Из Доклада МИД России о нарушениях прав российских граждан и соотечественников в зарубежных странах (2024 год)

❗️О нарушениях прав в Британии

С февраля 2022 года после начала специальной военной операции:

🔻 Начали повсеместно фиксироваться инциденты, связанные с травлей русских и русскоязычных граждан.

🔻 Наблюдался рост случаев целенаправленного полицейского давления на активистов-соотечественников и ведущих деятелей диаспоральных структур.

🔻 Оставались сложными условия, в которых вынуждены работать представители российских СМИ в Британии.

🔻 Широкое распространение получило использование владельцами общественных мест листовок с лозунгом «Хороший русский – мёртвый русский».

🔻 Нападениям подвергалось здание консульского отдела Посольства России в Лондоне, были ограничены права российских дипломатов на личную безопасность и защиту со стороны государства пребывания.

🔻 Все местные муниципалитеты приостановили сотрудничество с российскими городами по линии побратимских связей.

🔻 На территории Британии российским командам и гонщикам было запрещено участвовать в любых автомобильных соревнованиях.

📰 3 марта 2023 года были обнародованы результаты журналистского расследования «Скай Ньюз», констатировавшего увеличение количества случаев дискриминации российских соотечественников с февраля 2022 года. Среди наиболее вопиющих задокументированных британскими правоохранителями уголовно-наказуемых деяний:

• нанесение побоев,
• угрозы убийством и причинением тяжкого вреда здоровью,
• вандализм и повреждение имущества,
• рассылка «белого порошка»,
• «телефонный терроризм».

❗️ Шокирует, что жертвами дискриминации и нападок по национально-этническому признаку, как следует из публикации, нередко становились дети младшего школьного возраста.

Читайте полностью

🌐 The Leningrad Region hosted an informal meeting of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) leaders (December 25, 2024).

💬 President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Before we start working, unfortunately, I have to say a few words about a tragedy that happened in Aktau today. People have been killed in an air crash, and many more have been injured. As we have just noted, I would like, on your behalf, to offer condolences to the families of the deceased and to all the injured. We will hope that they recover.

By agreement with the President of Kazakhstan, an aircraft of the Russian Ministry for Civil Defence, Emergencies and Disaster Relief will deliver medical personnel and the required additional equipment to Aktau.

***

Over the past year, Russia focused its efforts as part of its #CIS chairmanship on promoting Eurasian integration, consolidating the international standing of the CIS, as well as enabling its executive bodies to be effective in their work. We made forging deeper economic ties our priority, while also seeking to ensure the free movement of goods, services, as well as remove trade barriers and streamline customs clearance procedures.

📈 In this context, let me note that Russia’s trade with CIS member nations increased by 10.6 percent in the first ten months and slightly exceeded $93 billion. Our countries have greatly improved their macroeconomic performance. The aggregate GDP for the CIS is expected to increase by 4.7 percent in 2024, which places the CIS above the global average. <…>

CIS countries have expanded their cooperation in the foreign exchange and financial sectors by becoming increasingly proactive in using their own independent foreign exchange transaction frameworks, payment systems and settlement tools. In fact, national currencies accounted for over 85 percent of commercial transactions within the CIS.

***

☝️It is notable that the CIS countries have the same or close views on the key global and regional issues. At the same time, all CIS countries stand for creating a just world order based on the universally recognised principles of international law and the central role of the #UN.

#Victory80 Of course, the CIS countries also remember and hold sacred the immortal heroism of our peoples, the peoples of the Soviet Union who fought side by side to bring our victory in the Great Patriotic War. Next year, we will celebrate a landmark date, the 80th anniversary of Victory, and so the year 2025 has been declared the Year of Peace and Unity in the Fight Against Nazism in the CIS. <...>

Friends, we look forward to seeing you at the celebrations in Moscow on May 9. We also hope that military units from the CIS countries will take part in the parade on Red Square.

