Defence & Space

Patent for New Ukrainian Howitzer Bohdana 6.0 Registered

The Kramatorsk Heavy Machinery Building Plant has received a patent for the development of a new 155 mm wheeled self-propelled howitzer designated…

2025-07-07 | Rafał Muczyński | 3 minutes

LYOFOOD Pierogi Become First Polish Dish Eaten in Space

Yesterday, during a live broadcast from the International Space Station, our astronaut Dr. Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, together with Axiom-4 mission commander Peggy…

2025-07-07 | Rafał Muczyński | 3 minutes

SIPRI: Nuclear risks grow as new arms race looms

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute published a report entitled SIPRI Yearbook 2025, which, among other things, discusses the issue of…

2025-06-16 | Redakcja | 10 minutes

Polish 35 mm SA-35 Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun with PIT-Radwar

During the recent MSPO trade fair in Kielce, the company PIT-Radwar presented its proposal for a 35 mm self-propelled anti-aircraft gun…

2025-06-13 | Przemysław Gurgurewicz | 13 minutes

Patent for New Ukrainian Howitzer Bohdana 6.0 Registered

The Kramatorsk Heavy Machinery Building Plant has received a patent for the development of a new 155 mm wheeled self-propelled howitzer designated…

2025-07-07 | Rafał Muczyński | 3 minutes

Rheinmetall wins major order for artillery ammunition

Rheinmetall Denel Munition wins major 155mm ammunition contract. Order worth several hundred million euros, deliveries from 2025 until 2027. It…

2025-07-04 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

SKW Cryptographic Security Certificate for Polish Comp@n Radio Set from the WB Group

The WB Group announced that the Comp@n system radio set, developed by its subsidiary Radmor, along with the Cryptographic Document Management…

2025-06-14 | Redakcja | 4 minutes

Advancing multi-domain EW operations: Rohde & Schwarz unveils latest innovations at AOC Europe

Rohde & Schwarz demonstrates the next generation of SIGINT/EW systems, sensor fusion and signal analysis solutions, designed to meet the evolving…

2025-05-12 | Redakcja | 2 minutes

Autonomous and Unmanned Systems by Łukasiewicz – PIAP at the OPEX 2025 Training Ground in Italy

During the HEDI OPEX 2025 experimental campaign at the CEPOLISPE training ground in Italy, the Łukasiewicz Research Network – Industrial…

2025-06-28 | Redakcja | 4 minutes

Paris Air Show 2025: Debut of Foudre – the French HIMARS

As previously announced by Turgis & Gaillard, the 55th International Paris Air and Space Show served as the venue for the…

2025-06-23 | Radosław Niesobski | 2 minutes

Patent for New Ukrainian Howitzer Bohdana 6.0 Registered

The Kramatorsk Heavy Machinery Building Plant has received a patent for the development of a new 155 mm wheeled self-propelled howitzer designated…

2025-07-07 | Rafał Muczyński | 3 minutes

The Polish Armaments Agency has concluded the tender for coastal surveillance radars

The Polish Armaments Agency has concluded the tender for the delivery of up to 18 sets of coastal 3D radars for…

2025-07-05 | Rafał Muczyński | 2 minutes

Bayraktar TB2 and FlyEye Drones to Support Polish Police Manhunt for Killer Near Limanowa

The Bayraktar TB2 drone and FlyEye systems will support the Polish police in the search for 57-year-old Tadeusz Duda, suspected…

2025-06-30 | Rafał Muczyński | 5 minutes

Galvion’s European Production Hub in Poland is formally opened by the Ambassador of Canada tothe Republic of Poland

Canadian company Galvion announced that the Canadian Ambassador to Poland, Catherine Godin, officially opened the European Production Hub in Gdańsk.

