����⚡War correspondent Yevgeny Poddubny reports that in the DPR, twenty servicemen of the 95th Airborne Assault Brigade of Ukraine voluntarily laid down their arms and surrendered.

���� It is reported that the Allied troops entered Viktorovka, which means the complete collapse of the Ukrainian group near Popasna

Surrendering units at other fronts are growing.

Ukraine SitRep - Russians Break Through U.S. Bolsterism

On May 14 I noted that the U.S. had asked Russia for a ceasefire in Ukraine:

The U.S. readout of the call says:

On May 13, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke with Russian Minister of Defense Sergey Shoygu for the first time since February 18. Secretary Austin urged an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and emphasized the importance of maintaining lines of communication.
Austin initiated the call and the U.S. is seeking a ceasefire in Ukraine!!!

Yesterday the top officers of the U.S. and Russia had a call which, again, the U.S. side had initiated:

Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Gen. Valery Gerasimov, chief of the Russian General Staff, held a conversation that the Pentagon declined to further detail beyond acknowledging it had happened.

Thinks must be bad in Ukraine for this to have happened. Indeed if one trusts the daily 'clobber list' the Russian Ministry of Defense puts out all positions of the Ukrainian army are under heavy artillery fire and it is losing about 500 men per day. There are additional Russian effective strikes on training camps, weapon storage sites and transport hubs all over the country.

On top of that the tactical situation at the eastern frontline has changed after Russian forces broke through the heavily fortified frontline.
A few days ago the Russian army went forward along the H-32 road, broke through the line in the direction of Propasna and took the town. It has since extended the bulge by taking several villages to the north, west and south.


This breakthrough gives the chance to roll up the Ukrainian fortifications along the frontline through flank attacks or from behind. By cutting the supply lines of the Ukrainian troops to the north and south envelopes can be created which will eventual lead to cauldrons with no way out for the Ukrainian troops.

This is especially dangerous for the several thousand soldiers north of the bulge which currently defend the cities of Sieverodonetsk and Lysychansk in the north eastern part of the upper bubble.



The Russian plan was to have another breakthrough from the north pushing to Siversk to then close the upper envelope. But after several failed attempts to cross the forest area and the Seversky Donets river that breakthrough has still to happen.

Russia is now likely to push fresh troops into the Propasna bulge to extend its reach into all directions. Reports of current actions show that the heavy fighting and bombing on the frontline continues and that bombing also continues to target traffic nodes.

Other fronts in Ukraine are currently relatively quiet with little direct fire. Still daily Russian artillery attacks hits all Ukrainian front lines and will cost daily casualties.

Some 2,000 Azov militia and Ukrainian army troops have left the catacombs of Azovstal in Mariupol. Another thousand may still be down there. The Russian army is filtering these prisoners. Members of Azov and other militia will be put to court. Ukrainian army soldiers will become prisoners of war.

The gasoline and diesel scarcity in Ukraine is currently having severe impacts. Even the Ukrainian military is now rationing its fuel. Since about six weeks ago Russia has systematically attacked refineries and fuel storage sites in Ukraine. It also disabled railroad bridges along the lines that brought fuel from Moldova and Romania.

At the same time the Ukrainian government had held up price regulations for fuel. The consumer sale prices for diesel and gasoline were fixed. The cost of fuel brought in by private trucks from Poland exceeded the price gas station owners could ask for. In consequence gas stations ran dry as their owners refrained from purchasing new fuel.

Three days ago the Zelensky regime in Kiev finally ended the fuel price control:

According to [economy minister] Svyrydenko, the government expects that the maximum prices for diesel will not exceed UAH 58 ($1.97), for gasoline — UAH 52 ($1.76) per liter, once controls are lifted.
“As soon as we feel that market operators are abusing their position, we will impose sanctions on them,” she added.

“We will monitor the situation on a daily basis”.

The expected prices are lower than what is currently asked for in Germany and that is without trucking the fuel the 600 kilometer from Poland to Kiev. The threat of sanctions also means that local wholesalers will have little incentives to actually deal in fuel. With the average wages in Ukraine being about $480 per months the real fuel prices will soon become another economic shock.

The Ukrainian government also continues its attacks on unions and labor laws:

In March, the Ukrainian parliament passed wartime legislation that severely curtailed the ability of trade unions to represent their members, introduced ‘suspension of employment’ (meaning employees are not fired, but their work and wages are suspended) and gave employers the right to unilaterally suspend collective agreements.
...
But beyond this temporary measure, a group of Ukrainian MPs and officials are now aiming to further ‘liberalise’ and ‘de-Sovietise’ the country’s labour laws. Under a draft law, people who work in small and medium-sized firms – those which have up to 250 employees – would, in effect, be removed from the country’s existing labour laws and covered by individual contracts negotiated with their employer. More than 70% of the Ukrainian workforce would be affected by this change.
Against a background of concerns that Ukrainian officials are using Russia’s invasion to push through a long-awaited radical deregulation of labour laws, one expert has warned that the introduction of civil law into labour relations risks opening a “Pandora’s box” for workers.

