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Emrys
Emrys's Journal
Emrys's Journal
July 23, 2025
The whole article isn't that long, and if you're interested, I'd recommend reading the whole thing.
On the same day it was published, this was among a number of stories concerning problems (to say the least) with NABU and SAP:
This is only one of the scandals and alleged scandals that have beset the troubled institutions.
And here's Zelensky's belated address to the country having signed the bill into law:
He addresses the new law around 4:15 onward.
The main thrust of the push against the new law has been that it "dismantles" these bodies. That is plainly false. It allows oversight where it's been lacking, and hands decisions over prosecutions to the courts, rather than an unelected and unaccountable body. In the decade since these two bodies were set up, prosecutions of major figures involved in corruption have been very scant, with the focus being on lesser offenders, and some cases have been stalled for years.
Of course, cynics may see something sinister in the arrest of a leading figure in NABU at this point (a number of others have also been arrested on the same grounds) - which may have been some of the impetus behind the hasty legislation - and the whole situation is obviously fertile ground for Ukraine's enemies to sow mischief.
I debated about giving this story oxygen at the moment, but I think it's generally a good idea to try to get in front of misinformation. The unusual upsurge of activity by pro-Russian accounts on Twitter last night could be taken as an indicator that Russia smells blood in the water, and also potentially is not at all happy about the rooting out of some of its covert operatives in Ukraine.
Ukraine's parliament votes to take "independent" anti-corruption bodies under Prosecutor General's control
That's the gist of the story that erupted online and in a number of MSM outlets after the Verkhovna Rada voted 263 to 13 last night in favour of a new law.
The way it's being framed by a number of parties - including a robust presence of trolls and covert Russian accounts on Twitter - you could be forgiven for assuming that Zelensky himself had chosen to totally dismantle two independent bodies set up after the Euromaidan uprising to counter corruption in Ukraine's social fabric.
Some of those spouting about it should know better (a representative of the EU even chimed in, echoing the misrepresentation of the law and warning that it could set back Ukraine's drive to join the EU; the Economist was suspiciously ready with a highly biased story, as was Politico.EU; some more excitable outlets have proclaimed the end of Zelensky; even usually measured Ukrainian outlets like The Kyiv Independent kneejerked vociferously), others have been genuinely confused and upset at what's been widely represented as a treacherous step on a slippery slope that will lead to a return to Russian-level endemic corruption and a free-for-all among Ukraine's powerful and wealthy.
And of course, Marjorie Taylor Greene was quick off the mark to blatantly misrepresent and capitalize on demonstrations in a number of Ukrainian cities as people waited to see whether Zelensky would sign the bill into law or veto it:
The real story is a bit more nuanced, but less sensational, hence less clickworthy.
Countering corruption is obviously a hotbutton issue in Ukraine because of its history, and some Ukrainians are evidently willing to take to the streets in the face of any perceived threat to it. The scale of the demonstrations is open to debate. Attendance in Kyiv has been variously estimated at between a thousand or so and a few thousand, but the one in Kyiv was attended by its mayor, Vitali Klitschko (who's had a chequered career himself in terms of suspicions and accusations of corruption), and his brother Wladimir. There's been little love lost between Vitali Klitschko and Zelensky for years, and some see the influence of would-be Zelensky rival ex-president Petro Poroshenko and his supporters behind some of the furore, particularly in the west of Ukraine where Poroshenko's vote was strongest.
The situation wasn't helped by the fact that it seems little had been done to prepare the Ukrainian public for this move, which was rushed though parliament, and that Zelensky didn't make a public statement about it until the early hours of the morning - perhaps having been rather busy - leaving the field clear for disinformation to take hold.
By way of an antidote, I'm going to offer a few background sources:
Expert: NABU has turned into an FSB branch. The adopted bill makes it possible to rectify this
Political scientist Taras Zahorodnii claims that NABU has become an FSB branch, and its work is ineffective and non-transparent. The adopted bill No. 12414 will allow controlling NABU and SAP, which will make their activities more transparent.
