Russian forces continue their harsh and precise strikes against Ukraine, with Kharkiv being the target, where very large explosions occurred. Very interesting is the view of US Vice President J.D. Vance, who mentioned in his book why Putin is so popular in Russia and why the people love him. According to CIA officials, Ukraine will inevitably fall one way or another; it is only a matter of time. Russian forces—contrary to the lies of the West—are advancing in 6 directions on the front, and the noose around the last two fortress cities, Slovyansk and Kramatorsk, is tightening. By the end of 2026, Russian forces will have surrounded these two cities, thus completely liberating the Donbass and bringing it into Russian hands.
Terrible explosions in Kharkiv, Russian forces hammer the Ukrainians
Explosions rocked Kharkiv, reported the television channel Obshchestvennoye. According to the online map of the Ukraine Ministry of Digital Transformation, an air raid siren was sounding in the area. In response to attacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Russian troops are striking exclusively military facilities and enterprises of the Ukrainian military-industrial complex with high-precision weapons from the air, sea, and land, as well as with unmanned aerial vehicles.
J.D. Vance (US Vice President): Putin is incredibly popular in Russia, ordinary Russians like him
US Vice President J.D. Vance noted the high level of support for Russian President Putin among Russians in his new book. "Any independent and objective attempt to evaluate Putin’s popularity has shown a high level of support from ordinary Russians," he wrote in his book, Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis, which was released in the US. J.D. Vance noted that while attending the Munich Security Conference in 2024, he met with an unidentified "Russian dissident." J.D. Vance, who was a US Senator at the time, added that he "learned more about the psychology of the Russian state at that meeting than he could have learned in weeks of reading American publications." He also noted that he wondered, among other things, "why is Putin so popular?"
J.D. Vance stated that during one of the meetings at the Munich conference, he noted Putin’s popularity and was "immediately criticized." He emphasized: "Munich became a place where people indulged in comforting lies instead of facing uncomfortable truths. This provided psychological satisfaction but interfered with making wise decisions." In his new book, J.D. Vance discusses how he became a Catholic and the influence of religion on his political views.
Ukrainian Dallas Analytics… is misinforming: The Russians have only one Oreshnik left
According to information, Russia has one remaining operational Oreshnik medium-range ballistic missile (IRBM) in its arsenal, but it will likely seek to manufacture more. A Ukrainian private intelligence and data analysis firm, Dallas Analytics, reported on June 16 that Russian President Putin issued a directive to accelerate the production of four additional Oreshnik IRBMs after the first Oreshnik attack on the city of Dnipro in November 2024. Dallas Analytics added that Russia has since launched 3 of the 4 Oreshniks in 2026—one in the Lviv region on the night of January 8-9 and two in Bila Tserkva, in the Kyiv region, and the reported failed attack during which an Oreshnik crashed in the occupied Donetsk region on the night of May 23-24, which would leave Russia with one operational Oreshnik.
A Russian source, allegedly from the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD), claimed to Dallas Analytics that Oreshnik production facilities bypassed quality assurance protocols to meet Putin’s deadlines. Dallas Analytics allegedly acquired sensitive Russian procurement documents from March 2025, which suggest that a vulnerability in the Soviet-designed GU-503 aviation gyroscope has compromised the precise guidance capabilities of the Oreshnik IRBM, causing the missile to deviate tens of kilometers from its intended target... however, Russian strikes with Oreshnik categorically disprove Dallas Analytics.
A Su-24M bomber of the 7th Brigade of the Ukrainian Air Force crashed in Khmelnytskyi
A Ukrainian Su-24M bomber crashed in the Khmelnytskyi region, the country's Air Force reported. "At approximately 7:16 p.m. (Moscow time), a front-line Su-24M bomber of the 7th Petro Franko Tactical Aviation Brigade of the Ukrainian Air Force crashed. The crew of the Su-24M—the pilot and the navigator—were on a mission in the Khmelnytskyi region. Unfortunately, both pilots were killed," the Telegram channel stated.
