Our Friday News Analysis | What the World Reads Now!

Young people of Angola: dedicate your life to worthy and just causes! “Be a United People”

Be a united people,
build a single nation in which everyone can consider themselves brothers.

Do not accept social divisions in your code of relations:
they are a sad legacy of the past.

Let the differences be attributes that enrich and give multiformity to the Angolan people, not a reason for division and discord.

Saint Pope John Paul II
Luanda, Angola
7 June 1992

Building the Bridge Foundation

This week’s reflection: “Be a United People”

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OUR WEDNESDAY NEWS ANALYSIS | DONALD TRUMP AND BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: THE ODD COUPLE

On all fronts, Trump did not merely follow Netanyahu’s lead. He enabled it, funded it, armed it, and defended it diplomatically.

As the war widens, growing voices across the region question Washington’s role and its alignment with Israeli strategy. (Photo: Wikimedia. Design: Palestine Chronicle)

… no amount of presidential bravado or social-media posturing can obscure what has become undeniable:

under Donald Trump, American foreign policy has served Netanyahu’s Israel-first agenda, not America’s.

Editorial | Can Trump Drain the Global Swamp Alone? No!

By Abraham A. van Kempen
3 July 2026

Happy Birthday America – 250 years of blessings despite your blood, sweat, and tears.

But when will you liberate yourself from the elusive imperialist claws? Supporting and endorsing the atrocities perpetrated by a Eurocentric puppet such as Israel or Ukraine doesn’t make you the Leader of the Free World; it makes you the enforcer, the slave of the World’s Death Star. Have you noticed? The United States, with all its might, cannot lead Israel and Ukraine. They are controlled by Europe, not just since the beginning of this century but since the beginning of the last century. Have you noticed something else: the United States plays second fiddle to Europe. For too long, Europe has treated the United States as its whipping boy ... and President Trump doesn’t like it.

But now I have a shocking revelation to share – a bombshell. People in the West complain that Israel, a small, tiny, and insignificant country with less than 10 million inhabitants, rules America. Tehran or Moscow, with 13 million people, and Los Angeles, New York, Tokyo, and Mexico City, with 22 million inhabitants, are larger than all of Israel. Yet, Israel rules the United States? Give me a break!

Get real! Which region is the most powerful on Earth? Follow the money trail! Which two countries are the largest investors in the United States? The United Kingdom and the Netherlands. Believe me. I know what I’m talking about. I was born almost 76 years ago with a dual nationality: British and Dutch, making me more European than most.

Has President Trump halted NATO’s aggression against Russia? No! Europe is too powerful.
Under NATO’s umbrella and with the European Commission's backing, the EU relishes abusing the Ukrainians as cannon fodder. (And someday, Zelensky’s path will be similar to Mussolini’s.)
Plus, President Trump has failed to pressure Israel to cease attacks on Iran, Gaza, and Lebanon because Israel aligns more with Eurocentric policies, as does the States. But not for long; not under President Trump.

However, Mr. Trump can't do it all by himself. He needs help. He can’t do it alone. Who? Who can come out of the woodwork to help the President of the United States, the mighties nation ever in the history of humankind? Does anyone want to help the United States, especially after the US proves its true colors in the Middle East and Eastern Europe, not to mention everywhere else?

Yes! The reason is simple. They need President Trump, too. Together, they can help heal our broken humanity. Alone, none has a chance to beat Europe, specifically, the Swamp in Europe, the Deep State, the Mindset that parades like a Death Star.

Before I continue, I’d like to share a text I composed and sent early this morning:

              Dear Xxx, your life is sunshine, especially when it breaks through the dark clouds. The only thing you can take with you is the love you leave behind. So, beautiful. You inspire so much hope. So much peace.

               As you face eternity, stay hopeful. Brighter days will come. Trust that better moments are NOW.

               Until we meet again ... in the clouds.

