Ukraine Drones Destroy 4 More Russian Fighter-Bombers 180 Miles Away

The Su-34 fighter bomber is the tactical plane most used by Russia to attack Ukrainian targets. 

The planes were stationed at an airfield 180 miles from Ukraine in Volgograd oblast, better known to most people by its former name: Stalingrad. JL

Tetiana Olynyik reports in Ukraine Pravda:

Two Russian Su-34 fighter-bombers have been destroyed and two others damaged by Ukraine’s Security Service (SSU), Armed Forces and Special Operations Forces in a drone attack on the Marinovka airfield in Russia’s Volgograd Oblast. Long-range drones were used to conduct the operation. Su-34s are the main tactical military aircraft that Russia uses to carry out missile and bomb strikes against Ukrainian positions and civilian areas.

Russia Now Deems Famed 'Gas Pipe Attack "Meaningless"

At the time, the attack generated a lot of coverage because it was the first instance since the beginning of the war of Russian forces actually doing something creative. 

The problem was that the surprise was discovered, the attack was repulsed - and many Russian troops suffered burnt lungs and respiratory damage from inhaling the gas. The Ukrainian units they intended to attack were already withdrawing so the entire episode was a waste of lives and effort. JL

Sofia Polonska reports in Espreso Global:

The Russian special forces operation dubbed "Pipe" or "Flow", was carried out in March this year. Russian forces crawled through a 1.4-metre-wide unused gas pipeline for 15 kilometers to attack Ukrainian troops in Sudzha in Kursk oblast. It has now been deemed unnecessary, as Ukrainian forces were already withdrawing, rendering the mission futile. "After the wave of euphoria among Russian propagandists, from the facts that are surfacing - including reports of Russian soldiers suffocating in the pipe - are horrified by the immorality and meaninglessness of the operation."

Russian Sumy Assault Annihilated by New Ukraine Drone Fragmentation Ammo

Another Russian attack, this time in Sumy, destroyed by Ukrainian forces using drones armed with new Ukrainian designed fragmentation ammunition with a fairly wide radius and dense fragments from which it is difficult to escape. JL

Taras Safronov reports in Militarnyi:

In the Sumy region, thanks for ammunition designed for drones, the 225th Assault Regiment eliminated a complete Russian assault group. “The entire group was destroyed in by the crews of bomber drones using top-of-the-line Foot Crusher” ammunition characterized by dense fragmentation and leaves 6-7 cm wide furrows of 4-mm shrapnel. “The flame of the explosion reaches several meters in diameter. “This is the price of Putin’s ‘success’ in the Sumy region. It is measured in thousands of killed Russians.”

Research Reveals Using AI Results In Weaker Understanding, Less Original Insights

The research indicates that those relying on AI believe it to be smarter than they are and that it will discern all of the relevant information about the topic. They are therefore les motivated to learn and less capable of useful insights because they have not had to do the work themselves. 

The concerns are not just cognitive but behavioral. Surrendering control to AI in this way weakens the ability to learn and to reason, while giving control to those who own and train the AI being used. JL

Jackie Snow reports in the Wall Street Journal:

In experiments involving 4,500 participants at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, people who used LLMs to research everyday topics demonstrated weaker understanding of those topics afterward and produced less original insights than people who looked up the same topics using Google. The research is resonant with similar studies: Students who use AI tools to complete assignments tend to do better on homework—but worse on tests. “They’re getting the right answers, but they’re not learning.” The findings suggest believing information came from an LLM makes people learn less. "They think the system is smarter than them, so they stop trying. That’s a motivational issue, not just a cognitive one.”

In 3 Hours At Kostiantynivka, Ukrainians Wipe Out 23 Russian Armor, Kill 200

In a further sign of Kremlin desperation to turn around their already faltering summer offensive, Russian commanders on the Pokrovsk front sent a massive armored assault force to attack Kostiantynivka.

