FINLAND AND NATO TO CONDUCT WARGAMES PAGE 22

 April 27 , 2022

 Finland Rolls Out Red Carpet for NATO Wargames

The operation comes as Helsinki mulls membership of the US-led military bloc, with members Latvia, Estonia and the Netherlands set for joint-naval exercises. The Baltic Sea drills will focus on "mine countermeasures," and will run Thursday through Friday about 330 miles from the Russian city of St. Petersburg.

“The main goal of the exercise is to search for and identify underwater objects,” Finland's Coastal Fleet’s chief of staff confirmed. “In these exercises, we learn to work as part of a group that we do not regularly interact with. It helps to maintain international expertise.”

Planned one year in advance, the operation comes amid reports that both Finland and Sweden – historically neutral states – are moving ahead with plans to join NATO, and could submit membership applications as early as next month. 

Moscow has warned that the Nordic nations joining the bloc could force a rethink on "restoring military balance."

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 ⚡️Ten European buyers have already opened special accounts with Gazprombank to pay in rubles - Bloomberg

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 ⚡️ Chinese drone and video camera manufacturer DJI announces suspension of commercial activities in Russia and Ukraine - Financial Times

DJI becomes one of the first large Chinese companies to publicly announce its termination of operations in Russia since the conflict in Ukraine began.

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 EU Decry “Unjustified” Gazprom Gas Block

Ursula von der Leyen has slammed Gazprom’s decision to halt gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria after the countries refused to pay in rubles as per Russia’s demands as “unjustified and unacceptable”.

The European Commission President added that the EU will coordinate a retaliation to what it considers an attempt by Moscow to “blackmail us with gas” as European prices shot up 24% after Gazprom announced their block.

Meanwhile Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer has confirmed his country, which depends on Russia for 80% of its gas, will pay in rubles.

So much for a united front.

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 ❗Russia to impose sanctions on 287 British MPs – Foreign Ministry

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 Euro Slumps To 5-Year LOW Amidst Russian Energy Supply Fears

The Euro has sunk to its lowest value against the US dollar (1.0616) since April 2017, with trends suggesting it will end the month below its 20-year uptrend.

Investor uncertainty over Russian energy supplies have been heightened since Gazprom’s move to block gas to Poland and Bulgaria over refusal to pay in rubles on Wednesday, while dollar gains have added to the currency’s drop.

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 ⚡️After a lengthy negotiation process, jailed ex-US marine Trevor Reed exchanged for Russian pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko on April 27 – Russian Foreign Ministry

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 ⚡️Moscow declares 3 Norwegian diplomats persona non grata in a reciprocal move – Russian Foreign Ministry

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 ❗Poland will ask European Commission to impose 25-35% import duties on Russian gas, coal and oil – PM Morawiecki (TASS)

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 Fire engulfs Russian ammunition depot near Ukraine – governor 

A series of explosions have rocked an ammunition depot south of the Russian city of Belgorod, close to the Ukrainian border, a day after several villages in the same region came under attacks which have been blamed on Kiev's forces.

There were no reports of casualties or damage to civilian infrastructure, according to regional governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, who said a local official had confirmed that an ammunition depot was burning near the village of Staraya Nelidovka, some 12 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.

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