Putin has nowhere else to go but to live in the 'fantasy' world of the past Soviet Union.

In my last blog entry (9 July 2025) I wrote that,

"Putin and his 'siloviki' have nowhere to run to.

His current demented bombing of Ukraine's civilians signifies his Russian world crumbling around him.

He now stands quivering at the cusp of lighting the 'nuclear' fuse for WW3." (blog entry: 9 July 2025)

This is exemplified by  Rebecca Robinson (left) reporting that,

"Ukraine has warned that Russia has ramped up drone production so significantly that it could launch 1,000 in just one night.

Ukraine has warned that Russia could unelash a staggering 1,000 drones in just one night after launching a record barrage overnight. Moscow has massively intensified its drone production since the war began over three years ago, putting Kyiv and neighbouring countries on high alert for future attacks." (Express: 9 July 2024) (my emphasis)

And the recent onslaught by Putin of swarms of drones dropping bombs on the civilians of Ukraine attests to the rather 'bloodthirsty' nature of Putin. (Remember the Holodomor (1932-1933) of Stalin that killed millions of Ukrainians)  

Putin, it would seem, simply CANNOT divest himself of the Soviet propaganda about Russia's so-called 'Great Patriotic War (WW2), which cast Russia as the 'sole' defeater of Nazism during WW2.

Putin is steeped in this Soviet propaganda about the Russian army being the "sole defeaters of the Nazis during WW2".

He has constantly used this Soviet propaganda to JUSTIFY AND TO AMPLIFY his war with Ukraine.

Even in a meeting with his Education Chiefs, Steve Rosenberg (right) (cf: video below) reports that, 

"Putin determined to press on despite threat of tougher sanctions.

It wasn't his war cabinet. Putin was meeting his education chiels. But like so many meetings now in the Kremlin, the war came up". (Video below: 9 July 2025) (my emphasis)

 

Steve Rosenberg: BBC News: 9 July 2025

Putin simply cannot contemplate ANY defeat in his war with Ukraine, even to the extent of practically tearing down the Russian economy.

 As John Varga (right) reports,

"Russian consumers have been hit with a hefty spike in inflation, caused primarily by an  increase in charges for utilities. Inflation jumped to a three year high in the first week of July, according to new data.

…

Russian shoppers have been particularly hit hard by spiralling food costs, which has seen prices for some staple items like potatoes skyrocket by a whopping 167%. The rising costs of food has forced the Kremlin to consider re-introducing price controls that were last used during the Soviet Union." (Express: 11 July 2025) (my emphasis)

But it is not only the failing Russian economy and the old Soviet propaganda that is still infecting his mind and his 'demented' actions in his war against Ukraine.

 As reported by CBS News,

"Ukraine secures over $12B in pledges from allies to help it rebuild

 During a recovery conference in Rome on Thursday, Global leaders pledged to help rebuild Ukraine. The renewed vows of support come as Kyiv faces a new wave of Russian attacks." (Chris Livesay and Caitlin Huey-Burns : CBS News on Yahoo: 11 July 2025) (my emphasis)

 

Chris Livesay and Caitlin Huey-Burns : CBS News on Yahoo: 11 July 2025

Furthermore, as reported by Ciaran McGrath,

"More than 5,000 British-made air defence missiles will be delivered to Ukraine as part of a landmark defence deal worth £283 million, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has announced. The agreement – described by ministers as the largest UK export credit agency-backed deal in Ukraine – will be formally signed at the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC), with Ms Rayner accompanied by Minister for Exports Gareth Thomas." (Express: 10 July 2025) (my emphasis)

Added to which, as reported by Nicole Winfield (left),

"Countries prepared to provide troops for a post-ceasefire force in Ukraine agreed to set up a headquarters in Paris for a rapid deployment after hostilities end in Russia’s war on its neighbor. A U.S. delegation was present for the first time at a meeting of the group Thursday.

Retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg (right), U.S. President Donald Trump’s special  envoy for Ukraine and Russia, was on hand for the meeting, which took place on the sidelines of the fourth annual conference on Ukraine’s recovery held in Rome." (AP: 11 July 2025) (my emphasis)

 

AP: 11 July 2025 

And now, as reported by Ciaran McGrath,

"Putin puppet claims Russian soldiers will march into Berlin 'nuclear wasteland'

Kremlin propagandist Vladimir Solovyev offered no evidence for his accusations against Germany or the alleged plans for occupation.

Vladimir Solovyev, the Kremlin’s most notorious state TV host, issued a chilling threat to Germany during a recent broadcast, gloating that Russia would turn Berlin into a “nuclear wasteland” before establishing a permanent garrison there. Solovyev was speaking on Russian state television at a time when tensions with Germany are spiking, with Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Wednesday claiming all diplomatic avenues for a resolution to the Ukraine war have been “exhausted.” (Express: 9 July 2025) (my emphasis)

 

Express: 9 July 2025

Vladimir Solovyev is merely exposing the past and present nature of  Soviet propaganda, in much the same way as Putin constantly used past Soviet propaganda about WW2 to JUSTIFY AND TO AMPLIFY his war with Ukraine

As his Russian world crumbles around him, Putin has nowhere else to go but to live in the 'fantasy' world of the past Soviet Union.

UPDATE: 11 July 2025: 13:37 GMT

Mallory Moench (left) and Paul Adams (right) have just reported that,

"US President Donald Trump has said he will send weapons, including Patriot air defence systems, for Ukraine via Nato.

Trump told NBC News that in a new deal, "we're going to be sending Patriots to Nato, and then Nato will distribute that", adding that Nato would pay for the weapons.

His announcement came after Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke of having a "positive dialogue" with Trump on ensuring that arms arrived on time, particularly air defence systems." (BBC News: 11 July 2025) (my emphasis)

NATO is now becoming directly involved in Putin's war in Ukraine by paying for and sending Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine to defend itself against Putin's 'demented' and 'furious' assault against the citizens of Ukraine.

Furthermore, as reported by Nicole Winfield, Lisa Mascaro and Mary Clare Jalonick,

"The co-sponsors of a new bipartisan U.S. sanctions package targeting Russia briefed European allies and Ukraine on the legislation Thursday, in an effort to show continued resolve to help Kyiv and force Moscow to the negotiating table through what they describe as a “game-changer” bill.

The bill backed by Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham and Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal calls for a 500% tariff on goods imported from countries that continue to buy Russian oil, gas, uranium and other exports — targeting nations like China and India, which account for roughly 70% of Russia’s energy trade and bankroll much of its war effort." (AP: 11 July 2025) (my emphasis)

These developments  represent a body-blow to Putin as a result of his bombardment of Ukraine's civilians with hundreds of drones, and missiles.

Will Putin now finally crack and reach out for the 'nuclear' button?  

 

 

 

(to be continued)

Putin stands 'quivering' at the cusp of lighting the 'nuclear' fuse for WW3

The internet ether of the world is filled with Trump announcing that he is sending more weapons to Ukraine to defend themselves against Putin's manic onslaught of daily bombing Ukraine's civilians during the last few days.

Let us remind ourselves (blog entry:5 July 2025) that,

 Zac Anderson and Francesca Chambers (left) have just reported that,

"President Donald Trump said he was unhappy with Russian President Vladimir Putin and would be sending Ukraine more defensive weapons, days after the Pentagon said it would halt some shipments as it conducted a review of U.S. military stockpiles.

"We're going to send some more weapons – we have to. They have to be able to defend themselves," Trump told reporters July 7 during a White House meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "They're getting hit very hard now. They're getting hit very hard. We're going to have to send more weapons – your defensive weapons, primarily."

The Trump administration has worked for months without success to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine." (USA Today: 8 July 2025) (my emphasis) 

 

NDTV on MSN: 7 July 2025

And yesterday (8 July 2025) we had Trump pronouncing that,

"Trump accused Putin of being disingenuous in his dealings with Washington, using an expletive that reflected his growing frustration.

"We get a lot of bulls**t thrown at us by Putin," Trump said at the White House on Tuesday. "He's very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless."

