Ukraine, I Think It's Going to Be A Long Thread For A While Jump In

rick · 6/26/2025, 11:46:43 PM · permalink

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rick · 6/26/2025, 11:42:41 PM · permalink

I should have kept posting here.   
%%One of the things Zelensky sold to the US. Russia now owns the largest lithium deposit in Europe.%%

Does Russia Controls Ukrainian Lithium?

Russia has taken control of several lithium deposits in Ukraine since the start of its full-scale invasion in 2022. One of the most significant captures includes the lithium deposit in the southeastern region of Zaporizhzhya, which was seized in early 2022.

Additionally, Russian forces have overrun territory in the Donetsk region, which is believed to contain lithium reserves.

In early January 2025, Russia claimed to have captured Shevchenko, a rural settlement in the Donetsk region, which sits atop one of Ukraine’s largest lithium deposits.

The Shevchenko lithium deposit spans 39.84 hectares and contains 90% lithium in its total reserves, with an average lithium oxide content of 1.24%.

This deposit was discovered in 1982 and is part of a larger vein system that also contains other rare elements such as rubidium, cesium, tantalum, niobium, and beryllium.

Ukraine has an estimated 500,000 tons of untapped lithium, making it one of the largest reserves in Europe.

The Ukrainian Shield, an ancient and massive rocky plate spanning much of central and southern Ukraine, contains valuable minerals like iron and lithium, as well as rare earth metals.

However, the Russian invasion has severely disrupted Ukraine’s ability to capitalize on these resources.

Experts suggest that while seizing Ukraine’s lithium deposits may not have been a primary objective for Russia, the mineral wealth of Ukraine is one reason the country is important to Russia.

The European Union has been looking to secure local supplies of critical raw materials like lithium to reduce its dependence on foreign suppliers, including China.

Ukraine’s proximity and substantial reserves make it a promising partner for the EU in its efforts to transition to green energy and achieve strategic autonomy in critical minerals.

However, Russia’s control of these lithium-rich territories threatens Europe’s green future and its efforts to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

AI-generated answer. Please verify critical facts.

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randome · 6/9/2025, 10:41:20 PM · permalink

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rick · 6/9/2025, 11:30:14 PM · permalink

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rick · 6/7/2025, 5:34:51 PM · permalink

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rick · 6/7/2025, 1:05:31 PM · permalink

Bank account records show Senator Lindsey Graham is laundering money from the Ukraine war back into his personal bank accounts

CIA Officer says it’s “significant amounts of money” being laundered back to Senator Lindsey Graham

“Let me say something about Senator Graham. There will be news coming out in the next couple of months about how he has profited financially off of money that came out of Ukraine, laundered through Latvia and made it way into his bank account. And now we're talking significant amounts of money. Department of justice is looking at it.

![video](https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=true&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-3&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=true&amp;id=1930942931722182853&amp;lang=en&amp;maxWidth=550px&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fsoj.ooo%2Fp%2Fuspolitics%2Fpost%2F9e3ddfdc876845ccde3544348bd1d082&amp;sessionId=cfc4565c68227fe9fb099516671652325e21c7ba&amp;siteScreenName=soj_ooo&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px)

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rick · 6/4/2025, 5:34:15 PM · permalink

I don't know if the photos are old or new haven't been able to find corroborating articles. The propaganda has been massive almost overwhelming in this war. 
![tweet](1930136782919647309)
  
Link to full article below.
![image](https://us-lax-1.linodeobjects.com/sojooo/comments/1278/1749058455165-9e609f65b19db893.png)
Tu-22M bombers covered with objects are seen at Belaya airbase on May 20, 2025. Satellite image ©2025 Maxar Technologies

Jun 4, 2025, 11:55 AM CT

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Satellite images show Russia tried using deceptive tactics at the airbases Ukraine attacked Sunday.

These tactics included placing tires on wings and painting fake decoy planes on the ground.

It's a playbook that Moscow has used throughout the war to try to protect its airbases.

