I've heard around that the Russian strikes have been planned some time ago and therefore retaliation for the terrorist attacks hasn't even begun yet. Given that the Russians do not give a damn about showy, PR-centered and ultimately useless or self-defeating acts (unlike the Anglo-Ukrainian cabal who seems to be obsessed in "symbolic" attacks like on the Kerch bridge and the Kursk incursion) we'd better assume reprisal will come from an entirely unexpected direction and probably not even military in nature (just imagine if the secret services start getting evidence on EU election frauds and handing it over to opposition parties all over Europe, that's a can of worms that would be very difficult to cover up again). That said, I've also read somewhere that the SBU building in Kiev is usually full with American and British "advisors". Given that the SBU has claimed, or rather boasted, responsibility for the terrorist attacks, that would make it a legitimate target for an Iskander or Kinzhal... (no point wasting an Oreshnik on those bottom feeders, I'd say one would have to deserve the honor of being on the receiving end of an oreshnik)
Thank you, Julian for this comprehensive and very actual representation of the Ukraine Project.
I still hang on my sensing (from some new sources that still have to be proven actually correct, but with connections to policymakers around the Kremlin, so it is still a test), that after the cleaning of the whole of Ukraine from air defences, Drone workplaces and the punishment of 'NATO'-officers, mostly Brits and French, this week, there will be a VERY STRONG retaliation on the leadership of the Ukraine Terrorists Cabal. The pressure on Putin to do that is very strong.
Most certainly with some 5-10 Oreshniks, to make a point to the Rest of the NATO-officers in Britain, France and Germany. The Poles have made it clear that they have stopped supporting terrorist attacks.
The moment that the last pieces of Donbass (Donetsk) are liberated and the border-buffer zone will be close to finishing comes closer. The hurry to create a Siege of Nikolaiv and Odessa is less pressing, but i still sense that as soon as possible the crossing to the West-bank of the Dnieper somewhere near Kherson will happen and soon after that an offensive towards the Border with Transnistria, cutting off Nikolaiv and Odessa from the North will follow, which will neutralise Moldova to cut its losses and throw in the Towel.
I sense that even the Brits have now given up the plans to occupy Odessa together with the French, it was meant to happen during a freeze-fire as 'peacekeepers', but it is clear Putin saw the stinger in that and currently they could not bring up either men, equipment or money (supplies).
So now they are planning to create in Romania and Bulgaria a strong force with Navy-ships and Airbases, on their coasts on the Black Sea and from there try to get support from Türkiye, which is not very likely. The current crazy Baltic idiots have buzzing Killer-jets anti-ship-subs and land based 'Bastion' ship-killer missiles cooling their spirits and the Russian 'shadow' Oil-tankers just keep sailing on unabated
OK... When you forget the suffering and the dead, the Project Ukraine is a an exciting whodunit, ready to make it into a Movie...
"The strikes were all against military targets – with the single exception of the UK's visa office in Kiev which was burned down to the ground. Of course, everybody who's anybody in Kiev already has a UK visa. Still, it sends a message." - which leads me to suggest the next target - DaCity of London!
I am not sure that Ukrainians would like to be governed by Russia, everybody has some kind of pride/patriotism for their country, and war and death of your family members must truly build resentment. Most Ukrainians are just ordinary people who have to endure hardship,loss and immense destruction and radical change because their country is in the wrong place at the wrong time.
I don't know, but I feel people get so polarized around these issues that the humanity of the ordinary people gets completely disregarded due to geopolitics. Why would anyone want their country to be governed by anyone else? Or interfered with, as the US and UK have done?
My second thought regards Russian military hardware supplies to other countries or groups. If you look at Russian arms export figures, you'll notice an immense drop since 2022. This is due to Russia holding on and using every last bit of what their MIC can produce to fight this immense war on their border. They've had to increase production of virtually everything, it is costing a huge amount of money, with massive material investment - all for stuff that gets blown up at the end of the day. So it's not the most amazing economics. It's war.
So no, Russia isn't going to give anything to anyone, and neither will they be selling anything to anyone for the foreseeable future.
I find it difficult to see how peace can be more complicated and costly than what we're observing. It must be terrifying to be Ukrainian on the 10th of June 2025.
I speak as an expat who was living in Ukraine when the SMO started.
Ukraine was robbed blind and controlled by Jewish oligarchs.
The average Ukrainian was far behind the aveage Pole, Hungarian, Romanian or Bulgarian in quality of life and income.
Virtually nothing was fixed, maintained or built in Ukraine besides shoddy highrises and gaudy malls.
Streets, roads and bridges were terrible.
For a westerner is was very cheap to live there.
Ukrainians have a much better future with Russia.
