Patrushev Is Dissatisfied
During a series of closed-door meetings, Nikolai Patrushev reportedly delivered sharp criticism of the leadership of Russia's Foreign Ministry, Defense Ministry, and Security Council over what he sees as an inadequate response to the seizure of vessels from Russia's so-called "shadow fleet."
Patrushev reportedly expressed strong dissatisfaction with what he described as the "toothless" stance of key government agencies amid the increasing detention of Russian tankers in European and neutral waters. He allegedly stated that routine diplomatic protest notes issued by the Foreign Ministry, combined with the passivity of the Defense Ministry, only encourage Western countries to continue what he called "maritime piracy" along critical logistics routes.
Particular frustration was reportedly directed at Russia's Security Council. In Patrushev's view, the Council has effectively withdrawn from developing a firm doctrine for protecting Russia's economic interests at sea. He believes that relevant ministries are obstructing the implementation of practical countermeasures, including the regular and systematic escort of commercial vessels by Russian Navy warships in the Baltic and Mediterranean Seas.
Patrushev is said to be advocating a radical revision of Russia's defense and foreign policy approaches. Rather than relying on formal appeals to international law, he reportedly wants the security establishment to openly demonstrate its willingness to use military force to break through any form of maritime blockade.
According to these reports, Patrushev's pressure could lead to significant personnel and organizational changes within the agencies responsible for safeguarding Russia's strategic hydrocarbon exports.
Fuel shortages and price spikes are rapidly spreading throughout Russia.
24 regions are reporting problems, 22 have imposed restrictions, and farmers report a 35% increase in fuel prices in 2 months.
And more drone sanctions are coming. It will keep getting worse.
A lot worse.
🇫🇷🇯🇵 France opens Space Command to Japanese officer as ties deepen under new road map.
The objective is to “strengthen sovereign capabilities and reduce reliance on U.S.-provided data”, says @CelinePajon quoted by the @japantimes.⤵️
https://t.co/dRco94ljiT
Selenskyj:
„Ich habe Putin einen offenen Brief geschickt – weil ich nicht weiß ob er ihn liest oder nicht. Ein offener Brief bedeutet: Er muss uns antworten. Und noch wichtiger – seiner eigenen Gesellschaft."
„Die russische Gesellschaft lebt in einer Fantasiewelt. Sie glaubt sie hätte niemanden angegriffen. Dass dies kein Angriffskrieg ist. Dass sie nur russischsprachige Menschen verteidigen. Das ist nicht ernst zu nehmen."
„Wir haben noch sehr wenige Wege um Signale in dieses Land zu senden – das Aggressorland das diesen großen Krieg auf unser Land gebracht hat. Sie müssen aufhören."
🇺🇦🇪🇺
Ukraine’s counteroffensive is gaining momentum
In the spring of 2023, everyone was swept up in euphoria—Ukraine was preparing for its counteroffensive. New brigades were being trained, armed with new weapons, and everyone was waiting for them to strike and liberate Ukraine’s occupied territories.
Russian channels were filled with horror stories about how their fortifications would first be attacked with missiles, then everything would be overrun by combat vehicles, and finally the infantry would finish the job.
Between the lines, everyone sensed that the goal would be to reach the coast of the Sea of Azov and cut off Crimea.
It all ended in a massive fiasco—the Russians knew the plans perfectly well, and the territories had been mined and heavily shelled. Many Ukrainians were killed, and due to the conflict between Zelenskyy and Zaluzhnyy, the latter was forced to step down. The lessons of this bloodbath were learned—successful offensive plans thrive on secrecy.
Another lesson was learned in Kherson—when the Russians’ logistics were completely cut off. It wasn’t difficult—the right bank was connected to the left by only a couple of bridges, so with the Ukrainians controlling them with HIMARS, logistics collapsed and the Russians withdrew without a fight.
The lessons were clear as well—the first and often the last task is to cut off logistics.
For several months now, a new Ukrainian counteroffensive has been proceeding quite successfully with the same objective—to reach the Sea of Azov, cut off Crimea, and ultimately enter it.
Logistics on the left bank of the Dnieper have now been completely destroyed. This was achieved by developing drones that are resistant to radio jamming and can fly hundreds of kilometers. All Russian attempts to deliver fuel and ammunition end in their destruction—the drones control everything.
Today, rumors have already spread that the Russians are withdrawing troops from the Kinburn Spit—the farthest point. And I think this is true, because it’s simply impossible to hold out without receiving reinforcements. And I think that soon the Russians will face an existential question—what to do on the southern front. Try to hold out, but that will require withdrawing forces from the Donbas, or retreat.
