🇷🇺❌🇺🇦 — 🇺🇦 General Staff of the Armed Forces:

"Operational Information as of 08:00 on 21.08.2026 regarding the Russian invasion

The 1640th day of the full-scale armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine has begun.

In total, 238 combat clashes were recorded during the past 24 hours.

Yesterday, the enemy launched one missile strike, used missiles that enter their target along a ballistic trajectory, and used 44 cruise/aviation missiles launched from air, ground, and sea-based platforms. They also conducted 87 air strikes using 278 guided air bombs, involved 10,821 kamikaze drones in attacks, and carried out 3077 shelling attacks on the positions of our troops and settlements.

The following settlements in the Sumy region (Neskuchne, Sopych, Koreniok, Potapivka, Volfine, Bezsaliivka, Ulanove, Tovstodubove) and the settlements of Zorya, Buda-Vorobivska, and Yanzhulivka were subjected to artillery fire by the enemy. The enemy also launched an air strike on the area near Velika Chernechchyna.

During the past 24 hours, aviation, rocket forces, and artillery of the Defense Forces struck six unmanned aerial vehicle control points and three areas of concentration of enemy personnel.

In the North-Slobozhansk and Kuriisk directions, our defenders repelled three enemy assaults during the past 24 hours. At the same time, the enemy launched three air strikes, dropping six air bombs, and carried out 53 shelling attacks on the positions of our troops and settlements, including two with multiple launch rocket systems.

In the South-Slobozhansk direction, Ukrainian units repelled eight enemy attacks. The invaders attempted to advance towards the settlements of Lyman, Izbytske, and Okhrimivka, as well as in the area of Starytsia.

On the Kupiansk direction, there were 15 enemy offensive operations towards Radkivka and Hlushkivka.

Attempts to break through our defenses were repelled on the Lyman direction, where the occupiers attacked six times towards the settlements of Lyman, Novoseriivka, Drobysheve, and in the area of Novoselivka.

On the Sloviansk direction, the enemy launched 15 assault operations towards the settlements of Ozirne, Orikhuvatka, Rai-Oleksandrivka, and in the area of Kryva Luka and Riznykivka.

On the Kramatorsk direction, Russian invaders launched two offensive operations in the areas of Nykyforivka and Minkivka.

On the Kostyantynivka direction, 26 attacks were recorded. The invaders conducted assault operations in the areas of the settlements of Kostyantynivka, Ivanovpillya, Illinivka, Novoselivka, and towards Stepanivka, Dovha Balka, and Vilne.

Thirty-two attacks were carried out by the enemy on the Pokrovsk direction. The occupiers attempted to advance in the areas of the settlements of Dorozhne, Novooleksandrivka, Udachne, Kotlyne, and towards the settlements of Novyi Donbas, Bilyakivka, Bilytske, Hanniivka, Svitle, Shevchenko, Myrne, Vasyiivka, Sergiivka, Novopavlivka.

On the Oleksandrivka direction, the invaders launched three attacks towards Nove Zaporezhzhia and in the areas of the settlements of Zaporezhske and Rybne.

On the Huliaipole direction, the occupiers launched 16 attacks on the positions of our defenders. The enemy attempted to advance towards the settlements of Verkhnia Tersa, Charivne, Vozdvizhivka, Rivne, Dolynka, and in the area of Bilohiria.

On the Orikhiv direction, our defenders repelled three enemy attempts to advance in the area of Plavne and towards Mala Tokmachka and Novandriivka.

On the Prydniprovsky direction, the enemy did not conduct offensive operations.

In the Volyn and Polissia directions, no signs of the formation of offensive formations of the occupiers were detected.

In total, during the past 24 hours, the losses of the Russian invaders amounted to 1390 people. Also, three tanks, five armored combat vehicles, 57 artillery systems, two multiple launch rocket systems, four air defense systems, 12 ground robotic complexes, 39 missiles, 1980 unmanned aerial vehicles, 551 units of trucks, and eight units of special equipment of the enemy were destroyed."

🔗 Source:

The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.

❗️ From 15 to 21 August, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation carried out one massive and nine group strikes by precision weaponry and long-range UAV, which hit Ukrainian defence industry enterprises, logistics centres, fuel-power and transport infrastructure facilities used by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, manufacturing workshops of ground-based robotic systems, unmanned aerial vehicles, uncrewed surface vehicles and their components, Flamingo long-range cruise missile preparation and launch sites, ammunition, fuel and materiel depots, as well as temporary deployment areas of Ukrainian armed groups and foreign mercenaries.

