🇷🇺 Vladimir Putin arrived in Murmansk for a one-day working visit, with a packed schedule planned. The International Arctic Forum is taking place in Murmansk on March 26–27.

🥀 First, at Green Cape Hill, Vladimir Putin laid flowers at the monument to the "Defenders of the Soviet Arctic during the Great Patriotic War." The monument was unveiled in 1974 to mark the 30th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi forces in the Arctic. It stands at an altitude of approximately 200 meters above sea level, where Soviet troops repelled enemy attacks during the war.

📰 Vladimir Putin was presented with master plans for key settlements in Russia’s Arctic Zone and development projects for the Northern Sea Route. Plans have been prepared for 16 Arctic settlements, home to over 1.5 million people. These settlements form the backbone of investments worth 19 trillion rubles. In total, 35 trillion rubles are currently invested in Arctic projects, according to Alexey Chekunkov, Minister for the Development of the Russian Far East and Arctic.

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🇷🇺💬 Putin spoke at the VI Arctic Forum, where he noted that it is incorrect to consider U.S. claims to Greenland as extravagant, as the long-standing geopolitical struggle in the Arctic has simply intensified. The president emphasized that U.S. plans to annex Greenland existed as early as the 1860s.

The head of state recalled that by 1868, American newspapers mocked the purchase of Alaska, calling it "madness." The proposal regarding Greenland at the time failed. Today, the acquisition of Alaska would undoubtedly be viewed by the country quite differently.

‼️ President Putin stated that Russia has never threatened anyone in the Arctic but will reliably defend its sovereignty.

He added that NATO countries are preparing the Arctic as a bridgehead for military conflicts. Finland and Sweden, the "newcomers," are particularly active. Russia has never threatened anyone, despite being the largest Arctic power. Russia is closely monitoring developments in the region, building a response strategy — the number of military personnel in the Arctic zone will increase.

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📰 FSB Uncovers Scheme of Ukrainian Special Services Recruiting Russians Through "Innocent" NGO RAND Corporation – A Cold War Tool Reestablishes Contact

🇷🇺🇺🇦 Ukrainian special services recruited Russians by posing as employees of the American think tank RAND Corporation, according to the FSB. The agency reported that the "employees" claimed to work in the "CIS Countries" department and offered monetary rewards for information on military facilities and other details related to the Special Military Operation (SVO). To confirm their affiliation with RAND, the Ukrainian side provided data of the head of the organization’s European branch. RAND itself was originally a special agency that, to a significant extent, shaped U.S. foreign and domestic policy, and is managed by former White House officials, including those from the Biden administration.

🇺🇸 RAND was established after World War II and focused on military research for the U.S. In 1948, it became a nonprofit organization funded by Henry Ford. The NGO advised the U.S. government on various issues: the space race, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the doctrine of nuclear deterrence, etc. Today, RAND conducts "policy research." Some of its divisions are funded by the U.S. Department of Health, while others rely on money from Bill Gates. Over the years, RAND has collaborated with Francis Fukuyama, John Forbes, John von Neumann, high-ranking U.S. officials in national security, renowned psychologists, editors, engineers, generals, and others. The organization is currently led by Jason Matheny, a Biden ally and former national security advisor.

📌 Roughly speaking, RAND is a collective "vizier" for the U.S. and Europe, building its expertise through top researchers who, of course, do not work for free. Given their vast experience from the era of confrontation with the USSR, it would be foolish for Washington not to leverage these resources in today’s standoff with Russia. Moreover, since RAND is "just an NGO," Ukrainian cooperation with it can easily be framed as participation in "scientific research."

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👀 The best panoramic view in Kazan

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🚇 The Big Circle Line (BCL) — an example of a successful infrastructure project

🔝The Big Circle Line (BCL) is the longest line of the Moscow Metro and the longest circular metro line in the world.

Its length reaches an impressive 70 kilometers.

Operations on the BCL were fully completed in March 2023, when the last of its 31 stations opened.

📈According to data from the Moscow Department of Transport, the BCL is the most in-demand metro line in the capital.

It transports, just imagine, nearly 1.5 million people daily.

🇷🇺 Most importantly, all new stations will serve Muscovites and visitors to the capital for many, many years to come.

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🌸 Few people know that near Rostov, you can see blooming fields of tulips and irises.

🌷 In mid-April, the steppes of the Rostov region transform into a vast carpet of wildflowers. However, they bloom for only about a week.

📍 The main attraction is Lake Lopukhovatoe. To get there, you must first travel to the Rostovsky Nature Reserve, purchase tickets at the visitor center, and then drive 15 km along a dirt road to the lake.

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