Ukrainian forces exploiting Telegram data for battlefield intel – FSB
21 Feb, 2026 05:55
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has claimed that Ukrainian military units and intelligence agencies are able to rapidly obtain information shared via the Telegram messaging platform and use it for military purposes.
According to a statement released by the agency, its analysis indicates that data posted on Telegram can be accessed and processed by Ukrainian forces “in the shortest possible time,” allowing them to identify positions, movements, and other operational details.
The FSB said the findings are based on what it described as “reliable information” gathered during monitoring of the platform’s use in the conflict zone.
According to the FSB, such disclosures have contributed to threats to the lives and safety of Russian soldiers, underscoring the dangers of sharing sensitive information through open digital channels during active combat operations.
Kiev’s agents exploited loopholes to create fake identities and spread disinformation, while also using SIM-boxes – devices running dozens of SIM cards – for scams and other crimes, the FSB found earlier.
In 2025 alone, more than 50,000 SIM cards registered to fake identities were seized.
According to Russian security services, since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict, Kiev’s intelligence agencies have used both Telegram and WhatsApp to recruit operatives to carry out attacks inside Russia.
Since August 2025, Russian media watchdog Roskomnadzor partially blocked voice calls on both Telegram and WhatsApp. Text chats, file sharing, and other features remain available in Telegram; however, WhatsApp was fully blocked in Russia.
The curtailed functions would be fully restored if the platforms comply with Russian laws, the regulator said.
https://www.rt.com/russia/632853-telegram-app-fsb-says/
US insists that Kiev ‘get out of Donbass’ – Zelensky
21 Feb, 2026 12:49
Both Moscow and Washington insist that Kiev's withdrawal from Russia’s Donbass is a condition for ending the conflict, Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky has said. US President Donald Trump earlier urged Kiev to “come to the table fast,” accusing Ukraine of dragging out the settlement process.
In an interview with AFP on Friday, Zelensky confirmed that “both the Americans and the Russians say that if you want the war to end tomorrow, get out of Donbass.”
Despite gradually losing ground to Moscow, Zelensky rejected suggestions that Ukraine is on the brink of defeat. “You can’t say that we’re losing the war… The question is whether we will win. That is the question – but it’s a very costly question.”
Trump has made no secret of his growing impatience with Kiev. Earlier this month, he said, “Ukraine better come to the table fast.”
In separate remarks, he stated that “Russia wants to make a deal and Zelensky is going to have to get moving,” adding that Russian President Vladimir Putin is “ready to make a deal… [though] Ukraine is less ready.”
Zelensky – who has consistently ruled out territorial concessions – pushed back, telling Axios that the US approach is not fair.
The Ukrainian leader – whose presidential term expired in 2024 and was labeled by Russia as “illegitimate” – also reiterated his reluctance to hold elections.
“No one wants elections during a war. Everyone is afraid of its destructive effect,” he said, claiming that “the Russians just want to replace me.”
Zelensky previously agreed to hold elections following US pressure, but demanded security guarantees from the West.
Zelensky’s interview followed a new round of Russia-US-Ukraine talks in Geneva. Prior to the negotiations, Moscow said they would revolve around the issue of territory.
Russia has insisted that a sustainable settlement will only be possible if Ukraine withdraws from the areas still under its control in Donbass – which voted to join Russia in 2022 – and commits to neutrality, demilitarization, and denazification.
Russia has also demanded that Ukraine recognize its new borders.
https://www.rt.com/russia/632866-us-press-ukraine-leave-donbass/
other RT
https://www.rt.com/news/632867-slovakia-energy-ultimatum-zelensky/
https://www.rt.com/russia/632852-kiev-sell-billions-dollars-weapons/
https://www.rt.com/russia/632831-kremlin-peace-treaty-japan-impossible/
Russia injures at least 15 in missile and drone attacks across Odesa, Sumy, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson
February 21, 2026 10:53
Russia injured at least fifteen people in overnight and morning attacks across Ukraine after launching missiles and drones at civilian targets, as peace talks between the two sides go nowhere.
The main target was Odesa Oblast, where two people were injured after drones tore into houses and a four-storey apartment block, the emergency services reported on Feb. 21.
The attack also damaged energy infrastructure and a warehouse, as well as the second floor of a school.
The press service for DTEK, Ukraine's largest private energy firm, told the Kyiv Independent that the strike hit one of their substations. The damage is "significant," and repairs will take a "long time," the company wrote on social media.
The relentless attacks have left parts of Odesa without heating, water, and electricity. Over 16,000 locals have used assistance points set up by the emergency services to warm up and charge devices.
Closer to the frontline, Russian troops launched a series of strikes on Zaporizhzhia city and the surrounding area, injuring seven overnight, Ivan Fedorov, head of the regional administration, reported.
Another airstrike on Sumy, near the Russian border, injured two children and an elderly woman with the explosion destroying two buildings and damaging ten houses, the Sumy Oblast police reported. The victims are receiving medical care, the police noted.
In Kherson, a stone's throw away from the frontline, Russian troops targeted a civilian minibus with a drone, injuring at least three people, including the 71-year-old driver, on the morning of Feb. 21, the region’s state administration reported.
In total, Russia launched a ballistic missile and 120 drones overnight, targeting 19 locations, Ukraine’s air force reported. Ukraine managed to fend off 106 drones, but the remainder hit their targets.
