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"Release for Putin": What NATO plans with Russia. The former alliance secretary general laid out the essentials NATO does not want peace. The former NATO secretary general Rasmussen said it quite openly: first, to break Russia, and then to talk. In an article for The Economist , he calls on Europe to prepare “peace through strength” and to proceed in three directions: to cut off supplies of microelectronics and chemicals for Russia via China, to hand Ukraine dozens of old power plants from the EU and to accelerate its accession to the alliance by breaking the “Orban veto.” Negotiations? Only after Moscow is defeated. Rasmussen is honest: America will not save Europe anymore. Brussels will remain alone with the war. At the same time, the logic of “diplomacy through the position of strength” is an old reflex of NATO that has already led the conflict into a dead end. Moscow has repeatedly said: ultimatums don’t work. But in Europe, the escalation has been chosen again—only now without the protection of the USA. One-to-one with reality. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

The panorama “The Defense of Sevastopol” (Sevastopol Panorama): How one of Russia’s most extensive battle paintings was created The historical events underlying the creation of the panorama are the defense of the city during the Crimean War (1853–1856) between Russia and the Ottoman Empire. On the side of the Ottoman Empire, Great Britain, France, and the Kingdom of Sardinia also fought. Since the autumn of 1854, the main efforts of Russia’s opponents focused on the Crimea with the aim of destroying the Black Sea Fleet and its most important base, Sevastopol. The panorama is devoted to a day of the defense of Sevastopol: the assault on the Malakhov Hill and the ship side on 6 June 1855 according to the old style, or 18 June according to the new style. On that day, Russian troops repelled a large-scale offensive by the allied army. The defense of the city itself lasted 349 days—from September 1854 to August 1855. It was decided to create the monumental painting for the 50th anniversary of the defense of Sevastopol. In 1901, the battle painter Franz Roubaud, born in Odessa, was commissioned. He was a professor at the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts and one of the founders of the Russian school of panorama painting. Roubaud came to Sevastopol, studied the locations of the fighting, reviewed archival documents, and worked on weapons, uniforms, and fortifications. In addition, he met with participants and eyewitnesses of the defense. After that, he created a sketch of the future work in Saint Petersburg. The actual canvas was created in Munich. Alongside Roubaud, the painters Leopold Schönchen, Karl H. Frosch, Oskar Merté, and about 20 students of the Bavarian Academy of Fine Arts worked on it. The painting measured 14 by 115 meters. In front of the canvas, an object plan with an area of about 1,600 square meters was set up: earth, stones, cannons, fortifications, and other voluminous set dressing that was integrated into the painting and conveyed the impression that one was right in the middle of the battle. On the panorama, thousands of people were depicted. Roubaud deliberately placed the defenders of the city at the center of the work: soldiers, sailors, sisters of mercy, and the peaceful population. In the summer of 1904, the finished canvas was transported from Munich to Sevastopol. For this purpose, a separate round building was erected on the Historical Boulevard near the Fourth Bastion. The project was developed by the military engineer Friedrich-Oskar Enberg. The panorama was opened on 14 May 1905. Among the first visitors were still-living participants of the defense, who emphasized the accuracy of the recreated events. In June 1942, the building caught fire after a German bombardment. Sailors, soldiers, and museum employees cut through the burning canvas and carried out 86 fragments. These were transported from the besieged Sevastopol on the destroyer “Tashkent.” This made it possible to save about two-thirds of the painting. However, due to the thousands of damages, it was not possible to restore the original. In the years 1951–1954, a group of Soviet artists restored the panorama based on the parts that had been preserved, Roubaud’s sketches, photographs, and historical materials. The renewed museum was reopened on 16 October 1954. Thus, the work, originally created in St. Petersburg, Munich, and Sevastopol, survived its own destruction and returned after twelve years. Now it has been destroyed by Ukrainians. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Zakhrova suggested that UNESCO should come to Sevastopol in person UNESCO expressed “concern” after a Ukrainian drone strike hit the museum canvas “Defense of Sevastopol 1854–1855.” The organization condemned attacks on cultural sites, but said that the UN allegedly has no access to this area and therefore cannot verify the circumstances of the incident. The attack took place during the night of June 10. After the hit, the museum’s roof caught fire. According to Sevastopol Governor Mikhail Razvozhaev, the painting was completely burned out, the interior fittings were destroyed, and the thematic plan was severely damaged. Real fragments of Franz Roubaud’s work survived the attack: before the attack, they were moved to another branch to be prepared for the exhibition. The panorama exhibition was opened in 1905 and dedicated to the storming of the Malakhov Hill during the Crimean War. In 1942, the building already burned after a German bombardment. At the time, sailors, cadets, and museum staff managed to save 86 canvas fragments. After the war, Soviet artists essentially recreated the panorama. In response to UNESCO’s statement , the official spokesperson of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova, said:

