Ukraine and World Affairs: Weekly Update
6th June 2025
This has probably been the most eventful week I have covered since I started reporting on the SMO three years ago - though I have been publishing on substack for only two years. June 1st 2025 was a landmark in the evolution of warfare as inexpensive drones humbled Russia’s million dollar strategic nuclear bombers rendered vulnerable by the SALT 2 treaty which requires them to be visible to satellites. After this, the Russians will probably put their bombers in concrete bunkers regardless of the treaty. In spite of the indescribable horrors in Gaza, this was the most significant event of the week given the risk of nuclear escalation.
With the benefit of hindsight, the Ukrainians were bound to put on a show on the eve of talks to demonstrate that they are not interested in peace. But I must say that this took me by surprise. The day before the attacks on the bombers, a passenger train and a freight train were attacked by ground based terrorists in Kursk and Bryansk. With this, the Ukrainians are saying: the longer the war goes on, the more terroristic it will become.
I imagine that many Russians will be wanting nothing less than an Oreshnik response in such circumstances.
Mendacious Medvedev had this to say about retaliation/retribution:
To all who are worried and waiting for retribution. You need to worry - this is a normal person's quality. Retribution is inevitable. At the same time, you should remember:
1. Our Army is actively advancing and will continue to advance. Everything that should explode will certainly explode, and those who should be exterminated will disappear;
2. The negotiations in Istanbul are not needed for a compromise peace on unrealistic conditions invented by someone, but for our speedy victory and the complete destruction of the neo-Nazi government. This is the meaning of the Russian Memorandum, which was published yesterday.
One of the BIG questions commentators are asking is whether the US knew about this or not. Colonel Macgregor has no doubt that they did know in his discussion with the Judge.
Do these attacks constitute a statement by the Globalists that they are set on continuing the conflict? Are they telling Trump to get on board. Or is he with them already? I have no idea, along with everyone else! Macgregor and some others believe that the Putin could well be driven by the anger of many Russians to get the job done soon. (see ‘Ukraine Terrorist Attacks’ below).
In Yemen, the following declaration was issued by the Houthis MoD through the Saba News Agency:
Foreign investors and companies operating inside the Zionist entity should leave quickly, as the environment will not be safe. It is best to do so while the opportunity remains.
• Our missiles are designed with multiple warheads. If intercepted, they split to hit more targets, rendering the Zionist enemy's systems useless. Every Zionist should be on their guard against their downfall.
• Our missiles will not stop targeting the criminal Zionist entity until the aggression stops and the siege on our people in Gaza is lifted.
To the Zionist herds: The policies of the criminal Netanyahu will prolong your days and nights inside shelters in the coming days.
The United States Navy will know that the Houthis mean business after its fleet suffered at their hands. According to the forces newspaper ‘Stars and Stripes’, large cracks have appeared on the starboard side of the Harry S Truman’s left wing - according to this report.
Houthis attacks have increased considerably this week. The Israelis are probably fed up with racing to the shelters once or even twice a day.
In Palestine, according to this report, Hamas has agreed to the proposal put forward by Steve Witkoff on May 31st but has insisted on a permanent ceasefire. But this proposal was rejected by Steve Witkoff, according to this report. So a ceasefire continues to elude us.
Shamefully, the US vetoed a ceasefire at the UNSC once again. The world is taking note. An institution that fails to obey the desire of virtually the whole world that a genocide must be stopped is not fit for purpose.
Meanwhile, the Israelis have become even more monstrous in their killing of innocent Palestinians. On the morning of June 2nd, tanks sprayed machine gun fire indiscriminately at thousands of Palestinians collecting food and aid. Dozens of starving civilians were killed and wounded. You can hear the machine gun fire here. An Israeli airstrike killed another 40 Palestinians according to this report where you can see some footage. WARNING - this footage is distressing. On the morning of the 3rd June, 27 were killed and 90 others injured when another group of Palestinians attempted to obtain aid west of Rafah. Israel is also attacking targets in Beirut and Southern Lebanon and on the coast in Syria.
On a positive note, I have seen reports of IDF soldiers refusing to fight, including this which claims that the Israelis have announced that three soldiers have been imprisoned for refusing to fight in Gaza.
In Syria, violence against Alawites continues.
The Iran talks are not going well as it appears that Trump is insisting on zero enrichment but the messages coming from the Trump teams are sometimes contradictory. Iran is insisting that such demands are an attack on its sovereignty (see below).