AND- when the understanding that the "west" openly used Ukrainians as cannon fodder and Ukraine as the battlefield to wage war on Russia- there is going to be incredible anger and a solid turn to Russia.
Plus prices of virtually everything will drop because Russia is now much cheaper than Ukraine for virtually everything.
Plus I suspect Russia & China will rebuild & modernize Ukraine quickly.
There will be lots of opportunities for better work, better pay and better quality of life.
Ukraine has massive potential, especially with a government like Russia has in charge.
Look what Putin has done to Russia since 1999. Amazing.
I have strong belief that Hungary or Romania will become a major transit point between Russia & Europe, in the future.
I think it likey Russia will build high quality, high speed railway, large motorway and pipelines directly to one or both of those countries, and then Russian exports to Europe can be distributed from there.
Poland & Germany will be cut out of this transit due to their actions.
Russia will not seek out relations or business in Europe, but as the economic crisis deepens in Europe, individual countries will be arriving in Russia soon after Russia completes the cleansing of America, NATO & Ukronazi's from all Ukrainian territory- to beg for Russian exports.
As to the Russian MIC. Of course exports shrunk since the SMO started. Russia was gearing up for war with America & NATO.
There production now is likely 5 or 10 times what it was before. Likeky only 25 to 50% max is used or lost in the battle.
Russia does not have corporations making massive profits and making high tech junk like America. Russian MIC is controlled by the government of Russia. They hardly have to buy anything from outside Russia. I bet 90% is produced in Russia.
AND- Russian gear is getting massive positive press for how much better it is than American crap.
When Russia is done cleansing Ukraine and built up it's inventory just in case- they will have countries lined up out the door with purchase orders to buy anything & everything they can from Russia.
I also strongly believe that once Russia completes the cleanse and stability returns- many, even most Ukrainians that left, will return.
It could be. If you've lived there before the war and that was your experience that's possible that the remaining Ukrainians will embrace Russia. It was before the war though, and if times were bad and living standards low, imagine what it must be like now. So cheaper groceries and high speed rail will miraculously delete the dead fathers and brothers from their memory. Maybe. We will see.
As for arms production: Russia scaled up because they had to, they are using everthing they can. Profits for the Russian MIC comes from exports. That's exactly where your argument falls flat.
Russian military equipment is really good, that much has been demonstrated.
It however, has nothing to do with the fact that it is really costing Russia a LOT to produce armaments for this war even if 90% is locally produced. It still costs money, time and energy, there is no way around it. Servicing and maintaining a front of 1000+km - from transport, clothing, food, small arms, medicine, ammunition, drones, armaments, vehicles, combat vehicles, aircraft....the list goes on and on.
#1. America and Europe sacrificed Ukrainians. Russia was not the agressor.
Russia has gone out of it's way to be cautious about civilians in Ukraine.
Night after night of Russian missile & drone barrages, no civilians killed.
You think Ukrainians don't understand this?
Entire economic situation in Ukraine is the fault of America, Europe & Zelensky.
You think Ukrainians won't eventually fully recognise America & Europe sacrificed them & their country?
They already are, but this will never be reported by Ukraine or the “west”.
Russians & Ukrainians aren't the same as western Europeans & North Americans. They are stoic and used to hard time and harsh societies.
#2. I Russia spending a lot of money on war? Of course. Purely rubles. They do not buy 1 thing at western prices. New tank or APC likely costs about 25% of American equivalent.
Bullets, artillery shells, missiles, drones, etc- the same.
Same with diesel for ground forces and jet fuel.
Russia generates a lot of income from a wide variety of exports besides military gear.
Russia has a debt to GDP ration of about 17%. America 125%. France even worse. UK over 100%. Gernany 65%. Italy 135%.
Russia spending 7% of gdp on it's military. America 13%.
Russians doing fine.
Ukrainians suffering and going to get worse.
Russia will liberate Ukraine and Ukrainians will have a much better future.
It's fine. I don't disagree with you regarding the conducting of the SMO or Russia's economy. I was merely reflecting on the loss of life and the impact that might have, whereas for you it's simple, your last sentence says it all:
"Russia will liberate Ukraine and Ukrainians will have a much better future. "
Julian thank you by your indication of MOA. It was a very good article and I share both articles. About Russian attacs I agree with them and with you too. Russia must be more agressive, tottaly agressive, powerfull and targeting UK INstalations, all of them. Thank you once more. I love all the nature, and Chappi a lot of love.
Julian, great article/post as usual! Attached is a link from Substack (Grayzone) that definitely defines the source of the “assistance” to the Ukraine to carry out the drone attacks on it’s readily-visible nuclear-capable aircraft.