Despite Ukraine, Russia, and the U.S. engaging in peace talk negotiations in Geneva earlier this week, Russia continued to wage terror across the country nonstop.
The talks ended without any guarantees on Feb. 18, with President Volodymyr Zelensky saying he was dissatisfied with the outcome.
https://kyivindependent.com/russia-injures-8-in-missile-and-drone-attacks-across-odesa-sumy-and-kherson/
https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/massive-night-strike-russia-attacks-ukraine-1771659823.html
https://united24media.com/latest-news/sanctioned-russian-defense-plant-erupts-in-flames-after-drone-strike-in-mordovia-16133
other Russia and Ukraine
https://glavnoe.in.ua/en/news-en/massive-drone-attack-on-odesa-region-lyceum-and-energy-facilities-damaged-people-injured
https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/ukrainian-drones-hit-high-cost-russia-s-ships-1771691705.html
https://militarnyi.com/en/news/drones-neftegorsk-gas-plant-samara-region/
https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/4093890-russians-strike-chuhuiv-with-drone-damaging-highrise-building-and-hospital.html
https://kyivindependent.com/drone-strikes-russian-ballistic-missile-factory-over-1-300-km-from-ukraines-border/
https://mezha.net/eng/bukvy/massive-drone-strike-damages-odessa-infrastructure-injures-two/
https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/4093926-russian-drone-hits-civilian-car-in-sumy-region-killing-people.html
https://english.nv.ua/russian-war/russian-drone-attack-damages-civilian-energy-sites-near-odesa-50585832.html
https://english.nv.ua/nation/ukrainian-drones-destroy-russian-tornado-s-launcher-50585868.html
https://theaviationist.com/2026/02/21/ukrainian-f-16-shooting-russian-target-apkws-ii/
https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/hackers-uncover-belarus-s-hidden-role-in-1771671105.html
https://news.ssbcrack.com/nato-deploys-turkish-drone-carrier-to-baltic-sea-amid-russian-airspace-violations/
IDF says it killed numerous Hezbollah terrorists accelerating missile launch plans in Baalbek
February 21, 2026 00:39
The Israel Defense Forces confirmed Saturday morning reports from Lebanon of fatalities in strikes carried out deep inside the country, in the Baalbek area, saying it killed “a large number” of terrorists belonging to Hezbollah’s missile array in three separate command centers.
Lebanese media reported at least 10 people were killed in the Baalbek strikes, of whom six were allegedly Hezbollah members.
“The terrorists were recently identified operating to accelerate processes of preparedness and force buildup, while planning fire toward the State of Israel and advancing terror attack frameworks that endanger IDF troops and Israeli civilians,” the military said in a statement.
“Hezbollah’s missile array is responsible for the launch of missiles and rockets toward the State of Israel and is currently engaged in planning such fire toward our territory,” the statement added.
The strikes come amid concerns that Hezbollah could join Iran in attacking Israel if the United States strikes the Iranian regime.
Military correspondent Yossi Yehoshua reported that the IDF has already prepared a plan to significantly damage Hezbollah in response to the group’s rehabilitation efforts over the past year.
At the same time, Israel’s defensive capabilities against Hezbollah’s missiles and rockets are described as strong, with proven and improving interception rates.
In the next confrontation, the laser defense system is expected to be fully operational, a factor Israeli officials say should deter Hezbollah from entering another round of fighting.
Israel has also formulated an offensive plan against the group and continues to strike targets in Lebanon on a regular basis. However, Hezbollah’s rate of recovery has been described as faster than the IDF’s ongoing efforts to degrade its capabilities.
Following the Baalbek strike, the IDF said the terrorists’ activity constituted a violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon.
“The IDF will continue to act against attempts by the Hezbollah terrorist organization to rehabilitate and rearm, and will operate with force to remove any threat to Israeli civilians,” the statement said. “The IDF remains committed to the understandings between Israel and Lebanon.”
According to Lebanese reports, at least 10 people were killed in the Baalbek area and dozens were wounded. One report said three Hezbollah commanders were among the dead: Ali Zeid al-Moussawi, Muhammad Ibrahim al-Moussawi and Hussein Yaghi.
Lebanese newspaper An-Nahar reported that Hussein Yaghi was the son of former Hezbollah parliament member Muhammad Hassan Yaghi, considered one of the founders of the terrorist organization and a former aide to Hassan Nasrallah.
In an obituary published by Hezbollah-affiliated media, Yaghi was described as a “jihad commander” who was killed “defending Lebanon and the people.”
In addition to the strikes in the Bekaa Valley, the IDF carried out another strike in Lebanon on Friday, targeting a command center where Hamas terrorists were operating in the Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp near Sidon in southern Lebanon.
According to the IDF, the command center had recently been used to prepare terror attacks against IDF forces in Lebanon and to conduct training aimed at advancing various attack plans against Israeli forces and the State of Israel. In an unusual move, the strike was carried out by a Navy missile boat.
Lebanese reports said three people were killed in that strike and 12 were wounded.
