Putin's finger is now deliberately poised above his 'nuclear' button.

 Kyiv • UNN reports that,

"{Putin's] yacht worth £100 million is heading to Murmansk over fears of Ukrainian drone strikes. It is being escorted by two Russian military ships.
… 
According to naval expert Emma Salisbury, the scale of the escort indicates serious concerns in the Kremlin.

"This looks like an excessive level of protection. Putin does not want to risk the yacht being detained by NATO ships or sunk by the Ukrainians," she noted.

The publication also writes that in recent months, Putin has significantly strengthened personal security measures. (Kyiv • UNN on MSN: 4 July 2026) (my emphasis)

Earlier, as Mark Krutov and RFE/RL's Russian Service report,

"RFE/RL's Russian Service has found that a concrete platform has been erected and Russia's S-400 air-defense systems have been deployed on the grounds of the headquarters of the Innopraktika Foundation, a $1.7 billion government-backed project headed by Putin's youngest daughter, Katerina Tikhonova. (right)" (RadioFreeEurope : 27 June 2026) (my emphasis)

There are also reports beginning to appear that Putin's time as the Czar of Russia may soon  be coming to an end.

As I wrote in my previous blog,

"Konstantin Samoilov (left) has just informed us that, 

"Alexander Lunin (right) message on Instagram was viewed by over ... twelve million people in two days. 

And it was not taken down.

Twelve million people heard a soldier publicly threatening the Czar [Putin] and getting away with it. Publicly telling them that in case he's not met, Russian military will turn its weapons to the Kremlin" (The Mutiny Warning Putin Couldn’t Censor: Inside Russia: 26 June 2026) (my emphasis)   

Excerpt at end : The Mutiny Warning Putin Couldn’t Censor: Inside Russia: 26 June 2026: YouTube 

Will this be the event that propels Putin even faster towards a Black Swan event?" (blog entry : 26 June 2026) 

And during the last week, like a demented 'maniac', Putin has thrown more and more bombs at Ukrainian cities, from drones to missiles, causing Ukrainian civilian deaths.

As reported by Sky  News,

"Kiev's night of horror in Ukraine show that Putin is now behind the battlefield.

Russia has launched its largest attack on the Ukrainian capital [Kyiv] this year" (Sky News: 3 July 2026: YouTube) (my emphasis)

 

 Sky News: 3 July 2026: YouTube

 

Ukraine continues to focus on the destruction of Putin's oil refineries and military targets, specifically to destroy Putin's capability to manufacture the drones and missiles of death that he is aiming at Ukrainian civilians in Ukrainian cities.

As a result of Ukraine's answer to Putin's bombing 'mania', fuel shortages are now being experienced practically throughout Russia,  

Konstantin Samoilov analyses the critical economic effects that this fuel shortage is having on the Russian economy, and comes to the conclusion that,

"Russia has entered a period of very fast economic changes.
… 
Russia's economy is falling apart, live, right now in front of our eyes. 
Economic reports now resemble reports from the war [with Ukraine]." (Inside Russia: 25 June 2026) (my emphasis)

Is it any wonder that Putin is now reaching the stage of having to set up an exit route from Russia, ensuring the protection of his family and readying his yacht in Murmansk?  

To continue to feed his failing "meat-grinder" military strategy, Putin is now forced to try to recruit students to make up for his mounting losses in Ukraine.

As Olga Ivshina (first left), Anastasia Platonova (second left) & Sophia Volyanova, report,

"The campaign to encourage students at universities, technical colleges and vocational schools to sign army contracts began early this year, as Russia sought to sustain its war effort into a fifth year. It has focused particularly on those struggling academically or considering taking a break from their studies." (BBC News: 4 July 2026) (my emphasis)

This strategy of Putin to try to recruit students signifies his growing fear of losing his power, and possibly his life.

