It’s been a long day, I’m fried, so I’m just going to run through the basics.
We are going to start with the exciting news about the Kerch Bridge.
🌉/1. Ukraine’s Security Service Hits Crimean Bridge in Underwater Sabotage Operation
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has carried out a new special operation targeting the Crimean Bridge—its third successful strike on the structure, this time using underwater explosives.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) June 3, 2025 at 7:20 AM
/2. The operation, which had been in planning for several months, involved placing explosives on the underwater supports of the bridge. At 4:44 a.m., the first device was detonated. The blast caused significant structural damage to the base of the bridge, using the equivalent of 1,100 kg of TNT.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) June 3, 2025 at 7:22 AM
/3. The bridge is now in a critical condition, according to preliminary assessments.
SBU chief Lieutenant General Vasyl Maliuk personally oversaw and coordinated the operation. He stated that the bridge remains a legitimate military target due to its use by Russian forces for logistical support.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) June 3, 2025 at 7:22 AM
/4. Location where SBU planted underwater explosive device on one of the pillars of the Crimean bridge. (45.3092354, 36.5047376)
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) June 3, 2025 at 7:23 AM
/5. Underwater structure of the Crimean bridge.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) June 3, 2025 at 7:25 AM
Remember the definition of a center of gravity from my Sunday night post:
A center of gravity is defined as:
The source of power that provides moral or physical strength, freedom of action, or will to act. Also called COG.
COGs have the following characteristics:
- A source of leverage
- Allows or enhances freedom of movement
- Can endanger one’s own COGs
Centers of gravity can also be the morale of a state and society, including it’s resilience. It can also be the morale and resilience of a state’s and society’s leadership. The strike on the Kerch Bridge, like the strikes on Russian strategic fixed wing aircraft, is not just negatively affecting Russia’s military or societal freedom of movement, and in the case of the strategic aviation a COG that endangers Ukraine’s own COGs, it is also intended to negatively affect Putin and Russia’s will to act. And in the case of Putin, so enrage him that he makes such a significant mistake that it provides Ukraine with a key opportunity.
I expect we’ll see more strikes as I think it is likely that what we’re seeing are the phases in a phased operation of a larger campaign plan:
Phasing is a way to organize and conduct a complex joint operation in manageable parts. The phases are unique for each operation or campaign as a tool to integrate and synchronize related activities, thereby enhancing C2 to improve flexibility and unity of effort during execution…Phases in a contingency plan are sequential, but during execution there are often some simultaneous and overlapping activities between the phases. In a campaign, a phase can consist of one or more operations in varying scope, scale, and geographic location; while within an operation, a phase normally consists of several subordinate tasks, or a series of related activities. (JP 5-0, Joint Planning, p. IV-37)
Now we wait to see what happens next.
Here is President Zelenskyy’s address from earlier today. Video below, English transcript after the jump.
Russia Remains Fully Committed to War – And They Prove This Commitment of Theirs With Both Their Strikes and Their Statements – All of This Is the Argument for New Sanctions Against Russia – Address by the President
3 June 2025 – 21:14
Dear Ukrainians!
Right now, in the Sumy region, doctors are providing all necessary assistance to those wounded by a Russian strike. Rocket artillery against an ordinary city – the Russians struck right on the street, hitting ordinary residential buildings. Sleazebags. Tragically, four people were killed by this particular strike. My condolences to their families. Nearly 30 people were wounded, including three children. Throughout the day, there were air raid alerts, and there were strikes across almost the entire territory of our state. There have been virtually no days without killings during this whole time, while the United States, Europe, and other global actors have been urging Russia to agree to a ceasefire and negotiations to end the war. Russia remains fully committed to war – and they prove this commitment of theirs with both their strikes and their statements – all of this is the argument for new sanctions against Russia, tough sanctions. I want to thank all Americans, all Europeans who support this approach – the approach of pressuring Russia into peace – and it is extremely important. Putin does not change his behavior when he does not fear the consequences of his actions. Russia must feel what war truly means. Russia must bear the losses from the war. They must really feel that continuing the war will have devastating consequences for them.
Today, I had various meetings regarding our international communications – we are constantly working with our partners to ensure that the killings are stopped and that Ukraine is protected in the future. I gave some instructions today to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the Minister of Defense of Ukraine. Currently, the Ukrainian delegation, led by Yuliia Svyrydenko, the First Deputy Prime Minister, is already working in Washington. Alongside her are Head of my Office Yermak and the teams of the Government and the Office. There are many meetings scheduled for this week. Our goal is to implement as quickly as possible everything agreed upon with President Trump. The cessation of killings, real peace, and economic cooperation with America. We are offering the United States very concrete and mutually beneficial agreements. I thank everyone who is helping.
