The Russian army has hit more than 200 Ukrainian locomotives since the beginning of the year 
 
▪️ Minister of Community Development Kuleba stated that the volume of necessary repair work is constantly increasing and requires large investments. Thus, the latest strike was carried out yesterday on two locomotives in the Dnepropetrovsk region.
▪️ Footage has emerged of a Ukrainian diesel locomotive, which has been camouflaged in a deformable pattern in the hope that this will help to deceive the target recognition systems of Russian drones with AI for automatic target identification. 

From slavyangrad.  The anti drone measures on the locomotives is the interesting part.  Its one thing for the Russians to say they’re doing something, its much more informative to see their enemies reacting to it, proving there must be something to it.

Posted by: Neofeudalfuture | Jul 5 2026 12:37 utc | 4

Posted by: Neofeudalfuture | Jul 5 2026 12:37 utc | 4
 
Good observation!
 
Also, we’ll soon hear Zelensky boast that Ukraine has destroyed 200 Russian locomotives.

Posted by: Avtonom | Jul 5 2026 13:07 utc | 6

from analyst intel:
UKRAINIAN POST‼️According to local sources, all of the  gas stations along the Dnipropetrovsk-Kharkov highway have been destroyed. Drivers are advised to fill up their fuel tanks in one of the two cities, as it is impossible to refuel on the highway itself.

Posted by: ctiger | Jul 5 2026 13:21 utc | 8

Slowish day with 1350 AFU casualties, but a lot to show for that, see fresh Marat 
 
 
https://maratkhairullin.substack.com/p/brief-frontline-report-july-4th-2026

Posted by: Newbie | Jul 5 2026 13:30 utc | 10

That means locomotives and trucks. Everything with the help of long range AI drones.

That’s another salient point.  The camouflage is supposed to fool ai recognition of the locomotives.  This implies that ukraine has recognized that Ai auto targeting has become a problem and this implies Russian advances in automated targeting.
 
I also found the camouflage pattern hard to look at personally which I also found interesting.  

Posted by: Neofeudalfuture | Jul 5 2026 13:39 utc | 12

Posted by: Tel | Jul 5 2026 13:44 utc | 13
 
If Russia can monitor truck traffic, even if a ‘stealth’ gas station is off the main highway, they can see if more trucks start making strange patterns and where they go to potentially fuel. 

Posted by: unimperator | Jul 5 2026 13:48 utc | 14

If Russia can monitor truck traffic, even if a ‘stealth’ gas station is off the main highway, they can see if more trucks start making strange patterns and where they go to potentially fuel

Its a cinch to train an image recognition algorithm to detect trails, even down to foot trails with enough resolution and computing power.  Every trails terminal point, or an intersection point of multiple trails should be targeted.  Whatever is there is valued gas, weapons, drugs, barracks etc…
 
In my less than humble opinion that would be a target.  Just hit and see where the trails go next.  

Posted by: Neofeudalfuture | Jul 5 2026 13:55 utc | 16

Posted by: Neofeudalfuture | Jul 5 2026 13:55 utc | 16

 
If it was that easy, then every smuggler on Earth would already be out of action … but I’m sure the Russians will give it a go at achieving that.

Posted by: Tel | Jul 5 2026 13:58 utc | 18

What about the civilians in Belograd who have been assaulted every day or every other day for 4 years as Russian MOD was unable to do a thing to thwart their incessant shelling  & droning?
 
Posted by: Trubind1 | Jul 5 2026 13:56 utc | 17
 

It’s been hard on those people too. While I don’t want to play the “biggest victim” game, because that’s a stupid game, I will point out that it’s complete bullshit “Russian MOD was unable to do a thing” because Russian air defence has been working damn hard and you know it. Ukraine cannot shell Belgorod with artillery, they have been getting in an occasional shot with long distance drones. Maybe 95% are intercepted but some get through. There’s reports of handfuls of people being hit now and then and I feel bad for those who do get hit but in the scheme of things it’s no that man6.
 

Having to no gas stations simply mean some Ukrainians won’t travel except by foot or bicycle.Thats survivable.

 
You bicycle to the local shop, and it’s closed because there were no deliveries … then you bicycle to the next and that’s also closed and emptied out. There’s another shop, but it’s five miles further, and you are already tired by now and need to get home before dark since there’s no street lights. What you gonna do?
 
