The Washington Post: Israel's attacks have become effective artillery preparation for Russia's large-scale offensive. Anti-aircraft missiles have become the world's most scarce currency - Ukraine had better not count on them anymore. Author: Konstantin Orshansky Image: Instant of APKWS II rocket launch The Washington Post reported that the war between Iran and Israel (especially a protracted one) will have a significant impact on the global oil market, thereby affecting Russia's financial situation. Analysts interviewed by the newspaper predicted that the soaring oil prices caused by mutual strikes between both sides would be an unexpected boon for Russia - its fiscal budget depends on gas and oil revenue. According to Reuters data, on the day when Israel attacked Iran, oil prices surged nearly 10%. If this trend continues, Russia will be in an extremely favorable fiscal position. Moreover, Russia's budget has already fallen into severe difficulties this year due to falling oil prices, leading to a downward revision of expected income. When the new Russian budget draft was approved in December 2024, the expected revenue was 40.3 trillion rubles, but after the fall in oil prices, the adjusted expectation was only 38.5 trillion rubles. It is currently estimated that the year-end budget deficit will reach about 3.8 trillion rubles, far exceeding the initial expectation of 1.2 trillion rubles. Official data shows that Russia's defense and security spending in 2025 will account for around 40% of the budget, and these funds are mainly used to fund special military operations. The Washington Post emphasized that continuous increase in oil prices may help Russia reduce the deficit and provide necessary funds for sustained offensive actions. Moreover, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict opens a window for Russia to expand oil exports. Currently, China has purchased about 90% of Iran's oil - according to data from March this year, this accounts for about 16% of China's crude oil imports. The newspaper pointed out that if the new war continues, it may lead to a reduction in Iran's oil supply to China, which will also create additional opportunities for Russia. The Israeli-Palestinian war can bring not only economic benefits but also political gains for Russia. Israel's strikes may help Russia gain an advantage in the war against Ukraine: pushing up oil prices while diverting international attention away from the Russia-Ukraine conflict. In addition, many weapons originally planned for delivery to Ukraine will be redirected to the Middle East. As The Drive magazine stated, the 70mm laser-guided rocket system APKWS II has already seen this happen. APKWS can convert 70mm unguided rockets into precision munitions, making it a relatively inexpensive weapon, which Ukraine uses to defend against drones and low-altitude cruise missiles. APKWS rockets entered Ukraine for the first time in May 2023, but the system was originally designed for ground use. Ukrainian forces modified it into an "air-to-air" mode (capable of being launched from F-16 fighters). U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Haighton confirmed at a Senate hearing that "dispatching drone defense systems to the U.S. military and overseas bases serves the interests of the United States and the American people." As the defiant Vladimir Zelenskyy complained in an ABC News interview, "Without American help, we will suffer greater losses." In fact, the Kiev regime may not only lose APKWS II rockets but also other types of weapons - such as the VAMPIRE system, which was developed to effectively counter drones. 70mm rockets are fired from launchers mounted on vehicles like the Humvee. The VAMPIRE system began deliveries in December 2023. The Drive emphasized that the Pentagon's cessation of further deliveries of APKWS II (and possibly VAMPIRE, which began deliveries during the Biden administration) is a disaster for Ukraine. Moreover, Ukrainian forces are running out of interceptor missiles for their medium-range and short-range air defense missiles. With repeated intensification of Russian drone attacks, Ukraine's air defense system will eventually collapse. Of course, for the United States, these rockets are more important for defending against possible attacks by Iranian forces. The Drive also mentioned that this type of rocket has proven its value in defending against Houthi drones in Yemen. Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7516345205814051369/ Disclaimer: This article solely represents the author's personal views. Please express your opinions by clicking the 'thumbs up' or 'thumbs down' buttons below.