Today, I held a detailed meeting with our military officials: Oleksandr Syrskyi, Andrii Hnatov, Mykhailo Drapatyi, and Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov. Mykhailo Drapatyi will focus exclusively on combat issues and has been appointed Commander of the Joint Forces – so that he can concentrate on the front one hundred percent. As for the Land Forces system, especially tasks like training, preparation, changes in the Territorial Centers of Recruitment, and everything related to this – another person will handle that. Today, we also approved the appointment of Oleh Apostol as Commander of the Air Assault Forces, and Robert Brovdi as Commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces. This also means a greater focus on combat issues. The successful experience of the best brigades must be scaled across the entire army. Vadym Sukharevskyi was appointed Deputy Commander of the Operational Command East, and his primary task is the modernization of this command. Ihor Skybiuk was appointed Deputy Chief of the General Staff.
And a few more things.
Today, I met with Rafael Grossi, the Director General of the IAEA. We talked about the obvious security challenges created by the Russian occupation – specifically the situation at the Zaporizhzhia NPP. We are doing everything possible to prevent any radiation or other incidents. Unfortunately, the Russian occupation has created problems the world had never faced before. I thank everyone in the world who, despite everything, is helping us keep this situation within safety limits. And no matter how difficult it is, we must restore normal Ukrainian control over the plant. We also discussed Ukraine’s energy sector, particularly our nuclear generation. I am grateful for the willingness to assist with completing our Khmelnytskyi NPP and developing uranium extraction in Ukraine.
Also today, together with Olena, we met with wonderful Ukrainian children and presented them our new award – the state award “Future of Ukraine.” It is specifically intended for children – children who saved someone else’s life, who help defend Ukraine, who have shown such personal strength and determination that it’s hard to believe they are just children. Today, the first 20 awards were given. And may this become our national tradition. We are doing everything for Ukraine. We are proud of our people. We thank everyone who is helping.
And it is always a pleasure to give special thanks to the Security Service of Ukraine – well done!
Glory to Ukraine!
Georgia:
Day 188 of nonstop nationwide protests in Georgia. ✅🇬🇪✊
📷 Mo Se
— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) June 3, 2025 at 2:55 PM
In Georgia, there’s no economic resources for a self-sustained dictatorship. Any and all undemocratic rule in Georgia will have to have existential backing from other autocracies such as Russia, China, Iran.
This is why democracy in Georgia is non-negotiable to American and European interests. 1/
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) June 3, 2025 at 6:28 PM
And the Georgian Dream wants some recognition and legitimacy from the United States only until they have redirected all pillars and channels of survival toward Russia and China. After that, it will be outright hostile to the entire West, and the United States first and foremost. 2/
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) June 3, 2025 at 6:28 PM
That’s why we need all the increasingly working targeted sanctions & non-engagement with the regime, in addition to aiding civil society & calls for new, free & fair Parliamentary elections. Deal them heavy blows until it’s too late in terms of their economic adjustment & regime consolidation. 3/3.
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) June 3, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Georgian journalist Gela Mtivlishvili says he suffered a heart attack from all the stress. When he tried to pay the hospital bill, he discovered his assets were frozen by the state.
Georgia is running out of time. Independent media is getting strangled.
— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) June 3, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Remember 20-year-old student Tatia Apriamashvili—jailed 12 days for shouting “Down with the Russian Empire” and “Freedom to political prisoners” at self-proclaimed MP Lashkhi?
Activists say she’s been denied a shower for 5 days. No window, no fresh air, no TV, filthy conditions.
📷: Publika
— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) June 3, 2025 at 3:30 PM
20-year-old Tatia Apriamashvili whose only crime is crying out “Down with Russia’s rotten Empire” and “Down with Russia’s slaves” to regime MP Mariam Laskhi,
Is at Dighomi detention center which is profound for lack of hygiene. 1/
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) June 3, 2025 at 3:16 PM
In addition, she has no access to shower for 5 days; only a tiny window; no TV (unlike other detention centers);
Think of this when inviting Mariam to conferences abroad. 2/2.
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) June 3, 2025 at 3:16 PM
⭕️ Lasha Bugadze began his speech at the @europarl.europa.eu with a story from 1937, based on his grandmother’s memories, and then moved on to the recent police search of activist Mariam Bajelidze’s home.
