@balticdefradar.bsky.social

North Korean TV broadcast footage of special forces training exercises, which supposedly involve, among other things, hitting each other with sledgehammers.

Russia Ust-Luga Sea Port spotted still on fire TODAY 👇 at 59.7041, 28.4320

Two more loitering munition strikes on Russian BUK air defence systems

First, we are capable of producing at least 2,000 effective and combat-proven interceptors every day. We can produce more – it depends on investment. We need about 1,000 interceptors a day, and we can supply at least another 1,000 a day to our allies. Second, we know how to build radar and acoustic coverage to respond to how “shaheds” and other drones approach. Third, we have software that allows radars to keep working even under electronic warfare jamming. In real time, we analyze enemy frequencies and respond to them. And because of this system, we understand how effective our defense is against almost every attack drone, and we can move our positions and air defense to get better results. This iPad gives full control of the situation because we have a system for using our defense tools. If a “shahed” needs to be stopped in the Emirates – we can do it. If it needs to be stopped in Europe or the United Kingdom – we can do it. It is a matter of technology, investment, and cooperation. And the fact that we got through this winter – which Russia tried to make deadly for all our families – shows that our solutions work. From my address to the Parliament of the United Kingdom (4/7)

✂️ Oil Boom Won’t Shield Russia From Billion-Dollar Spending Cuts Despite the unexpected windfall of a Middle East conflict pushing oil prices higher, the Russian government has begun pressing ahead with sweeping spending cuts worth billions of dollars. “Spending cuts will kill the last bit of economic growth,” a senior official at the Ministry of Economic Development told The Bell. According to Vedomosti, at the start of the year Russia’s Finance Ministry notified all ministries of a 10% across-the-board reduction in spending. Bloomberg estimates the largest possible cut would amount to around 2 trillion rubles ($25 billion), or 0.8% of GDP — though The Bell’s own calculations suggest a more likely range of 0.5–1 trillion rubles ($6–12 billion). So-called “unprotected” budget lines will be first in line for cuts: national projects, infrastructure investment and road construction. Although the Finance Ministry wields considerable authority, sequestration is far from inevitable and is already facing pushback. “The plan is not to cut what is inflated, but what is left — and that’s just crumbs,” said one official at the Ministry of Economic Development. “This year, there is not much room. A transition period could be considered going forward,” a government official agreed. The cuts stem from structural long-term shortfalls. The budget rests on implausibly optimistic assumptions — oil at $59 a barrel, a rate of 92.2 rubles to the dollar — and authorities are banking on $15 billion from a VAT hike that looks increasingly unlikely to materialise amid slowing growth. ➡️ For the first three years of the war, the budget ran fat. Now, with belts tightening and the war still ongoing, civilian spending is the only lever left to pull — even as it has already been squeezed to the bone.

For the first time, an Iranian-backed militia has carried out an FPV drone attack in Iraq, an incredibly dangerous new development. Seen here, the FPV munition flies around Victory Base near Baghdad International Airport before slamming into a building.