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Russia's spring draft targets record 160,000 conscripts amidst mounting Ukraine war casualties
The spring military draft has begun in Russia, with plans to enlist 160,000 conscripts—many of whom are reportedly signing contracts to be sent as "cannon fodder" to Ukraine. In light of enormous losses in the war with Ukraine, the Russian army leadership has planned to draft 160,000 conscripts aged 18 to 30 during the current enlistment period, running from April 1 to July 15. This marks a record number since the invasion began. According to The Moscow Times, law enforcement officers, …
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Russian military drops massive bomb on dam in Belgorod region to halt Ukrainian offensive
The Russian military has reportedly dropped a powerful FAB-3000 bomb on a dam in the village of Popovka, located in the Belgorod region. According to Russian forces, this act was meant to "prevent" an advance by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Footage of the FAB-3000 bomb strike and its aftermath has been shared by Russian Telegram channels.
It has been alleged that Ukrainian forces were utilizing the structure near Popovka to supply troops in the Sumy and Belgorod regions. The videos display the …
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Russian coal export crisis: Economic decline and social instability loom
The Russian economy is facing a rapid decline, as coal exports—one of the last pillars of the Kremlin's natural resource budget—plummeted by tens of percent in March. The economic collapse in Russia's coal industry is becoming increasingly apparent, with statistics from March revealing the catastrophic scale of the export drop. According to the Institute of Energy and Finance, coal shipments via major ports have significantly decreased, down 30% at Ust-Luga and 21% at Nakhodka and Vostochny …
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Ukraine reports record Russian losses in artillery and armored vehicles in March 2025
March 2025 saw a significant increase in losses for the Russian military, including record highs in artillery and armored vehicle losses since the start of the large-scale invasion of Ukraine.
On April 1, Ukraine's Ministry of Defense released General Staff data indicating that Russian army personnel losses grew by 4,590 more in March compared to February.
The total irreversible and sanitary loss for the Russian forces in March reached 41,160 personnel, compared to 36,570 in February. …
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Potential Trump-Putin deal on Nord Stream 2 raises concerns in Berlin
Reports are surfacing of behind-the-scenes negotiations between the Americans and Russians discussing the potential reactivation of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline as part of a ceasefire agreement in Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov confirmed this development, hinting at an opportunity for American investors to acquire and utilize Nord Stream 2 to send Russian gas, previously purchased, back into Europe.
“A good development, not a bad one,” said one acquaintance, suggesting that …