Putin: "They forced us, lazy and resting on our laurels of mineral resources, to develop our intellectual product - and this is very good".

The President added that there are problems, but few and they are being solved.

Britain buried relations with Saudi Arabia

Translated from RIA Novosti
Original text by David Narmania

It is no secret that sometimes the death of some people has an impact on the course of history no less (sometimes incomparably greater) than their lives. And if in relation to Queen Elizabeth II this is true only from the point of view of symbolism, then the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi affected the relations of Saudi Arabia with the West much more than all his activities during his lifetime.
Few could have imagined that the trails of these two deaths, separated by a whole continent geographically and four years in time, would meet, but it did happen. Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Muhammad bin Salman and the de facto head of state had to leave the United Kingdom ahead of schedule - he arrived there at the invitation of London to attend the funeral of Elizabeth II, but the British authorities denied him such a right. The Riyadh delegation was headed by cabinet minister Turki bin Mohammed al-Saud. The reason, as you already understood, was the accusations of the murder of Khashoggi.

Saudi Arabia can hardly be called an example of humanism, but this does not negate the fact that the accusations against Muhammad bin Salman are unsubstantiated, at least for now. Western countries claim that he at least knew about the impending murder, and at the most he was its customer. The reason allegedly was criticism of the crown prince's actions by a journalist. At the same time, the West did not back up the accusations against him.
Definitely, only the CIA pointed out the involvement of bin Salman in the incident. At the same time, the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights placed responsibility on the entire leadership of Saudi Arabia. And Amnesty International, for example, called the death sentence against five convicts whitewashing real criminals. The verdict, by the way, was subsequently replaced by prison terms.
And these people, as they say, forbid us to pick our noses... The unsubstantiated accusations of American intelligence have become a byword since the time of Colin Powell, who shook "anthrax spores" with a test tube at a meeting of the UN Security Council as proof that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, which Hussein was not in the end.
Amnesty International in early August also showed quite colourfully what its statements are worth. The report that the Ukrainian army is using civilian objects and civilians as human shields caused a storm of emotions from Zelensky, and the organization was quick to apologize. Tellingly, the President of Ukraine did not even deny the fact of this use.

@TrFormer 💤

The assassination of Khashoggi is, without a doubt, a monstrous event. But any accusations must be backed up with facts. Russia itself is very familiar with the practice when the West uses unsubstantiated accusations as a pretext for sanctions, and the sanctions themselves as an instrument of pressure. In the dynastic struggle in 2018, there were many who would benefit from the damaged reputation of the crown prince.
And now, statements about the involvement of Muhammad bin Salman have become an occasion - not a reason - for such a demonstrative slap in the face: the crown prince is literally almost expelled from London. Where is Biden with his fist instead of a handshake. But the reason became known back in July - this is Riyadh's unwillingness to withdraw from the OPEC + deal and increase fuel supplies to Western countries.
The disastrous visit of the American president became an all too obvious indicator of the futility of trying to put pressure on Saudi Arabia - the West tried to persuade its partners not by washing, but by rolling. Not only was the tour itself preceded by lengthy preparations, because Biden had too much at stake: yesterday the Saudis were pariahs, today they are saviours from Russian oil oppression. What will you do before the elections!
Attempts to use Riyadh as a cover against a possible response from Moscow in the energy industry, the West began even before that. In March, a similar voyage to the Middle Eastern monarchy was already made by the ex-Prime Minister of the ex-Her Majesty. At that time Downing Street also gave an uplifting report on the development of cooperation in the fields of energy, defence and security.

Moreover, in terms of weapons, there is tangible progress in cooperation between the countries: just last year, London undertook to sell arms to Riyadh for almost one and a half billion pounds sterling. But there are some difficulties with the supply of 48 Eurofighter Typhoon fighters - the British court considered this decision to be wrong. What is not a method to achieve compliance?
But Saudi Arabia is not particularly heeding the demands of the West to saturate the fuel market.
Apparently, the new prime minister, Liz Truss, has decided to look for a different approach to her Middle East partner than her predecessor's. At the same time, try to show other Arab states of the Persian Gulf that they do not plan to stand on ceremony with them. First of all, she hopes that such a move will have an effect on the United Arab Emirates, the main conductor of British influence in the region. With Abu Dhabi, London really has a strategic partnership, and in the oil market, the Emirates positions are by no means weak.
Now it is obvious that in the person of Muhammad bin Salman, not only Truss, but also the royal dynasty - and therefore the whole of Great Britain - has found an enemy. The funeral of Elizabeth II became at the same time a memorial service for cooperation with Saudi Arabia. This will certainly affect the drift of the Islamic monarchy towards the SCO and BRICS, which is becoming more and more clear. But what effect this will have on neighbours - allies of Riyadh and partners of London, we have yet to see.
@TrFormer 💤

