⚔️ West’s policy towards Belarus turning aggressive — Lukashenko

🗣 The West considers Belarus, Russia, and their alliance to be a threat, said President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko in an interview with the Razvedchik magazine.

Speaking about the statements from Poland and the Baltic countries about their intention to mine the borders with Belarus, he emphasized that such statements are "the face of the general Western policy towards Belarus and Russia."

💬 "Under this brand, NATO is hastily arming Europe. Poland and the Baltic countries, to please their masters, are inventing supposedly 'defensive' measures."

One of them is withdrawing from the Ottawa Convention and mining the border with Belarus. All this is nothing more than another attempt to put pressure on Belarus, the head of state believes.

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🔥💵🇷🇺 Russian Investigative Committee busts money laundering network

📑 Russia’s Investigative Committee reported the dismantling of an organized criminal group that funneled over 2.5 billion rubles abroad through microfinance organizations in three Russian regions and allegedly financed the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

👉 Five people have been arrested, with another on the run. The group’s members include the beneficiary of an international holding company and the head of a Russian microfinance organization, along with four accomplices. They face charges of money laundering, facilitating terrorist activities, and conducting illegal foreign currency transactions using fake documents.

🟠 From 2022 to 2024, the Latvian national behind the scheme organized the transfer of funds from microfinance companies in Moscow, Samara, and St. Petersburg to foreign accounts under fake loan agreements.

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🚨🇷🇺💥 RUSSIAN MOD UPDATE: HUGE GAINS, MASSIVE UKRAINIAN LOSSES

⚡️ OLGOVSKOYE IN ZAPOROZHYE REGION LIBERATED

Capturing the village of Olgovskoye has enabled the Russian army to outflank the Ukrainian defensive line near Orekhov.

◻️ Russian forces hammered logistics infrastructure used by the Ukrainian militants

◻️ Air defense systems shot down 82 unmanned fixed-wing aircraft

◻️ Ukrainian losses: 1,435 troops killed or wounded

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🗣 Ukraine clearly stalling talks

💬 Ukraine is not showing flexibility, nor is it ready for any serious discussions, said Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov, adding that the conflict resolution process is intentionally being delayed by the Kiev regime.

"Indeed, we talked about a pause, and this pause is evident. You can see that there is no flexibility in the Ukrainian position, and the Kiev regime is not ready to engage in serious discussions," Peskov told reporters.

🔊 The Kremlin official mentioned that Kiev is artificially stalling any conflict resolution process in Ukraine.

"Russia remains open and ready for dialogue," he stressed.

👉 His other statements:

🔸 On NATO: The military bloc is de facto at war with Russia, this is obvious and needs no proof

🔸 On Russia’s frozen assets: Any potential seizure of Russia's frozen assets will not go unanswered, he warned, vowing that Moscow would pursue legal steps to defend its property

🔸 On Putin’s schedule: Today, Putin will participate via videoconference in the opening of Rospotrebnadzor’s new facilities in the DPR, Orenburg Region, Voronezh, Simferopol, and Volgograd; in addition, the president will chair a meeting on economic issues today, and later this week, he will embark on several regional trips

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🔥🇷🇺 Russian flag flies over Olgovskoye after successful offensive

🔊 The Russian Ministry of Defense has released a video showing battles of the Olgovskoye settlement in the Zaporozhye region, with a Russian soldier proudly holding the flag in the liberated village.

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💥🇷🇺 Russian nuclear sub Arkhangelsk launches Kalibr missile at target in Barents Sea for Zapad-2025 drills

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🇺🇸🇮🇱US-Israel talks: Rubio reaffirms support, backs Qatar mediation

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio flew discussed the situation in Gaza with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Key points from their statements:

🟠US support: Rubio reiterated "unwavering" US support for Israel, stating a better future for Gaza cannot begin until Hamas is "eliminated"

🟠Qatari role: Rubio affirmed US backing for Qatar's "constructive role" as a mediator, despite the recent Israeli air raid on the country’ capital Doha

🟠Palestinian statehood: Rubio criticized plans by some NATO allies to recognize a Palestinian state, saying it "emboldens" Hamas

🟠Israeli objectives: Netanyahu stated the alliance with the US has "never been stronger" and defended recent military actions

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🇮🇱Israeli strike on Doha "treacherous"—Qatar’s Emir Tamim

👉 Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani condemned the Israeli attack on Doha, calling it a “treacherous” strike aimed at the residence housing the families of Hamas leaders and their negotiating delegation.