Furthermore, as Antonia Langford (right) reports, 

"Vladimir Putin is said to be planning a new wave of mobilisation as the flow of soldiers to Ukraine dries up.
… 
Eight sources inside the presidential administration and military enlistment apparatus told Verstka and Vazhnyye Istorii, both independent Russian outlets, that the idea of mobilisation was on the table for the first time since the disastrous call-up in 2022.
… 
Troop shortages have led to viral videos from the city of Penza showing balaclava-clad draft officers seizing people off the streets and hauling them to enlistment offices." (The Telegraph on Yahoo News: 25 June 2026) (my emphasis) 

And Trump, having 'somewhat' washed his hands from his war with Iran off, giving this 'thorny' diplomatic problem to his vice-president Vance to find a solution to his war with Iran, we now learn from CNA that, 

"United States President Donald Trump, speaking to Russian leader Vladimir Putin by telephone for nearly 90 minutes, offered to help find a solution to the Ukraine war, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said in comments made public early on Sunday (Jul 5)." (CNA: 6 July 2026) (my emphasis)

Yuri Ushakov (right) went on to report that, 

"Ushakov, who described the conversation as "business-like and quite constructive", said Russia sought "a political-diplomatic resolution of the conflict, with due account of Russia's fundamental approach". (ibid CNA)

In other words, only Zelensky's complete surrender to Putin's initial "Novorossiya" fantasy demands will end his war with Ukraine. 

Then we also have the call from Zelensky to Trump on Independence Day.

As reported by Sonya Bandouil and Volodymyr Ivanyshyn (left),

"President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke by phone with U.S. President Donald Trump on July 4, congratulating him on U.S. Independence Day and discussing the battlefield situation, diplomacy, and efforts to end Russia's war against Ukraine.
… 
The two leaders also discussed the current situation on the front line and ongoing diplomatic "There is a real opportunity to end this war, and America's determination will be decisive," Zelensky said." (The Kyiv Independent: 4 July 2026) (my emphasis) 

 

CRUX and CNN News : 5 July 2026 : YouTube 

With the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara to-morrow and Wednesday (7 and 8 July 2026), and Trump and Zelensky slated to meet, Putin believes that his 'continuous and fanatical' bombing of Ukraine's civilians will give him 'bargaining chips' at any meeting between himself and Zelensky that Trump will try to negotiate with Putin.

This 'maniacal' bombing of Ukraine's cities by Putin simply underscores his tenuous hold onto power.

As the Russian people finally wake up to the fact that their current economic and social problems are solely due to his war with Ukraine, Putin has opened himself even more to stepping into a Black Swan event.

If before his finger simply wavered above the 'nuclear button', it now has a 'deliberation' that even his 'siloviki' are realising. 

  

 (to be continued)

Putin's current state of paranoia could head him towards a Black Swan event.

The last week has seen a dramatic series of events, spearheaded by Ukraine's drone attack on an oil refinery that supplies Moscow with fuel i.e. petrol and diesel.

As reported by Reuters,

"Moscow's oil refinery will be offline for at least six months after suffering extensive damage in Ukrainian drone attacks, two industry sources said on Wednesday, ​complicating Russian efforts to tackle fuel shortages across the world's ​largest country. " (Reuters : 24 June 2026) (my emphasis)

 

 Reuters : 19 June 2026 : YouTube 

With the fuel shortages now being experienced practically throughout Russia,  

Konstantin Samoilov (left) analyses the critical economic effects that this fuel shortage is having on the Russian economy, and comes to the conclusion that,

"Russia has entered a period of very fast economic changes.
… 
Russia's economy is falling apart, live, right now in front of our eyes. 
Economic reports now resemble reports from the war [with Ukraine]." (Inside Russia: 25 June 2026) (my emphasis)

 

Russia Has Entered Survival Mode: Inside Russia: 25 June 2026: YouTube

Many experts are now reporting that Ukraine is fiercely, and successfully, overwhelming Russian forces in Ukraine and, more significantly, reclaiming Ukrainian lands stolen by the Russian invaders.

Even Trump is now realising that his bosom buddy, Putin, is losing in his war against Ukraine.

As reported by Morning Joe on MS NOW,

"Meanwhile President Trump's tone on the war continues to shift. 

At the White House yesterday, President Trump praised Zelensky as courageous stating, "Ukraine is doing pretty well and holding its own despite heavy losses on both sides ..." (MS NOW: 25 June 2026: YouTube)

 

 MS NOW: 25 June 2026: YouTube

With nowhere to run to as the Russian economy implodes and Ukraine's Crimea, stolen, occupied by Russian soldiers, illegally annexed to Russia in 2014, now on the verge of being re-gained by Ukraine, Putin is panicking.

Russian soldiers and civilians flee the peninsula via Crimean bridge. 

