Things You Need to Know about Current Global and National Threats to Your Personal Security
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War with Russia?
THREAT LEVEL:
War with Russia?
THREAT LEVEL:
HIGH RISING
HIGH RISING
UKRAINE WAR - A DE-FACTO STATE OF WAR EXISTS
HOTSPOT
Russia's Cold War:
Against NATO
UKRAINE WAR - A DE-FACTO STATE OF WAR EXISTS BETWEEN THE U.S., U.K., NATO, & RUSSIA
see also: Russia & Ukraine: In-Depth, Russian Cyber Hacking Army, Russia-Ukraine Cyber War
LAST UPDATED: April 18, 2025
War Against Ukraine. Troops in Georgia, Moldova. Ongoing Sabotage Against NATO/Europe. Alliance with China, Iran, North Korea. North Korea enters the Ukraine War by supplying weapons and troops. Europe/NATO Countries on heightened alert as they prepare for a possible European War with Russia.
A review of current news on the Russia-Ukraine War is not necessary since most are easily informed elsewhere. YET, a filling the gaps, blanks, in areas where people's knowledge is commonly missing is advisable. This is what these reports will cover.
NATO continues its build up in East Europe in preparation for war with Russia.
North Korean troops enter the Ukraine combat zone in Oct 2024.
Russia losing thousands of troops per day, started recruiting mercenaries from around the Globe. Reports show active Russian advertising and recruitment in Yemen of Houthis (video), Africa, India, the Middle East, Latin America, Caribbean, and in China (video). Watch this very well done Ukrainian News Report (25min).
THE MAIN AREAS OF CONFLICT with Russia center on:
UKRAINE: War, occupation, and annexation of Ukrainian lands. Russia has been indicted by International Court for war crimes against the people of Ukraine, including the kidnapping of tens of thousands of Ukrainian children subsequent relocation to Russia.
NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES: Russia has a history of aggressive and subversive political and economic actions and manipulation against former Soviet-block countries surrounding Russia, including military actions and occupation.
SILENCING OPPONENTS WORLDWIDE: This seems to be a common issue with authoritarian (non-democratic) nations, and it is no less a major problem with Russia. Russia has been know harass, use violence against, poison, and assassinate opponents of the Russian government worldwide - regardless of their nationality or where they are located.
Due to the fact that U.S. and NATO countries are very heavily supporting and suppling Ukrainian military forces, it would be foolish not to acknowledge that the U.S. & NATO countries are in a 'de-facto' state-of-war with Russia. This is often called a "Cold War."
ON A KNIFE'S EDGE (meaning)
Tensions are so very high between the U.S. and Russian military, any close proximity of our militaries could easily break out into shooting, which could also lead to a direct hot war.
In the Black Sea, the Russian military has already been caught significantly threatening U.S. military sea and air operations in international sea and air space - including the downing a U.S. drone. Russian missiles have also struck several NATO countries that border Ukraine.
Mapping Putin's Covert War in Europe
Oct 2024 | 5 min | The Economist
Without Electricity... Can You Live Like It's 1880!?
THE MOST SERIOUS THREAT WE FACE IS...
The Power Grid being hacked/disabled if at war.
“If the grid went down for a long enough time…
90 percent of the U.S. population would die from starvation, lack of water, and social disruption. We are talking about total devastation.”
-- Ambassador Henry Cooper, Former Director of U.S. Strategic Defense
THE UKRAINE BACK-STORY
WHY THE U.S. & U.K. ARE INVOLVED IN THE UKRAINE WAR
Editor's Analysis: Strategic Things to Consider
Editor's Analysis: Strategic Things to Consider
Are the U.S. and NATO alliance heading into a direct hot, shooting war with Russia? Most likely the answer is yes.
IS THIS A BAD THING? Yes, but overall no, in the editor's opinion. If you don't stand up to bullies now it will cost us more later than if we don't act today - for bullies always need to be confronted, sooner or later. Somewhere, sometime, someone else will be their next target until the bully is overpowered, forced to reform, and/or replaced.
It is clear, based upon Russian President Putin's track record in office since 2000, that his intent is to re-assert Russian control over countries of the former Soviet Union, whether directly through military action or indirectly through controlling who runs its governments. This includes countries in Eastern Europe (formerly a part of the Eastern 'Soviet' Bloc).
