Hundreds of thousands of soldiers have been killed since #Russia invaded #Ukraine two years ago. #SatelliteImagery of Russian #gravesites appears to reflect some of those mounting death tolls.

https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-russia-war-death-toll-satellite-images-expanding-gravesites-maxar-2024-2

Journalists pointed out that the #RussianEconomy is experiencing growth despite #sanctions. Sikorski noted that this is due to their economy's transition to a #wartime footing. "When we begin to make, say, a larger number of missiles instead of cars, our #GDP escalates, but the country's wealth contracts." #Ukraine

#Russia's wartime economy growth: A masking of nation's wealth depletion, warns Foreign Minister Sikorski
https://essanews.com/russias-wartime-economy-growth-a-masking-of-nations-wealth-depletion-warns-foreign-minister-sikorski,6999089560180865a

Support in #Russia for the war started by Vladimir #Putin has slumped by a quarter in the last 12 months, amid increasing anxiety among the population about impending mobilization, a survey by an independent Russian pollster has found. #Ukraine

Russian Support for #UkraineWar Collapses as Conflict Enters Third Year
https://www.newsweek.com/russia-survey-war-mobilization-putin-1873033

It must have been the term she used, "demonic", that finally did it. Truth hurts.
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#Navalny’s widow, #YuliaNavalnaya, had earlier demanded the release of his body for burial, accusing Russian President Vladimir #Putin of mocking #OrthodoxChristian values and “torturing” his corpse.

Navalny’s body handed over by Russian authorities to his mother | #AlexeiNavalny #LyudmilaNavalnaya #Russia #Ukraine

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/24/navalnys-body-handed-over-by-russian-authorities-to-mother-spokesperson

Back toot: https://noc.social/@Norobiik/111981780295479794

"Any Russian who has the bravery to oppose Putin endangers themselves. Many courageous people have sought refuge in Germany. We're committed to providing full protection to these individuals and are doing everything necessary to fulfill this duty," Nancy Faeser stressed. #Russia #Ukraine

#Germany vows to protect #Russians opposing #Putin's regime amid security threats
https://essanews.com/germany-vows-to-protect-russians-opposing-putins-regime-amid-security-threats,6999606284179585a

"What I’ve been struck by is the commentary in the #UnitedStates that the death of #AlexeiNavalny is some great show of strength by #VladimirPutin when in fact the very idea that he had to lock this guy up, try to muzzle and silence him, and now he's trying to suppress and silence anyone who wants to come out and mourn him — that's a sign of weakness." #Russia #Ukraine

#Navalny’s death a sign of #Putin’s weakness, Sullivan says
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/02/25/navalny-putin-weakness-sullivan-00143197

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The Hungarian parliament's vote, which is expected to pass smoothly after a visit by Swedish Prime Minister #UlfKristersson last Friday during which the two countries signed an arms deal, will end months of delays to complete #Sweden's security policy shift. #Russia #Ukraine #Orban #Gripens4UA

#Hungary set to ratify Sweden's #NATO accession, clearing last hurdle
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/hungary-set-to-ratify-swedens-nato-accession-clearing-last-hurdle/ar-BB1iSxVT

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The multi-billion dollar #NordStream 1 and 2 pipelines transporting gas under the #BalticSea were ruptured by a series of blasts in the Swedish and Danish economic zones in September 2022, releasing vast amounts of methane into the air. #Russia #Ukraine

#Denmark ends Nord Stream blast investigation but concludes deliberate #sabotage at play
https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2024/feb/26/russia-ukraine-war-live-missiles-drones-kharkiv-dnipropetrovsk-eu-leaders-summit-elysee-zelenskiy?page=with:block-65dc562a8f08e47b76b8551c#block-65dc562a8f08e47b76b8551c

You can't trust this guy to keep his word.
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According to Ms Pevchik, Russian President #VladimirPutin changed his mind at the last minute. She said he "could not tolerate #Navalny being free" - and since there was an agreement "in principle" for Krasikov's freeing, Mr #Putin decided to "just get rid of the bargaining chip". #Russia #Putin

#AlexeiNavalny: Putin critic about to be freed in prisoner swap when he died, says ally
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-68401873

Back toot: https://noc.social/@Norobiik/111996692402398128

Yes vote comes nearly two years after historically neutral country applied to join military alliance. #Sweden joining #NATO means the #BalticSea will be surrounded by members of the alliance – #Finland, #Estonia, #Latvia, #Lithuania, #Denmark, #Germany and #Poland – leading some analysts to nickname it a “Nato sea”. #Russia #Ukraine #Gripens4UA

#Hungary approves Sweden joining Nato after months of delays
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/26/hungary-parliament-vote-ratify-sweden-nato-membership

Back toot: https://noc.social/@Norobiik/111996764938168754

The country being referred to is the #Philippines, we're reportedly going for the #Gripen E/F instead. That leaves, potentially, eight Gripen C/D fighters for #Ukraine now that #Sweden is joining #NATO.