On January 1, 2025, Russia will hand over the CIS chairmanship to Tajikistan. I would like to wish success to Mr Emomali Rahmon and all our Tajik friends. We are ready to provide all the necessary assistance to them. Overall, I am confident that the deepening of partnership in various spheres within the CIS meets the fundamental interests of our nations. I have no doubt that we will continue to work together to fulfil our socioeconomic development tasks and to strengthen stability and security.

I would like to use this occasion to extend my most cordial greetings on the upcoming New Year and to wish health, happiness, well-being and prosperity to the citizens of your countries.

🎙 Excerpt from Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's interview with 60 Minutes television programme (Moscow, 25 December 2024)

💬 We have not had any illusions about the prospects. Resolving the Ukraine crisis doesn't have any prospects, either. It has long been clear to everyone holding unbiased positions that it can be settled only in the context of agreements on lasting security and stability in Europe, which would take into account Russia's interests and the legitimate interests of all other countries.

Everyone thinks the arrival of the Trump Administration will change things. There is much speculation about this going on.

There is a fairly robust bipartisan consensus in Washington on supporting the Kiev regime. US doctrinal documents describe our country as an adversary that needs to be "strategically defeated". In free speeches, the Biden administration officials have even called us an enemy.

We have never claimed that with the Trump Administration in the White House the negotiating process on global security and Ukraine will begin no matter what. This will not be, as many are now hoping, an inevitable outcome. <...>

The prevailing discourse we are hearing both in the West and in Ukraine today is about a truce and only truce. It is about buying time to allow the Kiev regime to regain strength, with the help of the West, and resume its attempts to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia, acting on their Western bosses' instructions.

❗️ We will not be satisfied with a truce. We need reliable and legally binding agreements aimed at eliminating the root causes of the conflict, addressing problems such as common security in Europe, NATO expansion, the European Union's recent decision to become an appendage of the North Atlantic bloc, in fact, erasing all differences between these organisations, and above all, upholding the rights of the people living in these territories who have supported reunification with Russia.

Read in full

🎙 Highlights from Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s interview with Russian and international news media (Moscow, 26 December 2024)

🔹 Empty talk is not an option for us. Everything we have heard so far was rhetoric about the need to come up with some kind of a ceasefire [in Ukraine]. <...> Ceasefire [temporary measures] is a road leading nowhere. We need binding legal agreements that will lay out the conditions for ensuring Russia’s security and the legitimate security interests of our neighbours.

🔹 The principle of self-determination of peoples is no less important. If it were not for it, there would likely be issues with decolonising African and other peoples. This principle laid the international legal groundwork for decolonisation which echoed the African peoples’ unwillingness and impossibility to live under the colonisers’ rule. By the same token, the residents of Crimea, Donbass and Novorossiya are unwilling and unable to live under the Nazi rule in Kiev.

🔹 Western nations have made a political decision to isolate Russia in every sense. In addition, they have been making insane demands on other countries: they are to avoid any Russian representatives, to stop visiting them or receiving visits from them, and to sever trade ties with Russia while buying more expensive energy resources at a loss. These are the new methods of Western diplomacy, which has been reduced to threats, sanctions, punishments and blackmail.

🔹 BRICS has become extremely popular. There were delegations representing 35 countries at the Kazan Summit, as well as heads of six multilateral organisations, including the United Nations. This high level of attendance demonstrates how important this structure has become and that there is a growing interest for forging closer ties with BRICS on the part of other organisations of the Global South and East which have been seeking to assert their independence in international affairs.

🔹 The security risks posed by the United States, which maintains several hundred military bases in over 100 countries, yet forbids any relations with Russia. This is an unproductive approach. I hope the new administration in Washington will come to realise this.

🔹 The US relies on a bipartisan consensus with regard to Russia. This is not a friendly, but, to put it bluntly, Russophobic consensus. Regardless of party affiliation, the ruling elite will leave no stone unturned in order to weaken Russia as a competitor. The US seeks to weaken any competitor, be it Russia, China, or Europe. They have long proclaimed the principle that no country around the world may be stronger than the US.