DRONES AND DECOMPOSING BABIES: WHAT’S IN UN REPORT ON ISRAEL’S GENOCIDE OF PALESTINIAN CHILDREN

Israel has killed over 20,000 Palestinian children since 7 October 2023. The UN has detailed instances of torture, rape and murder in a landmark report

Israel has killed over 20,000 Palestinian children since 7 October 2023. The UN has detailed instances of torture, rape and murder in a landmark report

“...it became very clear… that babies were special targets,

When you shoot a 10-day-old baby breastfeeding on his mother… through his head,
you can by no means label such a baby as an enemy of the State of Israel and justify these kinds of attacks.

That children were specifically targeted is clear
from the number of “instances of babies with gunshot wounds to their head and neck to cause maximum damage.

… babies were aimed at with “tiny cube-shaped pellets” that “spread like a cluster of ammunition and destroy all the internal organs.”

Israeli forces deliberately targeted Palestinian children as a central element of their genocide in Gaza, the UN’s top investigative body on Palestine and Israel concluded this week.

The finding comes in an 88-page report examining the full scope of harm inflicted on children since 7 October 2023, from precision shootings by snipers and drones to torture in detention, reproductive violence and the destruction of schools and hospitals.

“The evidence shows that Palestinian children have been deliberately targeted and killed by the Israeli security forces,” said Srinivasan Muralidhar, chair of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem and Israel.

“Be a United People”

Last Friday, I stated that I’ll introduce you to an individual whose reputation remains largely unrecognized, a person whom future historians may consider the Statesman of the 21st Century. In last Friday’s editorial, I wrote about my conversation with a friend of mine who, among many others, asked me which side I’m on. I told him, and everyone else knows, I’m on the side of ‘humanity’ — building bridges to help heal a broken world, in a small way. I lack the power of Presidents Trump, Xi, and Putin, but I can and did pass the baton by nominating them for the Nobel Peace Prize.

It’s not President Trump. In fact, among world leaders, President Trump faces a ‘democratic’ dilemma. A democracy like the United States favors those who can vote with their money whenever they want. As they say in the States, “money talks.”

The predominant interest group, the Neo-colonialists, disguised as Neo-conservatives or Neocons, have infiltrated numerous government and socio-economic institutions, including many political action committees and political parties across North America and Western Europe. President Trump has frequently referred to them as Washington’s Swamp and has now become aware of the Euro-Swamp. He has failed to drain the Swamp in Washington, D.C. He must drain the Swamp in Europe first.

The Elephant in the Room

Is there a genius in the White House? Maybe so! It's likely, given he's already had a four-year term under his belt. President Trump’s starring role on reality TV before becoming President gives him an inimitable edge and profound insight into the job!

Mr. Trump excels in the spotlight, particularly in the intriguing craft of smoke and mirrors—what is, what is not, what is not. Like Shakespeare, he sees life as a lively theater—a magnificent show on the global stage, full of drama, with its highs and lows and opportunities for strategic risk and gain.

Who understands Trump? Only Trump!

What’s Going On?

1. President Trump has bewildered the world with all his idiosyncracies.
2. Mr. Trump has thrown the EU and NATO under the bus. Vice President J. D. Vance delivered a strong warning to Europe in Munich on 14 February 2025. The entire world read, heard, or viewed the story.
3. Mr. Trump seems determined, in my opinion, to flush away the bozos, clowns, buffoons, and lunatics in the European capitals who see themselves as world leaders.
4. Everyone knows he wants an end to the madness in Europe and in the Middle East and wants to work with the Russians and the Chinese – if you can’t beat them, join them.
5. Mr. Trump essentially declared war on the EU elites. If you missed it, take a look at a few paragraphs of his speech from his Middle East trip, when he, ‘the great friend of Israel ’–deliberately skipped and snubbed Tel Aviv.
6. Don’t think for a moment that Mr. Trump is crazy enough to invoke NATO’s Article 5 to sacrifice New York or Miami for Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, London, Paris, or Rome. There won’t be a nuclear crater on this side of the Atlantic, and hopefully not anywhere else.

What’s Bugging Him?

President Trump resents being subordinate to EU elites, many of whom are part of the Deep State. Unlike other presidents and numerous US politicians, he is not susceptible to bribery. The US, as the world's leading military and economic power, has often been used to serve EU interests and enforce Eurocentric policies. Mr. Trump opposes their neo-colonial and neo-con aims.

                 What is mine is mine.