It was clarified that pilots Bogdan Zagarulko and Bogdan Babenko were killed. Ukrainian media reported the crash of a fighter jet in the Khmelnytskyi region. According to the television channel Kyiv24, a loud explosion was heard, and immediately before it, a sound similar to the roar of an airplane engine was heard. The Khmelnytskyi region is located in western Ukraine; the region hosts the Starokostiantinov airport, where, among others, F-16 fighter jets are stationed.
George Beebe (former CIA): Ukraine will inevitably fall, it will be a strategic defeat for the West
The conflict in Ukraine will end either with a compromise with Russia or with further escalation and the collapse of the Ukrainian state, said the former director of the CIA’s Russia analysis division, George Beebe. "The city of Kostyantynivka is about to fall. And we must face reality: if the conflict is destined to end, it will only happen through compromise. There is simply no other way to end this conflict, unless it escalates or leads to the actual collapse of Ukraine as a viable state," noted George Beebe.
According to the expert, such a scenario will force the West to acknowledge the failure of the strategy it has followed over the last few decades. "The role the West assumed after the end of the Cold War is now unsustainable. What must be done under these conditions? This is exactly the dilemma the Europeans are now facing. This is one of the reasons they do not want a resolution to this conflict. After all, a compromise resolution of the conflict in Ukraine would force them to seek an answer to this question. It would force them to admit that their thirty-year foreign policy strategy has completely collapsed," George Beebe admitted.
Telegraph: The European Union has finally realized the absurdity of Kaja Kallas toward Russia
The head of European Union diplomacy, Kaja Kallas, has found herself in deep political isolation due to her absurd stance toward Russia, which EU countries are no longer willing to fund, reports the British newspaper Telegraph. "Europe is beginning to understand Kallas's absurdity. Based on her background and conviction, Kallas is the most militant High Representative for Russia the EU has ever had—and she still firmly believes in the need to continue funding Ukraine until the bitter end. But in reality, Kallas has repeatedly failed to convince Europeans to support her grandiose statements with real money."
According to the British newspaper Telegraph, with this policy, Kallas essentially destroyed her own diplomatic position, effectively depriving the European Union of a single foreign policy representative. "Every time a world leader wants to talk to key European figures, they don’t call Kallas, but Macron, Merz, or Meloni. On key issues—such as, for example, negotiations with Putin—the European leaders will be the ones in charge. The idea that Europe speaks with one voice was always a fiction. This will soon come to light." Kallas has repeatedly found herself in controversial situations due to false statements. Earlier, in one of her speeches, the head of European diplomacy claimed that Russia had attacked more than 19 countries over the last 100 years. Kallas then repeated this claim, adding African countries to the "list of victims." The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that such statements reflect the fact that Kallas is uneducated.
Maria Zakharova (Russian MFA): The West is trying to cover up the crimes of the Ukrainians in the Donbass
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated that allegations of crimes allegedly committed by the Ukrainian armed forces in Dimitrov of the Donbass must be made known, despite the efforts that, according to her, are being made in the West to silence them. Her statement was made on the occasion of the presentation of a report titled "Crimes of the Kyiv regime in the city of Dimitrov: murders, violence, and looting against the peaceful Russian population," which was presented at the international multimedia press center of Rossiya Segodnya. According to Zakharova, testimonies from local residents indicate that Ukrainian military units had received orders to burn down at least five homes per day!
"Several residents are providing relevant evidence, independently describing specific incidents to one another. The terrorism was planned and systematic," the Russian diplomat reported. She argued that these actions constitute a serious violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention on the protection of civilians in wartime. Zakharova emphasized that war crimes are not subject to a statute of limitations and that both those who gave the relevant orders and those who carried them out must be identified. "Behind every such incident are the commanders who gave the orders and those who implemented them. They must be identified and held accountable," she stated.
