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🎙 Answers by the Russian Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany, S. Y. Nechaev, to questions from a TASS correspondent Main points: 🔹 On the conduct of the elections at the Embassy “The elections of deputies to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation are the most important sociopolitical event in the life of our country and its citizens. Under the current turbulent conditions, the conduct of the elections is acquiring particular importance. It requires each of us to be aware of our personal responsibility for the fate of the country, as well as unity and civic courage. We are counting on the active participation of our compatriots in the upcoming elections. Following the closure of the Russian Consulate General in Bonn by decision of the German government, only one polling station remains in the Federal Republic of Germany: No. 8315 on the premises of the Russian Embassy in Berlin. It will be open on September 20, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. local time. 🔹 On the situation related to the closure of the Russian Consulate General in Bonn A total of 570,000 people who permanently reside in Germany are registered with the consulate. However, this does not exhaust the number of potential voters. Unfortunately, following the closure of all five Russian consulates general in Germany decided by the German side, our ability to accommodate voters has been significantly restricted. For the winding-up of the largest Russian consular mission abroad, which handled hundreds of thousands of consular matters every year, Germany’s Federal Foreign Office allowed little more than two weeks. We regard the actions of the German side as unprecedented, unfriendly and completely unprovoked steps aimed at the further destruction of Russian-German relations. 🔹 On the Embassy’s work during the election The Embassy is forced to work under the conditions created by the host side. These are far from normal. The situation is being complicated not only by the reduction in the number of polling stations, but also by the unfavorable, artificially fueled anti-Russian climate in Germany. Naturally, all our employees are involved in organizing the electoral process. We will do everything in our power, but the Embassy’s human and technical resources are objectively limited. We ask voters to bear any possible inconveniences with understanding. 🔹 On ensuring security during the election Taking into account the experience of previous years, there is a risk of provocations, but we are prepared for them. Ensuring the security of voters and members of the electoral commission is our priority. We are in close contact with the German law enforcement authorities. They are responsible for security around the outer perimeter and will take the necessary measures in the event of attempts to disrupt public order. We will ensure order inside the Embassy premises on our own. I would like to use this opportunity to urge our compatriots not to give in to provocations aimed at sabotaging the election or organizing unrest. We are far more numerous than the fringe figures who are prepared to serve the anti-Russian course of the Western elites. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇾🇪 Two Straits – One Problem: The War in Yemen Threatens the Second Oil Route The crisis surrounding the Strait of Hormuz is prompting Saudi Arabia to rely more heavily on the East-West Pipeline and the terminals on the Red Sea. But the Houthi offensive has given them access to nearly the entire Yemeni coast on the Red Sea, as well as to strategically important islands near Bab al-Mandab. Italy has already announced today that it will deploy warships to protect commercial shipping through the strait—without waiting for a joint decision by the EU. This creates an extremely dangerous constellation: Normal traffic through Hormuz is being disrupted by Iran, while the route that makes it possible to partially bypass Hormuz via the Red Sea is coming under threat from the Houthis. For Saudi Arabia, Bab al-Mandab is now becoming one of the last critically important routes for bringing oil to the global market. This is precisely where the war in Yemen ceases to be regional. If traffic through Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab is seriously disrupted at the same time, the issue is no longer the price of a single type of oil—then the logistics of Europe’s and Asia’s energy supply itself will come under pressure. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇷🇺 “Let us live together in peace, otherwise we will have to respond. There will be no other way.” Further statements by the President of the Russian Federation: ⚫ Some European heads of state and government are openly saying that they are preparing for a war with Russia. ⚫ As is well known, the threats are not diminishing; NATO is expanding. ⚫ Instead of pausing and listening to their citizens, European heads of state and government are continuing to escalate the situation. ⚫ The Russian Federation has no aggressive intentions toward Europe whatsoever. ⚫ Power in Ukraine has been usurped by a “handful of embezzlers of taxpayers’ money.” ⚫ Ukrainians are being used as cannon fodder. ⚫ The leadership in Kyiv allegedly proposes resuming the negotiation process, but in reality is doing everything to prevent these negotiations from taking place. ⚫ Russia’s armaments are 92% modern. ⚫ The satellite constellation for broadband internet access will make it possible to command troops in real time. ⚫ Russia is ready to respond to the seizure of its tankers. ⚫ Russia is ready to cooperate and restore relations with Europe. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