In total the social-economic situation for Ukraine is catastrophic. The military situation is even worse. Mariupol has fallen and Russian troops working there will soon be able to go elsewhere. The Propasna bulge is threatening to envelope the whole northern frontline together with the core of the Ukrainian army.

There is no more talk of the Ukrainian army 'winning' like in Kiev or Karkov where the Russian troops retreated in good order after finishing their task of holding Ukrainian forces in place.

The Ukrainian command has sent several territorial brigades to the front lines. These units were supposed to defend their home towns. They consist of middle age men drafted into service. They have little fighting experience and lack heavy weapons. Several of these units have published videos saying they were giving up. They are lamenting that their commanders left them when their situation became critical.

That the Ukrainian army is now using such units as cannon fodder shows that it has only few reserves left.

Weapons that come in from the 'west' have difficulties reaching the front lines and had so far very little effect. They amount to drops of water on a hot plate.

All the above are the reasons why Austin and Milley have phoned up their Russian equivalents. They are also the reasons why the New York Times editors call on the Biden administration to end its bluster and to take a more realistic position:

Recent bellicose statements from Washington — President Biden’s assertion that Mr. Putin “cannot remain in power,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s comment that Russia must be “weakened” and the pledge by the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, that the United States would support Ukraine “until victory is won” — may be rousing proclamations of support, but they do not bring negotiations any closer.
In the end, it is the Ukrainians who must make the hard decisions: They are the ones fighting, dying and losing their homes to Russian aggression, and it is they who must decide what an end to the war might look like. If the conflict does lead to real negotiations, it will be Ukrainian leaders who will have to make the painful territorial decisions that any compromise will demand.
...

[A]s the war continues, Mr. Biden should also make clear to President Volodymyr Zelensky and his people that there is a limit to how far the United States and NATO will go to confront Russia, and limits to the arms, money and political support they can muster. It is imperative that the Ukrainian government’s decisions be based on a realistic assessment of its means and how much more destruction Ukraine can sustain.
Confronting this reality may be painful, but it is not appeasement. This is what governments are duty bound to do, not chase after an illusory “win.” Russia will be feeling the pain of isolation and debilitating economic sanctions for years to come, and Mr. Putin will go down in history as a butcher. The challenge now is to shake off the euphoria, stop the taunting and focus on defining and completing the mission. America’s support for Ukraine is a test of its place in the world in the 21st century, and Mr. Biden has an opportunity and an obligation to help define what that will be.

34th Marine brigade commander -VOLYN- has surrendered.

Since May 16, 2,439 Nazis of “Azov” and servicemen of the Ukrainian Armed Forces blocked on the territory of “Azovstal” surrendered, according to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.

Commander of the Azov regiment Denis Prokopenko (Radish, in the center), Deputy Commander Svyatoslav Palamar (Kalina, leftward) and acting commander of the 36th Marine Brigade Sergei Volynsky (Volyna, rightward) are currently being held captive by the Russian military.

����❗The Russian army broke through the front line near Popasnaya and almost cut off the AFU grouping in Lisichansk and Severodonetsk - military analyst Tom Cooper

Cooper's new report is disappointing for the Kyiv regime due to the difficult situation for the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Popasna, which he called "the most critical". Because there is a critical breakthrough of the front line.

The RF Armed Forces are actively moving forward and have recently gained control over the settlement. Trypillya, Novaya Kamenka and are only 1-2 km from Soledar and Bakhmutsky, which threatens the critical road T1302 - the main supply artery of the fortified area of ​​the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Severodonetsk-Lysichansk. Moreover, the Russians expanded their breakthrough zone by capturing Lipovo and Vasilyevka north of Tripoli and west of Vrubovka. Also n.p. Vyskriva came under the control of the Russian Federation.

"In other words, the Russian troops are advancing north of Popasna, bypassing the Ukrainian forces entrenched in Kamyshevakh, Yekaterinovka and Gorny; they move without pause for respite or regrouping, leaving little time for Ukrainian units to react."

Cooper is also surprised by the carelessness of the Ukrainian command, which is on the defense of the settlement. Ternovoe (a strategically important direction) in the Shakhtyorsky district of the DPR sent only 1 battalion of the defense against the reorganized battalion group of the 200th motorized rifle brigade of Russia. As a result, the Armed Forces of Ukraine were completely defeated, and n.p. came under the control of the Russian Armed Forces.

