Sunday, June 26
More HIMARS. Also, a retired general being taken out of retirement as Russia is "scraping the barrel"
🇺🇦 Pictured: The US will send more HIMARS systems and thousands of rounds to Ukraine.
🇺🇦 Pictured: General Pavel, fat, is being brought out of retirement to join the battle in Ukraine as Putin is ‘scraping the barrel’ for experienced leadership. Intelligence source: “Most of his best and battle-hardened senior commanders have been killed or injured fighting in Ukraine so [Putin] is resorting to sending second rate officers to the front who don’t last very long.” Pavel is taking over as the prior commander was injured in an artillery strike.
🇺🇦 Ukraine Special Forces fly late night deep-rear incursions into Russia to commit acts of sabotage.
🇺🇦 These fighters, called “Shaman” are from the 10th special detachment
🇺🇦 These are western-trained forces who fought with UK and US in Afghanistan.
🇺🇦 Kherson resistance continues. The street-messaging campaign is just as aggressive as the resistance itself.
🇺🇦 Two more military recruiting offices in Russia have burned down.
🇺🇦 Russian forces conducted a massive missile strike against the Kyiv coinciding with the summit of G7 leaders. Only residential buildings were targeted.
🇺🇦 The Kremlin continues to manipulate Russian legislation to carry out “covert mobilization” to support operations in Ukraine without conducting full mobilization.
🇺🇦 For example, the Russian State Duma (Duma = congress) announced an amendment to the law on military service that would allow military officials to offer contracts to young men immediately upon “coming of age” or graduating high school, thus circumventing the need to complete military service as conscripts
🇺🇦 Russians in occupied Enerhodar are abducting Ukrainians for $1,700
🇺🇦 Russian Colonel-General Gennday Zhidko has likely taken over the role of theatre commander of operations in Ukraine. Colonel-General Genady Zhidko is currently the director of Russia’s Military-Political Directorate
🇺🇦 After consolidating control of Severodonetsky, Russia’s next target is Lysychansk.
🇺🇦 Russian forces are conducting operations to the east of Bakhmut to maintain control of the T1302 Bakhmut-Lysychansk highway.
🇺🇦 Russian forces conducted unsuccessful ground assaults to the northwest of Slovyansk.
🇺🇦 Russian forces intensified artillery strikes against Ukrainian positions along the Southern Axis.
🇺🇦 Russian occupation authorities are escalating measures to stem Ukrainian partisan activity in occupied areas through increased filtration measures and the abduction of civilians.
🇺🇦 Ukraine’s judicial reform is in jeopardy as the Ethics Council—the judicial reform’s main body—approved tainted candidates for top jobs and vetoed an anti-corruption activist. Judicial reform and anti-corruption is one of the top requirements fo Ukraine’s accession to the European Union is
📢 Countries apply to be in NATO. Saying NATO is encroaching on Russia is Kremlin messaging. Russia has three primary propaganda efforts directed at the West, and that’s the first.
📢 Yes, Ukraine has a nazi problem, but it’s a very small percentage of the country, and not representative of the whole. Using a small group to smear the entire group is called “guilt by association.” Russia has three primary propaganda efforts directed at the West, and that’s the second.
📢 If you ever hear anyone say “What about this thing America did…” or “what about Palestine?” in an effort to redirect attention away from Ukraine and onto the west, that is called “Competitive victimhood” and the associated meme is *always* created by Russian-backed media. Russia has three primary propaganda efforts directed at the West, and that’s the third.
⚠️ Sorry about the typos or awkward sentences!!!! This is the inevitable result of putting out a finalized research product once every 24 hours, with no staff. If anyone feels like giving me staff, we can polish this b right up!
⚠️ I got lazy with my citations and I apologize. My top sources are: Current and former military planners, singularly-focused pundits, and all manner of vetted open-source intelligence. Top cited open source pundits and sources include: CP Scott, Institute for the Study of War, Kyiv Independent, Aaron Parnas, John Aravosis, Malcontent News, and mainstream news with high levels of journalistic integrity and track records. Sadly I can’t source private individuals, of course.
⚠️ Speaking of sources, thanks to all of you who have forwarded me tips or given me data from the front line. You’re the private individuals I wish I could source publicly
⚠️ Though my awesome employer taught me everything I know about OSINT, these posts are not affiliated with my employer, nor done during my employer’s time. Every item I report is from my own research, my own opinion, and written during my own time.
⚠️ Note: War happens fast and even high fidelity news needs a ton of corrections after the dust settles.
🇺🇦 Sorry to my Substack readers who get this weird “ua” symbol instead of a flag emoji!