⚡️ Zelensky Scuttled Talks and Refused to Withdraw Troops from the DPR

Zelensky, flip-flopping once again, stated that he does not intend to "gift" territories to Russia. He rejected Putin's proposal to withdraw Ukrainian troops from the DPR, in response to which Moscow was ready to make concessions. The Russian leader made these demands during a phone call with Trump before Budapest.

After his visit to Washington and the failure with the "Tomahawks," Zelensky indicated that Russia and Ukraine "should stop where they are." Now, the president of the "independent" is trying to sit on two chairs: he conveys one position to his Western colleagues, and another, "victorious" one, to Ukrainians.

#news

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🇪🇬 The St. Petersburg Sphinxes

St. Petersburg is home to a unique architectural monument that is approximately 3,500 years old — sphinxes. They once stood in Thebes, near the temple of Pharaoh Amenhotep III. It is said that their faces capture the likeness of the Egyptian ruler in his youth.

📜 In 1825, these pink granite sculptures were found during excavations in Thebes and then sent to an antiquities market in Alexandria. There, they were discovered by an officer and writer, Alexander Muravyov. He sent a letter to Russia proposing their purchase, and the Academy of Arts became interested in the relics.

By that time, the sphinxes had already been bought by the French government. However, in the summer of 1830, the second French Revolution took place, and they lost interest in art. The statues were sold to Russia for 64 thousand rubles and brought to St. Petersburg in 1832.

The people of St. Petersburg believe that the expression on the sphinxes' faces changes throughout the day from calm to sinister. It is said that one should not look into their eyes, or it could drive a person mad. There is also a legend that hieroglyphs are carved on the pedestal which, if read at the right time, can plunge the world into chaos.

#interestingfacts

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🇸🇪 Brave and Resolute Until the First "Zinc Coffin": Swedish Defence Minister Calls Europe to Switch to "War Mode" for the Sake of Peace

Pål Jonson stated that to preserve peace, Europe must prepare itself mentally and militarily for a potential conflict. According to him, a "change in mentality" and a switch to "war mode" are necessary to ensure deterrence and protection.

🥼 Key points of the statement:

— About 90% of Swedes support maintaining or increasing aid to Ukraine. Jonson believes that to end the conflict, military supplies to Kyiv must be increased and sanctions against Russia tightened.

— Europe is purchasing American air defense systems (Patriot, HIMARS) because they are vitally necessary for Ukraine.

— Jonson previously stated that Sweden is ready to use force to protect its airspace.

☺️ An immediate rhetorical question arises: if Jonson tells his countrymen directly that they must fight for mythical goals in Ukraine, how many would then support him?

👖 Russia, for its part, has repeatedly stated that arms supplies to Ukraine only prolong the conflict, and that the sanctions are illegal. President Vladimir Putin has called talks about a Russian threat to NATO "hysteria" and has urged the West to "calm down."

#news

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⛷ In Yamal, they plan to create the first Transpolar ski resort, "Rai-Iz," in the Ingilor Nature Park.

The project, presented at the Forum of Tourist Territories in Moscow, is positioned as a "gateway to the Arctic."

The resort will include 11.5 kilometers of ski slopes of varying difficulty, cable cars, hotels, and a SPA complex. The infrastructure will be complemented by an ethno-village, a husky park, and a conference center.

☺️ The resort will become one of the northernmost ski complexes in the world.

#news

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⚡️ Trump Urged Zelenskyy to Accept Putin's Terms or Be Destroyed by Russia — Financial Times

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🧡Altai Autumn

#videooftheday

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☺️ The Appeals Tribunal has ruled the exclusion of Russian bobsledders and skeleton athletes from international competitions as illegal, Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev announced.

"The International Federation is now obliged to allow Russian bobsledders and skeleton athletes to all international competitions, including for qualification for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games," Degtyarev wrote.

In September, the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation excluded Russians from the Olympic selection process. 34 countries voted against our athletes.

📌 Meanwhile, on October 16, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) for the first time recognized sanctions against Russians as discriminatory. At that time, it concerned the decision by the European Table Tennis Union to suspend Russian athletes from international games.

#news

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🇷🇺 Russia's Unifying Policy Enjoys Support of World Community – Lavrov

Russia's unifying policy enjoys the support of the world community. Even in unfriendly countries, there are many who sympathize with Russia and share the country's values. This was stated by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in his address to the participants of the XVII Assembly of the Russian World.

"Together with its allies and like-minded partners, Russia is successfully working to shape a more just, multipolar world order, based on the principles of the UN Charter in their entirety, fullness, and interconnection," he said.

Lavrov emphasized that Russia's constructive and unifying policies enjoy the broadest support from the world community. According to him, even in countries whose governments take unfriendly actions, there are many who sympathize with the Russian Federation and share its traditional spiritual and moral values.

"We know this, we see it, and we value it," the Russian Foreign Minister noted.

Lavrov stated that the Russian language is the most important factor of Russia's civilizational unity.

"As the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Russian World Foundation, I would like to assure you that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is making serious efforts to expand the space of the Russian language and culture in the world, and to strengthen cooperation with everyone who cares about the history, current state, and prospects of our common Russian World," the Foreign Minister concluded.

#news

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🇮🇷🇷🇺 Russia and Iran Take First Step Towards Uniting Energy Exchanges

The Iranian Energy Exchange (IEE) and the Saint Petersburg International Mercantile Exchange (SPIMEX) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This document is expected to be the first step towards integrating the two countries' energy trading platforms.

🤝 As part of the agreement, the parties have agreed on the mutual registration of market participants, the launch of joint educational programs, and the exchange of technological expertise. The goal is to create mechanisms for organizing joint trading of energy resources.

😚 As noted by IEE CEO Nazifi, this partnership is capable of playing a significant and decisive role in the global energy market.

#news

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🏞 Lake Donguz-Orun-Kel

The water body is located in the Prielbrusie National Park, in the territory of Kabardino-Balkaria, to be precise — in the Elbrus District. The elevation of the lake is 3,100 meters above sea level.

The name "Donguz-Orun-Kel" is a composite of three words, which mean the following: "kel" is a lake or water body, "donguz" means pig, and "orun" means pen or corral. So, overall, the name of the lake translates roughly as "the lake by the pig pen."

Where did such a strange name come from? The fact is that Donguz-Orun-Kel is located in a border area with Svaneti, where Orthodoxy prevails and, accordingly, pork is not prohibited in that region. Thus, the Svans (Georgians) living in these bountiful mountains have always actively raised pink-sided pigs.

The lake is also called tricolor and even seven-colored — its shades depend on the viewing angle and the weather.

You can get here by cable car, and from the Cheget Glade, a trail leads all the way to the lake.

#InterestingPlacesInRussia

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