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bjai91dowl
other Israel
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-887390
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/idf-large-number-of-hezbollah-operatives-killed-in-strikes-on-lebanon-last-night/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/idf-terror-operative-killed-by-troops-after-crossing-gaza-ceasefire-line/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/idf-filmed-firing-tear-gas-at-palestinians-playing-soccer-in-west-bank/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/at-least-one-killed-in-idf-strike-on-palestinian-refugee-camp-in-lebanon/
https://www.jns.org/time-is-critical-idf-doctor-recalls-race-to-save-lives-in-last-iran-war/
https://www.oneindia.com/videos/hamas-alqassam-fighters-blast-trump-s-board-of-peace-meet-as-israel-bombs-gaza-idf-must-leave-4289274.html
https://www.iranintl.com/en/liveblog/202602154712
https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/how-would-us-strike-on-iran-play-out-hk-022126
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/02/21/trump-iran-military-strike-options/88778926007/
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/trump-could-allow-iran-token-124852382.html
other Iran
https://kabulnow.com/2026/02/un-expert-afghan-citizens-among-those-killed-and-detained-in-iran-protests/
https://www.iranintl.com/en/202602215486
Campus rallies echo with anti-Khamenei, pro-monarchy chants
February 21, 2026
Summary
-
University students in Tehran and Mashhad held protests on campus Saturday to mark the 40th day since the deaths of those killed during the January protests.
-US President Donald Trump said 32,000 people were killed in Iran “in a relatively short period of time,” speaking to reporters on Friday.
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US President Donald Trump told reporters on Friday he may be "considering" a limited strike on Iran.
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US President Donald Trump’s 10–15 day deadline for Iran to reach a nuclear deal coincides with a March 2 IAEA board meeting that may censure Tehran, Bloomberg reported, noting Israel launched strikes within 24 hours of an agency censure in June.
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Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday that the United States had not demanded zero uranium enrichment in nuclear talks and that discussions in Geneva had focused on ensuring Iran’s program remains peaceful through diplomacy.
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Amnesty International said at least 30 people, including children, were at risk of execution in Iran over alleged links to the January uprising, warning that several had been sentenced to death after what it described as unfair trials and reports of torture.
21 minutes ago
Video: Tragic moment girl learns of mother’s death in protest crackdown
A video shared on social media shows the moment the daughter of slain protester Fatemeh Soltani learns of her mother’s death during the January protests in Esfarayen, northeastern Iran.
Fatemeh, 32, was the mother of 6-year-old Gissou and 9-month-old Rastin.
“I’m going out tonight for my children, because they deserve to have a good life,” she wrote in a message before joining the protests.
1 hour ago
Second US aircraft carrier enters Mediterranean, heading east - WSJ
The USS Gerald Ford aircraft carrier transited the Strait of Gibraltar on Friday, heading east toward the Middle East where it is supposed to support possible strikes on Iran, The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday citing a satellite photo it obtained.
2 hours ago
Mourners perform rare dance to revolutionary anthem at protester’s grave
Mourners in Mobarakeh, central Iran, danced to a pro-monarchy revolutionary anthem in an unconventional act of defiance against the Islamic Republic at the 40th-day memorial for protester Rostam Mobarakabadi who was shot dead by security forces on January 9 in Esfahan.
Kaveh, The Blacksmith, which is referenced in the revolutionary song, is a figure in Iranian mythology who leads an uprising against a ruthless foreign ruler Zahhak.
3 hours ago
Pezeshkian says Iran ‘will not bow’ under pressure
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said the country will not yield to pressure from world powers.
“We made a pact in the government that even if all the powers of the world stand unfairly against us to make us bow, we will not surrender,” Pezeshkian said at a ceremony honoring Paralympic medalists on Saturday.
“You did not surrender to difficulties, and we too, despite all the problems they created and the wounds inflicted on our society, will not surrender to problems and coercion,” he added.
3 hours ago
Iranians hold gatherings in London, Munich, Copenhagen, Berlin
Iranians in London, Munich, Copenhagen and Berlin held gatherings in support of nationwide protests in Iran.
In a video from Copenhagen, protesters can be heard chanting pro-Pahlavi slogans during the event.
1/3
3 hours ago
Iranians in Newcastle hold memorial rally
A group of Iranians gathered in Newcastle, UK, on Saturday to commemorate those killed in January protests, according to a video received by Iran International.
3 hours ago
Sharif University president says ‘enemy’ seeks to force university online
The president of Sharif University of Technology said opponents want the university to move online after students held anti-government protests on campus, where clashes were also broke out and some students were injured.
“The enemy wants the university to become virtual, but we will not allow it,” Masoud Tajrishi said.
“We want to show that we can manage the university. Anyone who carries out illegal acts at the university must be dealt with,” he added.
4 hours ago
Sharif students chant ‘Death to Khamenei’ at Basij
Students at Sharif University of Technology chanted “Death to Khamenei” at Basij members who confronted them during a protest on Saturday, according to a video received by Iran International.
4 hours ago
Iranians in Germany hold vigil outside consulate
Iranians in Germany gathered on Saturday outside the Islamic Republic’s consulate, lighting candles and playing songs to mark the memory of those killed during the recent protests.
4 hours ago
Amirkabir students chant ‘Long live the King’ at memorial rally
Videos received from a Saturday gathering at Amirkabir University of Technology in Tehran show students chanting “Long live the King” during a memorial for those killed in January protests.
4 hours ago
Amirkabir exit blocked, students detained
Security forces blocked the exit of Amirkabir University of Technology in Tehran on Saturday and detained students, according to the Student Union.
