It’s been another eventful week which may have seen a turning point of sorts in terms of the political conflict within Europe though it remains to be seen how this will impact on the Ukraine conflict. The EU parliament election results indicate a sea change, with winds blowing towards ‘the right’ (more correctly, the populists) and with the so called Liberal Democratic-type parties losing some ground. However, the pro-Western, pro-Ukrainian centre parties still hold the balance of power in Europe at the moment.
The ‘escalation scare’ has occupied many commentators’ thoughts and comments with much speculation about nuclear conflict - which gets people’s attention. I try not to think about it. In Italy, the G7 has began with Sleepy Joe Biden losing his way at the airport once again.
In the Middle East, the genocide in Gaza is ongoing while hopes of a ceasefire continue to be dashed. But it seems that the conflict between the IDF and Hezbollah is heating up while the Houthis continue to damage ships in the Red Sea.
On the battlefronts, Ukrainian losses have been sustained at a very high level this week: the highest I have seen this year. The Russians are close to breaking through Ukraine’s defences in a number of places, including Volchansk and Chasiv Yar. But very little information is coming though with regard to Sumy where the Russians attacked on the 9th June - which suggests that this was simply a reconnaissance in force (see below).
The Ukrainians continue to attack civilian targets in the border regions particularly but casualties have been mercifully low - apart from an attack on a grocery store in Kherson on June 7th which killed 25. Some ATACMS missiles have managed to penetrate air defences around Sevastopol but there have been no high profile successes for the Ukrainians. The Russian missile/drone attacks continue to pulverise Ukrainian targets, including the electricity grid, air defences and airfields in particular. In consequence, Ukrainians face a summer without air conditioning and a winter that does not bear thinking about.
Several ‘events’ have contributed to the week’s eventful nature apart from the EU elections. These include a BRICS meeting for foreign ministers, the start of the BRICS athletics championships, the end of SPIEF and the start of the G7. Russians also celebrated ‘Russia Day’ and a flotilla of Russian naval vessels visited Cuba to show the Americans what it feels like to have hostile forces on your doorstep. Finally, football fans will welcome the start of the European Championship in Germany with Scotland playing the host nation tonight.
Happy Russia Day
Putin on the Speed of the SMO
In a recent interview, Vladimir Putin told reporters that the SMO is being conducted at a slow pace in order to preserve the lives of Russian soldiers. ‘We are gradually pushing the Ukrainians out of the Donbass and adjacent territories’, he said. 880 square kilometres along with 47 settlements have been liberated this year. Other sources are suggesting that Putin is attempting to avoid war with NATO and that there are many more bellicose voices in Moscow who are urging him to ‘get on with it’.
In a rare admission, President Putin has revealed that Russian casualty rates are around 10,000 a month which is about one fifth of the Russian MoD’s estimate of Ukrainian losses. Put another way, Ukraine loses more men in a week than Russia does in a month.
Putin - Conditions for Negotations
Putin has outlined a number of conditions for negotiations:
Withdrawal of Ukraine troops from what is now Russian territory: Kherson; Zaporozhye; DPR and LPR. Ukraine must accept that these oblasts, along with Crimea are Russian
Acceptance of this reality on the ground.
Neutral Status - without Western influence.
Lifting of sanctions on Russia.
You can read more at RT. Naturally, this will be rejected by Ukraine.
Russian BRICS Games 12th - 24th June
3,000 athletes from 100 countries will compete in the games which will be held in Kazan and Moscow.
F16s- Warning to Westerners
Andrei Kartapolov, head of the State Duma Defence Committee, has warned that any F16s seeking to undertake combat missions from airfields outside of the Ukraine will be destroyed along with the airfields that accommodate them. It seems that some F16s could be based on NATO countries bordering Ukraine and it is possible, at least, that these could hit Russian targets from these bases. If this happens, the Russians could retaliate by hitting these bases or by hitting the planes as they take off. Either option risks WW3. Zero Hedge has a good article on the dangers here.
