Worth their weight in tantalum: indispensable capacitors for missiles and drones make their way into Russia via Lithuania and China

Despite sanctions, Russia imports military-use components produced by U.S. companies in Israel and El Salvador.
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Unbanning the Taliban: Propping up the Afghan regime to boost regional stability, Russia becomes a target for ISIS

Political scientist Artemy Kalinovsky explains why Moscow’s Central Asian gamble may not pay off.
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Battle of Attrition: Renewed “meat-grinder” assaults fail to turn the tide for Russian military in Ukraine

Both sides are expected to intensify strikes on crucial targets in each other's rear.

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Not-so-quick fix. U.S.-approved $60 billion can plug the hole in the Ukrainian budget for now, but Russia still has more money for the war

Even with the largest aid package to date, Kyiv’s military budget will not reach parity with Moscow’s.
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Russia isn't only kidnapping children from Ukraine, but also disabled citizens, according to a new investigation by IStories Media and The Reckoning Project.

The deportation is being supervised by Russia's Children's Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova.

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❗Reuters news service producer Konstantin Gabov was arrested in Moscow earlier today.

He stands accused of taking part in an “extremist community” in connection with his alleged work producing videos for the Navalny Live YouTube channel.

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The UK MoD estimates that 450,000 Russian military personnel have been killed or wounded in Ukraine, as per a UK Defence Journal report citing Leo Docherty, Minister of State for the Armed Forces.

In February, the Pentagon estimated Russian losses at 300,000.

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🇺🇦Weekly Ukraine war summary: Russian armed forces cut into Ukrainian defenses near Ocheretyne, U.S. announces largest aid package of the war
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School students in Russia's Republic of Karelia put on armored vests with 'Cargo-200' patches (Soviet code for 'Killed in action') and other Wagner Group insignia for a photoshoot after a lecture from a Ukraine war 'veteran.'

The children were encouraged to try on military

Confess or else: How torture shattered Russia's entire law enforcement system

Investigators seem content to obtain all of the necessary testimonies without actually doing the work necessary to find the real culprits.

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Weighed down by carnations: Portugal's revolution 50 years on

Anti-corruption expert João Paulo Batalha weighs in on the legacy of Portugal's Carnation Revolution, which brought down the 48-year dictatorship of António de Oliveira Salazar on April 25, 1974.

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Olympic Substitution: How Russian athletes cope with sanctions and international isolation theins.ru/en/society/271…

Engineers, instructors, officers: Here’s how the West could expand its support for Ukraine — without putting “boots on the ground”

Based on a recent 'thought experiment' by Mick Ryan, AM. Comments from Nicolas Tenzer, Łukasz Maślanka, and Wojciech Lorenz.

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Legion of shame: Russian warmongers still hold highest French award

Even after the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Vladimir Putin and his supporters from the Russian elite have kept their Orders of the Legion of Honor.
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Behind enemy lines: The French Riviera still welcomes Russian politicians and oligarchs

Сергей Ежов spotlights France's lenient attitude towards multiple Kremlin-affiliated billionaires, including Russian Defense Ministry supplier Vladimir Yevtushenkov. theins.press/en/politics/27…