 

 Kanal13: 26 June 2026: YouTube 

Unfortunately for Putin, 

"You can fool all the people some of the time 
   and some of the people all the time, 
   but you cannot fool all the people all the time."

 

Anna from Ukraine (right) exposes the fact that  it is beginning to dawn on the Russian people that Putin, who invaded and started a war with Ukraine, has led to them  now having to cope with :-

(i) Chronic Fuel shortages because of the destruction of oil refineries by Ukrainian drones

(ii) Rising food prices that cannot be harvested due to a lack of fuel for farm machinery

(iii) No more internet

(iv) Ukrainian drones  constantly flying overhead and systematically destroying the Russian industrial war machine

Putin Lost 'reality' interview: Anna From Ukraine: 29 June 2026: YouTube

Putin  is now turning his sights onto Europe as a last resort to try and salvage his growing diminishing standing with the Russian people.

In an interview on PBS, Arkady Ostrovsky (left) of The Economist warns of Putin now having reached the stage of escalation of his war with Ukraine.

He argues that,

"The elite, by now, has completely embraced the idea that this is NOT Russia's war with Ukraine.
…
This is Russia's fight with the West.
… 
Russia is a nuclear power. So where does that lead us. It's always going to be at the back of everybody's mind.
… 
Escalation is a real risk." (PBS Newshour: Compass Points: 20 June 2026: YouTube)

 

 Excerpt from: PBS Newshour: Compass Points: 20 June 2026: YouTube 

This 'real' risk may also be behind the back of the mind of Lukashenko who, recently, was warned by Zelensky not to continue to support Putin's drone attacks on Ukrainian cities.

As reported by Oleksiy Sorokin (left),

"President Volodymyr Zelensky on June 19 accused Belarus of facilitating Russian drone attacks on Ukraine and warned that Minsk has one week to remove communications equipment allegedly helping guide strikes from Belarusian territory, or Ukraine would take action itself.
… 
"When Lukashenko says he does not want to be involved in the war,  he should be honest, at least with his own people," Zelensky said. "It is not only he who could be drawn into the war — his entire country could be dragged into it by Russia." (Kyiv Independent: 26 June 2026) (my emphasis) 

Mark Trevelyan (right) further reports that, 

Lukashenko, a close ally of ​Russian President Vladimir Putin, said in televised comments that Zelenskiy's representatives had been in Minsk recently.

"I told them bluntly: 'Guys, ​tell your president: if he thinks he can talk to us like that — and drag us into a war to boot — ⁠then he needs to understand that the nature of the war would change instantly,'" Lukashenko (left) said, adding that Belarus had no desire to fight Ukrainians.

"We received a ​reply: the president and his team understand this. So, let's reach an agreement, guys. We need to reach a substantive agreement."

There was no immediate comment from Kyiv about Lukashenko's ​remarks." (Reuters: 25 June 2026) (my emphasis)

But, as Zelensky says, 

 When Lukashenko says he does not want to be involved in the war,  he should be honest, at least with his own people," Zelensky said. "It is not only he who could be drawn into the war — his entire country could be dragged into it by Russia. (ibid Oleksiy Sorokin ) 

And let us not forget, Putin has stationed 'nuclear' missiles on Belarus soil.

Putin's current state of extreme paranoia, as the 'siloviki' vultures circle around him, could head him towards a Black Swan event. 

UPDATE: 27 June 2026: GMT 09.41 

There is a critical, and immediate, development inside Russia.

Konstantin Samoilov (left) has just informed us that, 

"Alexander Lunin (right) message on Instagram was viewed by over ... twelve million people in two days. 

And it was not taken down.

Twelve million people heard a soldier publicly threatening the Czar [Putin] and getting away with it. Publicly telling them that in case he's not met, Russian military will turn its weapons to the Kremlin" (The Mutiny Warning Putin Couldn’t Censor: Inside Russia: 26 June 2026) (my emphasis)   

Excerpt at end : The Mutiny Warning Putin Couldn’t Censor: Inside Russia: 26 June 2026: YouTube 

Will this be the event that propels Putin even faster towards a Black Swan event?

 

 

 

(to be continued) 

Putin is now desperately fighting for his survival and, possibly, for his own life.