Putin - Warning to Westerners
Biden has authorised Ukraine to us its weapons to hit targets inside Russia, as you may know. But such targets could include nuclear bombers and strategic nuclear facilities. A nuclear early warning system has already been damaged. This is a red line that Putin cannot allow the West to cross. Ex US staff officer, David T Pyne talks about it on Dialogue Works (first 15 minutes or so).
Russian Cats and Dogs Banned
This is so unbelievably petty, I had to report on it. The Estonian ‘dog agility’ championships will not allow entrants born in Russia to compete. And the International Cat Federation has banned animals whose owners live in Russia - according to Slavyangrad. Are these people adults, I wonder.
Azov to Get Weapons
The US has lifted it’s ban on providing weapons to the Azov brigade (according to WAPO ) - which, it will say, has undergone a Damascene conversion to liberalism. Washington has stated that there is no evidence of human rights abuses by the group. The Kremlin condemned the move according to RT. Ex SBU member, Vasily Prozorov, has stated that Azov type brigades have always had the best equipment - so the US’s statement about lifting the ban may have been made for propaganda purposes.
Come Back Zaluzhny - All is Forgiven
Ukrainian politician, Igor Lapin, believes that the once great Z may accuse his commander, Syrsky, of failures and remove him. If he were Zelensky, Lapin said, he would apologise to Zaluzhny and ask him to come back.
Zelensky’s Cokehead Projections
The legitimacy of Comrade Putin is recognized only by Comrade Putin, and only Putin himself chooses Putin, the Russian people are scenery.
I wonder what the Russian people will think about being called ‘scenery’?
Spot the Difference
Granddad’s Army Ukraine - 2024
Volksstrum, Berlin - 1945
The outcome of the battle they will fight, in both cases, is not in doubt. People who do not learn from history, so it is said, are doomed to repeat its mistakes.
Military Analyst Nicholas Bulldog Drummond, with a very British ‘stiff upper lip’ attitude regarding this situation, is alleged to have said:
The average age of a Ukrainian soldier is 43 years. This is good. Old people can't escape quickly, so they stand their ground, fight to the death, and then make themselves a cup of coffee.
I think that should have been a ‘cup of tea’ fella - we are British after all.
Yes - I know - it could be ‘fake news’. Yet, it fits with the image I have of this character from what I have read about him.
Hot Summer for Ukrainians
Due to energy shortages, government agencies will not be allowed to use air conditioning during the summer, according to Denis Shmygal, Ukraine’s PM.
Ukraine For Sale
Ukraine is to sell off 20 state owned companies, including a Hotel, a shopping centre and mining/chemical enterprises - to help fund the war effort.
Ukraine War Plane Hits Belgorod
For the first time, a Ukrainian war plane hit a target inside Russia - i.e. Belgorod. You can read about it in Global Times. It is thought that a Russian Command Node was hit. Some believe that Russia will retaliate.
The Ambulance War
You may have heard about a fist fight between ambulance workers and the TCC (recruitment) workers who were attempting to enlist ambulance workers in Odessa. The ambulance workers fought off the TCC who had kept their colleagues in a TCC building for 5 hours. In a recent statement they announced that they will not provide emergency services to TCC locations. It seems that Ukraine is becoming a society at war with itself as well as the Russians. Ambulance workers are not exempt from mobilisation - even when they are working. Following this, many ambulance workers have resigned along with paramedics. Many may feel that going to work risks being sent to the meat grinder. So who can blame them. You can watch footage here or on X.
The Electric War
John Helmer has an interesting article on what he calls the Electric War, which refers to Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy system. He suggests that the Russian General Staff could be attempting to end the war by making much of the country uninhabitable and sending refugees westwards. In view of the parlous state of the grid, it appears that Russian could cause its complete collapse without too much effort. At the moment, Ukrainians are dealing with shortages by using generators but this is not sustainable because generators wear out when in constant use. Lack of electricity also impacts on water and sewage systems.
Helmer quotes Ukrainian energy expert, Oleg Popenko, who has warned that 70% of Ukrainian cities are on the verge of extinction, not due to the lack of electricity but due to water shortages and the failure of sewage systems - according to Slavyangrad. He refers to Poltava and Zhitomir as suffering in this respect.
