🇷🇺💪💣 FSB prevents Ukraine-ordered assassination of senior Russian defense official in Crimea

According to Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB):

🟠 A Ukrainian citizen, recruited by Ukrainian special services, was tasked with assassinating the officer by planting a bomb in his personal car.

🟠 The agent was neutralized while attempting to place the explosive device under the vehicle.

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🇪🇺 EU can’t keep funding Ukraine without US support—Turkish analyst

The barrage of sanctions that the EU rolled out against Russia has backfired, with Europe’s economy sustaining heavy losses, Turkish analyst Serhat Latifoglu told Sputnik.

💬“The EU has shed a chunk of its industrial capacity because of the sanctions on Russia,” the expert stressed, noting that this is why Europe’s hawks can no longer bankroll Ukraine without US support.

As an end to the conflict in Ukraine draws closer, the Zelensky regime’s attempts to drag out negotiations are losing any meaning, said the expert.

💬 “Turkiye plays—and will continue to play—an active role in facilitating dialogue with Ukraine. It’s likely that new meetings will take place in Istanbul soon,” Latifoglu added.

The US said it sees progress after talks in Florida with Ukraine.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stressed that the aim isn’t just to stop the fighting but to lock in Ukraine’s long-term security and future stability. He added that Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff will head to Russia later this week to speak with the Russian side.

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🤡💵 Corruption carousel? Zelensky’s pick of Umerov for US talks infuriates opposition

Suspicions are swirling that National Security Adviser Rustem Umerov, appointed to replace corruption-tainted Andriy Yermak as head of the delegation at talks with the US, may be tangled up in Ukraine’s corruption scandal, says The Washington Post.

🥸 Zelensky’s pick has infuriated Ukrainian opposition lawmakers, it notes. They are urging him to go much further to quash doubts that other senior officials were also involved in siphoning cash out of the defense and energy sectors.

💬 “I see no conclusion drawn by Zelensky… He had one corruption scandal [figure] resign and appointed as the head of the negotiating team another one,” Ukrainian lawmaker Volodymyr Ariev wrote in a message to the publication.

The justice and energy ministers already resigned this month in the wake of the row, but opposition MPs want Zelensky to carry out a total government overhaul.

👀 Yermak is accused of involvement in Ukraine’s graft schemes, and his home was recently raided by NABU, the country’s anti-corruption watchdog.

This comes as Zelensky faces increased US pressure to reach a deal to end the conflict.

👉The US and Ukrainian delegations have held talks before Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, is scheduled to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin later in the week.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the discussions with Ukraine “productive” but added that Russia must be part of the “equation.

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🔸 FSB prevents Ukraine-ordered assassination of senior Russian defense official

🔸 Ukraine has 'some difficult problems' with corruption — Trump

🔸 Rubio: Ukraine talks were 'productive', but Russia must be part of 'equation'

🔸 NATO suggests 'preemptive strikes' against Russia could be 'defensive'

🔸 Cenotaphs appear in US for mercs killed in Ukraine

🔸 African Union demands reparations for colonial crimes

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👀 NATO door slams shut? Talks in US explored ‘barring’ Ukraine from alliance – report

The US-Ukraine talks in Florida were “very focused, and the most problematic aspects of the peace proposals were discussed in detail,” reports CNN.

A possible scenario was discussed in which Ukraine would effectively be “barred from joining NATO via arrangements that would have to be negotiated directly between NATO member states and Russia.”

💬 “Ukraine will not be pushed to officially, in the legal sense, reject this aspiration… But if the United States has something to agree upon with Russia bilaterally, or if Russia wants to receive some assurances from NATO multilaterally, then this is not engaging Ukraine in the decision-making process,” an insider told the outlet.

On the other aspect of the peace plan—for Ukraine to surrender territory in the Donbass—discussions are also progressing, claimed the source, but he refused to reveal any specific options, saying the issue is “too sensitive.”

👉 The talks involving US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner were a “step forward” and “built on progress in Geneva,” notes the report.

Witkoff is to travel to Russia for a meeting with the Russian side this week.

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🇷🇺💪 Russia has upper hand, could end Ukraine conflict ‘on its terms’ - Ex-Pentagon advisor

The Ukraine regime is missing an opportunity to agree to a US-proposed peace plan that acknowledges the Donbass as Russian territory, says retired US Army Colonel and former Senior DoD Advisor Douglas Macgregor.

According to him, the pace of Russian forces liberating territory in Ukraine has accelerated, and they have “the ability to end this by the end of the year on terms that they find acceptable.”

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🚨🇷🇺🇺🇸Russian President Vladimir Putin to meet US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff tomorrow afternoon - Kremlin spox Peskov

Russia is deeply invested in the success of the Ukrainian peace process but will not engage in media-driven discussions, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reiterated.