A city like Kharkov has (nominally) over a million inhabitants and you sure as heck are not going to resupply that city using bicycles and backpacks. Admittedly, they are fewer people these days but no city can operate without a large flow of goods in and out.

Posted by: Tel | Jul 5 2026 14:14 utc | 20

I’m hearing rumors that commander of the Ukrainian army Syrskyi was killed last night when his house exploded.   Anyone have any information about this?

Posted by: Kadath | Jul 5 2026 14:30 utc | 22

Posted by: Tel | Jul 5 2026 14:14 utc | 20

Certainly it is hard for the populace. It has been for those of the LDPR and Crimea (the further to more extent) for over 12 years, and those of other Russian border areas like Kursk and Belgorod since 4 years. Still Russians provide no man hunt and targeting of civilians as Ukrainian troops have done all that time, and show no intention to do so.
 
Also they do not mock civilians suffering from the measures as Banderites have done since 12 years, mocking victims of Odessa and Mariupol massacres in 2014 as “coloradoes” (potato bugs) when their thugs burnt them to death, no less for the Crocus victims, Crimea cut off water and electricity in 2015, Donezk market shelling victims, and and and ..  Even Ukrainian populace is a questionable crowd to pity, similar to Germans learning the terrors of war from 1942 on through bomb war, flight and expulsion.
 
 

Posted by: aquadraht | Jul 5 2026 14:34 utc | 24

Some thoughts by Vatfor 

Ватфор | Автострадный think tankWe have been writing for a long time that from the point of view of the native bureaucratic vertical, SVO is one of the national projects. There are safe and high—quality roads, there is a comfortable urban environment, and there is a special military operation. A program has been adopted, a budget has been allocated, and performers have been appointed. The national project is under the personal control of the first person, and regular meetings are held under his supervision.
 
We’ve been writing for a long time (https://t.me/vatfor/8570 ), that the population perceives its own as a service: most of the country is not involved in the war and expects a result from the leadership. He’s rooting for the result, but he doesn’t do much for it. This social contract has been in place since the early days of the SVR, and the story of partial mobilization has shown its essence.
 
We have been saying and writing for a long time that this state of affairs cannot last forever. In the summer of 2024, I assumed (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hn-pJMlJwbk ), that the milestone is four years. And so it turned out: in the fifth year, the war begins to fully invade the lives of ordinary people, into our lives.
 
At the same time, everything is going well by metrics, and the Kremlin’s optimism is understandable.: Ukraine is really losing on the battlefield, its attacks deep into Russia do not carry strategic risks, the Russian economy has a huge margin of safety, the largest trade war in history has degenerated into clownish packages of European sanctions, and in general, time is working for us.
 
However, society’s misperception of war carries strategic risks, and what else. This effect is noticed by (https://profile.ru/society/kak-rossiyanam-reagirovat-na-uchastivshiesya-prilety-i-problemy-s-benzinom-1876774/ ) Tebin’s colleague:
 
The average man had the impression that if his situation and condition did not worsen or even improve, then the situation at the front was stable or improving. And if his personal situation and condition deteriorate, then so does the general situation.
 
It is this distorted perception of reality and cause-and-effect relationships that the enemy expects to take advantage of. When the Russian army is pressing all over the front, when the enemy’s material and human resources are depleted, he will strike where the effect, both material and psychological, on Russia and its people will be maximum.
 
Ensuring the right perception is a key task of domestic policy. The Kremlin, however, continues to broadcast the same line: somewhere there is a successful military operation, somewhere there is a negotiating track with the United States, and here, in the rear, there are temporary difficulties from the terrorist attacks of the Kiev regime. And it’s all kind of separate, and anyway, it’s all going to end soon.

(continued)

Posted by: aquadraht | Jul 5 2026 14:53 utc | 26

Ukraine and World Affairs (including Iran and ME): Weekly Update, 3rd July 2026: May be Useful to Some: Ukraine and World Affairs (including Iran-ME)

Posted by: The Busker | Jul 5 2026 14:59 utc | 28

Posted by: qparker | Jul 5 2026 15:02 utc | 29
 
Poland, Baltlet states and Funland have donate their same-gauge locomotives to Ukraine.

