The orange US president yesterday night:
"Trump calls Putin 'absolutely crazy' after largest Russian drone attack on Ukraine".
(source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g2wz74jdzo)

Seems like Ukraine did a very successful drone attack against Russian strategic bombers just today. Short range drones smuggled into Russia and then attack airbases very far away. Great job!!!

'You got no cards, Zelenskyy' ~ Donald Trump, Oval Office, April.

What else does Ukraine have up their sleeve? This puts the incursion into Kursk in a different perspective. Was one of the reasons to make it easier to do this operation? And where are the quislings here who defend Russia at every turn?

I’m pretty worried about what Putin is going to do to avenge the Spiderweb attacks. It is going to have to be something spectacularly awful. Let’s hope it’s not a mass casualty event.

, they're already bombing the Ukrainians more or less daily, and have been for some time, including civilian targets. :/

When the Kremlin expresses "righteous revenge against terrorists" or whatever, I'm wondering why more observers aren't calling them out.

Here's a story of contemporary colonization, or attempted at least. (archived)

Donbas is certainly Russian-speaking, but there was no organised separatism in Donbas before 2014. It's not a region that had organised separatist aspirations before that. — Huseyn Aliyev

Contrary to what Putin said, the Donbas (still) isn't independent, it's being colonized on Kremlin orders. Stands to reason that was the plan.

Gross and disgusting. Open expansion of non-democracy/authoritarianism, and Putin now holds the 21st century record of most Slav lives on his conscience (record holders of the 20th century were Hitler, then Stalin, I think).

I expect their daily bombing will continue, but I fear Putin is planning something spectacularly awful by way of responding to Spiderweb. An obvious tactic would be deployment of a nuclear warhead, although I hope it doesn't come to that, but I fear something on a much larger scale to the day-to-day missile attacks might be in the works.

I think the use of tactical nuclear weapons is only going to be used if somehow the Russian front is in such a dire position that it could collapse. Or the state looks to collapse. This is directly from the Russian doctrine, and they will likely follow their doctrine.

First of all, destroying the Ukrainian military is actually very difficult with nuclear weapons. Above all, what if Ukraine doesn't immediately seek peace. You escalate? How many nukes will you use after the the first strike? You go and demolish Kyiv?

Then once tactical nukes are used, you cannot go through the radiated area. Then you have the question of radiation fallout: what if the winds start moving the fallout into Russian territory? How will the Russians take that? China has said it's against the use of nuclear weapons. What then will be the response of your most important ally?

Once Russia would use nuclear weapons, basically the Pandora's box is opened. Likely many European countries would take defense against Russia just as seriously as Finland, the Baltics and Poland do. Enlarging nuclear deterrence in Europe would be likely. Germany or Poland acquiring a nuclear deterrent might happen then.

If people have not noticed, two nuclear armed countries, India and Pakistan, just a brief time ago went and had a limited war. They exchanged missiles and artillery fire, but then stopped. Let that above just sink in: we have already witnessed how two nuclear armed states fight each other conventionally without the conflict escalating to nuclear weapons. (This was actually the second or third time for those two countries.)

NATO can indeed respond to a Russia nuclear strike on Ukraine. Even if you have TACO as POTUS. The assumption that this will lead to an all out war and to a total nuclear exchange is a false assumption. The likeliest outcome is that NATO will make some hard hitting and crippling strikes that are indeed annoying to Russia, but then they will stop. Likely as they have said, without using nuclear weapons.

And then what will Russia do? How would the situation be then better for Russia? Likely it will be in a worse situation. And this is something that clearly Putin and the Russia military staff has already thought about. "Escalate to de-escalate" is something that the West already knows and has thought about for a long time. If it wouldn't be so, then it could really be that "Escalate to de-escalate" could work. That Russia used tactical nukes against Ukraine and this would make Europe to panic and insist that Ukraine takes the Russian "peace" deal alongside TACO.

Yet that's something that Russia cannot count on to happen. Thus the use of nukes is unlikely in my view.

Makes a lot of sense. I suppose it’s just a sense of dread on my part. As each day passes you wonder if Putin really has the means to launch a large-scale attack aside from the scattered missile and drone attacks they’re already doing.

So it turns out Putin's retaliation is the murder of more Ukrainian citizens and general destruction, which appears all they are capable of.

Putin's Normal behaviour. And that is what the Russia armed forces can do.

Large cities are easy targets.

Not the easiest to verify ...

Ukraine conducted successful ballistic missile test in mid-May — military expert
^{— Espreso · Jun 6, 2025}
Ukraine tests new ballistic missile
^{— Dylan Malyasov · Defence Blog Magazine · Jun 7, 2025}

... But no doubt the Ukrainians want more independence from supporters.

