Situation Reports Part 2 - 2025-07-12
A Significant Geopolitical Problem for President Trump and Us
[A Skeptic Note: This article is a great read. Half of it is here, read the rest at
https://theconservativetreehouse.com/]
July 10, 2025 | Sundance | 699 Comments
Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of a meeting of foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Kuala Lumpur today. Against the backdrop of multiple questions to him about the outcome of their discussion, let us first discuss the problem being avoided.
In the mind of President Putin, and in the growing awareness of the American electorate, the President of the United States does not control the Intelligence Community. It is entirely possible for the USIC to take America deeper toward war despite the President and people of America not wanting that to happen. Putin is simply prepared for that outcome.
This reality explains a dynamic where President Trump engages with President Putin in an effort to stop the war in Ukraine, yet President Putin continues the war in Ukraine; because ultimately he knows President Trump does not control the elements that facilitate the Ukraine military.
People struggle to accept this dynamic. However, I would remind everyone that right now YOU are paying for the entire government of Ukraine to exist. Including the Ukraine govt payrolls, retirement benefits, healthcare and operational budget of Ukraine overall.
Americans do not want to pay for that. President Trump does not want to pay for that. Yet, here we are, paying for that.
The same inertia process applies to the literal Ukraine war and conflict with Russia.
You might not want it. President Trump might not want it. Yet, here again we are providing weapons, intelligence, satellite communication, personnel and systems for the war.
…
A Skeptic Note: This article is a great read. Half of it is here, read the rest at
https://theconservativetreehouse.com/
🎖🎖 by Russian Defence Ministry on progress of special military operation as of 5 to 11 July 2025
❗️From 5 to 11 July, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation carried out six group strikes with high-precision weapons, to include Kinzhal hypersonic air-launched ballistic missiles, and strike drones, which hit the Ukrainian defence industry enterprises, energy infrastructure, which provided their work, military airfields, workshops and storage areas of strike UAVs and uncrewed surface vehicles, arsenals, depots of fuel and military-technical equipment, military enlistment offices as well as temporary deployment areas of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries.
🚩 During the week, units of the Sever Group of Forces advanced to the depth of the enemy's defence in Sumy region and liberated Bessalovka.
💥 Strikes were delivered at manpower and hardware of one tank brigade, three mechanised brigades, one jaeger brigade, three air assault brigades, four assault regiments, one UAV battalion of the AFU, and three territorial defence brigades.
📍In Kharkov direction, formations of one tank brigade, one mechanised brigade, one motorised infantry brigade, one air assault brigade, one assault regiment of the AFU, two territorial defence brigades, and one border detachment of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine were hit.
▪️Over the week, more than 1,260 troops, one tank, 12 armoured fighting vehicles, and 52 motor vehicles were eliminated in the area of responsibility of the Sever Group of Forces. Twenty-nine field artillery guns, to include two U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzers, five electronic warfare stations, and 14 ammunition and materiel depots were wiped out.
🚩 As a result of active operations by units of the Zapad Group of Forces, Zelenaya Dolina (Donetsk People's Republic) and Sobolevka (Kharkov region) were liberated.
🔥The Group's units inflicted losses on formations of four mechanised brigades, one assault brigade of the AFU, two territorial defence brigades, and one national guard brigade.
▪️The enemy lost more than 1,550 troops, six armoured fighting vehicles, five of them were Western-made. One hundred and one motor vehicles, 10 field artillery guns, to include two Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery systems, 25 electronic warfare and counter-battery stations, and 29 ammunition depots were destroyed.
📍Units of the Yug Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions. Strikes were delivered at manpower and hardware of four mechanised brigades, one motorised infantry brigade, one airmobile brigade, one mountain assault brigade, one artillery brigade of the AFU, two territorial defence brigades, and two national guard brigades.
▪️Over the past week, more than 1,080 troops, three tanks, four armoured fighting vehicles, and 23 motor vehicles were eliminated in this direction. Twenty-three field artillery guns, six electronic warfare and counter-battery stations, and 17 ammunition and materiel depots were wiped out.