Acc/to Bugadze, the repressive policies of GD have “revived the trauma of the 1930s terror”
— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) June 3, 2025 at 11:08 AM
🗣️ “And today, as a journalist, I must say loudly, clearly – once again: Freedom for Mzia Amaglobeli”, – Journalist Beka Korshia addressed the @europarl.europa.eu.
#FreeMzia
#RepressionInGeorgia— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) June 3, 2025 at 11:41 AM
🗣️ In one of the letters that my brother sent me, he said: “we sacrificed our freedom for the freedom of our country, and we will not back down; and we are not going anywhere”, – Ketuna Kerashvili – sister of Irakli Kerashvili, a doctor arrested during pro-European protests – to @europarl.europa.eu.
— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) June 3, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Speaking on how the EU can support the Georgian people, MEP @nachosamor.bsky.social emphasized the need for personal sanctions during the Subcommittee on Human Rights’ extraordinary meeting, following the DROI delegation’s visit to #Georgia.
#GeorgiaProtests
#RepressionInGeorgia
@europarl.europa.eu— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) June 3, 2025 at 12:42 PM
“The sticks and carrots with the current regime don’t work,” – MEP @rjukneviciene.bsky.social about Georgia.
She also addressed the crackdown on independent media and mentioned Mzia Amaglobeli expressing support for an urgent resolution about her at the next plenary session.
#RepressionInGeorgia— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) June 3, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Link: ifact.ge/en/how-sanct…
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) June 3, 2025 at 8:22 AM
From iFact:
Despite sweeping Western sanctions on Russia following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, European-made trucks—including models from Volvo, MAN, Mercedes, and Scania—continue to appear on Russian roads. A detailed investigation by iFact reveals how these vehicles, officially banned from the Russian market, are still finding their way into the country through complex re-export schemes involving Georgia and its regional neighbours.
In this article, you will find numerous facts, data, and evidence on how Russian companies utilize Georgia to receive sanctioned cargo, specifically trucks in this case. If you follow us and read our articles, the fact that Georgia participates in schemes to evade sanctions will no longer be unfamiliar or surprising. Here are the investigations we published in the last two years:
The sanctioned trucks typically enter Georgia from Europe, are registered for re-export to Central Asian or other third countries, and then quietly divert to Russia—either by passing through its territory en route or being rerouted mid-journey. VIN code tracking and international trade data reveal discrepancies between the declared destination and the actual endpoint.
In six international databases, we studied who was supplying trucks to Russia and from where. We examined more than 300 VIN codes (unique vehicle identification numbers) and confirmed that 110 of them were transported from Georgia to Russia in violation of international sanctions. Ultimately, we uncovered a mix of previously known and newly emerging schemes.
Scheme 1: Trucks are sold from Georgia to Turkey and other third countries, and from there, they go to Russia.
Scheme 2: Trucks are exported from Georgia to Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, but they do not reach their final destination and stay in Russia. The transport heading to these countries must pass through Russia on the way.As a result of these schemes, Georgia’s customs data does not match the data from international databases and customs records of the so-called “third countries.” Hundreds of trailers are exported from Georgia, but are not received in the countries to which they were declared to be destined.
The import of such equipment into Russia was banned by the European Union and other Western countries starting in 2022, after sanctions were imposed on Russia for invading Ukraine. The aim was to weaken Russia’s military supply and economy. Following this decision, European and American vehicle manufacturers also exited the Russian market. However, with the help of such schemes, European-manufactured trucks (such as MAN, Mercedes, Volvo, and Scania) are still freely sold on the Russian market.
Much more at the link, including the research methodology.
Back to Ukraine.
“The Russians will continue murdering our people until they are stopped.” – First Deputy PM of Ukraine
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) June 3, 2025 at 5:25 AM
Fascist Russia was ramping up drone strikes BEFORE democratic Ukraine hit its bomber fleet. It’s possible Russia now lacks the capacity to carry out a “retaliatory” mass missile attack on Ukraine on the same scale as one of its many previous mass missile attacks on the country.
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) June 3, 2025 at 3:21 AM
Tatarigami and his Frontelligence Insight Team have their initial battle damage assessment (BDA):
A few additional observations regarding the recent strike on Russia’s strategic aviation may help clarify its scale and implications. Our team assesses the operational strength of the Russian strategic bomber fleet to be at 70 to 90 aircraft. A midpoint estimate puts the number at around 80.