                What is yours is mine also.
                It’s either my way or the highway.
                If you’re not for us, you’re against us.
                If you don’t do it our way, you’re dead meat.

So, who is the Statesman of the 21st Century?

Let’s meet in Yalta.

I promise I’ll tell you next week.

BREAKING NEWS! Europe is sleepwalking into a war while Putin is holding back.

To be continued on Monday, 6 July 2026

Enjoy your weekend,

Abraham A. van Kempen
Senior Editor

Building the Bridge Foundation, The Hague

A Way to Get to Know One Another and the Other

Remember! Diplomacy is catalytic—transformative —while military action is cataclysmic—destructive and catastrophic.

When faced with the options to be good, bad, or ugly, let’s build bridges, not burn them. After all, mutual deterrence reigns.

‘DONBAS WILL BE THE NEW JERUSALEM FOR NATO‘ – MATTHEW HOH

• Sanchez: “The EU needs the war to continue because that’s where they make their bread.”
• Matthew Hoh: “Donbas will be the new Jerusalem for NATO.”

Watch the Video Here (51 minutes, 24 seconds

Host Rick Sanchez
HomeShowsSanchez Effect
1 July 2026 18:36

In this episode of RT’s ‘Sanchez Effect,’ Rick talks with former US Marine Corps officer and State Department official Matthew Hoh, who participated in American operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, about recent major conflicts.

Our guest mentioned that Iran is currently winning the war, which is why it is pushing for a ceasefire in Lebanon. However, Matthew also thinks that Israel will do everything possible to disrupt the peace process, given the increased radicalization among its people.

Regarding the Ukraine conflict, Mr. Hoh believes Russia won't escalate and attack the EU despite provocations. He suggests it is Brussels, not Moscow, that desires a major war on the continent, as EU elites seek an external threat to rally support.

THE BALANCE OF COERCIVE LEVERAGE

By John J. Mearsheimer
Substack.com
01 July 2026

On June 30, 2026, I discussed with Judge Andrew Napolitano on "Judging Freedom" the West’s misguided policy of helping Ukraine speed up its drone and missile attacks on Russia. This includes President Trump, who seems to believe Ukraine is doing the right thing and should be supported. The West is also considering further actions to harm Russia's economy. Naturally, Putin and other Russian leaders are very upset. Putin, criticized for not waging the war forcefully enough, has now challenged his opponents. It's hard to see how this story ends well.

The Judge and I also discussed the conflict in the Middle East, specifically the US-Iran [the EU-US/NATO + ISRAEL versus Iran + the Middle East] conflict. I stated emphatically that the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by Tehran and Washington on June 17, 2026, represented a clear victory for Iran.

President Trump was compelled to sign this surrender agreement because Iran holds most of the coercive power, and the US has little capacity to alter this imbalance. Evidence of this is seen in the tit-for-tat exchanges over the weekend (June 26–28, 2026) between Iran and the US, which Iran won. The central issue was whether Iran had full control over ship movements through the Strait of Hormuz. The US denied this, but after a brief back-and-forth, the US admitted Iran's control of the Strait.

Some believe that it’s only a matter of time before the US resumes its bombing campaign against Iran. Though escalation appears inevitable, this seems unlikely. The air campaign ended on 8 April 2026, nearly three months ago, and the Trump administration has shown little interest in restarting it since.

Why?

               First, our munition stocks are dangerously low, which was a key reason for stopping the war.

               Second, Iran possesses a formidable second-strike capability, with a large arsenal of missiles and drones that have previously caused destruction in Israel, Gulf states, and US bases in the region. If escalation occurs, Iran would have the advantage.

Some may argue it's time to allow Israel to act independently. However, Israel relies heavily on US [EU-US/NATO] support and cannot sustain a prolonged bombing campaign against Iran without significant assistance, which the US cannot [will not] provide at this moment. Consider the defensive missiles the US used to protect Israel from Iranian missile attacks during the 12-Day War (June 13-25, 2025) and the ongoing conflict. Israel alone cannot defend itself or carry out an independent bombing against Iran. Additionally, whether Israel or the US targets Iran, Iran's strong second-strike capabilities and ability to escalate remain unaffected.

