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Chinese and Russian Bombers Seen Off Coast of Alaska

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On Wednesday, Chinese and Russian nuclear-capable bombers ventured into the Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) off the coast of Alaska. This marked the first known incursion by Chinese H-6 bombers into this strategic buffer zone, prompting a swift response from both the United States and Canada.

According to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), the simultaneous appearance of Chinese and Russian bombers in the Alaskan ADIZ is a significant development. While the ADIZ itself is not sovereign airspace, and such incursions do not constitute an act of war, they are provocations that necessitate a robust defensive posture.

NORAD’s command reported intercepting and tracking two Russian TU-95 bombers and two Chinese H-6 bombers. U.S. forces deployed F-16 and F-35 fighters to monitor the situation, while Canada responded with its CF-18 fighters.

While the Russian bombers have entered the Alaskan ADIZ before—most recently in May—this incident stands out as it involved a Chinese military presence. The joint patrol of Russian and Chinese bombers, which was confirmed by Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Col. Zhang Xiaogang, marks the eighth such strategic air patrol between the two nations since 2019. Zhang emphasized that the patrol was designed to enhance coordination between the two air forces.

China’s increasing assertiveness in the Arctic region has been a point of contention for several years. Declaring itself a “near-Arctic state,” China has sought to expand its influence and involvement in Arctic affairs, often using terms like “polar Silk Road” to describe its ambitions. This effort aligns with Beijing’s broader strategy to secure access to Arctic resources and integrate the region into its global infrastructure initiatives.

The Pentagon has expressed growing concern over the expanding cooperation between China and Russia in the Arctic. A recent Department of Defense report highlighted the increasing alignment of these two major powers in the region as a significant strategic challenge:

While significant areas of disagreement between the PRC and Russia remain, their growing alignment in the region is of concern

Aide to Dem Megadonor Reportedly Suggested Trump Rally Shooting Might Have Been ‘Staged’

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A top adviser to Democratic megadonor Reid Hoffman appeared to suggest in an email to various media outlets that the failed assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump may have been “staged,” Semafor reported Sunday.

Dmitri Mehlhorn sent an email to a group of “sympathetic” journalists at 7:34 p.m. on Saturday encouraging them to consider the possibility that the shooting had been “staged” for the benefit of Trump, Semafor reported. Hoffman has donated millions to pro-Democrat political committees, funded lawsuits against conservatives and joked about killing the former president the day before the failed assassination attempt.

One “possibility — which feels horrific and alien and absurd in America, but is quite common globally — is that this ‘shooting’ was encouraged and maybe even staged so Trump could get the photos and benefit from the backlash,” Mehlhorn reportedly wrote to members of the press, according to Semafor. “This is a classic Russian tactic, such as when Putin killed 300 civilians in 1999 and blamed it on terrorists to ride the backlash to winning power.”

Mehlhorn, who Politico described as Hoffman’s “right hand man,” co-founded a fund called “Investing in US” with the Democratic megadonor, according to Semafor.

“I know I am prone to bias on this, but this is a classic Putin play and given the facts seems more plausible,” Mehlhorn continued in his email, Semafor reported. “Look at the actual shot. Look at the staging. Look at how ready Trump is to rally; this pampered baby shit his pants when an eagle lunged at his food. Look at how quickly Trump protects himself at the expense of others, but showed few of those lifelong instincts in this moment. And consider how often Putin and his allies run this play.” (Read more from “Aide to Dem Megadonor Reportedly Suggested Trump Rally Shooting Might Have Been ‘Staged’” HERE)

It Turns Out That Western Sanctions on Russia’s Booming Oil Industry May Be Falling Flat

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The West has sought to crack down on Russia’s oil sector through crippling sanctions in response to the country’s invasion of Ukraine, but new data indicates that a key goal of the sanctions is not being achieved, Bloomberg News reported Monday.

The price for Russian Ural crude oil deliveries from a major Black Sea port to Asian buyers has fallen to its lowest mark since October 2023, while theoretical delivery costs — a metric that isolates the impacts of sanctions specifically — has also decreased, according to Bloomberg, which cites market research from a company called Argus Media. The price decreases allow Russian companies to keep a larger share of revenues earned from sales to buyers in China and India, and indicate that a key goal of the West’s massive sanctions package targeting Russia — increasing delivery costs — is not being met.

Russia is expected to rake in $9.4 billion in revenues from oil and gas in June alone, a 50% increase from the same period in 2023, Reuters reported.

Currently, it costs about $7.2 million to deliver one million barrels of Russian Ural crude to northern China by way of the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, according to Bloomberg. As of early April, the same delivery would cost $10.4 million.