"Putin is not treating human beings right. He's killing too many people," Trump continued, as he explained his decision.

On Monday, the US president said more weapons would be sent because the Ukrainians "have to be able to defend themselves."

"They're getting hit very hard now," he added. "We're going to have to send more weapons, defensive weapons, primarily," Trump said." (Kieran Burke, Richard Connor (with Reuters, dpa, AFP) (left): DW: 8 July 2025) (my emphasis)

So, from a "pause" in sending defensive weapons to Ukraine, to suddenly turning "about-face" and resuming US weapons for Ukraine, Trump now cannot go back on his "latest international" pronouncement about confronting Putin's "bullshit"!

That former Fox News anchor, Hesketh, elevated to Defence Secretary by Trump himself,   seems to have NOT informed either Trump, nor US SEcretary of Sate Marco Rubio, about his decision to pause sending "already paid for weapons by Ukraine" to Ukraine.

 

Times Radio: 8 July 2025: YouTube  

As reported by Natasha Bertrand and Zachary Cohen,

"Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (right) did not inform the White House before he authorized a pause on weapons shipments to Ukraine last week, according to five sources familiar with the matter, setting off a scramble inside the administration to understand why the halt was implemented and explain it to Congress and the Ukrainian government.

President Donald Trump suggested on Tuesday that he was not responsible for the move. 

Asked on Tuesday during a Cabinet meeting whether he approved of the pause in shipments, Trump demurred, saying only that the US would continue to send defensive weapons to Ukraine. Pressed again on who authorized the pause, Trump replied, “I don’t know, why don’t you tell me?”" (CNN: 8 July 2025) (my emphasis)

 

CNN: 9 July 2025: YouTube 

 Meanwhile, the "near breakdown" Putin sacked his Mininster for Transport, who was then found dead, apparently with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

As reported by Laura Gozzi (left),

"Russia's Investigative Committee says former Russian transport minister Roman Starovoit has been found dead, apparently with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

He was dismissed earlier on Monday by President Vladimir Putin.

No reason for Starovoit's dismissal was given and deputy transport minister Andrei Nikitin was announced as his replacement shortly after." (BBC News: 7 July 2025) (my emphasis)

Furthermore, as reported by James Knuckey (right), 

"One of Vladimir Putin’s lapdogs has made a list of demands Russia wants to end its bloody war in Ukraine. Moscow’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov(right) has claimed a deal to end the fighting cannot be agreed unless the “root causes of the conflict” are “eliminated”.

... Russia has continued to use these two points in an attempt to justify its full-scale invasion of Ukraine launched in February 2022." (Daily Express:  July 2025) (my emphasis)

Dredging up Putin's 'root-causes' and his delusions about "Novorossiya" in 2014, that laid the groundwork Putin's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, that dyed-in-the-wool Soviet Foreign Minister Lavrov has underscored the rather 'bloodthirsty' nature of Putin. (Remember the Holodomor (1932-1933) of Stalin that killed millions of Ukrainians)  

 Meanwhile,

• Europe’s top human rights court is set to rule Wednesday (9 July 2025) on Russia's actions in the conflict in Ukraine, including human rights violations during the full-scale invasion and the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17. (Molly Quell: The Independent on MSN:  8 July 2025) (my emphasis) 

•  In March 2025, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled a sweeping plan to boost Europe’s defense capabilities, calling for nearly €800 billion in military spending. The initiative aims to not only increase long-term security across the continent but also strengthen support for Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression. (Дем'ян Шевко: The New Voice of Ukraine on MSN: 8 July 2025) (my emphasis)
• Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has vowed to back Ukraine in its quest to join the European Union, as Denmark officially launched its six-month presidency of the world’s biggest trading bloc. (Lorne Cook: AP on Yahoo News: 3 July 2025) (my emphasis)

Putin and his 'siloviki' have nowhere to run to.

His current demented bombing of Ukraine's civilians signifies his Russian world crumbling around him.

He now stands quivering at the cusp of lighting the 'nuclear' fuse for WW3.