It is also likely, according to Popenko, that the Russians will attack the rail systems which they have left relatively intact up until now.
Ukrainian Terror Attacks (i.e. those that target civilians)
After a period of relatively few casualties, there has been a slight uptick this week. And according to Nicholas Drummond, ex-British Army currently working as a defence analyst, Ukrainian terror attacks will not end with the war. So, if Russia wins the Ukrainians are already planning terrorist attacks inside Russia, according to Drummond:.
The terrorist activity would include bombing schools, bombing infrastructure... that would begin in earnest if any peace deal was imposed on Zelensky. They are absolutely planning these kinds of attacks now. No question. I think this is more terrifying for Putin than a conventional war, because if Ukrainians unleash this terror campaign in Russia, he will lose power very quickly because people will say 'you are not doing enough to stop it.’
I think that’s just wishful thinking - a little bit of hopium maybe, that assumes the Russians will not be able to stop the attacks and that the Russian people will turn against Putin. Even if they do, Russian people will never give in to the West.
One Ukrainian source had this to say about Drummond’s remarks:
Based on this article alone, the Kremlin can launch a media campaign with an emphasis that Zelensky and his government have made/are making a terrorist country out of Ukraine and Moscow is clearing out a terrorist enclave.
In other words, Drummond’s announcement is a gift to the Russians.
7th/8th June
Last week I reported on the Lugansk attack but this has been overshadowed by an attack - using Western HIMARS - on a grocery store in Kherson that left 25 people dead with 5 others in a ‘serious condition’ - according to the Military Chronicle. RT reports on the attack here. Ukraine also launched ATACMS missiles with cluster warheads into Luhansk. Many were shot down but some hit an apartment building causing it to collapse. Three people were killed and 35 injured. In Rostov, a drone was shot down by air defences. In Belgorod, a car was attacked by a kamikaze drone, killing a young girl and injuring her parents while Kursk region suffered many drone attacks but was fortunate in that it sustained no casualties. In the border areas, 16 drones were eliminated by small arms fire or electronic jamming. Meanwhile, an aircraft type drone was shot down over Bryansk. Drones were also destroyed over, Tula, Astrakhan (3) and Krasnador (6). Several drones attacked a historic church in Prokhorovka (where a famous battle was fought in 1943) causing significant damage but no casualties. Finally, one civilians was injured by shelling in the DPR.
8th/9th June
Two drones and a Neptune-MD guided missile were shot down over Belgorod but there were no reports of casualties. However, a house, a commercial building and two cars were damaged.
9th/10th June
The Ukrainians have been attacking residential areas in Kherson, killing one and injuring several others. In Belgorod, many villages were attacked with drones and shelling. Residential buildings along with cars and buses were damaged but no casualties were reported. Ukrainian shells and drones fell on many villages in Kursk causing minor damage but no casualties. Small arms fire and electronic suppression disabled at least 15 drones. In the DPR, drone attacks killed one and injured another three.
10th/11th June
Three people were injured by drone attacks in Belgorod overnight while on the morning of the 11th June two people in Belgorod were injured by shelling and four others were injured by mines. Several ‘aircraft type’ drones were shot down. Many villages in Kursk were also attacked but no casualties have been reported. In the DPR, four civilians were injured by explosives dropped from drones. In the border areas, a total of 26 drones were suppressed by electronic means - according the Two Majors. Later on the 11th June, the Ukrainians attacked a sugar factory in Belgorod. There are no reports of casualties as yet.
11th/12th June Overnight
Sputnik reported that overnight MLRS shelling of Shebekino in Belgorod has killed one and injured another three. In Donetsk, a poor woman was killed by shelling at her very humble home in Petrovsky where animals were also killed.
12th/13th June
According to the Two Majors, many villages in Belgorod suffered shelling and drone attacks causing some damage to dwellings but only one person was injured. Kursk suffered similarly but no one was reported as injured. 8 drones were suppressed electronically. The DPR was less fortunate, suffering 4 deaths and 3 wounded from shelling.
