Russian missile strike in Odessa kills at least ten people

"At least ten people were killed after a missile strike on an apartment building in the southern
Ukrainian city of Odessa." WION

What Really Happened on Snake Island?

"Snake Island’s position in the Black Sea allows guns and missiles stationed there to help

control the waters through which much of Ukraine’s imports and exports travel. Or used to, before the war.

Russia took the island early on, but defiant Ukrainian troops there immediately became a symbol of resistance.

“Russian ship, f*** you,” was reportedly the semiofficial Ukrainian reply to the Russian warship Moskva (since sunk) ordering them off the island.

Needless to say, after all that, there’s a lot of prestige that comes with possession of Snake Island on top of its strategic significance.

That’s why both sides are claiming victory, even if only of a sort: “Unable to withstand the fire of Ukraine’s artillery, missile and air strikes, Russian army left Snake Island,” the commander-in-chief of the armed forces of Ukraine, Valery Zaluzhny, said.

The last Russian troops left — some say “fled” due to heavy fire — by speedboat early on Thursday.

Moscow claims a sort of moral victory: Russia’s ministry of defence stated that it had completed its assigned tasks and was tactically withdrawing to allow for grain exports from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports.

Russia could easily allow grain shipments while still holding Snake Island. It’s real simple: Make it known that ships are free to pass and then refrain from sinking them. On the other hand, if your goal is to maintain a stranglehold on your enemy’s economy, you keep possession of the island vital to doing just that. 

So this claim that Russia has suddenly grown a conscience about grain supplies doesn’t wash.

Economics aside, retreating under heavy fire and then saying, “I meant to do that!” is a pretty sad justification." PJMedia

Ukraine --144 of the country's soldiers have returned in a prisoner swap with Russia

"Ukrainian authorities said 144 of the country's soldiers have returned in a prisoner swap with
Russia. Of those released, 95 are fighters who defended the Azovstal steel plant in the besieged port city of Mariupol, which Russian troops captured in May." NPR

Syria makes decision to recognize LPR, DPR

 "Based on the common will and desire to improve relations in all areas, the Syrian Arab
Republic has made a decision to recognize the independence and sovereignty of the Lugansk People's Republic and the Donetsk People's Republic," the Foreign Ministry." Tass

NATO Leaders Officially Invite Sweden, Finland to Join Alliance

 "NATO formally invited Finland and Sweden into the alliance on Wednesday at its Madrid
summit." Sputnik

Boris Claims Putin Wouldn’t Have Invaded Ukraine if He Was a Woman

"British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has claimed that the invasion of Ukraine represents
“toxic masculinity” on the part of Russian President Vladimir Putin and that the war would not have happened if a woman was in charge." Breitbart

Putin signs law banning issuance of licenses to foreign users of mineral resources

"Putin signed a law prohibiting the issuance of licenses for the development of mineral
resources to foreign companies. The document was published on the official portal of legal information.

According to the law, only legal entities established in accordance with the law of the Russian Federation, as well as individual entrepreneurs, who are citizens of Russia, can be users of national mineral resources. To continue working in Russia, foreign companies will have to create legal entities in the Russian Federation and transfer the rights to use subsoil plots to them. Valid licenses for the right to use subsoil held by foreigners will be transferred to Russian entities or returned to the subsoil fund." Tass

The U.S. imposed new sanctions to punish Russia

"The U.S. imposed new sanctions to punish Russia for its war in Ukraine. The sanctions
include restrictions on 70 Russian defense-related businesses, including Rostec, a state-owned corporation "considered to be the cornerstone of Russia's defense, industrial, technology, and manufacturing sectors," the State Department said. The U.S., along with G-7 countries, is also banning the import of Russian gold." NPR

The death toll climbed to at least 20 after Monday's missile attack on a crowded mall

"The death toll climbed to at least 20 after Monday's missile attack on a crowded mall in the
central Ukrainian city of Kremenchuk, which leaders at a Group of Seven meeting called a "war crime." On Tuesday, emergency responders ended a rescue search for survivors. Russia's government denied hitting the shopping center, claiming it caught fire after Russia struck a nearby weapons depot. But Ukraine's president said it was a "calculated" strike against the mall." NPR

‘No NATO’: Watch Thousands Protest Alliance in Madrid on Eve of Key Summit

"Thousands took to the streets of Madrid on Sunday to protest the upcoming NATO summit.

Carrying modern-day Spanish flags, banners of the old Spanish Republic and flags identifying a range of Leftist forces, including the Party of Labour, the Communist Party, the United Left, the social democratic Unidas Podemos and the Solidaridad Obrera union, demonstrators chanted ‘No NATO’ and ‘NATO Bases – Out’ as they marched along Paseo del Prado Boulevard.