Valentyn Badrak on the threat of an attack on Europe (Apr 16, 2025 · 2m:52s)

North/west Kherson is being used as testing grounds for urban drone terrorism:

Ukraine: Russia Using Drones to Attack Civilians
^{— Human Rights Watch · Jun 3, 2025}

Part of this report has come up before in the thread:

New Report Reveals Russian Campaign to Cripple Ukraine’s Grain Trade and Economy
^{— Global Rights Compliance · May 21, 2025}

i. The unlawful occupation of territory, and illegal appropriation, extraction, and export of Ukrainian grain;
ii. The initial de facto blockade of Black Sea Ports from February to June 2022;⁸ and
iii. After Russia’s withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative in July 2023, through attacks against grain and related infrastructure located in the Black Sea and Danube ports, previously utilised to export grain.

UKRAЇNER | In its unprovoked war against Ukraine, Russia weaponises everything within its reach, including food. Before the invasion, Ukraine supplied... | Instagram (Apr 25, 2025 · 1m:58s)

@ssu Reports of sabotage in Sweden. Probably by Russia. Fits the string of increasing sabotage. Leiden university is keeping track of it. See here: https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/news/2025/01/research-europe-increasingly-targeted-by-russian-sabotage

includes raw data and infographics.

This is the reality we live in. Just remember that according Putin and Russia, Russia is at war with NATO.

To the Russians, best defense is active offense.

Is Ryabkov on a 4-year cycle?
Anyway, the good folks of the Baltics might be concerned.
Here's a trail:

• Russia demands NATO roll back from East Europe and stay out of Ukraine (Reuters · 2021 Dec 17)
• NATO flexes muscle to protect Vilnius summit near Russia, Belarus (Reuters · 2023 Jul 9)

"If Lithuania was alone, I would feel differently," he added. "If not for the NATO membership, things here could already be same as in Ukraine," said Elena Tarasevic, 55, Rynkun's neighbour.

• NATO’s Baltic exercises are part of preparations for military clash with Russia — diplomat (TASS · 2025 Jun 3)
• INTERVIEW: NATO expansion must stop to resolve conflict with West — MFA (TASS · 2025 Jun 9)
• Future of Ukraine conflict to show if US willing to restore ties with Russia — diplomat (TASS · 2025 Jun 9)
• Russia Won't End Ukraine War Until NATO Scales Back Eastern Flank: Moscow (Newsweek · 2025 Jun 9)
• Russia could send "little green men" to test NATO's resolve, German intelligence boss warns (Reuters · 2025 Jun 9)
• Russia Setting Up to 'Test' NATO in Baltics: German Intelligence (Newsweek · 2025 Jun 10)
• Moscow views Western military biological activities as security threat — senior diplomat (TASS · 2025 Jun 10)
... Pretext/prelude/excuse?
• Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia are European countries’ puppets, says Lavrov (TASS · 2025 Jun 10)

Crap coming out of the Kremlin circle will be propagated, might even be paraphrased by US officials.
Putin doesn't have peace in mind.

Finland accuses senior crew of Russia-linked vessel in damage of undersea power cable in Baltic Sea
^{— AP · Jun 14, 2025}

Their shadow fleet needs more attention.

This is about the Eagle S incident from last December. Basically the police inquiry has ended with charges laid towards the crew members. Law takes it's time in a democracy.

• Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia are European countries’ puppets, says Lavrov (TASS · 2025 Jun 10)

When Russia says your country is merely a puppet, it rhymes quite with the country being "purely an artificial construct", just like in the case of Ukraine was said for years.

The Baltic States should indeed worry.

Innovation and testing grounds for tomorrow's warfare?

U.S. Support for Ukraine Would be Cheap at Twice the Price
^{— Doug Beck, Nate Fick · The Cipher Brief · Jun 11, 2025}

Russian strikes kill 12 across Ukraine as G7 summit begins
^{— Marcel Gascón · EFE · Jun 17, 2025}

The Kremlin sending a message?

Report for Tuesday, June 17, 2025
^{— New York Times, Politico, Bloomberg, Reuters via The Cipher Brief · Jun 17, 2025}

Trump Renews Embrace of Putin Amid Ongoing Rift With Allies

Trump hints at no more US sanctions on Russia at G7 summit

Trump administration disbands group focused on pressuring Russia, sources say

Russia says U.S. has canceled next round of talks on easing tensions

Trump :up: s Putin and Netanyahu.

Trump's wet dreams about Russia?
1. Russia wrecking Ukraine until exhaustion of both, allowing then the US to exploit Ukraine’s resources under Russia’s nose (Ukraine split in two spheres of influence like Berlin during the Cold War ) and conveniently encourage a longstanding antagonism between Russia and Europe. While maintaining an influence over Europe and Russia isolated, the US could still keep it in friendly terms with Russia, playing both sides to maximize the US strategic advantage and global leverage.
2. Israel wrecking Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Iranian regime to benefit not only Israel and Arab countries (eager to normalize relations with Israel), which fear the Iranian influence in the region, but also to further weaken Russia’s and China’s political and economic partnership with Iran. If Trump could impose a deal to a capitulating Iranian regime (ostensibly focused on nuclear issues, but likely also targeting oil and gas exports), the US would not only cement its status as the world’s leading oil and gas producer, but also gain the power to influence Middle Eastern energy production and markets. This would sideline Russia and China, undermining their influence and economic interests in the region, and further consolidating/preserving American dominance on the global stage.

