Russias

Ukraine soldiers are starting to carry scissors. It is the only way to face Russia’s most lethal weapon

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At the beginning of January the New York Times told which was no longer possible to hide in the Ukraine War. Before the brutality of the contest a technology had sneaked into Evade electronic war and enter the enemy field of both sides as I had not done before. The threat was destroying the lines, making attacks invisible and evading any attempt at interference. Now, that technology has become stronger and deadly in Russia: the optical fiber. The Russian offensive. I explained it a few hours ago BBC in a report. In the Ukrainian town of Rodynske, a few kilometers from Pokrovsk, the war has acquired an even more devastating dimension with the intensive use of 250 kg planning pumps and surveillance and attack drones. The recent impact of one of these projectiles devastated administrative and residential buildings, leaving behind a destruction landscape. Russian troops, unable to take Pokrovsk directly, have begun to surround it strategicallycutting supply routes through a siege that intensifies with every day. The immediate presence of Russian drones about Rodynske reveals that Moscow has advanced from the east, beyond the previously identified positions, displaying their weapons since recently captured areas. The unstoppable rise of fiber. Under that changing scenario, a technology has been perfected as the most feared weapon in the conflict: guided drones by fiber optic cable. Unlike traditional models, their physical connection with the controller makes them immune to electronic interference, one of the most important defensive pillars so far. Although slower and can be tangled (for example, in their passage through trees high), their ability to operate in closed environments, such as Inside buildingsand to stay hidden, each movement of Ukrainian soldiers converts into a possible death sentence. In that sense, Russia has taken the front in its implementation while Ukraine still tested themand although now tries to accelerate its production, the technological difference continues to incline the balance on the battlefield. Fiber cable anchored to a drone in Ukraine The front lines. This new type of threat has completely altered the dynamics of Ukrainian detachments. Soldiers as it is or came, from the 68th Jaeger battalion, They described the BBC How simple transfer to a position can be more lethal than direct combat. The pressure has forced the units to remain much longer in the trenches, without the possibility of rotation. Maksym, gunner of the 5th Assault Battalion, says that they could alternate every few days, but now there are those who take until 120 days in a row on the front. Fatigue, moisture, constant death and the impossibility of lowering the guard have redefined combat. Oses, chief of recognition, explained that Russian tactics have evolved towards small and mobile infiltrations: Motorcycles, quadrimotos, patrols of one or two men who penetrate enemy lines such as scattered pieces on a chess board. Pros and cons of fiber in war. Detailed it in a Interview for The War Zone Yas, a commander of the Ukrainian unmanned units (drones). Operate drones by fiber optic offers an essential tactical advantage: it allows silent control, without detectable emissions, and makes many electronic warfare systems obsolete. However, the system also presents limitations. Drone management It requires great expertisesince an inexperienced pilot can cause losses due to control failures or even unwanted explosions. In addition, the fiber cable can be easily broken or entangled, and technology itself is expensive and difficult to access (especially for Ukraine). Despite this, the success index of fiber drones to achieve and hit their goals Round 50%figure that clearly exceeds that of conventional radiofrequency drones. However, less than 5% of the Ukrainian drone park, According to Yascurrently uses this system, mainly due to the shortage of quality units and the saturation of local manufacturers, many of which, in the beginning, reversed Chinese components without fully understanding the operating requirements in combat. The asymmetric race. In that sense, Russian capacities are not only imposed by number, but by the speed with which Adapt solutions. Every time Ukraine changes frequency or introduces improvements, Moscow responds quickly, climbing his countermeasures in a coordinated way. He has done so with control channels and video transmission. In that context, fiber optic drones They represent a momentary tactical advantage window. Although in Ukraine ranges of 15 and up to 20 kilometers with drones of this type have already been reached, Russia operates models of up to 30 kilometers. Yas lamented to the environment that, except in the case of conventional drones, the Ukrainian State has not yet managed to establish A solid infrastructure of production and deployment for fiber optic drones. A gap that can determine the difference between maintaining defensive positions or losing strategic ground against the enemy. Endurance. In The BBCa Ukrainian soldier said that the fear of drones Invisible Because of the fiber he has led them to start carry scissors everywhere To cut the cables. Technology has already given enough episodes of authentic nightmare where drones have entered buildings chasing human objectives. Meanwhile, and although Russia has made important advances, the Total Take Donetsk It is still far from being an immediate reality. Ukraine continues to resist, but suffers the shortage of ammunition, the imperative need for weapons and a worrying lack of qualified personnel against a more numerous Russian army and with better institutionalized processes at the moment. Yas is clear: The future of the war of drones will depend not only on technology itself, but who is able to organize it and multiply it faster. Meanwhile, every drone that raises the flight with a fiber optic coil becomes a silent bet between life and death. Image | Ministry of Defense of Ukraine In Xataka | The Ukrainian invention that has allowed to repel the waves of Russian attacks: a 41 km fiber optic cable In Xataka | The problem of many to cross the border and flee from the war in Ukraine is not the passport. They are your phones