This suggests Iran will be in a strong position to negotiate firmly over the MOU in the future. Meanwhile, Israel—which played a crucial role in persuading Trump to initiate this ill-advised war—will work tirelessly with its US allies to hinder Trump’s efforts to resolve the conflict. Israel might even conduct limited air strikes against Iran to try to draw the US into the conflict.

I find it difficult to see how anyone can genuinely claim that Israel is a strategic asset for the US. In fact, it is more of a strategic and moral liability.

PROF. JOHN MEARSHEIMER: MAKING SENSE OF IRAN’S VICTORY

This interview depicts U.S. foreign policy as unstable, coercive, and overextended.

• Discussing Ukraine, Russia, Iran, Israel, and Gulf states, the speakers critique Western assumptions about military power and diplomacy.
• The main concern is escalation: drone attacks on Russia, confrontations with Iran, and Israeli actions in Lebanon signal a declining international order.
• The analysis highlights shifting power, declining U.S. credibility, and the risk leaders may mistake symbolic pressure for real strategy.

Watch the Video Here (26 minutes, 57 seconds)

Host: Judge Andrew Napolitano
Judging Freedom
1 July 2026

Judge Andrew Napolitano’s discussion with Prof. John Mearsheimer highlights a realist critique of U.S. foreign policy, focusing on the Russia-Ukraine conflict and a U.S.-Israel clash with Iran. They suggest drone strikes against Russia might cause localized damage but are unlikely to alter the battlefield, serving mainly to boost Ukraine and Western bargaining power. The conversation warns that expanding attacks could provoke Russian retaliation against Europe, as Western leaders support Ukraine’s longer-range military capabilities.

Another key point is the argument that the U.S. is not a neutral mediator but actively involved in the Ukraine conflict by providing military aid, sharing intelligence, and helping to develop Ukraine’s military over the long term. The idea of the “spirit of Anchorage” is seen as having fallen apart, with Russia now considering Trump, Europe, and Ukraine as coordinated enemies. Putin’s recent statements are viewed not as signs of expansionist aims but as signs that Moscow is preparing for a broader war, which Moscow believes Europe is already considering.

The discussion turns to Iran, where the memorandum of understanding is seen as a U.S. capitulation reflecting Iran’s stronger coercive power. Iran’s ability to threaten the Strait of Hormuz, attack U.S. bases, damage Gulf infrastructure, and withstand retaliation is crucial. The interview suggests Washington and Israel failed by underestimating Iran’s resilience and overestimating their air power. This weakens U.S. credibility among Gulf states, which are now diversifying their security alliances and pursuing quieter diplomacy with Iran.

Finally, Netanyahu is seen as unable to reignite a U.S.-Iran conflict but capable of disrupting diplomacy through actions in Lebanon and rejecting the two-state solution. The interview offers a pessimistic view: escalation is frequent, U.S. influence is declining, and regional players are adapting to a more multipolar and unstable security landscape.

IS RUSSIA ABOUT TO STRIKE INSIDE EUROPE? | PROF JIANG XUEQIN

• In this video, we examine the real story behind Ukraine's drone campaign against Moscow and Crimea, the hidden red lines that could pull Russia into striking inside Europe, the truth behind the so-called "spirit" of a summit that may have never produced a real agreement, and why calling the United States a mediator in this war no longer matches the facts on the ground.
• We break down the propaganda narrative of a "turning tide," Putin's blunt warning to his newest military recruits, and what all of this really means for how — and whether — this war ends.
• ⚠️ DISCLAIMER: This content is for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute political, financial, or military advice. We try to remain neutral, factual, and responsible in our reporting.

Watch the Video Here (16 minutes, 39 seconds)

Host: Prof. Jiang Xueqin
Prof. Jiang Insights
1 Juli 2026

Prof. Jiang argues that the Russia-Ukraine war is entering a more volatile phase shaped by endurance, strategic perception, and escalation rather than imminent negotiation.

Disruptive is not defeat

Ukraine’s long-range drone attacks are presented as tactically disruptive and symbolically significant, but not decisive battlefield developments. Examples such as strikes near Moscow, attacks on refineries, and damage to fuel depots or naval assets in Crimea illustrate how these operations impose costs and generate psychological pressure without necessarily changing the front-line balance.