2025-06-26 | Redakcja | 4 minutes

The Polish Armaments Agency has concluded the tender for coastal surveillance radars

The Polish Armaments Agency has concluded the tender for the delivery of up to 18 sets of coastal 3D radars for…

2025-07-05 | Rafał Muczyński | 2 minutes

Rheinmetall wins major order for artillery ammunition

Rheinmetall Denel Munition wins major 155mm ammunition contract. Order worth several hundred million euros, deliveries from 2025 until 2027. It…

2025-07-04 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

East Shield and the Baltic Defense Line: Cooperation and Investment in Defense Are the Cornerstone of Europe’s Security

East Shield, the Baltic Defense Line, the integration of available deterrence and defense capabilities, and EU defense funding were the…

2025-07-02 | Redakcja | 2 minutes

Russia Loses World’s Largest Helicopter, Mi-26, in Ukrainian Attack on Crimea

The Security Service of Ukraine reported that during a special operation at the Kirovske military airfield in occupied Crimea, a Pantsir-S1 air…

2025-06-29 | Rafał Muczyński | 4 minutes

LYOFOOD Pierogi Become First Polish Dish Eaten in Space

Yesterday, during a live broadcast from the International Space Station, our astronaut Dr. Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, together with Axiom-4 mission commander Peggy…

2025-07-07 | Rafał Muczyński | 3 minutes

Finland Ministry of Defense selects ICEYE for space-based intelligence and surveillance capabilities

The Polish-Finnish company ICEYE and the Finnish Ministry of Defense have signed a Letter of Intent that enables the Finnish Defense…

2025-06-27 | Redakcja | 3 minutes
Shooting

CZ Shooting Team athletes take home 13 medals from the CZ Extreme Euro Open

Sport shooters representing Ceska zbrojovka brought back six gold, four silver, and three bronze medals from Hodonice, along with four…

2025-07-04 | Redakcja | 4 minutes

Upgraded Z8i Scope from SWAROVSKI OPTIK

Swarovski Optik, the Austrian optics manufacturer with nearly 80 years of tradition, has unveiled an upgraded version of its Z8i…

2025-07-03 | Mariusz Piwowar | 3 minutes

Upgraded Z8i Scope from SWAROVSKI OPTIK

Swarovski Optik, the Austrian optics manufacturer with nearly 80 years of tradition, has unveiled an upgraded version of its Z8i…

2025-07-03 | Mariusz Piwowar | 3 minutes

Streamlight introduces the SL-SideSaddle

Streamlight, Inc., a leading provider of high-performance lighting tools, announces the SL-SideSaddle series, a new hands-free lighting solution built for outdoor adventure…

2025-07-01 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

IFRE 2025: Maskpol Showcases Protective Suits and Gas Masks

Maskpol, a company within the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ), presented part of its product range—protective suits and gas masks—at the 5th…

2025-06-17 | Michał Ihnatów | 2 minutes

UF PRO Introduces Waist/Flex Belts to Its Product Line

UF PRO, a Slovenian manufacturer of professional apparel and part of the Mehler Systems group, is adding a new accessory to its lineup…

2025-06-06 | Michał Ihnatów | 2 minutes

CZ Shooting Team athletes take home 13 medals from the CZ Extreme Euro Open

Sport shooters representing Ceska zbrojovka brought back six gold, four silver, and three bronze medals from Hodonice, along with four…

2025-07-04 | Redakcja | 4 minutes

Enforce Tac 2025 starts on February 24th

Enforce Tac is an international trade fair aimed at law enforcement officers, experts from government agencies, and representatives of the…

2025-01-30 | Michał Ihnatów | 4 minutes

CZ Introduces the New CZ P-10 C PORTED Model

CZ P-10 C PORTED – a compact pistol with tamed recoil thanks to an integrated compensator.