13th/14th June Overnight
Overnight, one person was killed and another three injured by Ukrainian terror attacks on civilian targets on the left bank of the Dnieper in Kherson. In Belgorod, drones and shelling caused damage to cars and dwellings and injured eight civilians while Kursk also suffered such attacks which caused some damage but no casualties. 17 drones were suppressed by electronic warfare (EW). In the village of Gorlovka (DPR), a journalist was killed while his colleague was injured. Elsewhere in the DPR, three people were injured by 155mm cluster shells. Voronezh and Rostov also suffered drone attacks overnight.
The Sea War
7th/8th June
Several drone boats were destroyed off the coast of Crimea overnight, according to the Two Majors.
8th/9th June
Several more drone boats were destroyed off the coast of Crimea. But one drone hit a barge in Taganrog Bay causing minor damage. The north and west of the Crimean peninsular were attacked with at least six rockets forcing a temporary closure of the Crimean bridge. 12 ATACMS were also used, according to this report.
10th/11th June
Targets on the Crimean Peninsular were attacked overnight.
11th/12th June
Crimea was attacked overnight but all Ukrainian missiles and drones were destroyed high above the Black Sea.
12/13th June Overnight
Sevastopol was attacked overnight with 12 ATACMS missiles, some of which managed to get through. The attacks were accompanied by an RQ4B surveillance drone - according to the Military Chronicle.
The Air War (Map)
Russian Missile/Drone Attacks
8th/9th June
Overnight, Mirgorod airfield in Poltava was attacked with KH-69 missiles. It appears that two planes were hit.
10th/11th June
Mirgorod airfield was attacked again on the 10th June. Targets in Dnepropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Kherson and Sumy were also attacked.
11th/12th June Overnight
According to Slavyangrad:
This night the main blow fell on Kiev, but there were also arrivals in Mirgorod, Poltava region, Odessa, Sumy, and Vinnitsa region. Geraniums, Iskanders, and Daggers also took part in the raid.
Aviatorskoye airfield in Dnepropetrovsk and the air defences at Lyubimovka appear to have been hit. According to this report, at least one SU-27 fighter was destroyed at Mirgorod airfield and part of an S-300 air defence system was also hit at Polyviane.
An industrial facility in the Vasylkov district of Kiev was hit on the morning of the 12th causing enormous fires which blazed out of control. Deployment points for foreign mercenaries along with factories producing unmanned boats were hit.
13th/14th June Overnight
Overnight, employing missiles and Geraniums, the Russians attacked Ukrainian airfields at Belaya Tserkov near Kiev, Mirgorod (Poltava region) and Starokonstantinov (Khmelnitsky region) - according to Slavyangrad. Kinzhals and Iskanders are also being deployed according to this report.
Ukrainian Missile/Drone Attacks
8th June
For the first time, the republic of North Ossetia-Alania was attacked by drones targeting the military airfield at Mozdok (in the Caucasus east of Krasnador) where Russian strategic fighters are based - according to Rybar.
The Ground War
Russian MoD Reports
Ukraine suffered 1800 casualties on June 10th according to the Russian MoD. But this increased to 2150 on June 11th - which is the highest number I have seen this year. The weekly total is also the highest I’ve seen this year.
w/e 24th May 11205 Casualties killed and wounded: equipment losses 484.
w/e 31st May 11225 Casualties killed and wounded: equipment losses 412.
w/e 7th June 11,140 Casualties killed and wounded: equipment losses 447.
w/e 14th June 12,795 Casualties killed and wounded: equipment losses 409.
You can read the whole report for w/e 14th June here.
The Fronts
Front Line Cats
Thanks to South Front and Marat Khairullin for the maps.
Sumy - Ryzhevka
On the 9th June, Russian forces pushed the Ukrainians out of the border village of Ryzhevka. The forces were under the command of Ramzan Kadyrov - head of the Chechen Republic - according to Slavyangrad. Wagner forces are reported to be fighting here in what so far appears to be a reconnaissance in force. I have not seen any further reports on this Direction over the last few days.
