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Russia to Deploy Oreshnik Missile Systems to Belarus
On July 1, during a speech ahead of Belarus’ Independence Day, President Aleksandr Lukashenko announced plans to deploy several Oreshnik Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) systems to Belarus by the end of 2025, citing national defense and the prevention of internal unrest. This announcement confirmed an earlier statement by Belarus Security Council Secretary Alexander Volfovich on…
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Moldova: A Proxy Battleground Emerges
A billboard in Tiraspol, Transnistria, celebrating the “Day of the Republic”. CREDIT: Clay Gilliland.As Moldova prepares for parliamentary elections in September 2025, officials warn of escalating Russian influence operations aimed at facilitating a pro-Kremlin government that could authorize troop deployments to Transnistria. The situation combines political interference, energy coercion, and military signaling—raising the risk of a new Russian front near NATO’s southeastern border. Meanwhile, the reorganization of Wagner…
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Russia Enters Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine Disputes
Russian forces have reportedly approached the administrative border of Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, raising concerns over a possible advance westward. Moscow claims its troops have entered the area, while Ukrainian military officials deny any such incursion has occurred. In recent days, the Russian Ministry of Defense released videos suggesting that its units have crossed into the…
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Timor-Leste: Revisiting a Forgotten War Ahead of ASEAN Entry
As Timor-Leste is et to join ASEAN in October 2025, we dive back into the country’s recent conflicts. CREDIT: Regio Da Cruz Salu.As Timor-Leste prepares for full accession to ASEAN in late 2025, its troubled path to independence raises renewed interest in its historical trajectory. This report revisits the conflict that led to one of the most violent decolonization processes in recent history. Following Portugal’s withdrawal in 1975, Indonesia occupied the territory, triggering decades of armed resistance,…
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Russia Seeks Buffer Zone in Ukraine Border Areas
Russian military operations have intensified along Ukraine’s northeastern border, where Moscow is reportedly aiming to establish a 10-kilometer-deep buffer zone in the Sumy and Kharkiv regions. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on May 28, approximately 50,000 Russian troops have been deployed for this purpose. Ukrainian intelligence estimates that a total of 125,000 Russian personnel…
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Germany Confirms End of Range Limits on Arms Supplied to Ukraine
Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced on May 26 that Western allies have lifted range restrictions on weapons supplied to Ukraine, enabling strikes on military targets within Russia. Merz stated that the United Kingdom (UK), France, the United States (US), and Germany now permit such use and affirmed continued military support for Ukraine. He added that…
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IDF Fires Warning Shots Near Diplomatic Delegation in Jenin
On May 21, Israeli soldiers fired warning shots as a foreign diplomatic delegation visited the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank. The delegation, comprising representatives from more than 20 countries including France, the UK, Canada, Italy, Japan, and China, was on an official visit coordinated in advance with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to…
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Proposed Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks in Istanbul
Russia has proposed holding direct negotiations with Ukraine in Istanbul on May 15, though the meeting has not been confirmed. The initiative, put forward by President Vladimir Putin on May 11, was discussed in a recent phone call between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. Moscow has called for talks…
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Parade and Pressure: Russia’s Victory Day Celebrations
As Russia prepares for its May 9 Victory Day parade amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, tensions rise following Ukrainian drone strikes on Moscow, the participation of foreign troops, and the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping.Ukraine launched a major drone attack on Russia, including Moscow, days before the Victory Day parade. The strike heightened security concerns as foreign leaders and troops prepared to attend. The incident underscores rising tensions and the broader geopolitical stakes surrounding Russia’s wartime commemorations and alliances. Key Takes Major Drone Strike: On May 6, 2025, Ukraine…
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Serbia’s Passport Loophole: The Backdoor to Europe for Russian Elites
The Russian investigative outlet Vazhnye Istorii has uncovered a citizenship scheme that allows Russian nationals—many with ties to the Kremlin or defense sector—to travel freely across Europe despite sanctions. Since the large-scale invasion of Ukraine, the European Union has imposed extensive sanctions on Russia, including travel bans targeting hundreds of government officials, military personnel, and…