After the fall of the Soviet Union, in 1992 Ukraine had the 3rd largest number of nuclear ballistic missiles in the world, after the U.S. and Russia. In 1994, the U.S., the U.K., and Russia gave their word to support the continued sovereignty of Ukraine as an independent nation in exchange for Ukraine giving up those nuclear weapons. Since then, the Russian government has obviously broken that agreement...
2010 Cyber Attack - Massive Russian Military hack that took control of the Ukrainian Power Grid.
2014 Crimea Attack - Russian Military Assault, Occupation, and follow-up Annexation of Ukraine's Crimea Peninsula on the Black Sea. Annexation means Russia (in their view) has legally and governmentally adopted a territory as a part of their own country. The international community of nations continues to not recognize this illegal annexation.
2022 Russian War with Ukraine and the follow-up Russian Annexation of 4 western Ukrainian provinces of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia. The international community of nations continues to not recognize these illegal annexations.
In the editor's opinion, it's important to either give Ukraine back their nuclear weapons, OR keep our word to help Ukraine fight for their right to exist as an independent nation. This would justly and fairly go back to a pre-1994 state of conditions to which Russia had agreed to in the 1994 Budapest Memorandum. Giving nuclear weapons back to Ukraine would obviously be absurd - and so, as this editor's point argues, would also not helping Ukraine defend itself - be absurd.
The U.S. and U.K. gave our word, and we need to keep it. This may mean direct war with Russia. Doing the right thing will always cost. Not doing the right thing will just cost us more later. In delaying or 'kicking the proverbial can down the street' thinking, it is self-defeating. If we choose not to resolve the threats we face, it only encourages more chaos and it will only cost more lives, promote more injustice, and cost the next generation more dearly to do what we should have done in the first place.
Some say We Should Not Help Ukraine...
Within any U.S. Presidential Administration there are varying factions with their own interests and missions that result in reasons pushing for and against war in key hotspot areas. One should separate their view of a faction from the issues causing war and conflict. Sometimes two opposing factions can come together in support of the same action (like supporting Ukraine). It's often a hasty but natural tendency to want to give more weight to an opposite view of one's own political adversaries without first understanding the issues at hand. For example, some conservatives promote that American should stop meddling in foreign affairs that may lead us into a war. While, on a simple level, this is a true and admirable principle - with the Ukraine War it does not apply. For better or worse, in 1994, the United States gave our word to support Ukraine's survival as an independent sovereign nation.
Common Sense teaches that not supporting or backing our own word and promises in one situation is the first step on a slippery slope to the decline, loss of trust, and destruction in all relationships. History teaches us that, even though we hate war, the cost of not standing up to tyrants and bullies on the global stage who are actively involved in disrupting the peace and security of their neighbors, that to ignore such tyrants does not make the problem go away - it in fact, it only tends to embolden them to continue to expand. The United States does not want to be the global police. Americans are blessed with the duty and responsibility of basic Christian morals, knowing what is right and true, knowing the difference between good and evil, and not just in knowing it, but living it.
Keeping Russia on our Radar
The main issue is that Russia's actions in Ukraine have destabilized Eastern Europe, international peace and trade which have cut or severely disrupted major energy and food supply lines from both countries to the world. Even if the war ended tomorrow, the recovery of both Ukraine, mainly, and also Russia to re-engage in international trade, to which a peaceful and prosperous world relies upon, will take at least a decade to recover to pre-war levels.
Putin's reasons for war are not as important (overall) because Putin believes he has a 'right' and a 'duty' to do so. That, in and of itself, shows by Putin's actions he chooses to interact with the world with a disregard for international law, peace, trade and prosperity for Russia, the region, and the world. This now threatens war with NATO countries (most of Europe) due, in part, to NATO alliance countries supply of military assistance to Ukraine. The situation "COULD" lead to a 'hot war' - a shooting 'conventional' war with NATO.
On the topic of use of nuclear weapons (including an EMP) - as, I've mentioned before, I believe neither the leaders of China or Russia would use nuclear weapons - since their first priority is themselves - i.e. survival, self-preservation, and staying in power. The U.S. and western allies hold enough of a nuclear deterrent - and they we would use it if attacked first.
Recent News of Importance
Recent News of Importance
NEW
Sec of State Rubio on
Ukraine-Russia War
Not Our War, Trying to Find Peace
April 18, 2025 | 11 min | Live NOW from Fox
NEW
'Deepening Relationship' between Indonesia and Russia
April 16, 2025 | 5 min | Sky News Australia
NEW
Russia Makes Request to Base Long-Range Bombers at Indonesian Air Base
- Janes.com reports Read Article
April 15, 2025 | 8 min | ABC News Australia
NEW
Proposed Ceasefire might involve UK and France Zones
April 13, 2025 | 8 min | DW News (German Public TV)
Europe’s Severed Undersea Cables: Why NATO Suspects Russia and China
Feb 25, 2025 | 6 min | WSJ (Wall St Journal)
Is Russia's Shadow Fleet Targeting Critical Infrastructure in the Baltic Sea?