The war in Ukraine had a red line of 70 kilometers. West has just eliminated it after Russia’s last attack

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The last 48 hours in Ukraine have been plagued by actions and decisions that can change the course of the conflict. Russia has carried out The biggest attack to date on Ukraine with a swarm of drones and a number of missiles released as not remembered. kyiv, meanwhile, needs the help that does not arrive (Patriots) from the United States to deal with Moscow’s disposses, and in the meantime, the West has taken A decision that could change everything. The resurgence of TU-95. In the early hours of March 26, Russia executed the Most significant aerial offensive of the last months, by deploying ten strategic bombers TU-95msm To launch a wave of KH-101 cruise missiles About Ukraine. Six of these aircraft took off from the Olenya Air Base, to the north of the country next to the border with Finland, and the remaining four from Engels, east of Sarátov, in the heart of the European Russia. The trajectories of the missile substantial increase of Russian troops in the northeast of the front. The operation underlines the renewed Centrality of TU-95 In the Kremlin air strategy, despite being a design that sinks its roots in the Soviet era. We talk about a bomber that He was born In 1950. Intercontinental scope. But as important as this vestige of the past are the weapons it carries. Each Tu-95msm can load up to eight KH-101 missilesmounted externally and capable of traveling more than 5,000 kilometers, which allows them to attack objectives throughout the Ukrainian territory without abandoning Russian airspace. Empharged with pools, electronic countermeasures and 400 kilos, these missiles have become one of the pillars of the Russian offensive since the beginning of the war. Although its high cost and the existence of cheaper and smaller alternatives have generated debates about its efficiency, Russia plans to increase its production 600 units per year In 2025, a sign of its commitment to maintain strategic pressure through high precision attacks from long distances. Tu-95 Acorralado Ukraine. On the other sidewalk, Ukraine faces a new and alarming phase in its aerial defense in the face of the increase in Russian attacks With ballistic missilesthe most feared for their speed, destructive power and difficulty of interception. These projectiles, responsible for having destroyed almost half of the country’s energy capacity, have evidenced again the Patriot systems shortageunique capable of dealing effectively. Ukraine failed to intercept any of the nine Russian ballistic missiles launched, including two directed against kyiv, despite having deployed there Patriot units. Although the rest of the more than 900 drones and 65 cruise missiles were mostly neutralized, ballistic missiles represent an uncontrollable threat that has caused dozens of dead only so far from 2025, including lethal attacks against Sumy and Kryvyi Rih. Washington: Yes but no. The change of administration in the United States has meant a drastic turn in military assistance policy. While Trump has verbally condemned the last Russian attacks (he reached Call Putin “Crazy”), he did not offer new aid commitments, and his Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, was sharp by stating that “we don’t have” more patriots to send. Instead of direct donations, Washington is pressing its European allies To give Part of its own arsenals, something that does not progress, because no country wants to weaken its internal defense. Raytheon, American manufacturer of the Patriots, has not yet achieved increase your production to meet the post-2022 demand. Under this new paradigm, kyiv believes that the White House would be arranged to sell systemsbut not give them awaywhich forces Ukraine to adapt its strategy to a more transactional relationship: the defense is now negotiated, it is not granted. West breaks its limits. A few hours ago, and in a significant turn in Western military policy towards war in Ukraine, Germany, together with the United Kingdom, France and the United States, has first eliminated the first time the scope restrictions in the weapons that supplies Kyiv, allowing him to directly attack military objectives within the Russian territory (beyond the 70 km). The announcement was made by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz after The biggest attack With Russian drones that we commented, an offensive that stressed the need to allow Kyiv to respond forcefully. The news marks a Posture change Regarding previous fear To provoke an escalation with a nuclear power such as Russia, and according to Merz, it establishes an essential difference between the legitimate military purposes of Ukraine and the deliberate attacks against civilians by the Kremlin. With this, they open new strategic possibilities For Ukraine, which until now had acted with containment regarding the use of western armament beyond its borders. The open doors. Although Merz He did not confirm If Germany will send Taurus missiles long range, that during your political campaign He openly supportedavoided detailing any concrete step so as not to offer informative advantage to the Kremlin. Since his arrival to power just a few weeks ago, the new chancellor has adopted an approach more discreet and pragmaticstating that total transparency can play against national security. Despite this public reserve, in Berlin the expectation that Merz could soon announce the Armament delivery For greater scope, especially in the context of the imminent visit of the Ukrainian President Zelenski to the German capital. The moment suggests that Germany is preparing the land to take that step, but wants to coordinate it carefully with its allies. The red line evolves. No doubt, the elimination of scope restrictions represents a rupture with narrative maintained by Western leaders since the beginning of the conflict, when they warned that allowing Ukraine to attack within Russia could be interpreted by Moscow as a direct involvement of NATO In war. However, the wear and tear of the diplomatic front, the repeated negative of Kremlin to participate in significant conversations and the growing brutality of Russian attacks have weakened those old red lines. For Merz and his allies, deterrence is no longer to limit the Ukrainian response, but to give Kyiv the ability to dissuade … Read more