I've heard around that the Russian strikes have been planned some time ago and therefore retaliation for the terrorist attacks hasn't even begun yet. Given that the Russians do not give a damn about showy, PR-centered and ultimately useless or self-defeating acts (unlike the Anglo-Ukrainian cabal who seems to be obsessed in "symbolic" attacks like on the Kerch bridge and the Kursk incursion) we'd better assume reprisal will come from an entirely unexpected direction and probably not even military in nature (just imagine if the secret services start getting evidence on EU election frauds and handing it over to opposition parties all over Europe, that's a can of worms that would be very difficult to cover up again). That said, I've also read somewhere that the SBU building in Kiev is usually full with American and British "advisors". Given that the SBU has claimed, or rather boasted, responsibility for the terrorist attacks, that would make it a legitimate target for an Iskander or Kinzhal... (no point wasting an Oreshnik on those bottom feeders, I'd say one would have to deserve the honor of being on the receiving end of an oreshnik)
Max and the Judge are a great team. It is Mi6
Thank you, Julian for this comprehensive and very actual representation of the Ukraine Project.
I still hang on my sensing (from some new sources that still have to be proven actually correct, but with connections to policymakers around the Kremlin, so it is still a test), that after the cleaning of the whole of Ukraine from air defences, Drone workplaces and the punishment of 'NATO'-officers, mostly Brits and French, this week, there will be a VERY STRONG retaliation on the leadership of the Ukraine Terrorists Cabal. The pressure on Putin to do that is very strong.
Most certainly with some 5-10 Oreshniks, to make a point to the Rest of the NATO-officers in Britain, France and Germany. The Poles have made it clear that they have stopped supporting terrorist attacks.
The moment that the last pieces of Donbass (Donetsk) are liberated and the border-buffer zone will be close to finishing comes closer. The hurry to create a Siege of Nikolaiv and Odessa is less pressing, but i still sense that as soon as possible the crossing to the West-bank of the Dnieper somewhere near Kherson will happen and soon after that an offensive towards the Border with Transnistria, cutting off Nikolaiv and Odessa from the North will follow, which will neutralise Moldova to cut its losses and throw in the Towel.
I sense that even the Brits have now given up the plans to occupy Odessa together with the French, it was meant to happen during a freeze-fire as 'peacekeepers', but it is clear Putin saw the stinger in that and currently they could not bring up either men, equipment or money (supplies).
So now they are planning to create in Romania and Bulgaria a strong force with Navy-ships and Airbases, on their coasts on the Black Sea and from there try to get support from Türkiye, which is not very likely. The current crazy Baltic idiots have buzzing Killer-jets anti-ship-subs and land based 'Bastion' ship-killer missiles cooling their spirits and the Russian 'shadow' Oil-tankers just keep sailing on unabated
OK... When you forget the suffering and the dead, the Project Ukraine is a an exciting whodunit, ready to make it into a Movie...
just saying.
Cassandra
"The strikes were all against military targets – with the single exception of the UK's visa office in Kiev which was burned down to the ground. Of course, everybody who's anybody in Kiev already has a UK visa. Still, it sends a message." - which leads me to suggest the next target - DaCity of London!
Thanks Julian. Always food for thought.
I am not sure that Ukrainians would like to be governed by Russia, everybody has some kind of pride/patriotism for their country, and war and death of your family members must truly build resentment. Most Ukrainians are just ordinary people who have to endure hardship,loss and immense destruction and radical change because their country is in the wrong place at the wrong time.
I don't know, but I feel people get so polarized around these issues that the humanity of the ordinary people gets completely disregarded due to geopolitics. Why would anyone want their country to be governed by anyone else? Or interfered with, as the US and UK have done?
My second thought regards Russian military hardware supplies to other countries or groups. If you look at Russian arms export figures, you'll notice an immense drop since 2022. This is due to Russia holding on and using every last bit of what their MIC can produce to fight this immense war on their border. They've had to increase production of virtually everything, it is costing a huge amount of money, with massive material investment - all for stuff that gets blown up at the end of the day. So it's not the most amazing economics. It's war.
So no, Russia isn't going to give anything to anyone, and neither will they be selling anything to anyone for the foreseeable future.
I find it difficult to see how peace can be more complicated and costly than what we're observing. It must be terrifying to be Ukrainian on the 10th of June 2025.
You reach several incorrect conclusions.
I speak as an expat who was living in Ukraine when the SMO started.
Ukraine was robbed blind and controlled by Jewish oligarchs.
The average Ukrainian was far behind the aveage Pole, Hungarian, Romanian or Bulgarian in quality of life and income.
Virtually nothing was fixed, maintained or built in Ukraine besides shoddy highrises and gaudy malls.
Streets, roads and bridges were terrible.
For a westerner is was very cheap to live there.
Ukrainians have a much better future with Russia.
AND- when the understanding that the "west" openly used Ukrainians as cannon fodder and Ukraine as the battlefield to wage war on Russia- there is going to be incredible anger and a solid turn to Russia.
