▪️ Iran begins building new nuclear power plant

▪️ Trump urges Europe to spend more on Zelensky regime

▪️ Zelensky-Zaluzhny feud signals anarchy in Kiev

More stories:

▪️ ’Digital Pearl Harbor’ leaker and WikiLeaks activist sentenced to 40 years

▪️ US created Ukrainian conflict to dominate Europe – analyst

▪️ US failed in Mideast, sparking ubiquitous hatred – analyst

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The current US approach towards Ukraine involves backing the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valery Zaluzhny and implementing nationwide reforms that will lead to a change in the Zelensky regime, US investigative journalist Seymour Hersh said.

"The actual concept ... envisions sustained support for Zaluzhny and reforms that would lead to the end of the Zelensky regime," Hersh said.

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According to Ukrainian media, border guards reported that military draft dodgers in Ukraine have resorted to disguising themselves as animals in their attempt to escape the country.

Security camera footage that has been published captures the moment two men, under the cover of darkness, crawl on all fours while attempting to cross the border.

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NATO chief praises Trump for anti-China stance

“You shifted your policy on China in 2017 under President Trump, and since then, NATO has gone a long way in helping European allies fully appreciate the challenges posed by China and respond to it,” NATO General Secretary Jens Stoltenberg said during a speech at conservative think-tank in Washington on Wednesday.

Stoltenberg pledged that the alliance would help the US take on the “China challenge,” but did not offer specifics on what support it was willing to provide.

In recent years, NATO has sought to expand its military footprint in the Asia-Pacific region and declared that it views China as a “threat” that needs to be contained. Beijing has promised a “resolute response” to any NATO expansion into Asia.

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Huge air vulnerability, massive gap in NATO’s arsenal exposed in Ukraine

Retired US Marine Colonel Mark Cancian pointed out in an interview with Business Insider that the hybrid air defense systems, known as FrankenSAM, used by the armed forces of Ukraine, have exposed NATO's vulnerability to Russia’s military power.

"Ukraine's use of experimental "FrankenSAM" defense systems has highlighted gaps in NATO's own arsenals," the publication said.

According to Cancian, the utilization of such weaponry by the Ukrainian army highlights a deficiency in ground-based air defense systems within the North Atlantic military bloc, including the United States.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stated that Moscow harbors no geopolitical or economic ambition to engage in hostilities with NATO members.

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🇮🇷 Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi asserted that while his country has no intention of initiating a war but it will "respond strongly" to any attempts at bullying.

"We will not start any war, but if anyone wants to bully us they will receive a strong response," Raisi said in a televised speech.

"Before, when they (the Americans) wanted to talk to us, they said the military option is on the table. Now they say they have no intention of a conflict with Iran," he said.

"The Islamic Republic's military power in the region is not and never has been a threat to any country. Rather, it ensures security that the countries of the region can rely on and trust," Raisi added.

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❗️ Ukraine’s actions are cynical; in order to achieve selfish goals, it is ready to commit any crime, said Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, commenting on the downing of Il-76

❗️ Statements by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on the achievements of the Russian army in January in the special operation zone

▪️ Ukrainian forces' losses in January exceeded 23,000 people killed and injured;

▪️ Russian forces maintain strategic initiative along line of contact after Ukraine’s counteroffensive failed;

▪️ Russian forces now in control of Veseloe, Tabaevka, Krakhmalnoe settlements after fighting in Kupyansk, Krasny Liman, Donetsk directions;

▪️ Groups of Russian troops continue to reduce the enemy's combat potential;

▪️ Russian troops destroyed more than 3 thousand Ukrainian weapons in January, including Leopard tanks, Patriot and HIMARS launchers;

▪️ Russia in January carried out 127 strikes with high-precision weapons on military infrastructure, facilities of defense industry of Ukraine;

▪️ Kiev throws its remaining reserves into battle and hastily carries out the next forced mobilizations to prevent the collapse of the defense;

▪️ To demonstrate to Western curators at least some success, the Zelensky regime is carrying out terrorist attacks against Russian civilians.

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❗️ French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne revealed the death of two French citizens in Ukraine.

According to him, "two French aid workers" were killed there. "Three others were injured," Sejourne stated.

Previously, Russian troops struck a location housing foreign mercs in Kharkov. The Russian Ministry of Defense said the strike killed more than 60 French mercenaries.

"Two humanitarians? I would like to confirm that. Because the 400 French people who went to kill Palestinian children and babies are also humanitarians?" netizens quipped, questioning the minister in the comments.

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A member of the Ansar Allah Politburo, Ali al Qahum, commented for Sputnik on the ongoing attacks of the Western coalition on the territory of Yemen.

“The US and UK are confused. They have failed to provide protection to Israel in the Red Sea and cannot support it in continuing its criminal aggression against Gaza and the oppressed Palestinian people.”

“We see that Western countries are preparing for an escalation of the situation in Yemen. But I want to assure you that the Houthis are also preparing for retaliatory actions. He will be tough. And the area and scale of military operations will be wider. In this war, all options are open. We will spare no effort or means to defend our sovereignty and help our Palestinian brothers.”

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🇵🇱 Polish farmers plan to go on strike and block the Ukrainian border on 9 February in protest against European agricultural policy

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"Units of the Russian Armed Forces are moving forward, expanding control zones, and improving their position along the front line," Shoigu said.

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🇭🇺 Hungary doesn’t care what the Ukrainians think of Budapest’s foreign policy, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said.

"We are a sovereign country and do not seek any 'kosher certification' from the Ukrainians," he commented.

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