North Kharkov
The battle continues in Volchansk with the Russians fighting fiercely on the streets of Kolokoltsov, Lenin and Pushkin. The Ukrainians have been caught in a trap on the northern bank of the Volchya river finding themselves ‘semi-surrounded’: they are losing many men. Fierce fighting is taking place around the Aggregate Plant where the Ukrainians have lost ground. Taking advantage of the fact that the Ukrainians have concentrated forces around Liptsy, the Russians are attacking settlements east of Volchansk. Several Ukrainian counter-attacks have been repelled. The fighting in this area is clearly depleting Ukrainian reserves.
Kupyansk
Sitreps for Kupyansk have been thin on the ground this week and there appears to have been very little change here.
Seversk
In this Direction, by the end of the week, the Russians had advanced to the eastern outskirts of Razdolovka. They had also advanced along the railway line towards Vyemka and have started to liberate Verkhnekamensky.
Chasiv Yar
Clashes continued in the eastern part of the Kanal district of Chasov Yar this week. Late on the 13th June, Slavyangrad reported that the Ukrainians appear to be leaving the city rather than trying to hold it as they did with Bakhmut (Artemovsk) and Avdeevka. Fighting continues on the heights on either side of the city. Some Ukrainians are moving to new positions behind Chasov Yar at Konstantinovka and Druzhkovka whereas others are being moved north to reinforce Kharkov and Sumy. Clashes continue on the outskirts of Grigorovka - according to South Front.
Ocheretyne
By the end of the week, the Russians were fighting on the western outskirts of Novoaleksandrovka.
North of Avdeevka
According to South Front, Russian forces took control of Novopokrovskoe this week while advances were made around Sokil.
West of Avdeevka
Russian forces advanced around the Karlovskoye reservoir and took control of Novopokrovskoe. Clashes continued near Yasnobrodovka.
Karlovka
The Russians have made progress towards the outskirts of Karlovka and have advanced in the direction of Yasnobrodvka - according to Sitrep.
Vremyevka Ledge - Ugledar
In the Ugledar Direction, the Russians liberated the village of Staromayorskoye - according to Sitrep.
Zaporozhye
This week, fighting continued around Rabotino and north west of Verbove with little movement from either side.
Kherson
It is being reported that Krynki has been abandoned due to the need to send reinforcements to Kharkov Direction. However, Ukraine will still contest the ‘islands’ in the Dnieper.
Dima provides a 16 minute sitrep for the 14th June here.
The Economic War
More Sanctions From the US
The US is imposing more sanctions on Russia’s financial and currency systems in the hope that this will make it difficult for Russia to trade with countries such as China and Turkiye from which it obtains material which assists the SMO. US Secretary of the Treasury, Janet Yellen, announced that the sanctions would target $100 million in trade and make it risky for companies to deal with Russia - according to RT. In response, the Moscow Exchange suspended transactions in dollars and the Euro. You can read more here. China is incensed by the move which will affect some of its companies and their trade. A Chinese spokesman opposed these ‘illegal, unilateral sanctions’ which ban the export of IT and ‘cloud based’ services to Russia. You can read more at Sputnik.
Thieving Westerners - Russia To Retaliate
According to this source, Russia could respond to US seizure of its assets by ‘nationalising’ American firms operating in Russia. These could include Pepsico, Mars (which supplied $25 billions dollars of aid to Ukraine) and KraftHeinz.
EU Loses $650 Billions To Replace Russian Gas
According to Igor Sechin, head of Russian energy firm Rosneft, the EU has paid $650 billions extra for the privilege of depriving itself of Russian gas. You can read more at RT.
Finland Wants to Freeze
Riku Huttunen, Minister of Economic Affairs and Employment advised that Finland has formed a working group to organise the complete banning of Russian gas. Imports of Russian pipeline gas have declined considerably but LNG imports have increased. So, Finland will deprive itself of even this. I’m not sure where it will obtain alternate supplies but they certainly will not be cheaper. It is hoped that the ban can be achieved in time for Fins to freeze during the 2024/25 winter.
US Heading Towards Recession?