The Russians ran right into a carefully prepared Ukrainian kill zone, losing 23 of 25 attacking vehicles, all motorcycles and 200 soldiers. Once again, coordination between Ukrainian drones, artillery and infantry destroyed the attempted Russian attack, causing it to fail with significant losses. JL

Euromaidan Press reports:

After facing repeated setbacks at Pokrovsk, the Kremlin redirected their offensive toward Kostiantynivka. (But) Russian forces confronted fortified Ukrainian positions, where they’ve been unable to advance for two weeks. Ukrainian engineers constructed a sophisticated network of layered fortifications, establishing a defense in depth. Russia sent a massive assault group, the largest mechanized columns seen in this sector for months, consisting of 23 armored vehicles and a dozen motorcycles. The column drove directly into a Ukrainian kill zone. Ukrainian minefields extended into the fields, destroying several vehicles. The battle, lasting 3 hours, was brutal, as Ukrainian FPV drones and artillery obliterated the Russians. 200 Russian troops were killed in the failed assault,

Ukraine's War On Russian Air Defenses Pays Off In Dnipro Boat, Troop Strikes

Ukrainian forces have been waging a relentless war on Russian air defenses and it is paying off as troops, boats, trains and other assets are increasingly vulnerable to attack. 

Among the signs of this success is the reemergence of huge Turkish-built Bayraktar drones which had a great impact at the beginning of the war but then became too easy to hit because of their size and relative speed. They are now being used again by Ukraine largely due to the elimination of Russian air defenses that could take them down. JL 

David Axe reports in Trench Art:

Precision strikes on Russian troops traveling in boats along the Dnipro River in southern Ukraine depict that the propeller-driven  Bayraktar TB-2 drones are back in action - and speaks to the insatiable demand for drones. But it also hints at gaps in Russia’s air defenses over the southern front. That TB-2s are venturing back into what was once heavily contested air space points to the depletion of Russian air-defenses across swathes of southern Ukraine. Drones, some launched by Ukraine’s fleet of unmanned surface vessels, have been hunting Russian radars, surface-to-air missile batteries and air-defense vehicles

50,000 Russians Pinned Down As Ukraine Halts Sumy Offensive

Russia's summer offensive to take Sumy oblast appears, according to multiple accounts, to be faltering, with little indication that the Kremlin has the means to resuscitate it. 

Ukraine's forays into Kursk oblast have once again disrupted Russian plans, forcing Moscow to divert 50,000 troops in order to prevent further embarrassing Ukrainian breakthroughs. Fighting will continue in Sumy, but the major initial threat has been thwarted for now. JL

Tim Zadorozhnyy reports in the Kyiv Independent:

Ukraine has halted Russia's advance in Sumy Oblast, blunting the momentum of Moscow's summer offensive. "Based on the results of May and June, this year's wave of the enemy's summer offensive from Russian territory is faltering." Ukrainian operations in Russia's Kursk oblast Glushkovsky district had forced Moscow to shift elite units, including Airborne Forces and Marine Corps brigades, into defensive positions, undermining their offensive capabilities in Sumy. Ukrainian troops are not only defending but also reclaiming ground using active defense tactics.

In Sharp Change, Trump Calls Putin "the More Difficult Partner" In Ukraine Talks

It might signify something - or nothing - but in a press conference at the end of what is being called a surprisingly successful NATO summit, President Trump, for the first time indicated his frustration with Putin's intransigence in negotiations seeking a ceasefire that could lead to peace from Russia's invasion of Ukraine. 

Trump, in the past, has been a harsh critic of NATO. But the European members launched a charm offensive aimed at Trump, which appears to be working, even as they redouble their support for Ukraine versus Russia. That complements the efforts Ukraine's Zelensky has made at mollifying and winning Trump over. What this all signifies now remains to be seen, but it is certainly better than the alternative. JL 

Alexander Ward reports in the Wall Street Journal:

President Trump said his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin was the “more difficult” leader to convince of ending the war in Ukraine. Vladimir Putin has been more difficult,” Trump said at the end of the NATO summit. “Vladimir Putin really has to end that war.” It was a sharp turnaround for Trump, who previously labeled Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as being more culpable for the war. Trump punctuated his criticism of Putin with praise for Zelensky. “He’s fighting a brave battle. It’s a tough battle.” 

Russian Kherson Unit Sets Fire To Own Position To Protest Commander

More reports are surfacing of Russian units sabotaging their own positions and weapons in protest against futile meat assaults. 

The attacks against deep Ukrainian positions, often prove suicidal for the troops ordered to make them, especially in sectors like Kherson where the natural landscape as well as the Ukrainians make success nearly impossible. JL

Espreso Global reports:

Russian troops of the 205th Brigade on the left bank of Ukraine's Kherson region  are reportedly setting fire to their own positions in protest against their command. These are not isolated incidents, but signs of growing chaos, fatigue, and collapsing discipline in the unit. Soldiers are unhappy with Brigadier General Eduard Shandura, who does not spare personnel, throwing people into "meat" assaults, thinking only about his own career prospects.