— Tatarigami (@tatarigami.bsky.social) June 3, 2025 at 4:17 AM
Based on available satellite imagery and open sources, we estimate that at least 11 bombers and one An-12 transport aircraft were destroyed, with two additional bombers likely damaged. This brings the confirmed and probable toll to between 13 and 14 aircraft.
— Tatarigami (@tatarigami.bsky.social) June 3, 2025 at 4:17 AM
Some claims suggest over 20 bombers may have been damaged or destroyed, but we have not yet seen credible visual confirmation to support those higher estimates. There have also been unverified reports of an A-50 AWACS being hit. However, we have found no evidence to substantiate these claims.
— Tatarigami (@tatarigami.bsky.social) June 3, 2025 at 4:17 AM
If we focus strictly on destroyed aircraft, the loss of 11 bombers out of an 80-plane operational fleet represents roughly 13.75% of Russia’s operational strategic bomber force.
Ukrainian strikes seem to deliberately avoided the more modern Tu-160 bombers, instead targeting the Tu-95 and Tu-22M3
— Tatarigami (@tatarigami.bsky.social) June 3, 2025 at 4:17 AM
We believe this selectivity was a deliberate decision to avoid escalations by targeting key elements of Russia’s nuclear triad, while still degrading assets actively involved in missile strikes. While this operation is unlikely to quickly diminish the frequency of missile strikes against Ukraine…
— Tatarigami (@tatarigami.bsky.social) June 3, 2025 at 4:17 AM
…as Russia typically employs 7 to 11 bombers per salvo, it does have longer-term implications.
The loss of even a portion of these asset especially ones that are almost impossible to replace reduces Russia’s capacity for long-range force projection and its overall geostrategic flexibility.
— Tatarigami (@tatarigami.bsky.social) June 3, 2025 at 4:17 AM
In sum, this was a highly successful operation for Ukraine. While it may not bring a quick reduction in the aerial threat to Ukrainian cities, it degraded a critical segment of Russia’s force projection. At the end it might influence a potential agreement to restrict long-range strikes in the future
— Tatarigami (@tatarigami.bsky.social) June 3, 2025 at 4:17 AM
As more imagery becomes available, the battle damage assessments will firm up, so expect the estimates to change a but over the next few days.
For instance:
Rare Russian spy planes damaged in Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb, Telegraph reports #Ukraine
— AmplifyUkraine 🔱🇺🇦 (@amplifyukraine.eu) June 3, 2025 at 6:24 PM
From The Kyiv Independent: (emphasis mine)
At least two A-50 Russian surveillance aircraft were damaged in Ukraine’s June 1 drone strike inside Russia, the Telegraph reported on June 3, citing footage viewed by the publication.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) executed Operation Spiderweb on June 1, targeting four key air bases and destroying around 40 heavy bombers by smuggling trucks of first-person-view (FPV) drones deep inside Russia.
Footage shared with the Telegraph reportedly shows Ukrainian drones hitting two A-50s, rare Russian spy planes that Moscow relies on for several critical functions in its full-scale war against Ukraine.
Drones struck the radar domes of two A-50 aircraft, according to the Telegraph. One plane appeared to be protected by sandbags along its wings, while the other had tires arranged across its airframe.
Open source satellite images from May 2 appear show two A-50s stationed at the Ivanovo air base in Russia’s Ivanovo Oblast, one of the airfields targeted in Operation Spiderweb. The footage shared with the Telegraph makes it clear that these are the same A-50s damaged in the June 1 attack.
The video also reportedly shows several Tupolev bombers in flames after sustaining direct hits from Ukrainian drones.
An SBU source told the Kyiv Independent on June 1 that A-50s were among the aircraft hit in the attack, but the claim could not be verified at the time.
Russia’s A-50s detect air defense systems, guide missiles, and coordinate targets for Russian fighter jets. The aircraft carry an estimated price tag of around $350 million.
They are also extremely rare: Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR), said in February 2024 that Moscow only had six A-50s in its arsenal.
Ukraine previously shot down two A-50s in January and February 2024.
More at the link.
If this assessment continues to remain firm, it means that, at least for the time being, Russia is now down to only two A-50s. And that is dependent on the remaining undamaged two actually being operational.
Ukraine’s audacious drone raid has threatened Moscow’s military operations https://on.ft.com/43OZnPR
— Financial Times (@financialtimes.com) June 3, 2025 at 9:17 AM
From The Financial Times:
Bombers that Russia may never rebuild. A fleet so mauled it may force Moscow to rethink how it raids Ukraine. Deep strikes on Russian soil that expose the price of a long war — even against a weaker foe.