The Istanbul talks, which lasted 75 minutes, were hardly impressive but the Russian documents that came out of them were very interesting (see below). Yermak visited the US after the talks where Rubio is supposed to have reprimanded him for actions on Russian territory while talks are being held - according to a Ukrainian source. Trump has told the Europeans that they can’t depend on Russian air support should they station troops in post war Ukraine as part of a ‘coalition of the willing’ - according to Bloomberg.
On the fronts, the Russians continue to make progress, especially in Sumy Direction and on June 6th they launched their biggest air attack of the war (see below).
There has been another phone call between Trump and Putin (see below) who also spoke with the Pope about peace. Trump has spoken with Xi and maybe hammered out a deal but has fallen out big time with Elon Musk.
It’s been an amazing week.
Shoigu to Korea
Sergei Shoigu visited North Korea this week and met with Kim Jong-un - according to Sputnik. It is not clear whether this was planned or a response to the attacks on Russia’s nuclear bombers. Kim gave a commitment to stand by Russia 'unconditionally' and wished the Russian people: ‘eternal victory, prosperity and happiness’.
Nebenzia on The Oppression of Russians in Ukraine
At the UNSC meeting Russia’s representative at the UNSC had this to say about mistreatment of Russian speakers in Ukraine:
Millions of Russian speakers and Ukrainian Orthodox Church face repression in Ukraine. Ignoring this violates Article 1 of the UN Charter and international law.
He also said that any credible ceasefire must involve a halt to weapons deliveries and to mobilisation.
Andrey Kartapolov
Andrey Kartapolov, head of the Duma Defence Committee, has warned Ukraine that if it doesn’t make peace now, it could lose Kharkov, Odessa, Sumy and other key cities. Ukraine is taking a big chance by refusing to settle now. You can read more at Tass.
How Can We Negotiate With a Terrorist Regime - Putin
Investigators have established that the Kursk and Bryansk train attacks were terrorist acts committed by the Zelensky regime. With regard to negotiations, in the light of this, Putin asked:
…how can such meetings be held under these conditions? What is there to talk about? Who conducts negotiations with those who rely on terror – with terrorists?Ukraine is suffering huge losses and is retreating along the entire front line, so it is trying to intimidate the Russian Federation with terrorist attacks. The Kiev regime does not want peace at all, since it would mean a loss of power for them. It is not for the Kiev regime to judge the level of the Russian delegation1. Kiev’s sponsors are accomplices of terrorists.
Interestingly, Putin describes both the train attacks and the drone attacks on nuclear bombers as acts of terrorism. John Helmer believes that this way of looking at things will spare Russia from having to make a strategic response, which it probably doesn’t want to do - as you can see here (on 9 mins). Under Russian law, an attack on civilians is not an act of war but an act of terrorism. Thus the attacks on trains were clearly terroristic. But the Russians are also classifying the attacks on the nuclear bombers as acts of terrorism even though they did not target civilians. This may be due to the terrorist nature of the attacks. By interpreting the law this way the attacks would fall outside of Russia’s nuclear doctrine. An act of war on nuclear facilities would authorise or even oblige the Russian to respond strongly - with an Oreshnik at the very least. Ray McGovern (speaking with Helmer) believes that the attacks were meant to provoke a strong Russian response that would be condemned internationally. But the Russians, with an inventive interpretation of their law and knowing that the West was goading them, were able to justify their restraint.
Putin also said that Russia should deal with Ukraine, not as a country, but as a terrorist regime which has hijacked a country. Anyway, Helmer is saying that given this Russian ‘attitude’, the Oreshnik moment is unlikely to happen just yet.
Trump-Putin Phone Call
Ushakov - Official Response
The fourth telephone conversation between our president and US President Donald Trump has ended. If you are interested, this conversation lasted about 1 hour and 10 minutes. How did the conversation begin? With a discussion of the situation around Ukraine. Vladimir Putin spoke in detail about the results of the second round of direct Russian-Ukrainian negotiations in Istanbul.
As was emphasized, Ukraine tried to disrupt these negotiations by carrying out, on direct orders from the Kyiv regime, targeted attacks on civilian targets and the peaceful population.
Donald Trump reaffirmed that the Americans had not been informed about this in advance.
I find it hard to believe that the Americans did not know and weren’t involved but I am less certain of Trump’s foreknowledge.
Zelensky Responds
Zelensky was disappointed that Trump didn’t warn Putin against retaliation:
If the strong do not stop Putin, then they share responsibility with him. And if they want to, but cannot stop him, Putin will no longer consider them strong.
Zelensky is hopeless at avoiding offensive comments - Trump is now calling him a ‘bad man’. Zelensky is also demanding a ceasefire before he meets with Putin.