👉 See Part 2
🔹 Russian Defence Ministry
Posted: 2025-07-11T12:03:32 - Sources: A Skeptic - Forwarded From: MoD Russia
🎖🎖 by Russian Defence Ministry on progress of special military operation as of 5 to 11 July 2025
Part 2 (👉 see Part 1)
🚩 The Tsentr Group of Forces' units continued to develop an offensive on the territory of the Donetsk People's Republic and Dnepropetrovsk region. Dachnoye (Dnepropetrovsk region) was liberated.
💥 The Group's units hit formations of six mechanised brigades, one jaeger brigade, one airborne brigade, two air assault brigades, one UAV brigade, two assault regiments of the AFU, two marine brigades, two territorial defence brigades, and three national guard brigades.
▪️The enemy lost more than 3,040 troops, 16 armoured fighting vehicles, to include two U.S.-made HMMWV armoured vehicles, 53 motor vehicles, 25 field artillery guns, and two counter-battery warfare stations.
🚩 Over the past week, units of the Vostok Group of Forces have advanced to the depths of the enemy's defence and liberated Poddubnoye and Tolstoy (Donetsk People's Republic).
💥 Formations of four mechanised brigades, one UAV regiment of the AFU, one marine brigade, and four territorial defence brigades were hit.
▪️The AFU losses in this direction amounted to more than 1,400 troops, six tanks, 16 armoured fighting vehicles, 73 motor vehicles, eight field artillery guns, and five electronic warfare stations.
📍The Dnepr Group's units improved the tactical situation in certain directions. Losses were inflicted on formations of two mechanised brigades, one mountain assault brigade, three coastal defence brigades of the AFU, and four territorial defence brigades.
▪️Up to 530 troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, 48 motor vehicles, 12 field artillery guns, 52 electronic warfare stations, and 33 ammunition, fuel, and materiel depots of the AFU were destroyed.
🎯 Air defence systems shot down one Neptune long-range guided missile, 35 guided aerial bombs, six U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS projectiles, and 1,988 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles.
📊 In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, the enemy has lost:
🔹 663 aircraft,
🔹 283 helicopters,
🔹 68,966 unmanned aerial vehicles,
🔹 614 anti-aircraft missile systems,
🔹 24,188 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles,
🔹 1,576 MLRS combat vehicles,
🔹 27,251 field artillery guns and mortars,
🔹 37,990 special military vehicles.
🔹 Russian Defence Ministry
Posted: 2025-07-11T12:03:32 - Sources: A Skeptic - Forwarded From: MoD Russia
Combat patrol during planned drills
As part of the planned exercises in the Yoshkar-Ola formation of the Strategic Missile Forces, the Yars mobile land-based nuclear missile launchers set off on combat patrolling routes.
📄 Servicemen march at a distance of up to 100 kilometres, equip field positions, organise camouflaging and combat security. Servicemen also train to counter sabotage and reconnaissance groups, while support units remove special military vehicles from chemical contamination zones.
🔹 Russian Defence Ministry
Posted: 2025-07-11T12:04:17 - Sources: A Skeptic - Forwarded From: MoD Russia
📱Military signalmen of 44th Army Corps (Sever Group of Forces) conduct drills to deploy secure means of communication with assault detachments
📄 Servicemen of assault detachments train to use and deploy communication means, and to fix problems in the operation of radio stations.
🔹 Russian Defence Ministry
Posted: 2025-07-11T12:04:17 - Sources: A Skeptic - Forwarded From: MoD Russia
⚡️From 5 to 11 July, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation carried out six group strikes with high-precision weapons, to include Kinzhal hypersonic air-launched ballistic missiles, and strike drones, which hit the Ukrainian defence industry enterprises, energy infrastructure, which provided their work, military airfields, workshops and storage areas of strike UAVs and uncrewed surface vehicles, arsenals, depots of fuel and military-technical equipment, military enlistment offices as well as temporary deployment areas of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries.
