Ville Kostian
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kostianv.bsky.social
Ville Kostian
@kostianv.bsky.social
3K followers 380 following 12K posts
Geopolitics, geoeconomics and military.
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kostianv.bsky.social
" #Russia still sees US as its top adversary, Estonian intelligence report says"
www.defenseone.com/threats/2026...
Russia still sees US as its top adversary, Estonian intelligence report says
Moscow’s gestures toward normalized relations are no more than an “illusory thaw.”
www.defenseone.com
February 12, 2026 at 6:33 AM
kostianv.bsky.social
" #Russia attempted to ‘fully block’ #WhatsApp, #Meta -owned company says"
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...
Russia attempted to ‘fully block’ WhatsApp, Meta-owned company says
Move is a ‘backwards step’, company spokesperson says, amid concerns Kremlin is seeking more state control via messaging apps such as Max
www.theguardian.com
February 12, 2026 at 6:32 AM
kostianv.bsky.social
" #NATO deploys to #Greenland to keep #Trump onside" - #Arctic
www.politico.eu/article/nato...
NATO deploys to Greenland to keep Trump onside
The alliance’s Arctic Sentry is mostly a rebranding exercise aimed at appeasing the U.S. president — in response to a largely exaggerated threat.
www.politico.eu
February 12, 2026 at 5:25 AM
kostianv.bsky.social
"Poll: Top #NATO allies don’t think US helps deter enemies anymore"
www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
Poll: Top NATO allies don’t think US helps deter enemies anymore
The United States' eroding reputation is raising fresh questions about the stability of the global order that has held for decades, and of the country's strength on the world stage.
www.politico.com
February 12, 2026 at 5:24 AM
kostianv.bsky.social
#MidEast - " #Trump, #Netanyahu end meeting without #Iran agreement"
www.dw.com/en/trump-net...
Trump, Netanyahu end meeting without Iran agreement
Israel is hoping that any nuclear deal will not just focus on curbing Tehran's nuclear potential but its ballistic missile program and support for armed proxy groups in the region.
www.dw.com
February 12, 2026 at 5:22 AM
Reposted by Ville Kostian
thestudyofwar.bsky.social
7/ Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, February 11, 2026 update: isw.pub/UkrWar021126
February 12, 2026 at 2:15 AM
Reposted by Ville Kostian
thestudyofwar.bsky.social
6/ Russian forces recently advanced in northern Sumy Oblast, and near Velykyi Burluk, Borova, and Slovyansk.
February 12, 2026 at 2:14 AM
Reposted by Ville Kostian
thestudyofwar.bsky.social
NEW: Kremlin officials recently have been repeating the same messages about Russia’s commitment to its original war aims in Ukraine to various media sources that reach international and domestic audiences.

Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, February 11, 2026 update: isw.pub/UkrWar021126
February 12, 2026 at 2:14 AM
Reposted by Ville Kostian
thestudyofwar.bsky.social
7/ Iran may calculate that prolonging the talks with the United States provides Iran with additional time to reconstitute its ballistic missile program, which Iran may calculate would raise the costs of US or Israeli military action against Iran.

Full Iran Update: isw.pub/IranUpdate02...
February 12, 2026 at 2:59 AM
Reposted by Ville Kostian
thestudyofwar.bsky.social
6/ Iran has thus far only offered limited concessions on its nuclear program that are far less significant concessions than Iran agreed to in the 2015 nuclear deal.
February 12, 2026 at 2:59 AM
Reposted by Ville Kostian
thestudyofwar.bsky.social
NEW: Iran may be floating the possibility of talks about Iran’s ballistic missile program in an effort to delay possible US military action and extract concessions from the United States in nuclear negotiations. (1/7)

