Hello everybody!
It’s mid-summer, the temperatures are high, and so is the Russian pressure - especially in the Pokrovsk Sector of the frontlines in Ukraine. There, Syrsky was highly successful in preventing the creation of a corps command, and the headquarters, Khortysia Group of Forces, ZSU, remains as near-useless as before and ever since Drapaty is not in command any more.
But, don’t worry: Dumpf’s special envoy Kellog arrived in Kyiv to a warm reception by -Yermak. Thinking of that fact alone, cannot but conclude that now everything’s going to be fine. Because Kellog promptly ran into the only character in Kyiv that actually matters.
I’m just not entirely sure for whom is that going to be fine…
Elsewhere… after arranging the XYth meeting to arrange a meeting to talk about meetings, Moron… sorry: honourable President Macron - stumbled over that damn carpet next to his working table, and - by sheer accident - checked ‘yes’ on the contract ordering the MBDA to, after a hiatus of 15 years, re-launch production of SCALP-EG cruise missiles. Which is the French version of the Storm Shadow. I know: many are surprised now. Even confused. What should this mean, and how could it happen? Arguably, there are few daring to wonder why didn’t ‘they’ (read: Mor… erm… honourable President Macron… please somebody help me: can’t write that name without making a typo, first) order this, and place thousands of other, similar orders - already three years ago?
How, you still don’t understand that glorious zombie idiots paid by about 15 people who own 95% of what is to own in this ‘the West’, to administer in their interest, are more scared about what happens if Ukraine defeats Russia, than any other outcome of this war?
So much so that, meanwhile, the loud thinking about an Ukrainian defeat is en vogue in Brussel, for the first time in three years again. And this so much so that, meanwhile, almost everybody has forgotten that Putin is going, 10000000000% sure, to invade NATO. In 3-5-10 years, you know…
Meh. No problem. Ukraine is not ‘the West’. Therefore, all the horror the country went through since February 2022… actually: since February 2014, but why should anybody care - all the dozens of thousands of deaths, millions forced to flee, dozens of thousands of killed, disappeared, tortured, hundreds of thousands of wounded, disabled, devastated, orphaned, traumatised, abducted… tsk, tsk, tsk… who is as stupid as to still think that way? To remember all of that?
Ukrainians suffering horrors of this war is meanwhile granted. A norm. ‘Simply fine & everything’s OK’. Both in Russia and in ‘the West’.
Therefore, the super-smart zombie idiots are now going to arrange a meeting to arrange a meeting, whether in London or Paris, or Brussel, to discuss discussing options for a meeting so they can talk about what happens should Ukraine fail. And we all should be happy - indeed: we must be delighted - because we can expect a decision in this regards…
…as soon as two months and 16 summits after Ukraine fails…
Man, one can’t but simply love the way ‘the West’ is waging its modern wars. It’s so civilised. So affable. So genial, too. So much so, I’m for defining an anniversary of introducing this practice, so we can all celebrate. World-wide.
…which is: in the 35+ countries of that ‘the West’: the rest of the World doesn’t matter, as obvious alone from the fact everybody else is meanwhile recognising Palestine, just the ‘Western civilisation’ doesn’t…
But I’m digressing, of course. Nobody sane wants to talk about Israeli genocide on Palestinians any more. Is so much out of fashion. So boring. Nah. Lets talk about something making far more sense. Like that with celebrations and parades.
Me thinks, we should celebrate that anniversary at least once, better few times a year. With big military parades, lots of delicious food and booze, and parties - preferably staged within 2-5km of the Gaza Strip, so Palestinians can enjoy the music, too. We only need to agree who, when, and where introduced the practice of fighting wars for profit and modelling the outcome.. Hands down all the kids thinking it was Qusay Bush or Oblablah in some places named Afghanistan or Iraq: sorry mates, but that happened long, long, long before. At least in around the times of the Vietnam War in the mid-1960s, if not already in Korea of the early 1950s, or…ugh… that notorious itch in my small toe is telling me it was certain place named Palestine, back in 1947-1949…
But, I’m ranting again… right? And so anti-Semitic, can’t say…
OK… so, what else shall one wonder about in regards of this war?