The part of those costs that are thought to be directly attributable to the West’s sanctions have also decreased, down to about $2.8 million from approximately $6.8 million in April, according to Bloomberg. Additionally, the per-barrel price premium on oil shipped from the Baltic Sea to India has fallen by about 45%, currently sitting at $4 after being as high as $7.40 in April. (Read more from “It Turns Out That Western Sanctions on Russia’s Booming Oil Industry May Be Falling Flat” HERE)

Over 15 Killed in Suspected Terror Attacks on Russian Synagogues, Church, Police Post

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More than 15 cops and several civilians, including a priest, were killed when gunmen attacked two synagogues, an Orthodox church and a police post in a suspected coordinated terror attack in Russia.

Russian officials said the assaults against the church and one of the synagogues occurred in the coastal city of Derbent, with both catching fire, according to state media. Another synagogue and the traffic police post were hit in Makhachkala, the largest city in the same Dagestan region, according to Russian authorities.

Russia’s National Anti-Terrorist Committee said five gunmen were “eliminated” while the head of Dagestan Republic, Sergei Melikov, announced six “bandits” were “liquidated.”

“All the circumstances of the incident and the persons involved in the terrorist attacks are being established, and their actions will be given a legal assessment,” the federation said in a statement.

Melikov vowed the probe wouldn’t stop until “all sleeping cells” of the militants were found as he urged residents to stay calm. (Read more from “Over 15 Killed in Suspected Terror Attacks on Russian Synagogues, Church, Police Post” HERE)

Deadly Attacks Intensify Between Russia and Ukraine, Russia Blames U.S. for Crimea Missile Strike

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In a tragic escalation of the ongoing conflict, Russian authorities reported six deaths and over 100 injuries from Ukrainian drone and missile attacks on Sunday. Simultaneously, Russia’s aerial bombardment of Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine resulted in at least one death and multiple injuries.

Among the casualties in Russia were five individuals, including two children, who were struck by debris from Ukrainian missiles shot down over Sevastopol, a port city in Russia-annexed Crimea. Mikhail Razvozhayev, Sevastopol’s Moscow-installed governor, confirmed these fatalities. Additionally, one person was killed in Grayvoron city in Russia’s Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine, according to regional Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov.

The Health Ministry, via Russian state news agency RIA Novosti, reported that 124 people were wounded in Sevastopol. The falling rocket fragments triggered a forest fire covering over 150 square meters and ignited a residential building. A fifth missile also exploded over the city, causing further panic and damage.

In response, Russia’s Defense Ministry placed blame on both Ukraine and the United States for the missile strikes, asserting that U.S.-supplied ATACMS missiles were utilized in the Ukrainian assault. As a result of the devastation, Razvozhayev declared Monday a day of mourning in Sevastopol, leading to the cancellation of public events.

The Russian Ministry of Defense also reported that air defenses had intercepted 33 Ukrainian drones over Russia’s western Bryansk, Smolensk, Lipetsk, and Tula regions overnight. Fortunately, these incidents did not result in casualties or damage.

Meanwhile, Kharkiv faced renewed attacks from Russia, resulting in the death of at least one person and injuries to 11 others on Sunday. Mayor Ihor Terekhov indicated that the city was targeted by a guided bomb, leaving about half of Kharkiv without electricity due to the strike. This assault followed a Saturday attack where Russia dropped four aerial bombs on Kharkiv, hitting a five-story residential building and killing three people. Regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov noted that 41 people were still receiving treatment for their injuries as of Sunday.

U.S. Soldier Gordon Black Sentenced to Nearly Four Years in Russia’s Penal Colony: Report

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A US soldier detained in the Russian city of Vladivostok on charges of theft and threats to kill his girlfriend was found guilty on Wednesday and sentenced to three years and nine months in a Russian penal colony, Russian agencies reported.

Gordon Black, a 34-year-old US staff sergeant who was detained on May 2 in Vladivostok in Russia’s far east, pleaded not guilty on Monday to charges of threatening to kill his girlfriend but admitted he was “partially” guilty of stealing from her.

Black’s defense lawyer will appeal the verdict, said RIA agency, which reported the judge handing down the sentence of “imprisonment of three years and nine months” for both charges.

The agency reported that prosecutors had asked for a prison sentence of four years and eight months, while the defense asked for Black to be acquitted of all charges.

Black “partially” acknowledged his guilt on the charge of stealing 10,000 roubles ($113) from his girlfriend Alexandra Vashchuk’s purse but said that “there was no intent,” RIA reported. (Read more from “U.S. Soldier Gordon Black Sentenced to Nearly Four Years in Russia’s Penal Colony: Report” HERE)

Photo credit: Flickr

Vladimir Putin Praises ‘Dignity and Courage’ of North Korea

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Russian strongman Vladimir Putin praised the “dignity and courage” of the communist regime of North Korea, one of the most repressive governments on Earth, in an article published in the state-run Rodong Sinmun newspaper on Tuesday.

Putin is expected to arrive in Pyongyang on Tuesday night after a brief stop in the far-east Russian city of Yakutsk. Moscow and Pyongyang both confirmed that Putin would visit the country on Monday, squeezing in a stop to meet dictator Kim Jong-un before a planned visit to communist Vietnam.

