Sep 13, 2026, 06:30 AM UTC

Political science scholar Alpo Rusi has detailed historical evidence regarding Soviet intelligence operations aimed at Finnish political figures during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Writing in a column for Iltalehti, Rusi highlighted the covert pressure and threats directed at former Prime Minister and National Conciliator Keijo Liinamaa prior to his death in 1980.

According to Rusi, Moscow’s security apparatus engaged in systematic psychological influence and political intervention to steer Finnish domestic affairs during a crucial power transition. The revelations offer further insight into how deeply Soviet intelligence attempted to manipulate Helsinki's political decision-making during the late Cold War period.

Sources: Iltalehti

Ukrainian drone operators from the 82nd Air Assault Brigade are maintaining strike and reconnaissance operations along the southern front near Zaporizhzhia while confronting heavy physical fatigue and psychological stress. Operating out of abandoned residential homes, soldiers conceal critical equipment, including satellite communications terminals, beneath local vegetation and flowerbeds to avoid detection.

Russian military units continuously monitor electronic emissions across the area to locate Ukrainian command posts. Once identified, these temporary hubs face immediate strikes from heavy artillery and loitering munitions. To minimize risks, Ukrainian drone teams must regularly relocate their equipment and refine camouflage methods to sustain operations.

Sources: Die Presse

United States President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have pushed back against media reports alleging that dwindling ammunition stocks forced a pause in military strikes against Iran. Writing on Truth Social, Trump declared that the US military holds "massive amounts of 'munitions'" and noted that domestic weapons manufacturing is scaling up to meet operational demand.

Trump also threatened individuals leaking classified military data to journalists with long prison sentences. The statements follow reports from American media outlets, including CNN and The Washington Post, suggesting that critical interceptor missile stockpiles had fallen to precariously low levels. Pentagon officials maintain that current inventories are adequate to support ongoing strategic operations.

Sources: Die Zeit, FAZ, ORF

United States-led NATO forces have executed unannounced military exercises around Russia's Kaliningrad enclave, deploying American and Norwegian fighter jets, AWACS aircraft, and Polish ground units. NATO representatives characterized the maneuvers as routine measures to maintain defensive capabilities.

Simultaneously, air strikes between Russia and Ukraine intensified. Russian ballistic missile attacks targeted Kyiv, resulting in at least two fatalities and damaging a commercial facility, while Ukrainian drone strikes hit Russia's Saratov region.

In addition, investigative reports published by British media indicate that Russia has constructed ten covert launch sites near NATO borders. The report states that these facilities house long-range kamikaze drones capable of striking alliance territories and supporting operations against Ukraine.

Sources: Investor.bg, Mediapool, Nova TV

Tensions surrounding education, historical memory, and political identity continue across eastern Germany ahead of upcoming state elections. Educational personnel report a rising presence of far-right symbols and extremist songs in schools, prompting concerns among teachers.

Addressing gaps in historical awareness, federal SED victims commissioner Evelyn Zupke called for mandatory student visits to former East German memorial sites alongside expanded history curricula. Meanwhile, political debate intensifies in Saxony-Anhalt, where the Alternative for Germany (AfD) proposed defunding cultural institutions and projects deemed "anti-German." Critics warn the move threatens Holocaust remembrance initiatives, local theaters, and institutions such as the Bauhaus.

Separately, in Berlin, the state school system faces administrative strain, with official figures revealing nearly 400 teachers have been on continuous sick leave for over a year.

Sources: Correctiv, Der Spiegel, DW, FAZ, Tagesschau