Read in full

🇷🇺🇦🇿📞 President Vladimir Putin had a phone conversation with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.

The Presidents had a detailed discussion of issues regarding the December 25 crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan.

Vladimir Putin apologised for the fact that the incident happened in Russian airspace, once again offered deep and sincere condolences to the victims' families and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.

It was noted during the conversation that the Azerbaijani passenger airliner was flying according to schedule and repeatedly tried to land at Grozny Airport. At that time, Ukrainian unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs) attacked Grozny, Mozdok and Vladikavkaz, and Russian air defence systems were repelling these attacks.

The Russian Investigative Committee initiated a criminal case under Article 263 of the Criminal Code (violation of the rules for traffic safety and operation of the air transportation systems). Initial investigation is underway, with authorities questioning civilian and military specialists.

Two officials from the Prosecutor General's Office of Azerbaijan are currently in Grozny, working together with representatives of the Prosecutor General's Office and the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation. Relevant services of Russia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are working closely at the crash site near the city of Aktau.

💬 Russian MFA Spox Maria Zakharova: We consider all planted media reports and allegations on sending European military forces to Ukraine as provocations.

This time the aim was to escalate an already tense situation around the Ukraine crisis. Why would they do that? Because more and more voices are being heard, including in NATO countries, calling for peace, for a political and diplomatic solution, for talks.

This seems to force the Western war party to offer an alternative to these discussions and proposals. That is why they are trying to hype up the public by planting stories of this kind in the information space.

May I remind you that peacekeeping forces can only be deployed in a conflict zone with the consent of all parties involved, as well as the adoption of a UNSC resolution to this effect. At this stage, there have been no discussions, let alone specific actions, in this direction.

We have not seen any initiatives from the Kiev regime to find ways to resolve this situation. On the contrary. <...>

❗️ The Kiev regime has done nothing to bring about a settlement in this situation. Zelensky and his gang have focused on getting more weapons, money, and military hardware from the United States and its allies. Their goal is to continue the hostilities, and they have been open about it.

Read in full

🎄 Новогоднее поздравление Посла России в Великобритании А.В.Келина

💬 Уважаемые друзья, дорогие соотечественники!

Совсем скоро завершится 2024 год. Он выдался трудным. На долю нашей страны выпало немало испытаний.

Наши оппоненты не оставляли попыток ослабить суверенитет и независимость нашей Родины, сдержать её развитие. Но эти усилия были и всегда будут тщетны. Даже среди самых непримиримых русофобов растёт понимание того, что сломить волю нашего народа невозможно. Лучше и полезнее выстраивать с нами конструктивные отношения, основанные на равенстве и взаимном уважении.

В уходящем году Россия продолжала укреплять свои позиции. Вместе с единомышленниками из стран Глобального Юга мы вели борьбу за формирование многополярного мира, в котором нет места неоколониальному диктату и шантажу. Ярким успехом стал результативный саммит БРИКС в Казани.

2024 год вновь подтвердил важность единства и сплочённости среди наших соотечественников за рубежом. Отрадно, что даже в нынешних непростых условиях российская диаспора в Великобритании продолжает бережно хранить традиции, продвигает русскую культуру и язык. Успешно проходят творческие вечера, образовательные конференции, кинопоказы и другие важные мероприятия. Они неизменно находят широкий отклик и поддержку, в том числе со стороны неравнодушных британцев.

☝️ Мы видим, что, вопреки создаваемому здесь враждебному и токсичному образу России, всё больше жителей Британии выступают за восстановление связей между нашими странами и народами и против тупикового конфронтационного курса британских властей.

Дорогие друзья,

Отдельно отмечу, что в наступающем году нас ждёт важное событие – 80-летие Победы в Великой Отечественной войне. Эта дата напоминает о героизме наших предков, отдавших жизни за спасение нашей Родины и всего человечества от угрозы фашизма. Наш долг сегодня – свято беречь историческую правду об их подвиге.