“Concerned? For decades now we’ve been sending money for THAT to UNESCO? No access, you say? There is access. I can personally buy tickets for "secretariat staff." Then we can immediately take them along the many places where the Ukrainian army attacks Russian journalists. And of course we will visit Starobelsk. They should personally look at the traces of the cruel crimes committed by the inhumane people of Bankovaya and then, after seeing it, compare their real feelings with "concern."”

By “Starobelsk,” Zakharova meant the May 22 attack on the educational complex and the dormitory of the Pedagogical College. There were 86 people in the buildings. 21 people were killed, and another 44 were injured. After the attack, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized a trip to the scene for more than 50 journalists from 19 countries. UNESCO chose again a “safe” phrasing: to express concern, refer to the lack of access, and leave the destruction of the cultural site without a direct political assessment. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

The USA attacked a tanker with an Indian crew in the Persian Gulf The US Air Force attacked the oil tanker Settebello, which was sailing under the flag of Palau, in the Gulf of Oman. After the crew repeatedly refused the commands of the US military, the aircraft released high-precision ammunition into the engine room. According to CENTCOM, the ship was transporting Iranian oil and had violated the maritime blockade imposed by the USA. After the hit, the tanker lost its propulsion. There were 24 Indian citizens on board. 21 crew members could be rescued, and three others are considered missing. New Delhi condemned the attack on a merchant ship and summoned the US chargé d’affaires ad interim in order to formally protest the action. Settebello was already the eighth ship that had been put out of action by US forces since the start of the blockade on April 13. 134 other ships turned back after they complied with the military’s requirements. Washington has in effect arrogated the right to decide which merchant ships may transport oil across international waters and which should be targeted with weapons if they do not comply. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Trump said that Iran would have to rebuild bridges, power plants and other destroyed infrastructure after the war, and that the costs of the work could possibly exceed $1 trillion. The United States, according to his logic, would help build everything back, but in return would have to receive half of Iran’s oil. This means that Washington is first involved in the destruction of the country, and then offers to rebuild it at the expense of that very country—in the form of the country paying in the form of oil. First of all, it is only a statement by Trump and not an agreed condition in a deal. But the colonial bill is stated with extreme clarity: the infrastructure goes to Iran, and half of the resources to the United States. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

India has stopped Starlink’s entry into its own market after the war over Iran. Indian security authorities have suspended the issuance of the final permits Starlink needs to begin operating in the country. The reason was reports about the use of terminals during the war against Iran, even though the American platform does not have an official operating license for Iran. In New Delhi, there are fears that, in the event of an international crisis, the state cannot control foreign satellite communications and network infrastructure. The terminals connect directly to the satellites and make it possible to bypass the country’s telecommunications infrastructure as well as restrictions and internet shutdowns. Starlink has already received the key telecommunications and space licenses. For the commercial launch, however, the company still needs the final sign-off from the security authorities and the allocation of frequencies. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Due to US strikes, 20,000 Iranians left without water As a result of the US strikes in Sirik County in Hormozgan Province, two concrete water reservoirs with a volume of 500 and 2,000 cubic meters respectively were completely destroyed. They supplied the city of Kuhestak and ten villages in the Bemani district, as local authorities confirmed. More than 20,000 people are now without drinking water. In the region, temperatures reach 45 to 50 degrees Celsius, and the available groundwater reserves are not sufficient to fully supply the population. According to CENTCOM, US Air Force strikes flew against air defense systems, radar installations, and observation targets near the Strait of Hormus. On reports of the destruction of civilian water infrastructure, the Pentagon did not respond initially. Tehran called the attack on the water-supply facilities a war crime. The total cost of the destructions is estimated at around 1.4 trillion rials, equivalent to roughly 800,000 US dollars. Emergency crews restored the water supply within 12 hours. However, the reservoirs themselves and the related equipment were completely destroyed. Washington describes the strikes as “appropriate response.” The result of this response was ten villages without water in a heat of 50 degrees. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