Yes we’ve heard this before but maybe this time it is true. Citigroup has opined that the US economy is slowing down and that it will be experiencing contraction shortly.
Russian Defence Spending
First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, Denis Manturov, speaking at SPIEF, pointed out that:
There are over 3.5 million people working in Russia's defence industries. To give you a comparison there is only about 147,500 working in the defence industry in UK and about 135,000 in Germany.
Those Russkies mean business!
Russian Gas Supplies to Europe Breaks Records
A record amount of gas is being transmitted to Europe from Russia via the Turkish Stream pipeline - according to Slavyangrad. Supplies have increased more than twofold year on year since the pipeline opened in 2020. The pipeline travels through Turkey to Greece but I have no idea which countries are permitting themselves to use the gas.
Russian Economy Strengthening - World Bank
The world bank has acknowledged that Russia’s economy has strengthened since the SMO began and surpassed that of Germany and Japan. It’s budget deficit for 2023 was a mere 1.9 % - compared to US (6.3%); Germany (2.1%); UK (4.2%); France (5.5%); Italy (7.4%). The deficit forecast for 2024 is only 1% whereas growth is expected to be 3.2% compared to Germany at 0.2%. You can read more at Slavyangrad.
Senator Graham Gives The Game Away
Warmongering Senator, Lyndsey Graham, has revealed that the West is interested in Ukraine, not to save democracy or prevent Russian expansion into Europe. No - it’s all about the money stupid! According to Graham, Ukraine has mineral resources valued at $12 trillions - which the West does not want Russia to have or to share with China.
World Politics
EU Elections - Is the Tide Turning?
In Germany, the AfD did well (16.5%), overtaking Scholtz’s SPD which suffered its worse ever result at only 14%. Thankfully, the Greens’ support declined from 20.5% to 12%. The CDU is the largest party on 29.5%. The so-called ‘rainbow alliance’ of the SPD, FDP and Greens collapsed to a grim total of only 21%.
In France, Le Pen’s National Rally now led by Jordan Bardella, crushed Macron’s Renaissance Party by 31.5% to 15.2%. The French ‘Greens’ obtained only 5% of the vote.
Some say that National Rally would not be as enthusiastic in its support for Ukraine as Macron has been but it remains to be seen what position it will take if it comes to power as part of a coalition.
In Belgium, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo announced his resignation after his Flemish Liberals and Democrats Party suffered a heavy defeat in the EU elections.
In Austria, the Freedom Party of Austria (FPO), which has been critical of supplying Ukraine with weapons, is leading the poll with 27% of the vote, as I write.
In spite of these hopeful results, the EU parliament just elected, is dominated by centrist parties. It will be pro-EU and pro-Ukrainian. You can read more at Tass.
In Italy, Giorgia Meloni’s support was maintained as the election gave her party around 28% of the vote.
In Spain, the opposition ‘People’s Party’ obtained the largest share of the votes at 34.2% while the Spanish Socialist Worker Part was second with 30.2%.
John Mearsheimer talks about how the results will impact on the Ukraine conflict here (first 15 minutes).
Macron Dissolves Parliament
Following his party’s disastrous showing in the EU elections, Emmanuel Macron has dissolved parliament and called two stage elections for June 30th and July 7th. In an attempt at imitating a statesman, Macron stated:
France needs a clear majority in serenity and harmony. To be French, at heart, is about choosing to write history, not being driven by it.
Poor Macron, judging by recent history, is obviously not French at heart.
But Macron could have played a cunning move by calling the election. He could be telling the electorate ‘back me or you’ll get the right wing extremists in charge’.
Medvedev Digs the Knife In
Well, well, respected by no one Macron and Scholtz, have you seen the European parliamentary results? They come as a reflection of your inept policy of providing the Bandera authorities in f. Ukraine at the cost of your own citizens, you idiotic economic and migration policy! Wait and see what comes next! Time to retire. To the ash heap of history!
Not at his best imv and the ash heap of history has become a cliche. The main issue here is that those who re-present the people of Europe are not operating in their interests!