Taurus Halted
Germany’s Finance Minister, Lars Klingbeil has announced that Taurus missiles will not be sent to Ukraine because they are excessively expensive. Some in the German establishment fear retaliation from Russia because German operatives would need to be involved in launching the missiles.
The Talks - Istanbul June 2nd
Ahead of the talks, Zelensky called for a three-way meeting between himself, Trump and Putin - preferably in the Vatican for maximum optics. There is no point in such a meeting apart from the legitimacy it would provide to the illegitimate President, according to Medvedev.
The talks in Istanbul lasted just over an hour with Ukraine insisting on the 30 Day unconditional ceasefire, no loss of territory, reparations from the Russians out of their frozen assets, no forced neutrality and the right to have an unlimited numbers of foreign troops on its soil. Obviously the Russians will agree to none of this so I see no point in further negotiations - other than to show willing. Once more, Ukraine’s delegates wore military fatigues at the talks. This, along with the terrorist attacks, is meant to send a clear message that they want the to war to continue. It will be settled on the battlefields.
Another prisoner exchange deal was agreed and the Russians proposed a temporary ceasefire on certain sections of the front so that the Ukrainians can pick up bodies to give the soldiers a decent burial. But Zelensky objected vehemently and vociferously, calling those who had suggested the initiative ‘idiots’. This exchange is not unusual in wars by the way. Zelensky appears a little touchy because he knows that once soldiers are identified, he will have to pay their families the money that is due to them.
The Ukrainians made much of the story that Russia has kidnapped children - which most in the Western world probably believe - and had this to say on the subject:
Ukraine is turning the topic of ‘child abductions’ into a show for Europeans. There isn’t a single kidnapped child — there are [only] children rescued by our soldiers.
So that’s another Western myth out of the way - bravo Medinsky.
The Russian side gave the Ukrainians their proposals for tackling the ‘root causes’ of the conflict, which means getting rid of all those on the other side of the negotiating table. They also gave the Ukrainians a document containing Russia’s suggestions on how to achieve a ceasefire. Both documents can be seen in full here. Russia’s conditions for a ceasefire include the following:
Crimea, Donbass [i.e. DPR and LPR] Kherson, Zaporozhye be internationally recognized as Russian
Ukraine doesn’t join NATO or any military bloc
Ukraine holds ELECTIONS
Zelensky withdraws troops from new Russian regions
BAN on Nazi propaganda and glorification
Martial law be CANCELLED
Russian language granted official status [includes the peoples’ right to worship in any church]
The Ukrainians will examine these proposals ahead of the next talks which will be held at some point between June 20th and June 30th. Of course, they are unlikely to agree to Russia’s demand that they abandon what Russia considers to be its own territory as a precondition for a ceasefire. The demand for international recognition of the new Oblasts and Crimea is a big ask but I can understand why Russia insisted on making it. Without this, legal problems could very easily arise in the future. This is Putin’s legal brain working. Russia is obviously getting fed up with the pining Western children who refuse to believe that it is bed time.
Apparently, in his private meeting with Medinsky, which lasted as long as the talks, Umerov admitted that the regime has no control over the Azov Nazi types.
Sputnik publishes a short summary of the Russian Memorandum here. I think it’s worth reading.
The prisoner swap, which was also discussed, is complicated by the fact that Ukraine has only 800 Russian prisoners while the Russians have more than 6,000 according to Alex Christoforou, whose video from Cyprus some may want to watch. These figures could be indicative of Russian superiority.
The Ukrainian Memorandum was much more brief and asked, simply, that Russia retreat and surrender - according to Sputnik.
Julian Macfarlane makes an appropriate comparison between the current situation in Ukraine and that facing Japan in 1945. Japan was in no position to negotiate back then and neither is Ukraine 80 years later. The talks are a charade and both sides know it.
Kellogg’s Confessions
Keith Kellogg has admitted that NATO expansion contributed to Russia’s decision to invade Ukraine and that its concerns were ‘fair’, according to Zero Hedge. He warned that the US was prepared to walk away from negotiations - which is fair enough since the US is part of the conflict: a boxer in the ring can’t also be a referee. He explained that the world has changed since Trump’s first term as Russia, China, North Korea and Iran are now working together - with North Korean troops serving in the Ukraine conflict. This makes the situation far more dangerous and far more complicated for the US than it was when all four were not working together, he argued.
He also said that he feared that if the US became involved in fighting the Russians and North Koreans in Ukraine, the latter may start a conflict with South Korea which would then overstretch the US forces. There is even a danger, he said, that the Russians could also become involved in Korea, which would be disastrous. Kellogg also pointed to the growing strength of China. Given these factors, he suggested that the US must tread carefully with regard to Ukraine and does not wish to increase its involvement. This sound like a bit of realism though maybe some of his concerns are baseless. Alexander Mercouris discusses more detail here.