UPDATE: 10 July 2024: 06:58 GMT 

Jaroslav Lukiv (left) just reported that,

"Ukraine's capital Kyiv is again under a massive overnight Russian drone attack, local officials say, with at least two people reported killed and 13 injured, and fires burning across the city.

…

It comes after US President Donald Trump expressed growing frustration at the Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"We get a lot of bullshit thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth," Trump told reporters on Tuesday. "He's very nice to us all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless." (BBC News: 10 July 2025) (my emphasis)

Yet, we also read that,

"Police have confirmed they are preparing for a potential visit by Donald Trump to Scotland later this month.

…

The Scottish government said it was working with the UK government to support Police Scotland, and that first minister John Swinney had been briefed on police preparations." (Mary McCool (right): BBC News: 9 July 2025) (my emphasis)

One is somewhat reminded of the historical fact of, "Nero fiddling whilst Rome burned", just as "Trump is opening HIS golf course in Scotland whilst Ukraine's civilians are being 'dementedly' bombed by Putin".

What, therefore, is one to make of the fact that,

"On Monday, the US president said more weapons would be sent because the Ukrainians "have to be able to defend themselves." (ibid (Kieran Burke, Richard Connor (with Reuters, dpa, AFP))

 

 

 

(to be continued)

With his back against the wall, will Putin now choose the 'nuclear' option?

In the 10 years of Russia's war against the Taliban in Afghanistan, from 1979 to 1989, the Russian casualty list was :-

Number of Russian soldiers killed - 14,500-15,000  

Number of Russian soldiers wounded - 35,000 

Number of Russian soldiers who served in the war - 620,000 (Shun Culture: 16 May 2024) (my emphasis) 

Yet, as Flora Drury (right) and Tabby Wilson reported yesterday (4 July 2025), 

"Russia has become the first country to formally recognise the Taliban government in Afghanistan, sparking outrage from opposition figures." (BBC News: 4 July 2025) (my emphasis) 

Fast foreward to today (5 July 2025), and the current casualties of Russian soldiers in Putin's war with Ukraine is estimated as,

“The Russian Armed Forces have likely sustained approximately 1,000,000 casualties (killed and wounded) since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Of these, it is likely around 250,000 Russian soldiers are killed or missing (presumed dead), Russia’s largest losses in an active conflict since the Second World War.” (George Allison (left): UK Defense Journal: 12 June 2025) (my emphasis)

Yet even in the face of these horrendous Russian losses, as the Ukrainain army continues with the defence of their land, Putin continues to acccellerate his brutal onslaught against the civilians of Ukraine.

 As Iona Cleave (right) reports,

"Vladimir Putin ordered the largest-ever bombardment of Ukraine hours after coming off the phone to Donald Trump.

More than 550 drones and missiles were launched at Ukraine overnight, with Kyiv bearing the brunt of the seven-hour barrage. It left one dead, 23 injured and the capital choked by explosions, smoke and fires." (The Telegraph on Yahoo News: 4 July 2025) (my emphasis)

As also reported by Paul Adams and Jessica Rawnsley (left), 

"One person has been killed and 26 others were injured after a night of intensive Russian strikes on almost every district in Kyiv, officials say.
…
The strikes came hours after a call between US President Donald Trump and Russia's Vladimir Putin, after which Trump said he was "disappointed" that Putin was not ready to end the war against Ukraine.

Moscow says the war will continue for as long as it is necessary to reach its objectives." (BBC: 4 July 2025) (my emphasis) 

Futhermore, as also reported by Sky News on the call between Trump and Putin on 3rd July 2025,

"In response [to Trump], Mr Putin said "Russia will not back down" from its aims [in Ukraine] there, which include "the elimination of the well-known root causes that led to the current state of affairs," Mr Ushakov said.
…
Mr Trump later addressed the call while speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews, where he said he "didn't make any progress with [Putin] today". (Sky News: 3 July 2025) (my emphasis)

 

Sky News on MSN: 3 July 2025

In his subsequent call with Zelenbsky, Trump stated that,

"U.S. President Donald Trump said Ukraine would need Patriot missiles for its defenses, after speaking with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Friday, and voiced frustration over Russian President Vladimir Putin's failure to end the fighting." (Andrea Shalal and Max Hunder: Reuters on Yahoo News:  July  2025) (my emphasis)