Уверен, что торжественные мероприятия и памятные акции будут способствовать сплочению российской диаспоры. Посольство, со своей стороны, продолжит делать всё необходимое для поддержки соотечественников, разделяющих любовь к нашей великой Родине.

Пусть 2025 год принесёт новые возможности для каждого из вас. Желаю вам и вашим близким крепкого здоровья, благополучия и успехов во всех начинаниях.

С праздником! С Новым годом!

🎙 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s interview with TASS news agency (30 December 2024)

Key talking points:

🔹 We are not happy with the proposals made by members of the Trump team to postpone Ukraine’s admission to NATO for 20 years and to station British and European peacekeeping forces in Ukraine.

🔹 NATO has been expanding its reach for many years, which became one of the primary causes of the Ukraine crisis. With this in mind, there is still an imperative to ensure a non-aligned status for Ukraine as part of the goals of the special military operation. Its objectives must be achieved.

🔹NATO military and mercenaries openly participate in the planning of combat operations and fighting on the side of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. NATO is complicit in the invasion of the Kursk Region and long-range missile strikes inside Russia.

🔹 Western politicians have been long relying on efforts to interfere in the domestic affairs of other countries, including our closest neighbours, as their foreign policy tool. For many years, Washington and its satellites have been acting this way in an effort to deter and contain their geopolitical rivals and do away with any unwanted actors, as confirmed by what happened in Yugoslavia, Iraq, Libya, Syria, and Ukraine.

🔹 The US and the EU are trying to impose a distorted vision on Georgia which consists of dividing everyone into those who are with us and those who are against us. Meanwhile, it seems that Georgian authorities have opted for a sovereign policy which meets the country’s national interests.

🔹 The dramatic and tragic events we are witnessing in the Middle East have largely been precipitated by the United States’ irresponsible and destructive actions. Trying to maintain its influence in that part of the world, Washington actively interfered in the internal affairs of Arab countries and aggressively drew new dividing lines there.

🔹 The Americans are taking inciting actions in the Taiwan Strait and supplying weapons to Taipei while forging a quasi-political dialogue with the local authorities. These actions predictably contribute to the growth of separatist sentiments, and their methods are very similar to those that they earlier used to create an anti-Russia bridgehead in Ukraine.

Read in full

🎉 The Russian Embassy in the UK wishes everyone a joyful and prosperous New Year!

May 2025 bring happiness, health, and success to you and your loved ones.

С Новым годом! Happy New Year!

🎙 President Vladimir Putin's New Year Address to the Nation

💬 For Russia, the first quarter of the 21st century has been marked by numerous events, including developments of historical significance and great magnitude.

We set ambitious goals for ourselves and achieved them, coped with many challenges because we stood united.

This is what consolidated our unity, strengthened our confidence in ourselves, in our abilities, in our potential.

True, there is still a lot to be accomplished, but we can be rightfully proud of what we have already achieved. This is our joint achievement, a solid foundation for future progress.

Our nation – independent, free, and strong – has tackled successfully the most formidable challenges.

As we stand on the brink of a new year, we think about the future. We are confident that everything is going to be all right. We will continue to advance.

We know for sure that Russia's destiny and well-being of its people has always been and will remain our absolute value.

☝️ Sincere love for our Motherland gives our lives a deep sense of purpose, while determination to make our own contribution to protecting its sovereignty, security, interests, and freedom of development has become a matter of honour for us.

Read in full

🎙 Russian MFA Spox Maria Zakharova's comment on Ukraine ending Russian gas transit

💬 Kiev has refused to extend the agreements between Russia's Gazprom and Ukraine's Naftogaz and Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine, which expired on 1 January 2025. On the same day, the transit of Russian gas to Europe through the territory of Ukraine was stopped.

To emphasise, the Ukrainian authorities chose to halt Russian gas supplies to European residents despite Gazprom fulfilling its contractual obligations.

