ISDEI Instituto de Seguridad, Defensa y Estudios Internacionales

Yevgeny Prigozhin, a businessman who is portrayed in mainstream media as Putin’s “chef” and owner of the mythical “Wagner Group” is reportedly to invest in numerous African countries. According to Bloomberg ,  Russia is looking to rekindle its Cold War-era ties across Africa.  However, according to the outlet,  Russia does not posses the financial resources that the US, Europe or China have, so it is attempting to subdue the countries by sending in mercenaries in “unstable but potentially rich states who have a taste for Russian weaponry.” Prigozhin and his supposed entourage of “contract soldiers and political operatives” are to offer security, arms training and electioneering services. In exchange they supposedly require mining rights and other opportunities , according to two unnamed individuals who are familiar with the matter. According to Bloomberg he is already active or is currently moving into 10 countries that have military relations with Russia:  the Democratic Republ

A screenshot from the video The Russian Military has received a first batch of Iskander tactical ballistic missile systems, which were produced in 2018, according to the Russian state media. The systems were produced under the deal reached by the Defense Ministry and the KB Mashinostroyeniya company. These very systems are produced for the 448th missile brigade of the 20th Guards Army. This brigade is deployed in Kursk. Military experts already noted that the newly-produced missile systems have an expanded hull, which means that they will be capable of using the 9M729 ( SSC – X – 8)  long-range ground-based cruise missile. This missile has the range of 480–5,470 km. The deployment of such missiles is banned by the INF Treaty, which the US administration has recently decided to ignore. So, Russia is already preparing for the US official withdrawal from the INF.