The work of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau from the very beginning has not demonstrated effectiveness and transparency, but has been accompanied by scandals. And today, the body has generally turned into a branch of the FSB, which its defenders are silent about. Political scientist Taras Zahorodniy expressed this opinion in a comment to UNN.
"This bill is a step towards finally taking control of a structure that for some reason began to turn into a branch of the FSB," the political scientist emphasized, commenting on the parliament's adoption of the bill "On Amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine regarding the peculiarities of pre-trial investigation of criminal offenses related to the disappearance of persons without a trace under special circumstances in martial law" (No. 12414).
Zahorodniy also drew attention to the fact that those who opposed the adoption of the law somehow forgot about the context in which it was considered - cooperation with the bodies of the aggressor country.
https://unn.ua/en/news/expert-nabu-has-turned-into-an-fsb-branch-the-adopted-bill-makes-it-possible-to-fix-this
Political scientist Taras Zahorodnii claims that NABU has become an FSB branch, and its work is ineffective and non-transparent. The adopted bill No. 12414 will allow controlling NABU and SAP, which will make their activities more transparent.
The work of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau from the very beginning has not demonstrated effectiveness and transparency, but has been accompanied by scandals. And today, the body has generally turned into a branch of the FSB, which its defenders are silent about. Political scientist Taras Zahorodniy expressed this opinion in a comment to UNN.
"This bill is a step towards finally taking control of a structure that for some reason began to turn into a branch of the FSB," the political scientist emphasized, commenting on the parliament's adoption of the bill "On Amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine regarding the peculiarities of pre-trial investigation of criminal offenses related to the disappearance of persons without a trace under special circumstances in martial law" (No. 12414).
Zahorodniy also drew attention to the fact that those who opposed the adoption of the law somehow forgot about the context in which it was considered - cooperation with the bodies of the aggressor country.
https://unn.ua/en/news/expert-nabu-has-turned-into-an-fsb-branch-the-adopted-bill-makes-it-possible-to-fix-this
The whole article isn't that long, and if you're interested, I'd recommend reading the whole thing.
On the same day it was published, this was among a number of stories concerning problems (to say the least) with NABU and SAP:
Head of detectives at Ukraine's Anti‑Corruption Bureau arrested on suspicion of links to Russia
Ruslan Mahamedrasulov, an official of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) suspected of connections with Russia, was detained for 60 days by the Pecherskyi District Court of Kyiv on 22 July.
...
* As the head of one of NABU's interregional detective departments, Ruslan Mahamedrasulov coordinates the Bureau's activities in the frontline Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts from the city of Dnipro.
* The Security Service of Ukraine claims that the official "has contact with representatives of the aggressor country and helps his father, a businessman, to conduct illegal trade with Russia". There have been no public comments or reactions from the suspect so far.
https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2025/07/22/7522933/
Ruslan Mahamedrasulov, an official of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) suspected of connections with Russia, was detained for 60 days by the Pecherskyi District Court of Kyiv on 22 July.
...
* As the head of one of NABU's interregional detective departments, Ruslan Mahamedrasulov coordinates the Bureau's activities in the frontline Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts from the city of Dnipro.
* The Security Service of Ukraine claims that the official "has contact with representatives of the aggressor country and helps his father, a businessman, to conduct illegal trade with Russia". There have been no public comments or reactions from the suspect so far.
https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2025/07/22/7522933/
This is only one of the scandals and alleged scandals that have beset the troubled institutions.
And here's Zelensky's belated address to the country having signed the bill into law:
He addresses the new law around 4:15 onward.
The main thrust of the push against the new law has been that it "dismantles" these bodies. That is plainly false. It allows oversight where it's been lacking, and hands decisions over prosecutions to the courts, rather than an unelected and unaccountable body. In the decade since these two bodies were set up, prosecutions of major figures involved in corruption have been very scant, with the focus being on lesser offenders, and some cases have been stalled for years.