Western Talking Points

Prof. Jiang expresses skepticism of Western narratives portraying Russia as nearing economic collapse, domestic instability, or military defeat. He points, for instance, to Western claims that sanctions, drone pressure, and battlefield setbacks are collectively weakening Moscow, and questions whether these claims are sufficiently supported. The analysis suggests that such narratives may function as strategic communication aimed at sustaining public and legislative backing for Ukraine, especially when paired with calls to expand long-range strike capabilities.

A central emphasis is the role of perception in state behavior. Prof. Jiang’s analysis argues that Russian leaders may increasingly view the United States and Europe as aligned in an effort to weaken Russia. Public Western commitments to intensify economic pressure and accelerate Ukraine’s long-range strike capacity are used as examples of actions that Moscow may interpret as direct strategic involvement. Whether accurate or not, this perception could shape threat assessment, military planning, and escalation risks, including possible retaliation beyond Ukraine.

Cautious Optimism

Overall, the document offers a cautionary reading of the war’s trajectory. Its main contribution is distinguishing symbolic or coercive military action from developments that materially alter battlefield outcomes; for example, drone activity around Red Square may signal vulnerability and political pressure, but it does not by itself degrade Russia’s battlefield capacity.

The discussion of a possible strike on a European munitions facility similarly clarifies the logic of coercive escalation. The conclusion is that hardened rhetoric, expanded strike capabilities, and mutual threat perceptions may be driving a longer and more unstable phase of the war.

What is the Side of the Story that is Not Yet Decisive? Edited and annotated by Abraham A. van Kempen

WHAT THE WEST STILL DOESN'T UNDERSTAND ABOUT RUSSIA

Western headlines suggest Vladimir Putin faces mounting pressure, with speculation about a coup or weakening grip on power.

Is the regime close to breaking? Who could succeed Putin? What are the prospects for his successor?

KGB/FSB Headquarters

By Olga Lautman

Substack.com

Jun 26, 2026

Respectfully annotated by Abraham A. van Kempen

Recently, Western headlines suggest Vladimir Putin faces mounting pressure, with speculation about a coup or weakening grip on power. Ukraine's ongoing war exposes Russia’s vulnerabilities, prompting questions: Is the regime close to breaking? Who could succeed Putin? What are the prospects for his successor?

Whenever I see those headlines and get asked those questions, I give the same answer. After years of repeating it, I decided to explain it in detail because it's one of the biggest misconceptions affecting how journalists, policymakers, and followers of Russia perceive the country. Much of the current analysis still views Russia through a Western perspective, assuming its institutions operate like ours or that altering the Kremlin's leadership changes the entire system.

I’ve emphasized for years that Putin is a symptom, not the creator, of a system that produced figures like Stalin and Brezhnev. Even before Putin, Russia’s security agencies perfected repression, imperial conquest, information warfare, assassinations, influence operations, corruption, and threat elimination. Putin inherited, modernized, and adapted these practices, but they predate him. To understand Russia, look beyond the man in the Kremlin to the enduring system that survived tsars, revolutions, and the Soviet Union’s fall.

The continuity is clear once recognized. Before the Bolsheviks, the Tsarist Okhrana—a secret police established in the late 1800s—had a vast network for surveillance, infiltration, informants, repression, covert operations, counterintelligence, espionage, and dissent suppression. The Bolsheviks inherited and expanded this, with Felix Dzerzhinsky's Cheka institutionalizing terror, which evolved into the GPU, NKVD, KGB, and today's FSB and SVR. Despite name and uniform changes, control and repression principles persisted.

The security services are more than intelligence agencies; they are the backbone of Russia. Western policymakers often overlook that Russia’s security services differ from Western intelligence or law enforcement, serving a different role within the Russian state.

Over a century, they integrated into nearly all facets of Russian society, expanding influence from intelligence to politics, military, law enforcement, judiciary, state-owned companies, industries, banking, private sector, organized crime, media, academia, think tanks, culture, the Church, and other institutions.