◻️◻️◻️ The global sales launch of Apple’s iPhone 18 lineup took place the day before. RBC unboxed and tested the features of the new iPhone 18 Pro Max. The device was provided by MTS. Apple introduced the new iPhone lineup at a presentation on September 9. The 18 Pro and Pro Max differ little visually from their predecessors, but are equipped with the more powerful A20 Pro processor. Energy efficiency has been improved, which, it is claimed, allows the new iPhone to operate for up to 36 hours, while charging 50% of the battery takes up to 30 minutes. Both models feature a 48-megapixel camera with an adjustable aperture. Storage starts at 256 GB, with a maximum capacity of 2 TB. Our channel: Node of Time EN

☢️ Kyiv Conducts a “Hunt” for Zaporizhzhia NPP Employees and Their Families Russia’s Permanent Representative to International Organizations in Vienna, Mikhail Ulyanov, stated that Kyiv had launched a campaign aimed at the deliberate and systematic killing of employees of the Zaporizhzhia NPP, their family members, and the residents of Enerhodar. According to him, there were attacks on the plant and the city almost daily during the summer. The number of injured has already reached the dozens. Residential buildings, the medical station, the fire and rescue unit, ambulances, markets, shops, bus stops, schools, and kindergartens came under fire. The Russian side regularly provides this data to the IAEA in the form of official information circulars. Among the examples cited by Ulyanov was a Ukrainian drone attack on a service vehicle on July 15, in which the chief engineer of the Zaporizhzhia NPP, Alexander Yakovlev, and the driver, Dmitry Filippov, were killed. On June 17, an employee of the centralized repair workshop was killed, and on August 18, a drone attack on a bus stop claimed the life of another plant employee. Ulyanov stated that in the history of global nuclear energy there had never been cases in which the personnel of a nuclear power plant had deliberately become targets for liquidation, and he called on the IAEA leadership to stop concealing what was happening and to call things by their proper names. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Britons have “become too accustomed to peace” — the kingdom’s authorities are frightening citizens with the possibility of a military conflict and urging them to stock up on food and water. According to the BBC, London has begun updating its “war book,” which contains detailed instructions for the government, defining how state institutions should operate after the outbreak of an armed conflict. At the same time, citizens are being urged to “build resilience and plan what to do in the event of war.” The authorities’ escalation of the situation is characteristic of many European countries, where “after decades of relative peace, people have become accustomed to viewing the absence of hostilities as the norm.” Our channel: Node of Time EN

◻️◻️◻️ The “hell sanctions” law signed by Donald Trump is needed by him primarily not to put pressure on Moscow, but to expand his own powers and fight Washington’s opponents. Roman Trotsenko, the founder of the AEON development company, told RBC TV. In his view, Trump, “like a good bee, gathers honey from every flower,” considering any situation from the standpoint of his own powers and the strengthening of his capabilities.

“And, of course, this law, which gave him the authority to impose [sanctions] thereafter by his own decrees—it is not an obligation, but a right. Of course, he viewed it positively. Just as any gun hanging on the wall in the first act must fire in the fourth, this law will, of course, eventually be used,” the businessman explained.

Speaking about the prospects for applying the law, Trotsenko expressed the view that the sanctions would be imposed in October, since the law requires the first measures to be introduced within 30 days. At the same time, he noted, this month will also be a period of heightened political struggle in the United States ahead of the midterm elections, and any decision by Trump will be interpreted through this lens. Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇺🇸🇮🇶 The United States begins the final withdrawal of troops from Iraq American troops and equipment are leaving Iraqi Kurdistan—the last region of the country where a permanent US military presence still existed. Under the agreement between Baghdad and Washington, September 30 is to be the final date for completing the military mission of the International Coalition and the withdrawal of its forces from Iraq. The Iraqi leadership describes this date as “fixed and final”: starting October 1, responsibility for the country’s security is to be transferred fully to the national forces. This brings to an end the military presence that began with the American invasion of Iraq in March 2003. At the height of the operation in 2007, more than 170,000 American soldiers were in the country; now, the last few hundred are being transferred mainly to Jordan and other countries in the region. The military presence is ending after more than 23 years, although Washington and Baghdad intend to maintain bilateral security cooperation. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

