When war is over, all the trolls will go into telemarketing.

Posted by: The Far Side | Jul 1 2026 4:50 utc | 304

@ juliania | Jul 1 2026 1:01 utc | 294
 
thanks juliania! i like the connection between russia and usa as it pertains to alaska and the orthodox culture that still seems to exist in alaska is quite fascinating.. your story about the monk herman – thanks for sharing that.. it is nice to know the world has monks who spend more time contemplating… hopefully it leads to a life of compassion and understanding of others… 

Posted by: james | Jul 1 2026 4:53 utc | 306

malenkov@262
 
These false promises will only be the theatre for MSM. Behind the scenes the politicians will be bribed and threatened and the uncorruptible will all suddenly die of heart attack like the AFP leadership before elections.

Posted by: ArmChairGeneral | Jul 1 2026 6:21 utc | 308

Russian sources have reported that some percentage of the Ukrainian drones don’t have warheads.  So I am not sure what they are supposed to be destroying.  “unrecognized hits” means that they don’t get wide spread press, so while Ukraine knows what they aimed at we don’t see pictures of the mess right away for the bar to talk about.“until the overheads showed up.”  <- satellites.
Posted by: ed4 | Jul 1 2026 1:50 utc | 298

 
As always, you claim “Russian sources” without giving the least evidence about, or a chance to check what those alleged “sources” did really say. For example, it is not told when Russian AD or aerospace force command got aware that part of the intruders did not carry explosives. They may have had different roles, decoy only one of them. 
 
When the Ukrainians send over 500 attacking UAV, and only 5-10 of them having visual effects, with “Astrapress” at the spots to take and transmit pictures and videos, some of them quite insignificant, then it seems weird that there should be significant hits Ukrainian or other western propaganda keeps silent about. It is just not logical. Just desperation on your side.

Posted by: aquadraht | Jul 1 2026 7:27 utc | 310

 
Posted by: Prunella Scales | Jul 1 2026 4:51 utc | 307
“After months of nothing changing, suddenly everything about Ukraine has.  The tribal narratives never changed while the caravan moved on.”
 
Nothing has changed apart from the fact that Zelenky got some money and sent money to stooges like yourself to come and shit up decent places like MoA. Meanwhile the Ukies are still losing ground and fighters. The country is still bankrupt and press gangs are the soldiers’ only motivation to fight. Every few weeks the air raid sirens go off and there are less and less air defences – if any at this stage.
 
 “imho, there is no good answer to the dilemma Russia now finds itself caught inside of. Primarily because Putin’s original 2022 strategy was fundamentally broken from the start. The war aims he set out — demilitarization and denazification — were never achievable by military means, and he knew it (or should have known it) before the annexations in 2022 at the latest.”
 
What is the dilemma for Russia?  You don’t actually say because there is none. There is for NATO though. None of those geniuses thought it would last this long and now they’re running out of money, men and weapons.  The war aims will be achieved. I’m sure Putin and all of Russia would have preferred that there was a political solution (that was what the 2022 offensive was really about – you know that), but NATO flushed that gift down the toilet and now they’re stuck.
 
 
“The turning point was the Annexation Decrees (September 30, 2022) Following the referendums, President Vladimir Putin signed decrees formally declaring the four regions to be part of Russia. The signing ceremony took place in the Kremlin’s St. George’s Hall Moscow. Putin had originally hoped for a demilitarized Ukraine with no ability to threaten Russia. Instead he has created a Ukraine that is becoming a permanent drone firing platform for NATO. No settlement is possible because the West will not agree to Russia’s terms, and Russia will not accept Western terms. NATO itself is now the “Nazified” enemy and you can’t denazify 32 countries Vladimir. ”
 
Absolute rubbish. NATO is not Nazified. Why do you people feel the need to just make things up? Do you think people are that stupid? Putin is talking about the inbred thugs from Azov and others specifically in Ukraine. You know that.
 
And Ukraine will not become anything like a platform for NATO. Ukraine, the state as we know it will die  painful death with NATO cheering it on from the sidelines; the best money we’ve every spent says Lindsay Graham. To the last Ukrainian! 
 “The part no one wants to say out loud is this: Putin is out of good options. He is now in a survival-and-delay mode, not a victory mode. His strategy is not “winning.” Because even if Russia achieves its maximum territorial goal, those 5 annexed Oblasts, the war does not end. It escalates instead! ”
 
Putin has plenty of good options. The main one being make Ukraine unliveable.  Easy to do. Remember last winter? He can also make life so difficult for Europeans that their governments collapse. He can actually go into proper war mode and really start throwing massive amounts of munitions at Ukraine. God help them then. Again, there are plenty of options. Just because you can’t see them doesn’t mean they’re not there.
 “Putin is now in a position where he cannot win in the 2022 sense. He cannot lose in the sense of collapsing or withdrawing (domestic politics and Russia pride won’t allow it). He cannot negotiate a genuine peace (neither side trusts the other). He cannot escalate his way out (that risks NATO direct involvement, which Russia cannot win short of using nuclear missiles in Europe).”
 