Iran Update, February 11, 2026: isw.pub/IranUpdate02...
February 12, 2026 at 2:59 AM
kostianv.bsky.social
"As part of a program authorizing up to eleven ASCs under the Presidential Memorandum “Construction of #Arctic Security Cutters,” the first two vessels will be built in #Finland at Davie Defense’s sister company, Helsinki Shipyard."
www.navaltoday.com/2026/02/11/u...
US Coast Guard orders five Arctic security cutters from Davie Defense
Davie Defense has been awarded a contract from the United States Coast Guard (USCG) to build five Arctic security cutters (ASCs), a new class of polar icebreaker critical to increasing the US presence...
www.navaltoday.com
February 12, 2026 at 4:44 AM
Reposted by Ville Kostian
thebarentsobserver.com
Military investigators from Moscow came to arrest the Mayor of Pechenga. "Andrei Kuznetsov has made a number of serious mistakes," the authorities say
Military investigators from Moscow came to arrest the Mayor of Pechenga
Leader of the municipality located along the border with Norway and Finland Andrei Kuznetsov has been dismissed and detained.
www.thebarentsobserver.com
February 11, 2026 at 5:14 PM
kostianv.bsky.social
"Indian Refiners Urged to Buy More U.S. and #Venezuela #Oil" - #India #Russia
oilprice.com/Latest-Energ...
Indian Refiners Urged to Buy More U.S. and Venezuela Oil | OilPrice.com
India's government is urging domestic refiners to increase spot market purchases of crude oil from the U.S. and Venezuela following a trade deal with the United States that includes a commitment to st...
oilprice.com
February 11, 2026 at 6:09 PM
Reposted by Ville Kostian
militarytimes.bsky.social
The mission will tie together various allied activities in the region, according to NATO officials.
NATO kicks off ‘Arctic Sentry’ operation following Greenland brouhaha
The mission will tie together various allied activities in the region, according to NATO officials.
www.militarytimes.com
February 11, 2026 at 4:46 PM
Reposted by Ville Kostian
thomasvb.bsky.social
Confirmed: NATO launches Arctic Sentry, Denmark and Germany have already announced contributions:
en.afp.com AFP News Agency @en.afp.com · 18h
🇪🇺 🇺🇸 🇬🇱 🇩🇰 NATO on Wednesday said it had launched a new mission to bolster security in the Arctic, in a move to assuage US President Donald Trump after he backed off claims on Greenland ➡️ u.afp.com/S2ts
File photo shows US General Alexus G. Grynkewich, NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, during a press conference at the NATO headquarters in Brussels on September 12, 2025
February 11, 2026 at 4:50 PM
Reposted by Ville Kostian
maks23.bsky.social
❌ It seems that WhatsApp is now completely blocked in Russia - Russians report the disappearance of the messenger domain from the DNS servers of Roskomnadzor.
February 11, 2026 at 4:51 PM
Reposted by Ville Kostian
militarnyi.com
⚔️ Ukrainian forces have driven Russian troops out of the village of Kosivtse in the Zaporizhia region.

Earlier, a group of Russian servicemen had entered the village and taken positions inside residential houses.

militarnyi.com/en/news/ukra...
Ukrainian Forces Push Russians Out of Kosivtseve Village
Ukrainian forces have driven Russian troops out of the village of Kosivtse in the Zaporizhia region.
militarnyi.com
February 11, 2026 at 4:51 PM
Reposted by Ville Kostian
780thmibdecyber.bsky.social
The Network Behind Iran’s Internet Shutdown; From Engineering Disconnection to Profiting off Sanctions
Filter Watch
filter.watch/english/2026...
Exclusive Report:The Network Behind Iran’s Internet Shutdown; From Engineering Disconnection to Profiting off Sanctions - Filterwatch
Since January 8, 2026, Iran's internet has entered one of its darkest eras. Evidence gathered by Filterwatch’s investigations show that this situation is not a technical accident but the result of del...
filter.watch
February 11, 2026 at 4:52 PM
Reposted by Ville Kostian
780thmibdecyber.bsky.social
Iran’s Digital Surveillance Machine Is Almost Complete
"Over the past four weeks, the Iranian government completely shut down connections to the global internet while its forces killed thousands of anti-regime protesters around the country."
@wired.com
www.wired.com/story/irans-...
Iran’s Digital Surveillance Machine Is Almost Complete
After more than 15 years of draconian measures, culminating in an ongoing internet shutdown, the Iranian regime seems to be staggering toward its digital surveillance endgame.
www.wired.com
February 11, 2026 at 4:50 PM
kostianv.bsky.social
" #NATO begins ' #Arctic Sentry' mission to secure region"
www.dw.com/en/nato-begi...
NATO begins 'Arctic Sentry' mission to secure region
Through the "Arctic Sentry" mission, NATO is bolstering its military presence in the Arctic in an effort to de-escalate the conflict over Greenland.
www.dw.com
February 11, 2026 at 4:45 PM
kostianv.bsky.social
" #UK to join #NATO ’s US arms-buying scheme for #Ukraine"
www.politico.eu/article/uk-j...
UK to join NATO’s US arms-buying scheme for Ukraine
London will contribute £150 million to the PURL program, as allies increasingly come under pressure to supply weapons to Ukraine.
www.politico.eu
February 11, 2026 at 2:56 PM
kostianv.bsky.social
"Most say being informed is essential for voting. Yet views differ on the importance of following news – and many say they're worn out by it." pewrsr.ch/4auhT4q
Americans’ Complicated Relationship With News
Most say being informed is essential for voting. Yet views differ on the importance of following news – and many say they're worn out by it.
pewrsr.ch
February 11, 2026 at 2:54 PM
kostianv.bsky.social
#Israel - "Defense Ministry, Rafael complete David’s Sling trials"
en.globes.co.il/en/article-d...
Defense Ministry, Rafael complete David’s Sling trials
 
en.globes.co.il
February 11, 2026 at 2:51 PM
Reposted by Ville Kostian
amplifyukraine.eu
'Russian army is not preparing to stop' — 3 toddlers among 9 killed in attacks on Ukraine over past day #Ukraine
'Russian army is not preparing to stop' — 3 toddlers among 9 killed in attacks on Ukraine over past day
kyivindependent.com
February 11, 2026 at 10:58 AM