Putin insisting that the WHOLE of Ukraine is Russian:

After how the tables have turned since January, he feels more entitled than ever to claim that the whole of Ukraine is Russian. If you have an old man in the White House saying similar statements like "the Gulf of Mexico is now the Gulf of America" or threatening Denmark to make Greenland part of the USA. Well, it is not strange that Putin would follow a similar tune.

I'm not sure if these bits and pieces were posted before, but, anyway ...

"As to NATO enlargement, we have no concerns regarding the security of the Russian Federation."
— Putin, 2004 · via Die Zeit · via SAGE

"Crimea is a part of the Ukrainian state, and we cannot interfere in the internal affairs of another country. We must be aware of this."
— Putin, 2006 · via the Kremlin

"Crimea is not a disputed territory. There has been no ethnic conflict there, unlike the conflict between South Ossetia and Georgia."
"I think questions about such goals for Russia have provocative undertones."
— Putin, 2008 · TV interview via RFE/RL

"Donbas is certainly Russian-speaking, but there was no organised separatism in Donbas before 2014. It's not a region that had organised separatist aspirations before that."
— Huseyn Aliyev, 2024 · via France 24

... all part of the story.

Not really what anyone wants to see I imagine, yet more or less a consequence of the Kremlin's actions.

Germany is building a big scary army (archived)
^{— The Economist · Jun 4, 2025}

The "breadbasket" of the old USSR, Europe and beyond:

New Report Reveals Russian Campaign to Cripple Ukraine’s Grain Trade and Economy
^{— Global Rights Compliance · May 21, 2025}

This adds to previous reports, going back three years or so ^{(2022, 2022, 2022, 2023, 2023, 2023, 2023, 2023, 2023, 2023, 2023, 2023, 2025, ongoing)}.
Land-grabbing and colonization attempts, theft, entitlement and destruction.
Part hybrid warfare, part other-than-war, illegal, organized and systematic at scale, in Europe.
The less assertive the world is, the more the Kremlin will do.

The aggression of Ukraine is looking more and more like a strategic blunder by Russia, doesn't it?
- NATO was enlarged and revived [1].
- Loss of influence over the Middle East (see Syria and Iran) and the Mediterranean sea (see the fate of the Black Sea Fleet [2]).
- Weakened control over Central Asia (thanks to Turkey and China [3]).
- The war in Ukraine to gain control over the WHOLE of Ukraine isn't over yet (after 3 years) and unlikely to succeed given that the US is looking forward to stepping in once the war is over.
- Growing dependence on China [4]
- Also economic recession is looming [5]

[1] "Nato leaders confirm defence spending will rise to 5% of GDP and say support for members is ‘ironclad’": https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jun/25/nato-donald-trump-mark-rutte-europe-latest-live-news
[2] "Ukraine has ‘significantly degraded’ Russian Black Sea fleet" https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/ukraine-has-significantly-degraded-russian-black-sea-fleet/
[3] "China’s influence is growing in Central Asia. What does that mean for Russia?" https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3315092/chinas-influence-growing-central-asia-what-does-mean-russia
"Turkey’s Pivotal Moment With Azerbaijan"
https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/04/30/turkey-influence-azerbaijan-armenia-treaty/
[4] "Xi in Moscow: China's role in Russia's economic survival" https://www.dw.com/en/xi-jinping-china-russia-trump-tariffs-trade-economy-oil/a-72460014
[5] "Russia’s economy minister says the country is on ‘the brink of recession’" https://apnews.com/article/russia-economy-recession-ukraine-conflict-9d105fd1ac8c28908839b01f7d300ebd

So despite the stupid predictions of countless imbeciles parroting the lies of the media, it turns out — after 3 years — that Russia has succeeded in its goals (which was never to conquer all of Ukraine), and will come out of this with a much better deal than Ukraine will get.

Now it’s just a matter of how many more Ukrainians have to die for a hopeless cause. I’m hoping not many more…

Russia has succeeded in its goals — Mikie

You mean:
- "Denazification" of Ukraine
- Demilitarization of Ukraine
- neutral status of Ukraine
- no NATO access for Ukraine
???
None of these have been achieved so far.

Occupying/annexing land that is not internationally recognized so far is what Russia has managed to achieve. And it's highly questionable the idea that the strategic goal of Russia was just about occupying and annexing Ukrainian land, as if Russia didn't have enough land already.
Breaking the international order the way Russia did is really serving Russia's national interests? We have reasons to doubt it (see my previous comment)

which was never to conquer all of Ukraine — Mikie

It didn't need to conquer the all of Ukraine to control and justify their control of the WHOLE of Ukraine.

Looking forward to reading more of your imbecile comments.