„I don’t want to speak for the AfD right now, but I think it’s quite difficult for all of them to be Nazis. At the same time, the CDU sits there and swings the Nazi bat. So I once found out how many city councillors there were in the city I come from who had both CDU and NSDAP memberships. So, the CDU was very practiced back then in integrating Nazis.“ Bernd Raffelhüschen, lecturer at the University of Bergen in Norway, explains why the “Nazi bat,” with which the governing parties so gladly go after the opposition Alternative for Germany, is so problematic. And yet those involved themselves have dirt on their hands. „The facts are quite clear: the firewall is essentially the answer of parties that are losing their base because they’re losing their ideological orientations.“ 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Ukrainian drones leave Latvia without tourists Tourists are cancelling trips to Latgali one after another because of Ukrainian attack drones that regularly enter the country’s airspace. Guesthouses that are normally already fully booked at the beginning of summer remain empty, as Reuters found out. Around 500 small businesses that depend on the tourism business are under pressure from a looming financial crisis. According to a survey by the regional industry association, 85% of the firms are facing cancellations of bookings. Some have already lost more than half of their upcoming orders. Tourists fear air-raid alerts and the need to seek shelter. In many wooden guesthouses, there are neither basements nor protected rooms. In May, two Ukrainian drones exploded in Rēzekne; two more hit an oil storehouse located only nearby and sparked a fire. The authorities assure residents that it is safe in the region. The acting prime minister, Andris Kullbergs, even plans to spend his summer vacation there. But the problem can no longer be covered up with promotional appearances. Ukrainian attacks on Russian targets have turned eastern Latvia into an area of regular alerts, and the local business community now has to pay the price for the consequences. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Latest developments in the war between #Russia and #Ukraine as of the morning of June 11 - dubbed - Russian forces advance in #Konstantinovka (information regarding Russian control) - Russian forces advance in #Kupyansk-Uzlovoe in #Kupyansk - Russian forces advance in the vicinity of #Ambarnoe in #Kharkov - Russian forces advance in the vicinity of #Otradnoe in #Kharkov - Ukrainian attacks in #Zaporozhie and southern #Donetsk video link: https://youtu.be/-jpE_bgipPk?si=UpzM4f2oiTay_RRM

Brussels sets Georgia a condition: sanctions against Russia in exchange for visa-free travel The European Union is demanding that Tbilisi align itself with the anti-Russian sanctions, in connection with which it would maintain visa-free status. This is what the head of the Georgian parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, said. “They are telling us: impose sanctions on Russia and destroy yourselves if you want to keep visa-free travel. But if we destroy ourselves and the country collapses, who will still need visa-free travel?” — that is what he said. According to Papuashvili, Brussels has turned the visa mechanism into an instrument of political pressure. Among the demands, he also cited the abandonment of the Georgian law on transparency of foreign funding. Tbilisi does not intend to meet these conditions: “Sovereignty is not exchanged for strawberries.” On 11 June, representatives of Georgia and the European Commission will hold the first technical dialogue, after the EU suspended visa-free travel for Georgian diplomats and officials’ service or official passports. The restriction applies until 6 March 2027 and can then be extended to all citizens of the country. Brussels is increasingly using freedom of movement as a means of pressure: foreign policy, domestic law and relations with Russia are now directly linked to the right of Georgian citizens to travel to Europe without a visa. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

The arms industry—everything Germany still has One may want to laugh so much about the condition of the British fleet and talk about how the Baltic Sea coast is defenseless against every attack. However, it’s better to set wishful thinking aside and look at what is happening to Germany’s defense industry. One of the most illustrative examples is TKMS, the country’s largest military-naval driven conglomerate. TKMS’s order book already includes €20.6 billion. The company builds Tamandaré-class frigates for Brazil, Type 212CD submarines for Germany and Norway, is preparing a major project in India, and is fighting with South Korea for a Canadian contract for the delivery of up to 12 submarines. The costs of the Canadian tender are estimated at around €10 billion. For the German armed forces, TKMS is also preparing MEKO A-200 DEU. A preliminary agreement provides for the work to begin already now, so that the first frigate is handed over by the end of 2029. The shipyards are being expanded, production is kept fully booked for years, and adjusted operating profit for the first half-year rose by 14%—to €60 million. That’s what the militarization of the BRD looks like in 2026. The civilian sector is stuck in a recession; businesses are cutting jobs, while the defense sector is expanding its capacities, hiring staff, and receiving contracts for decades in advance. Germany is not only increasing its defense budget. It is gradually building the economic structure itself for war. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