5 hours ago
US dollar tops 1.65 million rials in Iran’s market
The US dollar rose above 1.65 million rials in Iran’s free market as the prospect of military confrontation between the Islamic Republic and the United States intensified.
Iran's currency has lost half its value in just six months.
10 hours ago
Australia urges citizens to leave Iran immediately
Australia’s government urged its citizens to avoid travel to Iran and leave the country if safe to do so, warning of possible military conflict and airspace disruptions, according to updated Smarttraveller advice.
“Prioritise your safety, monitor events and follow local advice,” the government said, cautioning that commercial flights remain available but could change quickly due to recent airspace closures and flight restrictions.
The advisory described Iran’s security situation as extremely volatile and warned Australians, including dual nationals, face a high risk of detention.
Citizens remaining in the country were advised to avoid public gatherings and protests and prepare to shelter in place with sufficient supplies of food, water and medication.
2/3
17 hours ago
Trump considers Iran deal with 'token' enrichment - Axios
Donald Trump is weighing a narrow Iran nuclear deal that could permit ‘token’ uranium enrichment while simultaneously being presented with Pentagon options that include a plan to kill Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and his son, Axios reported on Friday citing senior US officials and advisers.
"The media may continue to speculate on the President's thinking all they want, but only President Trump knows what he may or may not do," White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told Axios.
17 hours ago
US vows continued visa bans over Iran repression
The United States on Friday pledged to keep imposing visa restrictions on individuals involved in violently repressing and censoring Iranians, Assistant Secretary posted on X.
“The United States will continue to pursue visa restrictions for individuals who violently repress and censor Iranians seeking to exercise their freedom of expression,” Mora Namdar said.
17 hours ago
Sweden urges citizens to leave Iran
Sweden’s Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard on Friday urged Swedish citizens in Iran to leave the country, citing a “highly uncertain” situation in Iran and the region and referring to an “urgent appeal” to leave.
“The situation in Iran and in the region is highly uncertain. I therefore wish to emphasize the importance of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs' advisory against all travel to Iran, and the urgent appeal to Swedish citizens who are in the country to leave,” Stenergard posted on X.
“It is still possible to leave Iran via air travel and border crossings. Swedes should leave Iran now while the opportunity exists and not wait. A significant personal responsibility rests with those individuals who choose to remain in Iran. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs will not be able to assist with evacuation from Iran,” she added.
17 hours ago
UK foreign minister does not deny rejecting US use of RAF bases over Iran
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper on Friday did not deny that London had rejected a US request to use Royal Air Force bases in potential operations related to Iran when asked directly by ITV, while emphasizing a preference for negotiations.
“The UK and the US have a long, deep security partnership. We work immensely closely on the issue of Iran,” Cooper said. “That is why we’re supporting the US talks taking place with Iran, because, frankly, the Iranian regime has continued to pose a security threat, has continued to pursue nuclear weapons.”
“That is why we have supported sanctions and also efforts to increase diplomatic and economic pressure on the regime. That’s what we believe is the right thing to do,” she added.
18 hours ago
Serbia urges citizens to leave Iran amid rising tensions
Serbia on Friday urged its citizens to leave Iran as soon as possible due to heightened tensions and the risk of a deterioration in the security situation.
20 hours ago
UN says concerned by heightened Iran-US tension, urges diplomatic settlement
"We are very concerned about the heightened rhetoric we're seeing around the region by the heightened military activities, war games or … military naval presence," UN Secretary General's spokesman Stephane Dujarric told a news conference on Friday.
He said the UN encourages both the US and Iran to continue engaging in diplomacy to settle their differences.
21 hours ago
Hundreds of US troops evacuated from Mideast bases amid Iran tension - NYT
Hundreds of US troops have now been evacuated from Al Udeid base in Qatar, The New York Times reported citing Pentagon officials.
There have also been evacuations at the cluster of US bases in Bahrain that house the Navy’s 5th Fleet, the report added.
Later in the day, Fox News dismissed the New York Times report citing a well-placed US official. "The US has NOT evacuated hundreds of US troops from Al Udeid air base in Qatar, nor has it evacuated bases in Bahrain, home to the US 5th Fleet."
3/3
How much high level shit is going on under the surface of that place?
Myitkyina Airport in Myanmar attacked by drone, MNA Airlines passenger plane hit
Saturday, 21 Feb 2026 | 2:12 PM MYT
YANGON: A drone attack on Myitkyina Airport in Kachin State on Friday (Feb 20) night reportedly hit an MNA Airlines passenger plane.
Security forces continue to carry out necessary area security operations and will take effective and strong responses, it was announced.
The ATR-72-600 passenger plane of Myanmar National Airlines (MNA) was preparing to take off from the airport at around 8.12pm, when a joint group of KIA and PDF groups allegedly fired FPV suicide drones at it, causing minor damage to the aircraft's nose, mid-body, and taillights.
The press release stated that after the attack, security forces quickly evacuated those in need and provided rescue services, and that no passengers or flight crew were harmed, killed, or injured in the incident.
The press release stated that the deliberate attack on a civilian airline, which greatly facilitates the flow of non-military public transport and goods, constitutes a war crime under the Geneva Conventions and international law.
Security forces are continuing to carry out necessary security operations in the area and will respond effectively and decisively.
KIA spokesman Colonel Naw Bu denied the incident to the BBC, saying the KIA has no policy of attacking airlines carrying civilians and that the group has not taken any action in this regard.