Of course, cynics may see something sinister in the arrest of a leading figure in NABU at this point (a number of others have also been arrested on the same grounds) - which may have been some of the impetus behind the hasty legislation - and the whole situation is obviously fertile ground for Ukraine's enemies to sow mischief.
I debated about giving this story oxygen at the moment, but I think it's generally a good idea to try to get in front of misinformation. The unusual upsurge of activity by pro-Russian accounts on Twitter last night could be taken as an indicator that Russia smells blood in the water, and also potentially is not at all happy about the rooting out of some of its covert operatives in Ukraine.
July 18, 2025
This will bring the rest of the UK in line with changes that have been in place for Welsh elections since 2023, and Scottish elections for a decade.
16 and 17-year-olds to be able to vote in next general election, government plans
...
Today, the UK government announced its plans to lower the voting age to 16 in time for the next general election.
It also pledged other changes to the electoral system, such as expanding forms of voter ID, moving towards automatic voter registration, and tightening rules on political donations to protect against foreign interference - you can read about these proposals in our previous post.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said young people who "pay in" to the system should have the opportunity to say what they want their money spent on.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c93kkg37n3kt
Today, the UK government announced its plans to lower the voting age to 16 in time for the next general election.
It also pledged other changes to the electoral system, such as expanding forms of voter ID, moving towards automatic voter registration, and tightening rules on political donations to protect against foreign interference - you can read about these proposals in our previous post.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said young people who "pay in" to the system should have the opportunity to say what they want their money spent on.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c93kkg37n3kt
This will bring the rest of the UK in line with changes that have been in place for Welsh elections since 2023, and Scottish elections for a decade.
July 10, 2025
Published in the latest edition of UK satirical/investigative magazine Private Eye.
Cartoonist Mike Barfield: "Trump: The Comprehensive Mexican Food Acronyms"
Published in the latest edition of UK satirical/investigative magazine Private Eye.
July 7, 2025
It was about not handing the Tories and the media any minor victories that could have rocked the boat as Labour sailed toward electoral success.
As those of us on the UK left know only too well, it's not the first time Labour has run on a platform of not changing much in terms of the basis on which the Tories governed, just managing matters better. So far, Labour has failed to even accomplish that very sparse aim, and is pursuing a course of at best austerity-lite, at worst, full-blooded austerity, which plagued the Tories in office.
The major issue that underlies all others is Reeves' dogged determination to abide by stringent fiscal rules Labour adopted as its own and to avoid taxing the rich to the extent that many in the country would approve of. To make up budgetary shortfalls, Labour chose instead to kick off its time in office by placing further burdens on those who're already struggling.
For instance, the failure to raise lower-band tax threshholds means that those receiving any more than the state pension - the lowest in Europe - with earnings from any income source other than a private pension if they have one, now face having to submit tax returns when they didn't need to in the past. A person on the maximum state pension currently receives £11,973 per year, the individual allowance before income tax begins to be levied is £12,570 at the moment, and above that, they start paying tax starting at a rate of 19%. The state pension is increased year by year under a system called "the triple lock". If Reeves (or her successor) refuses to increase the individual tax allowance, it will be only a matter of time before those on the maximum state pension are liable to tax on any amount exceeding the allowance.
Labour's early term has been littered with missteps like this - many not only morally indefensible, but politically cloth-eared. The radical change that many in the electorate felt was necessary - even if they were hazy on the details, except they wanted to feel a bit better off - has been absent. And as a result, Reform UK has benefited enormously in polling, because it majors in hazy policies and solutions, and victimizing outgroups - which some in the labour leadership have come perilously and shamefully close to doing themselves - and is quite sanguine about promising more that it could ever deliver.