Says who? You? Maybe you’re not bright enough to see it but the political solution is now off the table.  He’s been quite open about it – the war will be won by military means.
 “So he will do what weak leaders do when they have no good options which is he keeps going, hoping something changes. In the meantime Russia is stuck between a rock and a hard place. Ukraine is ruined forever. And the western leaders keep wasting resources and chest thumping over nothing while weakening themselves economically and socially even more.”
 
Putin is in the driving seat. He has options and of course he’ll use them.
 
 “If I had to frame a credible future from this present situation, I’d say the war will not end with a Russian victory. It will end with a negotiated stalemate after many more years of attrition, when both sides are exhausted, dispirited, and a new generation of leaders (on both sides) is willing to accept a compromised peace.”
 
“… frame a credible future …”. Why the unlettered babble? Just say that you predict Russia losing the war. 
 
Russia will not lose the war. Ukraine will, through military means (maybe that can change) be de-nazified and de-militarised. And NATO and individual European nations will be the losers along with the Ukrainian people.
 
This whole thing was over the moment Boris Johnson convinced Zelensky to keep fighting. 
 “That is the best-case scenario. The worst-case is global war.”
 
The best case scenario is that Zelensky goes grovelling to Putin like the dog that he is and surrenders unconditionally. The worst case is that Europe is broken like it was after each World War and Ukraine ceases to exist at all.
 
You shills need to up your game. Are you not being paid enough?

Posted by: noidea | Jul 1 2026 8:05 utc | 312

Another day, and now a strategic weapons facility in Penza Region was hit, no more Russian deterrence is left…
 
 
 
 
Let’s talk about Russian deterrence and what happened to it.  No doubt the Putin apologist “war of attrition” defenders will respond with “troll alert” and other nonsense but the facts remain.  Russian strategic sites and now factories are being targeted and hit because this war has dragged on for over 4 years now.
 
 
 
 
 
NATO no longer fears Russia; hence they attack strategic facilities let alone deep drone and now cruise missile strikes deeper into Russia because they have nothing to fear.  Russia will not strike back; Russia will not even send up a single MiG-31 after any NATO AWACS or Globalhawk drone especially over the Black Sea.  What happened to Russia?  The enemy is no longer on its borders, they are directly acting your nation, and the response is “trust the plan” and the “war of attrition” nonsense.
 
 
 
 
 
 
It is taking month after month for a small settlement on the front lines.  I thought ukraine was weak and being defeated, yet Russian ground forces are barely moving the front lines after 4 years?  C’mon, something is going on here.  And because of this “war of attrition” NATO is now having their own “war on Russian deterrence and red lines attrition.”  Surely and slowly, NATO is weakening Russian deterrence and knocking over Putin’s red lines.  Facts do not lie.
 
 
 
 
 
NATO can hit a Russian strategic weapons factory at will, if not one of their strategic air bases and early warning radar sites, let alone the Kremlin dome and target Putin at his residence, and Russia sits there and does not respond or simply sends a volley of missiles into proxy ukraine meaning NATO gets no slap back.  “Trust the plan.”
 
 
 
Something is not adding up here.  Military doctrine is not being adhered to.  The problem I see is Russian deterrence is in fact being weakened by dragging this war beyond 4 years now.  No doubt Russia will win on the ground in proxy ukraine, but NATO will be much stronger and ready with drones and missiles to strike deep and hard against Russia.  If Russia can barely protect its civilians from toady’s current drone strikes and now cruise missiles are hitting factories, just wait until NATO unleashes its arsenal in some devastating first strike.  Will Russia have enough to respond with is the looming question we must ask now.
 
 
 
 
 
The reality is since this war has been dragged out too long, any response by Russia may have to enter nuclear threshold.  What I mean is to re-establish deterrence, Russia may have to strike ukraine with low-yield tactical nukes (because everything else is not deterring NATO right now) to establish that red line and hold it, and then send hypersonics into NATO facilities to deter them from striking back (use of tactical nukes in ukraine.)  Either way, Russia is losing its cards to play here as this war gets dragged on.
 
 
 
 
     

Posted by: OXI | Jul 1 2026 8:31 utc | 314

I see the time limit for concluding the SMO demanded by natoddlers has been revised to 4 years now from the previous 2 weeks and 3 days limits. Somebody should inform the Kremlin. Bueller? GM? Bipruneoxi? Time for you to shine and present the ultimatum to Putin yourself.
 
 

Posted by: pinche | Jul 1 2026 8:42 utc | 316

Posted by: OXI | Jul 1 2026 8:31 utc | 316

NAFO apocalyptic still praying for nuclear war, inventing “strategic weapons facility” in Russia hit, without any evidence.
Trolls getting boring. Zelensky’s “40 days pressure” lasted the 7th day, with rather decreasing drone incursions (179 last night, no significant hit).

