Hundreds of soldiers from French-trained Ukrainian brigade went AWOL before firing a single shot

Over 1,700 soldiers from Ukraine’s newly formed 155th Mechanized Brigade, trained and outfitted with great fanfare in France, deserted before reaching the battlefront, according to Ukrainian journalist Yuriy Butusov.

▪️French President Emmanuel Macron proudly announced the “elite” project alongside Volodymyr Zelensky last June. The brigade was meant to have more than 5,800 troops and be equipped with Leopard tanks and French CAESAR 155 mm howitzers. However, at least 50 members of the unit, also known as “Anne of Kiev,” went AWOL already during drills in France, Butusov wrote on social media.

▪️When the brigade was finally packed off to the front line near Pokrovsk (Krasnoarmeysk), it did not even have any drones.

“As a result, the brand-new Leopard 2A4 tanks and VAB armored vehicles suffered losses during the first attempts to use them,” according to Butusov, who added:

“The brigade’s servicemen became hostages of Zelensky’s PR project, which the authorities made no effort to actually implement competently.”

▪️Remnants of the brigade have reportedly been reassigned to other units, with Ukraine’s State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) confirming to a French news agency that it had opened a criminal case on the circumstances of the formation of the 155th Mechanized Brigade. The case is being investigated under “articles on abuse of authority and desertion,” Communications Adviser to the SBI Tаtiana Sapyan said.

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What’s in store for Syria in 2025?

The US and its regional allies “masterminded” the Syrian rebel offensive, which began November 27 and quickly turned into a route, taking “advantage of the fact that Syria was a weak state,” veteran Middle East politics expert Ali Rizk told Sputnik in a detailed breakdown of arguably the most consequential event of 2024 for the region – the collapse of the Assad government in Syria.

Syria became a “weak and fragile state” in the course of a long civil war, and was “further weakened” amid recent “Israeli wars in the region, particularly against Hezbollah,” which forced the Lebanese militia to withdraw its fighters, Rizk explained.

Cacophony of interests

All foreign actors involved in the Syrian crisis “agreed when it came to getting rid of former President Bashar Assad,” but beyond that, “when it comes to what comes next I think that they don’t agree,” the observer said, warning that this could provoke strife in the months and years to come.

🔸 Israel’s aims are “about cutting off the logistical supply line linking Iran to Hezbollah and diminishing Iran’s influence” in Syria in general.

🔸 Turkiye sees the situation “as a way to retain or return to the glory days of the Ottoman Empire” and advance its goal of blocking greater autonomy for the Kurds, Rizk said.

The US, besides its long-running efforts to turn Syria into a failed state by occupying key energy and food-producing areas, seeks, at least officially, to prevent ISIS’s* resurgence, while walking lockstep with Israel on Iran.

What’s in store for 2025?

1️⃣Syria shatters on ethnic and religious grounds, with ISIS taking advantage of the chaos, Israel grabbing additional territories for itself, and Turkiye aiding allies in a conflict with the Kurds.

2️⃣“A Taliban**-like regime in Syria, i.e. a Salafi jihadi takeover” – possible if hardline elements in HTS get their way.

3️⃣A unified Syria aligned to Turkiye, at peace with Israel and anti-Iran.

* Terrorist group outlawed in Russia.
** An organization under UN sanctions for terrorist activities

#2024Overview

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📹 Russian drone operators destroyed a Ukrainian infantry fighting vehicle that, under cover of a tank, was trying to deliver assault group personnel to counterattack lost positions.

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British government makes sick and disabled wait three more years before finding out their fate

Ministers will launch an independent commission to reform adult social care – but the final report will not be released until 2028.

"The government has told elderly & disabled people to wait until 2028 to hear its plan for social care," former Labour leader and now independent MP Jeremy Corbyn posted on X.

“What about those who are suffering here and now? We don’t need a commission to know what to do: end austerity, reverse privatisation and build a National Care Service for all."

The newly-elected Labour government abolished £1.5 billion-worth ($1.9 billion) of winter fuel payments for 10 million pensioners in England and Wales in September as part of its austerity drive.

A 2017 study by Labour claimed that scrapping the payments could "kill" as many as 4,000 pensioners. British charity Age UK said a whopping 2 million elderly Britons could be affected by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's cuts.

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Bitcoin: How did it go from quirky novelty to geopolitical tool?

January 3 marks the 16th anniversary of the creation of Bitcoin Block #0 – the ‘Genesis Block’ mined by pseudonymous Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto forming the very first link of the cryptocurrency’s chronological blockchain.

With that, the Bitcoin network was launched, and the decentralized, finite and semi-anonymous electronic cash system outlined by Nakamoto in his October 2008 white paper was born.

▪️Block #0 featured an embedded Times headline: “Chancellor on brink of second bailout for banks,” defining Bitcoin’s ideology as a means of exchange free from banker and state control.