💥 In addition, the infrastructure of the Ukrainian seaports intended for unloading and storing military cargo as well as fuel and lubricants for the AFU, were hit.

🔥 Over the last week, two patrol vessels of the Ukrainian Navy, 10 dry cargo ships and two tankers operating in the interests of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been hit.

🚩 Last week, the Sever Group of Forces took control over Kudiyevka (Kharkov region).

💥 Manpower and military hardware of six mechanised brigades, two motorised infantry brigades, two airmobile brigades, two rocket artillery brigades, two assault regiments of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, two territorial defence brigades, one national guard brigade, and one border detachment of the Ukrainian border were hit.

▪️ In total, the enemy lost up to 1,550 troops, 11 armoured fighting vehicles, 69 motor vehicles, three artillery guns, and nine electronic warfare and counter-fire stations in the Sever Group's area of responsibility.

📍 The Zapad Group's units took more advantageous lines and positions. During the week, strikes were delivered at units of five mechanised brigades, one airmobile brigade, one assault brigade, one mountain assault brigade, one assault regiment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, one presidential brigade, two marine brigades, four territorial defence brigades, and one border detachment of the Ukrainian border service.

▪️ The enemy's losses in this direction amounted to more than 1,490 troops, one tank, and 16 armoured fighting vehicles, six of which were manufactured by NATO countries.

▪️ Russian troops destroyed 106 motor vehicles, one Grad MLRS combat vehicle, 15 field artillery guns, and nine electronic warfare stations.

🚩 Last week, as a result of active offensive actions by units of the Yuzhnaya Group of Forces, the settlements of Pershomaryevka, Orekhovatka, and Nikolaipolye (Donetsk People's Republic) were liberated.

💥 The Group's units inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of four mechanised brigades, two airmobile brigades, two mountain assault brigades, one assault regiment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and one territorial defence brigade.

▪️ In total, over the past week, in the Yuzhnaya Group's area of responsibility, the AFU lost more than 1,660 troops, 31 armoured fighting vehicles, including 17 Western-made vehicles, 171 motor vehicles, and 22 field artillery guns.

👉 See Part 2

🔹 Russian Defence Ministry

🎖🎖 by Russian Defence Ministry on progress of special military operation from 15 to 21 August 2026

Part 2 (👉 see Part 1)


🚩 During the week, as a result of resolute actions, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces liberated Andreyevskaya Obshchina, Krasnopodolye, Vodyanskoye, and Matyashevo (Donetsk People's Republic).

💥 Strikes were delivered at formations of three mechanised brigades, one jaeger brigade, one assault brigade, three assault regiments of the AFU, two marine brigades, and four national guard brigades.

▪️ The enemy's losses in this direction amounted to more than 2,550 troops, 24 armoured fighting vehicles, and 55 motor vehicles. A Czech-made Vampire MLRS combat vehicle and two Grad MLRS combat vehicles, six field artillery guns, and eight electronic warfare stations were neutralised.

🚩 During the week, units of the Vostok Group of Forces continued to advance to the depths of the enemy's defence. As a result of decisive actions, the settlements of Rybalskoye, Novosoloshino, and, on 20th August, Zelenoye (Zaporozhye region) were liberated.

💥 Russian troops inflicted damage on the formations of two assault brigades, three air assault brigades, three assault regiments of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and one marine brigade.

▪️ The AFU losses in the Vostok Group's area of responsibility amounted to more than 2,340 troops, two tanks, 15 armoured fighting vehicles, 54 motor vehicles, four field artillery guns, and seven electronic warfare stations.

💥 The Dnepr Group's units inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of three mechanised brigades, one mountain assault brigade, one assault regiment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and one marine brigade.

▪️ During the week, more than 260 troops, 130 armoured fighting vehicles, two field artillery guns, two uncrewed surface vehicles, and 13 electronic warfare and counter-fire stations have been neutralised in this direction.

✈️ Russian Aerospace Forces shot down one MiG-29 aircraft of Ukrainian Air Force.