Jan 30, 2025 | 10 min | DW News (German Public TV)
Russia’s New Naval Base Could Drag Georgia into the Ukraine War
Feb 1, 2025 | 6 min | Wall St Journal
SEE MORE ON THE RUSSIAN WAR IN GEORGIA
Russia targets French NATO Jet over Baltic Sea with anti-air lock on
Jan 20, 2025 | 9 min | Times Radio UK
NATO sending ships, aircraft to Baltic Sea following sabotage of undersea cables
Jan 14, 2025 | 3 min | Global News
Ukraine War Impact, Assessment, and Updates
Ukraine War Impact, Assessment, and Updates
NEW
ANALYSIS & OPINION
Former Head of the UK's CIA (MI6):
'Russia is weak, and 80 years away from conquering Ukraine'
- Sir Richard Dearlove -
April 17, 2025 | 18 min | Sky News UK
FEATURED - VERY DETAILED ANALYSIS
March 2025 War Update, Stats, Numbers
Death Toll, Costs, Equipment Supply
March 2025 | 37 min | RealLifeLore
Why Would China have Fighters in Ukraine?
Q&A on the Ukraine War with Michael Clark
a British academic who specializes in defense studies
April 9, 2025 | 31 min | Sky News UK
WAR ASSESSMENT
Russia's Defeat is Closer Than You Think!
- Retired U.S. Lt Gen Ben Hodges
March 2025 | 19 min | The Gaze (Ukrainian Media)
RUSSIAN'S FOREIGN FIGHTERS - WAR ASSESSMENT
Chinese Nationals Fighting in Russia Army
April 15, 2025 | 8 min | The Sun UK
RUSSIAN'S FOREIGN FIGHTERS
How Russia Recruits Chinese Fighters for Ukraine War Using Social Media Ads
April 12, 2025 | 3 min | Radio Free Europe
RUSSIAN'S FOREIGN FIGHTERS
Report: Russia Recruits Houthi-linked Foreign Fighters to Combat Ukraine
Nov 2024 | 2 min | Sky News Australia
RUSSIAN'S FOREIGN FIGHTERS
Foreign Fighters in Russian Army in Ukraine War
March 2024 | 2 min | FRANCE 24 English
RUSSIAN FOREIGN FIGHTERS - VERY GOOD
How Russia Recruits Foreign Mercenaries
Nov 2024 | 25 min | The Gaze (Ukrainian Media)
UKRAINE'S FOREIGN FIGHTERS
Foreign Fighters from More than 70 Countries in Ukraine to Battle Russia
Nov 2024 | 5 min | United24 (Ukrainian Media)
RUSSIAN WAR CRIMES
Russian Executions of Ukrainian POWs Point to a Standing Russian Policy
Feb 2025 | 35 min | Financial Times
AGE RESTRICTED - WATCH ON YOUTUBE
PRISIONER EXCHANGE
Russia and Ukraine Exchange Hundreds of Prisoners of War
Dec 2024 | 2 min | DW News (German Public TV)
RUSSIAN WAR CRIMES
Ukrainian POWs say Torture is Common in Russian Camps
Sept 2024 | 15 min | DW News (German Public TV)
Older News
Older News
Did this Chinese ship just cut off the internet?
