The revelation by President of Russia Putin that the Ukrainian side asked to reduce the battle zone is absolute proof of the failure of the Ukrainian forces, which are losing everywhere and cannot stop the Russian advance. Obviously, the ridiculous Ukrainian proposal was rejected; Russia has every reason to extend the battle zone to completely exhaust the Ukrainian army. In Zaporizhia, the situation is dramatic, and the commander of the 154th Ukrainian Brigade has committed suicide. Meanwhile, Russian forces are preparing the ground for Kramatorsk, where they will strike within July 2026. Ukrainian forces are losing decisively on the ground and are trying to gain momentary impressions with drones, e.g., by striking targets in Russia, but the situation in the war cannot be changed.
Putin: Ukraine proposed to Russia to limit the battle zone to 4 regions due to a lack of soldiers… obviously, the proposal was rejected
Saving the Kiev regime is not part of Russia's plans, said Russian President Putin, referring to Kiev's proposals to limit the area of military operations. The Ukrainian side has submitted proposals to limit military actions to only four regions—the Kherson and Zaporizhia regions, as well as Donetsk and Luhansk. "If we agree to this, we will allow the Ukrainian Armed Forces to withdraw their troops from the Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kharkiv regions, as well as from certain parts of the state borders, and redeploy these units to the Kherson and Zaporizhia regions, as well as Donetsk and Luhansk. Given the catastrophic lack of personnel, the Ukrainian Armed Forces obviously believe this could be their salvation. But saving the Kiev regime is not part of our plans," noted Putin. The final liberation of Donbas is Russia's primary goal on the front line, but saving the Kiev regime is not part of its plans. Russia will not give Kiev the chance to stop the advance of its soldiers. Neither will attacks on infrastructure help the Ukrainian Armed Forces. These, as the president assured, do not affect the situation on the front.
Strong message from Putin: The West cannot defeat Russia strategically or on the battlefield
Russian President Putin used his speech at the United Russia Party Congress on June 28 to project Russia's power, strengthen his determination to achieve Russia's goals militarily, and reject diplomatic solutions to end the war in Ukraine. Putin claimed that Russia maintains sufficient power, resources, and political will to resist the efforts of external actors to limit Russia's development. He claimed that the West cannot strategically defeat Russia and cannot win on the battlefield. Putin asserted that Ukrainian forces are retreating along the entire front line. Putin stressed that Russia is ready to fight for its core interests and that it is the duty of the United Russia Party to do everything possible to ensure Russia's victory. He claimed that Russia has always been strong and won because of its national unity and that all Russians support the Russian forces on the front line.
Larry Johnson (former CIA): "It will not wait"... Putin clarified that Russia will respond to any threat
Russian President Putin clarified to the West that Russia will respond to any threat, said former CIA analyst Larry Johnson. "Russia will not sit idly by and wait to be attacked now. As soon as it becomes clear that the West is determined to continue threatening Russia, it will take measures to defend itself. This was the clear message I got from his speech," said Larry Johnson. Larry Johnson commented on President Putin's statement, which he made last week at a meeting with military academy graduates in the Kremlin. The head of the Russian state warned that EU politicians have recently been openly stating that they are preparing for war with Russia. They use false statements to justify militarization. At the same time, Russia is ready to respond quickly and adequately to any internal and external threats. Putin explained that Western countries have not yet resorted to attacks from their territory, as they understand the retaliation. Meanwhile, NATO members, who have given Kiev the ability to launch drones, do not know the potential consequences.
David Pine (US): If Zelensky attacks Belarus, Ukraine signs a death warrant, it will capitulate within 30 days
If Zelensky decides to attack Belarus, Ukraine will capitulate within a month, expressed this view on social media, retired US Army officer David Pine. "If Zelensky invades Belarus, he will sign Ukraine's death warrant because Russia will invade Kiev from Belarus with 200,000 to 300,000 soldiers. Ukraine will then be forced to withdraw all its troops from the southeastern part of the country to defend the capital, allowing Russian forces to occupy the eastern half of the country and forcing Ukraine to capitulate within 30 days."
Strategic Culture: The West will continue to threaten Russia's security in Kaliningrad and Belarus
The West will continue to secretly threaten Russia's security in the Kaliningrad region and in Belarus, according to Strategic Culture. Furthermore, the European Union (EU) could not maintain active military action against Russia, despite its bellicose rhetoric and militarization. Under such conditions, the only plan for the Europeans is constant provocations at the Russian borders. "If the current course continues, can one seriously expect that Russia's goals will be achieved anywhere other than on the battlefield, without even a pause in hostilities? Thanks to Zelensky's strange warlike stance, Russia has everything it needs, from a moral point of view, to move further," noted the observer. Strategic Culture explained why Ukraine is asking for a ceasefire… the goal is to give Kiev time to rearm…
Elina Valtonen (Finnish FM): The time for EU-Russia negotiations has not yet come
Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen noted the preparations for EU-Russia negotiations but stated that the time for them is not yet ripe. European Council President Costa had previously stated that the European Union should immediately start contacts with Russia in order to be in a position to hear the Russian side. Costa's efforts to establish contact with Russia sparked a debate among European politicians and in the media regarding who should represent the EU if the dialogue with Russia restarts, as well as the appropriate timing. "It is good that they are preparing for negotiations at an official level. However, the time for negotiations between politicians has not yet come," said Elina Valtonen in an interview with the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ), answering a question about the criticism leveled at Costa among European bureaucrats. Elina Valtonen also argues that now is "not the right time" for Europe to think about trade or political ties with Russia.