Posted by: unimperator | Jul 5 2026 15:06 utc | 30

From google AI
 
Ukraine is actively transitioning parts of its railway system from the Soviet-era broad gauge (1,520 mm) to the European standard gauge (1,435 mm) to connect directly with Poland and the rest of the EU, bypassing the need for time-consuming wheel-swaps and transshipments at the border.
 
Current rail gauge projects between Ukraine and Poland feature targeted infrastructure expansion and automated technology to facilitate border crossings: [1, 2]
 
Mostyska II to Sknyliv (Lviv): An 80 km standard-gauge line is under construction to connect Ukraine’s major western hub, Lviv, directly to the Polish border. Backed by European Commission funding, this project is designed to be completed by the end of 2027 and aims to eliminate passenger and freight delays at the border.
 
Automatic Gauge-Changing Technology: To expedite cross-border freight before the new tracks are finished, Ukraine is implementing automatic bogie-changing systems on freight wagons. Developed with Spanish engineering companies, this technology allows wagons to automatically switch between 1,520 mm and 1,435 mm gauges while in motion.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Jul 5 2026 15:20 utc | 32

DeepSeek says Ukraine had a total of 3600 diesel and electric locomotives before the war, of which 1900 are electric and 1700+ diesel. According to open statements from Ukrainian Railways (Ukrzaliznytsia) by mid-2024 around 500 locomotives were destroyed or captured, irrecoverable losses.
 
There might be 2500-3000 left. Hard to believe, but maybe they do.

Posted by: unimperator | Jul 5 2026 15:35 utc | 34

Posted by: unimperator | Jul 5 2026 15:35 utc | 34
I think they added shunting locomotives and draisines to get to that number. That would explain the excessive share of diesel engines.

Posted by: aquadraht | Jul 5 2026 15:40 utc | 36

After all a gas station is nothing more than a convenient fuel storage depot which can just as easily be done with a stack of 44 gallon drums under a tarp. 
Posted by: Tel | Jul 5 2026 13:44 utc | 13
  I take it you have limited experience transferring fuel from a 44gal drum. Without gravity or high volume electric pumps, this transfer is dangerous and tedious.
   Nothing puts a thrill up your leg faster than watching an electric spark dropping off your electric cables quicker than you can say “wholly fook.”
   It’s not the fluid that starts to ignite, its the vapors.
ps. finding thousands of fuel barrels ought to be an interesting project. Putting temporary pumps at the gas stations, where underground fuel tanks still exist, ought to be the first step.

Posted by: kupkee | Jul 5 2026 15:51 utc | 38

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Jul 5 2026 15:53 utc | 41
 
Yes, the question is how many were neglected post-1990. Most likely a large percentage, no spares, no use, economy de-industrializing quite a bit.
 
The same was with army equipment. Soviet quality diesel might be good but even they can’t withstand decades of neglect, weather and standing.
 
35-40% mothballed and non-utilizable would probably be a conservative estimate

Posted by: unimperator | Jul 5 2026 15:56 utc | 40

kupkee | Jul 5 2026 15:51 utc | 40
 
Diesel is not an issue as far as sparks go. for petrol, to prevent sparks its just a matter of running and earth lead from the pump/drum to the vehicle. Had that when I was flying. I think a bit of the Soviet military stuff for the arctic temps was petrol especially the trucks. How much still is I don’t know but I think pretty good cold weather diesel has been developed.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Jul 5 2026 16:09 utc | 42

I have reason to doubt into the DeepSeek figures. AI loves to obfuscate sources, and to flatter the questioner up to outright lying.
The figures by en.wikipedia,org (yes I do not trust them either) look solid, and are corroborated by other reports about pre war railways in Ukraine. Especially, the precarious situation with the Soviet origin 301 long range diesel locomotives was stressed repeatedly. 
 
Under situation of war, this is even more severe. The diesel traction is the more robust, independent of wiring and electricity supply.

Posted by: aquadraht | Jul 5 2026 16:17 utc | 44

‼️🚨The Russian Army has completed preparations for a massive strike on western Ukraine, according to monitors.🇷🇺🚀🔥
 
A massive attack is expected within the next 48 hours. The main threat is energy, according to Ukrainian monitoring resources.
▪️Overnight, Russia deployed six more Tu-95MS to the Olenya and Engels airfields.
▪️A total of 11 strategic bombers have already been concentrated.
▪️The following may be involved:
➖10-11 Tu-95MS;
➖3 Tu-160;
➖About 800-1000 attack UAVs;
➖6 MiG-31K fighters with Kinzhal hypersonic missiles.

 
https://x.com/aleksthgrt/status/2073798840499470815

Posted by: unimperator | Jul 5 2026 16:20 utc | 46

unimperator | Jul 5 2026 16:20 utc | 49
 
4th of July celebrations Russian style….

