Moscow man spies for Ukraine while fighting in Russian army

"A Moscow-based lawyer, shocked by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, spent six

months fighting with Russian forces while secretly passing intelligence to Ukraine’s SBU Security Service. The publication tells the story of “Dmitry Vorobyov” — a pseudonym — a former supporter of the Russian opposition who in the summer of 2022 set out to join Ukraine’s Armed Forces.
“I said I couldn’t watch this anymore. I wrapped up my work, packed a backpack, and left,” the outlet quoted him as saying. He soon became a covert agent within the Russian army, allegedly working with the SBU." NV

EU leader offers Trump tariff deal

"Brussels is willing to negotiate a new agreement on tariffs with the U.S., European

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said. The statement comes after U.S. President Donald Trump slapped the bloc with a blanket 20% tariff that will take effect on Wednesday.
“We have offered zero-for-zero tariffs for industrial goods,” von der Leyen told a press conference on Monday. “Europe is always ready for a good deal, so we keep it on the table.”
The offer followed a meeting of EU trade ministers in Luxembourg. According to Reuters, it was decided that the bloc would prioritize negotiating with Washington rather than engaging in a trade war." RT

Over 150 combat engagements on front lines in past 24 hours

"Ukrainian forces reported 159 combat engagements over the past 24 hours, as Russian troops carried out intense attacks across multiple fronts.
Russian airstrikes targeted areas in the Sumy region (Turia, Uhroidy, Myropilske, Prokhody, Krasnopillia, Petrushivka), Donetsk region (Voskresenka, Zelene Pole, Novopil), and Zaporizhzhia region (Malynivka, Huliaipole).
In the Kupiansk sector, Ukrainian forces repelled four enemy assaults near Pishchane, and close to Kruhliakivka and Zahryzove.

In the Lyman sector, the enemy attempted 21 attacks, trying to advance near Nadiia, Yampolivka, Torske, Novoplatonivka, Novomykhailivka, Hrekivka, Ridkodub, Olhivka, Zelena Dolyna, and Nove.
In the Siversk sector, three enemy assaults near Hryhorivka were repelled.
In the Kramatorsk sector, three combat clashes were recorded near Kurdiumivka and Chasiv Yar.
In the Toretsk sector, 23 enemy attacks took place near Dachne, Shcherbynivka, Ozarianivka, and Toretsk.
In the Pokrovsk sector, Ukrainian defenders stopped 52 enemy assaults near Kalynove, Lysivka, Oleksandropil, Tarasivka, Yelyzavetivka, Udachne, Uspenivka, Preobrazhenka, Andriivka, Kotlyne, and toward Kotliarivka, Malynivka, and Serhiivka.
In the Novopavlivka sector, Ukrainian forces repelled 12 attacks near Bahatyr, Kostiantynopil, Rozlyv, and Skudne.
In the Huliaipole sector, the enemy made two unsuccessful attempts to advance toward Shevchenko.
In the Orikhiv sector, eight enemy attacks were repelled near Mali Shcherbaky, Stepove, and Shcherbaky.
In Russia's Kursk region, Ukrainian troops repelled 21 attacks. The enemy also conducted five airstrikes using nine guided bombs and launched 278 artillery attacks, including one from a multiple launch rocket system." Ukrin

Ukraine intercepts one of six Russian ballistic missiles targeting Kyiv

"Russia launched six ballistic missiles at Ukraine In the morning with one successfully intercepted by the Ukrainian Air Force, while others struck Kyiv city and oblast, Yuriy Ihnat, head of communications for the Air Force Command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, said on national television." NV

Ukrainian border guards destroy enemy Giatsint-S gun, armored vehicle in Kharkiv region

"Pilots from the Phoenix reconnaissance and strike drone unit of the State Border Guard Service successfully destroyed a Russian 2S5 Giatsint-S self-propelled artillery system and a Tigr armored vehicle in the Kharkiv region." Ukrin

165 clashes on front lines in past day, most fighting in Pokrovsk, Kursk sectors

"Ukrainian forces engaged in 165 combat clashes with Russian troops, with the heaviest fighting taking place in the Pokrovsk and Kursk sectors.

