Sabotage of global infra, Kakhovka dam, spy arrests, hackers and NATO

Welcome to my weekly newsletter about everything related to war in Ukraine and realgeopolik. I try not to repeat the news you've already seen, but share the 2-3 page news you might have missed but what matter. Or just reflect the different angle.

Russia continues the hybrid war on global infrastructure

Even though the terrorist behind the Nord Stream pipeline damage was not named (despite looking like a duck and quacking like a duck), the deliberate damage to infrastructure continues. Oct 22 internet communication and phone cable to Shetland (UK) were deliberately cut. leaving the island without a connection. Meanwhile, the Russian "research ship" Akademik Petrov was seen hanging around. Read more. Yesterday, as well multiple fiber cables were cut in France as an "act of sabotage", causing disruption in connections to Europe, Asia and US Read more. Two weeks ago German railway cables were cut, causing significant disorders and damage in Germany for Deutsche Bahn. Read more. We have truly entered the new stage of hybrid war that Russia is waging on Europe and unless we "sanction the duck out of Russia" (quoting Lithuanian minister Landsbergis) and beat them on a battlefield, these acts of sabotage will not stop.

Kakhovka dam - what next?

While Ukrainian troops are continuing to advance and Russian troops are withdrawing from Kherson region, Ukraine is facing the new significant threat - Russians blowing up the Kakhovka dam, causing significant disaster and damage to settlements and people in the region, cutting Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant from cooling water and Crimea from water. Read more.

Russian espionage - from Ukraine to Iran

Security Service of Ukraine has detained the president of Ukrainian manufacturer of aircraft engines and industrial turbines Vyacheslav Boguslaev "Motor Sich" with accusation of selling components to Russia as well as state treason. Russian state symbols as well as special "ceritficate" of cooperation with Russia were confiscated during the raid. He is facing the possible life sentence. Meanwhile Israel Telegram channel is reporting that Iranian hackers have hacked Teheran archives, demanded to free all the prisoners and after decline of the demand, leaked 100 000+ documents about the nuclear program and co-operation with Russia. Read more.

And what is doing NATO?

Probably it is just me, but I noticed for the first time secretary general of NATO Jens Stoltenberg confirming that NATO (not NATO members) will supply Ukraine with anti-drone air defence systems to protect the civilians and infrastructure against Iranian-made drones. 10 Iranian instructors of drones are confirmed to be killed in the territory of Ukraine - Crimea. Meanwhile, Teheran has announced that 22 countries, including Armenia, wants purchase the droned. Talking about drones, somehow in a strange way over 80 of Swedish speeding cameras were stolen in August, just to be found in Russian-made drones. But yes, NATO is holding the annual trainings also in Lithuania and Poland (Iron Wolf and Puma), being as close as 10 kilometers to Belarus border. While the "potato dictator" Lukashenko is saying "they havent even started" NATO is giving not even a subtle hint "and you better not". Read more. Also the US Army 101 Airborn Division has been deployed for the first time in 80 years in Europe. The "deployed in hours" unit is just near border of Romania and Ukraine, while former General Petraeus has told that "US may directly enter Ukraine war without NATO". Two parts of this sentence might be pure coincidence just as I might be wrong in thinking that former head of CIA is the "messenger of US". Read more.

Elon Musk and Starlink

Why oh why is one of the richest men in Earth (and probably Mars) hanging around with small miserable Kremlin minions. Cmon, Medvedev? Meanwhile US is getting more concerned about reliability of Starlink and is looking at options to financing some programs and has even cleared the Starlink supplying Iranian opposition with terminals and connection. Read more. Ukrainian government is in direct contact with Elon Musk and co-operation continues with over 25 000 terminals in Ukraine already. And European Space Agency has replaced Roskomos with SpaceX to launch 2 high-profile missions next year. Read more.

Btw, was very interesting experience giving for the first time interview for Al Arabiya and , thank you Gilane Fatayri.