Satellite imagery of the four Russian airbases that were attacked by Ukraine on Sunday shows how Moscow attempted to use deceptive tactics to protect its strategic bomber fleet.

The images, captured by US commercial satellite imaging company Maxar Technologies and obtained by Business Insider, show that Russia had many of its bombers covered with tires and other objects in the days and weeks before the Ukrainian operation.

Moscow's forces also painted fake aircraft on the tarmac and used debris to create decoy planes.

Ukraine's SBU, its internal security agency, said it used small quadcopter drones to hit 41 Russian aircraft in the daring operation, more than 18 months in the making. These aircraft include A-50 airborne early warning and control planes, An-12 transporters, Il-78 refueling tankers, and Tu-95, Tu-22M3, and Tu-160 bombers.

The drones struck airbases across Russia, specifically Belaya in the Irkutsk region, Olenya in the Murmansk region, Dyagilevo in the Ryazan region, and Ivanovo in the Ivanovo region. Ukrainka in the Amur region was reportedly targeted but not hit.

Different types of deception tactics can be seen in satellite imagery of all five sites at various points in time before the attack.

Tu-160 bombers with objects on their wings are seen on the tarmac at Belaya airbase on May 20 next to a decoy aircraft painted on the tarmac.

Tires and objects are seen on Tu-22 aircraft at Russia's Belaya airbase on May 20.

Brady Africk, an open-source intelligence analyst, told BI that since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, Moscow's forces have "added flat decoy aircraft to many air bases and placed tires on top of parked planes in an effort to confuse the targeting systems of Ukrainian weapons."

Africk said the new satellite imagery shows that Russia also "placed debris on top of flat decoys and positioned solid objects on the ground in the rough shape of aircraft" in what looks like an "apparent attempt to increase the chances of misleading Ukrainian weapons."

A decoy Tu-22 aircraft is seen with debris on top at Russia's Belaya airbase on May 20.

A decoy aircraft is seen at Russia's Beyala airbase on May 20.

Africk said that Russia's flat decoy aircraft — in some cases, they are just simple silhouettes; in others, they are painted to look like the planes they're intended to resemble — aren't easily seen in the radar-based satellite imagery that the Ukrainian military is understood to use.

"It is clear from the number of aircraft destroyed that Ukraine's attack on these bases was very successful, despite Russia's attempts at deception," he said.

New video footage from the attack shows drones striking aircraft with tires in place.  
https://www.businessinsider.com/images-russian-tire-tactic-fake-planes-ukrainian-drone-attack-2025-6

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rick · 6/4/2025, 2:52:05 PM · permalink

There has been a lot of subterfuge and military action  going on in that Baltic Region with shipping.  Russia's tankers the "Shadow Fleet" are called so because the Sanctions have prevented them from obtaining insurance. Baltic countries have been trying to do Nato's bidding. And as usual there is intrigue. Link and more info below.  
Estonia

"Estonian PM Kaja Kallas faces calls to resign over husband’s business ties to Russia

The hardline anti-Kremlin politician has been dubbed ‘Europe’s New Iron Lady’ for her stance on the Ukraine war but is under pressure after a scandal erupted in the media  
![image](https://us-lax-1.linodeobjects.com/sojooo/comments/1278/1749048725586-d9d85764d224efd4.png)

Manuel Altozano    Link to full article with a short piece below.

Madrid - SEP 08, 2023 - 05:49 EDT

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She has publicly lectured European leaders such as French President Emmanuel Macron for picking up the phone to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. She maintains an unwavering position on the solution to the invasion of Ukraine: the unconditional withdrawal of the Kremlin’s troops from all Ukrainian territory before any talk of negotiations. Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas is one of the most hardline voices within the EU and NATO in terms of arms supplies to Kyiv and the tightening of economic sanctions against Moscow, to the point of banning the entry of tourists. Her stance has earned her the nickname “Europe’s New Iron Lady,” coined by New Statesman.