Nov 29, 2024 | 19 min | ABC Australia
IN DEPTH - NEWS UPDATE, HISTORY & ANALYSIS
History of Cutting Communications as First Step in War
Putin unleashing 'new type of war' on West as Chinese Saboteur Ship Surrounded
Nov 28, 2024 | 10 min | Times Radio UK
Russia Advances its War with Ukraine at Fastest Pace in 2 years
Nov 26, 2024 | 3 min | NBC News
Russia expels British diplomat for 'spying'
Nov 26, 2024 | 3 min | Sky News UK
UK introduces new sanctions against Russia
Nov 26, 2024 | 5 min | Sky News UK
RECENT WAR ESCALATIONS
Russia recruiting Iran-backed Houtis in Yemen as troops for Ukraine war. Russia in Discussion to Provide Houtis Anti-Ship Missiles to Strike US Ships
Nov 25, 2024 | 3 min | Fox News
Putin's War Against the West
Assassinations, Sabotage, Espionage, Cyberwar
Nov 11, 2024 | 22 min | CBS 60 Minutes
RECENT WAR ESCALATIONS
Russia Could Target US military site in Poland
Nov 25, 2024 | 3 min | BBC News
RECENT WAR ESCALATIONS
Ukraine has reportedly fired British-made storm shadow missiles into Russia for the first time
Nov 20, 2024 | 2 min | Sky News Australia
RECENT WAR ESCALATIONS
2 Undersea Data Cables between Finland and Germany Damaged: Russian Sabotage Assumed
Nov 19, 2024 | 7 min | DW News (German)
RECENT WAR ESCALATIONS
Ukraine Marks 1,000 Days of War,
strikes Russia with long-range US missiles
Nov 19, 2024 | 13 min | Ch4 News UK
RECENT WAR ESCALATIONS
Biden makes Bombshell Ukraine announcement
Putin loosens Nuclear Weapons Use Policy
Nov 17, 2024 | 5 min | Sky News Australia
ANALYSIS - RECENT WAR ESCALATIONS
How North Korea is Already Impacting the War
Nov 1, 2024 | 26 min | Task & Purpose
RECENT WAR ESCALATIONS
NATO Secretary General:
Statement on the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia and Ukraine
Oct 28, 2024 | 4 min | NATO News
RECENT WAR ESCALATIONS
North Korean troops have entered the Ukrainian Combat Zone, says Blinken
Oct 31, 2024 | 2 min | The Times UK
RECENT WAR ESCALATIONS
Blinken and Austin take questions on North Korean
Oct 31, 2024 | 11 min | CBS News
U.S. Sec of State Antony Blinken
and U.S. Defense Sec Lloyd Austin
Mini-Documentary
Putin’s Fleet - Russian Espionage in the Baltic Sea
Oct 2024 | 28 min | DW Documentaries (German Public TV)
Is Putin running out of Soldiers?
July 2024 | 3 min | The Economist
The Russian Espionage Threat
Oct 23, 2023 | 3 min | CBS 60 Minutes
Volodymyr Zelenskyy:
The 2023 60 Minutes Interview
Sept 17, 2023 | 13 min | CBS 60 Minutes
Russian Jet Dumps Fuel on U.S. Drone in video released by Pentagon
March 16, 2023 | 3 min | CBC News
NATO Countries in Cold War, Prepare for Hot War
NATO Countries in Cold War, Prepare for Hot War
Wikipedia Articles: NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) a Defense Alliance, Member Countries of NATO
The Arctic High North - Top of the World
The Arctic High North - Top of the World
FEATURED
How Russia is Taking Control of the Artic
Jan 2024 | 6 min | The Guardian UK
NEW - GOOD OVERVIEW
Why the Fight for the Arctic is Ramping Up
April 11, 2025 | 20 min | Sky News UK
Svalbard Archipelago
Why Russia is Planning to Resurrect its Ghost Town on Norwegian Soil
July 2024 | 30 min | ABC News Australia
Recent News - Europe
Recent News - Europe
NEW
Germany's Top General says the Military Needs More Soldiers. Will Conscription Return?
April 8, 2025 | 9 min | DW News (German Public TV)
NEW
European Countries Reintroduce Compulsory Military Service, including for women
March 2025 | 4 min | DW News (German Public TV)
NEW - ANALYSIS
Why is Gen-Z (Europe) So Anti-Military?
March 2025 | 9 min | TLDR News EU
How is Gen Z (U.S.) in Combat? --->
April 2025 | 9 min | Beyond Frontline
Mini Documentary
The Tough Training of Border Guards on the Norwegian-Russian Border
Dec 2024 | 26 min | DW News (German Public TV)
ANALYSIS
Why Europe is Reinstating Military Conscription
Feb 2024 | 9 min | TLDR News EU
Why Germany isn't leading Europe's defense, and who's going to do it instead?