Starmer ran for election on an ultra-cautious platform
The Tories' standing was so parlous that simply standing as "not the Tories" was enough to win seats, but the whole Labour campaign was based on the "ming vase strategy":
It refers to the way that the man who is on the verge of being prime minister, and his chancellor to be, Rachel Reeves, are being so depressingly cautious in their electoral commitments that many natural Labour voters are asking themselves: what is the point?
It was about not handing the Tories and the media any minor victories that could have rocked the boat as Labour sailed toward electoral success.
As those of us on the UK left know only too well, it's not the first time Labour has run on a platform of not changing much in terms of the basis on which the Tories governed, just managing matters better. So far, Labour has failed to even accomplish that very sparse aim, and is pursuing a course of at best austerity-lite, at worst, full-blooded austerity, which plagued the Tories in office.
The major issue that underlies all others is Reeves' dogged determination to abide by stringent fiscal rules Labour adopted as its own and to avoid taxing the rich to the extent that many in the country would approve of. To make up budgetary shortfalls, Labour chose instead to kick off its time in office by placing further burdens on those who're already struggling.
For instance, the failure to raise lower-band tax threshholds means that those receiving any more than the state pension - the lowest in Europe - with earnings from any income source other than a private pension if they have one, now face having to submit tax returns when they didn't need to in the past. A person on the maximum state pension currently receives £11,973 per year, the individual allowance before income tax begins to be levied is £12,570 at the moment, and above that, they start paying tax starting at a rate of 19%. The state pension is increased year by year under a system called "the triple lock". If Reeves (or her successor) refuses to increase the individual tax allowance, it will be only a matter of time before those on the maximum state pension are liable to tax on any amount exceeding the allowance.
Labour's early term has been littered with missteps like this - many not only morally indefensible, but politically cloth-eared. The radical change that many in the electorate felt was necessary - even if they were hazy on the details, except they wanted to feel a bit better off - has been absent. And as a result, Reform UK has benefited enormously in polling, because it majors in hazy policies and solutions, and victimizing outgroups - which some in the labour leadership have come perilously and shamefully close to doing themselves - and is quite sanguine about promising more that it could ever deliver.
July 6, 2025
Major reversal in ocean circulation detected in the Southern Ocean, with key climate implications
Satellite data processing algorithms developed by ICM-CSIC have played a crucial role in detecting this significant shift in the Southern Hemisphere, which could accelerate the effects of climate change.
Thanks to data obtained from Earth observation satellites, an international team of scientists has detected an unprecedented phenomenon for the first time: a reversal in the ocean circulation of the Southern Ocean. The study, led by the National Oceanographic Center (NOC, United Kingdom), was recently published in the journal PNAS. The Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC) played a fundamental role in the research by developing a set of pioneering satellite observations within the framework of the SO-FRESH project, funded by the European Space Agency (ESA).
The study’s main finding is both surprising and alarming: since 2016, a sustained increase in surface salinity has been detected in the region between the polar and subpolar gyres of the Antarctic Ocean. This change in water composition suggests that the deep ocean circulation in the Southern Hemisphere—known as the SMOC—is not only being altered, but has reversed. That is, instead of sinking into the depths, surface water is being replaced by deep water masses rising to the surface, bringing with them heat and carbon dioxide (CO₂ ) that had been trapped for centuries.
“We are witnessing a true reversal of ocean circulation in the Southern Hemisphere—something we’ve never seen before,” explains Antonio Turiel, ICM-CSIC researcher and co-author of the study. “While the world is debating the potential collapse of the AMOC in the North Atlantic, we’re seeing that the SMOC is not just weakening, but has reversed. This could have unprecedented global climate impacts.”