As the toll of Ukraine’s weekend drone raid becomes clear from satellite imagery and expert assessments, so does the scale of the operation.
Ukraine’s audacity — plotting for 18 months to hide drones in trucks to hit military airfields thousands of kilometres from Kyiv — has largely been matched by the material damage done to Russia’s bomber force.
While the effect on Russia’s nuclear capacity is likely to be embarrassing but limited, the attack is expected to affect day-to-day operations in Ukraine, say analysts.
Perhaps most importantly for Kyiv, Ukraine was able to also show — on the eve of ceasefire negotiations with Russia in Istanbul — that it is capable of shifting the dynamics on the battlefield, forcing the Kremlin to accept a new reality in which targets deep within its territory become vulnerable, even without the use of western weapons.
Michael Kofman, a military analyst at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said Ukraine’s strikes had “undoubtedly degraded Russia’s stand-off strike potential”, destroying aircraft that Russia would struggle to replace.
“While it may not be enough to halt strikes on Ukraine, given the size of Russia’s bomber fleet, it showed that continuing the war carries a real cost to Russia’s status as a military power,” added Kofman.
Estimates still vary on the precise numbers hit. Ukraine claims more than 40 aircraft were damaged or destroyed; Russia admitted only to “several units of aviation equipment affected by a fire”. Other assessments from open-source researchers suggest the actual number of destroyed or damaged aircraft is more like 10 to 12.
Even this would mark a significant blow to Russia’s war effort in Ukraine, both in operational and political terms.
The aircraft damaged and destroyed by the strikes made up around 20 per cent of Russia’s operationally ready long-range aviation, several analysts told the Financial Times. These aircraft are designed to travel long distances and deliver heavy payloads deep inside target countries.
Fabian Hoffmann, a doctoral research fellow at the University of Oslo, said that while many bombers were undergoing maintenance, “these aircraft were among the most operational, making these losses particularly damaging”.
Now, Russia will not only have fewer bombers to attack Ukraine but will have to consider changing its tactics. That includes whether it can risk grouping the aircraft together, an approach it has recently used to launch mass strikes on Ukraine.
“If Russia will have to spread them out more for protection, that will directly diminish their ability to stage mass strikes and to overwhelm Ukrainian air defence,” added Alberque.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that the bombers targeted — the Soviet Tu-95 and Tu-22M3 — are no longer in production.
Radio Liberty has published “before and after” satellite images of the Russian “Belaya” airbase in the Irkutsk region, which was attacked by Ukrainian drones.
At least 11 strategic bombers were destroyed there: 7 Tu-95s and 4 Tu-22M3s. In addition, an An-12 transport aircraft was damaged.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) June 3, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Much more at the link.
❗️Commander of the 414th UAV Brigade «Birds of Magyar», Mayor Robert «Magyar» Brovdi was appointed as a commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces AFU.
INCREDIBLE NEWS!! CONGRATULATIONS! I wish you many successes, and more JAGA JAGA! One-Way Teekit!
#UkraineNews— Baba Yaga Fèlla (@babayagafella.bsky.social) June 3, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Russians launched a massive overnight attack with Shahed drones on Odesa, Chernihiv, and the Kharkiv region — unfortunately, there are casualties and injuries.
Private and residential buildings were destroyed, cars, businesses, and infrastructure facilities were burned down.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) June 3, 2025 at 4:55 AM
The Kerch Bridge, Russian occupied Crimea:
Wake up honey. We went from bomber porn to bridge porn!
bsky.app/profile/spec…
— Sven-Erik Volberg (@volberg.bsky.social) June 3, 2025 at 7:50 AM
Sumy:
Russian troops struck the center of Sumy, near a college, in the middle of a busy morning. One person is confirmed dead, several others wounded. A direct hit on civilian life.
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) June 3, 2025 at 3:13 AM
WARNING!! WARNING!! GRAPHIC CONTENT!! WARNING!! WARNING!!
❗️UPD. The death toll from the russian attack on Sumy has risen to four. A 43-year-old man died in hospital from his injuries, his 7-year-old daughter remains in critical condition. In total, 28 people were injured, including three children.
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) June 3, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Today, Russia struck Sumy. Reports indicate there are dead and injured. Preliminary information suggests there were five hits from long-range MLRS. As a result, a medical facility, cars, and residential buildings were damaged.
t.me/c/1377735387…— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) June 3, 2025 at 2:55 PM
ALL CLEAR!!!!
Izium, Kharkiv Oblast:
Three civilians killed, three wounded.