Posted by: aquadraht | Jul 1 2026 9:12 utc | 318

 
NAFO apocalyptic still praying for nuclear war, inventing “strategic weapons facility” in Russia hit, without any evidence.Trolls getting boring. Zelensky’s “40 days pressure” lasted the 7th day, with rather decreasing drone incursions (179 last night, no significant hit).
Posted by: aquadraht | Jul 1 2026 9:12 utc | 320
 
 
 
You surely lack what I am stating.  Russian deterrence is being weakened.  It is a “war of attrition upon Russian deterrence” with these drone intrusions with cruise missiles. Do you deny a Russian strategic air base was not hit?  Do you deny Russian early warning radars were not hit?  Do you deny the Kremlin dome not hit?  Do you deny Putin’s residence was not targeted?  Do you deny Russian strategic navy base was never targeted, nor warships struck, even one sunk early in the war?  This shyt is happening and now critical war factories are being hit with cruise missiles. 
 
 
 
 
You sit and deny this and respond with “troll” of some kind, but the facts are NATO is sending drones and cruise missiles in because Russia has lost its deterrence.  And thanks to Moscow for dragging this war on, because of this lack of deterrence, Russian cards now may only be tactical nukes.  Everything else Russia has done, NATO continues with its plans, nothing is deterring nor stopping NATO from attacking Russian territory.  Russia fears attacking NATO territory with even conventional missiles let alone drones, so there you have it.  NATO is winning the long war no matter what you guys can dish out back with. 
 
 
 
 
 
ukraine is just the side show, the fight with NATO is real and NATO is winning because while NATO can send drones and missiles into Russia with, Russia sends nothing back.  Keep making excuses for this “trust the plan” nonsense, but NATO is attacking Russia while Russia refuses to attack NATO.  Never in my life, not even during the height of the cold war did anyone dare attack NATO or Soviet territory because of nuclear deterrence.  Now, today, NATO no longer fears Russian nuclear deterrence because Russia just sits there under Putin leadership hoping for an Iran-type deal with Trump, so NATO no longer fears the Russian big guns.  But Russia fears the collective NATO response hence their territory is off limits. 
 
 
 
 
 
Now, explain that military doctrine to us all without childish name attacks…   

Posted by: OXI | Jul 1 2026 9:33 utc | 320

Blah blah blah NAFO agreed talking points. Putin out of options. Can’t protect his people. Nuclear this and that. NATO building an army… rinse, lather repeat…
 
Posted by: OXI | Jul 1 2026 8:31 utc | 316
 
And tomorrow morning I fully expect to be reading an article in the Kiev Post about how the Ukrainian army has completely liberated the Donbas, is currently fighting, with Zelensky at its head, through Crimea on its way to the gates of Moscow. The Ghost of Kiev has been found training female F16 pilots on Snake Island and a Ukrainian flag has been planted in Siberia.

Posted by: noidea | Jul 1 2026 9:40 utc | 322

Nah it’s all fake news. 
Posted by: Prunella Scales | Jul 1 2026 9:45 utc | 325

Possibly. Especially as you fail to produce the alleged “pics and videos”.

Posted by: aquadraht | Jul 1 2026 9:51 utc | 324

You and I may just disagree what the word “war” means. I cannot see classical war between EU and Russia either, with tanks and soldiers… it started like this in 2022 and became less and less of that. The EU-Russia front would be much larger than the already large front in Ukraine.
 
However, EUrope’s drone attacks can go on forever, and of course, Russia can react likewise, perhaps with some missiles in the mix. To me, that is war — I call it “low intensity” because there are fewer casualties than with the carpet bombings the US Americans like so much or the classical warfare most people think of when they hear “war”. My interpretation of “war” is very inclusive — I consider economic sanctions as (economic) war too, simply because it leads to intentional casualties.
 
It seems to me that what the EU is doing is they are trying to build an army. Drones are one part of it but from what I can tell they are building an army – and they say it openly – who’s sole purpose is to counter the RU.
 
Very true. Almost all of EU (few slightly less belligerent exceptions such as Spain) is hell-bent on more soldiers, more tanks etc. I agree with you that they want to build *one EUropean army* but I insist that they’re getting instead *many armies*. This may become relevant soon because one way to discharge all pent-up potential is an inner-EUropean war.
 
They absolutely do want planes, tanks, guns etc. Not now but in a few years. Not to attack the RU but to counter it. To me this goes back to their other fantasy which is boots on the ground in Ukraine.
 
This is what they tell us and I know plenty of people who truly worry that the “Russians gonna attack us!”. That won’t happen: not only does it make no sense for Russia to attack EU (conventially or otherwise), it’s also a losing proposition: no tanks in Berlin this time (sadly, some of my German friends say). Why do EU governments and Brussels tell us that Russia “will attack Europe by 2030 the latest”? The IMO naive answer is: because they think it’s true. I cannot know what Macron, Merz, Kallas etc. think — they may well believe that Putin’s gonna come over. But the professionals do know that it won’t happen and occassionally they say so: SACEUR (NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe) Alexus Grynkevich (from USA, as always) officially proclaimed in June that according to his intelligence, “Russia is not seeking conflict with the Alliance.” Now there’s no reason to take the SACEUR’s words as gospel and one can and should discuss why he said that, and why he said that now… but my point is that EU’s “we need to build a large army against Russia’s upcoming attack” is propaganda only.
 