According to the research team, the consequences of this reversal are already becoming visible. The upwelling of deep, warm, CO₂-rich waters is believed to be driving the accelerated melting of sea ice in the Southern Ocean. In the long term, this process could double current atmospheric CO₂ concentrations by releasing carbon that has been stored in the deep ocean for centuries—potentially with catastrophic consequences for the global climate.
https://www.icm.csic.es/en/news/major-reversal-ocean-circulation-detected-southern-ocean-key-climate-implications
Thanks to data obtained from Earth observation satellites, an international team of scientists has detected an unprecedented phenomenon for the first time: a reversal in the ocean circulation of the Southern Ocean. The study, led by the National Oceanographic Center (NOC, United Kingdom), was recently published in the journal PNAS. The Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC) played a fundamental role in the research by developing a set of pioneering satellite observations within the framework of the SO-FRESH project, funded by the European Space Agency (ESA).
The study’s main finding is both surprising and alarming: since 2016, a sustained increase in surface salinity has been detected in the region between the polar and subpolar gyres of the Antarctic Ocean. This change in water composition suggests that the deep ocean circulation in the Southern Hemisphere—known as the SMOC—is not only being altered, but has reversed. That is, instead of sinking into the depths, surface water is being replaced by deep water masses rising to the surface, bringing with them heat and carbon dioxide (CO₂ ) that had been trapped for centuries.
“We are witnessing a true reversal of ocean circulation in the Southern Hemisphere—something we’ve never seen before,” explains Antonio Turiel, ICM-CSIC researcher and co-author of the study. “While the world is debating the potential collapse of the AMOC in the North Atlantic, we’re seeing that the SMOC is not just weakening, but has reversed. This could have unprecedented global climate impacts.”
According to the research team, the consequences of this reversal are already becoming visible. The upwelling of deep, warm, CO₂-rich waters is believed to be driving the accelerated melting of sea ice in the Southern Ocean. In the long term, this process could double current atmospheric CO₂ concentrations by releasing carbon that has been stored in the deep ocean for centuries—potentially with catastrophic consequences for the global climate.
https://www.icm.csic.es/en/news/major-reversal-ocean-circulation-detected-southern-ocean-key-climate-implications
June 27, 2025
He had long-running TV series in the UK. He was a fabulous raconteur, regularly pillorying the madness of politics and the oddities of the Catholic faith. One sketch which involved "The Pope" doing a striptease on some church steps excited disapproval in some quarters. Lots of other sketches and performances of his can be found on YouTube. Here's one from 1971:
His "standup" sections (he always sat in a leather swivel chair with whiskey and cigarette in hand) were interspersed with filmed sketches like the one in the OP, usually very funny with a regular talented cast of supporting actors.
He was also a deep thinker, and fronted a thought-provoking TV series, In Search of the Great English Eccentric. Here's one episode:
The late great Dave Allen, sorely missed
He was actually Irish.He had long-running TV series in the UK. He was a fabulous raconteur, regularly pillorying the madness of politics and the oddities of the Catholic faith. One sketch which involved "The Pope" doing a striptease on some church steps excited disapproval in some quarters. Lots of other sketches and performances of his can be found on YouTube. Here's one from 1971:
His "standup" sections (he always sat in a leather swivel chair with whiskey and cigarette in hand) were interspersed with filmed sketches like the one in the OP, usually very funny with a regular talented cast of supporting actors.
He was also a deep thinker, and fronted a thought-provoking TV series, In Search of the Great English Eccentric. Here's one episode:
June 6, 2025
How Russia's Fake Spirituality Became a Key Weapon in the Kremlin's Disinformation Toolbox
Under Putin, Christianity has been turned into a political tool to spread false narratives about the war in Ukraine
Morten Hammeken and Pekka Kallioniemi 28 May 2025
Here’s something to consider for future clergymen about to finish their theologian studies: How about a trip to the frontline? To most future priests, such an offer might sound strange and not the least bit tempting.
For Russian ordinands, it is merely the latest example of the fusion between the Orthodox Church of Russia (UOC-MP) and the Putin regime’s wars of conquest. Last week, Patriarch Kirill unveiled a new master’s program called “Training and Interaction of Military Clergy With the Armed Forces”. The courses are set to train ‘military clergy’ in Rostov-on-Don close to the fighting in Ukraine.