However, at the end of August, a media investigation reported that a company linked to her husband has continued to do business in Russia during the war. The revelations have shaken Kallas’ coalition government. The prime minister, whose center-right Reform Party won the elections last March and governs together with the Social Democrats and the liberal Estonia 200 party, was called to appear before a parliamentary committee and although the opposition is threatening a no-confidence motion, it has yet to get off the ground. Estonia’s president, the independent Alar Karis, lacks the power to dismiss her but has publicly called for her resignation. He has also said as much privately to Kallas herself, as the prime minister has acknowledged, but she is refusing to step down.

The news was broken by Estonian public broadcaster ERR on August 23. Kallas’ husband, Arvo Hallik, continued to conduct business in Russia through his trucking company Stark Logistics even after the invasion of Ukraine, despite the unequivocal position of his wife on stifling Moscow economically through sanctions and cutting any commercial ties with Moscow. Hallik defended himself against the accusations by claiming that his company was only trying to help another Estonian company, Metaprint, which is part-owned by his business partner, to wind up its activities in Russia. But Hallik’s partner, Martti Lemendik, admitted in local media that between February 24, 2022, the date of the invasion, and August 24, 2023, his company sold over $32 million in goods on the Russian market.

The icing on the cake was the declaration of interests that Kallas herself had to submit when she was re-elected as prime minister. It features a loan of €350,000 ($375,000) granted by Kallas to Novaria Consult, a company wholly owned by her husband. It is through the latter that Hallik controls a quarter of Stark Logistics, the trucking company. The question being asked by the opposition and her own coalition government is plain: did the Prime Minister’s money serve to circumvent the sanctions she so strongly defends? Kallas’ answer: she and her husband do not talk about business at home.

The main opposition party — the far-right EKRE — has openly called for new general elections due to the scandal. Isamaa, the conservative party that was part of the previous coalition and ruled with Kallas in her second Cabinet until March, is also demanding her resignation. The Social Democrats, with three ministers in the government, are divided on whether she should go, although for now they are maintaining their support. Critics of the government have pointed out that many Estonian companies have posted losses and faced layoffs after cutting commercial relations with Russia.

Meanwhile, the prime minister’s popularity is plummeting. According to a poll published Thursday by Norstat Estonia, 67% of Estonians believe she should resign, but Kallas is just as determined to keep her job as she is in calling for tougher action against Moscow. “The opposition has a constitutional way to oust me, to file a no-confidence motion. Bullying me until my nerves fail is not constitutional,” she said.

https://english.elpais.com/international/2023-09-08/estonian-pm-kaja-kallas-faces-calls-to-resign-over-husbands-business-ties-to-russia.html  
  
%%Gulf of Finland Incident%%

Recent incidents in the Gulf of Finland involve maritime disputes and tensions between various nations. One notable incident occurred on May 14, 2025, when Estonian naval forces attempted to detain the M/T JAGUAR, a crude oil tanker allegedly part of Russia's shadow fleet, which was sailing under the flag of Gabon.

During this attempt, a Russian Su-35S fighter jet entered Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finland, seemingly to deter Estonian forces.

Another significant incident took place on December 25, 2024, when the oil tanker Eagle S, suspected to be part of the Russian shadow fleet, was detained by Finnish authorities for causing damage to the Estlink 2 submarine power cable and several telecommunications cables under the Gulf of Finland.

The ship is being investigated for aggravated vandalism, an aggravated regulatory offense, and aggravated communication interference.

These incidents highlight the ongoing maritime tensions and security concerns in the Gulf of Finland, particularly involving Russia's shadow fleet and the strategic interests of surrounding countries.

%%Gulf of Finland Incident%%

On June 1, 2025, Ukraine’s Security Service (SSU) carried out a large-scale special operation codenamed Pavutyna (Web), which targeted Russian strategic assets. However, this operation did not involve an incident in the Gulf of Finland. The context does not provide details about a specific incident occurring in the Gulf of Finland on June 1, 2025.

