Russophobia erases Poland’s memory of Soviet sacrifice in WWII

January 17 marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Warsaw from Nazi invaders by the Red Army.

As Poland and the Baltic States tear down monuments to Soviet WWII liberators while pushing the “Russia threat” narrative, let’s revisit some historical facts to refresh Warsaw’s memory:

Nazi Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939, employing a Blitzkrieg military campaign that allowed it to occupy most of the country within weeks.

To liberate the country, Soviet troops carried out several major military operations:

1️⃣ Lvov-Sandomierz offensive (July-August 1944)

▫️ The operation, led by Marshal Ivan Konev and the 1st Ukrainian Front, liberated Lvov and established a bridgehead at the Vistula River for future offensives.

▫️ The Red Army liberated Majdanek, a Nazi concentration camp in Lublin, where an estimated 360,000 Soviet PoWs, Jews, and Poles were killed.

2️⃣ Vistula-Oder offensive (January-February 1945)

▫️ This campaign pushed from the Vistula to the Oder River, involving a massive force of approximately 2,203,000 soldiers, 4,529 tanks, 2,513 self-propelled guns, and 13,763 artillery pieces.

▫️ Key participants included the 1st Ukrainian Front (led by Marshal Ivan Konev), the 1st Belorussian Front (led by Marshal Georgy Zhukov), and the 1st Polish Army.

3️⃣ Warsaw-Poznan operation (January-February 1945)

▫️ Encirclement, surprise attacks, and direct assaults allowed Soviet troops to fully liberate Warsaw by January 17, 1945, with the 47th Army and 2nd Guards Tank Army playing a crucial role.

▫️ The occupation of Warsaw cost the lives of approximately 200,000 civilians, and around 85% of the city was destroyed.

The Red Army suffered an estimated 600,000 casualties in the liberation of Poland, paving the way for the final offensive against Berlin.

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🇷🇺🤝🇮🇷 Inside the Russia-Iran Comprehensive Partnership Treaty: What’s in it and why it matters PART 1 👉 PART 2

Presidents Putin and Pezeshkian signed a 20-year strategic cooperation pact on Friday. Here’s what’s inside:

🔸 The 47-article treaty includes a heavy focus on security and defense, with parties agreeing to “strive to deepen and expand relations in all areas of mutual interest, strengthen cooperation in security and defense, engage in close coordination of activities at the regional and global levels.” Rejection of unipolarity

🔸 This includes “mutual respect” for one another’s national and security interests, support for multilateralism and “rejection of unipolarity and hegemony in world affairs,” in a nod to US policy.

🔸 “If one [party] is subject to aggression, the other shall not provide any military or other assistance to the aggressor that contributes to the continuation of aggression,” and strive to resolve the dispute using diplomatic means.

🔸 Russia and Iran commit not to allow each other’s territory to be used to support separatists or engage in any other hostile actions against one another.

🔸 Intelligence and security services shall exchange information and experience, while militaries engage in military exercises and consult and cooperate in countering “common military and security threats of a bilateral and regional nature.”

Regional cooperation against “third states”

🔸 Alongside cooperation against terrorism, crime, illegal immigration and the proliferation of WMDs, the treaty includes a separate article on measures to assure peace and security in the Caspian, Central Asia, the Caucasus and the Middle East, and “cooperate to prevent interference in these regions and destabilizing presence there of third states.”

🔸 Article 14 highlights the need for strengthened security, political, economic, cultural and humanitarian cooperation via the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and expanded ties between Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union.

👉 PART 2

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🇷🇺🤝🇮🇷 Sanctions, science and space: what else is inside the new Russia-Iran Strategic Cooperation Treaty PART 2 👉 PART 1

🔹 On the economic front, the treaty promotes the creation of “direct connections” between Russia and Iran’s regions for economic cooperation.

🔹 Each party commits to reject “the use of unilateral coercive measures,” (i.e. sanctions), and to take “practical efforts to reduce risks, eliminate or minimize the direct and indirect impact of such measures on mutual economic relations.”

Trade in national currencies

🔹 The treaty calls for the creation of “modern payment infrastructure independent of third countries, transition to bilateral settlements in national currencies, the strengthening of direct interbank cooperation and distribution of national financial products,” and the creation of a simplified customs regime.

🔹 Special attention is paid to gold and diamond mining and processing, the creation of the North-South Transport Corridor, and cooperation in the oil and gas sector, including scientific and technical cooperation and experience exchange, resource supply and swaps, investment, and cooperation via OPEC+.

Cooperation in peaceful nuclear energy and space

🔹 Article 23 calls for the promotion of development of “long-term and mutually beneficial relations” in the peaceful use of nuclear energy, including the construction of new nuclear energy facilities.