This move to cut off the supply of competitive and environmentally friendly Russian source of energy both reduces Europe's economic potential and severely affects the quality of life of European citizens.

The geopolitical context behind the Kiev regime's decision is obvious: the United States is the primary beneficiary of the redistribution of the energy market in Europe, as well as the main sponsor of the Ukrainian crisis.

The major European economy, Germany, has already become the first one to fall victim of its predatory strategy: it was forced to purchase natural gas at significantly higher prices following the explosions of the Nord Stream pipelines. Germany also had to start shutting down a number of its major legendary production facilities.

Now other nations that were once part of the economically thriving and independent European Union will also bear the consequences of the US sponsorship.

❗️ The responsibility for halting Russian gas supplies lies entirely with the US, the puppet Kiev regime, and the authorities of European states that have chosen financial support for the American economy over the well-being of their citizens.

🇷🇺 The Russian Federation welcomes the accession of the Republic of Indonesia to #BRICS as a full-fledged participant from January 1, 2025.

The candidacy of Indonesia was submitted and approved in advance during the first phase of BRICS’ expansion at the Summit in Johannesburg, the Republic of South Africa, in 2023. However, in the context of the 2024 presidential elections, Indonesian partners decided to postpone Jakarta’s official request pending the inauguration of the new head of state and the appointment of the government.

During Russia’s BRICS chairship in 2024, the Republic of Indonesia submitted an official request for joining BRICS. The document was examined in accordance with the guiding principles, standards, criteria and procedures for BRICS membership expansion. All BRICS states agreed, by consensus, to support the Indonesian bid.

🇮🇩 #Indonesia, the largest economy and most populous nation in Southeast Asia, shares BRICS values, advocates multilateral cooperation based on the principles of mutual respect, openness, pragmatism, solidarity and consensus.

Indonesia’s accession to BRICS will help enhance the group’s authority and prestige still further and will also facilitate the consistent consolidation of the Global South and East for forging a more equitable and well-balanced multipolar world order.

📺 Diplomatic Dispatch: Conversation on the Ukraine crisis and Russia’s relations with the West

Join us for an engaging conversation as Russian Ambassador to the UK Andrei Kelin and Geoffrey Roberts, Emeritus Professor of History at University College Cork, explore some of today's most pressing global issues.

They discussed potential solutions to the Ukraine conflict, the state of Russia-NATO relations, the future of European security, the evolving multipolar world order, as well as the legacy of the Second World War.

Watch this episode on YouTube

💬 Andrey Kelin: The further the Ukraine conflict goes, the more ground we will gain if the West continues with the same policy of supplying Ukraine with weapons, resources, money and all that. <...>

It is important that Ukraine remains neutral, because otherwise it will be under the umbrella of NATO and the European Union, and it will be dictated what to do. <...>

We do not want [Ukraine to be a failed state], and that is why we are in favour of Ukraine being a sovereign, independent state that has relations with everybody, including Russia. All these laws of racial discrimination against Russian culture and education should be abolished immediately.

💬 Министр иностранных дел Британии Д.Лэмми 9 января с помпой представил цели и задачи работы возглавляемого им ведомства. В невразумительной концептуальной упаковке «прогрессивного реализма» публике была изложена фактически старая, хорошо узнаваемая «начинка» из неоколониальных принципов внешней политики Соединённого Королевства, которая уже не раз способствовала усилению конфликтогенности в мире.

Внимательное прочтение выступления Д.Лэмми позволяет сделать вывод, что Лондон движим целью ввергнуть мир в комфортную для себя парадигму конфронтации. Недаром глава Форин Офиса с большим облегчением возвестил об окончательном завершении «мирной эпохи после холодной войны» и посулил новые ассигнования на военные нужды.

Переживаемые Британией социально-экономические проблемы подтверждают, что местный политический класс был не в состоянии с умом воспользоваться постбиполярными «дивидендами мира». При этом не утратил аппетит к разжиганию конфликтов и стравливанию народов с тем, чтобы «ловить рыбку» в мутной воде.