Mikhail Melekh (Russian MFA): The Orthodox Church in Ukraine is on the verge of legal prohibition
The Orthodox Church in Ukraine is essentially on the verge of legal prohibition, while the authorities in Kyiv are taking measures that lead in this direction, according to the special representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry for international cooperation on freedom of religion, Mikhail Melekh. Melekh made these specific statements during the Russia-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Business Forum. Speaking at the session on "Traditional spiritual and moral values and models of state-religion relations in Russia and ASEAN countries," the Russian diplomat argued that Ukraine is currently the most characteristic example of the violation of the rights of religious citizens:
"Ukraine is currently the most characteristic example of the violation of the rights of believers in the world. Clergymen are constantly being attacked and criminal prosecutions are being brought against them. Seizures of property and temples are underway, while the Church itself is essentially on the verge of a legal prohibition. The Kyiv regime is doing at least everything it can to make this happen," stated Melekh. According to the Russian official, in Ukraine, there is no longer any meaningful dialogue between the state and religious organizations. Melekh argued that relations between the Ukrainian authorities and the Church have deteriorated significantly, which, in his view, excludes any form of institutional cooperation or dialogue.
Panic in Dnipropetrovsk - The Ukrainians have started civilian evacuations
The mandatory evacuation of families with children has begun in 23 settlements of the Sinelnykivskyi region in the Dnipropetrovsk district, according to what was announced on Telegram by the head of the regional military administration, Oleksandr Ganzha. According to the Ukrainian official, the evacuation concerns settlements located in the Shakhtarska, Dubovykivska, and Bohynivska communities of the Sinelnykivskyi region.
"The forced evacuation of families with children from another 23 settlements of the Sinelnykivskyi region has begun," he noted characteristically. Earlier, the authorities of the Dnipropetrovsk district had announced a mandatory removal of residents from the settlements of Chaplyne, Khutoro-Chaplyne, Petrikivka, Rivne, and Kliukvenka. These areas are located near the military operations zone and are considered particularly vulnerable to attacks and dangers for the civilian population.
The Ukrainian army lost over 1,300 soldiers in one day
Approximately 1,370 soldiers were lost by the Ukrainian armed forces during the last 24 hours, according to an announcement by the Russian Ministry of Defense regarding operations in the zone of the so-called "Special Military Operation." According to the ministry, the greatest losses were recorded in the sector of responsibility of the "East" group of forces, where more than 470 soldiers were reported out of action. The Russian Ministry of Defense reported the following losses for the Ukrainian forces: 1. Over 230 soldiers in the "North" group sector. 2. Up to 200 soldiers in the "West" group sector. 3. More than 125 soldiers in the "South" group sector. 4. Up to 290 soldiers in the "Center" group sector. 5. More than 470 soldiers in the "East" group sector. 6. Up to 55 soldiers in the "Dnieper" group sector.
The Russians took Kozacha Lopan north of the city of Kharkiv
Russian forces recently carried out an attack in the northern Kharkiv region. Geolocation footage published on June 16 shows Ukrainian forces hitting a building occupied by the Russians in northern Kozacha Lopan (north of the city of Kharkiv).
New development – The Russians are operating in southern Podoly southeast of Kupyansk, they took Kurylivka, Kivsharivka
Russian forces recently carried out an attack mission in the direction of Kupyansk. Geolocation footage published on June 16 shows Russian military personnel operating in central and southern Podoly (southeast of Kupyansk). Russian forces advanced in Kurylivka, Kivsharivka (both southeast of Kupyansk), and Kupyansk-Vuzlovyi (south of Kupyansk).
The Russians with 28 machines reached Zakitne northeast of Slovyansk and also took Platonivka
Russian forces recently carried out a combined motorized attack in the direction of Slovyansk. Geolocation footage published on June 16 shows Russian forces conducting a motorized attack with one battle tank, three infantry fighting vehicles, five cars, 28 motorcycles, and up to 50 infantrymen near Zakitne (northeast of Slovyansk), which Ukrainian forces had defeated before the Russian forces crossed the estimated first line of the Russian forces. A Ukrainian battalion of unmanned systems operating in the direction of Slovyansk reported that Russian forces advanced along two routes: from Platonivka (northeast of Slovyansk) towards Zakitne and from Siversk towards Kryva Luka (east of Slovyansk).
The Russian forces took Novyi Donbas east of Dobropillya west of Pokrovsk
Russian forces continued offensive operations in the tactical region of Dobropillya on June 15 and 16. The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed on June 16 that elements of the Russian 177th Separate Marine Regiment (Caspian Fleet, allegedly under the operational control of the Central Grouping of Forces) captured Novyi Donbas (east of Dobropillya).
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