(Yes, I mean the one in Ukraine.)
Perhaps that with so many ‘in the West’ still proving unable to understand how comes Pudding is fine with the way this war is developing, indeed in a comfortable position: one where his rule is safe (and that regardless how diligently is he ruining the Russia’s economy), where he can continue draining Ukraine, outlast the hesitant West, and win this war…?
Sorry, can’t explain that. It’s too complex and would be too long to read, you know.
Instead, let me finish this intro with something nice. Something heart-warming. Yes, weeks late, even the Russians have meanwhile figured it out: their offensive into Sumy has failed. Almost as miserably as the offensive of the 1st Guards Tanks Army into Sumy back in February 2022. Now, the part of me loving to play the Devil’s advocate can’t avoid adding that, considering it was just like back in February 2022 - when the the ‘local Ukrainians’ organised themselves on their own, without any interventions by Syrsky & Buddies in Kyiv - this is, actually, no surprise. But, that doesn’t matter. What does matter is the actual primary difference between Sumy of February 2022, and of June 2025: back then Russia still had something resembling a professional army.
Not an uniformed and armed mob resembling the Monthy Python’s 13th Queen’s Own Highlands Kamikaze Regiment…
There are few other reasons for the Russians being unhappy, too. For example, because it turned out the entire headquarters – including the commander, his deputy, the chief-of-staff and his assistant (and chief of communications), and all of their aides - of the 155th Naval Infantry Brigade was smashed by an Ukrainian missile strike in the Korenevo area.
…which reminds me that this is about the only discipline in which the Russians are resembling, definitely matching, ‘the West’, meanwhile: the West still can’t understand how comes Pudding is so happy with the way his Special Military Operation is developing (and the majority of the Russians is happy about this, too), and the Russians still can’t understand how comes the Ukrainians are shooting back at them…
Sigh… now how to finish this intro?
Oh, that’s simple! You’ve now all been warmed up, and warned, too. Thus, over to Don…
***
Kursk/Sumy
A Ukrainian airstrike destroyed a bridge in Korovyakovka, north of Tyotkino and destroyed a building in Tyotkino itself.
The Russian Zemledeliye system can deploy 600 mines up to 15 km away; one was destroyed by several drone hits, some 15 km north of Novomykolaivka.
Oleksyivka was bombed by Ukraine.
Russia bombs the northern side of Kindrativka and a treeline to the west was hit by 22 bombs over time. A Ukrainian drone was intercepted and Andriivka and the treelines to the south were hit by 32 Russian bombs. All this activity was in response to the ZSU’s fire brigade - yup, the 225th Assault Regiment - attacking Kindrativka from the west and eliminating the Russians inside the village. So unkind, these pesky Ukrainians… just like their trees that provided cover for them, although houses were heavily damaged…
Perhaps Russia should go and try invading somebody else? Somebody not shooting back? Ah yes, in Ukraine, it’s only ‘Ukronazis’ doing that…
The 47th Engineering Brigade, ZSU, is building the anti-drone tunnels around Sumy. A Swedish group donated 250 tons of fishing nets so far in 2025, after collecting them from other Nordic countries. The type of material in the net is important because ultraviolet light can weaken some synthetic netting. Russia fiber optic drones will sometimes wait in ambushes outside the tunnel instead of flying into them because they have more maneuver room to attack a vehicle.

***
Milove
No further Russian advances were made from Milove and Stroivka, but they did advance up to 1500 meters west of Kamianka.
***
Kupiansk
Russians attack Ukrainian positions around Zelenyi Hai, where they advanced as much as 3 km. Again, when drones are out you don’t want to be seen. But if enemy infantry is advancing you have to be able to observe and engage them or it’s a one-way battle. The Russians also took the village of Radkivka, north of Kupiansk.
A Russian tank fires on Ukrainian positions in Kopanky.
***
Terny
A Russian drone attacks a Ukrainian position in a treeline near Zelena Dolyna, where Russia advanced over 4 km.
The 3rd Assault Brigade used aerial and ground drones to attack Russian positions. Two Russians survived and signalled that they wished to surrender and they walked to Ukrainian positions. Ukrainian infantry were able to occupy the position without firing a shot.