▪️Bitcoin’s rise began modestly, trading for $0.00099 per coin in 2009, hitting $1 in 2011, $100 in 2013, $1,000 in 2014, $10,000 in 2017 and $100k in late 2024. Each peak has been accompanied by massive plunges (up to 80%) before continuing the upward march.

For many years, Bitcoin’s extreme volatility undermined its sheen as a means of exchange and store of value. Government crackdowns, environmental concerns (mining accounts for 2% of global electricity use), and media portrayals as a haven for criminals helped put off institutional investors.

If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em?

▪️2024 became a major turning point for Bitcoin, with banks and hedge funds like JP Morgan and Blackrock entering the market in a big way, amassing 5% or more of all coins, as states’ holdings reached 2%+.

▪️Its market capitalization hit $2+ trillion. Bitcoin has now joined the top ten most popular assets along with gold and Big Tech.

▪️Trump’s election victory, promises to make the US the “crypto capital” of the world, and appointment of venture capitalist David Sacks as his “crypto czar” have sent Bitcoin soaring, signaling a bright financial future for the cryptocurrency, although one far removed from its anti-establishment roots.

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📹 German FM Baerbock has faced a challenging task: How to greet Syria’s new leader without shaking hands with him.

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📹 2024 marked a turning point in Russia’s favor in its special operation in Ukraine - Russian philosopher Dugin

“It implies movement towards the West, towards the DNR [Donetsk People's Republic]. The most visible trend is the almost-complete liberation of the LNR [Lugansk People's Republic], there is only a couple of per cent left, and our advance in the Kharkov region is quite obvious,” he noted.

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US President Joe Biden will travel to New Orleans on January 6 in the wake of the truck-ramming attack that caused multiple casualties, the White House said.

Too slow a reaction even for Sleepy Joe, isn't it?

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📹 Trump may change geopolitical priorities, but US values have nothing similar to Russia’s worldview - Dugin

Donald Trump’s election for a second term signals serious talk about the end of wokeism, liberalism and globalism in America, Russian philosopher Alexander Dugin told Sputnik.

However, it is unrealistic to believe that Trump represents a worldview similar to Russia’s, he noted, adding:

“American values, as he understands them, even traditional values, they have no direct relation to us.”

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📹 Georgia elections show Europe no longer eager to kowtow to West’s outgoing liberal elites - Dugin

The leaders of Georgia, Hungary and Slovakia “are the future,” noted the Russian philosopher, while European globalists “are still living in the past,” said Alexander Dugin.

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Dozens of Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes as Gaza ceasefire talks slated to resume

While gearing up for a resumption of stalled Gaza ceasefire talks, Israel carried out a fresh spate of attacks on the enclave.

Thirty-four Israeli air strikes killed at least 71 Palestinians, including women and children, in a 24-hour period, according to Gaza’s Government Media Office, cited by Al Jazeera.

Israel has also been pressing on with a renewed military offensive in the north of Gaza, ordering the evacuation of the Indonesian Hospital in Beit Lahiya, the outlet reported.

Israeli strikes turned to rubble buildings in the center of enclave, killing Omar al-Diraoui, the second journalist to be killed in 24 hours after photographer Hassan al-Qishaoui suffered a similar fate on January 2.

Some 202 journalists have been killed in the enclave since October 7, 2023, according to Gaza’s Government Media Office.

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💸Could Russia become the world’s crypto capital? Part 1 👉 Part 2

While president-elect Donald Trump has vowed to make the US the global cryptocurrency leader, Russia is already making strides toward claiming that noscript.

Mining growth and leadership

🔸 Legalization and Regulation: Russia has recognized cryptocurrency ‘mining’ as a legal and regulated industry, complete with taxation and oversight

🔸 A World Cryptomining Leader: At the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in September 2024, President Vladimir Putin affirmed Russia’s leadership in cryptocurrency mining

🔸 Rapid Growth: Industrial mining grew by 50% year-on-year in 2023, ranking second globally after the US and yielding 54,000 Bitcoins, as reported by the Industrial Mining Association of Russia.

🔸 Second Only to the US: Current estimates place Russia’s mining energy demand at 2.5 to 2.7 gigawatts, with industrial-scale mining accounting for 1.8 GW. US miners currently consume approximately 7 GW.

🔸 Gap Narrows Quickly: BitRiver, Russia's largest mining data center operator, predicts that the country’s mining power drain could reach 10 GW within five years and potentially surpass the US in just two to three years.

🔸 Energy System Resilience: Growth in mining is unlikely to strain the national energy system. Up to 20% of the required power could come from energy complexes associated with large data centers, according to BitRiver’s Deputy CEO Oleg Ogienko.

Why is Russia thriving in crypto mining?