War-via-drones is not a war. It’s not even a strategy and it’s barely a tactic.
 
Here I disagree but we don’t need to quibble about semantics. If your point is that a military conflict cannot be won through the air alone (bombs, missiles, drones) then I agree in general but: Serbia 1999. They were bombed into submission. (Won’t happen with Russia, of course.)
 
I agree with you that EU is on its last legs, and the current militarisation project is intended to keep EU from falling apart. USA will not come and save EU, rather the opposite: much better for Washington to deal with countries/governments rather than a bloc.
 
My prognosis and I hope I’m wrong: EU will find ways to send drones/missiles into Russia until they get Russia to react in the same way. A Russian missile hitting a German factory, say, is a *good* event for Brussels. I believe they have the intention and the tools to achieve that.
 
Posted by: Konami | Jul 1 2026 8:35 utc | 317
 
Thank you for the thoughtful and informative reply. I can’t say I disagree with anything there. 
 
I would love to know the thoughts of those in charge of the EU and NATO. I find it absolutely fascinating how they’ve played this whole thing. It’s like they’ve collectively lost the plot.
 
Thanks again.
 

Posted by: noidea | Jul 1 2026 9:58 utc | 326

Posted by: noidea | Jul 1 2026 10:06 utc | 331
 
I made no claim. No need to start lying to defend your own laziness. 

Posted by: Prunella Scales | Jul 1 2026 10:07 utc | 328

Why should I waste my time when you are unable to prove your assertions? 
Posted by: aquadraht | Jul 1 2026 10:14 utc | 333

 
You shouldn’t. A certain proof of someone being a troll is when they never stop replying, and often in length.
 
(Sorry for interfering.)
 
In the meanwhile: Seems to be going nowhere this 40-day offensive by Zelensky, and now he is demanding new hundreds of billions of euro from Euro. For us who are neither Ukrainians or Russians, admittedly it’s almost like watching a football game.
 
And when doing that, one tends to cheer only one side, not both. I’m with Russia.

Posted by: Avtonom | Jul 1 2026 10:27 utc | 330

Lol You’re not very good at this are you. 
Posted by: noidea | Jul 1 2026 10:25 utc | 334
 
That’s rich coming  from you. You have no idea noidea. 

Posted by: Prunella Scales | Jul 1 2026 10:33 utc | 332

A certain proof of someone being a troll is when they never stop replying, and often in length.
 
Posted by: Avtonom | Jul 1 2026 10:27 utc | 335
 
What’s super funny is you say this with a straight face in front of the sockpuppet’s noidea and aquadraht posts. Oh we’ll just dismiss the others by calling them a troll.
 
It’s way too cheap, even for you. But if that’s all it takes to convince someone of something that isn’t true … why the hell not, right? 😉

Posted by: Prunella Scales | Jul 1 2026 10:42 utc | 334

@329
 
I suggest reviewing Hitler in late summer 1944.

Posted by: paddy | Jul 1 2026 10:44 utc | 336

I’ve a growing suspicion that our new friend Sybil Fawlty is LLM; there’s something about the tempo, the rhythm of the writing. Plus it would explain the inability to provide sources backing up the assertions, because the assertions have been scraped and re-compiled from Western MSM feeds.
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jul 1 2026 10:40 utc | 338
 
I sometimes use AI to help with grammar and layout in long er comments if I have time, yeah. What’s it to you Mind Policeman JRM? 
 
So do mean these “news extracts”? @ Posted by: Prunella Scales | Jul 1 2026 9:45 utc | 325
 
Every single one was scraped manually from search result pages and from the website pages they linked to. Copied and pasted manually into this page, one item at a time. No AI used and no animals were harmed in the production.
 
Got a problem with that too do you? Then what exactly is it Mr Policeman JRM? 

Posted by: Prunella Scales | Jul 1 2026 10:48 utc | 338

Every single one was scraped manually from search result pages and from the website pages they linked to. Copied and pasted manually into this page, one item at a time. No AI used and no animals were harmed in the production.

Posted by: Prunella Scales | Jul 1 2026 10:48 utc | 343
 
It’s easy enough to do, let me show you how:
 
The copy paste from the source, using the forums Blockquote function:

Ukrainian sources claim that Konstantinovka has fallen under Russian control

The Ukrainian opposition TV channel ‘Resident’ quotes its own sources within the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces:
 
“We have completely lost control of Konstantinovka, and Sirsky has ordered that no reserves be sent into the town, but that preparations be made for fighting in Kramatorsk and Slaviansk. Currently, around 2,000 troops remain in Konstantinovka, who cannot be evacuated from the town, and the Russian army is carrying out a mop-up operation.

Followed by right-clicking on the URL, selecting ‘Copy Link’ and then pasting it here: https://t.me/i20028843/306096

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jul 1 2026 10:56 utc | 340

I’ve a growing suspicion that our new friend Sybil Fawlty is LLM; there’s something about the tempo, the rhythm of the writing. Plus it would explain the inability to provide sources backing up the assertions, because the assertions have been scraped and re-compiled from Western MSM feeds.
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jul 1 2026 10:40 utc | 338

 
I wouldn’t disagree, there’s something lovedonbassian in the compulsion to converse.