Missing Civilians
According to this report, 2,287 civilians disappeared during the Ukrainian invasion of Kursk. Many have been found (dead and alive) but 576 are still missing, according to Kursk’s governor above.
Attitudes Changing Among Ukrainians
Back in 2022 the people of Kharkov and Sumy supported Ukraine but according to a Ukrainian source, the people now dislike and distrust the military, the government and Zelensky personally.
Ukraine Government ‘Stinks of Authoritarianism’ Klitschko
The Mayor of Kiev has said that democracy no longer exists in Ukraine. Mayors are intimidated by ‘raids, interrogations and threats of fabricated criminal cases’. You can read more at Tass. According to this source, the British are promoting Klitschko as an alternative to Zelensky who has used Martial law to install a parallel military administration in Kiev which duplicates the Mayor’s powers. Zero Hedge provides a good article on Klitschko here.
Shoot the Draft Dodgers - Goncharova
RADA Deputy Iryna Goncharova has proposed that draft dodgers should be executed in public. To make it more dramatic, you could use Madame Guillotine.
Life Imprisonment For A Crooked Look - Korchinsky
Anyone giving the TCC people a ‘crooked look’ should face life imprisonment, according to mad nationalist Dmitry Korchinsky whose crazy utterances have featured here before. This is even worse than Western Woke.
Z Responsible for Human Rights Abuses - Goncharenko
Ukrainian Deputy Goncharenko blamed Zelensky for human rights abuses:
The root of the problem is not in specific military personnel, not in the TCC, and not only in numerous corrupt officials who are there too. The root of the problem is in the supreme commander in chief named Vladimir Zelensky. Because it is he who brings a direct responsibility for creating a normal mobilization system. Instead, a system of total requisitions and ignoring human rights was created.
Have you only just noticed this! You have been killing innocent civilians in the Donbass since 2014 - what about their rights?
Ukraine Terrorist Attacks
30th/31st May
Overnight, Belgorod suffered drone attacks that caused serious injury to a man driving his car in Shebekinksy District. In Logachevka, a civilian was killed by a drone that hit his car while in Shebekino, two men were injured by shelling. Throughout the region, damage was caused to private dwellings, administrative buildings, cars, a minibus and power lines but no further casualties were reported. In Bryansk, a man was injured by a kamikaze drone while in Rylsk (Kursk), 7 civilians were injured by drone attacks on high rise buildings.
31st May/1st June - Terrorist Attack on Train
In Bryansk, on the evening of the 31st May, Ukrainian terrorists blew up a railway bridge as a passenger train traveled underneath. The train was derailed, killing 7 people and injuring 89.
Kursk Train Attack
This was also a consequence of a bridge collapse: this time while the train was traveling over it. Part of the train fell onto the road below. There were several casualties but no deaths.
Following these attacks, Russian Senator, Andrey Klishas described Ukraine as a terrorist state controlled by a terrorist group. He demanded total denazification, demilitarisation and state reconstruction as well as a ‘buffer zone’ capable of preventing such attacks in future.
In a later incident, railway tracks were blown up near Unecha in Bryansk but there were no casualties. It appears that a train was passing at the time of the explosion.
June 1st - Ukraine Attacks Russia’s Triad
On June 1st, the Ukrainians claimed they had damaged 40 Russian airplanes with drone attacks deep into Russia. This Ukrainian report claims that 20 TU-95s, 15 TU-22’s and 4 A-50 aircraft were destroyed. Airfields at Ryazan and Irkutsk were attacked along with those at Ivanovo, Murmansk and Amur. The War Chronicle reports, that 4 TU-95s (old strategic bombers) and 1 TU-22 were burned in Irkursk region while two more TU-95s were burned in Murmansk. The Russian MoD admits that ‘several units of aircraft caught fire' and that some terrorists have been detained.
According to South Front, Satellite Imagery suggests that only 12 aircraft were hit as you can see here. This is consistent with the official MoD report.
There is no question that this has been an embarrassment and a wake up call for the Russians, who will be aware that things could have been much worse. The Ukrainians will be disappointed that more aircraft were not hit and Russia will guard against this sort of attack in future. Still, one has to give credit to the Ukrainians and their allies for pulling off this attack which, they claim, has been 18 months in the planning. They called it ‘Operation Spiderweb’.
According to a Ukrainian source, the British were involved in the attacks on the airfields and obtained intelligence through NATO. The drones had been housed in trucks with retractable roofs which were driven by innocent truck drivers to points close to the airbases and were activated via satellite. Only two of the trucks released drones unhindered, with one catching fire and another subject to an attack by local people. You can find out more at Daniel Davis’s Deep Dive. People are asking whether Trump knew about this or not.
