Russia has initiated large-scale nightly movements of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) to new locations across its territory, according to a report by the Greek server Pronews.gr on July 20th. This measure, involving ICBM columns accompanied by heavily armed security teams of at least forty men, is a response to intelligence indicating that American and British secret services reportedly gained knowledge of temporary ICBM locations and movement routes. The movements, which began in mid-July 2025, are conducted exclusively at night to minimize detection. Simultaneously, a significant wave of drone launches is targeting Ukraine. Approximately 450-550 "Shahed"-type UAVs are expected to be launched overnight from at least nine locations, including the Smolensk and Rostov regions, according to current reports. Launches have been confirmed from all possible start-up zones except Berdyansk, with particular activity noted from the Shatalovo aerodrome in a northern direction. The expected number of UAVs from only Milerevo and Shatalovo exceeds 300 units, though this information awaits further confirmation. This comes after Russian intelligence services, specifically the SVR, reportedly observed an increased number of "Long Range Patrol" exercises by Western forces, which they believe are aimed at locating and potentially destroying mobile Russian ballistic systems. The current ICBM movements are also linked to "Operation Spiderweb," a Ukrainian intelligence operation in early June 2025 that involved a coordinated drone attack on five Russian strategic air bases. In other developments, Armenia has declined Russia's request to extradite Semyon Subbotin, a 25-year-old former Russian missile forces rifleman who deserted his unit and fled to Armenia. Despite being wanted in Russia for desertion, Armenian authorities released Subbotin after he turned himself in, thwarting an alleged attempt by the Kremlin to illegally smuggle him out. Additionally, Ukrainian journalist Olena Kurbanova gifted Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev with patches from Ukrainian combat brigades, an act that drew strong criticism from Russian propagandists.
