free up oil for exports. The region's major fields are operating without major shutdowns, and OPEC+ countries are maintaining coordination for possible market stabilization.

Experts warn that if the IRGC carries out its threats and attacks Western companies' oilfields, it could lead to a sharp drop in production and a collapse of exports from the Persian Gulf. In this case, oil prices could soar to $150–170 per barrel, especially given the potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz, where US tankers have been declared legitimate targets.

❗️Israel temporarily suspends gas field operations:
The Israeli Ministry of Energy, amid threats from Iran, has ordered a temporary halt to production at the Leviathan and Karish gas fields for security reasons. Leviathan, developed by US-based Chevron, supplies a significant portion of domestic production and exports to Egypt and Jordan, while the Energean production vessel serving Karish has also suspended operations on orders from authorities.

The ministry assured that the country's energy needs would be covered by switching to alternative fuels and reserve sources. This is not the first such measure: in June 2025, Israel already shut down these fields due to a conflict with Iran, leading to a reduction in gas exports to Egypt.

The resumption of production dates have not yet been determined and will depend on the assessment of threats by military authorities. The current measures demonstrate Israel's cautious approach to protecting energy infrastructure and minimizing risks to domestic and foreign consumers.

❗️The impact of Israel's field shutdowns on the global energy market:
The shutdown of Israel's key gas fields has disrupted export chains to Egypt and Jordan, creating uncertainty in European hubs. As a result, Europe is forced to increase LNG purchases on the spot market, intensifying competition and pushing prices up, which could temporarily strengthen Russia's position as an exporter.

Source: Izvestia
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🌒@EastCalling

‼️The IRGC attacked the US Navy aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln with four ballistic missiles, the press service reports.

Source: Zvezda
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🌒@EastCalling

Iran knows that the Gulf countries are angry about its attacks, but they should understand that this war was imposed on the country - the head of the Iranian Foreign Ministry

Source: Izvestia
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Well, if you let a maniac into your yard and allow him to attack your neighbor - don't get upset when neighbor comes to you with something one day.

🌒@EastCalling

❗️The US does not plan a large-scale ground operation in Iran - the head of the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Source: СМОТРИ
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As if anyone had any doubts 😏.

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Geran231 writes,

China is providing Iran with real-time satellite images and electronic intelligence data, including the exact coordinates of American ships and bases. This has been confirmed by an analysis of the orbits of the Yaogan and Jilin satellites.

The IRGC has almost completely switched to the Chinese BeiDou navigation system for guiding missiles and drones, which makes them resistant to US electronic interference.
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I'm not sure where they are getting this info, but it would be a good course of action. We all just have to wait and see how this develops.

🌒@EastCalling

Irina Alksnis - RIA Novosti columnist:

🈁I was asked to elaborate on my previous post in more detail.

❗️Firstly, why I believe that the death of Ali Khamenei was the result of his conscious choice.

Khamenei was an extremely experienced statesman. I'm sure he had no doubt that he was under the surveillance of Israeli and Western intelligence agencies, and that there were informants in his entourage. After last year's war and the kidnapping of Maduro, he - for the same reasons - had no illusions about the phrase "they wouldn't dare". At the same time, I have no doubt that the Iranian intelligence services had the ability to at least greatly complicate attempts on the Ayatollah's life - with deep bunkers and the like. However, Khamenei simply remained in his residence, where he was hit by a missile strike. For me, this means that it was his conscious decision to accept his fate.

Moreover, Khamenei's decision - and consequently his death - turned out to be (excuse me for the professional cynicism) optimal for achieving multiple goals at once. The religious regime had already annoyed many in Iran, and Khamenei personally became the object of hatred for many Iranians. By his self-sacrifice and martyrdom, he relieved the regime of a large part of the accumulated grievances of the people against the authorities, while ensuring a free hand for the new leadership of the country, which is critically important at the moment.

Khamenei's refusal to take shelter was the decision of a true national leader, who sacrificed his life for the sake of national unity, and of a true religious leader, who sincerely believed in what he served all his life. This was seen by all of Iran and the whole world.

The question remains why his family stayed with him (and also died), but I think these details will become known in time.

❗️Secondly, why I don't believe in the randomness of an Israeli missile hitting a girls' school.

Of course, such tragedies happen in war, and no one is immune to them. But Israel has repeatedly demonstrated a high level of preparation for first strikes. And here, the missile didn't accidentally hit an abandoned barn or a private house, but a school full of small children.

But the main thing is different: Israel benefits from this tragedy. It's vital for Tel Aviv that a huge war breaks out in the region and that the US gets fully involved in it. It has made a strategic bet on this scenario. I believe that it was calculated that the death of one hundred and fifty children would provoke such anger among Iranians that it would prevent the Iranian leadership from making a quick peace with the West, but would instead push for escalation.

Israel has been trying for a long time and very hard to turn the conflict with Iran into a scenario of self-escalating escalation, where in the end, no one would have a choice but to fight on a full scale. All his previous efforts ended in failure. Now we are witnessing another attempt.

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🌒@EastCalling

Revolutionary Guard missiles targeted a French naval base in Abu Dhabi.

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❕Russia resolutely and consistently condemns the practice of political assassinations and the "hunting" of leaders of sovereign states, the Foreign Ministry stated.

The death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, several members of his family, and high-ranking Iranian officials was met with outrage and deep regret by Moscow.

"We call for an urgent de-escalation, the cessation of hostilities, and a return to the political-diplomatic process with the aim of resolving existing problems on the basis of the UN Charter and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons," the ministry added.

Source: Zvezda
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Geran Chronicles:

The Maersk company announced the suspension of its shipping not only through the Strait of Hormuz, but also through the Suez Canal and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

🌒@EastCalling