Russia's Assault On Kupiansk Has Failed Due To Lethal Ukraine Defense

One of the Kremlin's primary summer offensives - Kupiansk - has failed as it remains securely in Ukrainian hands due to ineffective Russian tactics which the Ukrainians have exploited by inflicting disproportionately large casualties on the Russians. 

This has increased the Russians' manpower and logistics problems while enabling the Ukrainians to hold them off with minimal forces of their own. This strategy appears to be repeating itself across the entire front as the latest Russian summer offensive again proves incapable of achieving Kremlin objectives. JL

Euromaidan Press reports:

Despite Russias' efforts to cross the Oskil River and encircle Kupiansk with repeated assaults and tactical shifts, their advance remains stalled – trapped in a deadly fire pocket, crippled by logistics, and dismantled by a lethal Ukrainian defense. Relying almost entirely on infantry groups that mass for concentrated assaults, this predictable approach frequently backfires: Ukrainian forces permit Russian units to penetrate slightly, quickly sealing the breach. Isolated and encircled, these Russians are systematically neutralized. Ukraine's strategy of attrition drains Russian manpower without compromising Ukrainian resources. Ukrainian troops exploit Russia's poor logistics, manpower, and tactics to inflict high casualties. Ukraine capitalizes on enemy mistakes while eroding their combat potential.

$40 Billion OpenAI Mega Deal Lifts VC Q1 2025 To 3 Yr Record As Volume Drops

AI - and more to the point - OpenAI saved the VC investing quarter. Again. But the overall situation could be described as disappointing and even worrisome. 

The basic issue is that AL, especially a few companies, are hoovering up most of the action in the industry. Fintech, health and other once promising fields are seeing less activity. This not only reinforces concerns about concentration due to attendant costs and first mover advantage, but does so within the framework of ongoing user frustrations about utility and price that have kept uptake at reduced levels. The VC industry and tech generally remain ardently upbeat as the hype machine's relentlessly pounds away, but prudent investors appear conscious of the risks. JL

EY reports:

A record $40 billion AI deal lifted VC investment to its strongest quarter since Q1 2022. (But) until the deal was announced on March 31, venture investment (would have) fallen 36% from Q4 2024. Instead, VC-backed companies raised $80.1 billion in Q1 2025. Deal volumes were off from last quarter. This could be a signal of how reluctant investors are to continue to finance companies in follow-on rounds without a clear path to liquidity. Significant dry powder remains, although fund formation of $10 billion for the quarter, makes it the lowest level since Q3 2018. Megadeals were not as prevalent as in Q4 2024.

How Robotics Firm Reinvented Its Ground Drones After Ukraine Front Tryout

Lessons learned, indeed. The Estonian military robotics firm Milrem thought it knew the ground drone robot market pretty well. Then it sent its UGVs to Ukrainian units on the front line for a test. 

While they generally performed well, the company learned two key lessons: however simple you think operating your product may be, make it simpler. The primary reason being that the troops trained to use it in practice may be gone and those who need it do not have time for training. The second key lesson was that literally everything is vulnerable to electronic warfare interference - and that the technology changes weekly as both sides adapt to each other's advances. That meant that systems had to be revised dramatically in order to work. As the world's first real time technology face-off continues, such constant adaptation will be essential to prevail. JL

Sinead Baker reports in Business Insider:

Estonia's Milrem Robotics makes autonomous ground robots that can be used to gather intelligence, evacuate wounded troops, dispose of explosive devices, and carry weaponry like machine guns. The company's experiences in Ukraine have led to changes in its products. One key was the THeMIS ground robot was "already simple and an easy system to control," but the needs on the battlefield meant it had to be even simpler. Secondly, electronic warfare in Ukraine sparked big changes in uncrewed systems. "Technologies around communication change weekly, so we have significantly changed our designs."

Russia Has Been Stopped In Ukraine, Alienating the West, Which Can Live Without It

Rather than expand Russia's territory and power, Vladimir Putin has actually achieved the reverse. By failing to subdue much smaller Ukraine - and, in fact - now repeatedly and conclusively demonstrated Russia is incapable of conquering it (see, 2025 summer offensive...) he has inadvertently revealed Russia's military and economic weakness. 

