Free Republic

According to the mathematician [Immanuel Niven], the "Putin system" is beginning to collapse, exactly what he predicted mathematically already in March: "The announced drastic tax increases in Russia (the highest tax increases in the history of modern Russia) as well as Putin's recently published slogans (according to which "everyone must work as if they were at the front") are dramatic signs that the toxicity of the Russian war economy is reaching a critical level." In a post on X some days ago, he explained what this 'toxicity' means: "If the cost of replacing material losses (in such a way that...

Watch the incredible clips of Kyiv's powerful drones annihilating Mad Vlad's tankers as debris and flames take over the battlefield. THIS is the dramatic moment Ukrainian kamikaze drones blow up Russian tanks in the latest blow to Putin's failing forces. Spectacular footage shows Kyiv's fierce determination as the drones reduce the hodgepodge "Franken-tanks" to fiery wreckage. The drones are seen in the daylight mission smoothly descending until they hit Mad Vlad's tinderboxes with pinpoint accuracy. The clunky military vehicles are then seen engulfed by bright orange flames in a brutal inferno. As smoke was blown away, what once was a...

Allowing a Russian victory in the conflict would deprive America of access to vast mineral resources, Lindsey Graham says In an interview with 'Face the Nation' on CBS on Sunday, Graham accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of being a "megalomaniac" who is attempting to "re-create the Russian Empire by force of arms," starting with Ukraine. He further claimed that if Moscow wins the current conflict, it will then take over Ukraine's wealth and share it with China. Graham described that prospect as "ridiculous," suggesting it would be better if this "gold mine" were available to the US instead. "They're sitting...

At a time when ammunition is being used in Ukraine at a faster rate than the West is able to manufacture it and when the geopolitical situation has boosted the defence industry worldwide, the Fábrica de Munición de Granada (Granada ammunitions factory) has increased its activity to the highest levels in its recent history. The El Fargue facility is working at full capacity to meet demand since the increase in contracts resulting from European defence aid being sent to Ukraine. "Due to the current geopolitical situation, all defence factories have increased their activity and we are a reference in ammunition,...

Ukrainian drones are threatening Russian vessels in the Sea of Azov, it has been reported, signaling an intention by Kyiv to target Moscow's infrastructure beyond the Black Sea. -snip- British outlet Sky News reported Ukrainian forces had carried out a "coordinated strike" against a Ropucha-class landing ship overnight Saturday, which had moved to the Sea of Azov, connected to the Black Sea by the Strait of Kerch. Ukrainian Telegram channel Crimean Wind and Ukrainian Mariupol mayoral adviser Petro Andryushchenko gave more details, saying a ship was hit near the port of Yeysk, located in Krasnodar. But there are conflicting reports...

MOSCOW (CBS St. Louis/AP) — The violent protests in Ferguson, Missouri, reflect simmering U.S. tensions over racial discrimination that could undermine the country’s stability, a senior Russian diplomat said Tuesday. The comments by the Russian Foreign Ministry’s human rights envoy, Konstantin Dolgov, were among the sharpest from a foreign official as images of violent protests in Ferguson topped newscasts around the world. The protests came after a grand jury’s decision not to indict a white police officer in the killing of an unarmed black man, 18-year-old Michael Brown. “The developments in Ferguson and other cities highlight serious challenges to the...

In the past couple of years I have noticed there is a complete lake of regard for other posters on this site. Not only that but swearing seems to be tolerated. In the past day I have been called gay, a lair, that I am talking out of my *** and I am full of ****. Do we even have to go into the fighting on any thread about Ukraine or Russia. Even hard facts from multiple sources no longer seem to matter. Instead it is whoever can come up with the snarkiest reply.

A Ukrainian warplane has for the first time fired a weapon that struck a target inside Russia, a Ukrainian military source has told Sky News. The source said a "Russian command node" was hit on Sunday in the area of Belgorod, western Russia. Belgorod is close to the border with northeastern Ukraine. -snip- Speaking on condition of anonymity, the military source told Sky News: "A Ukrainian Air Force (UAF) mission has struck a Russian command node in Belgorod. "Whilst damage assessment is still occurring, it is confirmed as a direct hit. This is the first UAF air-delivered munition delivered against...

Ukrainian forces have damaged an advanced Russian Su-57 jet hundreds of miles away from the front lines inside Moscow's internationally recognized territory, Kyiv's military spy agency said on Sunday, adding this is the "first such case in history." An Su-57 jet was struck on Saturday at the Akhtubinsk airfield, in the southern Russian republic of Astrakhan, Kyiv's GUR military intelligence agency said in a statement. The site is around 365 miles from the current front lines in eastern Ukraine, according to the GUR. One of Russia's influential military bloggers—often considered sources for information on losses in lieu of official commentary...

With his constitutional Presidential mandate expired, the ‘champion for democracy’, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky is facing the discredit by the Russian enemies. Recently re-elected in a landslide, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s has been repeatedly clear about how Moscow sees the Ukrainian leader as lacking legitimacy. For the first time, in a press conference in France alongside President Emmanuel Macron, Zelensky addressed the allegations and dismissed them. ... Volodymyr Zelensky .. cancelled elections sees himself as more legitimate than the one who held them and won in a landslide. So it goes. The Presidential elections in Ukraine were supposed to take...