Currently, according to the road conditions, Myitkyina Airport is an air transport hub that facilitates non-military public transportation and the rapid flow of goods from Kachin State to Yangon and Mandalay.
Air security forces were able to intercept the drones after they were detected by air defence systems.
This prevented the drones from exploding inside the airport, but instead crashed on the runway and nearby areas.
Security forces defused the explosive devices on the drones to protect the public.
The KIA and PDF affiliates are reportedly carrying out attacks to undermine the government's governance mechanism and disrupt regional peace and stability by detonating mines, firing rockets from a distance, and dropping bombs using drones on infrastructure, roads, bridges, schools, and hospitals. - Eleven Media/ANN
https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2026/02/21/myitkyina-airport-in-myanmar-attacked-by-drone-mna-airlines-passenger-plane-hit
U.S., Philippines Commit to Increased Missile, Drone Deployments in First Island Chain
February 20, 2026 4:02 PM
U.S. and Philippine defense officials committed to bolstering missile and drone deployments across the Southeast Asian archipelago in support of Washington’s first island chain deterrence efforts against China.
Last week’s bilateral strategic dialogue in Manila indicated the increasingly important role the Philippines holds in Washington’s regional efforts to deter or defeat a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan.
The talks underlined a focus on deterrence in the first island chain, a topic highlighted in recently released U.S. defense and security strategies.
Increased American missile and drone deployments were among the many initiatives agreed upon between the two allies to “reestablish deterrence in the Indo-Pacific.”
“[U.S. and Philippine officials] committed to maintaining a vigilant posture in the Indo-Pacific to prevent conflict and to developing strong measures along with the deterrence to keep sea lanes open and not subject to arbitrary control by one country.
Collective defense is critical to denying and deterring aggression anywhere in the First Island Chain,” reads the joint statement.
U.S. Marine and Army formations have stepped up the deployment of new long-range precision strike munitions and unmanned systems to the Philippines in recent years.
The island of Luzon, the largest archipelagic landmass near Taiwan, has hosted some of Washington’s most advanced missile systems and latest drone initiatives, including unmanned Marine Corps anti-ship missile launchers, Army Typhon/Mid-Range Capability launchers capable of firing Tomahawks and SM-6s and MQ-9A Reapers for maritime domain awareness support in the South China Sea.
American security assistance also helped the Philippine Navy form its first unmanned surface vessel unit. Additional projects aim to stage these drones and future unmanned assistance from Manila’s primary South China Sea operations base in Western Palawan.
While the U.S.-Philippine alliance was rejuvenated following a series of incidents with Chinese forces at disputed South China Sea maritime features, the past four years have seen a new focus on Northern Luzon and islands in the strait separating Taiwan and the Philippines.
Increased access to Luzon could give American forces access to airfields, ports and a missile launching pad to assist Taiwanese forces against a Chinese invasion.
For Philippine government and military officials, the increased U.S. presence has been viewed as a deterrent measure against a spillover of a cross-strait war into Philippine territories.
Manila also eyes its northern provinces as a key point to repatriate its 150-250,000 citizens residing in Taiwan in the event of a conflict.
Last year, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Romeo Brawner told forces based in the country’s north to prepare for a Taiwan invasion contingency.
New Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites, Philippine military bases and facilities designated for American rotational forces and investments, expanded U.S. presence in the Southeast Asian nation’s northernmost provinces in 2023.
Last month, American military personnel surveyed a new Philippine forward operating base located 120 miles south of Taiwan as a site for joint defense operations.
Ben Lewis, founder of PLATracker, an organization dedicated to monitoring Chinese military activity and development, told USNI News that the implications of an American posture in the Philippines dedicated toward first island chain deterrence efforts would be a “significant threat” to Chinese forces attempting to invade Taiwan.
“Pre-staged U.S. equipment in the Philippines could create a significant threat to PRC efforts to seize Taiwan by force,” Lewis said.
“Should the equipment be used for an intervention operation, the Philippines sits opposite to the vital port of Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan, which will likely be a target for the People’s Liberation Army to secure a foothold in the south of the island.”
https://news.usni.org/2026/02/20/u-s-philippines-commit-to-increased-missile-drone-deployments-in-first-island-chain
other Philippines
https://mb.com.ph/2026/02/21/drones-discover-hidden-marijuana-plantations-in-cordillera
Red Panda has a good companion video
Caltech astrophysicist genius found gundowned on his front porch
Feb 21, 2026
🚨 Caltech genius found gundowned on his front porch
Carl Grillmair was a Caltech astrophysicist at the Infrared Processing and Analysis Center, specializing in galactic astronomy, dark matter, stellar streams, galactic structure, and exoplanets.
He led projects on Hubble and Spitzer telescopes, discovered multiple stellar streams in the Milky Way, and earned a NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1felpIo2Wcw&t=2s
Godzilla and Kong Attack Hollywood in Epic Kaiju Drone Show to Promote ‘Monarch’ Season 2!
February 21, 2026
Apple TV+ took to Hollywood last night for an epic promotion for the upcoming second season of “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters,” which premieres on the streamer February 27.
Godzilla and King Kong lit up the skies of Hollywood last night for a kaiju-sized drone show to promote the new season, and it’s easily the coolest thing you’ll see all weekend.