***
Siversk
The Ukrainians bomb what they say is a gathering place for drone teams and enemy soldiers 4 km from the front.
***
Toretsk
There is a 23 km gap between Chasiv Yar and the front lines just south of Stepanivka, but make no mistake, the Ukrainian troops inside the cauldron are under siege. Conditions were manageable until the Russian advance through Tarasivka and the arrival of Russia’s elite Rubicon drone unit in early May. The advance meant that there were fewer roads to reach the front line units and those roads became closer to the front. The arrival of Rubicon meant there were more Russian drones and those drone attacks were deeper and more effective. It also meant that more Ukrainian drones were intercepted by Russian drones.
Russians fire smoke shells near Bila Hora that don’t seem to be associated with an assault. A Ukrainian T-64 is destroyed by Oleksandro-Shultyne.
The 24th Brigade stops another Russian assault in Chasiv Yar. The brigade has been pushed back less than 4 km since it was moved to Chasiv Yar from Toretsk a year ago. Unfortunately, as soon as it switched places with the brigade in Chasiv Yar the defensive positions in front of Toretsk became unstable.
The 28th Brigade drones attack Russians around Dyliivka. Russian positions in western Yablunivka are shelled.
Russian drones used to hit targets within 2-3 km of the front. Now they conduct a strike every 10-20 minutes up to 15 km from the front. It’s difficult to send supplies. A ground drone is sent to evacuate a wounded soldier but the ground drone was hit by a drone so the wounded man crawled off the wrecked drone and into a ditch. A second ground drone carried him out during the night.
In another case, a ground drone is carrying two wounded men before it is disabled by a Russian drone. The wounded men crawl towards a ditch and the 93rd Brigade sends an MRAP to evacuate them while a team member covers them with a long-barreled shotgun. The longer barrel allows greater accuracy and a higher velocity for the pellets. The higher the velocity, the greater chance a pellet can down a drone.
Because of Syrsky’s habit of fragmenting units, the 53rd Brigade has just one battalion in the Kostiantynivka pocket. On June 24th, the commander of its medical unit posted that one of her soldiers had been in his fighting position since March. He had been wounded three times, the last wound being the most severe. He had been unable to evacuate for 107 days because each evacuation attempt was hit by drones. She would send antibiotics by drones but several of those drones were intercepted before one made it through. Her unit doesn’t have a ground drone, and even though ground drones don’t always make it through, she was asking for donations to buy one.
In August 2024, Kostiantynivka was given the mandatory evacuation order. By September 2024, the town of 67k was reduced to 24k. 15k still remained by February 2025 and after all the artillery bombardments and drone attacks, 8500 civilians still remained as of July. Half of Kostiantynivka is without electricity. Water flows for just three hours a day. The government says that infrastructure continues to be destroyed and civilians need to evacuate if they want to live. With drones, that is difficult to do because they even attack garbage trucks. Russian drones also call artillery fire on civilians.
The ammo depot in Khartsyzsk that was hit two weeks ago was completely destroyed and contained artillery shells, rockets and air defense missiles.
***
Pokrovsk
The VKS continues flying heavy air strikes on Volodymyrivka and the treelines to the south. There were also a lot of rockets landing in that area. Russia continues to advance west to Razine and north to Popiv Yar. They also moved north from Shevchenko. Ukraine may have re-taken Novoserhiivka but that hasn’t been confirmed - which makes it as likely as that this was just yet another of Syrsky’s pointless counterattacks. Launched because he was in need of a win to report to Yermak…
Vehicles in Pokrovsk are hit by drones. The Russian post claims that they all belonged to the 425th Skala Regiment, probably because the 425th has been so effective against them. They are currently operating closer to Fedorivka. A Ukrainian BTR is immobilized and abandoned in Fedorivka.
The 91st Anti-Tank battalion eliminated Russian vehicles near Novoekonomichne. Mines dropped by drones destroy Russian logistical vehicles at Malynivka.
School No. 10 was shelled in Pokrovsk and a local resident views the damage.
In Rodynske, a family in a car is killed by a Russian drone. CAUTION: Bodies are shown.