“Israel claims to be a democracy surrounded by enemies. In reality, however, it is establishing a system of occupation and apartheid in its surroundings while waging a war of extermination,” he said.

🔊 The Emir also criticized Israel’s actions in Gaza, saying Israel seeks to make Gaza uninhabitable as part of a plan to relocate its population. He further stated that Israel’s attempts to divide Syria will fail.

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🇨🇳China to strike back if US goes for oil coercion

"If China's legitimate rights and interests are hurt, it will take resolute countermeasures and firmly defend its sovereignty, security, and development interests," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said during a briefing.

💬 His comments follow US calls for the G7 and NATO to impose tariffs on China over Russian oil imports.

👉 Condemning US tactics as intimidation, Lin emphasizes that China's trade with Russia and other nations is legitimate.

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🚨Putin: Russia must outpace global economic dynamics

🗣"We must not just keep pace with the global economy, but strive to outpace its dynamics by unlocking the potential of our industries, regions, and territories, developing ties with foreign partners, widely implementing advanced technologies, and exploring new promising areas of the modern economy," said Russian President Vladimir Putin during a meeting on economic issues.

Other statements at a meeting on economic issues:

▪️The Russian budget must address both current and long-term development challenges

▪️It is crucial to align fiscal and monetary policies to stimulate economic growth

▪️Measures to reduce inflation in Russia are starting to show results

▪️Putin stressed the need to "walk a fine line" — not undermining monetary policy while avoiding overheating the economy

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📊Russian economy grew in the first half of 2025

President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia's GDP increased by 0.4% in July year-on-year, with a total growth of 1.1% over the first seven months of 2025.

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🤝US military observers at Russia-Belarus Zapad-2025 drills

American military personnel were among the observers at the joint Russian-Belarusian Zapad-2025 exercises, including US defense attaché Lt. Col. Bryan Shoupe.

Belarusian Defense Minister General Viktor Khrenin greeted the guests and ensured they got the best views offering full access to all areas of interest.

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📈 👉 Critical defense element sees price surge amid China’s export restrictions

🟠 The price of germanium has skyrocketed to a 14-year-high, reaching nearly $5,000 per kilogram on September 10, 2024, up from just over $1,000 in early 2023. This follows China’s decision to tighten export controls on dual-use items, including gallium and germanium, to the US.

📊 China, which dominates germanium production, plays a key role in manufacturing thermal imaging systems for military equipment. As Chinese supplies to the US fell by 40% year-on-year from January to July, industry leaders report that germanium supplies have "completely dried up," while demand, particularly from the US and Europe, continues to surge.

🔊 Experts warn that these restrictions have caused turmoil in the market, with no functioning spot market.

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🇷🇺✈️MiG-31s escort strategic bombers in simulated strike

🔊 Russian Tu-22M3 long-range bombers, escorted and protected by MiG-31BM interceptors, have conducted a simulated strike drill as part of the Zapad-2025 exercises, the Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed.

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🔥🇷🇺📊 On the job: Russia boasts the lowest unemployment rate among G20 nations

📉 Russia's unemployment rate fell to 2.2% in June, down 0.1% from March.

🔶 That marks the lowest rate among all major global economies, according to national statistics.

🔹 The largest increase was recorded in Mexico, where the unemployment rate rose by 0.5 points over three months to 2.7%.