In the morning, russian troops shelled a village in Izium district, Kharkiv Oblast, using MLRS with cluster munitions. One of the dead was a technician installing internet cables at the time of the attack.
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) June 3, 2025 at 8:46 AM
Kharkiv:
Two more explosions in Kharkiv ‼️ second russian attack tonight. This time drones
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) June 3, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Chernihiv:
Four people were injured in Chernihiv after last night’s russian attack
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) June 3, 2025 at 6:08 AM
Odesa:
In Odesa, five people were injured after last night’s Russian attack.
Fires broke out at various locations, the most extensive being at food warehouses. Additionally, two cars in a private residential area were destroyed by fire.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) June 3, 2025 at 6:04 AM
The Kursk cross border offensive:
AASM Hammer air strike on Russian positions in the Kursk region. t.me/soniah_hub/1…
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) June 3, 2025 at 8:39 AM
That’s enough for tonight.
Your daily Patron!
💙😻 While the sun is shining brightly, seize the moment and get a seductive tan!
Odesa, Ukraine— Vitalis Viva (@vitalisviva.bsky.social) June 2, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Open thread!
Adam L Silverman
I’m going to get cleaned up and rack out.
Everyone is most welcome.
Bill Arnold
Mr. Putin (or a body double) drove a truck across the bridge in 2018 to open it. It is his favorite bridge. He will be upset, even though he knows(or suspects strongly) that that one intent is to upset him personally. ( :-), to be completely clear.)
Russian state media hail bridge across Kerch strait as ‘construction of the century’ (Andrew Roth, 15 May 2018)
Bold mine:
YY_Sima Qian
While the West fails to provide Ukraine with/ the necessary means to achieve offensive victories on the conventional battlefield, Ukraine is scoring historic victories asymmetrically, leveraging its limited means to max effect.
TONYG
What a subservient, obedient people the Russians are. Putin is not only killing innocent people in Ukraine — he is actively destroying his own country now. When (if ever) will there be the breaking point for his power?
Chetan Murthy
@TONYG: There was a Tatar academic who wrote a bunch (a -bunch-) of long twitter threads at the start of the war, about Russian culture. He argued that Russia was ….. well, a slave society, and the vast majority of the population simply hadn’t gotten out of that mindset.
I forget his name.
He had a bunch of other observations which were quite (ISTM) cogent. Stuff like the importance of industrial software and milling machines, to the Russian war machine. Lots of stuff.
rikyrah
Go Ukraine 👏🏾👏🏾
YY_Sima Qian
@Chetan Murthy: Kamil Galeev.
@TONYG: I think it is exceedingly dangerous to assign cause to the “moral character” of entire peoples. That way lies nativism, racism, xenophobia, & cultural/ideological chauvinism, things that characterize Putinism & MAGA, & ultra-right wing ideologies everywhere. It is enough to judge the moral character of individuals, for their individual choices.
I do not think the Russian experience is somehow outside of the broader human experience. It would be no more helpful analytically to characterize Germans of the Nazi era & Japanese of the militarist era, or North Koreans of the Kim Dynasty era, or MAGA adherents in the US today, as “subservient & obedient”. Russia is in the current socio-political cul-de-sac due to both historical inertia & modern circumstances. Doesn’t mean these factors cannot be overcome. It may take a resounding defeat, perhaps even a degree of outside intervention, but to suggest Russian actions are result of inherent “national character” is to suggest that there is no possibility of change for the Russians (& what of the ethnic minority peoples serving in the Russian military that have committed many of the atrocities in Ukraine?), absent an erasure of the “Russian character”.
I do understand the temptation, but I think that temptation has to be fought if one truly believes in liberal values, lest one becomes the kind of paleo-liberal that energetically excused & even celebrated imperialism & colonialism, & domination over “lesser” Otherized peoples.
Aziz, light!
@Chetan Murthy: Are you referring to Kamil Galeev?
ETA So close.
wjca
Lest we feel too smug, you could make a similar statement about Trump and the United States.
In other words, what YY_Sima Qian said.
John Revolta
@YY_Sima Qian: to suggest Russian actions are result of inherent “national character” is to suggest that there is no possibility of change for the Russians
“National character” doesn’t have to mean “genetic”. It can be instilled by years of propaganda, oppression and state-run schools inculcating a particular worldview. And what is done can be undone.