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rick · 6/4/2025, 1:10:03 AM · permalink

Excerpt link below.
![image](https://us-lax-1.linodeobjects.com/sojooo/comments/1278/1748999403357-19bf6afcbbe21424.png)
  
Mikhail Tereshchenko / TASS

Not so long ago, Russia was rolling out the red carpet for Western tech giants. Today, President Vladimir Putin is plotting how to “strangle them.” Once welcomed as symbols of innovation and global connectedness, these companies are now being recast as enemies of the state.

“We need to strangle them … I say this without hesitation,” Putin told business leaders at a Kremlin meeting last week. He was responding to complaints from Iva Technologies CEO Stanislav Iodkovsky, who stated that Russian firms were “losing billions” because foreign companies, such as Zoom and Microsoft, had not completely withdrawn from the market.

Putin’s new plan to punish Western tech companies still operating in Russia is rich with irony. These are the same firms the Kremlin eagerly courted over the past two decades, inviting them to forums, opening sleek offices and touting their presence as proof that Russia was open for business.

Since 2022, software giant Microsoft has steadily withdrawn from Russia, halting license renewals and limiting access to its cloud services. The video conferencing platform Zoom imposed some curbs earlier, blocking companies with state-owned assets in 2021. But it was still fined in 2023 for failing to open a local office in Russia, highlighting the Kremlin’s growing pressure on Western tech firms still operating in the country.

This strategy is not just hypocritical; it is self-defeating. Russia has already done an impressive job of throttling its own IT sector. Decades of corruption, paranoia and kleptocracy have driven out much of the country’s world-class tech talent. The very people capable of building the next great Russian tech company now live in exile, from Dubai to Berlin to Yerevan.

I have met scores of these exiled Russian tech specialists since the war began. Not one plans to return, no matter what the Kremlin promises. Subsidized mortgages, draft exemptions, relocation perks — all of it rings hollow when trust has been shattered.  
  
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/06/03/how-putin-turned-against-tech-and-strangled-russias-silicon-dreams-a89316

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rick · 6/3/2025, 11:40:36 PM · permalink

![image](https://us-lax-1.linodeobjects.com/sojooo/comments/1278/1748994035701-d56d2728a11e657b.png)
  
Credit: Office of the President of Ukraine

While President Trump is striving to bring about peace to one of the bloodiest wars on the planet, one of the Senate’s most notorious war hawks is rattling his sabers, angling for more turmoil.

Senators Lindsey Graham (RINO-SC) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) arrived in Kyiv to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday. Per a press release from Zelenskyy’s office, the three discussed U.S. legislation that would strengthen sanctions against Russia, coordinating diplomatic efforts to achieve “a just and lasting peace,” and developing bilateral relations between Ukraine and the United States.

Look at how warmly Zelenskyy and Graham greet each other.

Following the meeting, Graham gave a press conference alongside Blumenthal, at which he issued a significant threat against Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Communist China.

“The game that Putin has been playing is about to change,” Graham asserted. “He is going to be hit and hit hard by the United States when it comes to sanctions!”

The South Carolina senator then turned his attention to China.

“China, the game you are playing with Russia is about to change!” he bellowed. “If you keep buying cheap Russian oil to keep filling Putin’s war machine, there’ll be a 500% tariff on all of your products!”

As Reuters notes, the Senate is scheduled to vote on a Russian sanctions bill next week, which will accomplish exactly what Graham wants.

If Graham and the U.S. Senate followed through on this threat, China’s economy could collapse, and Russia might go into a depression as well. But did Graham consider what the response from both nations would be?

Putin and Xi Jinping are not the type of leaders who sit back and take it when their nations’ economic security and pride are attacked.