The seven killed and 69 injured by a Ukrainian attack on a passenger train on the previous day will be even more alarming for Russian citizens.
But these attacks on Russia’s nuclear strategic bombers could justify a nuclear response according to its nuclear doctrine:
c) the enemy’s impact on critically important state or military facilities of the Russian Federation, the incapacitation of which will lead to the disruption of the response actions of nuclear forces.
If anyone attacks Russia’s nuclear deterrent with missiles, it is entitled, or even obliged, to at least consider a nuclear response - according to its doctrine.
So, we are on scary ground - at the moment. However, as John Helmer discusses above, Russia is unlikely to provide a strong response yet (see above How Can We Negotiate With a Terrorist Regime - Putin).
June 1st marks the day global warfare changed forever as an army of drones emerged from Pandora’s box. The US’s nuclear bombers could face a similar threat because they are obliged to keep them out in the open (to be seen by satellite) . I am sure the Russians will come up with ways to defend these airfields from drones more effectively.
Kremlin spokesman Sergey Ryabkov, speaking to Tass, claims that many of the bombers can be repaired.
The Russian response started overnight on June 6th with its biggest air attack of the war (see below). There may be more to come - and maybe the Oreshnik/hazelnut will be involved.
1st/2nd June
Overnight in Belgorod, a shell demolished a house killing a woman whose body was pulled out of the rubble. A 12 year old girl riding her bicycle close by was concussed. Overnight, 57 drones were destroyed over Kursk; 31 over Belgorod; 27 over Lipetsk; 16 over Voronezh; 11 over Bryansk; 11 over Ryazan; and 6 over Oryol and 1 over Tambov.
2nd/3rd June
In Belgorod, two people were injured when a drone attacked their car in Shebinsky District while in the village Maysky a man was injured when a drone attacked a commercial facility. Powerlines, cars and dwellings were attacked throughout the region.
Around 5 am on the 3rd June, an underwater drones exploded near one of the pillars of the Crimean causing some dama, according to this report. However, at least one report from the Russian MoD claims that although an explosion happened in the water near the bridge, there was no damage according to Sputnik. Traffic on the bridge was running normally on the 4th June - see below. This report suggests that the image above is from 2022.
3rd/4th June
Overnight in Belgorod, a drone his a commercial facility injuring two men while another hit a private dwelling, injuring a woman.
Another attack on the Kerch Bridge was foiled on June 4th.
4th/5th June
Populous areas of Zaporozhye were attacked by drones on the evening of June 4th, damaging electricity sub stations and leaving many people without power. A woman was injured by drone attack in Melitopol. Kherson was also attacked with drones and cluster munitions causing power outages. Rostov and Voronezh also suffered drone attacks, causing some damage but no casualties. In Gorlovka, DPR, a civilian was injured by drone drop.
Finally, a railway line was attacked in Voronezh region causing only minor damage. A train had not long passed this point.
5th/6th June
On June 5th, an apartment building in Rylsk (Kursk) was hit killing one and injuring another six. In Belgorod region, a locomotive was derailed by explosives placed on the tracks but within 2 hours repairs had been made and trains are running on schedule. Elsewhere in Belgorod, three civilians were injured by drone attacks while one civilian was injured during a drone attack on Oktyabrsky District Court House.
At night, the above explosion was seen close to Bryansk airport. Elsewhere in Bryansk, four civilians were injured by drone attacks.
A total of 174 drones were intercepted over Russia during the night.
The Sea War
1st/2nd June
Overnight, 2 drones were shot down over Crimea.
5th/6th June
Overnight, three Neptune-MD missiles were destroyed over the Black Sea.
The Air War
Russian Missile/Drone Attacks
30th/31st May
Overnight, Geraniums hit targets in the Sumy, Vinnytsia, and Kharkov regions and the part of the DPR occupied by the Ukrainians.
31st May/1st June
Overnight, Iskanders attacked Mirgorod and Sumy. Kiev and Ozernoye airfield in Zhytomyr region were attacked by Geraniums.
1st/2nd June
Overnight, Geraniums attacked Kharkov, Chernigov and Ukrainians occupied DPR. Geraniums also attacked the port area of Odessa.
2nd/3rd June
Overnight, Geraniums attacked Odessa; Poltava; Chernigov; Sumy and Nikolaev. In Odessa, port infrastructure, warehouse and railway logistics were attacked and set alight. Industrial facilities were attacked throughout Ukraine. Nikolaev was attacked by two Kinzhals.
