War doesn’t take a holiday. The famous “peace talks” started in Istanbul were a joke. Russia participated only because he wanted to keep Trump happy, with the idea that Ukraine did not deserve our support. In May, Putin increased significantly the attacks from around 100-150 attacks per day, to more than 400 drone and missile attacks. On July 4, the highest number of attacks occurred since the war began in February 2022 with 550 missile and drone attacks, hours after Putin and Trump talked.

The two best sources of information are the Guardian and the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). The Institute is a non-profit organization, does a much better job than anyone else in following the war. See links below:

Institute for the Study of War – Latest Assessment

Guardian, July 4, Ukraine war briefing: Power to Zaporizhzhia plant cut off as UN watchdog warns nuclear safety ‘extremely precarious’

ISW reports in the July 4 attack, 208 drones were “lost” or suppressed by Ukrainian electronic warfare (EW) interference. Excellent news. Ukraine also uses interceptor drones to stop attacks. When there are swarms of over 500 drones coming at once, particularly the Shahad high velocity drones, intercepting them can be difficult. See link at end from Kyiv Independent. Patriot missiles would be the defense weapon of choice, but they are by far the most expensive and in very short supply – thank you Pete Hegseth and Donald Trump.

Iran and China support Putin because their industries benefit. See ISW link. “Ukrainian investigators discovered components manufactured at the Chinese Suzhou Ecod Precision Manufacturing Company in Russian Geran-type drones (Russian analogue of the Iranian Shahed drone) recovered in Kyiv City.”

US is deliberately aiding Putin’s offense by halting the delivery of Patriot missile systems already bought by the US. Germany is exploring the option of buying the Patriots from the US and giving them to Ukraine (see link above). I don’t think it will go far, because it clashes with Hegseth false claim that the Patriots are needed for the US security.

Hegseth will eventually have to answer to Congress of why he is making the destruction of Kyiv so much easier for Putin.

Putin’s goal is occupation of all of Ukraine. Putin is setting up for a multi-prong attack from the south, east and north (through Belarus) with an infantry heavily supported by North Korea. Russia started the war through an attack in Belarus and their recent buildup now is all part of Putin’s occupation of Ukraine. See link below:

Kyiv Independent, April 30, Zelensky warns Russia is ‘preparing something’ in Belarus under guise of military drills

Putin was quoted as saying, “We have a saying … where the foot of a Russian soldier steps, that is ours.” An apt response would be: “Be careful where you step, it could be your last one.”

The US should be 100% behind Ukraine as they resist the attacks from Russia. So far, Hegseth has reversed course, and denied the delivery of urgently needed defense equipment.

Stay tuned,

Dave