While the Orthodox Church in Russia retains a formal independence, it is de facto subservient to the whims of the state, and in the current totalitarian climate, Vladimir Putin is the state, to paraphrase Louis XIV.
For Putin, it is imperative that his invasion of Ukraine is framed as a spiritual war in defence of Russo-Christian values. It is therefore hardly surprising that the Church’s supreme leader gave his blessing to the war, which he has labelled “a holy war”.
On the frontlines, orthodox priests bless Russian tanks and missiles while Maria Zakharova, Putin’s chief propagandist at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, adds to the Christian fervour by describing Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy as “satanic”.
https://bylinetimes.com/2025/05/28/russia-war-ukraine-fake-spirituality/
Morten Hammeken and Pekka Kallioniemi 28 May 2025
Here’s something to consider for future clergymen about to finish their theologian studies: How about a trip to the frontline? To most future priests, such an offer might sound strange and not the least bit tempting.
For Russian ordinands, it is merely the latest example of the fusion between the Orthodox Church of Russia (UOC-MP) and the Putin regime’s wars of conquest. Last week, Patriarch Kirill unveiled a new master’s program called “Training and Interaction of Military Clergy With the Armed Forces”. The courses are set to train ‘military clergy’ in Rostov-on-Don close to the fighting in Ukraine.
While the Orthodox Church in Russia retains a formal independence, it is de facto subservient to the whims of the state, and in the current totalitarian climate, Vladimir Putin is the state, to paraphrase Louis XIV.
For Putin, it is imperative that his invasion of Ukraine is framed as a spiritual war in defence of Russo-Christian values. It is therefore hardly surprising that the Church’s supreme leader gave his blessing to the war, which he has labelled “a holy war”.
On the frontlines, orthodox priests bless Russian tanks and missiles while Maria Zakharova, Putin’s chief propagandist at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, adds to the Christian fervour by describing Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy as “satanic”.
https://bylinetimes.com/2025/05/28/russia-war-ukraine-fake-spirituality/
June 3, 2025
This is currently breaking story, so media coverage is slim at the moment, but here's the Mail's ( *hack putt* ) version:
Crimea Bridge Hit by Explosion
Source: Newsweek
Ukraine's security service (SBU) revealed a new special operation once again hitting Russia's Kerch Bridge to Crimea, this time in an underwater attack that it said had left the structure "in disrepair". They published a video of the explosion.
In a post on Telegram, the SBU said its agents had mined the underwater supports of the bridge in an operation that had lasted several months, and detonated the first device at 4:44 a.m. local time on Tuesday morning.
The SBU said it had "badly damaged" those supports with the explosives, which had the blast equivalent of 1100 kilograms of TNT.
"In fact, the bridge is in disrepair," the SBU said, noting this is third time it has hit the strategically important crossing that connects Russia to the Crimean Peninsula.
Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/crimea-bridge-hit-explosion-2080254
This is currently breaking story, so media coverage is slim at the moment, but here's the Mail's ( *hack putt* ) version:
Ukraine attacks Putin’s prized Kerch bridge to Crimea in daring underwater strike with TNT blasts leaving it ‘in a state of disrepair’ days after drones blitzed nuke bomber fleet
Ukraine's SBU security service said on Tuesday it had hit the road and rail bridge linking Russia and the Crimean peninsula below the water level with explosives, leaving it in a 'state of disrepair'.
The SBU said in a statement on the Telegram app that it had used 1100 kilograms of explosives which were detonated early in the morning, damaging underwater pillars of the bridge, a key supply route for Russian forces in Ukraine.
Footage online shows smoke billowing over the crucial link to the annexed peninsula following an explosion.
Head of the SBU, Lieutenant General Vasyl Malyuk, said: 'We previously hit the Crimean Bridge twice in 2022 and 2023.