3rd/4th June
Overnight, Geraniums attacked Kharkov, Odessa, Zaporozhye and Sumy Regions.
4th/5th June
Overnight, missiles were flying over Zaporozhye while explosions were reported over Kharkov; Chuguev; Chernigov; Poltava and Odessa. This was not a large attack and focused on drone workshops.
5th/6th June - Massive Russian Attack
Love Donbass Estimates - From MoA (242)
10 Iskander-M ballistic missiles launched, 0 intercepted.
13 Kalibr cruise missiles launched, 2 intercepted.
4 Kh-101 cruise missiles launched, 1 intercepted.
1 Kh-31P launched, 0 intercepted.
27 missiles in total, 3 interceptions.
10.7% interception rate.
As for the targets/impacts:
Ballistic missiles:
4 Iskander-Ms targeted and impacted Chernihiv City.
3 Iskander-Ms targeted and impacted Kyiv/its surroundings.
2 Iskander-Ms targeted and impacted the area of Hadyach, Poltava Oblast.
1 Iskander-M targeted and impacted Pavlohrad, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.
Cruise missiles:
3 Kh-101s targeted Lutsk City, 2 impacted.
1 Kh-101 targeted Ternopil City. 1 impacted.
4 Kalibrs targrted Lutsk City, 3 impacted.
4 Kalibrs targeted Ternopil City, 4 impacted.
1 Kalibr was shot down near Stryi, Lviv Oblast. Target is unknown.
3 Kalibrs targeted Ozerne Airbase, Zhytomyr Oblast. 3 impacted.
Anti-radar missiles:
1 Kh-31P targeted and impacted Tuzly, Odesa Oblast.
Ukrainian Missile/Drone Attacks
1st/2nd June
On the evening of the 1st, 7 aircraft-type drones were destroyed over the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant while Western guided Stormshadow missiles hit an industrial centre in Krasnodon (LPR), wounding several people.
2nd/3rd June
Overnight, the Ukrainians attacked electricity substations in Kherson and Zaporozhye leaving 150 settlements without power.
3rd/4th June
Overnight, several drones were shot down over the Russian Aerospace Forces Airfield in Irkutsk by local people with shot guns.
5th/6th June
Overnight, an oil storage depot was set alight in Engels, Saratov Region.
The Ground War
Russian MoD Reports (Ukrainian Losses)
w/e 16th May 2025 8,770 Casualties killed and wounded: equipment losses 570
w/e 23rd May 2025 8,905 Casualties killed and wounded: equipment losses 487
w/e 30th May 9,420 Casualties killed and wounded: equipment losses 571
w/e June 6th 10,045 Casualties killed and wounded: equipment losses 599
The Fronts
Front Line Cats
Sumy
The Russians continue to advance, capturing the village of Kondratovka on June 5th. The Russians are on the defensive in the Tyotkinsky area as the Ukrainians persists in their attempts to break through to Tyotkino. Alekseyevka and Andreyevka have also been captured and the Russians have entered Loknya.
Kharkov
In Volchansk and Liptsy, five Ukrainian assault groups along with their equipment were eliminated this week.
Svatove-Kreminna
Following the liberation of Redkodub, the Russians have reached the banks of the Nitrius river near the settlement of Karpovka
Chasiv Yar
Toretsk
By the end of the week, the Russians had liberated Dyleevka and Yablonovka.
Novopavlovka
The Economic War
Belgium and France Against Ban on Russian LNG
It appears that these two countries have broken ranks with the EU which wishes to ban Russian LNG because their economies will be badly affected. You can read more at Sputnik.
Ukraine Defaults
After failing to pay a $665 millions debt payment its credit rating has been reduced to ‘D’ for default. It will now be more difficult for the country to attract investment or pay its soldiers.
Trump Raises Tariffs on Steel
The Donald has doubled the tariffs on steel to 50% - according to Sputnik.
Germany to Face Record Bankruptcies
Allianz Trade forecasts an overall increase of 11 percent in corporate insolvencies in Germany this year, reaching approximately 24,400 cases. A further 3 percent rise to 25,050 cases is anticipated for 2026. These insolvencies put an estimated 210,000 jobs at risk across Germany. This is worse than the 2008 crisis, according to Zero Hedge.
World Politics
Iran/US
The IAEA has produced a report that exaggerates Iran’s uranium enrichment levels, according to Foreign Minister Araghchi. This conflicts with the report delivered by Tulsi Gabbard. But Iran would not object to IAEA inspection so what’s the problem? This is all political posturing influenced by Netanyahu which the Iranians will resist. You can read more at tele-SUR.