🔹 Abundant Energy: Russia is one of the world’s largest electricity producers, with relatively low tariffs. Bitcoin mining costs in Russia are estimated to be two or three times lower than in the US or Canada.

🔹 Surplus Capacity: Many Russian regions possess surplus electricity that can be allocated to mining.

🔹 Cold Climate: Russia’s natural climate reduces the need for cooling in data centers, lowering these costs by 30 to 50%.

🔹 Tax Incentives: In 2024, mining and selling of crypto was exempted from value-added tax (VAT), and clear taxation rules were introduced.

👉 Part 2

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💸 Could Russia become the world’s crypto capital? Part 2 👉 Part 1

The expansion of industrial mining and creation of multi-purpose data processing centers (DPCs) is expected to contribute significantly to Russia’s economy:

🔶 Revenue Growth: The construction of DPCs in Russia currently brings in about 250 billion rubles ($2.3 billion) annually, according to Evgeny Virtser, CEO of Free Technologies Engineering.

🔶 Job Creation: Mining operations generate new employment opportunities and attract investments in infrastructure.

🔶 AI Development: Cryptocurrency mining data centers also support artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives, particularly in training large language models. These centers rely on graphics processing units (GPUs), which are ideal for both crypto mining and AI applications.

From mining to global trade

Russia is not stopping at mining; it aims to leverage cryptocurrencies for international trade. In August 2024, President Vladimir Putin signed laws establishing an experimental platform for using cryptocurrencies in international settlements and regulating cryptocurrency exchange trading under the Central Bank’s oversight.

Key developments include:

🟠 Crypto Exchanges: Two official exchanges are planned – one in Moscow and another in St. Petersburg, according to Russian newspaper Kommersant.

🟠 International Settlements: The Russian Central Bank launched an experimental platform for cryptocurrency transactions based on the National Payment System last year.

Russia's Finance Minister Anton Siluanov highlighted in December that the use of digital financial assets and cryptocurrencies is important for Russia's foreign trade, as it allows uninterrupted payments for goods and services.

🟠 Export Potential: In 2023 the Ministry of Finance proposed exporting mined cryptocurrencies, treating them as products like natural gas.

👉 Part 1

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🛢 Biden plans to ban some offshore drilling in bid to trip up Trump’s energy policy

Outgoing President Joe Biden is reportedly planning to take advantage of provisions in the 1953 Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to permanently ban his successor from achieving his energy policy goal of dramatically ramping up domestic energy production.

Sources told Bloomberg Biden is getting ready to announce an executive order prohibiting portions of America’s outer continental shelf deemed critical to coastal environmental resilience from being sold off to energy companies for exploration. The affected waters could include areas of the Pacific coast, and waters near Florida in the Gulf of Mexico.

Reversing the order may be difficult, even if appealed in court. A Trump attempt to reverse Obama-era protections of Arctic and Atlantic Ocean waters failed in 2019.

Biden’s move could ultimately hamper the Trump administration’s 3-3-3 economic plan, which includes a 3 million barrel-per-day jump in domestic oil output, 3% annual GDP growth, and a push to cut the deficit to 3% of GDP.

The outgoing president is looking to trip up Trump an array of areas, commuting sentences of a majority of death row inmates, issuing a string of pardons, including for his troubled son Hunter, forgiving school loan debts of 55,000 public service workers, and trying to ‘Trump-proof’ the conflict with Moscow over Ukraine by ramping up arms deliveries and greenlighting Ukrainian missile attacks deep inside Russia.

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❗️Hamas has confirmed that indirect Gaza truce negotiations will resume later today, Friday, in Doha, the capital of Qatar

In a statement, Hamas indicated that the discussions would focus on ensuring the full implementation of an agreement, which includes a complete cessation of hostilities and the withdrawal of occupation forces from the Gaza Strip.

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Yemeni’s Houthis mobilize to fight US, Israel, welcome enemies to ‘great hell’

Yemenis are “eager” to engage the US and Israeli aggressor, and “have prepared ourselves for all possible scenarios,” Zaid al-Gharsi, director of the Houthi-led National Salvation Government’s Media and Cultural Affairs Department, said in a statement Friday amid the militia’s ongoing mobilization.

“The Yemeni people are eager to engage in conflict with the nation’s enemies, and have been shouting the ‘death to Israel’ slogan for the past 20 years, besides confronting the [military] equipment that would be deployed by the US and the [Israeli] regime against it,” al-Gharsi said.

Yemenis have “entered direct confrontation against its adversaries today, and we tell them this: that they are welcome to [their] great hell,” the official said, assuring his countrymen would turn their enemies “into ashes” even if forced to fight with their bare hands.

Al-Gharsi’s comments come against the backdrop of a dramatic escalation in US, British and Israeli bombing attacks on military and civilian infrastructure targets across Houthi-controlled areas as the militia ramps up the targeting of Israeli cities with missiles.

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