Free to play grinding?

Hello everyone, I recently started playing War Thunder on Steam, and I absolutely love the gameplay and mechanics. However, I’ve noticed that progressing in the game—whether it’s leveling up, unlocking better vehicles, or earning enough Silver Lions—can be really slow and challenging without Premium or Golden Eagles.

Unfortunately, due to polticl sanctions , I’m unable to make direct purchases in the game. While there are local third-party services that sell Premium and Golden Eagles, they charge very high commissions, making it unaffordable for me.

Since I’m fully free-to-play, I’d like to ask for advice from experienced players:

What are the best strategies for grinding XP and Silver Lions efficiently?

Are there any specific nations, vehicles, or game modes that are better for F2P players?

Any general tips or tricks to make the grind less time-consuming and more effective?

I’d really appreciate any advice or insights you can share! Thank you in advance for helping out a fellow player and also thank you so much for your time!!