🔹 Russian Defence Ministry
Posted: 2025-07-11T12:04:17 - Sources: A Skeptic - Forwarded From: MoD Russia
⚡️As a result of active operations by units of the Zapad Group of Forces, Zelenaya Dolina (Donetsk People's Republic) and Sobolevka (Kharkov region) were liberated.
🔹 Russian Defence Ministry
Posted: 2025-07-11T12:04:17 - Sources: A Skeptic - Forwarded From: MoD Russia
🚩 After liberation of Zelenaya Dolina, units of Zapad Group of Forces advance towards Donetsk People's Republic
🪖 Using artillery and strike unmanned aerial vehicles, the servicemen destroyed combat vehicles and firing points of the Ukrainian militants, after which the assault groups entered the enemy positions, mopped up houses, basements, and structures from the remnants of the AFU garrison.
🇷🇺To mark the liberation of the settlement from Ukrainian formations, the servicemen installed the flag of the Russian Federation.
🔹 Russian Defence Ministry
Posted: 2025-07-11T12:04:17 - Sources: A Skeptic - Forwarded From: MoD Russia
💥 Tsentr Group's TOS-1A Solntsepyok crew destroys fortification with launch sites and command posts for enemy UAVs in Krasnoarmeysk direction
💬 The combat vehicle leader and the driver mark the firepower of the modernised heavy flamethrower system as well as its manoeuvrability, high mobility, and high firing range.
🔹 Russian Defence Ministry
Posted: 2025-07-11T12:04:17 - Sources: A Skeptic - Forwarded From: MoD Russia
⚡️Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov inspects combat missions carried out by formations and military units of Dnepr Group of Forces in special military operation zone
💬 At the command post of the Group, the head of the Russian military department was briefed by the Group's commander, Colonel General Mikhail Teplinsky, the commanders and officials of the staff on the progress of the missions in the area of responsibility.
🪖 The Defence Minister held a meeting on the technical equipment of the Group's units with modern weapons and military hardware.
🪖 The Group's commander reported to Andrei Belousov on the progress of testing the AK-12K assault rifles and 5.45-mm hand-held machine guns developed by the Kalashnikov Concern, taking into account the advice provided by the servicemen from the special military operation zone. The improved combat characteristics of modern small arms have proved to be particularly effective during assault operations due to their ergonomic effectiveness, increased accuracy, range of firing, and reliability.
🔹 Russian Defence Ministry
Posted: 2025-07-11T12:04:17 - Sources: A Skeptic - Forwarded From: MoD Russia
📊 The Russian Defence Minister set out to work with the Kalashnikov Concern in the shortest possible time to explore the possibility of increasing the supply of new small arms to both airborne troops and assault units in all groups of forces.
⚡️ Andrei Belousov has been reported that, according to his instructions, the Group's specialists actively use lyophilised (dry) blood plasma to provide primary medical care in the immediate vicinity of the line of contact. The advantage of dry plasma is that it does not require special storage conditions and is easy to transport, since the weight of a dry plasma bag is between 75 and 90 grams and is a powder resistant to mechanical effects.
🎯The Russian Defence Minister inspected the main means of countering the enemy's unmanned aerial vehicles, which the Group's servicemen develop taking into account the experience of using electronic warfare systems in the special military operation zone. In particular, the Commander of the Dnepr Group of Forces reported to Andrei Belousov that the troops successfully employed Kentavr anti-drone guns, Mgla motorised electronic warfare systems, and mobile counter-UAVs stations for assault detachments.
💬 Colonel General Mikhail Teplinsky reported to the Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation that combat control vehicles of the company and battalion level, which are used in various sectors of the front to ensure smooth operations of the units' command staff and UAV teams, have proved their effectiveness in combat operations conducted by the Group's units.
