Google Earth has updated its images of Novaya Zemlya, the Arctic archipelago where Russia’s nuclear weapon designers are conducting tests of their latest inventions. The Barents Observer zooms in 📡 and highlight the facilities at Pankovo test site for the Burevestnik ⚛️ ☢️ missile.

“Russia is waging a hybrid war against Denmark because they want to create uncertainty," said the director of Danish Defence Intelligence Service. www.fe-ddis.dk/globalassets...

At least 60 Russian conscripts were KIA during Ukraine's invasion of Russia's Kursk region in summer/fall 2024, per @istories.bsky.social. Similar number MIA. This is problematic for Defense Ministry, b/c conscripts are barred from being deployed to combat. t.me/istories_med...

An American is talking to a Soviet: “In my country we have freedom of speech. I can go to the White House and shout, ‘You’re a dictator, Ronald Reagan!’” Soviet man: “We too have freedom of speech. I can go to Red Square and shout ‘You’re a dictator, Ronald Reagan!’”

Russian journalist Svetlana Khustik faces up to 10 years in prison on charges of spreading “fake” information about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. CPJ calls on Russian authorities to end the prosecution and release her immediately. cpj.org?p=526875

Nearly 40 percent of Russia's refining capacity has been knocked off-line--mostly by Ukrainian drone attacks, per RBC. Yaroslavl officials say this refinery, which caught fire yesterday, was not caused by a Ukrainian drone (though alot of skepticism) www.moscowtimes.ru/2025/09/30/v...

"If previously, the Russian economy resembled a marathon runner on budget steroids, now it is transforming into a country with a low growth trajectory, moderately high inflation, persistently high interest rates, and fiscal consolidation..." carnegieendowment.org/russia-euras...

Russian deputy FM Sergei Ryabkov says next round of US-Russia talks should take place before autumn's end; says Russia REALLY wants resumption of flights by civilian airlines; also no response from US yet to Putin proposal on New START extension. tass.ru/politika/252...

Trump: "I think we should maybe start thinking about battleships, by the way. We have a Secretary of Navy who came to me, 'cause I look at the Iowa out in California and I look at different ships, the old pictures. I used to watch Victory at Sea. I love Victory at Sea. And I look at those ships... "

Trump to generals: "America is under invasion from within. We're under invasion from within. No different than a foreign enemy, but more difficult in any ways because they don't wear uniforms. At least when they're wearing a uniform you can take them out."

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, speaking live here 👇 to ~800 US generals, admirals, top flag officers in Quantico, Virginia www.c-span.org/event/white-...

"Meet the San Francisco woman who charges $30,000 to name your baby" www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/b...

Kyiv's Institute of Cardiology was damaged in the Russian attack; 2 people killed here. Damage in other districts is extensive. By @radiosvoboda.org.web.brid.gy

Massive 12-hour Russian attack overnight on Kyiv and other Ukraine regions; hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles. At least 4 people killed in Kyiv and more than 3 dozen wounded, per emergency officials.

Fair and accurate post by Andrew McCarthy criticizing the Comey indictment. He doesn’t explain the procedural mechanism he’d use to get the court to dismiss the indictment for lack of evidence - there really isn’t one post-indictment in the federal system./1 www.nationalreview.com/2025/09/the-...

Sometimes it seems that Lukashenko spends more time at the Kremlin than he does in Minsk. (also wonder if Putin gets tired of all the bro-hugs...)

Comey indictment:

lol

State Dept. readout of Rubio and Lavrov's meeting in New York today. (doesn't sound like it was very productive).

Russia's Finance Ministry calls for hiking the VAT from 20 percent to 22 percent as of Jan. 1, as the government tries to close a budget hole caused by a) slowing economy and b) torrents of spending on the Ukraine war. t.me/tass_agency/... t.me/interfaxonli...

As I was saying…

Russian authorities are green-lighting ships without ice-class on the Northern Sea Route. This month, it could have ended in catastrophe

Here's Errol Musk, Elon's father, who traveled to Moscow in June, to speak at a forum organized by Russian traditional values oligarchs Alexander Dugin and Konstantin Malofeyev

NEW: Elon Musk’s father, Errol Musk, has been accused by family members of sexually abusing five of his children and stepchildren. Elon has repeatedly had to intervene, a secret that’s spanned generations. Our months-long investigation www.nytimes.com/2025/09/23/w...