Russians in Novosergiivka are pursued by drones.
***
Komar
Russia continues to expand and consolidate north and east of Komar.
Russian forces are attacked east of Voskresenka.
The 37th Marines recapture Dachne.
***
Zaporizhzhia
A bridge was previously destroyed in Kamianske. The Russians erected a temporary bridge and a Ukrainian airstrike destroyed it.
12 bombs hit Ukrainian-controlled Plavni. This was repeated a couple days later. There were more strikes in northern Kamienske and Russia may have advanced 500 meters at most.
***
Kherson
A Russian drone drops a grenade on a bicyclist in Kherson. Which means: the Russian saffair for civilians of Kherson is going on. Is yet another ‘norm’ of this war. Perfectly fine not only with Pudding, but foremost with all the zombie idiots of ‘the West’… Kind of, ‘read about it, then return to watching the women’s world cup in football, live on TV, from Switzerland’…
***
Crimea
Atesh partisans obtained classified documents describing details of the Black Sea fleet escorting shadow fleet tankers smuggling oil.
***
Arctic Ocean
Russia continues to jam the Baltic Sea navigation signals and the Arctic states are preparing alternate navigation tools that don’t rely on GPS. Everything, just not doing something against the Russians. That could upset Pudding, you know?
***
Occupied Territories
Ukraine’s military intelligence teamed up with partisans to kill five Russian National Guard soldiers that were unloading a truck in Melitopol. The blast also destroyed a satellite communication station.
***
Unknown Location
It is very difficult to drive a MaxxPro MRAP at high speeds on three wheels. It is not impossible. At 0:55 the remains of the wheel departs.
Because the Russian crew survived there are two views of a drone attack on an armored vehicle. A follow-on strike drone records the fate of the vehicle.
***
Russia
Seven explosions were reported at the Krasnozavodsk Chemical Plant near Moscow. Among the explosive materials it produces is warheads for Shahed drones. The Ilsky oil refinery in Krasnodar Krai was hit but no details of damage has been posted. An aviation plant near Moscow that produces MiG-29 and MiG-31 jets and develops Geran drones was attacked and several powerful explosions were reported. An aircraft factory in Taganrog was hit again. Russia’s Black Sea Fleet was attacked at Novorossiysk but there was no evidence of damage.

As should be well-known in the public - but is not - the electronics in the Su-35s and Su-34s are both of Western origins (yes: made by Western manufacturers). Indeed, over 62% of the parts for the avionics of these two types are coming from the good ol’ US of A. With other words: it doesn’t matter if one is buying some F-35s, or Su-35s. The stuff installed into them is, essentially, of the same origin. The sole difference is the way in which it was aquired by the corporations manufacturing them.
Unsurprisingly, Russia’s dependence on foreign electronics for drones, missiles and other weapon systems make them vulnerable to sanctions and that is impacting their manufacturing capabilities. Russian court documents show that some components that were received were incompatible, showed signs of tampering, or failed to meet technical standards. But most cases involved manufacturers that could not fulfill their contracts because parts that were ordered never arrived.
Still, ‘the West’ is not moving to sanction the smuggling of such items to Russia…
The owner of gold mines and the 12th richest person in Russia was trying to fly to Turkey on his $50 million bizjet. Officials confiscated his aircraft, his passport (which was voided), and are working to nationalize his company while he’s being investigated for corruption and financial misconduct. The only question unresolved yet is: when and where is he going to fall out of some window…
BTW, in the last three years Russia has seized $50 billion in assets.
Russia is producing 300 T-90 tanks a year now and could reach a rate of 1000 a year by 2028… IF they overcome shortages of necessary parts (don’t worry: both Mor… erm… Macron and Starmer are doing their best to enable the Russians exactly that). But, a Russian steel manufacturer filed three lawsuits against the producer of T-90 tanks for non-payment of 160 million rubles. Tupolev is being sued for 1 billion rubles for nonpayment. The manufacturer of ICBMs owes suppliers 211 million rubles. To solve the issue, Russia is considering nationalizing the suppliers that are demanding payment, or simply printing more money. Who cares if that is certain to contribute to inflation? In Pudding’s Russia: exactly nobody.