The United Kingdom tested its sophisticated defense simulating the day of Russia’s invasion in Ukraine. Did not go as expected

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Simulations are an essential part of the network of nations defense. We have a large number of examples, from the “game” that They used in the Cold War The United States and Russia to conclude that it was not worth test try your last destroyer against Washington, or those who He has activated Taiwan In recent times “for what can happen.” The United Kingdom also carried out a test that should confirm that its arsenal is ready for battle. The conclusions were not exactly those. A brutal lesson. The story took place a while ago. As we said, the United Kingdom carried out a Strategic simulation of very high importance: he replied in his own aerial territory the exact pattern of the first Russian attack on Ukraine, which occurred on February 24, 2022. He did it through the Gladiator Training Systemvalued at 24 million pounds, and with the aim of evaluating how their defenses would respond if the same type of onslaught would have had the British soil as white. The conclusion It was alarming. Although the results were not revealed in detail, the then commander of the Air Battlespace Training CenterThe Blythe Crawford Air Comodoro, was bluntly describing it as “a very beautiful panorama.” For a country that for decades felt protected by its location to the western edge of Europe (with the continental mass acting as mattress natural against threats), the exercise was a strategic shaking that threw old assumptions for land. A threat that is no longer distant. Then it was more known, mainly than the exercise revealed vulnerability from the United Kingdom before a massive and modern air attack like Russia used against Ukraine, with a devastating combination of missile, drones and autonomous technologies. Crawford also stressed that Ukraine made everything West will awaken. The conflict not only exposed the brutality of the first Russian blows, but also highlighted how modern war has transformed the rules of aerial domain, such as We have been counting. Crawford explained that it is no longer about achieving aerial superiority in broad and sustained terms throughout an operations theater, but to assume that supremacy can be Fragmentary, ephemeraleven located between two trenches or just a few meters from the ground. The war in Ukraine, he said, is an unprecedented battlefield between two countries with powerful air defense systems, but where none has achieved A full domain of the heavens, in contrast to the predominant aerial doctrine of the last decades. The swarm that comes. One of the most revealing points of Crawford’s intervention was his analysis of the massive drone use In Ukraine. For the high command, it is no longer simply individual devices: now they face hundreds of hundreds of units, many of them equipped With explosivesothers designed as lures, and others Simply kamikaze. These waves, combined with rockets and intercontinental ballistic missiles, configure a type of multiple, simultaneous and heterogeneous threat for which traditional defensive systems were conceived in much more predictable scenarios. The tactical dilemma, In his opinionIt is clear: “Should all attack vectors neutralize or prioritize the most lethal?” A question without a definitive solution, but that affects all the Western air forces. Of strength to vulnerability. One of the most forceful messages of the United Kingdom simulation was the need to change the defensive mentality of the nation and its allies. For decades, modern wars were fought away from the national territory, which led to an erroneous perception of domestic security. Hence, Comodoro warned that it is time to abandon that trust and assume that even the British bases are now under direct threat. In other words: the United Kingdom cannot be considered as a simple safe starting point for foreign operations, but should be thought of as a potential objective and prepare as such. The risk, In his opinionIt is not hypothetical: if Russia decided to launch an attack against British soil, it could do it through its northern fleet from the Atlantic, thus avoiding European airspace. Redrawing doctrines. The last of the legs to deal with the simulation results. The Ukrainian case is rewriting military doctrines that during generations were considered unquestionable. The notion of total air control, cornerstone of NATO strategy from the Gulf War, seems to be eroding for a New generation of threats which combines speed, volume, unpredictability and autonomy. For Crawford and many other strategists, the key is to learn quickly, assume that the scenario (in this British case) is no longer immune, and rethinking defense systems as if the next attack did not happen in a distant country, but in “house.” Image | US Department of Defense In Xataka | The countries with more combat tanks, ordered in this graphic developer In Xataka | Satellite images have revealed what happened to one of Russia’s biggest arsenals. Now we understand Moscow’s silence

Satellite images have revealed what happened to one of Russia’s biggest arsenals. Now we understand Moscow’s silence

