Free Republic

A kamikaze drone strike hit Russia's Navy headquarters in Crimea and sparked a huge explosion today, in another suspected Ukrainian raid. Smoke was seen billowing through the air this morning following the attack, which came despite frantic attempts from Putin's forces to shoot down the UAV, as seen in a video where repetitive gunfire is heard. The naval HQ suffered a direct hit, said reports while terrified Russian tourists fled the popular summer peninsula. Governor of Sevastopol Mikhail Razvozhaev confirmed the attack, writing on Telegram: 'Unfortunately, [the drone] was not shot down, although they worked on the bay with small...

Ukraine's forces struck a bridge of strategic importance to Russia shortly after President Vladimir Putin's military managed to restore it. Serhiy Khlan wrote Ukraine's armed forces created "fireworks" at the bridge in the city of Kakhovkaridge in the city of Kakhovka. "It looks like there won't be a grand opening," wrote Khlan, who is a deputy chairman of the Kherson Regional Council. In a subsequent post, Khlan said that Ukraine's Operational Command South had also confirmed that Ukrainian forces "destroyed the plans of the occupiers to repair and use" the bridge. The defense ministries of Russia and Ukraine were contacted...

The staggeringly high rate of Russian casualties in Ukraine means that President Vladimir V. Putin may not be able to achieve one of his key war objectives: seizing the entire eastern region of the country this year, officials in the Biden administration and military experts say. With 500 Russian troops killed or wounded every day, according to the latest estimate by American intelligence and military officials, Russia’s war effort has decelerated to a grinding slog, the officials said.