Reports in Russian state media indicate that Putin and Kim will engage in “intensive” discussions on trade and defense and that Putin is planning on signing a “comprehensive” agreement with North Korea on various issues. The reports did not offer any specificity on what the agreement would include.

North Korea has enjoyed friendly relations with Russia for years that have grown in the past two years in response to Kim Jong-un vocally supporting Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Kim made his first trip outside the country to Russia, meeting with Putin, in September in the eastern city of Vladivostok and inviting him to Pyongyang.

“Putin accepted the invitation with pleasure and reaffirmed his will to invariably carry forward the history and tradition of the Russia-DPRK [North Korea] friendship,” North Korean state media reported at the time. (Read more from “Vladimir Putin Praises ‘Dignity and Courage’ of North Korea” HERE)

Putin ‘Stashing Years of Food in Secret Nuclear Bunker’

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Food to feed up to 300 people ‘for several years’ has allegedly been sent to the bunker in the remote Altai Mountains.

The chilling claim comes amid deep tension between Russia and the West over Ukraine, as Putin on Friday warned that NATO leaders are pushing him ‘to the point of no return’ over a nuclear Third World War.

A source – who claims to be involved in loading the food – told Pozdnyakov Telegram channel that ‘boxes with dry rations, cereals, and canned food’ are being shifted on a gargantuan scale to the remote Siberian location.

Nearby is a Putin escape named Altai Yard where earlier reports indicate the Kremlin dictator constructed a giant underground nuclear bunker.

Of the food, the source was quoted as saying: ‘I have never seen anything like it – imported, expensive, not ours [Russian]. The products are brought to a warehouse in the mountainous region, and then a presumed Putin security team takes charge. (Read more from “Putin ‘Stashing Years of Food in Secret Nuclear Bunker’” HERE)

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Biden and Zelensky Seal 10-Year Bilateral Security Pact

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U.S. President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a 10-year bilateral security agreement on Thursday, marking a significant step in the U.S.-Ukraine alliance. The agreement, celebrated by Kyiv as “historic,” envisions extensive U.S. military and training aid to Ukraine but stops short of obligating the U.S. to deploy troops in combat alongside Ukrainian forces.

According to the White House, the pact will enhance Ukraine’s defense and deterrence capabilities, bolster its defense industrial base, and support its economic recovery and energy security. In the event of a future Russian armed attack, the deal mandates high-level consultations to determine necessary measures to support Ukraine and impose costs on Russia.

The G7, alongside the European Union, has frozen approximately $325 billion worth of Russian assets since the 2022 invasion. These assets generate about $3 billion annually in interest, which will be used to pay off the interest on a $50 billion loan for Ukraine. This funding, expected to arrive by the end of the year, aims to support Ukraine’s war effort and economic stability.

Speaking at a joint press conference in Puglia, southern Italy, Biden emphasized the unwavering U.S. commitment to Ukraine, stating, “Putin cannot wait us out, he cannot divide us, and we’ll be with Ukraine until they prevail in this war.”

President Zelensky expressed gratitude for the continued support from the U.S. and European allies. He highlighted the significance of the new security agreement, calling it “the strongest agreement within Ukraine and the U.S. since our independence [in 1991].”

The security pact underscores the enduring partnership between the U.S. and Ukraine, aiming to fortify Ukraine’s defense infrastructure and ensure sustained support in the face of ongoing Russian aggression.

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr

Russian Nuclear Submarine Arrives in Cuba for Caribbean Tour

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Russia’s Kazan nuclear submarine and the Admiral Gorshkov frigate arrived in Cuba on Wednesday morning as part of a five-day stopover to the communist nation, placing the fleet within 90 miles of the U.S. coastline.

According to the Russian government, the Navy vessel and the submarine — both equipped with long-range attack missiles — are in the region to engage in aerial and naval exercises carried out by the Russian Navy. The pair are accompanied by the Russian Nikolai Chiker tug boat and the Pashin fuel ship.

The arrival of the Russian vessels and nuclear submarine was first mentioned by unnamed U.S. government sources in reports published earlier in June. In the reports, the U.S. sources stated that the vessels’ visit would include “port calls in Cuba and possibly Venezuela.”

The Cuban Foreign Ministry confirmed the visit on June 6, calling it in line with the “historic friendly relations between Cuba and the Russian Federation and is strictly in accordance with international regulations to which Cuba is a state party.” The Castro regime also claimed that none of the vessels are nuclear weapons carriers, “so their stopover in our country does not represent a threat to the region.”

According to the sources cited by initial reports on the visit, the administration of President Joe Biden is not concerned by the exercises and believes they “pose no direct threat to the United States.” (Read more from “Russian Nuclear Submarine Arrives in Cuba for Caribbean Tour” HERE)