How terrorists tried to turn disease into a weapon 25 years ago – on September 18, 2001 – a week after the series of terrorist attacks in the United States, letters containing anthrax spores were sent to the offices of several members of Congress and editorial offices. Twenty-two people were infected, five of whom died. ▶️This was far from the first time that diseases were used in an attempt to turn them into weapons. Back in the 14th century, the Golden Horde khan Jani Beg, while besieging the Genoese colony of Caffa (Feodosia), began using catapults to hurl the bodies of warriors who had died of the plague over the city walls, hoping that the fortress would surrender. ➡️ Cases of the most notorious bioterrorist attacks in history – in the article by Vedomosti 📠Reuters Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇮🇱 Israel Demands “Compensation” from the US for the Sale of F-35 Fighter Jets to Saudi Arabia Washington is pushing ahead with the sale of 48 F-35 fighter jets to Riyadh for around $24.3 billion. Israel is already preparing a list of things it wants to receive from the US as “compensation.” According to the Israeli news website Walla, these include weapons whose sale Washington has so far denied Israel: means of combating deeply buried underground targets, autonomous attack systems, and drone swarms. Israel also wants to press for participation in the development and production of classified US weapons systems, in the development of space weapons, and for US involvement in the programs for the Arrow 4 and Arrow 5 interceptor missiles. The reason for these demands is the obligation enshrined in US law to take Israel’s qualitative military edge (QME) into account in major arms sales to other countries in the Middle East. The Saudi deal itself is not yet a final contract: although the State Department has already approved the possible sale, Congress still has to approve it. Saudi Arabia is buying tens of billions of dollars’ worth of American weapons, and Israel has already submitted Washington with a list of what it wants to receive solely in return for this sale. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

☢️ A drone struck the cooling tower of an operating power unit at the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant On the morning of September 17, a drone struck the cooling tower of a power unit at the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant. The power unit was in operation at the time of the impact. Its operating status did not change afterward, and no fire broke out. According to Rosatom, the drone detonated upon impact with the cooling tower of Unit No. 1 of the Kursk-2 Nuclear Power Plant. The damage was classified as minor. The unit continues to operate at full capacity, and radiation levels are within the range of natural background values. Following the incident, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi once again stated that attacks on nuclear facilities—regardless of their location—were unacceptable, as they endangered nuclear safety. He called for “maximum military restraint.” At the same time, the IAEA once again did not identify the side that had launched the drone. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