The Hollywood drone show even teased the appearance of Titan X, a mysterious new god-like monster on a path of destruction in “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” Season 2.
Watch the epic Godzilla and Kong drone show below!
The 10-episode second season of “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” premieres February 27 on Apple TV+, with new episodes being unleashed every Friday through May 1.
Season 2 picks up with the fate of Monarch — and the world — hanging in the balance. Buried secrets are revealed, reuniting our heroes (and villains) on Kong’s Skull Island, and a new, mysterious village where a mythical Titan rises from the sea.
The ripple effects of the past make waves in the present day, blurring the bonds between family, friend and foe — all with the threat of a titan event on the horizon.
https://bloody-disgusting.com/tv/3937063/godzilla-and-kong-attack-hollywood-in-epic-kaiju-drone-show-to-promote-monarch-season-2-video/
https://x.com/BDisgusting/status/2025219179792544145
"I saw him shape-shift- in the bedroom" — Jeffrey Epstein's alleged victim Juliette Bryant compares late s*x offender to a "devil"
Mar 06, 2025 20:39 GMT
Jeffrey Epstein Appears In Manhattan Federal Court On Sex Trafficking Charges - Source: GettyJeffrey Epstein's alleged victim Juliette Bryant speaks about her experiences (Image via Getty)
“I saw him shape shift in the bedroom…”
“Well, when I was in the bedroom with him because he used to take me into that small bedroom. And it was always dark and really cold.
And then it was almost like when he was org*sming or something like I looked at him and suddenly, His face grew big like this, and then I saw these huge black eyes like this. Then a big mouth with this horrible tongue and like this sort of dragon horn stuff, which is almost like the devil.”
Another alleged Jeffrey Epstein victim opened up about her experience with the s*x offenderJeffrey Epstein died in August 2019 (Image via Getty)Jeffrey Epstein died in August 2019 (Image via Getty)
“You know, I mean, I can't really explain what I saw because I saw like, I mean, I can explain it, but it's so hard. You know, I did paint it, but I burnt that painting because I just hated it..”
“I saw him turn into this horrible creepy. And, and I've never seen, I wasn't on drugs. I wasn't drinking alcohol. Nothing like that was allowed. A lot of people think there were parties going on there…”
“You know, I could have been dragged. I don't know, you know, because again, when you're in a place like that, they could slip something in your drink, you know, in your water or in your food. And it's never known…”
(Article won't copy/paste properly)
https://www.sportskeeda.com/us/podcasts/news-i-saw-shape-shift-bedroom-jeffrey-epstein-s-alleged-victim-juliette-bryant-compares-late-s-x-offender-devil
https://x.com/JulietteBryant/status/2024651323841360159
https://x.com/Samstwitch_Sam/status/1943837772201988282
https://x.com/TheProjectUnity/status/189744712523705174
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3F2VMan5rI (Project Unity: She Was TAKEN by Jeffrey Epstein & Experimented On!)
that would be us
Baba Vanga's Giant Spaceship Prophecy Resurfaces Amid Trump's Alien Exposé
20 February 2026, 8:44 AM GMT
Whispers of ancient predictions are clashing with modern political revelations as a forgotten forecast from the Bulgarian mystic gains new life.
As the Trump administration brings discussions of extraterrestrial life into the spotlight, many are looking back at the seer's warnings of an immense craft approaching Earth.
It seems the line between folklore and official disclosure is becoming thinner than ever before.
Following a critique of Barack Obama for acknowledging the existence of extraterrestrials, President Trump mandated on Thursday that his administration will open public access to documents regarding aliens and UFOs.
The timing and specific details of these files remain uncertain for now. While the Pentagon has spent the last few years ramping up its efforts to document and study strange sightings through the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office, its 2024 findings concluded that no proof of extraterrestrial beings exists.
A Clash of Presidents
The President's comments followed a surge in interest over the weekend after Barack Obama seemed to validate the reality of extraterrestrials during a chat with Brian Tyler Cohen.
When the podcast host questioned him on the subject, Obama replied that they exist, though he had never personally witnessed them.
In a subsequent Instagram update, the former leader explained that his comments actually related to the mathematical probability of life elsewhere in the cosmos.
He noted that, while the scale of space makes such existence likely, the immense gaps between stars make physical visits improbable, and concluded that no proof of alien contact surfaced during his time in office.
Speaking to reporters on Air Force One this Thursday, Trump responded to the claims by stating, 'Well, I don't know if they're real or not. I can tell you he gave classified information. He's not supposed to be doing that. He made a big mistake.'
Vanga's Cosmic Countdown
This new push for government transparency has breathed fresh life into a haunting prediction by the Bulgarian mystic Baba Vanga, who long ago foretold a cosmic event that mirrors today's headlines.
The mystic often spoke about life beyond Earth, but her most striking claim was that humanity would finally bridge the gap through a direct, personal meeting.
Interestingly, she pinpointed a specific timeline for this monumental first contact with an alien race, suggesting it would occur in November 2026.
Science Meets Seer
Her prediction describes a giant spacecraft breaking into our atmosphere, an idea that sounds less like science fiction than you might think.
In fact, astronomers have already been monitoring a strange object in deep space that they have named 3I/ATLAS. Scientists have been monitoring a strange interstellar object, 3I/ATLAS, as it moves through our local part of the galaxy.