2025-07-02 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

Meprolight MMX3 and MMX4 – Lightweight Magnifiers with Quality Optics

The Mepro MMX3 and MMX4, a new line of compact magnifiers from the Israeli manufacturer. How do they perform in practice and…

2025-06-27 | Krzysztof Ptak | 8 minutes

Paris Air Show 2025: Bayraktar TB3 Debuts

The 55th edition of the International Paris Air and Space Show, held in the French capital, provided an opportunity for…

2025-06-19 | Radosław Niesobski | 3 minutes

Setting Up a Shooting Belt: An Example with Clawgear

To assist with shooting training and beyond, various belts and gear configurations have been developed and customized to suit individual needs. It’s…

2024-11-28 | Łukasz Kołodziejski | 14 minutes

Over 100% increase in gun permits in Poland in 2024

The Polish Police have released statistical data on firearm permits issued in 2024. An increasing number of Poles now hold…

2025-02-20 | Michał Ihnatów | 5 minutes

Firearms In Poland 2023: Number of permits continues to grow

The National Police Headquarters has released statistics regarding the number of firearm permits and firearms themselves in the hands of…

2024-02-17 | Michał Ihnatów | 5 minutes

5 Best Value ATN Rifle Scopes Under €1500

ATN is a leading manufacturer of daytime optics, smart night vision, and thermal vision technology. The innovative features and ergonomic designs…

2022-11-11 | Redakcja | 8 minutes

MILMAG Visits Grand Power

Grand Power is a Slovak manufacturer of the acknowledged good quality firearms. Take part in our guided tour with English subtitles.

2022-05-23 | Redakcja | 1 minutes

Meprolight MMX3 and MMX4 – Lightweight Magnifiers with Quality Optics

The Mepro MMX3 and MMX4, a new line of compact magnifiers from the Israeli manufacturer. How do they perform in practice and…

2025-06-27 | Krzysztof Ptak | 8 minutes

Streamlight TLR-7 HL-X – a Bayonet of Light for Your Weapon

The devil’s not so scary once you shine a light on him—and he’s certainly easier to neutralize in the spotlight. A weapon-mounted flashlight…

2025-06-09 | Anna Mielczarek | 6 minutes

EOTECH Holographic Sight – History, Technology, Practice

The holographic sight is a device known for nearly 30 years and used by professionals around the world. A favorite sight of many…

2024-09-02 | Michał Gaweł | 12 minutes

Attack in Russia. Who is behind this?

In the Friday terrorist attack at the Crocus City Hall concert hall in Krasnogorsk, near Moscow, 135 people were killed and over 145 were injured. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack. The American intelligence warned Russians that an attack might occur, but Russians downplayed the threat.

The attack on the concert hall involved a group of at least four armed men who opened fire on around 6000 people shortly before the start of the Picnic rock band concert. Footage of the attack was widely shared on social media, allowing for a detailed examination of the attack and drawing some conclusions.

Photo: Press service of the governor of the Moscow region

Firstly, the manner in which the attackers moved and handled their weapons suggests that they were trained individuals for whom entering the building and moving inside were not unfamiliar tasks.

The perpetrators appeared well-prepared. It was simply a well-prepared attack on a soft target in a manner that captured the attention of the global public opinion, says Dr. Michał Piekarski, a specialist in contemporary terrorism and counterterrorism policy.

The expert adds that prolonging the attack allows for greater publicity, especially from the witnesses themselves. It can be observed that the attackers did not interfere with the recording of the entire action.

Initially, one of the hypotheses revolved around the possibility of conducting a false flag operation. The manner in which the operation was carried out and the media attention it garnered through recordings on social media. It was noted that Rosgvardia soldiers arrived at the scene after more than an hour, and there were no customary police patrols around the concert hall, which are always present during mass events.

However, Dr. Piekarski points out that if it were a false flag operation, the Russians would have reacted differently.

If it were a false flag, the Spetsnaz would have been on the scene to spectacularly eliminate the terrorists and thoroughly document it, the expert believes.

As for the reaction of the services, if it wasn’t deliberately negligent, then it shows Russian chaos. I dare say that if a carburetor backfired near Putin’s dacha, the Spetsnaz would be there in a fraction of a second, but here? Just a regular concert, for ordinary people, whose lives in Russia are worth very little.