Even in institutions not typically linked to intelligence agencies, this continuity persists. Before the Bolsheviks, the Russian Orthodox Church was closely tied to the Tsarist government, with the Okhrana using clergy and church networks for surveillance and loyalty. After the Revolution, this relationship was violently broken as the regime massacred clergy, destroyed churches, confiscated properties, and launched massive persecutions.

Joseph Stalin, an atheist, persecuted the Church for years but changed policy during WWII. This was not due to faith but because he saw the Church as a tool to rally patriotism, strengthen unity, and expand Soviet influence. The Church was reestablished under NKGB and KGB control, with clergy recruited and used for intelligence, espionage, influence, and propaganda domestically and internationally.

That relationship persisted after the Soviet Union's collapse and evolved. Today, the Moscow Patriarchate, led by Patriarch Kirill—who served the KGB as "Mikhailov"—remains a key tool of Kremlin influence across Europe, the Balkans, the U.S., Africa, and beyond. Investigations have shown Russian Orthodox churches involved in espionage, influence campaigns, propaganda, and often providing cover and support to Russian intelligence officers.

This pattern recurs throughout Russian history. Long before 'hybrid warfare” was a term, Soviet agencies cultivated influence agents, funded groups, forged documents, meddled in democratic processes, manipulated foreign media, and launched disinformation campaigns. Decades ago, Operation INFEKTION falsely accused the U.S. of creating AIDS. Contemporary information warfare isn't new but an evolution of tactics refined over generations.

Soviet intelligence historically aided extremist groups and terrorists worldwide while claiming to promote "peace.” Domestic repression persisted over time. During Stalin, Brezhnev, and Andropov, dissidents diagnosed with “sluggish schizophrenia” and confined to psychiatric hospitals for criticizing the government. Under Putin, psychiatric detention reemerged along with imprisonment, poisoning, assassination, and persecution of political opponents and journalists.

This misunderstanding is clear in discussions about Ukraine. Each February, many refer to "Russia's invasion of Ukraine" as if it started in 2022, but more knowledgeable people note it began in 2014. Both overlook that Russia has historically occupied, partitioned, colonized, and tried to erase Ukraine. Stalin's Holodomor genocided five to seven million Ukrainians long before NATO and the Kremlin's recent justifications.

The claim that Russia is just reacting to NATO expansion is invalid when considering Russian history, as Moscow's imperial ambitions towards Ukraine predate Putin.
This misunderstanding shaped Western views after the Soviet Union fell. Boris Yeltsin was seen as a "democratic reformer" who ended Russia's repressive, imperial past. While the West celebrated the Cold War victory, it overlooked the survival of Russia’s security services. The First Chechen War revealed Russia’s imperial ambitions persisted.

The 1990s privatization era created a mafia state where organized crime, corrupt officials, and KGB/FSB agents became indistinguishable. Protected by krysha (a roof) from security services and political ties, criminal groups, insiders, and the new business elite gained significant state assets. This led to a class of oligarchs whose wealth relied more on connections than law or markets.

If the West misunderstood Yeltsin, it entirely overlooked Putin. Portrayed as a reformer and anti-corruption champion to restore stability after the 1990s, his rise coincided with terrorist attacks by the FSB, including apartment bombings that killed hundreds and were blamed on "Chechen terrorists." These events sparked the Second Chechen War, turning the little-known ex-KGB officer and FSB director into a leader promising to restore order and protect the country.

The Ryazan incident involved authorities discovering FSB agents planting explosives. Litvinenko claimed Putin and Nikolai Patrushev orchestrated the bombings. After fleeing Russia, Litvinenko accused the FSB of orchestrating attacks to help Putin rise. He was murdered in 2006 in London with radioactive polonium-210, linked to Russia. Russia's history includes violence, assassinations, poisonings, covert actions, and intimidation campaigns predating Putin.

Long before Putin's rule, Russia's security agencies used provocations, fabricated plots, manipulated stories, covert violence, and deceptions to legitimize repression, boost authority, silence opposition, and rally public support. These tactics originated with the Tsars, were refined during the Soviet era, and remain influential today.