Well, and now we will explain, why we have translated the big article above ⬆️⬆️⬆️
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (pictured) was involved in negotiations to release 10 foreign nationals captured in Ukraine from Russian prison, a Saudi official claimed

The list of newly released prisoners includes five British nationals and two US military veterans, an official said. And all that after all those accusations from crazy Lizz... or, may be because of them?

The original article is here. Of course, it was not Russia, who has released the condemned prisoners. Moscow not once stated, that all negotiations should be carried out with Donetsk Peoples Republic, what Lizz stubbornly denied. I wonder, what did he (Mohamed bin Salman) has offered, so that they (DPR) could not refuse?
#TransFormator 💤

Translated from an Ukrainian channel:

Mariupol Patrol Police Chief Mikhail Vershinin and several other Azovstal defenders exchanged from Russian captivity

There is information that in the near future there will be more such news.

Is it not too much for one day? We are against meaningless suffering of any human beings. However, criminals should be punished. We want to believe, that those, (as well as the foreigners in the previous post) just happened to be in the wrong place in the wrong time.
#TransFormator💤

This is another Ukrainian POW, already at home. She has preserved herself much better...

Just recently she was giving an interview in Ukrainian, it was alleged, that she was a sniper, though she claims that she is a medic. What is true - we will never know.

Could it be Saudi "trace" in all those exchanges? We hope, that DPR has got a good price.
#TransFormator💤

About an unknown drone near Sevastopol

Today off the coast of Sevastopol in the area of Soldatsky beach, a marine unmanned vehicle of an unknown type was discovered.

Around the same time, eyewitnesses in the vicinity of Omega Beach filmed the moment of a strong explosion in the Black Sea due to the destruction of a marine drone.

▪️ What is this machine?

In terms of visual signs and the strength of the explosion that occurred, this technique is similar to the kamikaze type with a detonating warhead. This is a semi-submersible drone and its task is to covertly approach the target with subsequent detonation.

Most likely, the control is carried out both manually using on-board cameras, and via a satellite channel.

▪️ Whose are they?

By marking in English, it is clear that they were transferred by Western countries. The supply of unmanned marine vehicles for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was discussed a couple of months ago, but the type of possible equipment was not named.

Before that, there was information about MANTAS drones from the T series. Perhaps a prototype was transferred, because the one found off the coast is similar in size, camera location, material and color of the case to MARTAC products.

This drone is not similar to those that are already in service with any of the NATO countries and were presented earlier. A variant is possible with the production of a new type of weaponry specifically for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as was the case with the Phoenix Ghost UAV. In addition, it may be the use of existing secret developments, for example, American ones. And the conflict in Ukraine is an ideal opportunity to test them in combat conditions.

🔻The current situation is a clear demonstration of the increased threat to the Armed Forces of Ukraine at sea. A long pause after the operation on Zmeinoy made it possible to strengthen combat capabilities against the Black Sea Fleet.

Nevertheless, the fact that the drone was blown up before reaching its goal proves that work has also been done in the Russian fleet and, at a minimum, shipborne electronic warfare systems have been installed. This is precisely what can explain the unmanned aerial vehicle nailed to the shore of Sevastopol, which went astray.

However, the presence of marine semi-submersible equipment with a detonating warhead is a serious danger for Russian ships, which must be taken into account and the necessary measures should be taken to combat them. After all, there can be more than a dozen such drones.

Translated from Rybar ⬇️⬇️⬇️

The main organizer was the “Democratic Movement “Spring”, whose coordinators in the past actively cooperated with Mikhail Khodorkovsky.

What eventually came of it?