🔹 The treaty includes a heavy focus on cooperation across a broad array of other areas, including health, education, science, culture, media, publishing, tourism and sport, plus expanded “interaction, exchange of views and experience in the field of space research and exploration for peaceful purposes.”

🔹 Interestingly, the treaty’s dispute resolution mechanism, which is based on consultations and diplomatic negotiations, includes reference to an English-language version of the text of the agreement (also available in Russian and Persian) in case of any disagreements about its interpretation.

👉 PART 1

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🇷🇺📑🇮🇷 Russia-Iran treaty will help both countries survive and thrive against hostile West

💬 “It is a very important agreement, especially as the world is changing so rapidly and the West is behaving in such a hostile manner towards the global majority and of course Iran and Russia in particular,” renowned Iranian-American international affairs observer Dr. Mohammad Marandi told Sputnik.

The two countries have “huge potential” for cooperation, from the North-South Transport Corridor to conventional and nuclear energy, defense and more, Marandi says.

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🇷🇺📑🇮🇷Russia-Iran comprehensive partnership made possible by US antagonism

Four-and-a-half decades of US efforts to “antagonize” Iran, and the application of “equally barbaric and brutal” sanctions against Russia have borne fruit, renowned Iranian-American international affairs observer Dr. Mohammad Marandi told Sputnik.

It was thanks to these shortsighted policies that Russia and Iran signed a new comprehensive security and economic cooperation agreement on Friday, Marandi explained.

The enormous “potential” unleashed by the treaty will make it “more difficult for the United States to try to undermine Russian power and to undermine Iranian capabilities,” Marandi stressed.

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🇷🇺📑🇮🇷 New Russia-Iran treaty’s heavy focus on security issues result of West’s threats

“Both countries feel that the expansion of NATO and regimes affiliated with the West are potentially dangerous for the world and definitely dangerous for Iran and Russia,” renowned international affairs observer Dr. Mohammad Marandi told Sputnik.

Both countries “have a shared interest” in keeping NATO out of the Caspian Sea, and share concerns over the role the US, the EU and their regional allies have played recently in strengthening terrorists in Syria – posing a threat to the whole of Asia, Marandi stressed.

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🔸 Russia-Iran comprehensive partnership made possible by US antagonism

🔸 Inside the Russia-Iran Comprehensive Partnership Treaty: What’s in it and why it matters

🔸 Greenland wants sovereignty, not isolation - pro-independence MP

🔸 NATO instructors: All talk, no frontline walk

🔸 How LA missed chance to get Russia's world-class firefighting planes

🔸 Russophobia erases Poland’s memory of Soviet sacrifice in WWII

🔸 RedNote explosion: Millions of Americans discover a different China

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💲 How Trump’s Treasury Pick is linked to Soros and BlackRock

US president-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for treasury secretary Scott Bessent's known ties to Soros Fund Management and rumored links to BlackRock and other financial giants make his appointment intriguing.

Let’s explore his background:

🔸 Bessent's public financial disclosure report indicates that he holds investments in various assets, including a stake in BlackRock's Bitcoin ETF. He has committed to divesting from that and other holdings to avoid conflicts of interest if confirmed as Treasury Secretary.

🔸 In 2011, Bessent was hired as chief investment officer at Soros Fund Management, where he managed investments for one of the world’s most prominent hedge funds.

🔸 Soros, known for his substantial contributions to the Democratic Party, placed Bessent in a position of significant financial influence, raising questions about potential alignment in policy and strategy.

🔸 In 2017, Bessent made substantial contributions to both Trump and Democrat candidate Hillary Clinton’s election campaigns. In 2024, he made another significant donation to Trump’s campaign.

🔸 As treasury Secretary nominee, Bessent has advocated for tougher oil sanctions against Russia and criticized China’s economic practices. Observers speculate whether his time at Soros Fund Management shaped those viewpoints.

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Coldest inauguration in 30 years

Bracing for icy weather, president-elect Donald Trump announced that his January 20 inauguration ceremony will be moved indoors to the Capitol Rotunda.

Forecasts predict frigid conditions ranging from -7°C during the day to -12°C at night. That would make it the coldest inauguration since Ronald Reagan’s in 1985, when temperatures around -13°C forced the swearing-in to be held indoors.

By comparison, Barack Obama’s 2009 inauguration, though chilly, saw a relatively mild -1°C.

With gates opening at 6 a.m. and the ceremony set for 11 a.m., attendees are being advised to dress warmly.

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🇷🇺📑🇮🇷 New Russia-Iran treaty is a force multiplier for each country’s defensive power: here’s why

The treaty commits Russia “to provide Iran with assistance. What kinds of assistance? At the United Nations and in other international forums, we will defend Iran’s interests. We’ll supply Iran with the military equipment and weapons it needs to defend itself,” retired Russian Army colonel Viktor Litovkin told Sputnik.