According to NASA, the craft-like body reached its closest point to the Sun late last year and is expected to remain a focal point for astronomers through 2026 as it begins its long journey back into deep space.
An Interstellar Anomaly
Still, Harvard's Avi Loeb has consistently hinted that this interstellar visitor could actually be a threat from another world, while ultimately leaving it up to others to interpret the data for themselves.
In a September 2025 Medium post, Loeb noted, 'The anti-tail is an extension of the glow of scattered sunlight around 3I/ATLAS towards the Sun and not away from it - as is typically the case for comets.
This anomalous anti-tail, not a result of geometric perspective, had never been reported before for solar system comets.'
Destiny or Coincidence?
Whether the truth lies in dusty government archives or the cryptic visions of a Bulgarian seer, the narrative of extraterrestrial contact is reaching a fever pitch.
As the Trump administration moves to pull back the curtain on decades of state secrets, the timing seems almost too deliberate to be a mere coincidence.
If the President's upcoming document dump aligns with the cosmic timeline Vanga famously predicted, we may be fast approaching a moment where the 'statistical likelihood' of aliens becomes an undeniable reality.
https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/trump-ufo-disclosure-baba-vanga-predictions-1780396
https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/trump-announce-most-important-revelation-human-history-79th-anniversary-roswell-ufo-crash-1771539
https://twitter.com/UAPJames/status/2024578237054275652
https://english.pravda.ru/science/108800-vanga/
https://allatra.tv/en/video/who-are-anunnaki-find-out-the-truth
https://allatra.tv/en/video/truth-about-anunnaki-kaleidoscope-of-facts
Trump, the Galactic Federation & 3/I Atlas: Is World Peace the Key to Disclosure?
February 19, 2026
Dr. Michael Salla reveals a sweeping connection between extraterrestrial disclosure, world peace, and global political transformation.
Drawing from decades of research in peace and conflict resolution, Salla traces the historical link between contactee messages, the Ashtar Command, nuclear disarmament efforts, and modern disclosure initiatives.
He examines the explosive implications of the film The Age of Disclosure, the mysterious 3/I Atlas phenomenon, alleged Pentagon cover-ups, and claims of suppressed radio transmissions.
Is humanity being prepared for open extraterrestrial contact?
What role could President Trump, the “Board of Peace,” and global power restructuring play in that process?
From Eisenhower’s “Atoms for Peace” to modern UAP revelations, this presentation explores whether world peace is not just political — but cosmic in scale.
Topics Covered:
– The Ashtar Command and early contactee warnings
– Nuclear weapons and extraterrestrial intervention
–‘The Age of Disclosure documentary
– Three-Eyed Atlas and alleged spacecraft imagery
– Starlink, radio signal suppression & Pentagon involvement
– Trump, the Galactic Federation & global governance
– The Board of Peace and planetary leadership
Is disclosure tied to humanity achieving peace?
Watch and decide.
https://exopolitics.org/trump-the-galactic-federation-3-i-atlas-is-world-peace-the-key-to-disclosure/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4n5bDvomBY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lytDW-KfiMk (2026: The Fire Horse Revolution — Uprisings, Financial Upheaval & the Dawn of Open Contact)
https://x.com/MichaelSalla
https://x.com/MiddleOfMayhem/status/2024987837503021203
https://x.com/MiddleOfMayhem/status/2025234897531515143
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVBRCEQ_nYg (Red Panda: Former AARO Director Sean Kirkpatrick responds to Trump's order to release the UFO and alien files)
Steven Greenstreet 🐷
@MiddleOfMayhem
🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Former director of Pentagon's UFO office responds to President Trump's order to release the "alien" files and gives a preview of what the public should expect.
My questions and his responses below.
Pentagon scientist Sean Kirkpatrick, PhD, says he had access to ALL the top secret UFO files while he served as director of the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) 2022 - 2024.
In 2022, Congress mandated the creation of AARO and tasked Kirkpatrick with finding answers to the UFO mystery.
With the sweeping powers of Title 10 and Title 50 authorities, Kirkpatrick spent 2 years investigating every single top secret UFO document and looking inside every top secret basement for any evidence of UFOs and aliens. Not even Area 51 could turn him away.
He had the keys to unlock all of America's secrets and what he found… was shocking.
He retired in December 2024, issued a report to Congress, and quickly went public to sound the alarm about a "UFO religion" that had infiltrated the US government and sent Congress on a wild goose chase for fake aliens and paranormal monsters.
He said some members of this UFO religion hold high positions of authority within the military and represent a potential threat to national security due to their irrational decision making, unpredictable behavior and fringe beliefs.
Bafflingly, both Congress and the news media mostly ignored Kirkpatrick's report, and his warnings, and have since continued head-first into an abyss of unhinged UFO mania, wasting taxpayer resources and scaring the public.
And that brings us to this week, where President Trump says he will mandate the release of all "UFO" and "alien" files inside various government agencies and departments.
(It should be noted that Trump and the Trump family have been lobbied by members of this UFO "religion" in recent years)
So what does Sean Kirkpatrick think about all this? My (SG) questions and his (KP) answers below:
-------
🟢SG: I'm curious what your thoughts are on the recent hoopla of Obama saying aliens were "real" and Trump saying he's going to mandate a wide release of UFO and "alien" files.
Since you had access to all these "files" while director of AARO, what can the public expect to see if/when such "files" are released?
