Kristian Kiehling

@Kristian_Kiehling
546 Followers
477 Following
3.6K Posts
Danish born German and Latvian indie filmmaker and retired actor. Focuses on journalism and foreign policy in Eastern (Central) Europe. Latvian National Armed Forces (NBS) : 'russia' is spelled with a lowercase letter.
'Kur aitas, tur vilks'
https://kristiankiehling.substack.com/

President Zelenskyy explains why the Gulf states are turning to Ukraine for security:

"The US produces 65 anti-ballistic missiles monthly. On the first day of the Iran war,the equivalent of two years of that production was used in 24 hours. We need an independent European system,and we'll build it"

“Each generation of Crimean Tatars faces repression or exile in one form or another,” Narimanova said. “We are scattered all over the world, but I hope a new generation will continue fighting for our survival, our culture, and our language.”
https://cepa.org/article/behind-the-lines-crimean-tatars-battle-to-save-their-language/
Behind the Lines: Crimean Tatars Battle to Save their Language

Suppression of language is a key part of Moscow’s drive to erase the Crimean Tatar identity as it seeks to colonize occupied Ukraine.

CEPA

"Every single African President today who welcomed Lavrov, gave to Russian mercenaries goldmines or factories, every single one of them is now thinking of a plan B.

Russia just can’t deliver. I would advise President Zelenskyy to just go on a West Africa tour right now, offer drones to counter jihadists. You’ll win."

Two days ago, the Iranian President asked citizens to reduce their electricity usage (1). Shanaka Anslem Perera analyses why the US naval blockade is working and has brought the Islamic regime to its knees (2)

1)

https://www.gulf-times.com/article/724607/region/president-calls-on-iranians-to-save-energy

2)

https://shanakaanslemperera.substack.com/p/the-five-clocks-and-the-symmetry?r=6p7b5o&triedRedirect=true&_src_ref=t.co

The increased use of women and children by Iran's Islamic terror regime, whether to man checkpoints or appear in propaganda videos, is reminiscent of the Nazis' infamous use of child soldiers through the Hitler Youth organisation. It eerily recalls the end-of-days scene in which Hitler decorates some boys in front of his Berlin bunker.

"Today we celebrate the Day of the Latgale Congress.

The decision adopted in Rēzekne in 1917 regarding the unification of Latgale with Kurzeme and Vidzeme became one of the cornerstones in the formation of our state.

United for Latvia—then, now, and always!"

Edgars Rinkēvičs, President of Latvia

Contradicting the European perception that the war against Iran is not connected to russia's war on Europe, US naval forces intercepted a russian 'shadow fleet' vessel in the Arabian Sea on Saturday 25 April, as Washington stepped up its military enforcement of sanctions against Iranian energy exports.
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/74783
US Navy Intercepts Sanctioned Russian ‘Shadow Fleet’ Tanker in Arabian Sea

The USS Pinckney intercepted the Sevan on Saturday, forcing the sanctioned vessel to return to Iran as the total number of ships diverted under the US naval blockade reaches 37.

Kyiv Post
Although the approval ratings for the russian 'führer' seem to be dipping slightly, the russian population still shows an impressive 67% approval rating for their strongman. Political scientists attribute this decline not to the genocide of Ukrainians, to which the russian people are indifferent, but to a gradual deterioration in the economic situation and growing frustration over internet restrictions.
https://www.thebarentsobserver.com/news/putins-rating-is-falling-but-the-picture-isnbspnot-all-straightforward/448957
Putin's rating is falling, but the picture is not all straightforward

Vladimir Putin has seen his approval ratings decline for a sixth consecutive week, according to figures from the state-run pollster VTsIOM. Political analysts, however, caution against reading too much into the figures.

thebarentsobserver
The annual international cyber defence exercise took place in Estonia. One of the world's largest and most complex cyber defence exercises, “Locked Shields” brings together technical experts, stratcom specialists, lawyers and national-level decision-makers to respond to a unified threat scenario.
https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/defence/26.04.2026-latvian-singaporean-team-tops-cyber-defence-exercise-locked-shields-26.a644604/
Latvian-Singaporean team tops cyber defence exercise 'Locked Shields 26'

The annual international cyber defence exercise “Locked Shields 26” concluded on Friday, April 24, with a joint Latvian-Singaporean team winning first place, according to a release from the Latvian Ministry of Defence.

LSM
In order to counter the russian threat, Estonia will be working more closely with Ukrainian partners in the defence industry. The 'Build with Ukraine' initiative combines Estonian technological expertise with Ukrainian combat experience, enabling the faster production of innovative defence solutions.
https://news.err.ee/1610006932/estonia-signs-defense-industry-development-agreement-with-ukraine
Estonia signs defense industry development agreement with Ukraine

Estonia's Minister of Defense of Estonia Hanno Pevkur (Reform) signed a Letter of Intent to create a framework for defense industry cooperation with Ukraine, including the promotion of joint production.

Eesti Rahvusringhääling | ERR