However, in an interview at Times Radio, Bill Browder (right)  warned that, 

"And given all the rhetoric around 'America First' "Why are we spending money on Ukraine when we have our own problems ... etc ... etc", it's hard, or almost impossible to imagine, that a new 'military aid package' for Ukraine will be approved ..." (Times Radio: 4 July 2025: YouTube)

 

 Times Radio: 4 July 2025: YouTube

With all his 'bravado' in front of the Russian public, Putin desperately met in Novo-Ogaryovo on 4th Luly 2025 with the permanent members of his Security Council (read: 'siloviki') viz. :-

"Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev, Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Anton Vaino, Presidential Aide Nikolai Patrushev, Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev, Director of the Federal Security Service Alexander Bortnikov, and Special Presidential Representative for Environmental Protection, Ecology and Transport Sergei Ivanov."

His 'failing' war in Ukraine, exemplified by his 'manic and desperate bombing' of the civilians of Ukraine, was the main topic of conversation.

 

The Military Show: 2 July 2025: YouTube 

This was followed by the accelerating effects on the declining living standards of the Russian people as the Russian economy continues to melt down

 

The Military Show: 4 July 2025 : YouTube

With his back now against the wall, will Putin choose the 'nuclear' option? 

 

UPDATE: 8 July 2025: 08.39 GMT

 

Zac Anderson and Francesca Chambers (left) have just reported that,

"President Donald Trump said he was unhappy with Russian President Vladimir Putin and would be sending Ukraine more defensive weapons, days after the Pentagon said it would halt some shipments as it conducted a review of U.S. military stockpiles.

"We're going to send some more weapons – we have to. They have to be able to defend themselves," Trump told reporters July 7 during a White House meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "They're getting hit very hard now. They're getting hit very hard. We're going to have to send more weapons – your defensive weapons, primarily."

The Trump administration has worked for months without success to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine." (USA Today: 8 July 2025) (my emphasis) 

 

NDTV on MSN: 7 July 2025

 

In light of  " ... the Pentagon [saying] it would halt some shipments as it conducted a review of U.S. military stockpiles" (ibid Zac Anderson and Francesca Chambers) but a few days ago, and as Bill Browder said in a recent interview that,

"And given all the rhetoric around 'America First' "Why are we spending money on Ukraine when we have our own problems ... etc ... etc", it's hard, or almost impossible to imagine, that a new 'military aid package' for Ukraine will be approved ..." (Times Radio: 4 July 2025: YouTube),

we will wait and see IF, and more importantly, "WHEN", supplying defensive weapons for Ukraine will be resumed by the Pentagon. 

 

 

 

(to be continued)

Putin's 'fear for his own life'!

The 'panicked verocity' with which Putin is raining down missiles on Ukraine's civilian population is yet another indication of Trump watching from the sidelines, precisely where Putin wants him.

As John T Psaropoulos (left) reports, whilst

"Ukraine’s European allies pledged increased levels of military aid to Ukraine this year, making up for a United States aid freeze, as Russian President Vladimir Putin reaffirmed his ambition to absorb all of Ukraine into the Russian Federation."

whilst Trump shielded behind the excuse that,

"At The Hague this week, Zelenskyy said he discussed those Patriot systems with Trump. At a news conference on Wednesday, Trump said: “We’re going to see if we can make some available,” referring to interceptors for existing Patriot systems in Ukraine. “They’re very hard to get. We need them too, and we’ve been supplying them to Israel,” he said." (AlJazeera: 27 June 2025) (my emphasis)

 

 AlJazeera: 27 June 2025

 

 AlJazeera: 28 Jun2 2025

 John T Psaropoulos also reports that,

"Russia has made a ceasefire conditional on Ukraine’s allies stopping the flow of weapons to it [Ukraine] and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov (left) repeated that condition on Saturday." (ibid John T Psaropoulos)

No doubt this panicked threat to continue bombing civilians in Ukraine is the response of Putin to,

"NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has said there is "no alternative" to the 32 member states spending more on defence, given the threat from Russia and the broader international security situation." (Laura Gozzi & Paul Kirby: BBC News: 24 June 2025) (my emphasis)

Furthermore,

"[Mark] Rutte said Europe and Canada had already committed to more than $35bn (£26bn) in military support for Ukraine this year." (ibid Laura Gozzi & Paul Kirby)

 

The Military Show: 27 June 2025: YouTube

Added to which, as reported by AlJazeera,

"Ukraine said it carried out an overnight drone strike on the Kirovske airfield in Crimea and claimed that multiple Russian helicopters and an air defence system were destroyed in the strike.

According to a Ukraine Security Service (SBU) statement, the drones targeted areas where Russian aviation units, air defence assets, ammunition depots and unmanned aerial vehicles were located. The agency claimed that Mi-8, Mi-26, and Mi-28 helicopters, as well as a Pantsir-S1 missile and gun system were destroyed." (AlJazeera: 28 June 2025) (my emphasis)

Further driving Putin insane with 'fear and anger',  

Jon King (left) reports that,

"Housing and utility bills in some parts of Russia are expected to soar by up to 25% as the country's economic meltdown worsens. Russian media reports that tariffs on housing, gas, water and electricity will go up by an average of 11.9% on July 1, but some regions will see an increase between 23% and 25%. Mortgage rates have also soared to 25% in recent months. One Russian newspaper, translated into English by the BBC's Russia Editor Steve Rosenberg and shared on social media, says the increase will be "painful for many families".
…
Economists warn of mounting pressure on Russia's economy and the likelihood it will stagnate due to a lack of investment in sectors outside of defence.

A slow-down would also threaten Russia's ability to pay for Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine, which has been raging for more than three years." (Express: 26 June 2025) (my emphasis) 

Putin is now 'running scared' for his own life.

Yet, as   Jerry Fisayo-Bambi (right)  reported a day before Putin's current missile onslaught against Ukraine civilians,

"Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday said Moscow is ready for a fresh round of direct peace talks with Ukraine, even as both warring countries traded long-range drone attacks.

Speaking to reporters in Minsk, during a visit to Belarus, Putin said Russian and Ukrainian officials are discussing the timing of a potential new meeting.

The Russian leader said that the terms of a potential ceasefire, which the Kremlin has so far effectively rejected, are expected to be on the agenda." (Euronews: 27 June 2025) (my emphasis) 

 

Euronews: 27 June 2025

But as Zelensky re-iterated four days ago [25 June 2025],

"There are no signs that Putin wants to stop this war. Russia rejects all peace proposals, including those from the United states of America.

Putin only thinks about war. That is a fact!.

Maybe he connects he's own political survival with his ability to keep killing" (MSN: 25 June 2025) (my emphasis)

  

MSN: 25 June 2025

Calling for a 'fresh round' of 'peace talks' seem to be yet another sign that simply illustrates Putin's 'fear for his own life'!  

 

 

 

(to be continued)

Will Putin now use a "dirty nuclear bomb" against Ukraine?

 On 14th June I wrote that,

"Putin now finds himself been dragged by a 'political and diplomatic' hook in his jaw into supporting Iran's attack against Israel's devastating pre-emptive strike against Iran's nuclear facilities." (Blog entry: 14 June 2025)

Now, as reported by Thomas Mackintosh and Nadine Yousif that,

"President Donald Trump says the US has carried out a "successful" bombing attack on three nuclear sites in Iran and they have been "obliterated". (BBC News: 22 June 2025) (my emphasis),

Putin now finds himself having to come to Iran's rescue.

As reported by Türkiye Today,

"Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (left) announced Sunday that he would travel to Moscow for urgent talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday following the U.S. strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities.

"I'm going to Moscow this afternoon and will hold 'serious consultations with the Russian president tomorrow morning,'" Araghchi said at a press conference in Istanbul on the sidelines of an Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit." (Türkiye Today: 22 June 2025) (my emphasis)

 As also reported by Jacob Parry (right),

"Araghchi emphasized the “strategic partnership” between Iran and Russia. “We always consult with each other and coordinate our positions,” he told reporters in Istanbul, according to media reports.

Russia is a close ally of Iran. Tehran supplied Moscow with military drones to strike Ukraine and, in return, has received help with its civilian nuclear program." (Politico: 22 June 2025) (my emphasis)

And at the recent Kremlin propaganda fest in St. Petersburg, Sarah Hooper (left) reported that,

"Vladimir Putin promised ‘catastrophic’ consequences for Ukraine and claimed that the Russian and Ukrainian people were ‘one nation’ in a conference this week." (Metro on MSN: 22 June 2025) (my emphasis)

And as Sky News reports,

"[Putin]  also threatened a nuclear strike on Ukraine for the first time in months, promising "catastrophic" consequences if Kyiv used a dirty bomb against Russian forces." (Sky News on MSN: 22 June 2025) (my emphasis)

 

Sky News on MSN: 22 June 2025: 

The international and political confluence of :- 

• " ... the US has carried out a "successful" bombing attack on three nuclear sites in Iran (ibid Thomas Mackintosh and Nadine Yousif)
• "Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced Sunday that he would travel to Moscow for urgent talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday following the U.S. strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities.
  
  "I'm going to Moscow this afternoon and will hold 'serious consultations with the Russian president tomorrow morning,'" (ibid Türkiye Today) and,
• "Vladimir Putin promised ‘catastrophic’ consequences for Ukraine and claimed that the Russian and Ukrainian people were ‘one nation’ in a conference this week." (ibid  Sarah Hooper)

now leaves the world teetering on the brink of WW III.

The rather sinister argument of Putin that, " ... if Kyiv uses a dirty bomb ..." seems to be an ominous indication that Putin may use a 'dirty nuclear bomb' in a Ukraine territory that he controls, and shift the blame onto Kyiv.

Recall that in 2015,

"A secret meeting between intelligence figures in Moscow and Washington reportedly revealed Putin will consider any attempt to return the Crimean peninsula to Ukraine as declaration of war and will take any necessary step - including using nuclear weapons - to retain control of the region." (MailOnline : 2 April, 2015) (my emphasis) (cf also: Forbes: 11 August 2015)

This is now coming true in the case of eastern Ukraine. As Taku Dzimwasha (right), international Business Times journalist, informs us,

"Pro-Moscow rebels in Ukraine building 'dirty' bomb with help of Russian scientists" published on August 1 that pro-Russian rebels in Ukraine are "building a dirty bomb" with the assistance of Russian nuclear scientists, according to a Ukrainian security service report seen by The Times." (UNIAN : 01.08.2015) (my emphasis)

Taku Dzimwasha further reports that,

"When the accusations were put to an unnamed DPR official, he initially denied that the factory stored radioactive waste, but eventually admitted to its existence, The Times reported." (blog entry: 2 August 2015) 

So why has Putin, once again, brought up the subject of a "dirty nuclear bomb"?

Is there already a "dirty nuclear bomb" stashed away by Putin somewhere in Donetsk, ready to be rolled out and used in Ukraine as a propaganda tool to be used against Ukraine?

And will such an action by Putin signify the prelude to "a dirty nuclear bomb" that may exist in Iran, and rolled out to be used against Israel?

 Emboldened by Trump giving him "carte blance" over indiscriminately bombing the civilians of Ukraine; will Putin now use his own "dirty nuclear bomb" against Ukraine?

 

UPDATE: 23 June 2025: 13.23 GMT

Steve Rosenberg (right) reports that,

“Absolutely unprovoked aggression against Iran has no grounds and no justification,” says Russia’s president in opening remarks broadcast live on Russian state TV’s rolling news channel.

Putin adds: “I am very pleased you are in Moscow today. It gives us the opportunity to discuss all these difficult subjects and think together how to find a way out of today’s situation.” (BBC News: 23 June 2025) (my emphasis)

The world now waits with bated breath what Putin means when he says, "[Russia and Iran] together need to find a way out of today’s situation".

Dirty "nuclear" bombs??? 

                                

 

 

(to be continued)