❗️ Прозвучавшие идеи должны стать предупреждением всем независимым странам и народам, включая те, которые считают Британию единомышленником. Многочисленные выпады Д.Лэмми в адрес России выглядят, в первую очередь, попыткой на публику оправдать деструктивную конфронтационную логику. Зато неизменное желание Лондона навязывать свои установки союзникам и партнёрам несёт колоссальные проблемы для безопасности в Европе и других регионах мира.

Страны Глобального Юга, надеемся, заметят явственно выраженное Д.Лэмми сожаление в связи с неспособностью Запада в годы «холодной войны» навязать свою волю государствам т.н. «третьего мира». Формирование «Движения неприсоединения», по сути, было представлено как досадный промах западников, который должен послужить уроком на будущее. Иными словами, попытки и далее продвигать фальшивый геополитический выбор будут продолжены.

Характерно и то, что, прикрываясь заверениями о своей роли в качестве ответственного международного игрока и надёжного контрагента, Лондон на деле подтверждает ставку на нелегитимные односторонние санкции, вводимые под надуманными предлогами, а также намерение использовать содействие международному развитию в качестве инструмента внешнеполитического давления.

☝️ Идеологизированная по форме и дестабилизирующая по сути внешнеполитическая программа служит ярким свидетельством неспособности лейбористского правительства отказаться от блокового мышления и принять реалии многополярного мира.

Представленные Д.Лэмми подходы объективно противоречат запросу большинства стран на мирное сотрудничество ради преодоления глобальных кризисов, а также подлинную демократию и взаимоуважение в международных отношениях. Да и в западном лагере наверняка далеко не всё из сказанного главой Форин Офиса будет встречено с пониманием.

Наконец, увлечённость здешнего политистеблишмента геополитическими авантюрами не отвечает интересам населения Британии и, очевидно, лишь усугубит её экономическое угасание.

💬 On 9 January UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy pompously presented the FCDO's priorities and objectives. Under the vague conceptual guise of "progressive realism" he essentially offered the public the same worn-out and easily recognisable neo-colonial principles of British foreign policy, which had on many occasions contributed to ratcheting up global tensions in the past.

A closer look at David Lammy's speech leads to the conclusion that London's aim is to plunge the world into a confrontational paradigm of benefit solely to British interests. No wonder that the head of the FCDO proclaimed, with evident relief, the decisive end of the "post-Cold War peace" and announced plans for yet more military spending.

Britain's current socio-economic problems provide ample proof that its political class was unable to make good use of the "peace dividend" endowed by the conclusion of the bipolar standoff. However, the British elite has not forfeited its appetite for fanning the fire of conflicts, as well as for pitting nations against each other for its own nefarious ends.

❗️ The ideas espoused by David Lammy should serve as warning to all independent countries and peoples, including those who happen to regard Britain as a like-minded partner. His repeated verbal attacks against Russia seem, above all, to be a pretext for enabling a destructive logic of confrontation. Meanwhile, London's persistence in imposing its views on allies and partners poses significant threats to the security of Europe and other regions of the world.

Countries of the Global South may take note of David Lammy’s clearly expressed regret over the West's failure during the Cold War to enforce its will upon the so-called "Third World". The formation of the Non-Aligned Movement was essentially portrayed as an unfortunate misstep, one that ought to serve as a lesson for the future. In other words, efforts to corner nations into making false geopolitical choices will continue.

Notably, while attempting to come across as a responsible and reliable partner, London avowedly relies on illegitimate unilateral sanctions imposed under flimsy pretexts and intends to use international development assistance as a tool for attaining foreign policy objectives.

☝️ This ideologically charged and destabilising foreign policy agenda is a striking testament to the Labour government's inability to abandon bloc thinking and accept the realities of a multipolar world.

The stance outlined by David Lammy objectively contradicts the aspirations of most nations for peaceful cooperation to address global issues, as well as for genuine democracy and mutual respect in international relations. Even amongst Western countries the Foreign Secretary's thinking is unlikely to be met with overriding approval.