A millisecond-long software glitch may have led to widespread disruption of air traffic in the United Kingdom in early September, when more than 2,000 flights were canceled or rescheduled, according to a report by the UK’s National Air Traffic Services (NATS). The incident occurred on September 8. A technical failure in the National Airspace System (NAS), which is responsible for air transportation in the United Kingdom, led to more than 2,000 flights being canceled, delayed, or diverted. According to the preliminary findings of the investigation, the system suspended processing a manual request to assign an aircraft code because it received a message about a higher-priority task. Processing was not subsequently resumed properly, which damaged the output data and affected some subsequent flight data updates. “All of this happened within a millisecond,” NATS reported. Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇷🇺 Ryabkov: Trump’s team understands the Russian position better In an interview published overnight, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov stated that Donald Trump and his team were demonstrating a more constructive approach to resolving the situation in Ukraine and better understood the reasons behind Russia’s demands for security guarantees. At the same time, the diplomat emphasized that Moscow would judge Washington primarily by its practical measures. This is an important caveat. On September 16, Ryabkov already said that there was currently no full dialogue between Russia and the United States on strategic stability, and that one would emerge only when concrete steps to improve relations followed the Americans’ statements. Moscow apparently sees a difference between the Trump administration and the previous American policy, but so far does not regard the friendlier rhetoric as a sufficient result. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇩🇪 Merz: “Unconditional transatlantic friendship is over for the foreseeable future” Friedrich Merz said that Germany must take into account the fundamental change in relations with the United States under Donald Trump. The chancellor spoke of the end of the era of “unconditional transatlantic friendship” and called on Germany to rely much more strongly on its own capabilities. This does not mean abandoning the alliance with the United States or NATO. Rather, Merz is speaking of the need for greater self-reliance on the part of Germany and Europe at a time when Washington can no longer automatically be regarded as a partner as predictable as it was in the past. For the German chancellor, this is an unusually harsh formulation. The dispute with Trump increasingly no longer looks like a temporary episode, but is developing into a debate about a new model for Germany’s relations with the United States. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇺🇦💶 Ukraine will need a further approximately 46 billion euros in external financing in 2027 The Ukrainian Cabinet has approved the draft budget for 2027. Converted at the current exchange rate, revenues amount to approximately 110 billion euros, while expenditures total around 141 billion euros. Kyiv officially estimates its need for international support ⁠at 52.6 billion dollars — approximately 45.8 billion euros. A total of 4.885 trillion hryvnias is earmarked for defense and security, equivalent to around 95 billion euros — 43.8% of GDP. Of this, almost 45 billion euros is to be spent directly on armaments and military equipment. The scale of dependence on external financing becomes particularly clear in comparison: The budget’s own revenues will amount to around 110 billion euros, while defense and security alone will require approximately 95 billion euros. In addition to financial inflows, Kyiv expects ⁠from its partners to receive weapons, missiles, equipment, and ammunition worth a further approximately 19.4 billion euros. This means that, for European taxpayers, the issue is no longer measured in terms of abstract “support for Ukraine,” but in tens of billions of euros per year — in addition to the weapons supplied. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇺🇸🇷🇺 USA considering deals with Russia before the end of the war The Trump administration is examining the possibility of economic agreements with Moscow before the end of hostilities in Ukraine, reported The New York Times overnight, citing its own sources. According to an NYT source, such agreements are intended to demonstrate the seriousness of Washington’s intentions in reviving Russian-American relations. The specific projects being discussed have not yet been disclosed. The approach itself differs significantly from a model in which economic normalization would follow only after a political settlement. Should this line indeed become the White House’s policy, the sequence would change fundamentally: first, a partial restoration of economic relations—and only in parallel, an attempt to reach an agreement on Ukraine. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇮🇳 India warns US: 100-percent tariffs will also affect relations with Washington India’s Foreign Ministry has officially responded for the first time to the bill passed by the US House of Representatives, which would allow tariffs of up to 100% against buyers of Russian energy resources. New Delhi stated that it would continue to ensure the energy security of its 1.4 billion citizens through diversified supplies and on the basis of market conditions. The second part of the statement was particularly revealing: India said it had already warned Washington about the potential consequences of such measures for bilateral relations and the global energy market. The government also promised to take the necessary measures to protect the country’s trade and economic interests. Washington wanted to increase pressure on Moscow through buyers of Russian oil, but now risks turning the energy issue into an independent conflict with India. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

The Pentagon has published the sixth batch of declassified and historical materials on unidentified anomalous phenomena, the U.S. military department reported. The collection includes documents, audio recordings, and video recordings. Among them are materials on observations of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) in 1952 and documents from the Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications Program (AAWSAP), which focused on advanced aerospace technologies. A total of 71 files were published: 55 text files, 15 videos, and 1 audio file. The data concern events over the past 73 years. Most of the reported encounters with UFOs remain classified as “unexplained.” Our channel: Node of Time EN