The protesters were joined by allies from other countries, including a group from the Communist Party of Greece, and South Koreans carrying banners reading “Disband NATO, a vehicle of imperialist war!” and “Oppose South Korea Joining NATO!” Sputnik

Report Confirms Expansive CIA ‘Stealth Network’ Of Spies & Commandos Inside Ukraine

"A fresh New York Times report has confirmed what many already suspected – that the CIA is
still very active inside Ukraine – especially with training as well coordinating weapons among its Ukrainian allies.

The Times report details “a stealthy network of commandos and spies rushing to provide weapons, intelligence and training,” based on US and European intelligence officials" ZH

At Least 10 Killed in Missile Strike on Ukrainian Shopping Mall

"At least 10 people have been killed and dozens more injured after a Russian missile struck a
busy shopping mall in central Ukraine, senior Ukrainian officials said Monday.

Video footage shows plumes of black smoke rising from the burning shopping center in the industrial city of Kremenchuk as dozens of rescuers rush around the perimeter and fire trucks parked nearby." MT

Ukraine’s Zelensky asks G7 for more arms, stricter sanctions as Russia makes headway in Donbas

"Zelensky on Monday urged world powers to step up their support for Ukraine via arms and
sanctions as he addressed the G7 summit via videolink from Kyiv after the capital was hit by the first Russian strikes in weeks. In the eastern Luhansk province, meanwhile, the governor urged all civilians to leave the city of Lysychansk – the last big city in the region still held by Ukrainian troops." France24

Obese Russian general, 67, called up to fight in Ukraine as Putin ‘scrapes the barrel

"An obese Russian retired general has been sent to fight on the frontlines in Eastern Ukraine
because Vladimir Putin is running out of senior officers.

The 20 stone general, 67, is now said to be in charge of Russian special forces operating in the region after the unit’s former commander was seriously injured in an artillery strike.

The veteran of Russia ’s disastrous war in Afghanistan is known as General Pavel.

A senior intelligence source last night told the Daily Star Sunday: “Putin is now scraping the barrel." OBJ

One dead, several wounded in missile strike on central Kyiv

"At least one person was killed and several were injured after a Russian missile strike hit Kyiv.News agencies reported that Moscow has stepped up its air strikes on Ukraine for a second day amid the ongoing war."  WION

G-7 Will Ban Russian Gold Imports

"Having sparked hyperinflation in European gas prices and record energy costs around the
globe with their poorly conceived and implemented Russian energy sanctions which have backfired spectacularly, allowing Moscow to reap record energy export profits and China and India to buy oil far below spot prices while leaving US motorists paying record prices at the pump, on Sunday the Biden admin alongside the G-7 announced that they will ban Russian gold imports to "further impose financial costs on Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine." ZH

Ukraine may suspend visa-free travel for Israelis

"Ukraine’s ambassador to Israel, Evgeny Korniychuk, has criticized the country for refusing free entry to Ukrainian citizens, saying Kiev is currently contemplating whether to retaliate reciprocally.

“We are now considering whether to suspend the visa-free regime for Israelis,” Korniychuk said in a recent interview." RT

Russia To Transfer Nuclear-Capable Missiles To Belarus "Within Months"

"Putin just issued what's possibly the most alarming and escalatory statement thus far in the four-month long Ukraine war. Putin for the first time informed his close ally Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko that he has approved supplying Belarus with nuclear capable long-range missiles. Minsk has long offered to host Russian nukes as a 'deterrent' against the West - a prospect which Lukashenko had very provocatively offered even in the months leading up to the Feb.24 invasion of Ukraine." ZeroHedge

Germany Fears Russia Could Shut Nord Stream 1 Within Weeks

"The European Union has this week accused Russia of planning "rogue moves" regarding
lowering natural gas flows to Europe, or in other words continuing to 'weaponize' its energy, to which the Kremlin has consistently responded with variations of 'our gas, our rules'. 

This after Moscow has reduced Nord Stream 1 gas flows by 40% last week while citing technical issues, leading to a four- to sixfold rise in market prices, based on German energy officials." ZeroHedge

Just 40 Per Cent of Europeans Still Support Russia Sanctions If They Mean Rising Prices

"While the vast majority of Europeans support sanctions against Russia over the invasion of
Ukraine, less than half support the sanctions if they directly lead to a rise in prices, which present experience suggests they are.