Photo of author

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/05/senator-lindsey-graham-issues-threat-china-russian-leader/

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rick · 6/3/2025, 11:39:26 PM · permalink

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rick · 6/3/2025, 2:13:47 AM · permalink

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rick · 6/3/2025, 2:15:30 AM · permalink

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rick · 6/2/2025, 11:24:11 PM · permalink

Looks like the very short meeting was longer than reported but who knows what was said or if this even happened?  
![image](https://us-lax-1.linodeobjects.com/sojooo/comments/1278/1748906651042-d10b7dba8effbcd7.png)

“There was a meeting. It played an important role in the preparation of the general session,” Medinsky told reporters, without offering further details. A source who requested anonymity told RT that the private conversation allegedly lasted around two and a half hours.

Moscow and Kiev agree to largest-ever prisoner swap – Russia’s top negotiatorREAD MORE: Moscow and Kiev agree to largest-ever prisoner swap – Russia’s top negotiator

During the talks in Istanbul, both sides exchanged memorandums outlining their respective proposals for resolving the Ukraine conflict. Kiev’s delegation took Russia’s draft document for review and is expected to issue a formal response at a later date, Medinsky said following the session.

The two sides also agreed to their largest prisoner-of-war exchange to date, according to Medinsky. The swap will involve all sick and severely wounded POWs, as well as all prisoners under the age of 25, and “will include at least 1,000 people from each side, possibly more,” the presidential aide noted.

READ MORE: Russia demands Ukraine stop false ‘child kidnapping’ claims

In addition, Moscow will unilaterally return the remains of 6,000 Ukrainian service members to Kiev next week to allow for proper “Christian burial,” he added. Russia has also proposed a multi-day ceasefire in several frontline areas to facilitate the recovery of fallen soldiers’ bodies and prevent potential disease outbreaks as temperatures rise with the onset of summer.  
https://www.rt.com/russia/618567-russian-ukrainian-secret-meeting/  
  
![image](https://us-lax-1.linodeobjects.com/sojooo/comments/1278/1748906651194-928581c54049eb79.png)
Whether the antics come from small states like Estonia or from former heavyweights like Germany, France, and Britain, the effect is the same: Europe, or more precisely the European Union and its close NATO-aligned partners in the West, is no longer behaving like a serious geopolitical actor. What was once merely weakness has become a lifestyle – a self-parodying style of politics defined by empty declarations, theatrical gestures, and media spectacle.

The reasons are not difficult to identify. Western Europe has lost its strategic compass. What we’re witnessing now, unfolding near Russia’s borders, is a crisis of direction with no clear destination. Recent developments, in fact, would have seemed unimaginable even a few years ago.

In the space of just a few weeks, the leaders of the EU’s most prominent countries issued ultimatums to Russia – with no thought as to what they might do if Moscow ignored them. Unsurprisingly, the efforts of the four most vocal backers of Ukraine – Britain, Germany, France, and Poland – collapsed into rhetorical theater with no follow-through.

Estonia, never one to miss a moment for posturing, saw a group of its sailors attempt to seize a foreign ship en route to St. Petersburg. The move, swiftly rebuffed by the Russian military, triggered a political scandal back in Tallinn – though perhaps not the kind they’d hoped for.

The last drone parade: Ukraine tries to reset a war it already lost

Read more The last drone parade: Ukraine tries to reset a war it already lost

In Paris, President Emmanuel Macron continues to rely on dramatic pronouncements to remain in the spotlight. In Berlin, newly appointed Chancellor Friedrich Merz declared that Ukrainian forces were permitted to strike Russian cities with Western missiles – only to be contradicted hours later by his own finance minister. As for the long-touted “peacekeeper deployment plan” pushed by Paris and London, European media finally admitted what had been obvious for months: the plan is dead, lacking support from Washington.

Some of this, admittedly, stems from a media environment that has grown dangerously overheated. Western news outlets now thrive on alarmism, churning out a steady stream of war talk and pushing politicians to match the rhetoric. Since the launch of Russia’s military operation in Ukraine, media across the Atlantic and in Brussels have played the role of propagandist, not watchdog.

