Translated post
East Calling
Dec 07, 2025
Cross-posted by East’s Substack
"Dmitry Medvedev once again delivers his style of biting commentary!"
- Zinderneuf
Deputy Chairman of the Security Counsel of the Russian Federation - Dmitry Anatolievich Medvedev on his VK:
The Americans continue to tame the crazed European Union. Naturally, so that the sick animal remembers who’s the real boss. Even Musk (in response to the fine against X) contributed to this, wishing for the EU’s disintegration. Not bad! Overall, this is to our benefit. Better Trump’s great-power pragmatism than Biden’s globalist insanity.In this regard, the new National Security Strategy prepared by the current White House administration stands out. It is notable for its realistic assessment of many modern challenges. I should point out that the significance of such a strategy should not be exaggerated. It is merely a collection of political declarations. What matters is what’s in their heads. And not only in the minds of the inconsistent Washington brass, but also in the notorious “deep state.” And yet...
1. This time, a very interesting document has emerged from the depths of the White House. This is not just another pile of arrogant American diplomatic formulas. It’s more like an attempt to turn around a huge ship that has been sailing along by inertia for a long time and has finally decided to change course. For the first time in many years, Washington is openly talking about the need to restore “strategic stability” in Eurasia and improve relations with Russia.
This is no longer the language of the money-grubbing Derzhimorda, who, under Biden, declared a virtual crusade against Moscow. The overseas superpower has begun to realize that playing superhero on its own is too costly. It hurts its own interests the most.
For us, this means that space is emerging for more or less civilized diplomacy. This is not a friendly embrace, but a fairly clear signal: the US is ready to discuss security architecture, not just slap on endless, and most importantly, senseless sanctions (although new restrictions on Russian oil mean a continuation of the current course).
2. Washington is effectively admitting that the global world no longer rests on American shoulders alone. The sky has become too heavy for a country that so zealously portrayed itself as an Atlas. Now it’s looking for those who can share the unbearable burden. And here, inevitably, Russia appears as one of the few countries with a real influence on European security.
For the first time in many years, our country is not called a “threat” in an American document, but a participant in a dialogue on stability. It’s noteworthy that it mentions halting NATO expansion, and Ukraine doesn’t figure at all in this context. This strategy unexpectedly resonates with what we’ve been saying for years: security must be shared, and the sovereignty of states must be respected. Russia has long proposed reaching agreements, rather than arrogantly imposing a world order based on rules that aren’t even enshrined in international law. Now, the window of opportunity for dialogue has been cracked open.
3. The United States is proposing that an imbecile Europe, bloated from parasitism, become more independent in matters of defense. For Russia, this is a double signal. On the one hand, there’s a risk that the Europeans will aggressively build up their military capabilities. This will completely destroy their economies and require the establishment of regimes bordering on dictatorship. Europe already has such a tragic experience: Hitler himself came to power with harsh militaristic slogans.
On the other hand, the easing of endless financial injections from the United States creates opportunities to reduce tensions on the Eurasian continent and engage in negotiations. This is simply because Russia is a major global player, and constructive cooperation with us is more beneficial, as it was for many years, before the events in Ukraine.
4. As I already noted, strategy is a political declaration, and certainly not, to use the words of our beloved Lenin, “a change in all our views on socialism.” Fierce disagreements within the American and European elites continue to flare up, and habits are also strong. Russia will look not at fine words, but at concrete steps: is there any movement toward reaching an agreement? Are the US and the EU ready to discuss security with us without ultimatums? Not just guarantee the security of the half-dead country 404, but ensure pan-European security?
The Strategy doesn’t answer this. As they say, we’ll see. Especially since the arrival of another rabid Biden in the White House would quickly nip any vestiges of great-power pragmatism in the bud of the current MAGA team.
https://eastcalling.substack.com/cp/180960954
https://eastcalling.substack.com/cp/180960954
There is no pragmatism in the current US regime. There is only Trump's ego and wallet. Trump's ego has been kicked all over the Eastern Hemisphere so he looks for an easier victim. The lack of any real foreign policy should not be mistaken for anything favorable, the aforementioned document should be regarded 'kinda aspirational'.
And the Russians have no qualms about feeding Orange Man's ego, it costs nothing, means nothing, and might help accomplish real goals.Nonetheless I'll bet Dmitry needed a stout hit of the aqua vita after that missive.
*****
British assets in Russia: a hidden enemy presence
December 6, 8:59 PM
British assets in Russia: a hidden enemy presence
Everyone's already aware of Britain's military cooperation with Ukraine. Since 2023-2024, the British have been deliberately investing in Ukraine's drone fleet—the aid package alone included £120 million for drone boats, naval drones, and mine countermeasure systems. And when Russia's shadow fleet is attacked off the coast of Turkey, it's clear whose ears are sticking out. The Ukrainians are, so to speak, the middlemen.