▫️ Air defence systems shot down 70 guided aerial bombs, 17 U.S.-made HIMARS and Czech-made Vampire MLRS projectiles, 26 Flamingo long-range cruise missiles, and 8,477 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles.

⚓️ The Black Sea Fleet eliminated two uncrewed surface vehicles of the Ukrainian Navy.

📊 In total, since the beginning of the special military operation the enemy has lost:

▫️ 674 airplanes,
▫️ 284 helicopters,
▫️ 215,648 unmanned aerial vehicles,
▫️ 669 anti-aircraft missile systems,
▫️ 30,672 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles,
▫️ 1,774 MLRS combat vehicles,
▫️ 36,224 field artillery guns and mortars,
▫️ 69,823 units of special military vehicles.

🔹 Russian Defence Ministry

🇺🇦❌🇷🇺 — ✍️ ARKHANGEL SPETSNAZA:

"Attack on Perm

✍️ After several days with over 1000 drones in each attack, the Ukrainian side used a smaller number of drones tonight.

According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, air defense units shot down and destroyed at least 325 drones. If we include the daytime figures, the total number is 389.

▪️ The geography of the attacks remains extensive. The Ukrainian Armed Forces are sending groups of drones in different directions to strain air defense units.

One group was detected overnight over the Republic of Udmurtia and the Perm Region (likely the ones that were sent during the day).

❗️ Ukrainian sources are now circulating videos of an attack on the Perm Oil Refinery, which is over 1600 km away.

Attacks on the oil and gas sector have once again become a priority for the enemy, which has led to a new wave of fuel shortages in Russia."

🔗 Source:

🇺🇦❌⛽️🇷🇺 — 🇺🇦 General Staff of the Armed Forces:

"⚡️⚡️ Strikes hit the "Lukoil-Permnefteorgsintez" oil refinery and the "Marinovka" airfield.

⚡️On the night of August 21, 2026, units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine struck the "Lukoil-Permnefteorgsintez" oil refinery in Perm, Perm Krai, Russia.

A fire was reported on the territory of the facility.

The oil refinery is located over 1500 kilometers from the border of Ukraine.

ℹ️ "Lukoil-Permnefteorgsintez" is one of the leading oil refining enterprises in Russia, located in Perm. The plant's design capacity is over 13 million tons of oil per year.

The plant processes oil and produces over 60 types of products.
The depth of oil refining is approximately 98 percent, which is one of the highest rates among all oil refining enterprises in Russia.

The enterprise is involved in supplying the Russian army.

⚡️Also, the "Marinovka" airfield in the Volgograd region of Russia was struck.

The extent of the damage is being clarified."

🔗 Source:

🇺🇦❌🔫🕊🔫🇷🇺 — 🇺🇦 General Staff of the Armed Forces:

"⚡️⚡️ A storage site for attack drones, warehouses of material and technical supplies, command posts, and enemy ground repeaters have been hit.

On August 20th and during the night of August 21st, 2026, units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces struck a number of important targets of the Russian aggressor.

Specifically, a storage, preparation, and launch site for attack drones was hit in the area of the city of Donetsk, in the Donetsk region.

In addition, a warehouse of material and technical supplies belonging to the enemy was hit in Novoselskoe, in the temporarily occupied territory of Ukrainian Crimea.

Our soldiers also struck two enemy command posts – one in Zaporizhzhia, in the Donetsk region, and another in Kobylne, in the Zaporizhzhia region.

Furthermore, on the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, six ground repeaters used for controlling attack drones of the "Geran" / "Gerbera" type were hit: two in Steregushchy, three in the area of Olenivka, and one in Chornomorske.

ℹ️ A ground repeater provides the transmission of control and communication signals between the operator and the drone, expanding its range and stability."

🔗 Source:

🇺🇸🛰🇷🇺 — ⭐️ Rybar:

"All eyes on Northern Russia! US attention focused on Northern Fleet bases.

Rocket strikes and drone incursions have gradually become a routine part of the conflict. However, even with their frequency, it would be a mistake to think that escalation cannot go further. Attempts by the enemy to use saboteurs and small UAVs, thwarted by the FSB, are proof of this.

Given the attention that American satellites are paying to Russian facilities, there are grounds to believe that subversive activity will only increase.