Gin & Tonic
@John Revolta:
Quoted for truth. Adam has written many times about Putin’s worldview and his (a)historical reading of the russia-Ukraine dynamic. But it’s not just Putin, it’s the entire country and educational system. Some years back, before this current aspect of the war, my son, in grad school, went to Moscow for a program with MGIMO, russia’s top foreign-policy/international relations school. There was a host of formal and some informal events with their peers, MGIMO grad students. At a social event my son spent some time with a young lady MGIMO student (no, not that kind of time) and found that she was wholly ignorant of Ukrainian history or of russian history from a Ukrainian perspective – not getting a few facts wrong here or there, no, a complete tabula rasa. And this was a master’s level student at, roughly, the equivalent of Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service. He was not so much angry as sad.
John Revolta
@Gin & Tonic: Not to mention state-run television (and look at how much more detached from reality our own right-wingers have become since FOX News came along).
YY_Sima Qian
@John Revolta: This kind of reasoning has been used for centuries to justify all kinds of cultural domination/erasure/genocide everywhere, in the name of “civilizing” missions, including by Russian/Soviet imperialists toward Ukrainians & other minority peoples in the Russian/Soviet empire & the Soviet spheres of influence across the globe.
I just don’t think it is necessary to go there. Defeat Russian aggression on the battlefield, build the necessary alliances & military capability to deter it from trying again, & defeat it again on the battlefield should it make additional attempts toward Ukraine or in other directions, & let the Russian polity to come to its own senses in due course. Direct outside intervention into Russia is mostly off the table as long as Russia has a credible nuclear deterrent.
Does the Russian program of imperialist/chauvinistic indoctrination through education need to be torn down? Yes. Just like what the Palestinians teach/propagandize about Israel’s right to exist (or lack thereof), & what Israel teaches/propagandizes about the Palestinians. But we ought to avoid the flattening & generalizing frameworks such as “national character”. Who is any one group of people to judge any other group of people as a whole? Every group has plenty of skeletons in the closet, more than a few plenty recent. Judge actions & choices, instead.
Chetan Murthy
@YY_Sima Qian: I’m convinced that the only way Russia will be safe for Russians (and Russia’s neighbors) is if it is broken up into a bunch of smaller nations. And kept from reassembling.
YY_Sima Qian
@Gin & Tonic: Imperial “metropoles” ignorant of the “periphery”, sadly a rather ubiquitous attitude in empires & hegemonies. Even the liberals in the “metropole” often hold condescending & chauvinistic views toward the peoples of the “periphery”, & their “liberalism” find expression in the compulsion to “civilize” the periphery.
I see plenty of such sentiments among many of the Han population toward ethnic minorities (especially individuals who are not substantially Sinified/assimilated culturally) in the PRC, & among many PRC citizens (regardless of ethnicity) toward the Chinese diaspora (regardless of ethnicity, in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore & the ROW). There is a lack of comprehension of, conception of, & empathy w/ the distinct histories & experiences of the Diaspora, even though most of the Diaspora in E/SE Asia remain culturally Chinese (specially, culturally Han, in all of its regional variations).
YY_Sima Qian
@Chetan Murthy: That may be the case. I would also advise against thinking lasting peace can be achieved simply through the dismantling of exploitative/domineering/aggressive empires & hegemonies. See the aftermaths of the collapses of the Ottoman, the Austro-Hungarian, & the Qing Empires. Unless the world system & world order is fundamentally rethought & institutionalized (more along the lines of FDR’s idealistic vision toward the end of WW II, w/ far less of the compromises that Stalin, Truman, Churchill & de Gaulle secured for the great powers), new exploitative, coercive & aggressive hegemonies will likely emerge to try to fill the vacuum left by the imploded ones, often gaining strength by feeding on the latter’s carcasses.
For example, if & when the de facto Russian empire dissolves, what are the chances that the Euro-skeptic right wing in Poland will seek to leverage the powerful military it is building & its growing economic heft to rebirth a Polish hegemony over CEE, dreaming of past glories of the winged Hussars of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth? Hegemony need not take the form of outright military conquest, but selective coercion & influence buying.
Westyny
Thank you Adam, as always.
Chetan Murthy
@YY_Sima Qian: I would like to believe that the EU would exert the sort of moderating influence that could prevent that sort of revanchism, but ….. who knows.
AlaskaReader
Thanks Adam
YY_Sima Qian
@Chetan Murthy: Poland just elected (on the slimmest of margins) Nawrocki, an avowedly Euro-skeptic, Trump-reminiscent, right wing revanchist, to the Presidency. Of course, Nawrocki replaces Andrzej Duda, another right-winger. A centrist, Donald Tusk, is Prime Minister, but the illiberal right wing PiS had dominated Polish politics for a decade.