'So today we continued this tradition underwater. No illegal Russian facilities have a place on the territory of our state.'
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14775649/Ukraine-Putin-Kerch-bridge-Crimea-attack.html
Ukraine's SBU security service said on Tuesday it had hit the road and rail bridge linking Russia and the Crimean peninsula below the water level with explosives, leaving it in a 'state of disrepair'.
The SBU said in a statement on the Telegram app that it had used 1100 kilograms of explosives which were detonated early in the morning, damaging underwater pillars of the bridge, a key supply route for Russian forces in Ukraine.
Footage online shows smoke billowing over the crucial link to the annexed peninsula following an explosion.
Head of the SBU, Lieutenant General Vasyl Malyuk, said: 'We previously hit the Crimean Bridge twice in 2022 and 2023.
'So today we continued this tradition underwater. No illegal Russian facilities have a place on the territory of our state.'
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14775649/Ukraine-Putin-Kerch-bridge-Crimea-attack.html
June 3, 2025
Ukraine Trained AI for Its 'Spiders Web' Airfield Drone Attacks at Aviation Museum
One advantage Ukraine has in its war against Russia’s invasion is having access to the same weapons systems its enemy uses, which helped in its preparations for attacks on Moscow’s strategic bombers.
Ukraine’s ability to smuggle almost 120 first-person view (FPV) drones into the heart of Russia and wreak havoc on Moscow’s strategic bomber fleet – which has continually launched its missiles against civilian targets in Ukraine and is also one leg of the Kremlin’s nuclear triad – has undoubtedly made President Vladimir Putin, along with the rest of the world, sit up and take notice.
On Sunday, June 1, an audacious long-distance operation mounted by Ukraine’s intelligence services attacked at least five airfields, in Russia’s Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ryazan, and Amur regions, where strategic bombers and surveillance aircraft were located. While the numbers of aircraft destroyed and damaged is still being debated – Kyiv has said it could be as many as 40 – this success has more than bloodied the Russian aerospace forces’ nose.
In July, milblogger “Clash Report” reported that Ukraine’s intelligence services had been training artificial intelligence (AI) systems that would enable its drones to recognize enemy equipment, including Soviet-era bombers, using images obtained from military museums. Those who asked “so what?” at the time got their answer on Sunday when the SBU’s “Operation Pavutyna (Spiderweb)” decimated a large number of Moscow’s strategic fleet of aircraft deep inside Russian territory.
As Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made clear when speaking about the success of the mission on Sunday evening, it had taken 18 months to prepare. The development of the plan reportedly began some time in 2023, when, according to the Ukrainian news site Antikor, operators from Ukraine’s military intelligence directorate (HUR) made hundreds of images of Russian strategic bombers stored at the Poltava Museum of Heavy Bomber Aviation, from every conceivable angle.
This data was used to identify the most vulnerable areas of the bombers, from which they could create AI algorithms that would allow weapons, in this case FPV drones, to independently recognize and engage targets. As videos captured during Sunday’s attacks attest, the drones didn’t simply crash into their targets but went for the areas where maximum damage was most likely to be caused – weapons pylons carrying cruise missiles and over wing fuel tanks.
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/53784
Ukraine’s ability to smuggle almost 120 first-person view (FPV) drones into the heart of Russia and wreak havoc on Moscow’s strategic bomber fleet – which has continually launched its missiles against civilian targets in Ukraine and is also one leg of the Kremlin’s nuclear triad – has undoubtedly made President Vladimir Putin, along with the rest of the world, sit up and take notice.
On Sunday, June 1, an audacious long-distance operation mounted by Ukraine’s intelligence services attacked at least five airfields, in Russia’s Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ryazan, and Amur regions, where strategic bombers and surveillance aircraft were located. While the numbers of aircraft destroyed and damaged is still being debated – Kyiv has said it could be as many as 40 – this success has more than bloodied the Russian aerospace forces’ nose.