The Eurobarometer survey revealed that if sanctions against Russia were to increase the price of food and energy just 40 per cent of Europeans would support them and 60 per cent said they were not prepared to deal with the possible consequences of sanctions." Breitbart

 

China Calls for ‘Urgent’ Coal Production to Stave Off Blackouts

"The premier of China’s State Council, Li Keqiang, “urged” energy officials to ramp up coal production this week to stave off electricity blackouts across several Chinese provinces experiencing record power usage during a regional heatwave, the U.K.’s Guardian newspaper reported." Breitbart

Chile Copper Strike

"Workers for CODELCO, Chile’s state-run mining company and the largest copper producer
in the world, launched a nationwide strike to protest plans to shut down a foundry employing 350 people.....threatened to cost CODELCO $20 million a day and highlighted the volatility of the copper industry, which is vital to electric vehicle manufacture and thus a staple of a “green economy” promoted by leftist and communist governments including that of China, which is the number one importer of Chilean copper." Breitbart

Argentina: Angry Truckers Block Roads to Protest Fuel Shortages

"Argentine truck drivers’ unions called for a nationwide strike on Wednesday, causing miles-
long road closures and other transportation disruptions that threatened to jeopardize the country’s food supply during its peak harvest season, Reuters reported.

“Angry Argentine truck drivers blocked highways protesting shortages and rising prices for diesel fuel, just as the country’s crucial grains harvest requires transport amid surging inflation,” the news agency reported." Breitbart

 

Ukraine replenishes combat losses with convicts and women

"A large-scale hunt for conscripts is underway across Ukraine amid the military conflict with
Russia, a source within Kiev’s military has told RT Russian.

The military recruiters are now allowed to hand out draft notices to people not only at their place of residence, but also in the streets, restaurants, entertainment facilities and anywhere else." RT

 

Satellite Imagery Shows Construction Of US Military Facility In Pacific

"Satellite imagery revealed that the United States is constructing a new military facility
in the Pacific, possibly preparing an alternative landing site for its airforce should the military bases on Guam become inoperable.

Land-clearing activity has been spotted at Tinian International Airport in the Northern Mariana Islands, based on satellite images obtained by The War Zone on June 15." ZeroHedge

Ukraine Forces Retreat From Encircled Severodonetsk As Russia Achieves Hold Over Luhansk Province

"Ukraine's government announced for the first time that its remaining forces defending the key
eastern city of Severodonetsk have been ordered to withdraw, after having lost control of most of the city to Russian forces for weeks, amid relentless shelling and persistent Ukrainian army complaints of being low on ammo and men." ZH

Ukraine Strikes Offshore Gas Drilling Rig

"Offiicals Russia-annexed Crimea has accused Ukraine of firing upon a gas drilling platform
in the Black Sea Monday morning, with three injured and seven missing." MT

Russia Recruits Teachers, Construction Workers and Politicians to ‘Rebuild’ Occupied Ukraine

"Russian authorities have launched a campaign to recruit essential workers for the “reconstruction” of eastern Ukrainian territories occupied by its forces, according to public online job postings and news reports.

Since shifting the focus of its invasion eastward following a failed effort to capture Kyiv, Russia has said its main objective is to “liberate” areas of eastern and southern Ukraine predominantly populated by Russian speakers." MoscowTimes

Russia claims hundreds of casualties during strike in Ukraine

"Russian strikes on a shipbuilding plant in the Ukrainian port of Nikolaev killed as many as
500 troops. The troops belonged to the Ukrainian Army’s 59th Mechanized Brigade, the report said, who it’s believed were taking cover at the Okean Shipyard." RT

Ukraine Bans Main Opposition Party, Seizes All Its Assets

"Ukrainian authorities have banned the country’s main opposition party and seized all its
assets, once again undermining the narrative that President Zelensky is presiding over a beacon of democracy.

The country’s Ministry of Justice announced the move via Facebook, revealing that the Opposition Platform — For Life had been shut down and its assets, money and property transferred to the state." IW

EU told to prepare for total Russian gas cut-off

"International Energy Agency (IEA) chief Fatih Birol has warned the EU to be prepared for
the possibility of a complete shutdown of Russian gas exports this winter, calling on the bloc's members to widen the span of measures aimed at preparing for this scenario." RT

Ben Stiller Hobnobs with Volodymyr Zelensky in Ukraine

"Comedian Ben Stiller met fellow actor and current president of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Monday to return attention to the ongoing, eight-year-old war between that country and Russia on the occasion of World Refugee Day.