BREAKING: Russian aircraft three times violated Norwegian airspace, says PM Jonas Gahr Støre

NATO statement following today's Article 4 meetings called by Estonia (in response to last week's airspace violation by Russian fighter jets). www.nato.int/cps/en/natoh...

Russian President Vladimir Putin proposes extending the conditions/terms of New START arms control treaty (with the US) for 1 year, after the treaty expires next year. t.me/tass_agency/...

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov comments on Estonian accusations that Russian warplanes violated Estonian airspace: "We consider such statements to be empty, groundless, and the continuation of a blatant policy of escalating tensions and stoking a confrontational atmosphere."

The head of Britain's MI6 offers this updated assessment of Russia's casuallties (KIA/MIA) in the Ukraine war.

Russia's Col. Gen. Aleksandr Lapin, who commanded the Leningrad Military District, has been dismissed from the military, per RBK. He was criticized for the army's performance in Ukraine in 2022; also blamed (partly) for Ukraine's invasion of Kursk last year. t.me/rbc_news/131...

Russia resurrected the Soviet-era song contest Intervision last night. Here's what it looked like back in the 70s and 80s. www.rferl.org/a/27733007.h...

12 minutes is deliberate.

👀Estonia says 3 Russian MiG 31 fighter jets violated Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finland without permission --- and remained there for 12 minutes today. www.vm.ee/uudised/vali...

Jon Stewart's Post-Kimmel Primer on Free Speech in the Glorious Trump Era youtu.be/_GXNJ3V9lzg

Kozak’s departure is notable not only because of his longevity as a Putin insider -- but also because of how rare it is for people close to Putin to leave the Kremlin or government (either voluntarily or involuntarily). www.rferl.org/a/kozak-resi...

Here 👇 is the Russian satirical puppet show Kukly, which Putin hated. NTV founder Vladimir Gusinsky said that was a major reason for the Kremlin attacking, then taking over the TV channel, after Putin became president in May 2000. youtu.be/uot2q7MEWPo?...

‼️Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirms that Kozak has resigned. "We haven't published the decree yet, but I can confirm that he has resigned, on his own volition." t.me/tass_agency/...

Dmitry Kozak, a top, close, very longtime Putin advisor and Kremlin confidante, is resigning, per multiple sources (notably RBK and Forbes). He's currently deputy head of the Presidential Administration. He's also reportedly an opponent of the Ukraine war. t.me/rbc_news/130... t.me/forbesrussia...

Russia's deputy foreign minister says US-Russian negotiations are NOT progressing on 2 of thorniest issues: 1) resumption of direct civilian flights, 2) mutual return of diplomatic properties. (Moscow REALLY wants its estates in Maryland and New York back).

(intense) video of a Russia missile slamming into a university -- the National Pharmaceutical University -- in Kharkiv earlier today. Local officials say 4 people wounded; no deaths reported. (source: t.me/V_Zelenskiy_...)

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov is asked about the state of Russia-US talks regarding the Ukraine war: “Our negotiators have the opportunity to communicate through certain channels. But for now, it is probably more accurate to talk about a pause.”

EXCLUSIVE/BOMBSHELL: @bloomberg.com has obtained **18K** previously unreported emails from Jeffery Epstein's personal Yahoo account. The emails are disturbing & revelatory & reveal new details about Ghilaine Maxwell's role FREE to read www.bloomberg.com/features/202...

US envoy John Cole met with Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko today. Cole said US was lifting sanctions on national airline Belavia. Official press pool also got a shot of a Trump birthday letter to Lukashenko (and mentioning Belarusian tennis champ Aryna Sabalenka)

This is one of the better journalistic articles about the cuts at State I’ve read: www.csmonitor.com/USA/Foreign-...

Polish military statement on shooting down Russian drones: "an unprecedented violation of Polish airspace by drone-type objects. This is an act of aggression that posed a real threat to the safety of our citizens...."

24 now confirmed killed in this Russian bombing on the Ukrainian village of Yarova, per @ZelenskyyUa. Most, if not all, were reportedly older people, retirees lining up for their pension payments. t.me/V_Zelenskiy_...