Category: Russia

Nuclear Games in Russia Destabilizing the World

Commentary The nuclear posture of Russia, Eastern Europe, and the world is becoming less stable by the day. For starters, Russia has confirmed that it has moved tactical nuclear weapons into neighboring Belarus. According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the weapons would be used only if the Russian state or territory were threatened. That criterion…


Kremlin Silent on Top General’s Post-Mutiny Absence From Public View

The Kremlin has declined to comment on the current whereabouts of Sergey Surovikin, a top Russian general who has been absent from public view since last week’s aborted mutiny by the leader of Russia’s Wagner Group Yevgeny Prigozhin. “I recommend that you ask the Defense Ministry,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on June 29…


Incrementalism Will Neither Defeat Russia nor Deter China

Commentary On May 22–23, the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Free Russia Legion crossed from Ukraine into Belgorod Oblast, Russia (with a second incursion on June 5). These two groups allegedly comprise Russian citizens aligned with the Armed Forces of Ukraine. These groups reportedly used American Humvees and M1224 MaxxPro MRAPs in their operation. This…


Putin Planned to ‘Wipe Out’ Wagner Mutineers: Lukashenko

Russian President Vladimir Putin planned to kill mutinous Wagner fighters marching on Moscow before being talked down, according to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. It is unclear how Putin planned to carry out his plan, but Lukashenko said during a June 27 meeting with military officials that the decision had been made to kill all the…


130 Countries Are ‘Exploring’ Central Bank Digital Currencies, Report Says

Nearly two thirds of the countries in the world are now “exploring” central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) at one level or another, a new report says. The report, published on Wednesday by Washington-based think tank Atlantic Council, reveals that a total of 130 countries—representing 98 percent of global economy—are taking steps to convert their central…


Key Russian Ally Belarus Takes Center Stage Spotlight After Wagner Rebellion

Belarus—which played a critical role in ending last week’s aborted mutiny against the Kremlin by the leader of Russia’s Wagner Group—has returned to the spotlight.   A key Russian ally, the country made headlines earlier this year when Moscow unveiled plans to station tactical nuclear weapons on Belarusian soil.  On June 27, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko…


Taiwan Reports Spotting 2 Russian Frigates Near Its Waters

Two Russian frigates were spotted sailing off the eastern coast of Taiwan on June 27, according to the Taiwanese defense ministry, a rare occurrence that could potentially escalate tensions in the region. The ministry said the Russian ships were seen “sailing from south to north through the eastern waters” of Taiwan at 11 p.m. (local…


Russian Court Fines Google an Additional $47 Million

A Russian court has fined Alphabet’s Google 4 billion roubles ($47 million) for failing to pay an earlier fine over alleged abuse of its dominant position in the video hosting market, the country’s anti-monopoly watchdog said on Tuesday. Google was fined 2 billion roubles in February 2022. The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) at the time…


Lukashenko Says Putin Wanted to ‘Wipe Out’ Prigozhin During Mutiny Attempt

MOSCOW—Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said he persuaded Russian President Vladimir Putin not to “wipe out” mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, in response to what the Kremlin cast as a mutiny. Putin initially vowed to crush the mutiny, comparing it to the wartime turmoil that ushered in the revolution of 1917 and then a civil war, but…


Out-of-Date Data on China-Owned US Land: Report

Just how much American soil does China control? And are the plots of land too close to U.S. military bases for comfort? The answer is: we don’t know, with our most recent data based on a two-year lag. How serious is this loophole to America’s homeland security? We break it down in this episode. Other…