“You’re my hero!” Stiller can be heard exclaiming while shaking hands with Zelensky in a video of the meeting published by the president on his Instagram profile." Breitbart

UN Food Chief Halved Refugee Meal Rations As Global Hunger Crisis Worsens

"Food riot risks continue to soar worldwide as the head of the food-aid branch of the United

Nations halved meal rations for refugees. 

On Monday, David Beasley, director of the UN World Food Programme (WFP), released a statement detailing "the heartbreaking decision to cut food rations for refugees who rely on us for their survival."

"As global hunger soars way beyond the resources available to feed all the families who desperately need WFP's help, we are being forced to make the heartbreaking decision to cut food rations for refugees who rely on us for their survival," Beasley said. 

Beasley pointed out that WFP already "significantly reduced" rations across its operating areas, indicating cuts up to 50% are affecting 75% of all refugees supported by WFP in Eastern Africa, including Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan, and Uganda." ZH

Bank of Japan Spends A Record $81 Billion To Avert Collapse, But $10 Trillion JGB Market Is Now Completely Broken

"The amount of bonds the central bank has lent "temporarily" to financial institutions to
relieve supply tightness has hit a record, Bloomberg data show. The BOJ lent 3.2 trillion yen ($23.9 billion) of JGBs through its Securities Lending Facility on Thursday, well above the 2.3 trillion yen lent at the peak of coronavirus fears in March 2020. Bloomberg has calculated how much it cost the BOJ to preserve calm after last week's catastrophic slide in futures, and the answer is some 10.9 trillion yen ($81 billion) of government bond purchases last week, the most on record. " ZH

Fossil Fuel Disaster Accelerates As Australia Runs Low On Coal

"Australia’s biggest coal plant can’t get enough coal, as fossil fuel disaster accelerates

In its quarterly update, Origin confirms its view that the price rises were being driven by coal plant outages and high fossil fuel prices, and warns it will continue in at least the near term until more renewables can be brought into the grid.

“The challenges with coal delivery to Eraring Power Station are expected to persist into FY2023,” it says in its quarterly update.

“This is expected to result in a material increase in coal purchasing costs given high coal prices and continued exposure to high spot electricity prices." ZeroHedge

Moscow Claims Kalibr Strike Killed '50 Officers & Generals'

"Russian sources asserted that "Russian warships have destroyed a Ukrainian command center with Kalibr cruise missiles, killing dozens officers, Moscow's Defense Ministry reported on Sunday."

"More than 50 generals and officers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were killed," the official MoD statement said, detailing that it took place near the Shirokaya Dacha in Dnepropetrovsk Region, allegedly striking a compound that was being used as a meeting of trop brass from multiple Ukrainian army units." ZH

Did Europe's Latest (& Little Noticed) Anti-Russia Move Just Push The World Closer To WW3?

"Quite possibly the biggest Russia-West provocation of the entire four-month long war in

Ukraine has occurred this weekend, but few in the media establishment seem to be taking notice of the singular event which has the potential to quickly spiral toward a WW3 scenario.

Baltic EU/NATO member Lithuania has implemented a ban on all rail transit goods going to Russia's far-western exclave of Kaliningrad, after transport authorities initially announced the provocative measure on Friday. "The EU sanctions list notably includes coal, metals." This has given way to fears of panic buying breaking out in Kaliningrad Oblast, which is Russian sovereign territory on the Baltic Sea, but which is sandwiched between Lithuania and Poland, and is thus reliant on overland shipping for passage via its EU neighbors." 

ZeroHedge

Poland Pokes Holes in Biden Plan to Access Ukrainian Grain

"Biden has suggested building a host of silos on the Ukrainian-Polish border to help move the
globally relied upon grain out of the war-torn nation by rail.

However, Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister, Henryk Kowalczyk, has poked holes in the plan, saying that — while he thinks it is “remarkably interesting” — the scheme is lacking in detail, and would likely take months to complete.

“…for the time being it is a preliminary declaration which requires many detailed solutions to be worked out,” Kowalczyk said in a post uploaded online." Breitbart

Russian TV Broadcasts Video of Captured Americans Fighting in Ukraine

"Russian television broadcasted a video Friday of two American military veterans who were
captured after assisting Ukrainian forces. NBC News reported Thursday the two, Andy Huynh, 27, and Alexander Drueke, 39, volunteered to assist Ukrainian forces against Russia’s invasion, which began in February." NEWSMAX

Zelensky visits war-torn southern city as battles rage

"Zelensky visited the war-damaged southern city of Mykolaiv on Saturday for the first time
since the Russian invasion as "fierce battles" raged again in the eastern Donbas region. Russian forces have directed their firepower on the east and south of Ukraine in recent weeks." France24

Japan deploys MSDF fleet to Indo-Pacific with eye on China

"Japan has dispatched a Maritime Self-Defense Force flotilla on a deployment to 11 Indo-
Pacific countries and one foreign territory as part of joint naval exercises with the United States and other countries undertaken to counter a more assertive China.

