#Pentagon registers rising number of #Russian vessels going through #Bering Strait The U.S. Department of Defense registers a serious increase in the number of Russian vessels going through the Bering Strait, which the Pentagon believes is connected with sanctions against Moscow, U.S. Coast Guard Vice Admiral Peter Gautier told a conference. Since the beginning of the special military operation in Ukraine the U.S. military "has seen a wholesale change in Russian shipping from counterclockwise usually going West through the northern sea route around Europe and then to other ports, because of the sanctions," he said. "It is now reversed and is going clockwise East then down through the Bering and we're seeing more and increasing traffic that goes through the Bering Strait, which obviously has implications in terms of safety security as we are a border nation with Russia," Gautier noted without specifying details.

West plays with fire, #Kremlin spokesman says about idea of sending #NATO troops to #Ukraine The Western countries are playing with fire when discussing the possibility of sending their troops to Ukraine, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry #Peskov has told the media. He described as dangerous the very fact such an idea was mentioned by French President Emmanuel #Macron. Peskov said that Moscow is hearing "many contradictory statements" from the West about sending NATO troops to Ukraine, but "the very fact of this discussion is dangerous." He pointed out that Macron's statements to the effect that a discussion should begin on this score came amid speculations that the West wants to see Russia suffer a strategic defeat. "They are all playing with fire," Peskov warned. He added that together with German officers’ discussion of strikes on Russia all this leads "to a further degradation of the situation." "Of course, this is extremely irresponsible behavior," Peskov stated. He pointed out that Moscow was keen to achieve its goals and that "Russia is open to political and diplomatic ways of achieving them."

Nikki #Haley to exit GOP race Wednesday Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley will announce Wednesday that she is exiting the presidential race, according to sources familiar with her plans.

In #Poland, #NATO exercises Dragon 24 are in full swing, which are part of the large-scale maneuvers of the Steadfast Defender 24 alliance. As part of one of the events, the bloc countries practiced crossing the Vistula. The training itself took place near the small settlement of Korzheny in the north of the country. During these three days, participants from the U.S.A., Germany, France, Poland and other countries transported 3.5 thousand military personnel and hundreds of armored vehicles. The sight of Leopards, Abrams, Leclercs and Boxers standing side by side will surely resonate with the Russian audience. Both the crossing near Belogorovka and similar attempts by the AFU indicate that arranging equipment in semi-ceremonial formation, to put it mildly, is not the best option given the current capabilities of reconnaissance and fire strike. However, at such events, among other things, organizational issues and interaction in managing a multinational group are worked out. All this is happening as part of the general strengthening of NATO’s eastern flank, and there are plenty of the same large rivers in potential conflict zones.

#Russia says its forces struck #warehouse storing sea #drones in #Odessa’s port area Russian forces have delivered a high-precision missile strike on a warehouse in a port district of Odessa that was used by Ukraine to prepare attacks by sea drones, the Russian Defense Ministry said. "At 11:40 Moscow time today, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation delivered a high-precision missile strike on a hangar in the industrial port district of the city of Odessa, which was used by the Armed Forces of Ukraine to prepare uncrewed boats for combat. The goal of the strike has been accomplished. The facility has been hit," the ministry said. The Greek newspaper Proto Thema reported earlier on Wednesday that no member of the Greek delegation led by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis was hurt as they visited Odessa. According to the report, Ukraine's Zelensky's motorcade, which was 150 meters away from the Greek delegation, was attacked by a drone. The newspaper also said a powerful explosion went off in Odessa shortly before the Greek prime minister met with Zelensky. An air alert was issued in the area.