Finally, the UK political establishment's preoccupation with geopolitical exploits serves neither the interests of the British people, nor the country's future. On the contrary, it may likely go on to accelerate Britain's economic decline.

❌ Ограничительные меры против «Газпром Нефти» и «Сургутнефтегаза» – очередной удар британских властей по благополучию собственного населения. И утверждения Лондона, что эти нелегитимные шаги якобы соответствуют «плану перемен» или способствуют чьему-либо процветанию и безопасности, насквозь фальшивы.

Нападки на нефтегазовые компании неизбежно усугубляют волатильность мирового энергетического рынка. Это в конечном счёте бьёт по потребителю – простым британцам, и без того с трудом отапливающим свои дома этой холодной зимой, и местному бизнесу, издержки которого всё растут. А заодно – по странам Глобального Юга, которые для апологетов "прогрессивного реализма" интересны лишь в качестве объекта неоколониальной политики.

В выигрыше могут оказаться разве что американские поставщики – не зря нынешние ограничения инициированы Вашингтоном.

Если британские политики в угоду политической конъюнктуре, интересам США и неким «личным миссиям» намерены жертвовать благополучием соотечественников, они должны быть готовы нести за это ответственность.

❌ With restrictive measures on Russian energy producers Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegaz the UK authorities have dealt yet another blow against the well-being of the British people. London's claims that these illegitimate actions supposedly represent a "plan for change" and are aimed at delivering prosperity and security are misleading.

In reality the targeting of oil and gas companies will inevitably increase overall volatility of global energy markets. The ultimate burden will likely fall on consumers – ordinary Brits, struggling to heat their homes this cold winter, as well as local businesses, facing mounting costs. These measures could also harm the nations of the Global South, which for UK advocates of "progressive realism" seem to matter only as objects of their neocolonial policies.

The only beneficiaries are likely to be US energy suppliers to Europe. Unsurprisingly, the current restrictions were instigated at the behest of Washington DC.

If UK politicians are willing to sacrifice the welfare of their fellow citizens for the sake of political expediency, US interests, or some vague "personal missions" they should also be prepared to face responsibility for the consequences.

📅 #OTD in 1943, Soviet forces launched Operation "Iskra" (Spark), which broke the Siege of Leningrad. During the offensive, units of the Red Army from the Leningrad and Volkhov Fronts overcame enemy defenses, re-establishing a land connection between the city and the rest of the Soviet Union.

The siege ring around Leningrad had fully closed on September 8, 1941. More than 2.8 million people, including 400,000 children, were trapped under harsh winter conditions, enduring hunger and relentless bombings.

Attempts to break the blockade were made several times: in September and October 1941, during the general counteroffensive in January 1942, and again in August-September 1942. Favorable conditions only arose in January 1943, when the bulk of the Wehrmacht's forces were concentrated at Stalingrad.

By the end of January 1943, the troops of the Volkhov and Leningrad Fronts, delivering powerful blows, pierced the enemy's defenses and pushed them 12 km away from the shores of Lake Ladoga.

The combined strike groups of the Volkhov and Leningrad fronts included 302,800 soldiers and officers, approximately 4,900 artillery pieces and mortars (caliber 76mm and above), over 600 tanks, and 809 aircraft.

🎖 For their heroism, bravery, and courage during the breakthrough of the blockade, about 19,000 soldiers of the Leningrad and Volkhov Fronts, as well as the Baltic Fleet, were awarded orders and medals.

Although Leningrad was not fully liberated until January 27, 1944, the political, economic, and symbolic significance of breaking the blockade cannot be overstated.

The Soviet forces managed to partially lift the siege, easing the plight of the city's residents. Within three weeks of the breakthrough, a railway was built, and the first trains carrying food and ammunition reached Leningrad. The threat of German and Finnish forces linking up was eliminated, and the initiative in the Leningrad region shifted decisively to the Red Army.