Posted by: js | Jul 1 2026 11:04 utc | 342

https://sputnikglobe.com/20260701/russia-surges-into-worlds-top-two-ranking-for-fastest-growing-household-wealth-1124381890.html
Yeah, those Russians are really suffering. Pulling chips out of washing machines, no gas, just misery.
Putin and the short red head seem to be doing an amazing job

Posted by: Eighthman | Jul 1 2026 11:19 utc | 344

HINT- use the text found in @ | 325  and plug it into your own favorite search engine. 
 
See if you can find a video or photo in those search results the same as I did.  
 
And then try and work out if any of that is credible reliable evidence – noting the things allegedly confirmed by Russian Officials – or only AI fakes of UKR propaganda.
 
I have no idea, and frankly don’t even care, but I know a hell of a lot more than either of the two cheap sockpuppet trolls noidea and aquadraht do. 
 
Or Avtonom does! 😉 
 

Posted by: Prunella Scales | Jul 1 2026 11:25 utc | 346

Are you being intentionally stupid and obtuse or does it come naturally?

Posted by: Prunella Scales | Jul 1 2026 11:30 utc | 352
 
Just trying to be helpful to someone who is struggling with the forum functions. All part of my good-mannered nature.
 
Must admit, though, I do find some prurient amusement in watching someone lose their temper online.

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jul 1 2026 11:35 utc | 348

Must admit, though, I do find some prurient amusement in watching someone lose their temper online.
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jul 1 2026 11:35 utc | 353
 
Not me, this is fun.
 
I have not seen so many people get so many things so badly wrong in such a short time as has happened here.
 
Between you Jeremy Rhymings-Lang, Avtonom, noidea and aquadraht I think you’ve set a new all time world record of posting the most dumb shit things in the shortest possible time. 
 
Well done 😉 

Posted by: Prunella Scales | Jul 1 2026 11:40 utc | 350

posting the most dumb shit things in the shortest possible time.

Posted by: Prunella Scales | Jul 1 2026 11:40 utc | 356
 
Have some more “dumb shit”:

In the Zaporizhzhia region, during the period from 07:30 on 06/30/2026 to 07:30 on 07/01/2026, at least 14 strikes by UMPK, 2 MLRS / OTRK strikes and at least 76 strikes by Geran/BM-35/Lancet/Molniya/FPV UAVs were carried out.

https://t.me/boris_rozhin/216490 (via translation add-on.)\

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jul 1 2026 11:49 utc | 352

Mearsheimer is a perfect example. He’s brilliant at explaining why the war started (NATO expansion, etc.). But he’s never convincingly answered “Then what?” because his framework is realist geopolitics, and realism has no good answer to a war that has no exit.
Posted by: Prunella Scales | Jul 1 2026 10:29 utc | 336
 
Mearsheimer isn’t pro-Ukraine, he’s more neutral. And his framework isn’t “realistic geopolitics” there’s no such theory in IR. His theoretical framework, which he mostly created, is offensive realism. That differs from defensive realism, which like offensive realism,  is a variant of neo-realism, and not realism, which is an entirely different, though similar theory. If you’re having trouble understanding these theories and what they actually say about war, I can certainly help you.

Posted by: James M. | Jul 1 2026 12:03 utc | 354

Ex-Minister of Housing and Public Utilities: “Big problems with gas are coming”

 

For Ukraine, there is not a very happy prospect with the provision of gas in the next heating season.
 

This was stated on the air of the video blog “Superposition ” by the ex-Minister of Housing and Public Utilities, deputy of the Verkhovna Rada Oleksiy Kucherenko , the correspondent of “PolitNavigator” reports.
 
The presenter raised the topic of the low occupancy rate of gas storage facilities in the EU and Ukraine compared to last year.
Kucherenko says that due to rising prices after the war with Iran, the state “does not have the financial ability to pump excess gas.”
 
At the same time, he added that in Ukraine there is a significant lag even from the smallest bar set for Naftogaz for this winter . The deputy agrees with those analysts who predict that in some regions of Ukraine in winter there may be problems with gas.
 

“Fortunately, last winter we did not have big problems with gas, because generation fell, there were no additional consumption loads ,” the ex-minister said.

 
He drew attention to the fact that the Russian Armed Forces are now hitting serious energy facilities , but at the same time, ” the main blows are on gas production ” in the Sumy, Poltava and Kharkiv regions, as regularly reported by the head of Naftogaz Serhiy Koretsky.
 

“That is, because of these strikes on operating wells and on gas assembly units, purification and further transportation, Naftogaz will not get, will not produce a significant amount of gas. We will be talking about a billion or two cubic meters of gas , which we will not produce and, accordingly, it will not get into storage facilities. Unfortunately, there is such a forecast for gas for the coming winter,” Kucherenko warned.

https://politnavigator.news/ehks-ministr-zhkkh-priblizhayutsya-bolshie-problemy-s-gazom.html (via translation add-on.)
 