Panagiotis Lafazanis Speaks Out
Greek opposition politician, Panagiotis Lafazanis, who attended SPIEF, said that sanctions against Russia have been ‘catastrophic’ and ‘the final blow’ for a Greek economy already suffering at the hands of the EU - according to Sputnik.
Aleksandar Vucic Speaks Out
The President of Serbia has warned that:
The events in Ukraine, during which the conflict between the Russian Federation and Western countries is developing, are slowly but surely leading the world to disaster.
Karin Kneissl Also Speaks Out
Former Austrian Foreign Minister has revealed that the West had plans to divide China into small parts as well as Russia.
Robert Fico Speaks Out
A determined looking Robert Fico voted in the European Parliament elections at the hospital where he is recovering. He urged people to vote for candidates who oppose providing Ukraine with weapons and said:
As prime minister of Slovakia, I will not drag the country into military adventures and I will do everything within our small Slovak capabilities to ensure that peace takes precedence over war
Sahra Wagenknecht Speaks Out
Sahra is the leader of the ‘Sahra Wagenkecht Alliance party’ (BSW) - which is supposed to be ‘left leaning’ on economic issues but ‘right leaning’ on immigration. More importantly, she wants to stop the conflict in Ukraine and stop the funding gravy flow. She fears that the West wants a war with Russia and that Europeans will be asked to fight it. This is a possibility of course. At a EU parliamentary election campaign event in Berlin she asked: ‘War or Peace: it’s your choice now!’. Sahra (not Sarah) is a charismatic leader with some wisdom who broke with the ‘left party’ she was part of to form her own. It will be interesting to see what part she plays in future events/developments. I’ve heard her speak several times and she is impressive, not like the globalist puppet politicians the West will be used to. She has ‘stagecraft’ too - just look how she uses her hands. The BSW achieved 5.7% of the vote in the European parliaments elections in Germany.
Caroline Galacteros Speaks Out
French political scientist Galacteros had this to say about waging war with Russia:
We are told that it is necessary to wage war with Russia. But I want someone to explain to me why? How does this threaten France, how does this threaten France's vital interests, how can the fate of Ukraine be vital to France? No, the government in Kiev is not in line with our values…..The fact is that the balance of power has changed, that we are no longer the masters, that we are completely secondary in this, and that the more we cling to every possible and conceivable illusion and posture of servility to America, the weaker we become, geopolitically speaking.
She has faced up to the truth that most Western politicians, fighting against an irresistible global and historical force, dare not look in the eye - just as Perseus dare not look at Medusa.
Unfortunately
Von der Leyen is still there! Employing moral imperatives, as is the habit of many Woke Westerners, she announced: ‘Putin must fail and Ukraine must prevail’. But crappy moral rhyme won’t do anything. She claims that the EU will provide Ukraine with $1.6 billions from stolen Russia assets - but some doubt that this will actually happen. But there is at least some hope that she will not be around for long - including a rumour that she has not been invited to a meeting of EU leaders on June 17th.
AfD Wins in the Former East Germany
Western Idiots - Scholtz
‘The Russian government must admit that Ukraine is strong and cannot be brought to its knees’, Scholtz. What planet has this guy been visiting for the past year.
Western Idiots - Cameron
Yes, UK’s very own David Cameron has made the idiots list this week. In a recent speech he suggested that: ‘We must target Russia’s shadow fleet’ - i.e. its merchant shipping, I think. And faithful to the ‘climate change’ narrative, he suggests that the main motivation for doing this is because: ‘these ships are largely uninsured, unsafe [and] environmentally dangerous’ [my emphasis].
White House Pro-Palestinian Protests
Thousands demonstrated near the White House on the 8th June. The crowd, which it is claimed, surrounded the White House, let off smoke bombs. They shouted slogans such as ‘genocide is our red line’ and ‘Israel bombs: your taxes pay’. You can read more at Zero Hedge.
There was also a smaller demonstration in Wall Street on June 11th which you can read about here.
US Civil War?