According to Pravda, Trump has sent an undisclosed ‘deal’ to Iran and has urged them to accept. But according to Tass, the deal offered forbids any uranium enrichment, which conflicts with Iran’s sovereign right to do so for peaceful purposes. According to a report in Zero Hedge, which contradicts that from Tass, the deal will allow enrichment for peaceful purposes. Anyway, Iran’s understanding is that no enrichment will be allowed so they have rejected the deal.
On June 3rd, Araghchi told the press that the US proposal ‘lacks clarity and raises many questions’. He also insisted that ‘there is no scenario’ in which Iran would give up its peaceful nuclear industry, including enrichment.
Talking about Trump’s proposals, supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei revealed that:
The first thing the United States says is that Iran should not have a nuclear industry and should depend on the United States. Our response to America’s nonsense is clear: they can do absolutely nothing about this issue…Uranium enrichment is the key to the nuclear issue, and the enemies have also pointed the finger at enrichment.
He also said:
Who are you to interfere whether Iran has enrichment or not? You have nuclear facilities, atomic bombs, the power to cause massive destruction in the world. So why is it your concern?
So, Trump is expecting Iran to allow it to build nuclear reactors and control its uranium enrichment. The Donald appears to inhabit some place deep in the past when the US was powerful enough to demand such things - but Americans no longer live there.
President Pezeshkian said: ‘Iran welcomes negotiations, but arrogance is not part of the principles of dialogue’.
Nawrocki Wins Polish Presidential Elections
The opposition leader Karol Nawrocki has won the Polish elections with nearly 51% of the vote. Nawrocki is very much anti-Russian but does not want Ukraine to join NATO. Donald Tusk, who will remain Prime Minister, has called for a vote of no confidence to reassert his authority - according to Politico. Nawrocki is on the Kremlin’s wanted list for destroying Soviet era monuments in Poland.
Lee Jae-myung Wins South Korean Election
Jae-myung has promised to improve relations with North Korea and China while being less submissive to Japan and refusing to get involved in Ukraine. Sounds promising.
Brigitte Slaps Macron - Macron Threatens China
Emmanuel, in a ‘fit of pique’, maybe, after being slapped by his wife, decided to have a go at China for not keeping the North Koreans in line: allowing them to fight in Ukraine. Perhaps his ‘masculinity’ needed reinforcing.
Baerbock’s Back
Former German Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock - or 360 degrees Baerbock - was ‘elected’ as the head of the UN General Assembly - for a year. In the ‘democratic’ Western world, it is no surprise that she was the only candidate for the job. She has provided some great entertainment for these pages and I hope she will continue to do so. Her granddad was an ardent Nazi - apparently.
Dutch Government Resigns
Following the withdrawal of Geert Wilders and his Party Of Freedom from the ruling coalition, the government led by PM Dick Schoof has resigned. Wilders was not happy with the governments inactivity around migration - according to Tass. However, NATO’s request to increase defence spending to 3.5% of GDP, which was put before the Dutch parliament, may also have been an issue according to Zero Hedge. I assume this means that a snap election is coming.
Hegseth To Miss Brussels/Ukraine Meeting
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth will not attend the ‘Ukraine Defense Contact Group’ meeting in Brussels which oversees aid to Ukraine (the Ramstein Group). This is strange but could be sending a signal of US intention to leave Ukraine to the Europeans. You can read slightly more at Sputnik.
Alexey Roslikov Latvian MP
Roslikov stood in parliament to protest Russo phobic policies. He reminded everyone that half of Latvians speak Russian. He was ejected for speaking the Russian language.
Westerners Off Their Trolleys
Graham - Old Narrative Re-Emerges
Thanks to good old Lindsey Graham an old narrative has been brought out of retirement:
Ukraine is not losing the war; its all Russian propaganda.
What can I say!
Help Ukraine Make Nukes - Kemp
Colonel Richard Kemp is urging the UK to help Ukraine build nukes which will provide the greatest incentive yet for the Russians to take control of the whole country. This idiotic verbiage comes at a time when the US is trying to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons it really doesn’t want.
Protests
Mauritania
Thousands marched in Mauritania on the 30th May to oppose the genocide in Gaza.
Morocco
Thousands of Moroccans marched against genocide in Gaza on May 30th.
No Security For Entity - Marches in Raymah
‘No security for the entity’, they chanted.
Barcelona Cuts Ties With Israel
Barcelona City Council voted on the 30th May to suspend its friendship agreement with Israel until international law is respected and the rights of Palestinian people is guaranteed. Spain has condemned the construction of 22 new settlements in the West Bank. Finland also condemned the move.