In the annual deployment that will run to Oct 28, the MSDF fleet will make port calls in the Pacific island nations of the Solomon Islands, Tonga and Fiji for the first time, according to the Defense Ministry.

The fleet will also take part in the Rim of the Pacific exercise -- the world's largest multinational naval exercise -- the Pacific Vanguard exercise involving Australia, Japan, the United States and South Korea, and other drills, the ministry said." JapanTimes

Abbott Infant Formula Plant Closed Again After Flooding

"EleCare specialty infant formula production at Abbott's Michigan plant has been halted after
severe storms triggered flooding in the plant. The closure comes less than two weeks after the factory resumed production following a months-long shutdown that fueled a national formula shortage." 

U.S. News&WorldReport

Thousands of cattle dead amid continuing heat wave

"Thousands of cattle in Kansas have died in recent days due to high heat and humidity, dealing
a blow to one of the country’s leading cattle production states as the industry grapples with extreme weather and rising production costs linked to the war in Ukraine." ABC

Russian-flagged ships transporting Ukrainian grain to Syria

"Russian-flagged ships have been carrying grain harvested in Ukraine last season and
transported it to Syria, U.S. satellite imagery company Maxar said." JustNews

5 injured as Ukrainian ballistic missile intercepted over Donetsk

"Five people have been injured in the town of Komsomolskoye in the southeast of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) in the wake of a Ukrainian missile strike that was intercepted by the local militias." RT

German Official Warns Of Gas Shortages, Bankruptcies, Massive Price Hikes That Will Send "Shockwaves Throughout The Country"

"A gas shortage and high prices will send “shockwaves through the country,” leading to
landlords cutting the heat for tenants and widespread company bankruptcies, warned Klaus Müller, the head of Germany’s Federal Network Agency, which is the regulatory office for electricity, gas, telecommunications, postal services, and railway markets. Müller says he expects gas prices to continue to climb, resulting in increased inflation that goes far beyond energy. He also warns that there will be a dramatic lack of gas in the winter, which could lead to landlords turning down the heat to save on energy. In turn, Germans may have to grapple with colder apartments." ZeroHedge

China ready to supply components for aircraft to Russia

"China is ready to supply components for aircraft to Russian airlines, Chinese Ambassador to Moscow Zhang Hanhui told TASS.

"We are ready to supply components to Russia, we are organizing such cooperation," he said. "[Airlines] are currently addressing [it], they have certain channels, there are no restrictions from the Chinese side," the diplomat added." Tass

European Commission recommends EU 'candidate status' for Ukraine

"The European Commission has recommended that Ukraine be granted European Union
candidate status, its president, Ursula von der Leyen, said during a press conference, a day after the bloc's most powerful leaders visited Kyiv. The humanitarian situation across Ukraine and particularly in the eastern Donbas region is “extremely alarming and continues to deteriorate”, the United Nations said." France24

“We’ve Hurt Ourselves with Our Sanctions”: Tucker Makes Interesting Point about Russian Ruble, American Inflation

"Tucker Carlson.... pointing out that the now gold-backed Russian ruble is stronger than it has been in months in currency markets while the US succumbs to an inflation crisis and experiences a financial meltdown of sorts.

Tucker began that skewering of American monetary and foreign policy by attacking the Secretary of Energy and how America’s incompetent leftist elites have mismanaged energy policy, pushing it away from reliable sources of energy like fossil fuels and nuclear power to unreliable sources of energy like wind and solar, saying:

“Now you may be asking yourself, why would you put someone like that, who’s never had a real job and achieved precisely nothing in her life and actually doesn’t know anything about anything, why would you put her in a key position like Secretary of Energy?

“Because she knows the science. As she just told you, sun and wind are the most reliable forms of energy. It’s not like clouds could block the sun or the wind might stop blowing. That’s insane. And don’t think about nuclear power ramping up domestic energy production. That’s what Putin wants you to do.”" TP

Two US Veterans Captured by Russia in Ukraine

"A pair of former U.S. servicemen who volunteered for the Ukraine war effort have reportedly been captured by Russian forces near the city of Kharkiv during an “absolutely crazy” mission.

Alexander Drueke, 39, and Andy Huynh, 27, were allegedly manning a rocket-propelled grenade launcher when Russian tanks rolled up on a 10-man Ukraine army squad last Thursday in the village of Izbytske." 

Telegraph