As far as aggressors go, “we will not only not support them; we will not provide them with any assistance, including intelligence, or allow them to use our territory for raids. For example, we have our base in Armenia. We would not allow foreign planes to land there to attack Iran,” the observer said.

On the defense cooperation front, Russia could plug gaps in Iran’s powerful air defenses, via the sale of Sukhoi Su-30 jets, or deliveries of Pantsir, Tor, Buk or S-400 systems, for example. Russia, for its part, could benefit from Iran’s vast domestically-developed arsenals of missiles and drones, Litovkin said.

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Palestinians in Jabalia, northern Gaza, anticipating the ceasefire, have begun clearing rubble and attempting to reopen roads despite lacking essential resources.

Airstrikes persist in northern Gaza, yet people are holding on to hope for an end to their suffering.

Footage from social media

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US Intel has been quietly boosting Ukraine’s drone arsenal since 2022

Since 2022, the US has been quietly sending intelligence officers to Ukraine to help kick-start and expand its drone production, according to a US media report, citing officials.

Along with technical know-how, Washington has funneled plenty of cash into the effort, including $1.5 billion last September to support manufacturers and secure parts.

The revelation aligns with Russia’s longstanding accusations of Western involvement in Ukraine – claims that officials in the West have repeatedly denied.

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Boycotting Russian gas? Not when winter hits

European countries that vowed to ditch Russian gas are now buying more than ever, a European newspaper reports, citing Kpler data. In the first 15 days of 2025, the 27 EU nations imported 837,000 tons of fuel.

The spike comes as freezing weather drains LPG reserves and Ukraine halted supplies through the Druzhba pipeline. By January 7, gas reserves in EU stores fell below 70%, with withdrawals 30% higher than the five-year average.

Amid inflation, an energy crunch and a global recession, the Ukraine crisis and sanctions on Russia have only worsened supply disruptions and sent energy prices soaring.

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Rare lenticular clouds crown Popocatepetl volcano

Witness the rare and breathtaking sight of lenticular clouds forming above Mexico’s towering 5,636-meter Popocatepetl volcano.

These unique, lens-shaped clouds, resembling stacked pancakes or disks, appear only under precise atmospheric conditions, making their presence a truly extraordinary phenomenon.

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Los Angeles fire victim: Firefighters came to put out a fire in my house without water

Aaron Miller, a Los Angeles County resident whose home burned to the ground during the massive wildfires, told Sputnik that firefighters were unable to extinguish the blaze in his home because there was no water in the fire hydrants.

All that’s left of Aaron’s house are the remains of a brick fireplace and walls, a burned-out washing machine frame, and a melted fence. From the remaining charred pieces of wood, it is difficult to tell where the kitchen and bedroom used to be.

Aaron added that despite losing their home and all their belongings, he and his family were still lucky: "You see that house? That was my neighbor. He died."

Earlier, US media reported that fire hydrants in Los Angeles had run dry during the wildfires due to overwhelming demand on the water system and a key reservoir being offline for maintenance.

Since January 7, multiple wildfires have broken out in California, killing at least 25 people and forcing the evacuation of tens of thousands. According to the US weather forecasting service AccuWeather, damage and economic losses from the wildfires could reach between $250 billion and $275 billion.

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The Baltic pivot: NATO’s northern gambit against Russia

“The actions of NATO in the Baltic Sea region demonstrate not only the alliance’s, but also the United States’ readiness to adopt a new approach to expand their interests,” Muhammed Saifuddin, an expert on Russia-NATO relations told Sputnik.

Commenting on NATO’s Baltic Sentry operation and its broader implications, he pointed out that recent agreements to station US bases in regional countries indicate a clear intent by Washington to turn the Baltic Sea and the Arctic into areas of confrontation with Russia.

“It’s evident that the West suffered a setback in Ukraine, and now the alliance seeks to ignite conflict in other parts of the world,” he added.

Saifuddin said past statements by Donald Trump, including remarks about Greenland, point to where the new US administration’s focus might lie.

“The US is making every effort to contain Russia’s growing influence in the Arctic,” Saifuddin said. “[NATO Secretary-General Mark] Rutte’s statements, meanwhile, are just an attempt to raise NATO’s profile at a time when Trump’s team seems inclined to shift attention to other alliances and emphasize cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.”

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🚨US Treasury to take emergency measures to avoid default🚨

Starting January 21, the US Treasury will implement emergency measures as the federal government hits its debt ceiling, The New York Times reported.

These measures will last until March 14, but Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned of “significant uncertainty” in managing payments and revenues during this time.

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