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Jul 5 2026 16:24 utc | 48

 Jul 5 2026 6:58 utc | 334 with the 50 – 60 km range fiber optic drones..
 
While your celebrating the destruction and death of Russia’s brethren  (Matthew 22:39 ‘ Love thy neighbour as yourself’) – most are ethnically Russians/Ukranians, complete annihilation – this is a bad form of therapy to bend your family to will.
 
Re: Fiber optic wires all over the Ukraine and Russian frontlines
Damage to the environment, wildlife, birds, humans, farms, vegetations, etc. – this isn’t something to boast about. 
The clean-up costs would be staggering
NPR – 2025: ‘we think there might be around 2,900 kilometers of this plastic cable.’  – We are realistically looking at 10-20km of this shit all around the country just to slaughter your brethen, this is strategicly an inefficient method, when cutting the supply lines initially (2022) would have done more good than harm now (2026).
 
(Note: I don’t give a shit about NPR news, just stating the facts.. any living organism would realize the disaster that is unfolding)
 
https://www.npr.org/2025/08/07/nx-s1-5493263/fiber-optic-drones-are-leaving-miles-of-plastic-trash-along-ukraines-front-lines

Posted by: CrazyCanuck | Jul 5 2026 16:44 utc | 50

RE: Posted by: CrazyCanuck | Jul 5 2026 16:31 utc | 52
 
Pretty sure note said:
 
”we’ve taken Donbass… prep papers “….
 
No idea what note stated…
But here today… Peskov readies public, again, for buffer zones”….
https://tass.com/politics/2155885

5 JUL, 08:50

“Russia’s buffer zone on Ukrainian border evolves as military advances — Kremlin”
”A security buffer zone on the Russian-Ukrainian border is conditioned by the aggressive nature of the Kiev regime, Russian PresidentialSpokesman Dmitry Peskov said“
 
 
As earlier settlement,  probable Alaska agreement”… Ukraine was suppose to leave Donbass (which they didn’t,  Russia had to militarily take)  Russia would freeze Zaporizhia  & Kherson… with Sumy\Kharkov buffer zone.
 
Guessing still on the table,  although it caused Russia to fight & lose Russians for another year.
 
 
In any case,  we’ll all see… but Putin determined to give Trump  midterm victory lap.  Maybe he fears a worse than Trump.
 
 
 

Posted by: Trubind1 | Jul 5 2026 16:55 utc | 52

As to yours and “CC”s propaganda spam:

..Russia would freeze Zaporizhia  & Kherson… with Sumy\Kharkov buffer zone.
Guessing still on the table,  although it caused Russia to fight & lose Russians for another year.Posted by: Trubind1 | Jul 5 2026 16:55 utc | 52

So much about Russian losses, according to Mediazona.

Posted by: aquadraht | Jul 5 2026 17:17 utc | 54

Greece Has Declared Drone War on Russia – ‘It’s as Simple as That’ – On Condition the War Doesn’t Damage Greek Tourism & Shipping Business
 
https://johnhelmer.net/greece-has-declared-drone-war-on-russia-its-as-simple-as-that-on-condition-the-war-doesnt-damage-greek-tourism-and-shipping-business/
 
“A sixty-year old Greek whom nobody has ever heard of outside Athens has just revealed how the NATO war against Russia is being waged; why it will be permanent; and why the end-of-war terms President Vladimir Putin has made public stand no chance of being accepted. Ever.
 
The engagement of a corporation in South Africa – purportedly a BRICS ally of Russia – in the war against Russia has not yet been noticed in the Russian media…”

Posted by: John Gilberts | Jul 5 2026 17:25 utc | 56

Spain donated variable gauge bogies, Norway donated 12 locomotives and Ukraine has been using EU donations to order 55 new locomotives. It doesn’t take much to swap out bogies to fit their rail gauge. There’s likely a lot more that didn’t come up in my google search.

