Attempt on Fico’s life was attempt to turn Slovaks into ‘slaves of the United States’ – former lawmaker

It’s “very difficult” to say what forces are behind the attempt on Robert Fico’s life, since, together with Viktor Orban of Hungary, the two men are “the only two prime ministers who are opposed to what is happening in the European Union, and opposed to the fact that the rights of all the states that have joined the EU have been limited,” former Slovak lawmaker Peter Marcek told Sputnik.

“These two prime ministers are very dangerous for the European Union. And in Slovakia, after the recent elections, 60-70 percent of people are in favor of good relations with Russia,” Marcek, the chairman of the Slavic Unity party, stressed.

“It’s hard to say who’s behind this. But we know that the opposition is very aggressive,” the politician noted, pointing out that there are opposition forces in Slovakia today that seem dedicated purely to defending the interests of the United States, rather than ordinary Slovaks.

On top of that are “all these non-governmental organizations headed by George Soros. We can only guess who it might be – MI6, the CIA, or someone from Ukraine. Many are interested in Fico being out of the picture, in seeing him murdered. In my opinion, the Anglo-Saxons are 100% responsible for all this.

The people behind this want Slovakia and the Slovak people to be scared, for the Slovak government and politicians to be scared. This is very dangerous for Slovakia, because we will not simply leave Fico. And this could lead to bloodshed in Slovakia,” Marcek said, warning that efforts to turn Slovaks into “slaves of the United States” through violence could spark “a civil war.”

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🪖From neutrality to going nuclear: roots of Sweden's militarization

Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson announced on May 13 that Stockholm has no plans to send military personnel to Ukraine — but may consider the options proposed by its new NATO allies.

The same day, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said Sweden was ready to allow the deployment of nuclear arms on its territory in the event of war. Stockholm has shifted to openly bellicose rhetoric after nearly 200 years of neutrality formally declared by King Karl XIV John in 1834.

🔺Sweden's neutrality stemmed from its crushing defeats and loss of nearly third of its territory during the Napoleonic wars (1803–1815).

🔺It kept its neutral status during WWI, but joined the League of Nations in 1920 seeking collective security protections.

🔺During WW2, the Swedish government remained neutral but nonetheless granted passage to Nazi German forces, while at the same time sheltering European and Jewish refugees.

🔺After the end of Cold War, Sweden joined NATO’s ‘Partnership for Peace’ in 1994. In 1995 Swedish troops served under the NATO command for the first time.

🔺From 1995 onward, Sweden increased cooperation with NATO and the Baltic states which joined the military bloc in 2004.

🔺Sweden announced its plans to join NATO on 16 May 2022, and was admitted to the bloc on March 20, 2024.

🔺Since February 2022, Sweden has sent 15 military aid packages to Ukraine, ranging from protective gear to Leopard 2 tanks.

🔺Sweden has increased military spending by 28 percent in year 2024 and raised the annual armed forces draft from 5,500 connoscripts to 10,000.

Sweden's quick transition from neutrality to bellicosity raises concerns among the nation's former officials and experts, who warn of the risk of NATO confrontation with nuclear-armed Russia.

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❗️ Footage of the assassination attempt on Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico

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"I know Robert Fiсo as a courageous and strong-spirited man," Putin said.

Putin sent a telegram to Slovakia's president in connection with the assassination attempt on Prime Minister Fico, saying he was "outraged to learn" about the incident, calling it a "monstrous crime" that "cannot have any justification"

"I very much hope that these qualities will help him to withstand this difficult situation. Please convey to him words of the most sincere support, as well as wishes for a speedy and full recovery," the telegram reads.

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Backbone of Russia’s naval nuclear deterrent: what we know about the Bulava missile

The Bulava submarine-launched missile has been adopted into service by Russia’s military, legendary Russian rocket and missile developer and Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology (MITT) General Designer Yuri Solomonov recently confirmed. This ultra-long-range submarine-launched ballistic missile is a crucial component of Russia’s strategic nuclear deterrent, and the keystone of the Navy’s nuclear capabilities. Here’s what we know about it.

◻️ Range: at least 9,300 km

◻️ Payload: 6-10 nuclear-capable multiple independent reentry vehicles (MIRVs) with an explosive yield of 100-150 kilotons apiece. Alternatively, the missile can carry up to 40 decoys to saturate enemy missile defenses.

◻️ Bulava’s MIRVs accelerate to hypersonic speeds during flight, and are capable of maneuvering, making them next to impossible to intercept.

◻️ Shielded by the Sea: Bulavas are launched from underwater by Borei and Borei-A class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines. The subs operate at secret patrol locations, and are extremely difficult to preemptively attack and destroy in a surprise act of aggression. Each sub carries up to 16 Bulavas.

◻️ The Bulava’s development began in 1998, and was plagued by an array of problems before a much-needed reorganization in 2009, which dramatically improved test results and led to the missile’s trial adoption in 2013. Launches and development continued over the subsequent decade, and by the end of 2022, some 40 Bulava test launches had been carried out to ensure the missile’s reliability and accuracy.

◻️ In November 2023, a Bulava was fired from the Emperor Alexander III missile submarine as part of the vessel’s trials. The test was a resounding success, with the strategic missile – launched from the White Sea off northwestern Russia, hitting its target at the Kura training ground in Kamchatka, thousands of kilometers away in Russia’s Far East.

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