🔴KP: Most files of interest have been released including the ones I had declassified on Kona Blue. We worked hard among the National Archives and all of the supporting archives to find and release the documents in accordance with Congressional direction.
The public will likely see just as much new response as when Congress passed further legislation instructing industry to come clean on the alien tech they were supposedly hiding.
The public shouldn’t expect any further revelations as there really aren’t any. Sometimes the truth isn’t what you want to believe.
🟢SG: UFO believers are claiming victory at Trump's announcement, using it as evidence of the government acknowledging aliens have visited Earth via extraterrestrial UFOs. Your response?
🔴KP: Only the truly naïve and rationally challenged would claim this is an admission. This is both a distraction and a diversion from the fact that we’re about attack Iran and a response to Obama’s public attention on the matter.
🟢SG: Any other thoughts on this new development?
🔴KP: I expected this would eventually happen for a variety of reasons. I think this is a further waste of taxpayer money and valuable time when we have far more existential matters to worry about.
1/2
When no new revelations occur, there with be an outcry of conspiracy and cover up.
When videos are released without analysis or explanation, there will be a flurry of pseudoscience and uneducated speculation to fill the gaps.
We are rapidly slipping back into the dark ages and out of enlightenment, and our leadership is leading the way.
-------
I have been, unfortunately, the only mainstream journalist to consistently cover this "UFO" story accurately.
Here is a small selection of my many reports:
2023 - The UFO Lie
https://nypost.com/2023/03/21/ufo-believing-pentagon-bosses-missed-spy-craft-for-years/
2024 - Kirkpatrick and the "UFO Religion"
https://nypost.com/video/ufo-religion-influencing-congress-to-hunt-aliens-says-top-pentagon-official/
2025 - The Pentagon's Ghostbusters
https://nypost.com/video/the-pentagons-ghostbusters-rogue-military-officials-hunted-ufos-ghosts-and-monsters/
Steven Greenstreet 🐷
@MiddleOfMayhem
NEW: Tim Phillips, the former deputy director of AARO has also responded to Trump ordering the release of the "alien" UFO files.
🔴PHILLIPS: There are no hidden alien files to release. There is intelligence reporting of foreign and US government advanced systems mistakenly reported as UFO/UAP. The UAP enthusiasts will be disappointed.
There will be a small number of UAP cases that can’t be explained. However, there are no assessments that these systems were alien craft. What Obama stated was true, there are no hidden UFO/UAPs at Area 51.
------
My
@nypost
interview with Tim Phillips:
https://youtube.com/watch?v=LcwkyRLpz4Q
3:21 PM · Feb 20, 2026
2/2
Intel Vice-chair on overclassification: “Bureaucratic protections are outweighing efficiency and transparency"
Feb 20, 2026
Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) — Vice-chair, Senate Intelligence Committee
Ask a Pol asks:
What ever happened to your and Texas US Sen. John Cornyn’s bipartisan effort to address overclassification?
Key Warner:
“I forgot about that. We put in legislation. We have a bill,” Sen. Mark Warner exclusively tells Ask a Pol.
“All of this area, everybody acknowledges we overclassify, but it never rises to the top. Same thing on security clearance reform. We’re trying to make sure that it’s not so complicated.”
Military Industrial Pentagon
Why are our military contractors exempt from FOIA — the Freedom of Information Act — when they’re so woven into the identity of today’s Pentagon?
“I have no idea,” Warner says.
It seems like the Pentagon can hide stuff from Congress by having a contractor deal with it?
“That’s a fair question,” Warner says. “I gotta give you [better answer] — that’s the first time it’s [come up]…”
Caught our ear:
“Bureaucratic protections are outweighing efficiency and transparency,” Warner tells us.
“And, particularly now, with an administration that prides itself on not following the law or being transparent, it makes the problem much worse.”
https://www.askapoluaps.com/p/overclassification-bureaucratic-protections-outweigh-transparency
https://x.com/MattLaslo
https://x.com/AskaPol_UAPs
Escaping the Matrix, Technology Control, and the Spiritual War | Jim Breuer & David Icke
Feb 21, 2026
In this deep, unfiltered conversation, Jim Breuer and David Icke explore the loss of tribal wisdom, the rise of technological control, and the spiritual battle shaping modern society.
They discuss demoralization, media manipulation, consciousness, and why stepping away from constant noise may be the key to reclaiming clarity, sovereignty, and peace.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jf8ZWRQG2Lc
https://x.com/JimBreuer
https://x.com/davidicke
extra aliens du jour
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sbsnmR7cvw (UAP EP 188 The Disclosure Process Has Begun w Stephen Diener)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytbqnTXlKn4 (Trump UFO disclosure promise: Public ready for the truth, journalist says | Elizabeth Vargas Reports)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bjrQLY3SFY (Trump’s UFO directive: Disclosure shift or political strategy? | Reality Check)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXB39hZ60RE (Drone swarm mystery and new UAP revelations | 8 News Now)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ByfIr3uFJM (The Greatest Discoveries in History | Mysteries Unearthed with Danny Trejo)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IteNPtvWVE0 (Praveen Mohan: You Have to See This Before It's Hidden Again: Lost Cambodian Vimana Found?)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4U56swDvENE (Shehnaz Soni: Radical Self Acceptance)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiXmle3wjSA (Shehnaz Soni: Feeling are the Bridge Between Illusion & Reality)