🔻What are the US observing?
➡️ In the first half of August, military satellites were tracking the positions of the Northern Fleet in the area around Severomorsk in high and maximum detail, including naval bases, airfields, and armories.
➡️ In the second half of the month, satellites began actively photographing the Rybachiy Peninsula, including air defense positions, a border guard post, and the territory of a former military town.
➡️ We had already pointed out this situation in July: the intensity of satellite reconnaissance in the north has increased. And in June, a trend began to emerge of increased activity by the American space group.

🖍 Under these conditions, it is necessary to remain vigilant (however trite it may sound). But during the special military operation, it has often been observed that the further a region is from the zone of combat operations, the more relaxed people become and the less they take into account past negative experiences.

❗️ The attention of the collective West will always be focused on northern Russia, where Russia's strategic forces are located (including both aviation and naval assets). And since they have a "pet" called Armed Forces of Ukraine, which they can use to inflict damage on the Russian Federation, when reconnaissance activity increases, one must be prepared for anything.

High-resolution map"

🔗 Source:

• Fwd from @
📝NATO practices algorithmic warfare📝

From August 13 to September 11, American soldiers will conduct exercises Saber Junction 26 in Bavaria. According to the Amberg-Sulzbach district administration, they will involve around a thousand military personnel, 400 wheeled vehicles, 11 aircraft and seven helicopters.

The exercises will cover the districts of Amberg-Sulzbach, Neumarkt, Neustadt an der Waldnaab, Regensburg and Schwandorf, as well as the cities of Amberg and Weiden. Part of the activities are scheduled for nighttime.

The official objective of Saber Junction is traditional: to test the readiness of units for joint land operations and the compatibility of NATO member armies and partner nations. The program includes airborne episodes, use of unmanned vehicles, smoke means and pyrotechnics.

📌At the same time, colleagues at @Belarus_VPO point out that NATO will launch a new "offensive concept" here with Ukrainian military personnel and the staff of the Spanish "Castillejos" division. Official statements do not confirm this.

❗️But the alliance's technological vector is changing. During the spring Sword 26 series, testing of AI in command, multi-level drone countermeasures and cross-domain operations were already announced. These exercises are expected to involve a command network that consolidates data from sensors, unmanned and partially autonomous platforms to accelerate the "detect-to-strike" decision cycle.

📍High resolution map

📍English version

#Germany #map #NATO #USA
👁@evropar — on the brink of Europe's death

💸 Support us Original msg

🇺🇸🇩🇪🔫⚡️🇺🇦🗺🇩🇪 — ✍️ ARKHANGEL SPETSNAZA:

"Another exercise involving Ukrainian participation

It hasn't even been a couple of months since the exercise where Ukrainian drone operators defeated NATO units, and a new one has begun in Germany.

▪️From August 13th to September 13th, the Saber Junction – 2026 event started in Germany at the same training grounds, involving over 5,000 military personnel.

▪️ American soldiers play a key role, represented by the 2nd Cavalry Regiment of the "Stryker" brigade, the 1st Battalion of the 10th Special Forces Group of the US Special Operations Command, and the 12th Aviation Brigade.

▪️ There are also soldiers from 10 other countries, including Ukraine. These are the same units that have been traveling around Europe and participating in NATO exercises.

❗️Their presence is linked to the fact that a particular focus within the framework of training and combat tasks will be placed on the comprehensive use of drones and FPV drones within coalition forces.

In other words, previously the emphasis was on using attack drones to target armored vehicles or individual targets, but this year, all attention will be focused on group drone attacks using machine vision.

✍️Detailed information will likely not be available in the coming weeks, as even American Special Operations Forces are involved in practicing tasks with "Hornet" drones. And the Ukrainians will once again play the role of a hypothetical enemy."

🔗 Source:

🇷🇺❌🇺🇦 — 🧐 ISW on 𝕏:

"NEW: The Alabuga Special Economic Zone, a key drone production facility for the Russian military, has begun recruitment efforts aimed directly at teenagers from occupied Ukraine.

Other Key Takeaways:

Russian and occupation officials are highlighting Russian efforts to militarize schools in occupied areas in advance of the 2026-2027 school year.

The Russian security apparatus is artificially manipulating border laws to create the impression that occupied Ukrainian territories have been fully integrated into Russia.

The Luhansk Oblast occupation administration is reckoning with significant medical staffing shortages, including in part by relocating Russian doctors to work in occupied areas.

Occupation administrations continue to profit from the seizure and sale of stolen Ukrainian assets."