The committed Russo-skepticism of the Polish right wing make them convenient & solid allies in support of Ukraine, but that is true across the political spectrum in Poland. Beyond that, however, the illiberal right wing in Poland stands in stark contradiction (& often in conflict) to the liberal ideal of the EU, much in the mold of Hungary’s Orban.
At the end of the day, should the EU project collapse from these internal contradictions, the main beneficiaries will be Putinist Russia, & MAGA US, & to a lesser extent the PRC.
oldster
Any damage assessment on the Kerch Bridge strike? Crippling blow? Just a scratch?
It’s amazing that Ukraine was able to smuggle in 1000 pounds of explosives and locate it there, given the barriers, surveillance, guards, cameras, nets, and everything else. So it’s a brilliant accomplishment in that regard. But I really want to see that end of the span broken and sitting in the water, so I’m a little disappointed that it is not visibly destroyed.
Time will tell?
bjacques
Thanks as always, Adam.
That Kerch bridge hit is a delicious aperitif after the banquet of airfields.
About those goods being trucked into Russia despite sanctions…Maybe the GUR should slip aboard the odd truck a few drones with dummy warheads (stencilled with cheeky messages), semi-randomly, targeting the worst offending shipping companies. That ought to slow down the sanctions-busting trade a bit, considering Russia are already (justifiably) paranoid.
Jay
Thank you , as always, Adam.
My friend, call sign “Slava” , Yuri Pashook, was murdered by ruZZia yesterday.
He is survived, by his wife Olga, and his son Peytor.
rikyrah
Thank you , Adam
bjacques
@Jay: I’m so sorry. This was the friend you mentioned awhile ago who was semi-retired but re-enlisted
YY_Sima Qian
@Jay: I am so sorry to hear that!
Baud
@Jay:
My condolences.
MagdaInBlack
@Jay: You’ve talked about him often. My sympathies to his family, and to you.
Adam L Silverman
@Jay: I am so sorry to read this. My sincerest condolences. May his memory be a blessing.
pluky
Is the “C2” in the JP 5-0 cite shorthand for the ‘command’ part of C3I?
David Collier-Brown
@pluky: Usually command and control.
You also see variations on Command Control, Communications and Intelligence (C3I)
karensky
@Adam L Silverman: Thanks again for your work. I lovd your snarky post title!
Fair Economist
@Jay: So sorry for the loss of your friend.
YY_Sima Qian
Adam will probably include this in the next post, but what a compilation! (video through the link):
Must be much more than 11 Russian bombers destroyed. At least a dozen more aircraft destroyed or damaged, including 2 A-50 AWACS taking direct hits on the most expensive part, the radomes.
The footages also show that the quadcopter are remotely piloted, rather than fully autonomous. There were several instances where the drone ended up “landing” on the targeted aircraft, rather than impacting at speed.
Analysts are drawing parallels to the British attack on the Italian Navy at Taranto during WW II, in terms of historical importance.
Medicine Man
@Jay: Respect and condolences, to your friend and yourself.
Gloria DryGarden
@Jay: I am sorry for your loss.
NotoriousJRT
@Jay: That is devastating news. God damn Putin.
Marc
Some look to be remotely guided. The museum photos/activities suggest that ML was used to train some drones to land on specific spots on each type of aircraft. On the larger bombers/transports, severing a main wing spar is enough to render them non-repairable, even if there is no fuel in the wing tanks. Smaller bombers, they were targeting the wing carry through structures, which also overlaps with the fuselage fuel tanks. A-50 radomes are nice big landing pads. There are plenty of open source microcontroller-based video inference engines that could automate flight controller code to seek out aircraft shapes and automate landing at designated points like that. It just needs training and a touchdown switch for the warhead.
way2blue
@Jay: I am so sorry. Please let us know if we can help his family in any way. And. Condolences to you.
Bill Arnold
A couple of Darren Beattie wonkette links (linked articles are full of links).
Surprise, Trump Pick Who Shut Down Anti-Russian Disinformation Unit Has Kremlin Ties! – Darren Beattie got fired from Trump 1.0 for being too racist, and now he’s back with a Russian wife. (Marcie Jones, Jun 04, 2025, Wonkette)
Trump Undersecretary Of State Dreamt Of Forced Sterilization Of ‘Lower Quality Humans’ – Darren Beattie is back and, it turns out, really into eugenics. (Robyn Pennacchia, Feb 13, 2025, Wonkette)