Many believe Russia’s oligarchs control Putin, but the reverse is true. They gained wealth in the 1990s privatizations but keep their fortunes only with the Kremlin’s approval. Property rights in Russia never truly belonged to individuals; they depend on the state.

When Putin gained power, he replaced Yeltsin's elite with loyalists from his networks, including the criminal underworld and KGB/FSB. Loyalty was rewarded with wealth if it served the Kremlin. Russia's richest businessmen were expected to promote state goals, fund initiatives, leverage connections, conduct influence operations, and serve authorities. Refusing this risked losing wealth, being prosecuted, or being exiled. Oligarchs are not above the state but are tools; they risk criminality or falling from windows when no longer useful, or if they try to keep their assets loyal.

While many in the West thought they won the Cold War, Russia's hardliners never saw themselves as defeated. Humiliated by the Soviet Union’s collapse, they blamed the West instead of acknowledging the system's corruption, repression, and failures. They withdrew, regrouped, and adapted to the new landscape, silently working to restore what many believed was gone. The post-Soviet era allowed security services and their tactics to survive, develop, and reemerge.

A key symbol of ongoing continuity is seen outside Russia's intelligence HQ. When protesters toppled Felix Dzerzhinsky's statue in 1991, many thought it marked the end of the Soviet security state. But it wasn't. Over 30 years later, Russia erected a new Dzerzhinsky statue outside the SVR HQ, and Putin restored his name at the FSB Academy. Instead of seeing the founder of the Cheka, known for mass murders, as a dark figure, the Kremlin now celebrates him as part of its legacy.

Putin remains a key figure who has shaped modern Russia, expanded its aggression, and engaged in crimes and war crimes. However, it's a mistake to think he created the system or that post-Putin Russia will be any different. Russia's security agencies have long entrenched themselves, maintaining repression, violence, and imperial ambitions through centuries of political change. Removing Putin won't dismantle this system.

The West's mistake after the Soviet Union's collapse was to overlook deep-rooted institutional and ideological continuities in Russia. Despite changes in leaders and symbols—such as tsars, secretaries, presidents, flags, and security names—the core institutions, networks, principles, and imperial worldview remain consistent. Replacing Putin won't alter the Russian state until these underlying elements evolve.

For decades, the West has looked for Russia's next reformer, while Russia's security agencies aim to preserve the current system regardless of leadership. Unless policymakers shift focus from succession to systemic change, they will repeat the same mistake.

UKRAINE’S DESPERATE PROPAGANDA CAMPAIGN WHILE RUSSIA ADVANCES ALONG THE ENTIRE FRONT

Despite being largely deceptive, this narrative remains the West's main tactic as Russia’s attrition campaign continues to devastate Ukraine.

Moscow Refinery on Fire

By Larry C. Johnson
Substack.com
30 June 2026

Volodymyr Zelensky and his Western allies have initiated a critical 40-day “campaign of terror," combining military escalations with a large-scale information and psychological operations effort. This strategy aims to depict Russia as collapsing and Putin facing an imminent uprising or coup, with the ultimate goal of forcing Russia into a ceasefire. Western media flood social and traditional channels with stories that depict Russia’s military efforts as dire, while highlighting Ukraine’s supposed remarkable achievements. Despite being largely deceptive, this narrative remains the West's main tactic as Russia’s attrition campaign continues to devastate Ukraine.

The Western-led propaganda campaign consists of the following elements:

• Information Warfare — Heavy push of 24/7 propaganda about Putin’s “imminent downfall,” including staged videos of supposed Russian soldiers announcing a mutiny.
• Fake Psyops — Coordinated attempts to stoke panic in Russia (e.g., false claims of fuel/gas shortages, which were partly caused by panic buying triggered by the rumors).
• Symbolic Actions — Staged drone flag-drops (e.g., on the Kinburn Spit near Crimea) meant to symbolize Russian retreat and collapse — quickly debunked and mocked.
• Broader Objective — Combine these narratives with actual strikes on Russian infrastructure to create the impression of regime instability, pressuring Putin politically.

Now, the reality is that Ukraine has targeted some Russian refineries, producing striking images of smoke and flames. Yet, these actions are mainly political theater meant to distract from Ukraine's ongoing setbacks across the front. Interestingly, Russian oil exports have actually grown during this time, countering any claims of a major collapse in Russia’s oil industry. Below is a summary of Russian activities starting from the Northern front.