Aside the hot war, this war is also fought in nuances.

As the war drags ... regimes will change in the west

Vladimirovka under the control of the Russian army, the defense of the Ukrainian army was broken.

����⚡The Russian army is preparing to advance towards Zaporozhye, the battalions are concentrating in Vasilievka - Arestovich

“Russian troops in Vasilievka have been reinforced by three battalion tactical groups, and now there are more Russian soldiers in the city than local residents,”

����❗Fighting for Liman right now, the Russian army continues to occupy street after street

Ukrainian militants are hiding from the attacks of rocket and artillery.

����❗The Americans will not defend Taiwan, they will only supply weapons

The White House explained that Biden meant only arms deliveries when he spoke of Washington's readiness for military intervention to protect Taiwan from China.

An unnamed US official told NBC:

“Our policy has not changed. President Biden reaffirmed our commitment under the Taiwan Relations Act to provide Taiwan with military means for self-defense."

owagbeba:
����❗The Americans will not defend Taiwan, they will only supply weapons

The White House explained that Biden meant only arms deliveries when he spoke of Washington's readiness for military intervention to protect Taiwan from China.

An unnamed US official told NBC:

“Our policy has not changed. President Biden reaffirmed our commitment under the Taiwan Relations Act to provide Taiwan with military means for self-defense."

If china invades Taiwan the USA will involve itself both hands,legs and feet

���� Azovstal, in one of the workshops, a morgue was discovered where Azov kept the bodies of the dead.

https:///intelslava/29940
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����❗Kadyrov said that Russian forces have entered Lisichansk, almost entered Severodonetsk, Ukrainian militants are suffering losses, they are panicking


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���� Russia and Iran will unite their national payment systems, which will operate on the territory of both countries, and will also switch to national currencies in mutual settlements as much as possible. Given the influence of Iran in the Shiite world, this opens up additional opportunities for the spread of the Russian payment system.


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��⚡Units of the Cherkasy Territorial Defense forces refuse to fight and recorded a video message to the commander in chief.


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��⚡Now we are in a difficult situation and this situation will be aggravated.

Within a month and a half, until Western weapons arrive, encirclement, abandonment of positions, heavy losses are possible. You have to be ready for this.

Advisor to the Office of the President of Ukraine Oleksiy Arestovich

————

Dude has been banned by nairaland bots again

US to supply HIMARS to Ukraine.

The Russian equivalents to HIMARS are the BM-27 Uragan and BM-30 Smerch systems. At the beginning of the war Ukraine had some 70 Uragan and some 80 Smerch systems. Most of those are by now gone - destroyed.

All the news about HIMARS are PR

����⚡ Instead of modern models of the BMP Marder, Germany decided to transfer to Ukraine the vehicles sold to Greece almost 30 years ago, writes Die Welt.

According to the publication, BMPs from the stocks of the National People's Army of the GDR will be delivered from Greece to Ukraine, and Athens will receive the same number of modern Marders in return. There is a suspicion that Western donors have decided that Ukraine is such an ideal country for storing secondary ferrous metal.

���� The Russian army began the assault on Svyatogorsk.

The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation were able to break through the defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on the outskirts of the city. Prior to that, the neighboring settlement of Yarovaya was liberated.

����❗Anna News, citing information from local residents, reports that RUSSIAN troops have entered Svyatogorsk and the city has already been liberated.
How fast. But if it is confirmed, then good. waiting for photos / videos from the city.

In-lieu of the transcript to the second part of Putin's interview with the Rossiya-1 TV Channel, there'sthis TASS article reporting on a small but important portion dealing with long-range MLRS systems. Putin said:

"In my view, all this fuss over additional deliveries of armaments generally pursues the sole objective of stretching out the armed conflict as long as possible."

TASS continued:

The deliveries of US multiple launch rocket systems to Ukraine changes nothing since Kiev previously had an inventory of these armaments, including rockets of this range, and is simply replenishing its stock, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday.
"There is nothing new about that," the head of state said. The Russian leader thus responded to a request to assess the decision on such deliveries. "These are all multiple launch rocket systems and the Ukrainian army operates similar Soviet-and Russia-made Grad, Smerch and Uragan rocket systems," Putin said.

The Russian leader pointed out that the range ‘depended on rockets that are used and not on the system itself." "What we hear today and what we understand, these are rockets that fly to a distance of 45-70 km depending on the rocket type. The same is true about Grad, Uragan and Smerch rocket systems that I spoke about. They also have the range of 40-70 km and there is nothing new about that," the head of state explained.