Russian airstrikes targeted areas around the settlements of Krasnopillia and Turia in the Sumy region, Berezivka, Kozacha Lopan, Zolochiv, and Dvorichanske in the Kharkiv region, Berestok, Pokrovsk, Zoria, Hrodivka, Kotlyne, Novopavlivka, Odradne, Komar, and Myrne in the Donetsk region, and Huliaipole, Novopavlivka, Orikhiv, and Novoandriivka in the Zaporizhzhia region.
In the Kharkiv sector, two combat clashes occurred near Vovchansk and toward Kamianka.
In the Kupiansk sector, eight enemy attacks were recorded. Ukrainian forces repelled assaults near Pishchane, Nova Kruhliakivka, Bohuslavka, and Zahryzove.
In the Lyman sector, Russian forces launched 22 attacks, attempting advances near Novoiehorivka, Nove, Kolodiazi, Yampolivka, Nadiia, and toward Novomykhailivka, Novoseriivka, Torske, and Ridkodub.
In the Siversk sector, two engagements occurred near Bilohorivka, with all enemy attempts to advance successfully repelled.
In the Kramatorsk sector, no active offensive actions by Russian forces were observed.
In the Toretsk sector, Russian forces launched 18 attacks near Dachne, Dyliivka, Toretsk, and Leonidivka.
In the Pokrovsk sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled 53 Russian assaults near the settlements of Sukha Balka, Kalynove, Udachne, Sribne, Yelyzavetivka, Lysivka, Kotliarivka, Preobrazhenka, Andriivka, Bohdanivka, Vodiiane Druhe, Kotlyne, and Uspenivka.
In the Novopavlivka sector, Ukrainian forces fended off nine enemy assaults near Rozlyv, Kostiantynopil, Vesele, and Burlatske.
In the Huliaipole sector, Russian troops attacked three times near Pryvilne and Vilne Pole.
In the Orikhiv sector, four unsuccessful enemy attacks occurred near Shcherbaky, Mali Shcherbaky, and Kamianske.
In the Dnipro River sector, one Russian attempt to advance was repelled.
In the Kursk sector, Ukrainian forces repelled 35 Russian attacks. The enemy conducted 212 artillery strikes, including 13 using MLRS, and launched 16 airstrikes, dropping 27 guided aerial bombs." Ukrin

Rutte: If NATO countries kept defense spending at 2% of GDP, they would not be able to defend themselves in three years

"If NATO member states kept their defense spending at just 2% of GDP, NATO would not be

able to defend itself in the next three to five years.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said this in an interview with CBS News, according to Ukrinform.
"If we would stick to the old 2%, we cannot defend ourselves here in three to five years," Rutte said.
He called it "staggering" to see how many billions of euros NATO's European members have committed to defense in the last couple of months.
"We have to continue doing this," Rutte added." Ukrin

Ukrainian drones strike major explosives factory in Russia

"In the early hours drones operated by Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) struck the

Promsintez plant in Chapayevsk, located in Russia’s Samara Oblast. The facility is one of the leading producers of industrial explosives in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States, manufacturing substances such as ammonal, ammonite, and granulite. At least 20 explosions were reported at the site, along with multiple fires. The plant’s management was forced to halt its production processes." NV

Three districts of Kyiv hit in massive Russian missile attack

"Russian ballistic missiles struck Kyiv, prompting rescuers to extinguish fires and clear

damage in the Darnytskyi, Obolonskyi, and Solomyanskyi districts. In the Darnytskyi district, a fire broke out in a non-residential building at one location, while another site saw a structure collapse and three nearby parked cars catch fire; rescuers confirmed the blazes were extinguished." NV

178 combat engagements took place on frontline over past day

"178 combat engagements between units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces and Russian invaders were recorded, with the enemy attacking most of all in the Pokrovsk sector.
Russian troops launched 99 air strikes on the positions of Ukrainian units and settlements, including 163 guided aerial bombs.

In the Kharkiv sector, there was one firefight in the vicinity of Kamianka.
Six Russian attacks took place in the Kupiansk sector. Defense forces repelled Russian army assaults in the areas of Petropavlivka, Zahryzove and Nova Kruhlyakivka.
In the Lyman sector, the enemy attacked 26 times, in particular, trying to advance near the settlements of Novoyehorivka, Novolyubivka, Hrekivka, Novyi, Katerynivka and towards Zelena Dolyna.
In the Siversk sector, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled five Russian assault attacks in the areas of Bilohorivka and Verkhnekamianske.
In the Kramatorsk sector, Ukrainian troops repelled three Russian attacks in the areas of Chasiv Yar and Hryhorivka.
In the Toretsk sector, the enemy carried out 20 attacks in the areas of Kurdiumivka, Toretsk, Dachne, Leonidivka and Druzhba.
In the Pokrovsk sector, Ukrainian defenders stopped 75 attacks by the Russian army in the areas of Kotliarivka, Valentynivka, Oleksandropil, Tarasivka, Lysivka, Shevchenko, Kotlyne, Udachne, Uspenivka, Novooleksandrivka and Bohdanivka.
In the Novopavlivka sector, the Defense Forces repelled eight enemy attacks in the vicinity of Rozlyv, Kostiantynopil and Burlatske. The Russians also attacked Ukrainian positions once near Rivne in the Huliaipole sector.
In the Orikhiv sector, in the area of Stepove, Mali Shcherbaky and towards Mala Tokmachka and Novoandriivka, the invaders made four unsuccessful attacks on the positions of Ukrainian defenders.
In the Prydniprovsky sector, the enemy tried twice to approach the fortifications of Ukrainian defenders without success." Ukrin

French Business Leaders Reject Macron’s Call to Stop Investments in United States

"President Emmanuel Macron’s call for French businesses to stop investing in the United

States has been ridiculed and rejected by business leaders in the country.
Paris reacted with rage this week over U.S. President Donald Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ tariff announcements, with President Macron describing the implementation of reciprocal tariffs as a “brutal and unfounded decision”. Macron went even further though, calling on French and European businesses to cease investing in the United States." Breitbart

Trump: ‘Oops, There Will Be No Attack’ Video: U.S. Military Strike Blows Up Houthis Gathering for Attack Instructions

"President Donald Trump on Friday posted a video on his social media accounts of a U.S.

military strike against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen who have been targeting American ships in the Red Sea.
“These Houthis gathered for instructions on an attack. Oops, there will be no attack by these Houthis! They will never sink our ships again!” he posted.
The U.S. military strikes have been conducted by the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier, which is currently stationed in the Red Sea." 