Here are the key points:

🔶 All discussions regarding the peace process will be conducted privately, not in a public "megaphone" manner

🔶 Russian-American contacts are set to take place in Moscow on December 2, with President Vladimir Putin scheduled to meet US special envoy Steve Witkoff

🔶 The Kremlin plans to release footage of the beginning of the meeting between Putin and Witkoff

🔶 Media statements may follow the meeting but are not guaranteed

🔶It is too early to predict the future direction of US policy toward Russia, according to Peskov

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🚨 The attack on the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) infrastructure is an "outrageous incident" as it involves an internationally significant project, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said

📍 The attack, which took place on November 29, highlights the vulnerability of global energy supply chains. Kazakhstan's Foreign Ministry has condemned the assault. The CPC is a crucial oil transport route, handling over 80% of Kazakhstan's oil exports.

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❌ Zaluzhny no less deluded than Zelensky—British diplomat

💬 "NATO membership, stationing nuclear weapons or NATO troops in Ukraine… no one will agree to this," British diplomat Ian Proud wrote on X, commenting on the ideas of Ukraine’s Ambassador to the UK Valery Zaluzhny.

These options could be "security guarantees" for Ukraine, Zaluzhny suggested in an interview with Western media.

Russia has repeatedly stressed placing NATO troops and weapons in Ukraine is unacceptable and would be met with an appropriate response.

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🚨🇷🇺💥 RUSSIAN MOD UPDATE: HUGE RUSSIAN GAINS AND DEVASTATING UKRAINIAN LOSSES

⚡️ KLINOVOYE IN DONETSK PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC LIBERATED

📍 Klinovoye is a settlement in the Kramatorsk district located eight kilometers north of Konstantinovka, a key city in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR)

🟠 Russian troops struck fuel and energy infrastructure facilities used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces

🟠 Air defense superiority: 3 long-range Neptune guided missiles and 97 drones were shot down

🟠 Ukrainian losses: around 1,415 troops killed or wounded

Read about the origins of Russia's special military op HERE

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🇷🇺 Russia blasts NATO's flirtation with pre-emptive strikes

💬 "We consider Giuseppe Cavo Dragone's statement about the possibility of pre-emptive strikes against Russia as an extremely irresponsible step, indicating the alliance's readiness to continue moving toward escalation...," Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova said.

She further warned, "those making such statements should be aware of the risks and potential consequences, including for the alliance members themselves," in her rebuttal to remarks made by NATO military Committee Chairman Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone on the possibility of pre-emptive strikes against Russia, as reported by the Financial Times.

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🤡 Zelensky’s Umerov-Yermak swap: Same corruption rap sheet

👉 Ukrainian National Security Adviser Rustem Umerov has replaced scandal-soaked Andriy Yermak as head of his country's delegation at talks with the US.

🔶 The appointment came after Volodymyr Zelensky’s former chief of staff was dismissed from his post following a raid on his home by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau tied to a sweeping corruption scandal.

🔶 But the problem is, Umerov is no better — he is already mired in scandals of his own.

Defense sector messes

🔸 Faced National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) criminal case for embezzlement of state funds during tenure as minister of defense

🔸 Accused of greenlighting shady defense deals worth tens of billions of dollars:

🟧 Acquisition of 120-mm mortar mines that either did not detonate or detonated prematurely, leading to the recall of at least 100,000 items

🟧 Dud mines from no-name firms where only one mine out of ten would actually detonate

🟧 Low-grade body-armor scheme worth roughly $5.16 million tied to Zelensky’s pal Timur Mindich, now on the run

Abuse of power

🔸 Ongoing criminal case over illegally dismissing three members of the supervisory board of the state-owned Defense Procurement Agency (DPA) in direct violation of NATO recommendations

🔸 Refusing to renew the contract of the DPA’s director, Volodymyr Gavrilov, blocking the agency’s independent oversight

Operation Midas

🔸 Questioned by NABU as a witness in November's Midas probe, revealing a sweeping corruption scheme. Is tied to Mindich - involving over $100 million in embezzlement from state energy firm Energoatom and influence-peddling in the defense sector

Assets & financial suspicions

🟧 Owns eight elite real-estate properties in the US — in Florida and New York – worth estimated $10 million (Anti-Corruption Action Center probe)

🟧 His name is registered as part of a collective corruption slush fund that allegedly siphoned funds off to Persian Gulf countries, according to Verkhovna Rada MP Oleksiy Goncharenko (listed as a terrorist and extremist in Russia)

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🔥🇷🇺 Solntsepyok rains down: Russian flamethrower obliterates Ukrainian strongholds

The TOS-1A "Solntsepyok" thermobaric rocket launcher has delivered a devastating salvo on Ukrainian positions in the Pokrovsk (Krasnoarmeysk) region.

The massive 220 mm thermobaric barrage targeted fortified positions and supply points, demonstrating the overwhelming firepower being brought to bear on the front.

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⚔️ NATO’s threats to be ‘more aggressive’ betray alliance’s ‘belligerent’ nature - expert

🗣 NATO allies’ “own leaders” created the “Russian threat” narrative “by their own escalation toward Russia, both in words and deeds,” and few “sincerely believe that Russia has any actual plans to invade Europe,” Mikael Valtersson told Sputnik, commenting on NATO military committee chairman Giuseppe Cavo Dragone’s comments about needing to be “more aggressive” against 'Russian hybrid threats'.