Severodonestsk/Lisitchansk
Overall situation:
1 - Main logistic support line (MSR) cut in Vasilivka and Striapivka.
2 - Alternative MSR through Siversk under fire from FRU/RPL Arty.
3 - Open ground for FRU/RPL on the Vasilivka-Spirne-Topolivka axis without an UKR prepared firm defence line.
4- From Komishuvaha in the south, resumption of the progression on the axis and Vrubivka-Mikolaivka-Topolivka leaving aside the pocket Gorskoye-Hirske-Zolote and its line of defence to be cleaned later by 2nd echelon
FRU/RPL controls the city except for industrial zone (Azot factory) next to the river Donets.
FRU/RPL advance halted to await complete evacuation of UKR to Lisitchank.
But UKR counter-attacked yesterday with its mercenary brigade which may have retaken part of the town and Metolkine.

A Falaise 2.0 pocket?

Both cities are strategically lost and Russians having returned to their basic principle of "reasonable sufficiency" and strict economy of contact forces, will only control, destroy slowly and play on attrition of human/material means.The meat grinder is "ON"

Wait for the low hanging fruit to fall and concentrate on Sloviansk-Kramatorsk which will be the real turning point of the war.

Logically, UKR should evacuate the whole area as soon as possible and withdraw to Sloviansk-Kramatorsk defence mole, which is what UKR's Chief Of Staff would have requested.
The 8/10000 UKR fixed in the pocket are tactically useless and this counter-attack to retake 2 or 3 blocks has NO military rationale, whatever may be the results.
After a certain level of attrition, it will no longer be a retreat but a debacle that will cause havoc in Sloviansk-Kramatorsk defence mole

UKR must choose war on the ground and war propaganda.

But can Kiev regime afford another defeat like Marioupol in the eyes of its public opinion and the morale of its troops?

by aleksandar

Despite the announced ban, “our country has risen from ninth to sixth place in the ranking of the largest oil suppliers to the US,” he added.

The fact that at the same time Washington had been pressuring the EU to give up on Russian oil, and succeeded in doing so, is “a clear sign of double standards,” Volodin said.

“Now let the European politicians and bureaucrats explain it to their citizens, why they should tolerate ‘Biden's price hike’,” he wrote.

That comment was in reference to Joe Biden’s attempts to link high inflation, soaring gas and food prices with the Russian offensive in Ukraine, dubbing them as “Putin’s price hike.”

The second half of June was marked by the creation of another pocket with pro-Kyiv troops in the region of Donbass.

During the past week, Russian forces achieved a series of important tactical successes in Severodonetsk and its surroundings blocking the remaining pro-Kyiv troops in the Azot plant and capturing most of the nearby industrial area. The advance there was ongoing amid intense strikes on military infrastructure of Kyiv’s grouping of forces in the region as well as all around Ukraine in general. The Ukrainian leadership sent large reinforcements to the area. All these troops immediately found themselves in a weak strategic position and just became a tool to create colorful images for the MSM.

On June 21, Russian units advanced south of Lysichansk and liberated the towns of Ustinovka, Mirnaya Dolina and the village of Podlesnoe. They reached Rai-Aleksandrovka and established tight fire control over the only road that leads from the areas of Zolotoe and Gorskoe. According to reports, over 2,000 Ukrainian troops are now encircled there. Reports claim that the remaining groups of Kyiv’s forces are retreating towards Bakhmut and Lysichansk.

The estimated number of pro-Kyiv troops surrounded in Severodonetsk is about 2,500. Together with the Zolotoe group, this is 4,500. This number is close to that, which neo-Nazis from the Azov battalion and allied formations had in the Azovstal plant industrial area in the late stages of the battle of Mariupol.

Attempts of the Kyiv leadership to organize counter-attacks to de-block its forces in these areas will likely lead to only increase in the number of troops trapped around Lysichansk, Bakhmut, Slavyansk and Kramatorsk. However, this is one of the most likely scenarios as Zelensky & Co tend to make decisions that would have larger PR effects. And what could be better than repeating the ‘Mariupol case’ just in another area?

Another option for Kyiv is to organize a large attack on Russian positions in the Kherson and Mykolaiv regions or in the Zaporizhzhia Region using fresh formations created in the west of Ukraine and supplied with NATO weapons. This move would threaten Russian supply lines from Crimea.

A large direct advance of Kyiv’s forces onto the territory of Russia still remains unlikely. Contrary to public claims of Ukrainian and Western diplomats accompanied by MSM fairy tales, the Ukrainian leadership understands that Russia has been carrying out a limited military operation with a limited force. A large advance of Kyiv’s units that would target the Russian territory will provoke a full-scale response from Moscow.

Therefore, troops loyal to the Kyiv government all have chances to participate in a few more decisive battles for Zelensky’s public image of ‘great leader’ and die on behalf of the international globalist establishment.