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On April 22 the satellites began to point out A point on the planeta change only perceptible through the images from space offered a first track of what was happening about 60 kilometers from Moscow. Despite the weather conditions of that day and the low resolution of the optical data captured by the Sentinel-2 satellite From the European Space Agency, the damages were clearly visible. An explosion had “burst” the 51st arsenal of the main missile and artillery direction of the Russian Ministry of Defense. Total devastation of Arsenal. Visual confirmation was reinforced by radar images Synthetic opening (SAR) capable of penetrating clouds and smoke, which showed significant structural alterations in the complex nucleus. The comparison between images Taken on April 14 and 23, it indicated that at least 30 buildings destined to storage of ammunition had been completely destroyed. Explosions, evacuations and blackouts. The day after the explosion, the secondary detonations They still continuedunderlining the magnitude of the stored material. The strength of the outbreak forced Evacuate eight nearby townswhile 37 settlements were left without gas supply. The most remote evacuated town was 4.5 kilometers from Arsenal. NASA fire monitoring system data also confirmed the existence of multiple igneous foci Within the perimeter, coinciding with the analysis of the intelligence expert (OSINT) MT Anderson, who used additional filters to detect heat points and Confirm destruction Massive infrastructure. A strategic arsenal. Then the magnitude of what happened began to be known. He 51st Arsenal Grau It was not simply a deposit of ammunition. As one of the Eight main arsenals that still operated in the European part of Russia, its function was key both in the distribution and in the logistics maintenance of the Moscow weapons. Three of those eight arsenals had already been destroyed for 2024, which turned this loss into a considerable strategic blow for the Kremlin military supply chain. Arsenal was designed to house Up to 264,000 tons of explosive material. Among the remains found after the explosion were identified 107 mm rockets for Multiple type 63 rocket Chinese manufacturing, many of which were recorded spread around local residents, suggesting that part of the material was stored outpatient and had recently been delivered. The catastrophe, or the attacknot only compromised Russian logistics operability in the Ukrainian conflict, but raised (once again) serious doubts about the security of its own arsenal in times of war. Images of the British report with the before and after the explosions A self -inflicted blow. Now, and after A study Of all the images and confidential information of the intelligence of the United Kingdom Ministry of Defense, it has been confirmed that the cause of the incident was not “external”, but a combination of bad practices in the management of armament and a negligent storage management by Russia. British research, in fact, is reinforced by the declaration of the Russian Defense Ministry itself, which, in silence from the incident without offering more data, there were attributed the disaster to the “violation of security requirements” in the manipulation of explosive materials. For the United Kingdom, the event is not an isolated case, but the reflection of a prolonged and documented trend of “Russian ineptitude in the treatment of its own ammunition”, although that yes, in this case it represents the greatest loss of self -inflicted arsenal since the beginning of the large -scale war in Ukraine. Strategic installation We already said it before. The affected deposit was a key installation for the war supply of the Kremlin on the Ukrainian front and, according to figures from the Ukrainian authorities cited by the United Kingdomhosted around hundreds of thousands of tons of ammunition, including ballistic missiles, projectiles thrown from air and anti -aircraft systems. Satellite images verified by the insider medium They also revealed that more than a square kilometer of the complex was affected by the detonations, which suggests that massive and prolonged destruction, with multiple fires and a chain of secondary explosions that, According to disseminated videos In social networks, they even reached nearby civil areas. Error pattern. In addition, it is not the first time that the arsenal of the 51st Grau suffers incidents of this type. Insider told That in June 2022, Russian state media reported a spontaneous explosion during loading and unloading operations that cost four people. The pattern is consistent with British complaint: A continuous chain of operational errors and insufficient security measures that make critical facilities into vulnerable points within the Russian military apparatus. The lack of technical discipline and effective prevention protocols has not only generated large material losses, but also has compromised the safety of populated areas in times of war. Consequences. If you want also, the incident gives wings to the rhetoric of the West. The impact of this catastrophe transcends the material. The destruction of one of the main deposits of Russian ammunition not only weakens the immediate logistics capabilities of Moscow in its offensive against Ukraine, but also reinforces an idea increasingly sustained Among the “alidos”: that of a corroded military power for structural failures, operational improvisation and a dangerous carefree for the most basic security standards. Seen thus, in full prolonged war and with its supply lines under pressure, losing tens of thousands of tons of armament due to internal negligence constitutes a defeat with several readings. Image | Maxar In Xataka | Russia launched its fearsome nuclear missile Satan II last week, the “Invincible Weapon” of Putin. It was regular In Xataka | The US has detected an object in space with strange behavior. The source that released it has also located: Russia