CUNY New York
Many students at City University of New York (CUNY) have been on hunger strike since the 29th May calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Around one hundred students and graduates gathered outside the Staten Island college during a graduation ceremony to protest the genocide in Gaza.
Paris Saint-German Fans
PSG fans saying ‘Stop the genocide in Gaza.’ After the match many took to rioting on the streets of Paris.
Bremen Germany
Thousands demonstrated in Bremen against the genocide in Gaza.
Geneva
On the 3rd June, an event was held in Geneva’s ‘Broken Chair’ Square by Turkish and Palestinian Trade, close to a United Nations building. They employed the slogan ‘incomplete justice'.
UK Parliament
More than ten thousands made a human cordon to symbolically block arms to Israel outside the home of British 'Demoncracy'
Lisbon
Thousands marched in Lisbon, Portugal, against the genocide in Gaza.
Correction (of sorts)
On the 28th May I published an article entitled The Bottom Line, based on Jacques Baud’s account of Russia’s motivation for starting the SMO in February 2022. I did so in good faith having heard similar accounts from other sources. But thanks to contributions from Dr. Livci in the comments section it is evident that this version of events is not shared by all - which spoiled my story a little. Not everyone will have seen the article and you may have to subscribe to view Dr. Livci’s comments but he covers the issue on his substack. The bottom line is that the Russians may not have launched the SMO in 2022 purely out of an altruistic concern for the Russian speaking residents of the Donbass.
‘You can’t fight propaganda without time and the original sources’, Glenn Greenwald (journalist)
Well that’s it for yet another eventful week. I am grateful for your views, subscriptions, shares, restacks, follows, likes and comments. Have a good week. Best Rob.
Non subscribers can view Updates on Telegram: https://t.me/UWUupdate.
Zelensky criticised the quality of the Russian delegation to the Istanbul talks - which comprised many of those who represented Russia in Istanbul 2022.
Are you wondering why, considering the strikes on Russian Jets were 18 months in the planning, that Russian intel did not pick up on what was being planned? Perhaps they did.
NewRules reported that:
"Zelensky’s "18-month masterstroke" looks more like an amateur miscalculation—Ukraine targeted scrap metal, not Russia’s active bomber fleet.
🔥THE REALITY:
🔸 Russia operates ~60 Tu-95MS bombers—the rest (140+) are stripped-down hulks in open storage.
🔸Ukraine assumed operational jets would be left exposed while retired ones were hidden. WRONG. Russia stores both outside.
🔸 Drone footage shows strikes on engine-less A-50s & no fires—proof they hit empty "Christmas Trees," not fueled bombers."
Russia's considerable retaliation, with drones, was for the train terrorist attacks.
Then there is the continuing US hubris, and Trump's delusions. Does anyone seriously think that Putin would do what the US tries to do, and order Iran not to enrich uranium? Iran is producing ground-breaking cancer treatments with its nuclear medicine THAT is a major reason for their nuclear program to be continued.
The US hubris was added to by Pete Hegseth this week, who declared that Australia had to greatly increase its defence budget, presumably by buying more inferior US military rubbish. Australia generally goes All the Way With the USA, but the PM finally said Ya-Boo-Sucks to that.
Meanwhile Medvedev continues his acid outpourings on the Ukraine war and Zelensky in particular. His nicknames for the Cocaine Comedian are a hoot.
Thanks Rob for a great round-up of the interesting times that we live in.
you dhold post a remeberence:
By the evening of June 8, the Liberty -- which was armed with only a handful of .50-caliber machine guns -- was nearly sunk. A barrage of torpedoes slammed into the ship's hull as Israeli aircraft dropped napalm and strafed her deck repeatedly. The attack lasted two hours, according to Bowen.
Dozens of Americans were dead, and the questions of why and how hung over the survivors, and public and defense officials in the wake of the attack and the brief war.
Barely 20 days later, the Navy said it had an answer to what had happened or, rather, a partial one: The Liberty was doing its duty, the attack was unprovoked, Israel had "ample time" to identify the ship, but the U.S. could not identify the reason for the attack, according to a 1967 Department of Defense press release. The U.S. government has never publicly blamed Israel for anything other than an accident.
The Liberty's survivors say that Israel had to have known that the vessel was American -- flying an American flag -- and the attack was made without warning or justification.
In 2005, the USS Liberty Veterans Association submitted a report to the DoD asking for a formal investigation, unsatisfied by the Navy's 1967 inquiry. The report, summarized by the survivors, in part said that their radios were jammed, preventing distress frequencies from reaching superiors; the Israeli aircraft attacking the Liberty were unmarked; and the planes deliberately strafed their life rafts, anticipating that the sailors would abandon ship.