- January 13, 2026
- 7:51 pm
- World News
The beginning of 2026 for the adherents of the “Russian world” turned out to be not symbolic, but extremely practical. After the New Year pause, they faced a set of facts that cannot be explained by either a “cunning plan” or propagandistic metaphors.
The political geography has changed. Nicolás Maduro’s regime continues direct contacts with the USA, including New York, despite the rhetoric of the anti-American camp. In Iran, discussions about internal restrictions and dependence on external partners, including Moscow, which itself is under sanctions and resource pressure, are intensifying.
At sea, the situation has become fundamentally different. The USA and its allies have moved from statements to practice: tankers of the Russian “shadow fleet” have begun to be detained and inspected, including operations involving military units. The flag and registration no longer guarantee safety, and insurance and logistics chains are breaking.
Military actions against Ukraine have finally gone beyond the initial concept. The so-called “three-day operation” has been ongoing for more than 1418 days, exceeding the duration of the active phase of World War II for the USSR. Even loyal Z-military correspondents at the end of 2025 — beginning of 2026 publicly spoke about the failure of planning and the responsibility of the highest military and political leadership.
A separate episode is the “Oreshnik” missile strike on Lviv. Propaganda had prepared a picture of a “paralyzed city” in advance, but the facts turned out to be different: the infrastructure continued to work, transport communication was restored, and the declared “critical destruction” was not confirmed. The psychological effect was short-term.
The diplomatic front also failed. After sharp statements by the Russian Foreign Ministry towards the United Kingdom, London reminded of the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018, which allows the use of force to protect shipping and prevent violations of the sanctions regime. This mechanism was directly linked to Russian maritime exports for the first time.
Against the backdrop of the stagnation of the war in Ukraine, the Kremlin began to look for new, weaker directions for pressure. The opening of a full-fledged second front against Europe is recognized as impossible even within military circles. The focus has shifted to Central Asia and Armenia.
Armenia is a separate case. The loss of Yerevan as an unconditional ally has already been called a “strategic problem” by Russian propagandists. The reason is obvious: Moscow’s refusal to fulfill allied obligations within the CSTO undermined trust, and Yerevan began a systematic shift in foreign policy.
The Central Asian states maintain formal loyalty, but the experience of Ukraine remains a key warning for them. In 2013, relations between Kyiv and Moscow were also considered “strategically warm,” which did not prevent Russia from starting a trade war long before Euromaidan.
Simultaneously, Ukraine and Moldova have effectively blocked the supply of the Russian contingent in Transnistria — fuel, resources, and military supplies. In Chisinau, the scenario of unification with Romania as a way to finally exit the Russian orbit is being publicly discussed again.
Inside Russia, the crisis has ceased to be abstract. There is a shortage of aviation for eliminating the consequences of emergencies, a record drop in rail freight, and a reduction in space launches. In several regions, payments to state employees are delayed. There are regular interruptions with the internet, electricity, heating, and water supply.
Against this backdrop, Oleg Deripaska publicly warns of the possible bankruptcy of thousands of enterprises, while a significant part of the political and business elite spends holidays in Turkey, the UAE, and the Maldives.
The factual outcome is simple and disappointing. There are fewer allies, the war does not yield a strategic result, and internal costs are growing faster than the ability to hide them. For supporters of the “Russian world,” this is the geopolitical hangover — the moment when reality can no longer be drowned in slogans. This is precisely the picture recorded by NANews — News of Israel | Nikk.Agency, without hysteria, but with an accurate listing of what has already happened and continues to happen.
original Telegram 🖼 Semyon Skrepetsky https://t.me/Pravda_Gerashchenko/129995