Russia had one aircraft carrier and began modernizing it in 2017 to extend its life for 25 more years. Prior to that, it suffered so many breakdowns that an ocean-going tug accompanied it during deployments. Heating issues in cold weather environments resulted in frozen pipes. It suffered a fire in 2009 and two more broke out in 2019 and 2022. A crane mounted on the ship collapsed in 2018 and sank the drydock holding the carrier. The crew was disbanded in 2024 and sent as a battalion to fight in Pokrovsk. Work on the carrier had stopped by then and the former commander of the Russian Pacific Fleet said that ‘carriers are a thing of the past’. That solved all the problems. Instantly.
BTW, given the difficulties, the cost and the state of Russia’s economy, but especially such wise conclusions, it is now near-certain that carrier will be decommissioned.
***
Ukraine
Two German Skynex systems have been operating in Ukraine since September 2024. They use 35 mm ammo that explodes near the target and are effective up to 4000 meters. Both systems cost ‘mere’ €182 million and each engagement costs about €4000. But hey: that’s much, much less than a single surface-to-air missile of Western origin…
Ukraine released footage of 7 drones being intercepted on the night of July 11-12.

Huraaa! The mainstream media in the West has discovered the hot water… erm… Yermak.
…and so, according to the Economist, Yermak reportedly controls 85% of the information that flows to Zelensky and is planning to remove high-ranking officials and replace them with people loyal to him. He has repeatedly tried to fire the intelligence chief Budanov but pressure from the White House has supposedly saved his job. A former Ukrainian Minister of Economy doesn’t agree with the description but “that’s a discussion for after the war.”
Yes! Lets leave Yermak in his position until after the war. That way, Ukraine can loose quicker and this neverending nightmare will be over much earlier…

Ukraine arrested two Chinese nationals that tried to smuggle out documentation about the Neptune missile.
A senior Ukrainian intelligence officer was assassinated in Kyiv. The assassins were tracked down and killed when they resisted arrest.
An Antonov An-124 - a massive cargo aircraft - was seen while flying over Kyiv. Was as surprising because another aircraft flew from Odesa, a rarity since 2022. They had call signs of PTNPNH1 and PTNPNH2, which were reportedly derogatory to Putin. Eventually, it turned out the An-124 was parked at Dnipro since 2022, then repaired and successfully evacuated to Europe.
***
Diplomacy
Please, stand up and keep quiet for a minute. Because we’re all in deep shock.
Can you imagine: Trump expressed disappointment because talking with Putin goes nowhere.
…and Trump, the best president of the USA of all the times, better than Obama, doesn’t know who ordered the pause on weapon shipments to Ukraine. Never mind if as president of the USA, he must be the first to know of such things. Unimportant.
Anyway… the shipments resumed for the third time - after being halted by the Defense Department. Trump said he was considering very strongly supporting the Senate sanctions bill on Russia. He said NATO would be paying for new weapons that will be sent to Ukraine, and said that he’d send new weapons from US stockpiles beyond what Biden authorized to ship. He also said there’d be a major announcement on Monday regarding Russia, so the comparison between words and deeds begins anew.
Update: Trump announces 100% sanctions on countries that trade with Russia if Putin doesn’t agree to a ceasefire in 50 days. That was the big announcement. It’ll be great news when it happens. The US would also have to sanction itself for all the US companies that trade with Russia through third parties to avoid sanctions, knowingly or otherwise.
Besides the US Senate bill that will sanction anyone buying Russian oil, there is a new bill that authorizes $500 million in new military aid to Ukraine. Retiring senator McConnell criticized the Department of Defense for trying to block aid due to munitions shortages - while at the same time refusing to expand munitions production.
There are 180 Patriot batteries around the world and 94 are owned by NATO countries. Ukraine offered to pay for Patriot batteries months ago. Germany and Norway are waiting on Trump’s approval to buy Patriot batteries to donate to Ukraine. Last year, Germany bought eight Patriot batteries for $1 billion each and will receive them in 2029. Last week, Trump reportedly pressured Germany to send one Patriot battery to Ukraine while he would send ten Patriot missiles, which are fewer than the amount that was in the suspended delivery.