Breitbart

Thousands Protest Across Spain over Soaring Cost of Housing

"Protesters returned to the streets across Spain on Saturday in anger over high housing costs with no relief in sight.

Thousands marched in the capital, Madrid, and over 30 other cities in a demonstration organized by housing activists and backed by Spain’s main labor unions.
The housing crisis has hit particularly hard in Spain, where there is a strong tradition of home ownership and scant public housing for rent. Rents have been driven up by increased demand. Buying a home has become unaffordable for many, with market pressures and speculation driving up prices, especially in big cities and coastal areas.
A generation of young people say they have to stay with their parents or spend big just to share an apartment, with little chance of saving enough to one day purchase a home. High housing costs mean even those with traditionally well-paying jobs are struggling to make ends meet." Breitbart

Man reportedly dies during ‘forceful mobilization’ in Ukraine

"A Ukrainian man has allegedly died following an encounter with recruitment officers, who

tried to take him to a draft office as part of “forceful mobilization,” Strana.ua has reported. The outlet also published a disturbing video said to be taken at the scene.
The incident reportedly took place in the town of Sukhoy Liman in Ukraine’s southern Odessa Region.
A group of men wearing military fatigues can be seen standing nearby. Civilians in the video refer to them as recruitment officers. Some people accuse them of beating the would-be recruit before he fell unconscious – something that draft officers deny. The onlookers also claim that one of the officers was seen beating an elderly woman in the area.
The would-be recruit is then seen falling to the ground. The man shows no signs of life as he is lying unresponsive with his eyes wide open. “It’s over, he is dead,” people in the crowd can be heard saying, with some of them accusing the officers of “beating him to death.” One of the draft officers then tries to revive the man with a heart massage to no effect." RT

112 clashes on front lines today

"Since the start of the day, there have been 112 combat clashes between Ukrainian and Russian forces, with the highest number of enemy attacks taking place in the Pokrovsk sector.
Russian aircraft launched glide bomb strikes on the settlements of Petrushivka, Prokhody, Krasnopillia, Velyka Pysarivka, and Bratenytsia in the Sumy region.
In the Kharkiv sector, Ukrainian forces repelled one enemy attack near Kamianka, while Kozacha Lopan and Slatyne were hit by airstrikes.

In the Kupiansk sector, Russian forces launched five assaults on Ukrainian positions near Petropavlivka, Zahryzove, and Nova Kruhliakivka. Three attacks were repelled, while two clashes are ongoing.
In the Lyman sector, the Russian army conducted 16 attacks near Novoiehorivka, Novoliubivka, Hrekivka, Nove, Katerynivka, and toward Zelena Dolyna. Two clashes are still underway.
In the Siversk sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled two Russian attacks, with one more battle continuing near Bilohorivka and Verkhniokamianske.
In the Kramatorsk sector, Ukrainian forces repelled three Russian attacks near Chasiv Yar and Hryhorivka.
In the Toretsk sector, the enemy attempted to dislodge Ukrainian units near Kurdiumivka, Toretsk, Dachne, Leonidivka, and Druzhba, where nine assaults were repelled and three more clashes are ongoing.
In the Pokrovsk sector, Russian forces made 46 attempts to push Ukrainian defenders from their positions near Kotliarivka, Valentynivka, Oleksandropil, Tarasivka, Lysivka, Shevchenko, Kotlyne, Udachne, Uspenivka, Novooleksandrivka, and Bohdanivka. Ukrainian forces are holding the line and have already repelled 39 enemy attacks.
In the Novopavlivka sector, Ukrainian soldiers are currently repelling four enemy attacks near Rozlyv and Burlatske, with one assault already stopped.
In the Huliaipole sector, the enemy launched an airstrike on Komyshuvakha, while Ukrainian units repelled an attack near Rivnopil.
In the Orikhiv sector, Ukrainian forces successfully stopped four enemy assaults near Stepove, Mali Shcherbaky, and toward Mala Tokmachka and Novoandriivka.
In Russia's Kursk region, Ukrainian defenders repelled six enemy attacks, with four more clashes ongoing. The enemy carried out 195 artillery attacks on Ukrainian positions and settlements, including ten with multiple rocket launch systems. Additionally, six airstrikes were recorded, with 14 guided bombs dropped." 

Ukrin