Russia’s last attack on Ukraine seems taken from a film

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Yesterday a meeting in Saudi Arabia was held in which Ukraine and the United States reached A high fire agreement 30 days. Washington reactive help and you can use the reserve of minerals. Now the pressure revolves to Moscow, where Putin will have to say something to the proposal. Meanwhile, the war continues. Ukraine launched its greatest drone attack on Moscow. For their part, the Russians carried out the most surprising mission so far in war. Unpublished mission. The story took place March 8. Around 100 Russian soldiers of the Private Military Company Veterans PMC, the Special Unit Akhmat and the 30th Motorized Rocileros Regiment, carried out an unprecedented operation in the Kursk region, infiltrating the territory controlled by Ukraine through A disused gas pipeline. The incursion was aimed at the city of Sudzha, a key strategic point taken by the Ukrainian forces. 16 kilometers. The soldiers, equipped with breathing systems due to the lack of air, spent four days crawling along a conduit of approximately 16 kilometers long and only 1.5 meters wide. In fact, in the last hours they have become viral lAs disseminated images In Russian military social networks showing the infiltrates within the space. The action that took many of the Russian soldiers was so surprising. It has even been reported that some of them died from suffocation before reaching their destination. The attack. Apparently, the gas pipeline is probably part of the URENGOY-POMARY-UZHOROD SYSTEMthe same that was historically Gas transport key Russian to Europe, but that was out of operation at the end of 2024. This route allowed Russians to avoid detection by Ukrainian surveillance drones and surprise the defending forces near Sudzha. Although the attack was not entirely unexpected for the Ukrainians, the Russian forces managed to emerge and take positions near Sudzha, where the fighting has intensified. For its part, the General Staff of Ukraine He published images of the confrontation between their troops and the Russian assailants. Division in the narrative. Exist contradictory reports On the outcome of the incursion: while Pro-Kremlin media insisted that the Russian troops advanced in Sudzha from multiple fronts and had captured several nearby villages, including CHERKASSKOYE PORECHNOYE and KOSITSA, the pro-war analyists in Russia expressed harsh criticism to the operation. Precarious. War experts Vladimir Romanov and Anastasia Kashevarova described the incursion as poorly planned, pointing out the lack of basic supplies and the absence of ventilation in the gas pipeline, which would have caused the death of some soldiers by intoxication with methane. On the other hand, the Russian military Yegor Guzenko argued that the filtration of images of the incursion before the end of the mission alerted Ukraine and frustrated the possibility of tactical success. Meanwhile, Ukraine also confirmed the incursion In a statement describing it as a “sabotage and assault operation.” According to the Ukrainian General Staff, Russian troops They were detected on timewhich allowed kyiv’s forces to respond with