But the problem runs deeper than headlines. Europe’s political class has drifted into a world of abstraction, where politics has become an intellectual game – untethered from real capabilities or consequences. In some cases, the farce is provincial, as with Estonia’s attempted maritime stunt. In others, it is cloaked in academic posturing, such as the wordy performances Macron delivers with the help of philosophically literate aides.

In all cases, one truth emerges: the European Union and its near partners are no longer serious actors in world affairs. They are still loud, still self-important, but no longer decisive. Their actions do not shift the global balance. The only real questions now are how long this detachment from reality can persist, and what the next stage of decline will look like.

This is not a matter of personalities or party lines. Whether globalist liberals or national conservatives take charge in Europe, the result is increasingly similar. Right-wing governments that replace the establishment often prove just as erratic and symbolic in their behavior.

What makes this transformation even more surreal is that Europe still has the ability to turn its politics into a spectacle. Many of its politicians – or at least their speechwriters – are highly educated. Macron’s speeches, rich in historical and philosophical references, are products of minds trained at the best institutions. Once, such intelligence was used to shape policy and outplay rivals like Russia. Now, it produces only clever phrasing for empty statements.

The Biden years: When America started to resemble the late-stage USSR

Read more The Biden years: When America started to resemble the late-stage USSR

Macron, of course, helped set the tone when he declared NATO “brain dead” back in 2019 – a remark that was amusing at the time. But after the laughter faded, Western Europe began churning out similarly dramatic slogans, each more detached than the last. The British followed suit. Now the Germans are joining the script.

More troubling than the words, though, is the lack of accountability for them. European leaders say much and do little – and when they do act, it is often misguided. Worse, they seem genuinely unaware of how their provocations are perceived outside their own echo chamber. What looks absurd in Moscow, Beijing, or even some quarters of Washington, is seen in Brussels or Berlin as noble posturing. These leaders are living in a different dimension, but the rest of us still have to engage with their declarations, however disconnected from reality.

And while it is tempting to dismiss this as just another European drama, the risks are real. Britain and France still possess nuclear capabilities. The EU’s economy, while faltering, retains global influence. Even the smallest states – like Estonia – can trigger crises that draw in larger powers. The Baltic naval stunt may have been primitive theater, but under the wrong conditions, even small acts of political play-acting can spiral into genuine danger.

No one seriously believes the United States is prepared to defend its European satellites at the cost of war with Russia. But given the destructive power of both Russian and American arsenals, even the faintest chance of escalation must be treated seriously – even if Western Europe itself has lost the ability to understand the consequences of its actions.

Ironically, Poland – once one of the most loudly anti-Russian voices in Europe – now appears almost restrained compared to the behavior of France, Germany, or Britain. In recent years, Warsaw has moved toward a more conservative, if still adversarial, stance – offering a rare glimpse of something resembling balance.

In the last century, Western Europe unleashed two of the most devastating wars in human history. Today, it plays at war once again – but with less awareness, less responsibility, and far less capacity. The danger lies not in its strength, but in its delusions. This is not Liechtenstein brandishing a sabre. These are nations with real armies, real missiles, and an increasingly fragile grasp on reality.

If there is to be stability in Europe’s future, it must start with accepting the truth of the present. The continent is no longer the center of world politics. The logical next step is to strip Western Europe of the destructive capabilities it no longer knows how to wield. Demilitarization is not humiliation. It is realism – and the only way to bring Europe’s role back in line with its actual relevance.

This article was first published by Vzglyad newspaper and was translated and edited by the RT team.

https://www.rt.com/news/618527-western-europe-has-lost-plot/

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rick · 6/2/2025, 7:45:53 PM · permalink

"Operation Spider’s Web: A Tactical Spectacle, a Strategic Disaster". Reposted "Why Were Russian Planes Not In Hangars?"  
History may look back on this moment not as a clever gambit, but as the spark that lit a global fire.
![image](https://us-lax-1.linodeobjects.com/sojooo/comments/1278/1748893553735-6d65d8c75b23649d.jpg)
Brian Berletic, a former U.S. Marine and military analyst, put it succinctly: this is not a repeatable military capability. It's a one-time, resource-intensive show. The only reason Ukraine’s SBU even exposed how it was done is because it can’t be done again at scale. And now that Russia knows the method, it will adapt, tightening its internal security and rewriting the rules of defense against long-range sabotage.  
  