🎮Also at the command post of the Group of Forces, the Russian Defence Minister was informed about the launch of the developed UAV control system.
'It made it possible for UAVs to be used according to common design, to reduce losses, and to keep a record of their use,' said Colonel General Mikhail Teplinsky
🤝 The Commander thanked the Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation for the opportunity to create a trophy equipment collection and research centre where military specialists and industry representatives perform tasks. Currently, more than 30 units of foreign-made hardware are located in the centre.
🗂 Andrei Belousov was briefed on the work of the database of targets engaged by unmanned aerial vehicles as well as on the testing of the software system, which allows for the automated synthesis and analysis of incoming information on the use of FPV drones, fixed-wing UAVs, and drops from quadcopters directly from the operator.
🔌The Russian Defence Minister noted the importance of gathering information on the use of unmanned aerial vehicles to develop software with artificial intelligence elements.
❗️Andrei Belousov instructed the Commander of the Dnepr Group of Forces and the relevant departmental services to develop methodological materials to study the Group's experience and then apply it in other directions, taking into account the specifics of the actions of the troops.
🤝 The Russian Defence Minister highly appreciated the results of the combat work of the Group's units, thanked them for their service, and wished the servicemen further success in carrying out the assigned tasks.
🔹 Russian Defence Ministry
Posted: 2025-07-11T12:04:17 - Sources: A Skeptic - Forwarded From: MoD Russia
🎮Our drones are serious threat to enemy
00:00 Vostok Group's strike UAVs wiped out one UAV command posts of the enemy near Karla Marksa (Donetsk People's Republic) in South Donetsk direction.
00:13 FPV drones of the Zapad Group of Forces destroyed one pickup truck and one Snatch armoured fighting vehicle of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Kharkov region.
00:23 The Rubikon Centre's UAV operators shot down fixed-wing UAVs of the Ukrainian militants, and hit hardware, communication systems, firing positions, UAV command posts, and temporary deployment areas of the AFU military personnel.
01:54 Reconnaissance units of the Yug Group of Forces destroyed a Kozak armoured fighting vehicle of the AFU close to Verolyubovka in the Donetsk People's Republic.
02:17 The Dnepr Group's FPV drones eliminated AFU personnel in Orekhov direction in Zaporozhye region.
🔹 Russian Defence Ministry
Posted: 2025-07-11T12:04:17 - Sources: A Skeptic - Forwarded From: MoD Russia
00:00 The Vostok Group's Grad MLRS crews destroyed one UAV command post of the enemy in South Donetsk direction.
00:41 On the right bank of the Dnepr river in Kherson region, airborne artillery units from Novorossiysk wiped out an AFU camouflaged self-propelled artillery system, ammunition of which detonated after being hit by the Giatsint-B gun.
🔹 Russian Defence Ministry
Posted: 2025-07-11T12:04:17 - Sources: A Skeptic - Forwarded From: MoD Russia
🏳️ AFU POW: 'No one wants to go to the positions because they didn't come here themselves, but by force'
💬 The prisoner of war Roman Kudin said he forcibly joined the AFU, as most Ukrainians did. After passing the military medical commission, Kudin continued to be detained despite he was unfit for active service.
'I did not pass a psychiatrist or a psychotherapist. He wrote that I was unfit. I couldn't have been taken anywhere with such results of the military medical commission. Then, fraudulently, they said that there was something wrong with my commission, and it was necessary to go through the same procedure again. And I, like a patsy, was taken in it,' the prisoner said.
❗️Kudin is confident that the TСC's officers cheated on the actual results of his state of health and sent him to death. He also admitted that he wanted to escape from the military unit but did not dare.
'I couldn't do it, and I didn't want to take any chances, because there was one who ran away and got into the police. He was caught, policemen reported to the command about his situation, and he was brought back in shackles chained up like a criminal. Although they always said no one was holding us, and we are able to go to AWOL. And as soon as someone escapes, they catch them like dogs'.
