🇷🇺The Russian army has established control over the populated area of Potapovka in the Sumy region, the Defense Ministry reported.

The Russian Armed Forces have inflicted damage on objects of Ukraine's fuel and energy complex, which are used in the interests of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, on sites for the preparation and launch of long-range UAVs, as well as on temporary deployment points of Ukrainian military and foreign mercenaries in 144 areas.

Air defense systems shot down eight guided aerial bombs and 244 unmanned aerial vehicles.

Source: Zvezda
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🌒@EastCalling

Geran231:

"Gerani" struck three enterprises in Brovary, Kyiv region, at night, according to local authorities

The NASA service, which monitors fires from space, currently shows two fire outbreaks.

🌒@EastCalling

АДЕКВАТ Z writes,

Just the day before yesterday, the alpha baboon was saying that the Strait of Hormuz was not his problem, that it would somehow open spontaneously, and if anyone really needed it, they could go and open it themselves. Last night, with his characteristic consistency, he hooted an ultimatum from his branch: either Iran opens the strait within two days, or I will leave it without power plants—the clock is ticking. Iran, of course, responded immediately, stating that in that case, the entire region—Israel and the Arabs alike—would instantly pay with their own flanks, meaning their infrastructure, both energy and fuel.

The main point of interest in this story is probably what is going on in the space between Trump’s ears—that is, the real motives behind his concoction of this ultimatum. Backing down from this ultimatum would be a huge and blatant humiliation, a consequence that is unthinkable for the alpha baboon to allow.

Either he genuinely believes that Iran will be frightened, prostrate itself, and do his bidding—in which case, this is his typical megalomania. Or he does not believe that Iran will follow through on its counter-threat—in which case, this is his typical gut-level stupidity. Or he is precisely waiting for Iran to follow through—in which case, this is his typical petty, huckster greed, hoping, for example, that Qatar’s gas processing facilities will be completely finished off, allowing him to corner all its sales for years to come. And as for a fourth option, there likely isn’t one.

From later memoirs, or perhaps testimonies before a Senate committee, or perhaps incoherent shouts before a firing squad, we will clarify these motives and thereby satisfy our rightful curiosity. But for now, let us state the facts: they have dragged this into an already merrily blazing global fire and are ready to crack open a huge new barrel of kerosene.

Russia will come out ahead from this fire regardless of what happens; as for everyone else—many, almost all—they will face consequences that could be total annihilation. These very consequences are now within 48 hours (already less) of becoming qualitatively worse.

🌒@EastCalling

The leader of the Democrats in the House of Representatives of Congress, Jeffries, called for a "regime change" in the USA.

🌒@EastCalling

Military Chronicle:

Iran has published a video recording, allegedly showing the destruction of an F-15 fighter jet south of the Strait of Hormuz, between the UAE and Iran's territorial waters in the area of Qeshm Island. The aircraft was reportedly on a combat mission and planned to strike a target on the country's coast, but was shot down by air defense systems.

🌒@EastCalling

The time when the USA was a benevolent hegemon, has passed, says Finnish President Sipilä.

"In the past, when the USA was a benevolent hegemon, they first consulted with their allies... This time, the USA acted alone or together with Israel, without informing their allies," he stated in an interview with the Telegraph.

When asked by the journalist how Sipilä would describe the USA now, the Finnish president couldn't find the right words.

Source: RIA Novosti
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The USA was never a "benevolent hegemon." It was an imperial dynasty, and any "benevolence" depended on what one could do for it or based on your own display of obedience to its dictat.

🌒@EastCalling

The military actions against Iran rallied the people around the leadership, noted Peskov.

What else did he say to the author of the IS "Vesti" Pavel Zarubin:

🔹 The assassinations of Iranian leaders cannot go unpunished.

🔹 Paying bills for gas, petrol and electricity has pushed Ukraine off the top spot on the agenda of European states.

🔹 Europe can't blackmail anyone now - Kiev is blackmailing everyone there.

🔹 Europe is in a difficult situation and yet still doesn't want to engage in dialogue with Russia.

🌒@EastCalling

Via Geran Chronicles:

The cargo ship "Progress MS-33" has set off for the ISS 😇

🌒@EastCalling

Trump announced that he will send ICE agents to ensure security at American airports on Monday amid the shutdown of some departments of the Department of Homeland Security.

The TSA and ICE are two very different agencies with completely different roles. And many new ICE officers have been hired recently to fulfill Trump's deportation orders, so I'm curious what level of training many of these agents will have.

Something tells me that this is going to be a shit-show.

🌒@EastCalling

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan decided to take the metro and got into an argument with a woman who accused him of surrendering Nagorno-Karabakh to the Azeris.

In response, Pashinyan shouted at the woman and asked why she herself didn't stay in Karabakh.
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Hmmm, I wonder why.

Moron.

🌒@EastCalling

According to the leaks Al-Jahuri refers to, US President Donald Trump is demanding from the states of the Middle East either $ 5 trillion to continue the war, or $2.5 trillion as payment for ending it, presenting it as payment for "what has been achieved."

Salem Al-Jahuri commented on reports about Washington's financial demands to allies in the region. Al-Jahouri described the US policy as a "big racket," claiming that the Trump administration is forcing the Gulf monarchies to pay for "security" and regional stability.
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When will we be presenting Israel with a bill?

🌒@EastCalling