Thursday, July 7
Russian civilians crowdsourced a drone for their troops, who immediately sold it for quick cash
🇷🇺 Pictured: Russian civilians crowdsourced a drone for their troops. The troops immediately sold it for quick cash
🇺🇦 Correction: While Alaska became a state in 1959, the actual purchase from Russia happened in 1867
🇺🇦 Even Russians—via Telegram channels—are describing the widespread efficacy of HIMARS systems
🇺🇦 Ukrainian army eliminated 16 enemy bases, ammunition warehouses in past week, due to HIMARS systems.
🇺🇦 Russians are abandoning military equipment warehouses out of fear of HIMARS.
🇺🇦 “After the Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed several military facilities using high precision weapons, Russian invading army in Zaporizhzhya Oblast started panicking,” the administration said, citing intelligence. “They abandon their warehouses.”
🇺🇦 Putin had tough words for Ukraine, saying “We’re only just getting started….We haven't even begun seriously [fighting] in Ukraine”
🇺🇦 ….said the man who lost 14-something generals and 35k+ soldiers .
🇺🇦 Ukraine prosecutors uncover sex trafficking ring preying on women fleeing country. Authorities arrested a gang leader who lured women with false job offers then forced them into prostitution
🇺🇦 Over 70% of Russian unguided shells and aircraft missiles allegedly fail to hit targets
🇺🇦 Ukraine Army forced Russian forces to retreat from their positions in Bakhmut direction
🇺🇦 Today in Ukraine, Sens. Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal presented Zelensky with a resolution they authored to designate Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism. That would put Moscow in company with Syria, Iran, and North Korea.
🇷🇺 Russian Defense Ministry Spokesperson Igor Konashenkov confirmed that Russia is doing an operational pause in the east to regain combat capabilities
🇷🇺 That said, RU is still performing limitedoffensive operations, such as north of Kharkiv, southeast of Izyum, and south and east of Bakhmut
🇺🇦 The Belarusian population has complete opposition to fighting on Russia’s side. By “complete opposition” I mean 95% disapproval.
🇺🇦 Haha my boilerplate is as long as my update today. It’s like the credits for that 1960’s Godzilla vs Bambi movie
📢 Countries apply to be in NATO. NATO is a defense alliance that has never, and does not, consider offensive operations. 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, 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!