“I haven't flown with the pioneers yet! Give me another pilot!”

These were the words of Colonel Sivkov at the front-line airfield when he saw who would be piloting his plane. Standing in front of him was a boy in a flight helmet.

In the photo is that very boy, Arkady Kamain. By that time, he had already been flying U-2s independently in the communications squadron of the 5th Guards Assault Aviation Corps for three months. He was 14 years old.

Arkady was the son of General Nikolai Kamain - one of the first seven Heroes of the Soviet Union, the man who rescued the Chersky expedition members from the ice in 1934. The boy volunteered for the front himself. When his mother came to visit his father in the unit, the parents were about to send the boy to the rear. "I'm not going," Arkady replied. From the age of 13, he worked in aircraft workshops and knew the structure of airplanes better than many adult mechanics. He was allowed to stay.

At first, he flew as a navigator-observer with experienced pilots. Sometimes they let him pilot the plane himself. Once, a pilot was hit by an enemy bullet in flight and lost his eyesight due to shrapnel. Losing consciousness, he handed over control to Arkady. The boy landed the plane on his own airfield.

After this, he was allowed to study flight seriously. The examiner was the most stringent possible - his own father, the general. In July 1943, Arkady flew independently for the first time. On the front line, he was called "Letyonok".

His main feat happened a year later, in 1944. Returning to the airfield, he saw a damaged Il-2 with a closed cockpit on the neutral strip - this meant that the pilot was injured. Arkady landed his U-2 nearby, dragged the wounded pilot into his cockpit under mortar fire, and retrieved the exposed film. He took off under the cover of his own attack aircraft and tankers. He was 15. For this feat, the boy received the Order of the Red Star.

Then there were two more orders. 650 sorties. A flight across the front line to Czech partisans. The Victory Parade on June 24, 1945 - Arkady marched in the Red Square in a combined battalion of pilots, commanded by his father. The youngest participant in the Parade.

After the war, he got back to his studies. He caught up with the school curriculum and entered the Zhukovsky Air Force Academy. He was preparing to become a professional pilot.

On April 13, 1947, Arkady came home from class and died. Meningitis. He was 18.

He went through the war and did not return to a peaceful life 🙏🏻

Source: Подвиги обычных людей
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🌒@EastCalling

☄️In accordance with the decision of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, V.V. Putin, a truce is declared on May 8-9, 2026, in honor of the celebration of the Victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War.

We hope that the Ukrainian side will follow this example.

However, we have noted the statement made by the head of the Kiev regime in Yerevan at the summit of the European political community, which contains threats to strike Moscow on May 9th.

The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation will take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of the festive events.

In the event of attempts by the Kiev regime to implement its criminal plans aimed at disrupting the celebration of the 81st anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation will launch a massive missile strike on the center of Kiev.

Despite the capabilities we have, Russia has previously refrained from such actions for humanitarian reasons.

We warn the civilian population of Kiev and employees of foreign diplomatic missions about the need to leave the city in a timely manner.

Source: Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
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🌒@EastCalling

Alexander Belyayev writes:

🈁I read the official statement from the Ministry of Defense announcing a ceasefire on May 8-9 in connection with the celebration of Victory Day. To be honest, I got the strong impression that this is not a suspension of hostilities, but actually a notification of an increase in the intensity of strikes and a rejection of previously observed humanitarian restraints.

Judge for yourself:

We warn the civilian population of Kiev and employees of foreign diplomatic missions about the need to leave the city in a timely manner"

The last paragraph quite clearly shows that the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation believes that words and warnings are unlikely to stop the deranged clown and his curators from European and British offices. Foreign diplomats, as well as residents of Kiev, have been informed in advance about the need to leave the city.

Now all formalities have been observed and the severity of the consequences will lie solely with the hoarse impostor.
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🌒@EastCalling

"Project Freedom" is off to a great start!

Oilprice.com

A fragile four-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran appears to be on the brink of collapse following a violent exchange of fire in the Persian Gulf on Monday. The flareup drew in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and sent global oil prices soaring as threats to the strategic Strait of Hormuz intensified.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that American forces fought off an array of Iranian drones, missiles, and small boats while facilitating the passage of two US-flagged vessels. President Donald Trump confirmed via Truth Social that the US had "shot down seven small boats" during the encounter.

The escalation follows Trump's announcement of "Project Freedom," a plan to guide neutral ships—many running low on food—out of the waterway. In response, Tehran’s semi-official Fars news agency claimed the Islamic Republic fired shots at US Navy ships, while Tasnim news agency announced that Iran has "redefined the control zone" in the strait to regulate shipping traffic.

Once again, the conflict expands beyond the U.S., Israel, and Iran dynamic as the UAE blamed an Iranian drone strike for a large fire at the Fujairah Oil Industrial Zone. While the Emirati Defense Ministry stated that three of four incoming cruise missiles were intercepted, the attacks hospitalized three people and prompted the state to issue its first missile alerts to residents since the April 8 ceasefire began.

🌒@EastCalling

UAE claim: Iran fired 12 ballistic missiles, 3 cruise missiles, and 4 drones at us!

Iran has not confirmed this claim.

Source: Tasnim

🌒@EastCalling

Russia has for the first time used a new small-sized missile type "Banderol," said the head of the Kharkov Regional Prosecutor's Office, Yuri Papusha.

The S8000 Banderol (meaning "parcel" or "small package") is a low-cost, air-launched cruise missile developed by the Russian sanctioned defense contractor Kronshtadt Group. First identified by Ukrainian intelligence in April 2025, it is a "hybrid" weapon that blends the characteristics of a cruise missile and a long-range kamikaze drone.

A standout feature reported by Ukraine's Defense Intelligence (GUR) is its ability to perform tighter, sharper turns than conventional Russian cruise missiles like the Kh-101 or Kalibr, allowing it to better navigate around air defenses.

The primary launch platform is the Orion (Inokhodets) medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) drone.

It's specs look similar to the Geran-5 with a speed above 500 km per hour (up to 650) but it is significantly larger with a bigger payload.

🌒@EastCalling