North Korea provides 40% of Russia’s ammo.
Azerbaijan will not arrest their citizens that fight on behalf of Ukraine but they will arrest citizens that fight for Russia because they are supporting the occupation of Ukrainian territories. An Azerbaijani media outlet spoke on behalf of the government, saying, “All successful world powers were established thanks to unions and coalitions. Modern Russia has not learned this lesson. Who is a close ally of Russia? Probably Belarus? Russian officials manage to quarrel with countries that oppose each other. The current simultaneous worsening of relations with Azerbaijan and Armenia is one of those examples. Russian politics is not even ‘divide and rule’. It is a disregard for non-Western countries, supplemented by a bet on brute force and threats. Does it work? Ukraine, about which the Russians have said for years that ‘it does not exist,’ that it was ‘invented by the Bolsheviks,’ can provide an answer: This stupidity led Russia to a strategic impasse.”
The Russian base in Armenia holds 2500 Russians, MiG-29 jets and S-300 air defense systems. Ukraine released documentation that showed that Russia was planning to increase the number of its troops that will be picked for their level of professional suitability, psychological stability and combat training. Armenia denies that Russia is increasing their troop levels.
Ghana and Ukraine are considering cooperative efforts in the agricultural sector. Ukraine will provide technology and advice on security forces and Ghana will help finance drone production.

***
Equipment
Russia says that it tripled its overall planned drone production for 2025. Ukraine says Russia launched 1.6 times more long-ranged drones in June than in the previous month. Russia also partnered with the Chinese to build the Aero-HIT facility in Khabarovsk that is on track to produce 10k tactical drones per month this year.
The US was producing 14,500 artillery shells calibre 155mm a month in 2022 and had a goal of producing 100,000 rounds a month by October 2025. Currently, its industriy is manufacturing about 40,000 rounds a month, though. With that in mind, the Americans are still planning to increase the production of PAC-3 missiles in the US, Germany and Japan from 850 now to 1,130 in 2027 and 1,470 in 2029. Over the years, they planned to buy 3,376 PAC-3 missiles but have now increased that long-term goal to 13,773 missiles. It takes 34 to 36 months to build each missile so even if they increased the number of production lines there would be a three year wait before the output is increased…
Russia has used chlorine and tear gas in attacks throughout the war. Neither Hegseth nor Trump know about the issue. Why should they? Is none of their problems…
A Norwegian company that produces EW resistant communications will begin operations in Ukraine.
Ukraine started producing towed Bohdanas because they were cheaper and faster to produce self-propelled Bohdanas, and drones make movement dangerous. They are probably producing 10-20 a month. It currently uses a Soviet-era carriage but will be made with a newly-designed carriage before the end of the year.
Germany is sending 2,000 IRIS-T missiles, which have a nearly 100% shoot down rate of Russian drones. Given the 5-700 drone raids, the new missiles won’t last long.
Rheinmetall’s subsidiary in South Africa has their largest order for 155 mm shells in their history, and an Indian company will supply Rheinmetall with explosives and propellants for medium and large caliber shells.
A US company is building 1500 drones a month, a thousand of which go to Ukraine paid for by the US. By the end of this year they expect to be producing 10k drones a month. They would like to build a million drones a year but the US hasn’t shown any interest yet. The company is one of the few FPV manufacturers in the US to comply with the government’s ban on using key components from China. China has also sanctioned the company.
The Kurdistan Workers Party used drones against the Turkish military and now the Juarez Cartel is using drones against the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico.
A soldier that used the 5.56 mm anti-drone rounds said it can’t be used with suppressors since the fragments could be stuck inside them. The sub-projectiles have a velocity of 800 m/s, which is twice as fast as smoothbore rounds, and the velocity provides enough kinetic energy to be effective 50-60 meters away. There are only 4-5 pellets in each round so bursts of 5-10 rounds of aimed fire are needed to produce enough mass in the air to bring a drone down. It’s important to remember that the drone will probably explode so cover should be used when possible.
https://substack.com/@wesodonnell/note/c-135868118?r=17x3tm
, too.
And sky guard? Are older and made for a tanks chasis!