I had been following US politics closely for years until the SMO started. Even two years ago, it was clear that the divide between Republicans and Democrats was so large that many believed Civil War and Secession were strong possibilities. Bernard Goldberg, writing for The Hill, believes that this divide is widening and hardening. Relatives with different political views do not communicate with each other and 40% would react badly to a relative marrying a member of the opposing party. Both Republicans and Democrats believe that if the other party comes to power this will mean the end of the world. Of course, politicians have been partially responsible for this due to their rhetoric - especially the demonisation of Trump. Whichever side wins, there will be civil unrest and maybe the desire for a ‘national divorce’ as Marjorie Taylor Greene has suggested.
Russian Ships Visit Cuba
A small flotilla of Russian ships, including a frigate and a nuclear powered submarine, is visiting Cuba this week. Russia will conduct naval exercised in the Caribbean for the first time since 2019. US war ships will monitor the visit. You can see the frigate enter the port of Havana here or on X. And the Americans will learn how it feels to have a very capable, well armed enemy on their front lawn.
G7
The conference will start in Puglia (Italy) on the 13th June and end on the 15th so I will report on it next week. Here’s Biden getting lost after arriving in Italy by plane. It looks as if Z will sign a ten year security deal with the US at the summit.
The emerging Multi-Polar World Order
Zimbabwe Wants To Join BRICS
President Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe discussed joining BRICS with Putin at SPIEF.
Thailand Also Wants to Join BRICS
According to Thailand’s Foreign Minister who said that ‘the sooner potential BRICS partners are included, the stronger the BRICS voice will be on the world stage’.
SPIEF
At the conference, 982 deals totaling $71.87 billions were completed. 21,300 people attended from 139 countries.
Here is a selection from Vladimir Putin's main statement at the SPIEF plenary session. You can read more at RT:
1 Russia remains a key player in global trade despite all obstacles and illegitimate sanctions. States friendly to Russia account for three-quarters of its trade turnover;
2 There has been a real race between countries in the world to strengthen their sovereignty. Countries that were leaders are trying to maintain leadership by hook or by crook.
3 Northern Sea Route infrastructure will be developed further. Last year, 36 million tons of cargo passed through the Northern Sea Route, and in the future, cargo turnover could exceed 150 million tons;
4 Russian economic growth rates exceed the world average. Russia is already in 4th place in terms of GDP at purchasing power parity;
5 Western countries themselves undermined trust in their own payment infrastructure. The share of settlements for Russian exports in ‘toxic’ currencies has halved and the ruble's share in transactions is growing, approaching 40 percent.
6 BRICS countries are working on their own payment infrastructure, independent of the West’s. The grouping has great potential for new members to join;
7 The share of imports in Russia's economy should fall to 17% by 2030 through the development of its own industries.
BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Summit
This two day summit was held in Nizhny Novgorod as a prelude to the full BRICS Summit to be held in October. Speaking at this summit, Sergei Lavrov said that BRICS is driven by powerful forces of transformation and will have increasing influence on the world stage. China’s Wang Yi called for BRICS to promote a consensus on peace and oppose the instigation of a new cold war. You can read more at Global Times.
That’s it for another fascinating week. Thanks for your views, subscriptions, likes, shares and comments. Good wishes to b from the MoA for a speedy recovery. The next instalment of Language and Bewitchment will be with you early next week. Best Rob
Thank you so much.
I really hate to say it, but if NATO weapons come directly from a NATO country and hit Russia, that is an attack on Russia and, in my mind, NATO has then declared war on Russia, so consequently Russia is allowed to defend itself from attack. Oh God!
According to the 'Top War' website, the Atlantic Council is admitting the US and UK are unable to stop the Houthi attacks which have now spread to neighbouring areas. I saw one report with a picture, which could be faked, of a hole in the top of a US carrier. I also read a report that the carrier was unable to land its regular supply planes. Just imagine the impact on the US if they lost one or more carriers to modern weapons as the West is telling Ukraine to hit Russia with Western weapons.
I had seen the picture of old men in the Ukrainian forces and thought of those old Germans in late WW2.
Really well done Rob. I like your approach. Short explanation, short edited quotes usually except important issues, with a source ref for more info, and a little light humour along the way. No hand waving. Great stuff.