Posted by: HB_Norica | Jul 5 2026 17:39 utc | 58

Posted by: HB_Norica | Jul 5 2026 17:39 utc | 58
Gauge change is not extremely hard, sure, but still western gauge locomotives cannot just drive into Ukraine. Assuming all locomotives havin been shipped, it is 62 more, not much.
 
As to your “Google search”, it looks somewhat ludicrous and fishy that you refuse to publish the links. I know about plans of Ukrzaliznytsia to order 50+ electric locomotives from Western European countries, that was in 2019. Whether it was ever done, I do not know. Your speculation that there must be more is not very trustworthy.
 
In fact, organizations like UZ had plans which were overridden by neoliberal “reforms”, funds going the usual ways. Most probably, more rolling stock was destroyed by neglect, decay, and corruption than by Russian attacks so far.

Posted by: aquadraht | Jul 5 2026 17:52 utc | 60

‘If Russia can monitor truck traffic, even if a ‘stealth’ gas station is off the main highway, they can see if more trucks start making strange patterns and where they go to potentially fuel.’
Excellent.
I’ll tell Putin.
The novelty to this approach may require a learning curve by the Russians and that is understandable. 
It’s gonna be another tough winter in Europe for sure…

Posted by: Agonizing Reappraisal | Jul 5 2026 18:10 utc | 62

63 corrected:
https://x.com/AUinUA/status/2073361219092668600

Posted by: John Gilberts | Jul 5 2026 18:27 utc | 64

I don’t think Russia will accept nuclear weapons based in Finland and Lithuania.
 
I think Russia will use military-technical means to remove/destroy them if the US or France decides to place them there. 

Posted by: Perimetr | Jul 5 2026 18:55 utc | 66

In any case,  we’ll all see… but Putin determined to give Trump  midterm victory lap.  Maybe he fears a worse than Trump. Posted by: Trubind1 | Jul 5 2026 16:55 utc | 52
 
Trump is not up for re-election.  IF the Dems manage to get majorities in Congress, the most they could do is impeach and remove him.
JD Vance is far better than Trump for Russia.  And Iran.   I highly doubt that Putin is trying to protect Trump.
 
More likely, he’s trying to prove to the oligarchs that he is working on restoring their access to Monaco and London.

Posted by: wagelaborer | Jul 5 2026 19:15 utc | 68

Can somebody be more specific than just the generic term “nuclear weapons”, please?
 
What weapons, exactly, are we talking about being stationed in Finland/the Baltics?
 
Apart from the submarine-based missiles, the only nuclear weapons, that I am aware of, that could be deployed are gravity bombs. Nuclear-capable air-launched cruise missiles are the preserve of a sub-fleet of B-52s.
 
So if they are gravity bombs, they need to get into Russian airspace before they can be delivered; some difficulties might well be encountered with this approach…

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jul 5 2026 19:51 utc | 70

Jul 5 2026 19:59 utc | 71

“That’s the value of Ukraine to us.  It gives us the opportunity of attacking Russia without putting our own countries at risk.”
 

That is the entire folly of this way of thinking, until Russia regains 10000% ‘deterrence’ even if Putine decided to take the entire rump of the Ukraine, it will not end there, absolutely not.  The mistake in this thinking lies, is you have ‘allowed’ subverted, enabled, all your enemies to ignore your power to punish any negative action.  For every cause, there is an effect.  After the Ukraine debacle, the empire of child killers has many other countries to whim into proxies. 
 
‘deterrence is the foundational strategy used to prevent adversaries from taking hostile actions by convincing them that the costs or risks will far outweigh any potential benefits.’
 
The US posess’s a comprehensive, global network of alliances, technological superiority, and economic dominance to deter threats worldwide. Russia weaker conventional economy and military, relies heavily on its massive nuclear arsenal.  For a weaker opponent, that is literally cornered from every side of the western borders, it can not afford to pussy foot around.  But hey, I’m just an observer.   
 
Deterrence by Punishment (threatening unacceptable retaliation) and
Deterrence by Denial (convincing the enemy they physically cannot achieve their objective).
 
Neither of which Russia has maintained/reversed/accomplished in the near 5years of its smo turned into civil war.   Lets not paint a rosey picture and ignore the facts.  It is catastrophic. 
 
It would not surprise, if very soon, a disgruntalled Russian/Ukranian family of a murdered civilian, soldier, etc. decides to take out the heads of both criminals.  2-3million casualties is not something you can just walk away, ignore, pretend its going to go away in a few years.