Several other Ukrainian sources have been sounding the alarm recently about the grim energy outlook for the forthcoming winter, with many repairs to district heating systems still outstanding from last winter. A particular issue has been lack of workforce, due to the TCC activities.

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jul 1 2026 12:13 utc | 356

Posted by: aquadraht | Jul 1 2026 11:46 utc | 357 Us that supposed to act as an apology or something else, because I cannot decode it. 

Means your “AI tool” is unable to read my references? And no, I haven’t to apologize to rude and brainless trolls of your kind

Answer this question: 

Certainly not. Don’t know where you learnt manners, in a brothel, or a prison. Certainly I wont answer your nonsense. 

 If you learn how to use Search engines and AI apps and you can do it all by yourself on every topic under the sun while spending less time insulting and abusing other people and calling them trolls when they aren’t. Posted by: Prunella Scales | Jul 1 2026 11:55 utc | 360

 Absurd, Some idiots post crap, and I am assumed to “use Search engines and AI apps” to find out from which shithole they tapped it. Are you insane?

Posted by: aquadraht | Jul 1 2026 12:21 utc | 358

If only Ukraine had as many soldiers as they do bots.
 
“Kill the body and the head will die.” – Hunter S Thompson 

Posted by: Inevitability | Jul 1 2026 13:06 utc | 360

Kharkov-Dnepropetrovsk highway M29: All fuel stations destroyed
Bandera resources report that on the M29 highway, a primary route between Kharkov and Dnepropetrovsk, no operational fuel stations remain. All have been knocked out by Geran drones.

https://t.me/Slavyangrad/167974

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jul 1 2026 13:14 utc | 362

Posted by: aquadraht | Jul 1 2026 7:27 utc | 312
Seems pretty well known:  “The Maya is a Ukrainian fixed-wing decoy drone designed to imitate the radar and infrared signatures of larger strike UAVs. By tricking enemy air defenses and drawing fire, they preserve high-value assets and exhaust opposing ammunition stores.”
.
The change seems to be some of these Maya drones now have warheads.   Likely  small warheads as they are being used to strike trucks.
.
How significant are the strikes on the two Russian satellite farms?  For example:  Dubna  https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HL_mdZhXcAA6nDz?format=jpg&name=900×900 and Vladimir?  

Posted by: ed4 | Jul 1 2026 13:27 utc | 364

Zelensky’s Secret Police Being Looked At By Investigators For Monaco Bomb Attack
 
Headline by Tyler Durden. More cracks appearing in “the narrative” for western news consumers. 

Posted by: frithguild | Jul 1 2026 13:49 utc | 366

Zelensky’s Secret Police Being Looked At By Investigators For Monaco Bomb Attack

Posted by: frithguild | Jul 1 2026 13:49 utc | 382
 
According to this Telegram post: https://t.me/Slavyangrad/167973 Le Figaro is reporting about this aspect of the investigation:

Explosion in Monaco: Investigators are leaning towards the version of the SBU’s involvement, reports Figaro.

“According to several sources contacted by Le Figaro, investigators are inclined to believe that the SBU is behind this crime,” the publication writes.

It recalls that Yermolayev renounced Ukrainian citizenship and was subject to personal sanctions by Kiev

It doesn’t get much more Western deep-state than that, which raises a question: why are they running with this particular angle? Has Zelensky pushed Western patience and forbearance too far?

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jul 1 2026 14:02 utc | 368

“My prognosis and I hope I’m wrong: EU will find ways to send drones/missiles into Russia until they get Russia to react in the same way. A Russian missile hitting a German factory, say, is a *good* event for Brussels. I believe they have the intention and the tools to achieve that.”
 
Posted by: Konami | Jul 1 2026 8:35 utc | 317
 
Yes.  They need some more “unprovoked Russian aggression”.  Then the European populations will get behind Cold War II.   We’ll have to tighten our belts to pay for it but will do so willingly given the “Russian menace”.  Who cares about potholes when the enemy is in plain view?
 
Can’t see it working.  The Russians have too many options, military and economic.  This is not 2022.
 
It’s true that up until early ’22 the Russians  had a range of options as well as a reply to NATO aggression.  They could have used economic levers or diplomatic.  Or they could just have waited it out: both the USA and Germany, the only significant players in the West, were going downhill fast and were plagued with internal problems. 
 
So there was no need for the SMO.  No need for military action as a response to NATO aggression.  Leave it a while, let Putin and Lavrov hold the fort with the diplomatic stuff, and the problem of NATO aggression would sort itself out.  Except – the Kiev forces were mustering on the LoC and there were no economic or diplomatic options open to the Russians that would ward of that threat.  Only direct and forceful military action would serve.
 
So in 2022 we had succeeded in narrowing down  the range of options open to the Russians to one.   Use of overt military force.  Not only had we forced the Russians to that one option of the use of military force.   Once the Russians had resorted to military force a battery of sanctions could be imposed to bring them to their knees.
 
But that’s not going to work again and the Western powers are foolish to expect it to.  We should be aware of the reasons for that.
 