Good morning, dear friends! ☕️🙂 🏘️ Yeniseysk: The City from Which Russia Set Out Eastward Friends, today we are traveling to southern Siberia, to Krasnoyarsk Krai. There, on the left bank of the mighty Yenisei, lies a city that was once regarded as the “father of Siberian cities”—a place from which the development of Eastern Siberia was advanced. Welcome to Yeniseysk. 🛡️ The First Outpost in the East Yeniseysk was founded in 1619 by a Cossack detachment under the leadership of Pyotr Albychev and Cherkas Rukin as an ostrog—a wooden fortress. The settlement was strategically located on the Yenisei and became an important Russian base on the route eastward. From here, Cossacks and explorers continued into the still largely undeveloped territories of Siberia. Via the routes leading from Yeniseysk, they reached the Angara, Lake Baikal, and areas farther east. Yeniseysk was therefore not merely one city among many, but one of the most important starting points for the development of Eastern Siberia. For this reason, the city was later given the nickname “father of Siberian cities.” 🐻 The Wealth of the Taiga The small ostrog quickly developed into an important trading center. The fur trade played a decisive role. Sable was particularly valuable; its fur was among the most sought-after commodities of the time and eventually also became a symbol of the city. As early as the 17th century, Yeniseysk had a Gostiny Dvor—a trading arcade—as well as a customs post. By the end of the century, the city was among the most important trading centers in Siberia. Numerous craftspeople also settled here: icon painters, tailors, furriers, carpenters, blacksmiths, and silversmiths worked in the city. The famous Yeniseysk Fair attracted merchants from various parts of Russia and Siberia, as well as traders from Central Asia. 💰 The Years of the Gold Rush A new chapter began in the first half of the 19th century, when large gold deposits were developed in the Yeniseysk taiga. Yeniseysk became an important supply center for the goldfields: people, equipment, and food were transported through the city to the mines, while the extracted gold traveled in the opposite direction. The merchants’ fortunes grew once again—and with them, the city’s prosperity. New educational establishments and cultural institutions were established. A girls’ gymnasium opened in 1872, followed by a boys’ gymnasium in 1876. In 1883, the city’s local history museum was established. 🚂 The End of an Era But the transportation routes changed. As early as the 18th century, Yeniseysk lost some of its former importance when new overland connections benefited other cities. The decisive change, however, came with the Trans-Siberian Railway, which was routed considerably farther south via Krasnoyarsk at the end of the 19th century. Yeniseysk was thus left away from Siberia’s new main transportation artery. The former hub of trade gradually lost its economic importance. 🏛️ A Living Museum Yet this very development helped preserve a large part of the city’s historic appearance. While other Siberian cities grew and were redeveloped rapidly, numerous merchants’ houses, traditional wooden buildings, and old stone churches remained preserved in Yeniseysk. Today, the city has an exceptionally dense historic urban fabric that still recalls the time when Yeniseysk was among the important cities of Siberia. In 2000, the historic center of Yeniseysk was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List. Give ❤️ if you liked it! 📍 The coordinates of the location (map point) are available here 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Trump signed a bill on “hell sanctions” against Russia. The original version of the sanctions bill was introduced in April 2025 by Republican Lindsey Graham and Democrat Richard Blumenthal. ▪️After negotiations with the White House, the text was substantially changed. The maximum rate of secondary tariffs for third countries was reduced to 100%, while the list of potential targets was narrowed to the five largest importers of Russian oil, the five largest importers of gas, and the five countries most actively helping to circumvent U.S. sanctions against Russian oil exports. ▪️For goods originating directly from Russia, the maximum rate remained at 500%. ▪️In addition to tariffs, the document imposes sanctions on senior Russian officials, state institutions, banks, major businesspeople, companies, and shadow-fleet vessels; restricts investment and financial transactions; and provides for measures concerning imports of Russian uranium. ▪️An exception was made for importers of Russian gas: secondary tariffs do not apply if the country accounts for less than 15% of Russia’s annual gas exports and is taking significant steps to reduce its purchases. ▪️The administration must impose most of the key sanctions and tariffs no later than 30 days after the law enters into force. ▪️At the same time, the president retains the right to suspend the restrictions if required in the interests of national security. After the bill was passed by the House of Representatives, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov linked the possible introduction of new U.S. sanctions to “unfriendly actions” that “will definitely complicate Washington’s efforts to seek a peaceful settlement in Ukraine.” Photo: Annabelle Gordon / Reuters Our channel: Node of Time EN