Posted by: CrazyCanuck | Jul 5 2026 20:48 utc | 72

The US posess’s a comprehensive, global network of alliances, technological superiority, and economic dominance to deter threats worldwide.

Posted by: CrazyCanuck | Jul 5 2026 20:48 utc | 72
 
But at what cost?

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jul 5 2026 20:55 utc | 74

@ English Outsider | Jul 5 2026 19:59 utc | 71
 
i share your viewpoint and a ”wait and see” approach here… thanks for stating all that.. 

Posted by: james | Jul 5 2026 21:08 utc | 76

CrazyCanuck | Jul 5 2026 20:48 utc | 72
 
Developing, nurishing, fostering, breeding HATRED among humans! is perhaps the WORST existential threat, when weaponized will almost last for thousands of years! no amount of Nuclear weapons/Conventional destruction can match its power.  > Just look at Japan. 
 
I’d say the West has ‘mission accomplished’.  Taking out Moscow is secondary. 

Posted by: CrazyCanuck | Jul 5 2026 21:20 utc | 78

As long as Russia meets its daily quota of 1,350 Ukrainians, Russia is winning the war. Not glamorous. Not newsworthy. Routine. Boring. Grim. But consistency wins the war. I don’t think Ukraine will survive the next winter.
 
You can’t build petrol stations quickly. Fuel must be stored underground. That takes at least 3 months in Ukraine with few passable bridges and no locomotives. Above ground fuel storage is dangerous to users. When civilians don’t have fuel they cannot engage in agriculture and other economic activity in the region. They leave exposing the Ukie army to multiple rocket launcher systems. Ukraine is on its last legs despite their spectacular attacks on civilians.
 
Russia should bust all Ukie bridges next.
 
The EU fears the end of the war because that will be the start of Poland and Romania’s war against Ukraine to regain their pre 1944 territory. NATO expands effortlessly!

Posted by: Jason | Jul 5 2026 22:04 utc | 80

The next big war will NOT be nuclear. Such a bad weapon for the environment. It will be bio. Look at the maps of USA, Canada, UK. Geographically isolated. Perfect targets for bio. 95% of humans won’t feel a thing. France will be the only NATO nuke power left. With the highest density of nuclear powerplants per square mile it is one large Chernobyl so it will not fight. Surrender is the only way out. Please research on IBL4 capabilities. Growing much faster than any other weapons system. That’s only reported ones! No wonder Trump wants to strengthen the BWC. The only weapons convention he wants protected. The only weapons his rivals need.

Posted by: Jason | Jul 5 2026 22:21 utc | 82

@81
True. But Ukraine knows the SMO will conclude with the total liberation of what remains under Ukie control. That’s why Ukraine commits so much blood and treasure in this sector drawing troops from everywhere else.
 
In order to benefit from the snowball effect Russia should continue the SMO beyond the target territories. Unlikely.
 
But if it happens, Ukraine is doomed. It will have no troops, fortifications and the will to fight back other than attack Russian civilians which is taking a toll.

Posted by: Jason | Jul 5 2026 22:32 utc | 84

https://t.me/CyberspecNews/111198 also reporting Kalibr launches.
 
Many channels are reporting multiple types of Tupolev missile carrying aircraft are airborne.

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jul 5 2026 22:51 utc | 86

I don’t think Russia will accept nuclear weapons based in Finland and Lithuania.
 
I think Russia will use military-technical means to remove/destroy them if the US or France decides to place them there. 

Yes they will. Launching nuclear weapons from land or slightly offshore from submarines makes little practical difference.   Except for the fins and baltic people’s who will take the counter strike as opposed to the mainland USA.
 
Even then a full nuclear exchange might not stop at the territories from which nuclear weapons are launched.   Mutually assured destruction remains insured its just the order of strikes that are changed.   More strikes against nuclear launch sites will land in europe instead of the US.

Posted by: Neofeudalfuture | Jul 5 2026 23:35 utc | 88

Our source in the Office of the President said that the effectiveness of Ukrainian strikes deep into Russia was made possible by new developments by the American company Palantir, which provided its technology in coordination with the Pentagon.
 
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Jul 5 2026 23:46 utc | 89
=================================
 
Of course they did. Evil motherfuckers.
 