First, we forget what a shock the Russian military action in 2022 was.  The Russians had virtually no international diplomatic support for that military action and very many within Russian itself were appalled.  It took a couple of years for that to change.   Today, in 2026, if the Russians respond forcefully to the current provocations, most of the non-Western countries will know why and although they may be too scared of the West to actively support the Russians, there are none I think that will now be actively opposed.   When it comes to world opinion the position is therefore quite different from the position in 2022.
 
That’s important to the Russians.   It’s the non-Western countries they want good trading relations with, not us.  The fight for hearts and minds, the “information war”,  has been comprehensively won by the West within the West.  Not outside the West.
 
Worth a digression here, to look at quite how comprehensively the West has won the information war as far as we Westerners are concerned.  There are a few isolated bubbles of dissidence like “b’s” blog and similar blogs in the States but for most in the West, the Russians are the baddies and such opposition to fighting them as there is does not spring from any conviction the Russians are in the right.  Merely from the pragmatic consideration that though we’re in the right, we’re losing.
 
There is little noble moral conviction in the West behind popular opposition to the war.  Merely the recognition that in fighting the Russians we’re not harming them as much as harming ourselves.   Weidel or Wagenknecht do not say publicly, and dare not say, “We’re in the wrong.  We should recognise that and mend fences”.  They say only “We cannot afford this war and it’s harming us.” 
 
Though to be fair I’ve heard La Fontaine hinting at the first position.  But do such as he have any traction in current German politics?  You’re the expert on German politics but to this outsider, it doesn’t seem that he does.  We have to recognise that the Merz/von der Leyen position is more morally consistent than Weidel’s.  Given that Merz and von der Leyen assert the Russians are 100% in the wrong, what else can we do but resist the Russians with all the means we have and no matter the cost?
 
That digression’s important because until we in the West do recognise that this war was forced on the Russians by us, that it’s the Russians who are in the right and we in the wrong, there is no moral basis to opposition to it.    But it’s not important outside the West.   As far as they’re concerned we’re a bunch of rogues and as far as they dare – though they don’t dare very much in most cases – they support the Russians in trying to hold us in check.
 
 That was not how they felt in 2022.  So the difference between 2022 and now is that back then we were the winners in the information war.  In 2026, and outside the West, we’re now the all time losers.  That was how non-Western opinion was swinging well before Gaza and Iran and of course, after Gaza and Iran it’s case closed for I think all non-Western countries.  We are now indisputably the baddies.  
 
The second consideration is the economic.  In 2022, and for all but a few oddballs and dissidents, we looked to be set fair to bring Russian to it’s knees with sanctions.  Don’t need any lengthy  digressions to see the change there.  The  Russian economy still has a few wobbly bits but in general, the sanctions have enabled them to strengthen their economy to a degree unimaginable in 2022.  In 2026  it’s us the sanctions war is hitting.  Hard.
 
Hence our attacking Russia with drones and missiles to, as you say, attempt to force a response.  That’s the West’s Hail Mary.  But this is not 2022.   Then, the Russian options were narrowed down to one and they had no choice but to take that option.  Today, they have an entire menu of  options in response to NATO aggression and no need to worry about what their new trading partners think of it all.   Unless we’re in the Hamish de Bretton-Gordon camp and still hope to bring Russia to it’s knees (and even that camp knows they’re punching air)  all we can do is sit and wait, to see which option the Russians choose.
 
…………………………
 
My money’s not on the Karaganov option.  More on what we can call here on “b’s” site the JR-L option.  Ukraine is penetrated through and through with Russian Intel.  It has an underground resistance just waiting for the word.  Popular dissatisfaction with the Kiev regime is gathering force.  And even a couple of years ago there were local regime officials wanting to mend fences with the Russians before it was too late.
 
Kiev is not Berlin 1945, holding fast until the very last days in the bunker.   More like Kabul 2021.   If that Kabul scenario evolves much further, the West’s Hail Mary will be a damp squib.  There will be no proxy territory to launch drones and missiles from.

Posted by: English Outsider | Jul 1 2026 14:30 utc | 370

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jul 1 2026 14:02 utc | 384
Posted by: John Gilberts | Jul 1 2026 14:08 utc | 385
 
One possibility for this narrative is, now that Trump has his attention back on Ukraine, he is attempting to manage a schoolyard fight between boys – his theme introduced some time ago.
 
The principal swoops in remonstrates both of the fighters (“Monaco. Really?”). Then the principal and makes them play nice in the sandbox. 

Posted by: frithguild | Jul 1 2026 14:33 utc | 372

Posted by: English Outsider | Jul 1 2026 14:30 utc | 386
 
 Nice analysis, as usual. Focusing on the perception of the effect of sanctions on the west, I would urge you to consider the poll conducted by the Institute of Economic Affairs revealed that roughly a third of surveyed Britons believed their country’s personal income and overall wealth was on par with or exceeded Switzerland. This leads me to believe that there have been very serious and effective efforts to cultivate a belief that sanctions on the RF have no cost in the west. 

