News

US and France Helped Ukraine Map Russian Air Defenses - FT
Intelligence from Washington and Paris was used to identify air defense positions and select drone routes deep into Russian territory. Western intelligence involvement is no longer hidden in the shadows - it is now a confirmed fact.

IRGC: There Was No Ceasefire, the US Stopped Strikes Unilaterally
Iran stated that no negotiations took place, and that the halt in strikes was a unilateral US decision within the framework of Tehran's "existential war." Each side is writing its own version of the ceasefire.

Finland to Cut Communication Links with Russia

Houthis Knock Out Saudi Refinery in Jizan

Saudi Aramco has suspended operations at a 400,000-barrel-per-day refinery after a Houthi strike damaged the integrated gasification system and tank farm. Restart is planned only by the end of August. The Houthis have reached Saudi oil refining — something that seemed untouchable just yesterday.

Iraq Arrests Groups Accused of Working for Ukraine and Attacking Saudi Oil Facilities

Iraq's national security adviser, Qasim al-Araji, stated that those detained confessed to working for Ukraine and involvement in attacks on the country's territory. Meanwhile, evidence has emerged suggesting the strike on Saudi oil facilities may have

US Markets: Stocks Rise, But Tech Stumbles

On July 27, the Dow jumped 0.5% to 51,947, while futures surged as much as 580 points in the morning following the announcement of a pause in hostilities between the US and Iran. At the same time, the Nasdaq continued to slide on a sell-off in tech, chip, and memory stocks amid the listing of Chinese manufacturer CXMT on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. The direct takeaway: elites are ready to immediately buy back risk on news of de-escalation, but are simultaneously taking profits in the overvalued AI segment, where real competition from China

Putin Sets Standing Strength of Russian Armed Forces at 2.426 Million

According to the decree, the standing strength of Russia's Armed Forces has been fixed at 2.426 million personnel, of whom 1.535 million are servicemen. For comparison, in 1989 the strength of the Soviet Armed Forces stood at 5.35 million — a difference of nearly 2.2 times that illustrates the scale of the military's transformation over the past decades. Today's army is far more compact than its Soviet predecessor, but technologically incomparable to it — sheer numbers have long ceased to be the key parameter.

Pashinyan Floats Referendum on Armenia's

Brent Back to $100 — Houthis Rattle the Oil Market
The Houthis attacked two Saudi tankers, Encelia and Layla, with ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones after the vessels violated the group's declared naval blockade in the Red Sea; a major fire broke out on one of the ships. Brent crude gained more than 8.5% over the week, approaching $105-110 per barrel, while spare capacity at both OPEC and the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve has been drawn down to 40-year lows. The Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz have simultaneously turned into minefields — the market is reacting with

July 20–21: Middle East Escalation Weighs on Risk

On July 20, the Dow fell 0.6% and the S&P 500 dropped 0.2%, with eight of the index's 11 sectors closing in the red — healthcare and industrials each lost more than a percentage point amid a fresh flare-up of war in the Middle East and oil climbing above $90 a barrel for Brent. The direct takeaway: elites price in risk to the real economy at the slightest escalation of the conflict, and confidence in industrials remains fragile, sustained by volume rather than conviction.

July 21–22: Chips Override Geopolitics

Just a day

Russia-US: Lavrov and Rubio to Meet on July 23 — Moscow's Tough but Diplomatic Stance

A meeting between the heads of Russian and American diplomacy has been agreed upon. According to insider assessments, Moscow is set on a principled but restrained tone, while anticipating yet another attempt at deception from Washington. Knowing the rules of the game in advance is already half the victory in diplomatic poker.

EU: Brussels Struggles to Assemble 21st Sanctions Package — Von der Leyen and Kallas Off the Radar

Following talks in Baku between Russia and Germany, Brussels, according to available data, has stalled in

The FBI director will visit Moscow — a rare diplomatic gesture
According to Politico, FBI Director Kash Patel plans to visit Russia on 14–15 October — a signal of readiness for direct exchange on security and law-enforcement issues amid global turbulence. A visit at this level of the security services is a small opening for current diplomacy.

United Kingdom: Burnham and North Sea oil discussed with Trump
Trump said he discussed North Sea oil reserves with new British prime minister Keir Burnham — a logical topic against the backdrop of instability in the Persian Gulf and a reassessment of Europe’s

Ukraine sees Maidan-style protests amid discontent with Syrsky and Fedorov's dismissal
Large-scale rallies have erupted in Kyiv, Mykolaiv, and Odesa, with protesters expressing anger over Commander-in-Chief Syrsky and the dismissal of former Defense Minister Fedorov. The number of participants is multiplying day by day, with underground crossings packed with people. This marks the first large-scale domestic political protest of this magnitude inside a country at war in a long time. The front holds, while the rear begins to waver — a rare case where Ukraine's internal politics breaks through the war-dominated news agenda.

Andy Burnham to become UK Prime Minister

Worst Day on the Moscow Exchange Since September 2022
The MOEX index plunged 4.24% to 2,022.27 points — the sharpest single-day drop since September 26, 2022, when the index lost 7.49%. Gazprom shares fell below 90 rubles, returning to levels last seen during the 2008 global financial crisis. The trigger was rumors that negotiations over the "Power of Siberia 2" pipeline had stalled amid Beijing's demands for pricing at the level of Russia's domestic market. The index is drifting back toward levels seen at the start of the "special military operation," while Gazprom is retreating to 2008 levels. The symbolism