But let’s go deeper.  
  
What we are witnessing is not Ukraine “going rogue”—as some in the American right, like General Mike Flynn, suggest—it’s the continuation of a US-run proxy war, one that started long before 2022, as even the New York Times admitted. The CIA has been embedding itself in Ukraine’s intelligence apparatus for over a decade, training and directing sabotage operations inside Russia. This drone strike was no different—it bore the signature of US operational planning, logistics, and strategic timing.  
  
The implications are enormous.  
  
Targeting nuclear-capable bombers—openly displayed due to treaty obligations—sets a dangerous precedent. Not because it tipped the military balance (it didn’t), but because it crossed a line that until now had remained largely unchallenged. Zelensky, with Washington’s backing, struck strategic assets on Russian soil in a moment when ceasefire talks were allegedly underway. This was not a misstep—it was intentional escalation disguised as tactical brilliance.  
  
General Flynn is right about one thing: if such an attack had happened at a US bomber base, we would call it an act of war. But when it happens to Russia, Western commentators applaud it as “ingenuity.”  
  
This hypocrisy is dangerous and suicidal.  
  
What happens when Russia retaliates? When it no longer limits its strikes to Ukrainian military infrastructure but begins to hit NATO intelligence nodes, supply hubs, or CIA installations operating in Ukraine? Are Western capitals prepared for that chain reaction?  
  
Let’s also be brutally honest about Ukraine’s role in this equation. It is not a sovereign actor. It is a vessel—a delivery system for NATO aggression. Washington does not want peace in Ukraine. It wants Russia bled dry at Ukraine’s expense. That’s the real war effort: sacrifice a nation to weaken a geopolitical rival.  
  
And to those comparing this drone operation to a “Ukrainian Pearl Harbor,” ask yourself: What happened to the country that carried out the original one?  
  
This reckless assault on nuclear-related assets, enabled by American intelligence and celebrated by a cheerleading Western media, is not a tactical triumph. It is a geopolitical provocation of the highest order—one that could provoke retaliation with catastrophic consequences not only for Ukraine, but for Europe and the world.  
  
Ukraine has now transitioned from proxy to existential threat. A regime, armed and directed by the West, attacking nuclear powers without regard for consequence or restraint.  
  
History may look back on this moment not as a clever gambit, but as the spark that lit a global fire.  
  
—Kevork Almassian is a Syrian journalist, geopolitical analyst, and the founder of Syriana Analysis.  
  
[https://kevorkalmassian.substack.com/p/operation-spiders-web-a-tactical](https://kevorkalmassian.substack.com/p/operation-spiders-web-a-tactical)

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rick · 6/2/2025, 5:11:27 PM · permalink

![image](https://us-lax-1.linodeobjects.com/sojooo/comments/1278/1748884287551-84a5c212ae29fcb4.png)

Billionaire Vladimir Potanin.Dmitry Astakhov / TASS

Russian billionaires have collectively gained $22.5 billion since the start of the year, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

The ranking of the world’s top 500 richest people includes 22 Russians whose combined wealth stood at $317.7 billion as of Monday.

Metals tycoon Vladimir Potanin remained Russia’s richest person, with his net worth rising by $3.82 billion since January to $31.7 billion.

He was followed by Lukoil founder Vagit Alekperov, whose net worth rose by $561 million to $25.9 billion, and mining magnate Vladimir Lisin, who retained third place with $24.2 billion despite losing $1.62 billion in five months.

The only Russian billionaire to lose more than Lisin was fertilizer tycoon and AS Monaco football club owner Dmitry Rybolovlev, whose wealth dropped by $1.77 billion to $9.21 billion, placing him in the bottom five.

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