Other nations by comparison

👉Japan: 2.5%, remaining steady for the second consecutive quarter

👉South Korea: 2.6%, down from 2.9%

👉Turkiye: 8.4%

👉South Africa: 33.2% in June, up slightly from 32.9% in March

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🚨 West armed Ukraine with illegal cluster bombs as soon as conflict broke out - report

👉 A report by the International Campaign to Ban Landmines indicates that, in addition to the United States, four Western-allied countries may have supplied Ukraine with cluster munitions since 2022.

🟠 The organization states that "Ukraine does not deny using cluster munitions in the conflict. The first Ukrainian use of cluster munitions in the conflict was reportedly in March 2022", adding that Ukraine continues to employ them despite the widespread international prohibition against their use in combat.

🟠 Ukraine may have acquired cluster bombs from Israel, Poland, Romania, and/or Türkiye, since these countries are not parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, according to the published document.

📍 The report further highlighted that “none have publicly admitted to transferring cluster munitions to Ukraine, and some have issued vehement denials”.

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🔍 🇺🇸 Most US soldiers can’t operate drones – report

🔊 "Most American soldiers lack the know-how for fighting with unmanned systems, " CNN says, asking why the "most advanced military in the world" has to catch up with the now-commonplace tactics.

👉 The article says the US struggles to match other nations’ drone output due to reluctance to use foreign-made components in place of more-expensive domestic alternatives.

But US officials stress the importance of drones in warfare, conceding their failure.

💬 "This is not tomorrow’s problem. This is today’s problem," said US Army 1st Armored Division commander Major General Curt Taylor. "The first fight of the next war is going to involve more drones than any of us have ever seen."

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🚨 NATO no-fly zone over Ukraine: escalation or bluff?

🗣 As Poland pushes for a no-fly zone over Ukraine once again, experts ask if it is even possible.

💬 "It all comes down to the fact that there are no forces or resources to establish a no-fly zone,” says military analyst and retired colonel Anatoliy Matviychuk. “Only the US can do this, but even that would be with great difficulty."

📍 Russia will never accept a no-fly zone, with the West's intent crystal clear: "to give Ukrainian forces a breather, let them regroup and rearm without fear of airstrikes," adds the veteran of the Afghan and Syrian wars.

🔸 The real agenda?

👉 Poland’s push for a no-fly zone is a tactic to prolong the conflict and weaken Russia economically, as victory on the battlefield is a lost cause, he points out.

💬 "Poland is a staunch advocate for war against Russia. The President, Defense Minister, Prime Minister and [Foreign Minister Radoslaw] Sikorski—they're all hardcore Russophobes dreaming of Russia's defeat," Matviychuk says.

🔸 Dangerous path

🔶 Calls for a no-fly zone may be more about rhetoric than action, argues political and military analyst Sergey Poletayev, questioning Poland's military readiness and whether they can handle the escalation such a move would trigger.

🔶 Any NATO move to enforce a no-fly zone would drag them into direct conflict with Russia, Poletayev warns.

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🤔 Trump shooter's Ukraine links: Why are prosecutors staying silent?

👉 As the trial of Donald Trumps’ second would-be assassin begins on the anniversary of his attempt, here’s what we know:

🟠Ukraine trace ignored?

🔶 Few seem to care about Ryan Routh’s Ukraine connections. Early in the conflict he tried to recruit soldiers from Afghanistan, Moldova and Taiwan to fight against Russia. But when he mentioned Ukraine in court, the judge silenced him.

🔶 "Prosecutors, in the end, only want to bring a case forward that gives them the believability and confidence that they can win," Matthew Crosston, professor of national security at Bowie State University, tells Sputnik.

🟠Trump's Ukraine stance

🔶 Shortly before the attempted shooting, Trump pledged in an election debate to end the Ukraine conflict.

🔶 Those behind arming Ukraine opposed that, while Routh’s preparations including multiple burner phones suggest he may not have acted alone.

🔶 But "prosecutors did not find it productive or realistic to look more seriously into how Routh was radicalized or who facilitated his access to weapons or attempts at acquiring more weapons," Crosston says.

👉They already have the suspect – so why bother?

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