Viktor Tsio? No there's a name I haven't heard a while

‼️ Russia: “The rate of growth of liquidations of catering companies in Russia has accelerated.”

🍿 Oh dear…

www.kommersant.ru/doc/8605671

Where it fits:
#RapidRanger fills the gap between Ukraine's mobile fire groups and heavier, less mobile SAM systems — operating effectively in zones where radar can't see and other systems can't react fast enough. Ty GB 🇬🇧 5/end

Mobility — the entire system weighs ~500 kg, modular, mountable on pickups, armoured vehicles, or tracked platforms. In Ukrainian service: fitted to Spanish URO VAMTAC tactical vehicles capable of 135 km/h. Deploy, engage, relocate — before russian counter-battery can respond. 4/

The LMM Martlet missile — 1.3 metres. 13 kg. Accelerates to approximately 1,800 km/h. Engages targets at up to 7 km. Dual guidance: infrared AND laser. That second part matters enormously — laser guidance defeats targets with low heat signatures and those using thermal decoys 3/

Detection — electro-optical surveillance with full 360° coverage, panoramic far-infrared search and tracking, plus optional surveillance radar. Detects targets at up to 15 km. Operates independently or networked into Ukraine's wider air defence architecture. 2/

Ukraine’s air defense has a new piece on the board.
British Rapid Ranger fills the gap between mobile fire teams and heavy, low-mobility SAM systems — protecting areas traditional radar can’t cover.
Light. Fast. Lethal. Already proven against Shaheds. What is is and does 🧵 1/

Secretary of War Pete Hegs... # © • 39m The War Department is once again restoring freedom to our Joint Force. We are discarding the mandatory flu vaccine requirement, effective immediately.

Make this make sense.

We could use some optimism among all of this doom.

- Extremely unlikely

- Yes, but November looming Trump has other issues in mind

- Yes but would be Putins final one. He might need one later

P.S 4 part thread on current russian sentiment. It shows us something

bsky.app/profile/volb...

Ukraine’s Second Miracle Year The war isn’t won, but for the first time in years, outright victory seems possible.

"Ukraine has a theory of victory that looks plausible, while russia’s is crumbling. There is a path to Ukraine achieving drone dominance...russia bet that meat waves would overwhelm Ukraine while the US and Hungary blocked Western support, and failed."

www.thebulwark.com/p/ukraines-s...

There are shades of vatniks. Fico is like 15% of Orban. Radev doesn't even make list before next years elections. You need organization behind you and bent rules and balls. Being russian stooge on even at the state level, let alone EU takes effort. And Kremlin coffers aren't what they uses to be

Collage including an antenna, a ballot box and a laptop. The text on the visual reads 'New sanctions in response to Russia's hybrid threats'.

The EU has adopted additional sanctions targeting two entities responsible for Russia’s continued hybrid activities, particularly propaganda and disinformation.

Find out more on EU sanctions addressing Russia’s hybrid activities ➡️ link.europa.eu/NvyfWP

“We have made it very clear that the path chosen by the Georgian government — repression of the opposition, restrictions on media, and the laws that have been adopted — is not acceptable to us. We need to see real progress,” she said. 5/end

Kallas reiterated that the EU supports the Georgian people but not the current government, sharply criticising Tbilisi’s political direction. She pointed to repression of the opposition, restrictions on media freedom, and recent legislative changes as unacceptable. 4/

While noting she could not speak on behalf of a future Hungarian government until it is formed, Kallas said that “many issues that had been blocked are now being reopened for discussion,” adding that the EU hopes to achieve “positive results.” 3/

Speaking ahead of the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting, Kallas indicated that issues previously blocked are now reopening for consideration, raising expectations that sanctions targeting those accused of undermining democracy in Georgia may move forward. 2/

#EU foreign policy chief @kajakallas.bsky.social has signalled that discussions on imposing personal sanctions against figures linked to Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream could advance following political changes in Hungary. 🧵 1/

Major ammunition plant in Estonia to be built by Turkish company Turkish-backed ARCA Baltics Operations will build a €300 million 155-millimeter artillery ammunition plant at Estonia's Põhja-Kiviõli defense industry park. The facility opens in 2028, creating up to ...

Major ammunition plant in Estonia to be built. Will include the manufacture of 155‑millimeter artillery ammunition, mortar rounds of various calibers, and 122‑millimeter rockets. #ReArmEU

news.err.ee/1610002228/m...

More examples

bsky.app/profile/lmt7...

Important precedent set in EU law. What, how and why it matters 🧵 ⏬️

We expect some positive decisions tomorrow on the €90 billion loan to Ukraine.

This would show that our support for Ukraine remains strong and that Russia cannot outlast Ukraine.

My doorstep ahead of today’s Foreign Affairs Council ↓

Corruption case most likely

Situation in Tuapse, Russia.

❗️Reuters: Russia has cut oil output by an estimated 300000 to 400000 barrels per day in April following Ukrainian drone strikes on refineries and ports. The disruption, combined with reduced pipeline flows to Europe, marks the sharpest monthly decline in production since the COVID period. #Russia

Tommy is offcourse deep in russian money

bsky.app/profile/volb...

Not that modern far right has any more brains

Valentina Gomez has announced that she will enter the UK by small boat to speak at the Tommy Robinson rally on May 16 in central London

This follows her being banned from the country by the Home Office.

Avrage modern tankie. A coal cutters is a Nazi flag

Japan loosens arms export rules in break from post-WW2 pacifism This clears the way for Japan to sell weapons to more than a dozen countries.

Major change as Japan loosens arms export rules in break from post-WW2 pacifism

www.bbc.com/news/article...

Germany 🇩🇪 is reinventing itself as a weapons factory #ReArmEU

www.msn.com/en-us/money/...