artillery attacks and missiles before the infiltrates could consolidate their position. The importance of the enclave. It was known that Russia has been increasing your offensive In the Kursk region, advancing from southern Southzha. Its objective seems to be cut the key road that connects Sumy, Yunakivka and Sudzha, A vital artery for supply of the Ukrainian troops in Kursk. Sudzha, a key city in the gas traffic corridor, was captured by Ukraine In August 2024 In a surprise incursion that represented the greatest Ukrainian offensive in Russian territory since World War II. During this operation, kyiv managed to occupy 1,000 square kilometers and take hundreds of Russian prisoners, all with the aim of using the territory as a negotiation currency in future peace conversations and force Russia to divert troops from eastern Ukraine. What happens? That months later, the Ukrainian forces in Kursk face a strong counteroffensive of more than 50,000 Russian troopsincluding the North Korean soldiers deployed next to the Kremlin units. Open Maps of the battlefield suggest that tens of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers are at risk of being surrounded, since Russia has intensified its attacks To recover the region. Ukraine has a problem. The truth is that the pressure on the Ukrainian forces in Kursk is increasing. Russian troops have been continuously attacking the entire front line in The so -called “Health Zone”which has hindered the Ukrainian defense. Dmitry Medvedev, former president of Russia, recently said that the Ukrainian forces in Kursk are “almost surrounded” and that their expulsion from the territory is imminent. The challenge of maintaining this position is of great draft. With the front reducing and constant attacks on the flanks, the viability of the Ukrainian operation in Kursk is questioned. To this is added the impact of the temporary cessation of the United States military support (now It seems that restored), which has limited Ukraine access to intelligence and satellite data, crucial for defense. Strategy or negotiation. It is the big doubt. More and more Ukrainian analysts suggest that Kursk’s replication It could be inevitable to avoid a total siege and preserve resources for other fronts. However, maintaining a presence in Russian territory has an important strategic and political value For kyiv, especially within the framework of the negotiations that have taken place with the United States in Arabia. Possibly, kyiv presented a peace proposal that included the cessation of drones and missile attacks, as well as the suspension of military operations in the Black Sea. Be that as it may, one thing seems clear: the Peliculero Russian attack through the pipeline is a sample of the high value that Moscow gives to the recovery of Sudzha and its surroundings. As losses increase and the situation becomes more unsustainable, the great unknown is how much more time can resist in this region before being forced to rethink its strategy. If the “American” helps they will have won time. Image | SERGEY KOLYASNIKOV In Xataka | In the middle of the Cold War, France designed a nuclear rearme plan for Europe. Now sound strongly In Xataka … Read more