And as if that weren't embarrassing and destructive enough, he has also shown Europe and the rest of the world that they can live perfectly happily without Russia, whereas Russia clearly needs them. JL

Michael Kimmage reports in the New York Times:

Mr. Putin has done something far worse for his country than initiating an unwon and unwinnable war: He has compelled Europe to organize as a military counterweight to Russia. Germany is rearming; military cooperation is spreading across Europe; Finland and Sweden have joined NATO; and Brexit has been sidelined by a security agreement between Britain and the EU. Putin has also managed to alienate a Russophile American president. Russia can no longer employ persuasion in Ukraine or Europe and has nowhere near enough force to conquer the former, not to mention the latter. Russia has been stopped in Ukraine, and the West can live without Russia.

Amazon Doubles Ads On Prime Video, Angers Customers Already Paying $140 per Yr

Despite promises that it would limit the number of ads it shows on Prime Video - unless the subscriber pays extra every month - ad buyers now report that it has doubled the number of ad minutes per hour.

The purpose of this is to generate an ever increasing amount of revenue and profit for the parent company, but as cable and other streaming services have learned the hard way, it usually leads to fewer subscribers and increased piracy. JL

Karl Bode reports in Tech Dirt:

Back in early 2024 Amazon announced that Prime Video customers (who pay $140 per year) would be charged $3 extra every month just to avoid ads that didn’t previously exist. When originally announced, Amazon promised it would keep the ad load to  three-and-a-half minutes per hour to be less annoying than its competitors. But the march toward enshittification yields to no one; 18 months later, Amazon has doubled that volume of ads per hour: “According to six ad buyers and documents reviewed by ADWEEK, the current ad load on Prime Video now ranges from four to six minutes per hour. And while that could bring down CPMs, buyers will be watching whether this impacts user experience.”

Russian Assault Group at Pokrovsk 'Annhilated,' Sole Survivor Surrenders

The significance of this battle - or skirmish - is that it characterizes the state of the war in Ukraine this summer. 

Russian forces attempt to attack under pressure from Moscow, which is desperately trying to convince the world that it remains an effective military power. The small scale assaults it can muster are almost invariably defeated with heavy losses. The Kremlin will keep trying because it does not want to admit that its only serious threat remains shooting missiles and drones at civilian targets like buses, trains and apartment buildings. JL

New Voice of Ukraine reports:

Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces annihilated a Russian assault group on the Pokrovsk front, capturing one survivor. The operation, conducted by the 144th SOF alongside operators of reconnaissance drones, FPV-drones, drop systems, mortar crews, and grenade launchers, targeted a Russian unit that had previously disrupted a Ukrainian rotation. “The operation began with FPV-drone strikes on a locomotive where the occupiers were hiding. After the locomotive caught fire, the enemies tried to flee. Most were eliminated. One wounded soldier pretended to be dead but later surrendered."

As Russian Ally Iran "Pummeled," Putin's Ukraine War Means He Can't Offend Trump

Awkward! Iran is learning the hard way about the limits of Russian 'friendship,' while Russia is growing increasingly nervous as some of its billions of investments in Iran literally go up in smoke. 

The harsh reality for Putin is that he cannot afford to alienate Donald Trump, who is clearly reveling in the attention he is getting from the spectacular if inconclusive bombing of Iranian nuclear sites he ordered. That means Putin cannot overtly aid Iran militarily even if he wanted to do so - or could - which is doubtful given the poor performance of his military in Ukraine and his desperate need for weapons there. But neither can Putin afford to blow off the Iranians who are providing crucial weaponry and other assistance against Ukraine. So the result will be some bellicose rhetoric, expressions of sympathy and promises to...study what can be done. Behind the scenes, China is probably also pressuring both Iran and Russia to cool things down so as not to further hamper the global economy. JL

Holly Ellyatt  reports in CNBC:

As attacks on Iranian nuclear sites left the Islamic Republic scrambling for support, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi headed to Moscow Monday for “serious consultations” with Vladimir Putin over how to answer the assaults. Iran has helped Russia throughout the war in Ukraine, but there might be very little Moscow can or will to do to reciprocate. Putin needs his weapons for Ukraine and “If Putin were to annoy Trump over Iran, Trump may change tack and impose new sanctions on Russia." Ruling out giving Iran any military assistance, the issue for Moscow is the threat to all the Iranian ventures it in which it has actively invested. Russia was Iran’s largest foreign investor in 2024.

On Liman Front, Ukraine Units Savage Russians' Extended Supply Lines

Among the other sectors where the Kremlin had hoped to make headway this summer, Liman loomed large. 