But in the event of a withdrawal, it’s unclear where to retreat to—because once the Ukrainians reach the Sea of Azov, the fall of Crimea will be only a matter of time. The Ukrainians aren’t the Finns, for whom a freeze in the front lines was acceptable. And once Crimea falls, it is unimaginable that Putin and his henchmen will remain in power.
It seems to me that we are approaching a very, very interesting moment. It makes no difference what a rat cornered in a corner will do if an iron fist begins to squeeze it.
⚡️Le trafic en direction de la Crimée a été temporairement interrompu après une attaque des forces armées ukrainiennes sur le pont de Tchongar, a déclaré le chef de l'occupation de la région de Kherson, Saldo.
#Ukraine : Zelensky sur les efforts pour doter l'Ukraine (et des pays européens) de capacités de défense anti balistiques, mais aussi l'approfondissement des sanctions contre Moscou. La Russie perd cette guerre a l'heure où nous parlons et elle doit la perdre definitivement pour que nous, Européens et Français, soyons durablement en sécurité sur ce continent. Continent dont la sécurité est notre prérogative. Ou devrait l'être. Encore un effort pour nous saisir de notre puissance!
The extended absence of Putin's Central Bank chief, Elvira Nabiullina, is becoming harder to ignore.... especially given @business reports that she tried to resign after the invasion.
https://t.co/bBIVTtXCQN
Russia’s massive Grushovaya oil depot reportedly exploded again earlier this evening, with flames and smoke seen rising over Novorossiysk.
The oil export transshipment facility had been hit by Ukrainian attack drones earlier this weekend.
🚨Ukrainian President Zelenskyy had a brief phone call with U.S. President Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The call took place at the airport during a technical landing in Chișinău, the capital of Moldova.
According to my sources, there were signals ahead of the call that U.S. envoys may finally visit Kyiv in about two weeks. However, similar promises in the past have not materialized.
Neither Witkoff nor Kushner has visited Kyiv to date. At the same time, Witkoff has officially visited Moscow at least eight times.
@romainmielcarek Mais si c'est l'1 des sujets qu'il aborde, ce type ns explique doctement que l'on doit penser isolément la Défense de la France alors qu'elle ne peut se concevoir qu'intégrée à une coalition. Il rétrécit le problème à notre près-carré ce qui est 1 grave erreur .
@romainmielcarek Ce type n'a pas encore compris que la défense de l'Europe est une affaire commune qui ne peut se concevoir que dans une coalition ou alors il est de mauvaise foi comme son patron JLM. Actuellement et en attendant une solution plus européenne nous avons l'OTAN. Profitons en!
@knafo_sarah Bien vu et pourtant je ne suis pas de votre bord. Les hommes politiques français n'ont pas encore pris en compte le bouleversement que crée l'IA. Le pape lui l'a immédiatement compris d'où Magnificat Humanitas. Ils seront comme souvent en retard d'1 guerre!
@Chris_Gomart Vous oubliez sans doute, mon général, que l'Ukraine en résistant participe à la sécurité de l'Europe et que contrairement à ce que vous nous expliquiez doctement, il y a 1 ou 2 ans, à la télé, nous avons eu raison de leur fournir des armes pour continuer à résister!
The explosion in Belgorod, Russia, comes from a small forest east of the city, where Russians set up several bunkers. It is a rather new site. Coordinates:
50°35'48.73"N, 36°42'59.07"E
Casualties and fatalities must be high.
Ukraine just struck the Protasovo airfield near Ryazan — home to a drone production and training center.
The facility planned to produce 5,000 drones per month.
The best way to stop russian drones is to destroy them before they take off.
La seule menace pour les Alpes-Maritimes et Nice, c’est Éric Ciotti qui perd les Jeux et fait décrocher le territoire.
La seule menace pour la Ligne Nouvelle et pour la gare de Nice Aéroport, ce sont les élus UDR et RN qui, à la Région, votent systématiquement contre le projet.
❗️🇺🇦🇷🇺 La paralysie de la logistique russe en Crimée occupée s’étend désormais au réseau ferroviaire.
Après une frappe de drone ayant endommagé la locomotive du train Moscou–Simferopol, le service régulier de trains de voyageurs en Crimée a été suspendu, avec évacuations, bus de remplacement et plusieurs trains retardés ou immobilisés.
Plus de trains fiables, des pénuries de carburant qui s’aggravent, des routes sous pression et des ponts frappés.
La Crimée occupée ressemble de moins en moins à une “forteresse russe” et de plus en plus à une péninsule que Moscou peine à alimenter, déplacer et contrôler.
À ce rythme, pour les occupants, il serait peut-être temps de partir.
❗️