MOSCOW, June 26. /TASS/. NATO holds drills to rehearse Ukraine logistics and step up pressure on Russia; the US seeks Arab allies’ support for its agreement with Iran; and an earthquake consolidates the power of Venezuela’s new authorities. These stories topped Friday’s newspaper headlines across Russia.
Media: NATO drills practice Ukraine logistics, increase pressure on Russia
NATO’s Noble Blueprint 2026 exercise has begun in Romania. Officially held to work out a regional defense plan, the drills are being used to rehearse the rapid deployment of troops and the provision of logistical support on the Ukrainian axis, experts interviewed by Izvestia say, while also increasing military and political pressure on Russia.
NATO is deliberately keeping the details of the current drills secret, as official press releases contain no information on the exact number of troops or the equipment involved, using language that is as vague as possible. However, it is clear that these activities are directed solely against Russia, military expert Vasily Dandykin believes. "The Black Sea region, which was fully under our control during the Soviet era, has now turned into a zone of high political tension. Apart from the Odessa and Nikolayev coasts controlled by the Kiev regime, three NATO member states also have forces stationed there," he pointed out. "In fact, the drills are rehearsing direct combat operations against Russia. There is a high probability that what remains of the Ukrainian navy is also taking part in the exercise," Dandykin said.