But overextended Russian supply lines force their troops to walk as much as 15 kilometers just to get to the front, exposing them to drone and special forces attacks before they can even organize to launch assaults. JL

RFU News reports:

As Russian forces attempt to cross the Zherebets River and push westward to seize Liman, they stretch their supply lines thin and expose infantry columns to relentless Ukrainian drone strikes, so their offensive risks collapsing before it can break through. Russian soldiers must walk on foot to frontline positions for 15 kilometers, leading to tremendous losses. With Russian casualties mounting due to extended supply roads and fiber-optic drone use by the Ukrainians, the Russian offensive effort is once again stalling.

Putin's Grip Wanes As Ukraine, Iran Failures Failures Stoke Russia's Ultranationalists

Polls reveal that most Russians favor peace talks. But the greatest threat to Russian leaders historically has come from its most extreme elements. This is proving to be the case for Putin as his inability to subdue Ukraine, his loss of Syria and now his unwillingness to help defend Iran glaringly illuminates Russia's - and his own - waning influence. This incenses Russia's hardliners. And makes it harder for Putin to compromise, even given his understanding that the Russian economy is a Potemkin village of shaky supports. 

The result is that Putin is actually weakened by this radical right agenda because it limits his ability to make logical, sensible choices. It is interesting that the same is true for Israel's Netanyahu and Iran's Khamenei. All of which suggests that better run nations have an opportunity to take advantage - assuming they are not also being held hostage by powerful constituents' unreasonable expectations. Jl

Samuel Ramani reports in The Telegraph:

Putin’s unwavering commitment to maximalist ambitions in Ukraine has polarized Russian society. A March 2025 Levada Centre poll revealed that 59% of Russians support peace negotiations, and that figure soared to 76% amongst Russians under the age of 24. (But) history shows the biggest threat to Putin comes from the ultranationalist right. A vocal ultranationalist minority is continuing to stoke the war with Ukraine and conflict with NATO. The challenge for Putin is that he has few available escalation cards. This means he needs to appease ultranationalists by indefinitely stalling a ceasefire. They could topple Putin if the war ends on unfavorable terms for Russia.

Stalled Summer Attacks Reveal Russia Now Incapable of Defeating Ukrainian Military

The Kremlin's ostensibly fearsome summer offensive has slowed to a crawl across almost the entire front line. Pokrovsk, Toretsk, Zaporizhzia, Sumy, Kursk, et al and etc? Still in Ukrainian hands. Russian troop deaths - still over 1,000 a day. 

Which reveals a truth that informed observers have been stating since last fall: Russia is no longer capable of beating Ukraine on the battlefield. Period. JL

Phillips O'Brien reports in his substack:

Russian advances slowed this week from their already snail-like pace. We are now a week from July and the Russians have hardly advanced towards Pokrovsk (pronounced doomed last August) and the Ukrainians are still fighting in Toretsk, Chasiv Yar, etc. In the Sumy front, Russian advances are slowing. There remains no sign that the Russians can achieve anything more than small, bloody advances with no ability to create/exploit a breakthrough. Missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian civilians are now as important to the Kremlin as battlefield efforts. What they cannot do on the battlefield (defeat the Ukrainian military) they have to try and do in other ways.

For Now, Prime Economic Impact of the US Iran Bombing Is Heightened Uncertainty

As of this morning, there are mostly 'what-ifs.' Reports on the scale and impact of the US bombing indicate that they were not as devastating as originally described - a nearly universal experience of war. That could lead to a variety of rabbit-hole chasing scenarios regarding what Iran could do to retaliate, what the White House could do if it is (again) embarrassed by overblown hype, and so on. 

So the greatest short term economic impact appears to heightened uncertainty. Which is not nothing. That leads to rising rates, tighter credit, more cautious corporate decision-making, resource allocation hesitancy and a host of other decisions with financial consequences for a global economy already dealing with tariffs, layoffs and Al triumphalism. Leaders and executives have probably spent the weekend exploring how to anticipate or react to a variety of scenarios. That, in itself, has a dampening affect. Prudence suggests it should be expected to continue. JL

Noah Smith reports in Noahopinion and ING reports:

A lot of people are worried about the effect of the strikes on the global economy. The US claimed it had “obliterated” the facilities, while Iran reported only limited damage. This leaves us with the all-too-familiar sense that we understand far less than we thought we did. With more than 80% of oil flowing through Hormuz ending up in Asia, the impact on the region would be larger than that on the US. (But) uncertainty at elevated levels is another dampening factor for economic activity in the US and eurozone. So far there has been a lack of flight-to-safety.  The most likely economic consequences from the US strikes will be on general uncertainty and on the price of oil. We remain in the Goldilocks fairytale for now. 

Ukraine Blows Up Another Russian Fuel Tanker Train In Zaporizhzhia

• 
  

Lack of fuel due to attacks like this are another reason why Russia is having trouble maintaining its spring-summer offensive this year. JL

Demian Shevko reports in New Voice of Ukraine:

Ukrainian intelligence operatives have destroyed Russian fuel tanks in temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhya Oblast, targeting the Russian military logistics train with drones. Russian forces had managed to pull back part of a convoy of 18 to 20 fuel tankers in the direction of Melitopol  “Thick columns of black smoke and fire from the diesel and other fuel materials rose into the sky.”

How the US Bombing Of Iran Helps Ukraine, Makes Russia and China Weaker

The Trump administration has made it absolutely clear that it is no friend of Ukraine's. But with its strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and the ongoing Israeli attacks on Iran's drone and missile production capabilities, the US has weakened Russia in two ways. 

First, it has damaged, if not entirely destroyed, Iran's ability to help Russia continue its attacks on Ukraine. Iran needs all the weapons it can muster to defend itself against Israeli and US assault while trying to return fire on Israel. This reduces its ability to supply Russia. But just as devastating, the US has made Russia's weakness blindingly obvious. Russia has not - and probably can not - come to Iran's aid, despite their 20 year 'friendship treaty.' This will not only anger the Iranians, but cause every other country in the world to whom Russia has proffered the ostensible 'benefits' of alliance to question the value of that relationship. Finally, this morning's announcement that Iran is closing the Straits of Hormuz through which 20% of global oil passes especially hurts China because it is dependent on the Strait for fully 45% of its oil imports - and it has done nothing to help Iran either. Axis of Evil indeed. JL

Con Coughlin reports in the Telegram and John Herbst comments in the Atlantic Council:

The destruction wrought on Iran’s military infrastructure is also bad news for other despotic regimes, such as Russia, that have come to rely heavily on Tehran for support. In return for Iran maintaining supplies of drones, missiles and other military equipment for Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine, Moscow indicated its willingness to boost Iran’s air defences and air forces. This has clearly failed. Israel has targeted Iran's drone and missile production facilities. If the Iranians are unable to provide weaponry for their own military against Israel, they will be in no position to support Russia in Ukraine. Trump now is in a much stronger position in relation to Putin than he was before the attack 

Ukraine Still Occupies 90 Kilometers of Kursk Oblast, Disrupting Russian Plans

While attention has focused on Russia's putative summer offensive - now in various stages of reorganization - Ukrainian forces continue to hold 90 square kilometers of Russia's Kursk oblast, tying down at least 10,000 Russian troops and contributing to the disruption of the Kremlin's offensive plans. JL

Martin Fornusek and colleagues report in the Kyiv Independent:

Moscow initially declared it had fully liberated the Kursk region on April 26, but this claim was later disputed by Russian officials themselves. "We (Ukrainian forces) control about 90 square kilometers (35 square miles) in the Glushkovsky district of Russia's Kursk Oblast.  "In April 2025, Russian units – about 60 thousand troops -  were tasked with moving to new sectors and reinforcing Russian assault groups in the Pokrovsk, Toretsk, Lyman, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson directions. But our actions in Kursk thwarted these plans." At the moment, 10,000 Russian soldiers are fighting in Kursk oblast.

More Russians At Konstantinivka Are Surrendering To Ukrainian Forces

Given the choice between being fired on by their own blocking troops or surrendering to the Ukrainians, more Russians are choosing surrender.

As the casualty rate - and futility of their tactics - continues to increase and, as previously reported, large numbers of Russian officers are seeking assignment away from combat in overstaffed but save rear echelons, more Russian troops are deciding that living is the preferable option. JL

Taras Safronov reports in Militarnyi:

Russian troops had approached the area on all-terrain vehicles, attempting to secure a position in a nearby forest strip. they were located by Ukrainian drone operators. Two were killed, the rest hid in a bunker. The Russian soldiers, reportedly fearful of being captured, ultimately decided it was their safest option. Similar incidents have occurred in recent months. In one case, Russians initially believed they had come under fire from their own side. Realizing they were facing Ukrainian forces, they surrendered without resistance.