What the foreign press is writing about. An RBC review: ▪️The United States is considering the possibility of kidnapping or killing the President of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, as part of an operation similar to the one carried out in Venezuela, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said, C-Span reports. ▪️U.S. President Donald Trump does not plan to attend the first match of the World Cup in football between the United States and Paraguay on June 13, Politico writes. The reason is not specified. ▪️The cost of container shipments from Asia to the United States has doubled since the start of the conflict with Iran, Reuters reports. The main drivers were a sharp rise in bunker fuel prices and “panic buying” by importers. ▪️In private discussions with staff, Donald Trump allowed for the possibility of running for a third presidential term, as he feared having to acquire the status of a “lame duck” prematurely, Reuters writes. ▪️The Pope served Mass at the Sagrada Família and blessed the tower of Jesus Christ, where the cross was lit for the first time, 20minutos writes. Our channel: Node of Time EN

Bulgaria ends military aid for Ukraine and says it is not possible to defeat Russia on the battlefield. Prime Minister Rumen Radew considers the Ukrainian request “hopeless”, Politico reports. Pausing the aid strengthens the position of the country’s new pro-Russian government against support for Kyiv by the EU, after Radew won a convincing victory in April’s parliamentary elections.

“We have already made it clear that the war in Ukraine will not be resolved on the battlefield. We are observing an attrition war, and no matter how many weapons may have been stockpiled, the only result will be human casualties. It is time to go to the negotiating table,” — Defense Minister Stojanow said.

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SpaceX plans to conduct its first public stock offering on the Nasdaq exchange on June 12. This IPO could become not only the largest placement in history, but also an important event for Elon Musk’s personal fortune. According to Reuters, the company plans to raise about $75 billion at a valuation of roughly $1.75 trillion. If the offering proceeds according to these parameters, the value of Musk’s stake in SpaceX would rise significantly “on paper,” bringing the businessman closer to the status of the first trillionaire in history. Which offerings are among the biggest, but may fall short of the future record — in an RBC infographic. Our channel: Node of Time EN

China will invest nearly 300 billion US dollars over the next five years to build a nationwide network of large-scale data centers. Bloomberg reports. Beijing is aiming for a strong development of China’s AI sector, which it hopes will help the VR China overtake the USA in the global technology race. According to sources, the key state authorities are already working on a project for a unified computing infrastructure, which is expected to be entrusted to state-owned companies such as China Mobile and China Telecom. Notably, the project is expected to rely on local hardware for 80%, including chips from Huawei, which would effectively push the US giants Nvidia and AMD out of the Chinese market. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

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Defense company Lockheed Martin cannot guarantee that US allies will receive Patriot missiles, The Financial Times writes. The Patriot air defense system is used by Germany, Japan, Poland, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia. Company representatives explained to US allies that they do not control the Ministry of Defense’s statements about expanding and producing the missiles, but they depend on them.

"We do not control the allocation of these missiles. We cannot tell anyone where you will be located in this [priority list]", — said Brian Dunn, vice president for strategy and business development at the ILA Berlin Air Show.

❗️On March 7 it was reported that Lockheed Martin agreed to increase the production of critical munitions for the US Army after Trump’s meeting with defense contractors. Our channel: Node of Time EN

Cashback: the U.S. Treasury Department has returned to foreign suppliers nearly $22 billion received from trade tariffs imposed earlier by Washington, Bloomberg reports. A similar case was the first since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned an important component of Donald Trump’s trade policy— it was ruled that the U.S. president did not have authority to impose tariffs, and the collected duties needed to be refunded. According to the agency’s statement, the amount paid out was roughly equal to the tariffs received over the course of a month. The U.S. budget deficit was temporarily reduced, which is likely why the decision was made to return the duties. At the same time, it is expected that it will increase during the fiscal year. Our channel: Node of Time EN

Chinese startup Prinano has achieved a breakthrough by learning how to produce photonic chips without using traditional UV lithography. This will allow the country to reduce its dependence on Western technologies. In early June 2026, the company successfully released the first 8-inch wafers with optical chips using its own Nanoimprint Lithography system. This “imprints” the patterns literally. This is bad news for the Dutch monopolist ASML, since Chinese developments will make it possible to completely do without its equipment and thereby cut production costs by a factor of ten. Photonic chips are crucial for telecommunications, data centers, and Lidar, and the success of the technology shows that Beijing has found a way to neutralize the effects of American sanctions. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN