07:18 – The fake weapons made in Ukrainian laboratories to deceive the Russians: “The enemy is not stupid” – The military point
(By Andrea Marinelli and Guido Olimpio) The military point 564 | Since the start of the conflict, a team of experts has been reproducing copies made of plastic, wood, foam or metal that are so similar to the originals that Russian drone operators and troops on the ground can be convinced that they are military targets.
Since the beginning of the conflict, the Ukrainians have managed to protect their vehicles by spreading them out and hiding them from enemy view among trees, on very large areas, or perhaps with a tarp covered with leaves and bushes. Nevertheless, in the first few weeks they managed to evade the invader’s first strike and prevent the army from asserting air superiority.
Read the full article HERE
7:15 a.m. – There is no breakthrough in wheat. Putin freezes Erdogan: “lift sanctions”
(By Marta Serafini, sent to Lviv) The Kremlin boss returns and demands the release of his exports. The New York Times: Kim in Russia to Talk to Tsar About Weapons.
There is no ray of hope on the Black Sea, the grain corridor remains closed. After an almost three-hour summit meeting at his residence in Sochi, Vladimir Putin dampened the expectations of his interlocutor, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in his first personal meeting in almost a year. And he reiterates his conditions: Moscow will only rejoin the wheat agreement, which was suspended six weeks ago, if the necessary conditions are met. “There will be no agreement,” Putin said, “until the West agrees to facilitate the export of Russian products.”
Read the full article HERE
06:00 – The Russian helicopter pilot deserts and invites others to follow him
Maksim Kuzminov, pilot of a Mi-8 helicopter transferred to Ukraine, said in the documentary “Zbyti Lyotchyky Rossii” (Downed Pilots of Russia) that he defected and invited other Russian soldiers to follow his example. In the documentary, which aired on Sunday evening, the pilot emphasized: “What is happening now is a genocide against the Ukrainian people.” Not only the Ukrainian people, but also the Russian people. The reason for my decision is not to contribute to these crimes. Ukraine will definitely win this war only because people are very united… Nobody wants this war. It’s only a matter of time before Ukraine wins.” And he turned to other Russian pilots and demanded: “If you do what I did, such an act, you certainly won’t regret it.” They will provided with everything you need for the rest of your life. You will be offered jobs everywhere, no matter what you want to do. You will discover a world full of bright colors. And remember: you just don’t know much, you haven’t seen much of how other people live. When you find out all this, your opinion will change drastically.
– Maksim Kuzminov during an interview on Monday
05:56 a.m. – Cuba, investigation into Russia’s illegal recruitment network
The Cuban government said it had identified a Russian “human trafficking network” aimed at recruiting Cubans for “military operations in Ukraine” and initiated criminal proceedings against those involved. The Cuban Interior Ministry “is working to neutralize and dismantle a human trafficking network that operates from Russia to incorporate Cuban citizens living there and even some from Cuba into the armed forces involved in operations in Ukraine,” explained Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez assured in A post on X states that the Cuban government is “taking legal action” against these operations.
05:33 a.m. – Moscow, two drones shot down while flying towards the capital
According to Moscow, Russian air defense forces destroyed drones flying over the Istria district and the Kaluga region towards the Russian capital this morning. Mayor Sergey Sobyanin explains on his Telegram channel that “defense forces shot down attack drones targeting Moscow,” adding that a residential structure was damaged by falling debris, but there are currently no reports of injuries. A third unmanned aircraft was subsequently shot down over the Tver district, Sobyanin added, specifying that in this case “no damage was caused to the ground.”