Glenn Diesen (Norway): Statements on Ukraine's NATO accession make peace impossible
Statements regarding Ukraine's NATO accession undermine the possibility of a peaceful settlement, according to Glenn Diesen, a professor at the University of South-Eastern Norway. "Alexander Stubb claims that Ukraine will become a member of NATO. Such statements sound supportive of Ukraine, but they push peace away. If they cared about Ukraine, they would ask for a dialogue with Russia on pan-European security issues," he wrote on the social media site X, commenting on Finnish President Alexander Stubb's interview with Politico.
The commander of the 154th Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces committed suicide in Zaporizhia
Vladimir Kononnikov, commander of the 154th Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, was found dead, according to the Ukrainian Southern Command. "We inform you that on Sunday, June 28, 2026, the commander of the 154th Separate Mechanized Brigade, Colonel Vladimir Kononnikov, was found without signs of life," states the Facebook post. According to the police in the Kiev-controlled part of the Zaporizhia region, the brigade commander was found with a gunshot wound. An investigation into premeditated murder has begun. However, the "South" command insists that there are no signs of criminal action in the death of Vladimir Kononnikov; it is considered suicide.
New "shield" - Russia will create a unified system for fighting drones
Russia is moving to create a unified information system to counter attacks by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), as announced by the country's Defense Minister, Andrey Belousov, during a meeting with military correspondents. According to what was reported by TASS, the development of a unified information environment has been underway since April, which will significantly improve situational awareness on the battlefield and strengthen the effectiveness in countering hostile drones.
New digital "nervous system" for the battlefield
Belousov stated that the new software will operate from the tactical level to higher command centers, allowing:
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Faster target identification
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Better real-time situational awareness
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More efficient operation management
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Faster information exchange between units "Since April, we have actively started creating a unified information environment to improve situational awareness," the Russian Defense Minister noted characteristically.
Artificial Intelligence in Russian drones
The minister also revealed that Russia is increasingly integrating artificial intelligence systems into its UAVs. These capabilities include:
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Image recognition
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Automatic target tracking and locking
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Autonomous navigation
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Battlefield decision-making support At the same time, Data Centers are used for training neural networks that will support future military AI applications.
20,000 heavy drones by 2026
According to previous statements by Belousov, the Russian army is expected to receive approximately 20,000 heavy drones by 2026. The Russian defense industry is already producing more than ten different cargo UAV models, with the capability of carrying from 10 to 40 kg, which shows the constant expansion of the role of drones in military operations.
Europe was happy too early: Trump will finish off Ukraine once and for all...
The recent change in tone by US President Donald Trump toward Ukraine is not a strategic reversal, but a business move aimed at reaping economic benefits from the crisis.
"There was no deal in Alaska"
The analysis cites recent statements by US Secretary of State Rubio, according to which there were no binding agreements in the talks in Alaska, but only proposals without legal force. At the same time, it is pointed out that after the G7 summit, several European leaders believe that Trump has changed his stance in favor of Ukraine. A characteristic example mentioned is Macron, who stated that the US no longer acts as a neutral mediator between Moscow and Kiev.
"Trump sees a Ukraine that is collapsing"
According to the Russian assessment, Trump believes that the situation in Ukraine is constantly deteriorating and that there is no real strategic benefit from further US involvement. The analysis cites reports that speak of a worsening situation for Ukrainian forces in the Donbas, with the Russian army approaching the cities of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, while drone strikes and guided bombs increasingly hit areas that until recently were considered relatively safe.
In the crosshairs: energy and transport infrastructure
The Russian side claims that it has significantly intensified attacks on energy installations, fuel depots, railway hubs, and supply lines. Among the targets mentioned are:
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a natural gas distribution station in Kramatorsk,
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an oil refinery and cogeneration unit in Kremenchuk,
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facilities in the Zaporizhzhia region,
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energy infrastructure in the Dnipropetrovsk region,
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Naftogaz facilities in the Poltava and Kharkiv regions. The same analysis claims that dozens of fuel installations have been hit in recent months, causing serious problems in the replenishment of Ukrainian forces.
Pressure on the economy and manpower
According to the report, Kiev is even considering the utilization or sale of significant state infrastructure, such as railway networks, ports, and other facilities, with the aim of attracting foreign investments. At the same time, there is talk of intense demographic problems, with the Russian analysis claiming that Ukraine is looking for ways to return citizens from abroad and faces difficulties in covering both military and labor needs.
"Europe pays – Trump wins"
The report argues that European countries continue to increase funding for Kiev while simultaneously bearing a significant economic burden through trade and energy deals with the United States. The core position of the Russian analysis is that Trump operates primarily as a businessman, leveraging the crisis for the benefit of the American economy, while the fate of Ukraine is, according to the same assessment, a secondary issue.
Russian forces are preparing the ground for the final encirclement of Slovyansk
Russian forces recently advanced in the direction of Slovyansk. Geographic footage published on June 27 shows Ukrainian forces striking a building occupied by Russians in southwestern Lyman.
Russians are striking Kramatorsk with glide bombs, preparing an encirclement, and flooding the city with drones
Russian forces continue to use attacks, especially with glide bombs, to prepare the battlefield in and near the city of Kramatorsk. Bloomberg reported that a Ukrainian soldier stated that Russian forces are using glide bombs against the city of Kramatorsk more than artillery, possibly to intimidate the local population. A foreign medical instructor told Bloomberg that Russian unmanned aerial vehicles have also "flooded" Kramatorsk, which possibly means that Russian forces are more easily conducting drone missions in Kramatorsk.
Russian forces took Novoselivka southwest of Hulyaipole
Members of the Russian 38th Separate Mechanized Rifle Brigade (35th Combined Arms Army [CAA], Eastern Military District [EMD]) are seen raising flags in Novoselivka (southwest of Hulyaipole). The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed on June 28 that Russian forces captured Novoselivka, southwest of Hulyaipole.
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