Russia’s ace up its sleeve is a nuclear plant

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Russia is quietly managing to expand its dominance in the nuclear sector. Recently, the Kremlin has announced the construction of more than 10 nuclear plants in different allied countries, has now decided to put its flag in the arctic with a floating nuclear plant. In short. The Akademik Lomonosov nuclear power plant has generated its first billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of energy, according to Rosatom reports. The floating nuclear power plant located in the Arctic region of Chukotka has also completed its first fuel cycle. In addition, the nuclear plant, which has been in operation for more than five years, is currently satisfying more than 60% of the area’s energy demand. Floating nuclear plant. A concept designed to bring clean and stable energy to remote or difficult-to-access regions, such as the Arctic. In this specific case, the central Akademik Lomonosov It is built on a boat. The Russian floating nuclear plant in more technical terms It is operating with two KLT-40S nuclear reactors, similar to those used by nuclear icebreakers, capable of generating electricity and heat for isolated communities or mining projects. Furthermore, its design is designed to operate in extreme conditions, although poses challenges related to nuclear safety and environmental impact in vulnerable regions. Other operations. Originally planned to replace the Bilibino nuclear plant, the Akademik Lomonosov It also provides additional services, such as desalination of up to 240,000 cubic meters of water per day, and supplies energy to a population of 5,000 people, including mining operations in the Baimskaya mineral area. It is not the only plant. The American company Westinghouse and the British Core Power have joined forces to develop floating nuclear plants equipped with ultra-compact eVinci reactors. These fourth-generation modular reactors can generate up to 5 MWe and operate for more than eight years without the need for refueling. In addition, its compact design and complete factory assembly has facilitated its maritime transport, offering a clean and flexible energy solution for islands, ports and coastal communities. West looking in the rearview mirror. Between the sanctions for the Ukrainian War and the divisions for gas from from Russia. The Kremlin has found its spearhead in the nuclear sector to dominate a large part of the geopolitical framework. Currently, Russia dominates 27% of the world’s conversion capacity and 39% of the global uranium enrichment market, a situation that highlights energy dependency of Western nations. As the West strives to reduce its energy dependence and achieve its sustainability goals, Russia continues to consolidate its global influence, using both technological innovations and key natural resources. The Ural country’s rise in nuclear capacity will increase this new year 155%, reaching 950 gigawatts in 2050. Image | Rosatom Xataka | The investigations into the cut submarine cables in the Baltic have taken a turn: it was not Russia, it was inexperience

Sweden did not believe Russia’s economic data. He has found the proof he was looking for by observing Moscow from space