🔗 Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar)

🗺🇺🇸‼️🇮🇷 — ⭐️ Rybar MENA:

"On the US Military Deployment in the Middle East

Almost six months have passed since the start of Operation "Epic Fury," and discussions in Washington continue regarding its ultimate goal. Nevertheless, there is still no clear sign of de-escalation. A direct indication of this is the deployment of US forces in the area of operations.

🔻What is happening in different parts of the operational zone?

▪️In the Arabian Sea, three carrier strike groups operate, led by the "USS John F. Kennedy", "USS Abraham Lincoln", and the recently arrived "USS Gerald R. Ford". The "Lincoln" is scheduled to be replaced, so for a period, three aircraft carriers are present in the area simultaneously. They are supported by the cruisers "Princeton" and "Richard B. Russell", as well as nine destroyers with guided missile weapons.

▪️In addition, the deployment includes the amphibious assault ship "Boxer", and the amphibious ships "Portland" and "Comstock". This allows the Americans to quickly deploy equipment and supplies to the Persian Gulf region.

▪️In the Red Sea, the destroyer "Gonzalez" is operating. Another four ships with guided missile weapons are located in the Gulf of Aden between Yemen and the Maldives. Their main tasks are to protect shipping and intercept missiles, drones, and unmanned boats of the "Ansar Allah" movement in Sana'a.

▪️In the Mediterranean Sea, the destroyer "Paul Ignatius" is operating off the coast of Cyprus, maintaining a presence off the eastern coast of the Mediterranean. The "Franklin D. Roosevelt" has moved westward, to the Suda Bay area in Crete. If necessary, both ships can use cruise missiles to strike targets in western Iran.

▪️Over the past 24 hours, US and Israeli tactical aviation has conducted 29 flights over Syria and Iraq for combat patrols near the Iranian border. Three E-11A communication aircraft also flew from the "Prince Sultan" airbase, maintaining reliable communication with the US deployment.

▪️Seven US aircraft and six drones were used for reconnaissance. The airspace over Iran was also monitored by three Turkish "Bayraktar TB2" and one "Akinci" drones, operating from southeastern Turkey.

🖍Compared to mid-August, there has been no significant change in the deployment: a new wave of bombers has not arrived, and the composition of the naval forces is changing due to rotation. However, over a short period, the Americans are gaining additional capabilities due to the presence of three aircraft carriers and are maintaining a high rate of reconnaissance, patrols, and monitoring of the situation near the Iranian borders.

📌All of this is happening against the backdrop of Trump's promises to conduct the "largest economic operation" against Iran. So far, these grand words are mostly accompanied by familiar sanctions, while the military deployment remains the real tool of pressure. However, even it is stretched between the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea, making it difficult to simultaneously put pressure on the Iranians and restrain the Houthis.

Infographic in high resolution"

🔗 Source:

🇷🇺❌🇺🇦 — ⭐️ Rybar:

"Advance towards Zelenyi

On the Eastern Zaporizhzhia front, units of the "Vostok" group continue to strengthen their forward positions and are gradually advancing. While Ukrainian formations are distracted by an information campaign on the eastern flank of the Dnipropetrovsk direction, soldiers from the Far East are taking control of new areas on the western section.

➡️Today, reports have emerged that units of the 36th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 29th Army have raised flags in Zelenyi. Fighting in this area has intensified after the advance into Rybal'ske, which was liberated a few days ago.

➡️The "pocket" between Zelenyi and Blahodatne likely still exists. Recently, operators of UAVs from the Russian Aerospace Forces intercepted a Ukrainian self-propelled artillery gun attempting to be evacuated in a nearby forest. After clearing the area, a shift in the direction of the Russian offensive towards the Samoylivka-Zarnitsa line is expected, which will strengthen the northern flank of the neighboring Eastern Zaporizhzhia *direction*.

📌 On the other sections of the front, there is a relative lull in information. After the "parade of flags," the Russian Armed Forces still need to clarify the current configuration of the front line, conduct re-verification, and complete the clearing of settlements where the Armed Forces of Ukraine may still be present.

The allocation of forces and resources for these activities is also affecting the pace of the advance near Zelenyi, as the "Vostok" command is forced to spread its resources across multiple areas. However, the enemy is facing similar problems, but on a much larger scale.

