Russia
HALF OF RUSSIA’S IRAN-WAR OIL WINDFALL IS BEING PAID BACK TO OIL COMPANIES
DATELINE: MOSCOW, MAY 6, 2026 Russia’s Finance Ministry reported April oil and gas revenues of 855.6 billion rubles after the Iran-war price spike pushed Brent above $125 a barrel on April 30. The headline number landed one week after the Economic Development Ministry reported Russia’s first quarterly GDP contraction since early 2023, a 0.3 percent […]
Ukraine Is No Longer Just Hitting Russian Oil. It Is Hitting the Switchboard.
The Perm LPDS sits at the convergence of three Transneft trunk lines and the LUKOIL-Permnefteorgsintez feed. The April 29 SBU strike is the second hit on a Transneft routing node in two months, following Kaleykino on February 23. Sources: Transneft Kama Region records, SBU statement, Reuters, Ukrainska Pravda, OilPrice.com.
The Gap Between Guarantors
Mali’s junta was quietly returning to Washington when JNIM struck Bamako and Russia began negotiating its retreat from the north.
The Wrong Factory
How Elbit Systems’ European footprint became a targeting map for actors striking Ukraine’s defense supply chain
The Closed Loop
Russia refined Iran’s drone in Ukraine, is now sending it back, and is photographing US bases for Tehran. Ukraine is the only country that has fought this weapon at scale.
The Export Chain
Ukraine is no longer just striking Russian oil facilities. It is systematically attacking the export terminals, refineries, and transport nodes that turn energy into war finance.
Hrulf: In His Own Words
Jean-François Ratelle commanded the Norman Brigade, fought for Ukraine, and was killed in March 2024. Before he died, he sat down with me and explained why he was there
Europe’s Postwar Reckoning
Europe isn’t just facing a defense crisis. It’s facing an identity crisis over what the postwar settlement was and whether it’s over.