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If the question is how Russia’s economy is doing, the answer surely depends on who you ask. A few weeks ago, The New York Times published a report where he explained the tensions that exist between the Russian elites as economic growth slows of the nation. They signed up the sanctions and the war itself, but in the face of rhetoric, Moscow responded that they would endure all threats. Sweden was not so clear, and claims to have evidence of the real situation. Stagnation and signs of slowdown. As we have told other timesthe war economy that Russia launched at full speed after the invasion of Ukraine appears to be showing signs of significant slowdown. In fact and as the Times emphasizedeven generating tensions among the country’s economic elite as the conflict enters its fourth year. According to recent official data, many civil sectors have stopped growing and have even begun to declinewhich has exacerbated economic uncertainty. The Russian currency, the ruble, fell three weeks ago to its lowest level in two yearsand companies face difficulties in obtaining new loans or receiving payments from customers, reflecting an increasingly restrictive financial environment. Rise in interest rates. The response of the Central Bank of Russia has been a drastic rise in reference interest rates, reaching 21% in October, the highest level since the fall of the Soviet Union. Despite efforts to contain inflation, the economic growth forecast for the new year has been revised downwards, standing between 0.5% and 1.5%well below the 3.5% to 4% recorded in 2024. In the background, the elephant in the room: the slowdown occurs despite the continued record government spending to finance the warwhich indicates that economic stimuli are no longer having the same effect. Economists and officials have begun to warn about the imminent risk of so-called stagflationa dangerous combination of price increase without economic growth. The impact of sanctions and the Russian response. The strict economic sanctions imposed by the West in response to the invasion of Ukraine have limited Russia’s ability to maintain its military-spending-fueled growth. In this regard, the Kremlin has insisted that it has withstood the impact of sanctions, but slowing growth and rising inflation indicate otherwise. Civilian businesses, in particular, have been hardest hit by the economic crisis. For example, Russian Railways, the country’s largest employer, reported a 9% drop in cargo volume transported last October compared to the previous year. To counteract this decline, the company has announced a price increase of more than 10% and has reduced its investment plans for 2025 by a third. Despite this, experts consider that the crisis is not yet serious enough enough to force President Vladimir Putin to reconsider his ambitions in Ukraine. Conflict Central Bank and the industrial elite. One of the main points of conflict within the Russian economic elite is the relationship between the Central Bank of Russia and the country’s leading industrialists. The bank’s governor, Elvira Nabiullina, has implemented a strict monetary policy to curb inflation, which has generated criticism from businessmenwho argue that record-high interest rates are stifling growth. In response to these, Nabiullina recently defended his strategy before Parliament, arguing that all the country’s economic resources are being used to the maximum and that macroeconomic stability should not be sacrificed for accelerated growth. However, its position has become increasingly isolated in an environment in which Business interests demand more flexible measures to sustain their operations in a context of growing uncertainty. Distrust in official figures. And in the face of domestic rhetoric, Western officials have expressed skepticism about the veracity of the economic data provided by the Kremlin, arguing that the official figures do not accurately reflect the reality of the Russian economy. In this regard, the Minister of Finance of Sweden, Elisabeth Svantesson, expressed during the World Economic Forum in Davos that Russia is presenting an image of economic stability that does not match the real situation. According to Svantesson, government statistics, which put inflation at 9.5%are not credible considering that the Central Bank of Russia has raised interest rates to 21%a discrepancy that suggests much greater inflationary pressure than is officially recognized. Furthermore, the continued flight of capital is another indicator of the country’s economic difficulties, which a priori contradicts the Kremlin’s narrative of resistance to Western sanctions. The “trick” of space. Thus, and given the lack of confidence in Russian data, Western officials have resorted to alternative methods to assess the nation’s economic health, including in the equation analysis of night satellite images of Moscow. Svantesson pointed out that city ​​lighting in 2023 was visibly dimmer compared to 2021which, in his opinion, suggests lower energy consumption and, therefore, a decline in economic activity. In fact, comparative photographs from media like Business Insider showed that, although factors such as cloud cover and time of day can influence perception, in general a pronounced decrease in illuminated areas is observed, especially in the suburbs of the capital, which could point to this deterioration in the level of life and possible cuts in the electricity supply. Manipulation of the economic narrative. Svantesson went a little further, and even emphasized that the Russian government’s official narrative seeks to convince Ukraine and its allies that sanctions have not had the desired impact. However, the data (and alternative data, such as the analysis of night lights), suggest that the economic reality is somewhat different from the image projected by Moscow. The minister concluded that, although the exact state of the Russian economy cannot be known with certainty, what is clear is that “the official version promoted by the Kremlin is not true.” Image | POT In Xataka | The end of the war is very far away for two reasons. One is arriving in Ukraine from the US, the other is an unprecedented figure in Russia In Xataka | Russia already knows how to respond to the sanctions that block its international trade: with cryptocurrencies

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