⚪️The POW also referred to the AFU command's attitude towards personnel: constant humiliation and beating. The criminal Kiev regime continues to destroy its citizens by throwing them at the positions without training, and leaves the fighters without water or food. The only chance to survive is to surrender to the Russian servicemen.
'No one wants to take positions because they didn't come here themselves, but forcibly. Everyone on the news knows what's going on there. A lot of people go missing. The command simply abandons them just like abandons us'.
🔹 Russian Defence Ministry
Posted: 2025-07-11T12:04:17 - Sources: A Skeptic - Forwarded From: MoD Russia
#UkraineRussiaWar
🌐 Place: #Kostiantynivka
🕰 Date: ~10.07.2025
📌 Coordinates: 48.529297,37.746240
👩🚀 Squad:
📝 Description: Footage of the destruction of the M109 Paladin howitzer of the Ukrainian Armed Forces by a strike from a Russian FPV drone in Kostiantynivka.
🖥 id: 11072025.0852
✉️source: https://t.me/verumreactor/23730
Map: militarysummary.com
Boost The Channel
Posted: 2025-07-11T12:04:39 - Sources: A Skeptic - Forwarded From: Military Summary
#UkraineRussiaWar
🌐 Place: #Yablunivka
🕰 Date: ~10.07.2025
📌 Coordinates: 00:34(48.415029,37.646861)
01:01(48.432693,37.667599)
👩🚀 Squad:
📝 Description: Russian FPV drones hit Ukrainian Armed Forces armored vehicles near Yablunivka.
🖥 id: 11072025.0913
✉️source: https://t.me/N_S_Pilot/1075
Map: militarysummary.com
Boost The Channel
Posted: 2025-07-11T12:04:39 - Sources: A Skeptic - Forwarded From: Military Summary
#UkraineRussiaWar
🌐 Place: #ZelenaDolyna
🕰 Date: ~11.07.2025
📌 Coordinates: 01:14(49.130116,37.804953)
👩🚀 Squad:
📝 Description: The Russian Armed Forces raised the flag in Zelena Dolyna.
🖥 id: 11072025.1446
✉️source: https://t.me/rian_ru/304512
Map: militarysummary.com
Boost The Channel
Posted: 2025-07-11T12:04:39 - Sources: A Skeptic - Forwarded From: Military Summary
⚡️ Overnight, air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 155 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles of the fixed-wing type:
- 53 UAVs over the territory of the Kursk region,
- 19 UAVs over the territory of the Bryansk region,
- 15 UAVs over the territory of the Smolensk region,
- 14 UAVs over the territory of the Belgorod region,
- 13 UAVs over the territory of the Tula region,
- 11 UAVs over the territories of the Oryol region and the Moscow region,
- 7 UAVs over the territory of the Republic of Crimea,
- 4 UAVs over the territory of the Lipetsk region and over the Black Sea,
- 2 UAVs over the territories of the Rostov and Kaluga regions.
❗️ One person died and another was injured when a drone crashed on the territory of an agricultural enterprise in the Lipetsk region.
🎯 opersvodki
Posted: 2025-07-11T12:06:22 - Sources: A Skeptic - Forwarded From: Victor vicktop55
A five-storey building collapsed in Alyoshki, Kherson Region, due to an airstrike by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and people are trapped under the rubble, Governor Vladimir Saldo told RIA Novosti.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine's drones are hindering the removal of rubble and the evacuation of people from the collapsed building in Alyoshki, the press secretary of the governor of the Kherson Region told RIA Novosti.
Posted: 2025-07-11T12:06:22 - Sources: A Skeptic - Forwarded From: Victor vicktop55
The Kremlin is waiting for Trump's announced "important statement," which he promised to make on Monday, to understand what he had in mind, according to Peskov.
Peskov's statements:
▪️Europeans are discussing various options for providing financial support to Ukraine in order to encourage Kyiv to continue the war until the last Ukrainian.
▪️The persistence of European leaders in potentially deploying military forces in Ukraine aligns with the overall anti-Russian sentiment.