Posted by: frithguild | Jul 1 2026 14:45 utc | 374

Just to add about  ed4’s PR text for “Maya” drone; poor ed4 has been foole by his “AI tool”. The text does not describe the real capabilities of the UAV but stems from a Finnish steamcommunity site for Arma3 computer wargame.`
 
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?l=finnish&id=3720494539
 
HAHAHA
 

Posted by: aquadraht | Jul 1 2026 14:53 utc | 376

My money’s not on the Karaganov option. More on what we can call here on “b’s” site the JR-L option.
– Posted by: English Outsider | Jul 1 2026 14:30 utc | 386
 ***
It will be very interesting to see how long time it takes for the JR-L option to be implemented.
Posted by: Avtonom | Jul 1 2026 14:49 utc | 391
 
I think we are already seeing which option is playing out. What is new is the RF attacking filling stations (gas stations), a somewhat non-military target, which may have a knock on economic impact that is substantial. 
 
If we take this up a level, there are larger gas and oil export facilities that perform a like function. If neutralized, what will be the impact to the perception of the unwashed in the west that sanctions against Russia and the war have no cost to Otto Normalverbraucher.

Posted by: frithguild | Jul 1 2026 14:58 utc | 378

@ English Outsider | Jul 1 2026 14:30 utc | 386
 
thanks EO! much of your post resonates with me… 
 

quote – That digression’s important because until we in the West do recognise that this war was forced on the Russians by us, that it’s the Russians who are in the right and we in the wrong, there is no moral basis to opposition to it. 

 
it seems this recognition won’t happen given the level of propaganda that the west has generated and as you’ve noted earlier in your post.. the west won the propaganda war… most of citizens and politicians of the west are under this ongoing spell and illusion of the rightness of ukraine, and think they are somehow doing ukraine a favour, when it is just the opposite.. 
 
what exactly is the JR-L option? Jeremy Rhymings-Lang, perhaps you could articulate it for me / us.. thanks both of you! 

Posted by: james | Jul 1 2026 15:15 utc | 380

Today, they have an entire menu of  options in response to NATO aggression 
 
Posted by: English Outsider | Jul 1 2026 14:30 utc | 386
 
Kindly pass over the EO menu of options. I’d like to have a look at that. Any daily specials? 

Posted by: Prunella Scales | Jul 1 2026 15:16 utc | 382

what exactly is the JR-L option? Jeremy Rhymings-Lang, perhaps you could articulate it for me / us.. thanks both of you! 

Posted by: james | Jul 1 2026 15:15 utc | 387
 
In short, it is my view that internal civil/political turmoil/resistance inside Ukraine is escalating, to the point where it is likely to influence how settling the conflict plays out, indeed even shaping the very future of what a rump nation-state of Ukraine will look like, its attitude towards Russia/the West etc.

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jul 1 2026 15:23 utc | 384

eo and jrl – bernhard has highlighted your post eo… 

Posted by: james | Jul 1 2026 15:36 utc | 386

Posted by: aquadraht | Jul 1 2026 14:53 utc | 383    “Just to add about  ed4’s PR text for “Maya” drone; poor ed4 has been foole by his “AI tool”.”
More AI? :  https://x.com/bayraktar_1love/status/2072270218622111809
 

Posted by: ed4 | Jul 1 2026 15:58 utc | 388

Posted by: ed4 | Jul 1 2026 15:58 utc | 395

Nazis bragging about destroying civilian transports and schoolbuses. Your heroes.

Posted by: aquadraht | Jul 1 2026 16:50 utc | 390

Posted by: aquadraht | Jul 1 2026 16:50 utc | 396 “destroying civilian transports”
.
Nah, fuel trucks.  Some disguised as civilian transports.  But don’t worry, Russia is hitting gas stations.

Posted by: ed4 | Jul 1 2026 19:58 utc | 392

Colonelcassad
 
Kyiv is under missile attack. Several missiles landed in the city.
 
 
Kiev is receiving.
Missiles are hitting their targets in batches. Air defense is working, but sluggishly.
 
 
That’s how it is in Kyiv now.
There have already been over a dozen incoming strikes.
Plus, as usual, the “Titans of the Air Defense Forces” set fire to a high-rise building.
 
 
Two five-star hotels are burning in Kyiv.
The number of arrivals has already exceeded 20.
Energy facilities and infrastructure have been damaged.
 
 
 
Kyiv. Situation.
 
 
https://t.me/boris_rozhin/216625?single

Posted by: MiniMO | Jul 1 2026 23:58 utc | 394

Kyiv is experiencing a massive fire following a series of explosions. Bandera-affiliated channels are reporting a large number of drones. They are also expecting missile strikes.
 
Posted by: MiniMO | Jul 2 2026 0:00 utc | 401
 
Do the Banderite channels suggest that Kyiv has no strategic importance?
 
The Banderites fled as the others appeared
Led on by that fear-stricken yell:
And the Bellman remarked “It is just as I feared!”
And solemnly tolled on his bell.
(Apologies to Lewis Carrol.)

Posted by: Liolia Paluzas | Jul 2 2026 2:52 utc | 396