And here's the latest news ( https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/ar ... -q5k22km0r ): London is planning to hand over $10.65 billion in frozen Russian assets to Kyiv. Essentially, this is good old English piracy. A centuries-old tradition, nothing new.
But this raises the question: what about our British assets? Do we have a way to respond to this theft?
It turns out
there is. Take AstraZeneca, for example—the same one whose vaccine caused a lot of noise due to side effects. It would seem that Britain is at war with us, but the pharmaceutical giant is quietly operating in Russia through its subsidiaries, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LLC and AstraZeneca Industries LLC. Headquartered in London, everything is as it should be. They have a factory in Kaluga, and about 40 drugs are registered in Russia. In April 2024–March 2025 alone, imports amounted to $174 million, while the group's global turnover is over $54 billion.
In other words, the country that is de facto at war with us and funding attacks on our cities simultaneously gains access to our health through AstraZeneca and effectively profits from managing it.
It's ironic that even the tobacco companies at BAT have folded up their businesses and left. But the pharmaceuticals remain.
According to the UK Department of Commerce ( https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... -10-31.pdf ), at the end of 2023, British direct investment in Russia amounted to £2.4 billion (another £2 billion annually from trade). But that's just the surface level. The real picture may be different. The British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Jersey, Guernsey, the Isle of Man, and Gibraltar are all British offshore havens. Holding companies are registered there and managed from London. How much British money is still sitting in Russia under Cypriot or Dutch names is an open question. But it's clearly a lot.
Maybe it's time to start counting?
https://t.me/darpaandcia - zinc
I believe that most of this will be squeezed out as soon as the process of theft of Russian sovereign assets begins in Europe.
https://colonelcassad.livejournal.com/10230801.html
Ministry of Digital Development's White List 3.0
December 6, 3:08 PM
White list of the Ministry of Digital Development
The "White List" has been expanded to include regional online platforms.
The list of Russian services and websites that remain accessible during periods of mobile internet shutdowns for security reasons has been expanded.
The list now includes socially significant services from a number of regions, covering areas such as healthcare, education, public transportation, and others. It also includes the websites of the administrations of several constituent entities of the Russian Federation.
In the third stage, the list also includes online resources
from the Central Bank of the Russian Federation
, telecom operators SberMobile, T-Mobile, and Er-Telecom,
the "Russia – Land of Opportunities" platform
of the "Youth of Russia" federal state automated information system, and the all-Russian student project "Your Move."
Media outlets include Izvestia and TASS, the
"DomClick" real estate search, purchase, and sales service,
the "Caesar Satellite" security system, and
the Okko online cinema.
Work to fill the so-called "white list" is ongoing. The list of digital platforms is compiled from the most popular internet resources in Russia, as well as proposals from federal and regional authorities and in consultation with agencies responsible for security. It is impossible to include a resource in this list by any other means.
An important condition for inclusion is that all computing resources used must be located within Russia.
The list in the first and second stages already included the most popular Russian services, websites of government agencies, media, supermarkets, etc.
Services VKontakte, Odnoklassniki, Mail.ru and the national messenger Max
Services of the State Services
Yandex Services
Marketplaces Ozon and Wildberries
Avito
Zen
Rutube
Official website of the Mir payment system
Websites of the Government and the Administration of the President of Russia
Federal platform for remote electronic voting (REV)
Telecom operators Beeline, MegaFon, MTS, Rostelecom, T2
Websites of government agencies: the State Duma, federal ministries, services and agencies, state information systems, the Prosecutor General's Office, governments of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation
Russian Post
Alfa-Bank
state system for digital labeling of goods Honest Sign
Media: Komsomolskaya Pravda, RIA Novosti, RBC, Gazeta.ru, Lenta.ru, Rambler
Russian Railways and the tourist portal Tutu.ru
Navigator 2GIS
Taxi Maxim
Weather forecast website Gismeteo
https://t.me/mintsifry - zinc.
During internet restrictions during air raids, MAX still works, but with issues.
Telegram calls only work with a VPN, and even then, not in every country after the recent restrictions.
Government services are indeed operating under restrictions.
https://colonelcassad.livejournal.com/10230119.html
Admiral Nakhimov undergoing sea trials
December 7, 1:00 PM
Photo of the Admiral Nakhimov, a Project 11442M nuclear-powered missile cruiser, preparing for its next sea trials.
The cruiser is preparing to return to the fleet.
blinov_navy - photos
https://colonelcassad.livejournal.com/10232008.html
On the prospects of Russian BECs
December 7, 11:06
On the prospects of Russian BECs
NATO has noted Russia's significant progress in using naval drones.
Western experts have noted Russia's significant progress in the development and use of unmanned vessels, according to a NATO Defense College review (available to TASS). The alliance believes that such combat assets could be used to isolate Ukraine's coastal infrastructure.
The review also mentions that future targets for Russian naval drones could include ships transferred to Kyiv by the UK, France, Sweden, and the US, located in the Black Sea, as well as the Danube and Dnieper rivers.