I would add that a significant portion of FSB and Rosgvardia special forces are likely fighting in Ukraine, so the reaction could have been delayed due to a simple lack of personnel, notes Dr. Piekarski.

Two alleged perpetrators of the attack captured by city surveillance cameras while escaping / Photo: public domain

Islamic trope

The radical group ISIS-Khorasan, the Afghan branch of the Islamist terrorist organization Islamic State (ISIS), claimed responsibility for the attack. A longer video soon emerged from the terrorist-linked Amaq agency calling the terrorist attack near Moscow the most brutal attack in recent years and that, Allah willing, they had launched a coordinated attack on a large crowd of Christians.

Amaq sources added that the attack took place in the normal context of the ongoing war between the Islamic State and countries fighting against Islam. The Islamic State also published a group photo of alleged terrorists with retouched faces on social media.

ISIS-Khorasan is an Afghan branch of the Islamist terrorist organization Islamic State (ISIS). The word “Khorasan” refers to a historical region encompassing Afghanistan and parts of Iran, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. It is considered by the intelligence agencies of the USA, the UK, and the Russian Federation to be the most radical and brutal of all jihadist groups operating in Afghanistan.

ISIS-Khorasan considers all those who fall under the concept of unbelievers as enemies. This includes not only the West but also, among others, Shia Muslims. ISIS-Khorasan is also hostile towards the Taliban, whom they consider unbelievers and not radical enough. The Taliban themselves condemned attacks by ISIS-Chorasan. The terrorists of this faction are notorious for their attacks on girls’ schools, where they murdered female students, as well as on hospitals supported by Western countries.

Why would Islamist attack Russia? ISIS accuses the Kremlin of killing Muslims, citing Moscow’s intervention in Afghanistan, Chechnya, and Syria.

ISIS is fighting Russia as a state that imposes its rule in the Caucasus, remembering the case of Chechnya, and is pursuing its policy in Syria and Africa. From the terrorists’ point of view, striking in Russia also makes sense because a significant part of the services’ efforts are focused on Ukraine, explains Dr. Piekarski.

Crocus City Hall the day after the attack / Photo: Press service of the governor of the Moscow region

Warnings

Russians knew that Islamists could attack. In the autumn, FSB director Aleksander Bortnikov said that the group is increasing its potential, which will eventually enable it to carry out terrorist attacks beyond Afghanistan. On March 7, the American intelligence warned Russians that a terrorist attack was possible. Finns were also warned by Russians.

Western countries in recent days have been warning their citizens to avoid crowded places in Moscow. Further warnings have emerged that an attack may occur in the coming days. On Tuesday, Putin condemned the warnings as provocative statements and blackmail aimed at destabilizing the country. Although earlier, the FSB had been dismantling cells of ISIS in Russia and warning about the possibility of attacks.

In February, the FSB announced that it had defeated a cell of ISIS in Kaluga and killed two members of ISIS from Central Asia. At the beginning of March, it reported that it had eliminated another cell of ISIS in the Kaluga region, consisting of Islamist fighters from Afghanistan.

Russians might have known, but there are three possibilities, says Dr. Piekarski. They either failed to prevent it at all even though they wanted to, disregarded the warnings because they were being warned by the USA, or they decided not to prevent it on purpose to capitalize on it for propaganda purposes. Which they are already doing.

Kremlin Propaganda

Following the attack, Russian media outlets aired accusations against NATO and Ukraine, suggesting that the attack coincided with NATO’s considerations regarding troop deployments in Ukraine in the face of a serious crisis in the Ukrainian army, supported by NATO forces. Additionally, they claimed that the West was counting on destabilizing Russia when during the Russian elections, neo-Nazi groups, supported by Ukraine and NATO, began an invasion of Russian territory.

Regardless of who is directly responsible for Friday’s attack, it is clear that the attack occurred in the context of an expanding and escalating war against Russia led by imperialist powers, notes Klara Weiss, affiliated with the Communist Party of the Russian Federation. Kremlin-linked media outlets have adopted a similar narrative.

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