In July, milblogger “Clash Report” reported that Ukraine’s intelligence services had been training artificial intelligence (AI) systems that would enable its drones to recognize enemy equipment, including Soviet-era bombers, using images obtained from military museums. Those who asked “so what?” at the time got their answer on Sunday when the SBU’s “Operation Pavutyna (Spiderweb)” decimated a large number of Moscow’s strategic fleet of aircraft deep inside Russian territory.
As Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made clear when speaking about the success of the mission on Sunday evening, it had taken 18 months to prepare. The development of the plan reportedly began some time in 2023, when, according to the Ukrainian news site Antikor, operators from Ukraine’s military intelligence directorate (HUR) made hundreds of images of Russian strategic bombers stored at the Poltava Museum of Heavy Bomber Aviation, from every conceivable angle.
This data was used to identify the most vulnerable areas of the bombers, from which they could create AI algorithms that would allow weapons, in this case FPV drones, to independently recognize and engage targets. As videos captured during Sunday’s attacks attest, the drones didn’t simply crash into their targets but went for the areas where maximum damage was most likely to be caused – weapons pylons carrying cruise missiles and over wing fuel tanks.
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/53784
May 26, 2025
But somehow it's Obama's, Biden's and Zelensky's war.
From a May 20 press conference:
I guess that time Putin did it politely. And wore a suit.
"We're in the middle of talking" makes it sound like Putin committed a social faux pas.
Which is the root of Trump's griping - Putin's showing Trump up as powerless and ineffectual, with his "STOP Vladimir!" BS, and blatantly disrespecting him. Putin's been doing that for years, but it seems Trump's only just understood it. And still he has to hedge his bets with a nonsensical "both sides" jab at Zelensky.
From Putin's first year as Russian president onward:
CNN collected "80 times Trump talked about Putin" from 2013 to 2017, almost all of them complimentary - https://edition.cnn.com/interactive/2017/03/politics/trump-putin-russia-timeline/
Trump in February 2022:
“I went in yesterday and there was a television screen, and I said, ‘This is genius.’ Putin declares a big portion of the Ukraine – of Ukraine. Putin declares it as independent. Oh, that’s wonderful.”
The day after he made those comments, he effectively doubled down on them. “They say, ‘Trump said Putin’s smart.’ I mean, he’s taking over a country for two dollars’ worth of sanctions,” Trump told a crowd at a fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago, according to a recording of the event. “I’d say that’s pretty smart. He’s taking over a country – really a vast, vast location, a great piece of land with a lot of people, and just walking right in.”
Then, in a speech at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference last weekend, Trump, again, repeated his praise of Putin. “Yesterday reporters asked me if I thought President Putin was smart,” he said. “I said, ‘Of course, he’s smart,’ to which I was greeted with ‘Oh, that’s such a terrible thing to say.’” I like to tell them, ‘Yes, he’s smart.’”
The day after he made those comments, he effectively doubled down on them. “They say, ‘Trump said Putin’s smart.’ I mean, he’s taking over a country for two dollars’ worth of sanctions,” Trump told a crowd at a fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago, according to a recording of the event. “I’d say that’s pretty smart. He’s taking over a country – really a vast, vast location, a great piece of land with a lot of people, and just walking right in.”
Then, in a speech at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference last weekend, Trump, again, repeated his praise of Putin. “Yesterday reporters asked me if I thought President Putin was smart,” he said. “I said, ‘Of course, he’s smart,’ to which I was greeted with ‘Oh, that’s such a terrible thing to say.’” I like to tell them, ‘Yes, he’s smart.’”
But somehow it's Obama's, Biden's and Zelensky's war.
From a May 20 press conference:
You said you believe Putin wants peace, but he just attacked Ukraine yesterday. So what makes you think he wants peace?
Trump: “Well, he's in a war…They’re attacking each other…”
Trump: “Well, he's in a war…They’re attacking each other…”
I guess that time Putin did it politely. And wore a suit.
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