Sumy Direction

In Sumy, the “North” assault groups advanced over 19 sectors. Some of Ukraine’s 104th Territorial Defense units left Bachevsk. Russia continued border operations, launching strikes on Ukraine’s positions and logistics. They claimed to repel Ukrainian crossings and inflict heavy losses. Russian troops are now a few kilometers from Sumy.

Kharkiv Direction

Russian forces advanced north and northeast of Kharkiv, liberating border settlements and gaining tactical positions, according to the Ministry of Defense. Russian Geran drones struck gas infrastructure, including a distribution station near Panyutino and the Skvortsovskaya system near Kosogorovka, damaging tanks, pumping stations, and a treatment facility. Ukrainian counterattacks were repelled, with Russian artillery and aircraft effectively reducing enemy capabilities.

Donetsk Direction (Primary Focus)

Donetsk remains the main focus of Russian efforts, with advances along the Pokrovsk axis. Russian forces have taken several settlements and moved toward key logistics hubs. They achieved a significant victory in Konstantinovka, controlling most of the city and disrupting Ukrainian supply lines. With both Pokrovsk and Konstantinovka under Russian control, they hold the two southern and eastern routes protecting Kramatorsk-Sloviansk. The H-32 highway between Pokrovsk and Konstantinovka and the T-0504 connecting Bakhmut and Pokrovsk now form a continuous corridor under Russian control, enabling logistics and troop movement to Druzhkivka and Kramatorsk without urban combat. Russian advances also occur around Chasiv Yar and Toretsk, including urban fighting and gains in strategic high ground.

The Russian MOD reported steady territorial gains, significant Ukrainian casualties, and effective use of glide bombs, drones, and artillery to support ground offensives.

Dnipropetrovsk Oblast (Dnipro region)

In Dnipropetrovsk, the 36th Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade took Bogodarivka, the third settlement seized in three days after crossing the Dnieper. Russian troops continue long-range strikes with missiles and drones on military, energy, and logistics sites, including defense factories, repair centers, and rail hubs supporting Ukraine.

Zaporizhzhia Direction

In Zaporizhzhia, Russian forces sealed off a Ukrainian bridgehead in Aleksandrovka and advanced to near Pokrovskoye. After taking Novy Donbas, they moved toward Shevchenko and Svetloye, using drones to isolate Ukrainian positions. Russian troops pressed on with artillery, drones, and attacks, destroying fortifications and equipment while holding their lines.

Kherson Direction

Operations mostly stayed along the Dnipro River. The Russian MOD reported hits on Ukrainian crossings, logistics hubs, and troop concentrations on the right bank. Russian forces conducted raids and maintained control on the left bank.

In other words, while Russia launches its summer offensive, Ukraine, despite its propaganda efforts, is pulling back to the west.

BUILDING THE BRIDGE! | A WAY TO GET TO KNOW THE OTHER AND ONE ANOTHER

Making a Difference – The Means, Methods, and Mechanisms for Many to Move Mountains

Photo Credit: Abraham A. van Kempen, our home away from home on the Dead Sea

By Abraham A. van Kempen
Senior Editor
Updated 19 January 2024

Those who commit to 'healing our broken humanity' build intercultural bridges to learn to know and understand one another and others. Readers who thumb through the Building the Bridge (BTB) pages are not mindless sheep following other mindless sheep. They THINK. They want to be at the forefront of making a difference. They're seeking the bigger picture to expand their horizons. They don't need BTB or anyone else to confirm their biases.

Making a Difference – The Means, Methods, and Mechanisms for Many to Move Mountains

Accurate knowledge fosters understanding, dispels prejudice, and sparks a desire to learn more about the subject. Words have an extraordinary power to bring people together, divide them, forge bonds of friendship, or provoke hostility. Modern technology offers unprecedented possibilities for good, fostering harmony and reconciliation. Yet, its misuse can cause untold harm, leading to misunderstandings, prejudices, and conflicts.

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The views expressed are solely those of the author and may or may not reflect those of the Building the Bridge Foundation