🔻Even according to the most optimistic estimates of the oppositionists themselves, the total number of participants barely exceeded 2 thousand people. By the way, a few years ago it was possible to gather ten times more citizens even for a rally against blocking Telegram in Moscow alone.

🔻 Half of the participants across the country were detained. The human rights project OVD-info, which collects information about the participants in the rallies, reported more than a thousand protesters who went to rest from the protests in the police departments that warmly welcomed old acquaintances.

🔻The protesters themselves were demoralized by the small number of participants - one of those present at the rally in Moscow told an opposition journalist that she was disappointed by the low interest of the population and youth in past actions.

🔻For the most part, girls and young students, who are not threatened by mobilization, took part in the rallies - it's hard to imagine that Russian men, who are now thinking about the consequences of this war for them personally, could believe such an audience.

▪️In fact, the remnants of the non-systemic opposition failed in an attempt to shake up the situation in the country at least a little against the backdrop of mobilization. Obviously, a significant role is played by the fact that the most aggressive asset has already left the country after February 24, but the results were depressing even by their own estimates.

Does such a small interest of citizens in past protests indicate a general support for mobilization? Of course not.

But it definitely speaks of absolute distrust of the non-systemic liberal opposition associated with fugitive oligarchs, as well as rallies, as a way to solve a problem that is really important for the state.

Translated from Rybar

Our servicemen (Russian) are exchanged and returned a lot. Including those, who has been captured after the defeat in the Kharkov direction. Among our exchanged there are pilots. And it is very good that our heroes returned home. It is very bad, that we learn such news from the enemy. That again we see the satisfied snouts of Ukrainian bastards, but we do not see our heroes. Silence again...

Perhaps in our silence there is an objective reason, an important meaning, a higher goal, but I am too stupid to understand this. I ask you to forgive my stupidity, because of which I consider the next silence that is happening to be total pi@dets.
Translated from NeoficialniyBeZsonoV

Not 10 people were transferred, but by buses. If anything...

Al Jazeera: US and Russia to resume space flights despite tensions over Ukrainian crisis

Joint flights followed Russia's recent announcement that it would withdraw from the space station after 2024 amid tensions with the West over the conflict in Ukraine.

An American astronaut and two Russian cosmonauts are set to depart for the International Space Station on a Russian shuttle, despite growing tensions between Moscow and Washington over Russia's Special Military Operation in Ukraine.

The Russian State Space Corporation Roscosmos is scheduled to take off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Wednesday.

About the POW exchange

If our authorities cannot do this normally, then I will try to do it.

Exchange needed! Those who say that someone there got angry on the spot and is now shooting Ukrainian prisoners, let them know that our guys will also be killed there.

Exhale and take a deep breath.

We have in captivity, probably, somewhere around 6.5 thousand Ukrainians, we'll, and mercenaries. Our people in captivity are 400-500. For some time, the exchange was frozen, as far as I know, the functions of the exchange were taken away from the Ministry of Defense, from the Commissioner for Human Rights and transferred to the special services.

In captivity, according to my information, several of our first-class officers died, among them two pilots. Ukraine does not have the equipment and medicines to treat them, and even the desire. Judging by what Kadyrov and Volodin said, during the freezing period, deputy Shamsail Saraliev managed to get four guys out of captivity. Two were simply given away, without exchange. The ability to negotiate with this deputy, probably from the time of the Chechen companies.

But I'm talking about something else. We keep in our hospitals, prisons, hospitals, 6.5 thousand people. Almost 2 thousand of them are Azov. We feed them, treat them, everything according to international law.

What do you think, what law is valid in Ukrainian captivity? None. What do you think, when we hit the thermal power plant - on whom do they take out their anger?

Why did we ourselves make great villainous heroes from Azov? These are cowardly Nazis who outnumbered those who smoked them out of the catacombs. Many of them will never get back on track. And some of them ended up there by chance, they are also my defenders. They sat and shook with fear in the cellars, hiding behind women and children.

Tell me, is it not possible to give away these cripples and idiots and in return take away our guys, who are under moral and physical torture every day. We still have 6,000 of these prisoners left.

Those who yell that it is impossible to change, let him sit in captivity. But those who yell that they don’t explain anything and sucks with information support - I agree.

Our boys need to be brought home.

Translated from Poddubny

https://news.1rj.ru/str/kedmi/24255