Plus prices of virtually everything will drop because Russia is now much cheaper than Ukraine for virtually everything.
Plus I suspect Russia & China will rebuild & modernize Ukraine quickly.
There will be lots of opportunities for better work, better pay and better quality of life.
Ukraine has massive potential, especially with a government like Russia has in charge.
Look what Putin has done to Russia since 1999. Amazing.
I have strong belief that Hungary or Romania will become a major transit point between Russia & Europe, in the future.
I think it likey Russia will build high quality, high speed railway, large motorway and pipelines directly to one or both of those countries, and then Russian exports to Europe can be distributed from there.
Poland & Germany will be cut out of this transit due to their actions.
Russia will not seek out relations or business in Europe, but as the economic crisis deepens in Europe, individual countries will be arriving in Russia soon after Russia completes the cleansing of America, NATO & Ukronazi's from all Ukrainian territory- to beg for Russian exports.
As to the Russian MIC. Of course exports shrunk since the SMO started. Russia was gearing up for war with America & NATO.
There production now is likely 5 or 10 times what it was before. Likeky only 25 to 50% max is used or lost in the battle.
Russia does not have corporations making massive profits and making high tech junk like America. Russian MIC is controlled by the government of Russia. They hardly have to buy anything from outside Russia. I bet 90% is produced in Russia.
AND- Russian gear is getting massive positive press for how much better it is than American crap.
When Russia is done cleansing Ukraine and built up it's inventory just in case- they will have countries lined up out the door with purchase orders to buy anything & everything they can from Russia.
I also strongly believe that once Russia completes the cleanse and stability returns- many, even most Ukrainians that left, will return.
It could be. If you've lived there before the war and that was your experience that's possible that the remaining Ukrainians will embrace Russia. It was before the war though, and if times were bad and living standards low, imagine what it must be like now. So cheaper groceries and high speed rail will miraculously delete the dead fathers and brothers from their memory. Maybe. We will see.
As for arms production: Russia scaled up because they had to, they are using everthing they can. Profits for the Russian MIC comes from exports. That's exactly where your argument falls flat.
Russian military equipment is really good, that much has been demonstrated.
It however, has nothing to do with the fact that it is really costing Russia a LOT to produce armaments for this war even if 90% is locally produced. It still costs money, time and energy, there is no way around it. Servicing and maintaining a front of 1000+km - from transport, clothing, food, small arms, medicine, ammunition, drones, armaments, vehicles, combat vehicles, aircraft....the list goes on and on.
Common sense should tell you that.
#1. America and Europe sacrificed Ukrainians. Russia was not the agressor.
Russia has gone out of it's way to be cautious about civilians in Ukraine.
Night after night of Russian missile & drone barrages, no civilians killed.
You think Ukrainians don't understand this?
Entire economic situation in Ukraine is the fault of America, Europe & Zelensky.
You think Ukrainians won't eventually fully recognise America & Europe sacrificed them & their country?
They already are, but this will never be reported by Ukraine or the “west”.
Russians & Ukrainians aren't the same as western Europeans & North Americans. They are stoic and used to hard time and harsh societies.
#2. I Russia spending a lot of money on war? Of course. Purely rubles. They do not buy 1 thing at western prices. New tank or APC likely costs about 25% of American equivalent.
Bullets, artillery shells, missiles, drones, etc- the same.
Same with diesel for ground forces and jet fuel.
Russia generates a lot of income from a wide variety of exports besides military gear.
Russia has a debt to GDP ration of about 17%. America 125%. France even worse. UK over 100%. Gernany 65%. Italy 135%.
Russia spending 7% of gdp on it's military. America 13%.
Russians doing fine.
Ukrainians suffering and going to get worse.
Russia will liberate Ukraine and Ukrainians will have a much better future.
It's fine. I don't disagree with you regarding the conducting of the SMO or Russia's economy. I was merely reflecting on the loss of life and the impact that might have, whereas for you it's simple, your last sentence says it all:
"Russia will liberate Ukraine and Ukrainians will have a much better future. "
We don't think alike.
Julian thank you by your indication of MOA. It was a very good article and I share both articles. About Russian attacs I agree with them and with you too. Russia must be more agressive, tottaly agressive, powerfull and targeting UK INstalations, all of them. Thank you once more. I love all the nature, and Chappi a lot of love.
https://open.substack.com/pub/thegrayzone/p/max-blumenthal-the-five-eyes-blind?r=3uqqaf&utm_medium=ios
Julian, great article/post as usual! Attached is a link from Substack (Grayzone) that definitely defines the source of the “assistance” to the Ukraine to carry out the drone attacks on it’s readily-visible nuclear-capable aircraft.