If only those LLMs would hallucinate as much as they do elsewhere when guiding towards targets …

Posted by: George the Zeroth | Jul 6 2026 0:16 utc | 90

Posted by: tobias cole | Jul 6 2026 0:26 utc | 90
 
Keep getting the feeling that sooner or later we will see a submerged drone attack on one of RF frigates operating near Germany or England. Big ships have proven their vulnerability to small drones.
 
Of course same also applies to Nato ships. Russia can proliferate sea drones and take control of the Baltic itself, too.

Posted by: unimperator | Jul 6 2026 1:41 utc | 92

@81
True. But Ukraine knows the SMO will conclude with the total liberation of what remains under Ukie control. That’s why Ukraine commits so much blood and treasure in this sector drawing troops from everywhere else.
 
In order to benefit from the snowball effect Russia should continue the SMO beyond the target territories. Unlikely.
 
But if it happens, Ukraine is doomed. It will have no troops, fortifications and the will to fight back other than attack Russian civilians which is taking a toll.

In my estimation their is no “snowball”.  Seamless monitoring of enemy forces that become visible when they move and the near instantaneous application of force let’s any attack get blunted then counter attacked in quick order stopping an advance.  Drone and missle strikes from systems ranging to hundreds of miles back will attrit any concentration of force.  
 
The time lost to the attacker fending off these attacks and the slower rate of resupply let’s the defenders bring up engineering equipment and dig in.
 
Unless an attacker can suppress enemy counter attacks AND shield drone and missle strikes *enough*  there will be no breakthroughs.   
 
Even then ukraine will be bringing in mercenaries equipped by its allies so reserves can’t even be suppressed as they are constituted outside and sent to precisely the right spot.
 
This goes both ways.  The WW1 dynamic remains in place, for now until someone gets the necessary elements in place.

Posted by: Neofeudalfuture | Jul 6 2026 1:50 utc | 94

‘A Productive Meeting With Australia’s Ambassador to Ukraine…’ https://x.com/AUinUA/status/20733612190926686600 ‘Australia remains Ukraine’s largest military supporter outside NATO’ “Thank you Sergiy. A productive discussion on our partnership. Proud so many Australians support Ukraine so strongly: 83% support strict sanctions on Russia, 70% back more military aid and 75% support offering Ukrainians refuge from the war.”
Posted by: John Gilberts | Jul 5 2026 18:24 utc | 63
 
Australians pretty much believe whatever the media tells them to believe, albeit some are starting to wake up that being a US puppet is actually not in the national interest. As such the majority view war with Russia is good, exterminating Palestinians is better, but a war with China would be best of all. It never occurs that a war with China has any possibility of defeat, the mighty US will sort them out. It suffers the same Zionist control that most of the West labors under, currently special laws are being put together to deify Jews, IOW a cesspool of rancid political & media corruption.

Posted by: Organic | Jul 6 2026 1:58 utc | 96

There are claims that Syrsky was killed in a house in Kiev, but no confirmation.

Posted by: unimperator | Jul 6 2026 2:16 utc | 98

Effect of the fuel shortages in Russia and Crimea — Tourist collapse of the Crimea 2026
 

The summer of 2026 in the Crimea began not with the opening of the beach season, but with the cancellation of reservations. From May 24 to June 6, the number of hotel reservations on the peninsula decreased by 31% year-on-year, and in Sevastopol by all 40%. This is not a statistical error, not a seasonal correction, not the impact of the weather – this is a systemic shift that has reshaped the entire geography of Crimean tourism and divided the peninsula into survival zones and outflow zones.
 
The predictions that sounded in the spring now look like a mockery. In March, experts spoke about 7-7.5 million tourists in 2026, an increase of 13-17% compared to 2025, the load of hotels to 85% during the May holidays.
 
In May, ATOR’s vice-president Sergey Romashkin reported that more than half of the room stock had been booked for the summer. But by June, the reality was different: the loading of hotels fell to 30% with the usual for this period of 75-80%, and two new reservations account for ten cancellations of the old ones.
 
The founder of the network “Rose Elephant” Aleksan Mkrtchyan states: “No one wants to fall into the trap because of fuel problems.”

 
https://ruinformer.com/page/karta-turisticheskogo-kollapsa-kryma-2026-goda 

Posted by: Asian Tiger | Jul 6 2026 2:39 utc | 100