With his constitutional Presidential mandate expired, the ‘champion for democracy’, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky is facing the discredit by the Russian enemies. Recently re-elected in a landslide, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s has been repeatedly clear about how Moscow sees the Ukrainian leader as lacking legitimacy. For the first time, in a press conference in France alongside President Emmanuel Macron, Zelensky addressed the allegations and dismissed them. Reuters reported: President Volodymyr Zelensky said his legitimacy is recognized and determined by the Ukrainian people while criticizing that of Russian President Vladimir Putin. “‘President Zelensky’s legitimacy is recognized by the people of Ukraine....

The 80th Anniversary of D-Day hyped this week draped in Ukraine. Coffins placed near the Eiffel Tower at the beginning of the week depicting the notion of French soldiers bodies being brought back from Ukraine. Authorities moving quickly with a criminal investigation... Another interesting development this week the arrest of a man from the Russian speaking part of Eastern Ukraine. The man arrested on terrorism charges with bomb-making materials at his residence... On Friday Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky addressing France's National Assembly... A final poll taken before Sunday's European Parliament vote in France showing the National Rally at 32 percent...

With a shortage of mortar shells in reserves across Europe, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are setting up their own ammunition factories to be ready in case of a potential attack from Russia. In Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia — three Baltic states on the edge of the European Union that all share a border with Russia — defense is a key concern. All the more so, since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale attack on Ukraine in February 2022. According to NATO statistics, the defense spending of the three states greatly exceeded the minimum 2% of GDP in 2023, and...

A US, UK, and European government-backed Ukrainian publication called “Data Journalism Agency” (TEXTY) has released a new report labeling hundreds of Americans as adversaries due to their refusals to endorse more war and more funding for the Ukrainian government. Titled “Roller Coaster: From Trumpists to Communists,” the report identifies top U.S. politicians, journalists, and social media influencers, claiming all the individuals and organizations in question are Russian propaganda tools. The list includes former President Donald J. Trump, the Real America’s Voice network, Laura Loomer, Jack Posobiec, Ben Shapiro, Ron DeSantis, Matt Gaetz, RFK Jr, Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, Tucker Carlson,...

Ukraine is planning "terrorist activity" which would see Russian schools and other civilian infrastructure targeted, an expert has claimed to the Daily Express. But Nicholas Drummond, a defence and security analyst, tells the Daily Express that Ukraine is planning much more damaging attacks. He says Ukrainians could launch terrorist activity in Russia, including the bombing of schools.

THIS is the dramatic moment a Ukrainian drone destroys Russia's "indestructible" turtle tank in the latest blow to Putin's failing forces. Footage shows the sturdy military vehicle suddenly blowing up in flames after its crew left the hatch wide open in a fatal mistake. The drone is seen in the daylight mission smoothly descending until it enters Mad Vlad's tanker, hitting it with pinpoint accuracy. Bright orange flames engulf the turtle tank, reducing it to debris and melted metal. The precise attack was recorded by the Ukraine's 93rd Mechanized Brigade. Ukraine's Ministry of Defense confirmed the blow on X, writing:...

A crack Russian unit of fighters was almost totally destroyed during intense fighting near Kharkiv, rendering it inoperable, according to reports from the frontline. The devastating massacre took place last weekend during fighting for Vovchansk, a city located 73 km (45 miles) northeast of Kharkiv. The city has become the focus of heavy fighting after Russian troops launched a surprise attack in the Kharkiv region in early May. As of last week, the Russians claimed to control around and half of the city - but the situation on the ground remains very fluid. After making initial gains, the Russians have...

A large part of Russia's mauled Black Sea Fleet was seen leaving the port of Novorossiysk this week, with satellite images suggesting the berths of the southern Russian port had been largely emptied despite the ever-present threat posed by Ukrainian maritime drones and missiles. The intentions of the vessels departing Novorossiysk—further from Ukrainian-controlled territory and considered safer than the Crimean ports repeatedly bombarded by Kyiv's forces—remain unclear. -snip- The Black Sea Fleet has been forced to largely abandon its traditional bases of choice on the occupied Crimean Peninsula because of numerous—and ever more sophisticated—Ukrainian long-range attacks. Despite having no conventional...

Russia-installed officials in the partially occupied Ukrainian regions of Kherson and Luhansk said Ukrainian attacks left at least 28 people dead as Russia and Ukraine continued to exchange drone attacks overnight into Saturday. A Ukrainian attack Friday on the small town of Sadove in Ukraine's partially occupied Sadove region killed 22 and wounded 15 people, Moscow-backed governor Vladimir Saldo said. Russian state news agency Tass cited Saldo as saying that Ukrainian forces first struck the town with a French-made guided bomb, then attacked again with a U.S.-supplied HIMARS missile. He said Ukrainian forces had "deliberately made a repeat strike to...

The steady path toward World War III continues. U.S. and NATO support for Ukraine in the war with Russia has been one long failure, but that hasn’t stopped them from escalating the war with new weapons and tactics. Russia has met the escalation with its own escalation every step of the way. At what point do rational leaders in the West (if there are any left) pause, consider that the war is lost in Ukraine, deescalate and seek a treaty to end the war? There’s no sign of that yet. In fact, all of the signs point to further escalation,...