Feb 8, 2025 | 20 min | DW News (German Public TV)
Why Germany is rebuilding its military after Russia invaded Ukraine
Feb 5, 2025 | 16 min | Sky News UK
Older News - Europe
Older News - Europe
Poland makes Firearms Training Mandatory for Schoolchildren
Dec 15, 2024 | 5 min | DW News (Germany)
Territorial Defense Forces from Across NATO play key role in defense readiness in Poland and beyond
Oct 2024 | 2 min | Voice of America
Estonia is Training a New Army for a Russia Invasion
June 2024 | 8 min | Channel 4 News UK
Finland closes all but its most Northern Border Crossing to Russia due to Migrant Influx
Nov 23, 2023 | 7 min | DW News (German Public TV)
ANALYSIS
NATO’s Plan to Deploy 800,000 troops Against Russia
Aug 2024 | 24 min | Task & Purpose
PRC = China
NEWS & ANALYSIS
Russia's Ongoing Sabotage and Spy War in Europe
Aug 2024 | 24 min | Task & Purpose
ANALYSIS
Why the German Army is Rebuilding (again)
June 2024 | 24 min | Task & Purpose
ANALYSIS
Why Poland is Preparing for War
May 2024 | 26 min | Task & Purpose
ANALYSIS
Why France is Preparing for War
March 2024 | 32 min | Task & Purpose
Life Aboard a British Royal Navy Warship combating the Russians
3 hours, 30 min | Reality TV Program
Ukraine War - Civilian Impact
Ukraine War - Civilian Impact
60 MINUTES REPORT
Ukrainian War Reporter Andriy Tsaplienko Documents War with Russia
Nov 11, 2024 | 13 min | ABC
Grieving Ukrainians Attend Austrian Alps Climbing Camp to Recover from War
Nov 28, 2023 | 27 min | 60 Minutes
Ukrainians accuse Russia of Kidnapping, Indoctrinating Ukrainian Children
Nov 20, 2023 | 13 min | CBS 60 Minutes
Ukraine accuses Russia of Targeting its Culture, Heritage and Identity
Nov 13, 2023 | 13 min | CBS 60 Minutes
Russian Sanctions
Russian Sanctions
Sanctions can be a vital strategy in providing peaceful tools to influence a country to correct their ways through international economic pressure and in closing supply chains for the production of weapons in a conflict. Sanctions target specific industries or products, like oil or energy products, or electronics and chips - it does not stop all business, products, or trade with a country.
Effective U.S. Sanctions come in two forms or levels:
1) DIRECT - U.S. Companies are prohibited from doing business with Russia;
2) IN-DIRECT or Third-Party Sanctions - If a company from another country, or another country allows business to be conducted with Russia, the U.S. responds by sanctioning that company or country directly in response. This is the only effective way of using sanctions. It like using 'peer pressure' to close the loop, but it sometimes requires the U.S. to play hard ball or be tough on countries we may call our allies.
NEW
How Russia Profits from Arms Exports despite Sanctions
Jan 31, 2025 | 9 min | Kyiv Independent (wikipedia)
NEW
Russia's Stealth Oil Ships:
How Moscow Dodges Sanctions
Jan 20, 2025 | 15 min | DW News (German Public TV)
Who helped Russians increase Attack Drone Production despite Sanctions
Nov 2024 | 8 min | Kyiv Independent (wikipedia)
UK introduces new sanctions against Russia
Nov 2024 | 5 min | Sky News UK
The Shadow Fleet Fueling Russia’s War
Dec 2023 | 24 min | Bloomberg
How Russian Oil is Reaching the U.S. Market through a Loophole in the Embargo
Nov 2023 | 7 min | PBS NewsHour
Bulgaria’s Bizarre Heist: Stealing Oil from Russia, to Sell to Ukraine
June 2023 | 1 min | The Redline Podcast
History, Background, and Analysis
History, Background, and Analysis
A Brief History of Modern Ukraine
Feb 2022 | 4 min | BBC
ANALYSIS
Why Putin Invaded Ukraine:
A Crisis Manufactured to Rewrite the Global Order
Feb 2022 | 13 min | The Helsinki Commission
Fiona Hill (speaking) previously served as Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Director for European and Russian affairs on the U.S. National Security Council.
The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the U.S. Helsinki Commission, is an independent commission of the U.S. Federal Government. For over 45 years, the Commission has monitored compliance with the Helsinki Accords and advanced comprehensive security through promotion of human rights, democracy, and economic, environmental, and military cooperation in the 57-nation OSCE region.
ANALYSIS
Why Putin Can NEVER Use a Nuclear Weapon
Oct 2024 | 23 min | The Icarus Project
TECHNICAL ANALYSIS
Is Russia's Nuclear Weapons Arsenal Broken?
Aug 2024 | 22 min | William Spaniel
see also:
Russia & Ukraine: In Depth
Get a Deeper Understanding of the Crisis
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