"Reportedly, 12 Gripen C/Ds were produced in Switzerland a few years ago in the hope of commercial success, but the country did not opt for this type, so #Hungary could instead receive four of these #Gripens." #JAS39Gripen #Gripens4UA

https://hungarytoday.hu/more-gripens-and-tactical-aircraft-to-strengthen-the-air-force/

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#MuharremDemirok, the leader of the Swedish #CentreParty, expects decisions regarding the aircraft supply from the Swedish Prime Minister as early as today. The Centre Party has long insisted on sending planes to #Ukraine, even before #Sweden's #NATO accession, journalists reported. #JAS39Gripen #Gripens4UA

#GripenForUkraine: Swedish parliament seeks immediate decision on fighter jet supplies
https://news.liga.net/en/politics/news/gripen-dlya-ukrainy-v-parlamente-shvetsii-hotyat-nemedlennogo-resheniya-o-postavke-istrebiteley

Back toot: https://noc.social/@Norobiik/112002672815346349

Mendras, who has written several books on #Russia, said #Putin has managed to stay in power since 1999 — when he was appointed the Prime Minister of Russia by then-President #BorisYeltsin — using "more and more political violence," as well as conflict and wars. They include five wars in #Chechnya, #Georgia, #Donbas, #Syria, and #Ukraine

Putin needs to keep Russia in a 'permanent' state of war to stay in power, expert says
https://www.businessinsider.com/putin-paranoid-keep-russia-permanent-war-stay-in-power-2024-2

Not a China fan, but they're right on this point. Imo, you shouldn't even be on the UN Security council if you can't commit to this.
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#China and #India are currently the only two nuclear powers to formally maintain a no first use policy. #Russia and the #UnitedStates have the world's biggest nuclear arsenals. #NuclearWeapons #Ukraine

China urges largest nuclear states to negotiate a 'no-first-use' treaty
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/china-urges-largest-nuclear-states-to-negotiate-a-no-first-use-treaty/ar-BB1j0mqb?ocid=emmx-mmx-feeds&PC=EMMX01

#PeterKreko says that #Hungary has virtually no influence on #EuropeanPolicy anymore. "It is important to see that Hungarian obstructionism is not shaping Euro-Atlantic answers to major political questions, but at best delays them or waters them down a little. " #Ukraine #EU

How Hungary's delay tactics regarding #Sweden's #NATO bid have isolated the country politically
https://www.dw.com/en/how-hungary-s-delay-tactics-regarding-sweden-s-nato-bid-have-isolated-the-country-politically/a-68389844?maca=en-vam_tcs_volltext_dwcom-32885-xml-media

Close ally of Russian opposition leader said his team were pressured into holding a closed remembrance service without the public. #Russia #Ukraine

#AlexeiNavalny’s funeral to be held on Friday in #Moscow
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/28/alexei-navalny-funeral-to-be-held-on-friday-in-moscow

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"To have a #Russia without #Putin, we need to stop him together. We all build the future, every day. The people of Russia don’t demand that people in the west sacrifice their lives as #Navalny did; we ask that you save the lives of the people who are left." #AlexeiNavalny #Ukraine

Never believe Putin is unstoppable – after Navalny, this is how a new global opposition can bring him down | #MashaAlekhina, #PussyRiot

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/feb/28/russia-alexei-navalny-putin-pussy-riot

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For both #Finland and #Sweden, membership is the end of a long 30-year process of what Dalsjo called "our long goodbye to #neutrality.” First came the collapse of the #SovietUnion and the decision to join the #EuropeanUnion, which meant dropping neutrality for what both countries called "military nonalignment.” #Russia #Ukraine

The #NATO welcoming Sweden is larger and more determined
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/26/world/europe/nato-sweden-determined-fighting-back.html

#Beijing has maintained silence on the leaked Russian military documents revealing the #Kremlin's plan to use a tactical #NuclearWeapon against #China during a conflict-like scenario.

Notably, these plans reveal #Moscow's deep-seated suspicions toward China, a nation with which #Russia has ostensibly been building a closer alliance since the early 2000s. #Ukraine

Beijing Silent Over Russia's Reported War-Gaming of China Invasion
https://www.newsweek.com/china-russia-wargaming-invasion-reported-leak-nuclear-1874555