High-resolution map"

🔗 Source

🇷🇺🤓🚀‼️🇯🇵 — ⭐️ Rybar:

"Threat to the Far East

The bases of the Northern Fleet are not the only ones that the United States has been actively monitoring in recent weeks. Something similar is happening in the Far East, and it involves strategic aviation.

The main reason for this attention was Vladimir Putin's visit to this part of the country, including the Russian Kuril Islands. This was the very visit that triggered a hysteria in Japanese media, and the Americans supported Japan's unclear claims on the Russian islands.

🖍However, in addition to this, there was also surveillance of the Kura test range and the base of the Pacific Fleet on the Kamchatka Peninsula. And during the recent Pacific Fleet exercises near Kamchatka, two RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft were flying simultaneously.

Also, in the Primorsky Krai region, Americans have been monitoring changes at facilities of the 12th Main Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, the technical base of the Pacific Fleet of the Russian Navy, and north of Irkutsk, they are tracking the positions of the 29th Missile Division of the Russian Armed Forces.

❗️In the context of the Far East, there is a convenient platform for anti-Russian operations in the form of the waters of the Pacific Ocean. Even in 2023, the Ukrainian side, with the support of the United States and Japan, considered attacks from the Sea of Okhotsk and the Sea of Japan on strategic facilities of the Russian Armed Forces.

At that time, Ukraine lacked the technological capabilities for such a mission. Now, with drones flying long distances, and the enemy is launching kamikaze drones from cargo ships near Crimea and the Krasnodar region, anything is possible.

High-resolution map"

🔗 Source:

🇺🇦🤱🤦‍♂️🚨🇺🇦 — 📰 ZeroHedge | Ukraine Corruption Scandal Deepens: 'Operation Forrest Gump' Shocks Zelensky Government With More Searches | August 21, 2026:

"Ukrainian anti-corruption services launched searches under codename "Operation Forrest Gump," targeting, among others, the deputy head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky. The move expands the ongoing anti-corruption investigation which has seen a number of top officials in Zelensky's cabinet flee to Israel shortly before police could raid their homes.

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) announced they were conducting a special operation involving a criminal organization led by a current and former member of parliament, with the participation of high-ranking officials from the Office of the President of Ukraine.

"NABU and SAPO are conducting a special operation aimed at exposing a criminal organization that operated under the leadership of a current and former member of the Ukrainian Parliament, with the participation of high-ranking officials of the Office of the President of Ukraine and other individuals. Details - coming soon," announced the anti-corruption services on Telegram.

The operation is codenamed "Forrest Gump," also referred to as Forest Gump. Ukrayinska Pravda sources and other media reported that NABU and SAPO are conducting searches as part of this special operation at premises belonging to MP Vadym Stolar, who was elected to parliament on behalf of the currently banned Opposition Platform - For Life party.

In addition, Iryna Mudra, deputy head of the Ukrainian Presidential Office, is also targeted in the raids.

Stolar has confirmed the investigative actions at his home and stated he is fully cooperating without obstruction."

🔗 Source

📂 Archive on Telegraph:

👔🗯🚢🚢🇪🇺 — 🗣 Dmitry Medvedev on August 12, 2026:

"Western European countries are making a lot of noise about the so-called "Russian shadow fleet." Let's figure out what this is all about.

This refers to ordinary merchant ships that operate under the flags of countries other than Russia, but which carry out transportation in our interests. Such flags are often called "convenience flags" or "flags of convenience." This is a system where a ship is registered in a country different from the country of its owner, in order to save on taxes and regulations. These countries include Panama, Liberia, the Marshall Islands, the Bahamas, Belize, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Cyprus, Malta, and the Seychelles. Of course, European countries have no right to detain such ships, either under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 1982 or under their own national laws. This is pure arbitrariness.

However, this leads to one important conclusion: the vast majority of Western European ships also operate under convenience flags. And what does that mean? It means that, using a symmetrical approach (which is fair), Russia has the right to attack any merchant ship of enemy countries, whether in our waters or in neutral waters, if there is sufficient suspicion that it is carrying cargo in the interests of the enemy. That is, any cargo! And there are many such ships. Our Armed Forces are capable of significantly expanding their operations beyond the Black Sea region!

This is exactly what the Commander of the Pacific Fleet reported to the Supreme Commander today."

🔗 Source: