United 24 Media:
🔹 In Hamburg this September, large-scale Bundeswehr exercises will take place to prepare for a possible Russian attack on the Baltic states and Poland, Bild reports.
The “Red Storm Bravo” maneuvers will begin on September 25 and last for three days. This will be the second exercise of its kind, following the 2024 drills, and is expected to involve up to 800,000 soldiers and equipment.
The scenario envisions a Russian offensive. NATO forces must rapidly redeploy from Western Europe to the eastern flank — specifically to the Baltics and Poland. Hamburg’s strategic port will play a key role as a logistics hub.
The exercises will also include simulations of public rallies requiring a military response.
“The threat is real. We’re already facing attacks on our infrastructure,” said Captain Kurt Leonards.
🔸 The head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, Syniehubov, reported this morning (April 6th) that Russian forces struck a high-rise building in Kupiansk with a guided missile from a rocket launcher, injuring two people.
The strike hit the 9th floor of the residential building, causing balconies from the 2nd to the 7th floors and four apartments to catch fire.
❗️The number of air attacks is increasing. Russia intends to continue the war and killing. The pressure is not enough. They are waging war against children playing on playgrounds, — President Zelenskyy.
🔹 Zelenskyy said that Russia refuses an unconditional ceasefire because it wants to preserve the ability to strike Ukrainian cities and ports from the Black Sea.
He emphasized that Ukraine accepted the US proposal for a complete and unconditional ceasefire, but Putin continues to reject it.
🔸 Russian spy sensors used to track nuclear submarines have been found in the sea near Great Britain, The Sunday Times reports, citing former defence ministers and senior military officials.
Some of the sensors washed ashore, while others were discovered “in recent years” by British navy minesweepers.
According to the UK Defence Ministry, the devices were installed by Russia. Their likely purpose was to monitor submarine activity and attempt to hack underwater communication cables.
🔹 The Russian Finance Ministry is struggling: due to falling oil prices and a strong ruble, they have begun selling currency, — The Moscow Times reports.
For the first time since January 2024, Russian authorities will sell currency daily from the National Welfare Fund (NWF), also called “Putin’s piggy bank.”
From April 7 to 12, they plan to sell yuan and gold for 35.9 billion rubles (about $450 million), or 1.6 billion rubles ($20 million) per day.
One reason is the sharp decline in oil and gas revenues — the main source of funding for the NWF. In February-March, revenues dropped by nearly 20%.
Last month, Urals oil sold abroad at an average of $58.99 per barrel — the lowest since summer 2023.
Currently, Russian oil is nearly $11 cheaper than the budgeted price of $69.70 per barrel.
Another factor is the strong ruble. The budget was based on an exchange rate of 96.5 rubles per dollar, but it is now below 85 rubles per dollar. As a result, the ruble price of a barrel is almost 30% lower than expected: 4,900 rubles ($60) instead of 6,726 rubles ($83).
As of April 1, the National Welfare Fund’s total size was 11.75 trillion rubles ($145 billion), but only about 3.3 trillion rubles ($40 billion) is available in liquid assets (yuan and gold) in Central Bank accounts. This amount has decreased threefold since the war began.
🔸 NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte believes Russia must show real willingness to end the war in Ukraine — but so far, the Kremlin is only delaying negotiations.
“I don’t think they’re moving fast enough. And from what I hear from my American counterparts, Russia needs to do much more to end this war,” Rutte said.
He added that the U.S. is working to resolve the conflict step by step.
“But of course, it takes two to tango — and right now, the Russians don’t seem to be dancing.”
🔹 Trump: “We’re still negotiating with Russia. I don’t like this endless bombing.”
The U.S. President said Washington supports talks with the Kremlin to end the war.
“The bombing goes on, and thousands of young people are dying every week. We want it to stop,” he told reporters.