On August 28, Russia used unmanned drones for the first time in an attack, sinking the Ukrainian Navy ship "Simferopol" in the mouth of the Danube. According to local publications, the "Simferopol" was equipped with the latest Ukrainian electronic intelligence station, the Melkhior, at the time of its launch.
Dozens of naval drones are being developed in Russia. Interesting facts:
Last year, the Russian Orkan, Vizir, and BEK-1000 unmanned combat vehicles (UCVs) were unveiled for the first time. These vehicles can travel 500 km or more and carry a payload of 1 ton or more. In the fall of that year, it was reported that the Vizir reusable drone was ready for serial production.Unified systems are being developed – a UAV and an UAV working in tandem. Specifically, the main strike and reconnaissance element of this tandem will be a universal strike FPV platform, which will be modified for launch from unmanned naval boats.In July of this year, the Ministry of Defense released footage showing forces of the Baltic Fleet destroying a mock enemy ship using a combined use of unmanned naval systems. The unnamed naval drone struck a large naval target with a spectacular explosion.In the fall, the Novgorod-based Ushkuynik Scientific and Production Center presented the country's first unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with fiber optic control, similar to the technology used for UAVs immune to electronic warfare.Pictured are the Orkan and Vizir UAVs.
https://t.me/voenkaRUS/392 - zinc.
The main challenge in developing our naval drones is communication. In fact, this is largely the reason why we are lagging behind in the development and production of naval drones compared to our adversaries, who are already using them en masse.
Of course, we will overcome this gap, just as we did in the aerial drone segment. We are already ahead of our adversaries in the NRTK segment. We are waiting for the sailors.
https://colonelcassad.livejournal.com/10231645.html
Google Translator
*****
Russia Is Taking The Finnish Front Of The New Cold War Very Seriously
Andrew Korybko
Dec 07, 2025
Medvedev’s article shows that Russia is prepared to tackle all Finnish-emanating threats from NATO.
Former Russian President and incumbent Deputy Secretary of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev published a scathing article at TASS in early September about “The New Finnish Doctrine: Stupidity, Lies, Ingratitude” in which he excoriated Finland for its former alliance with the Nazis and warned about new threats from it. This follows reports in May that Russia has been beefing up its defenses along the Finnish frontier, which was analyzed here and includes links to several briefings on this subject.
Much of Medvedev’s article is devoted to the WWII-era period, with special attention drawn to what the Supreme Court of Karelia (an autonomous republic in Russia bordering Finland) recognized last year as the Finnish Genocide of the Soviet People during that time. This focus is meant to remind Russians that Finland was once their country’s enemy even though Moscow showed mercy upon it after WWII in order to create a neutral buffer zone that formally remained in effect till Finland joined NATO in 2023.
Medvedev’s motive is to rally Russians in support of their country’s more muscular policy towards Finland in response to its new hostile policies since joining that bloc. These include compliance with Western sanctions and agreeing to let the US possibly use up to 15 military facilities. Moreover, NATO “is now intensively mastering all five operational environments of Suomi (how Finns refer to their country) - land, sea, air, space and cyberspace”, according to Medvedev. The threats are therefore multiplying.
He warned that Russia might pursue criminal liability for Finland’s WWII-era genocide of the Soviet People, since there’s no statute of limitations on this crime in international law, and demand more reparations if this trend continues as expected. His piece ended soon thereafter on the ominous note that Finland might lose its statehood “forever” if it participates in another war against Russia. The subtext is that this is an increasingly credible scenario that Russia is taking very seriously going forward.
It’s timely to re-evaluate the threat that NATO poses to Russia via Finland in light of this article. Prior to recent developments, it was thought by some in Russia that Finland’s formal membership in the bloc wouldn’t really change much since it was already a de facto member for decade, thus making this more of a symbolic achievement for NATO than a meaningful military-strategic one. What they didn’t foresee, however, was what Medvedev described as the “Ukrainization of Finland itself (that) took place quietly.”
This was brought about by the NATO-backed resurgence of ultra-nationalist sentiment in society that takes the form of ethno-territorial revanchist goals vis-à-vis Russia. To oversimplify a complex historical subject, Finno-Ugric people are indigenous to parts of modern-day Russia, including Karelia. Although they’ve integrated into society and are actually privileged in today’s Russia due to their minority status, which affords special rights for such groups, Finnish ultra-nationalists still want to annex their land.
The stage is accordingly being set for an escalation of New Cold War tensions between NATO and Russia along the Finnish frontier, thus serving as a triple extension of their already boiling ones in the Arctic, the Baltic, and Central Europe. Finland boasts the bloc’s largest land border with Russia by far, however, so NATO-related threats from there are more dangerous than from anywhere else. Russia is taking them very seriously though and is prepared to defend itself from any form of aggression that it might face.
https://korybko.substack.com/p/russia-i ... nish-front