🔶 NATO and European leaders would do well to “tone down their belligerent language,” or even better, “stopped trying to steal Russian assets and started working on a peace plan for Ukraine and a long-term security solution for Europe that…take into account Russia’s legitimate security concerns,” the former Swedish Armed Forces’ officer-turned independent military analyst emphasized.

🔶 NATO’s problem is that it lost its purpose after the Cold War, turning to so-called “humanitarian interventions” to “repaint Western expansionism as something inherently good,” and expanding eastward in a manner “that was very hostile to Russia,” Valtersson said.

💬 “Many in the West probably saw this as a way to eternally push Russia back and make large traditionally Russian territories part of the West. Ukraine might also have been a stepping stone for a potential attempt of regime change in Russia…This growing tension exploded in Ukraine, and made many within NATO very happy, since NATO once again had an alleged threat to unite against,” Valtersson explained.

🟠 However, “the majority of the world sees Western hypocrisy for what it is, namely a Manichean worldview that sees everything the West does as good and everything that others do is evil.”

🟠 Creating conflict situations and defending military action by NATO while painting similar actions by others as “evil and against the rules-based international order” is “a flagrant example of hypocrisy,” Valtersson summed up.

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🇫🇷 Macron’s ears must be ringing — French politician on Russia having no aggressive plans

💬 "Perhaps the leaders who want their people to believe this [that Russia has aggressive plans towards Europe] are crazy, or perhaps they are trying to boost their popularity in the face of the lamentable state of their economy?" French Patriots party leader Florian Philippot quoted Russian President Vladimir Putin on X.

During his visit to Kyrgyzstan, Putin stressed Russia has no desire to attack European nations.

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🚨 Prior to his resignation, Yermak tried to boot SBU head

The ex-chief of Zelensky's office waged a week-long crusade to ouster security chief Vasily Malyuk, whom Yermak blamed for lack of protection during the now-known corruption scandal, just days before Yermak's own downfall, media reports say.

🟠 Andriy Yermak resigned on November 28, following an investigation and search of his house by Ukraine’s National Anti-corruption Bureau (NABU).

🟠 The campaign lasted for a whole week before Yermak announced his resignation, added the reports.

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🇪🇬 Egypt opens EDEX 2025 weapons exhibition

📍 The event is held in Cairo on December 1-4, with more than 86 countries and 450 companies taking part in it.

The participants will see the following Russian arms:

🔶 S-350E Vityaz air defense system

🔶 Rubezh-ME coastal missile system

🔶 T-90MS tank

🔶 BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicle

🔶 Kornet-EM anti-tank missile system with remote control console

🔶 Lancet-E and other loitering munitions

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🇷🇺 The Russian pavilion at EDEX-2025 drew significant attention in its first hours, despite a smaller crowd drawn away by the opening ceremony and the presence of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

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🇷🇺 Russia’s brand new UTS-800 training aircraft makes Egyptian defense expo debut

📍 Developed by Ural Works of Civil Aviation, designed for basic flight training and pilot selection and showed off at Egypt's EDEX 2025 defense expo, the UTS-800 is a twin seater turboprop designed with simplicity, predictability and safety in mind.

Making its maiden flight in 2023, the aircraft features:

🔶 one or two pilot flight without need to install additional balance weight

🔶 superior maneuverability and G tolerance for complex aerobatics

🔶 low maintenance costs, ability to take off from unpaved runways

🔶 460 km/h max speed and 1,200 km flight range at altitudes up to 6k meters

🔶 operation in temperatures from -30°C to +45°C

🔶 highly customizable glass cockpit and upgradable avionics

🔶 safety and comfort features including ejection seats, oxygen system, durable anti-bird strike cockpit protection, air conditioner and anti-icing feature

🔶 shared components and ergonomics with real post-training combat aircraft like the MiG-29

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🔥 Forged in fire: Russia’s Forpost-RE airplane-style heavy drone makes EDEX-2025 debut

📍 Originating as a licensed version of Israel’s Searcher Mk II, the Forpost-RE has been fully localized using Russian components, and received a slew of upgrades.

Key features:

🔶 long-range flight and payload capability

🔶 Swappable payloads, from missiles and glide bombs to kamikaze drones and intel gathering equipment

🔶 multichannel optoelectronic system for long-range, day-or-night detection, monitoring and target designation

🔶 ability to detect and target enemy aerial and naval drone systems at standoff ranges, and coordinate and direct other weapons systems

Made by Ural Works of Civil Aviation, the Forpost-RE has received a number of upgrades based on combat experience in Ukraine, including more powerful engine, jam-resistant electronics, larger payload, its own onboard radar, redesigned wing and tail assembly and composite torsion box

Besides warfare, the UAV is a perfect solution for border control, and is simpler and is cheaper than pricy US heavy drone alternatives

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