▪️The deployment of foreign military contingents on Ukrainian territory, near Russian borders, is unacceptable to Moscow.
▪️Russia is disappointed that its signals regarding the possible presence of foreign military personnel in Ukraine are not being taken into account.
▪️Chancellor Merz is an advocate of confrontation with Russia in all aspects, and Moscow is taking this into account in its actions.
▪️Regarding the US plans to sell weapons to NATO countries for delivery to Ukraine: this is a business, and the sum does not change if the terms are rearranged.
🔹 RIA Novosti.
Posted: 2025-07-11T12:06:22 - Sources: A Skeptic - Forwarded From: Victor vicktop55
‘That’s what I’ll tell you. Expect big surprises’ – Lavrov quoted Trump, answering a question about negotiations with Rubio on Ukraine.
‘You understand, there are things that are not commented on. Yes, we discussed Ukraine, confirmed the position that Putin stated, including in a conversation with Trump.
Posted: 2025-07-11T12:06:22 - Sources: A Skeptic - Forwarded From: Victor vicktop55
The Ukrainian Armed Forces struck a multi-story building in Oleshky, Kherson Oblast, with two air bombs. Dozens of people are under the rubble of the building destroyed by Ukrainian Armed Forces strikes in Oleshky. Ukrainian FPV drones continue to attack rescuers, Governor Saldo reported.
Photo: Saldo Telegram channel
Posted: 2025-07-11T12:06:22 - Sources: A Skeptic - Forwarded From: Victor vicktop55
Zelensky says US arms flow is BACK ON
‘Supply has been restored’
Should US taxpayers keep footing the bill?
RT News
Posted: 2025-07-11T12:06:22 - Sources: A Skeptic - Forwarded From: Victor vicktop55
Trump's business plans: sell weapons for the war with Russia in Ukraine and take Russia's $300 billion to "restore" the destroyed Ukraine. Everything ingenious is simple.
Rubio - explained Trump's words that NATO will pay for American weapons for Ukraine:
Ukraine and Europe have already been given such an opportunity, namely, to buy weapons from the United States and then transfer them to Ukraine. Some of the systems that Ukraine needs, Europe does not produce, so they need to buy something from the United States. A certain amount of weapons that Ukraine requests are available from US NATO allies, for example, Germany - 13-14 Patriot batteries. Other countries have them too.
We continue to push our allies to provide these weapons, defensive systems that Ukraine needs, and then they can enter into separate financial agreements with us to replenish their stocks.
POOL N3
Posted: 2025-07-11T12:06:22 - Sources: A Skeptic - Forwarded From: Victor vicktop55
Your support is invaluable. If you value my work, please become a supporter. With your support, I can continue providing you with a comprehensive collection of news that the mainstream media will never show you.
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"However, I would remind everyone that right now YOU are paying for the entire government of Ukraine to exist. Including the Ukraine govt payrolls, retirement benefits, healthcare and operational budget of Ukraine overall.
Americans do not want to pay for that."
This is very much untrue. For 2023 and 2024 Ukraine's domestic sources funded many non-mikitary government operations. Foreign aid covered military and some social expenditures.
Domestic revenues for 2023 were ~$40-billion, from corporate and personal taxes, export taxes on (mostly) grain, import taxes, profits from state run businesses, and others.
External funding was ~$42-billion. Just under $20-billion from EU (loans more than grants), $11-billion from US, nearly $5-billion IMF, $3.5-billion each Japan, and then "other countries."
Everything at conservativetreehouse website is posted anonymously, but semantic analysts have named several very likely "authors," including Sputnik's Kristen Ruiz.
Glenn Diessen's guest Václav Klaus is an optimist: "...Donald Trump serves as a great source of inspiration..." - https://www.institutvk.cz/publikace/1/publikace-ivk-c-80-vaclav-klaus-in-defence-of-normalcy.html
thanks for linking this Diessen interview.