Reuters reports that,

"Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy (left) said on Monday ‌that he had offered to meet Vladimir Putin at a G7 summit in France this week or even in the United States for talks to end a four-year war.
… 
"We gave message that we are ready to meet with Putin during (the) G7, ⁠because Trump is there and Macron is there, so Europeans plus America. This is a good, I ​think, very good opportunity to meet all together," Zelenskiy told reporters in English. (Reuters: 15 June 2026) (my emphasis)

Let us also recall that,

"In an open letter ⁠to Putin this month, Zelenskiy offered to meet for face-to-face talks and had suggested that the war was increasing the strain on Russia's economy. In response, Putin ​said publicly that he saw no reason for a meeting, and Ukraine's long-range drone ​attacks posed no ⁠economic threat. (ibid Reuters)

Putin's "no reason" for a meeting comes against the backdrop of  Konstantin Samoilov (right) reporting that,

"This is the moment for the Russian economy many have been waiting for. It has entered the stage of "free-fall". In the previous four years, Russian economy survived only due to mass reserves accumulated in the past.

The reserves are depleted now. Russian 'war economy' has been proved to be unsustainable now. The changes are happening fast!" (Inside Russia: 15 June 2026: YouTube) (my emphasis)

 

Inside Russia: 15 June 2026: YouTube 

 In the video above, Samoilov goes on to explain the critical state of food shortages in Ukraine's currently occupied Crimea, food shortages that are beginning to spread inside Russia.

Furthermore, as Steve Balestrieri (left) reports,

"Even Putin’s Biggest Hawks Believe Russia Can’t Win In Ukraine: Russian President Vladimir Putin is facing increasing pressure both at the front and within the country.

The Russian army’s offensive has been stopped, resources are being depleted, and Ukrainian drone strikes are hitting the logistics and economy of the Russian Federation increasingly hard." (National Security Journal: 12 June 2026) (my emphasis) 

 

 CNN 17 June 2026: YouTube

As an indicator that members of Putin's 'siloviki' are realising 'the abyss of total economic bankruptcy' into which Putin's war in Ukraine has thrown Russia, some are now planning their escape routes from Russia.  

As earlier reported in the Moscow Times,

"Denis Butsayev (left), a high-ranking Russian official who was recently dismissed from the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, has reportedly fled to the United States to escape criminal prosecution, independent journalist Farida Rustamova reported Thursday.

Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin formally dismissed Butsayev as deputy minister on April 22, government documents show" (Moscow Times: 1 May 2026) (my emphasis)

Konstantin Samoilov gives a more recent and detailed explanation of the circumstances surrounding Butsayev's defection, together with some of Putin's Z-blogger and other enthusiasts for his war against Ukraine.

As he explains,

"First know official of his highest rank to flee the country.
… 
He gets out before he's handcuffed " (Inside Russia : The System Turns: Why Putin’s Loyalists Are Fleeing Russia: 17 June 2026: YouTube) (my emphasis)

 

Inside Russia : The System Turns: Why Putin’s Loyalists Are Fleeing Russia: 17 June 2026: YouTube 

And against this background, swirling like a demented dervish in his underground bunker, Putin has lashed out bombing a near 1000 year-old Cathedral and monasteries in Kyiv.

 

As reported by Joel Guinto (left) and Farouk Chothia,

"At least 11 people have been killed in a wave of Russian strikes on Ukraine that set a major religious landmark in Kyiv on fire, President Volodymyr Zelensky says.
… 
The 11th Century Dormition Cathedral was significantly damaged in what Zelensky called "one of the biggest Russian crimes against Christian culture today". Russia denied hitting the site." (BBC News: 15 June 2026) (my emphasis) 

 

Kanal13: 16 June 2026: YouTube

 

 As Liliana Oleniak (left) also reports

 

"Worldwide backlash grows after Russia strikes Ukraine's Kyiv Pechersk Lavra
... 
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani states that Moscow does not want peace.

"Kyiv is also a religious capital, so Russia must also be careful not to desecrate the sentiments of all Christians and Orthodox Christians in Russia as well. The Kremlin is making serious mistakes, demonstrating that it is in difficulty," he says." (RBC Ukraine on MSN: 16 June 2026) (my emphasis)

 

With Trump and Iran now having reached a deal to end the war, and the Strait of Hormuz possibly being re-opened for the free flow of trapped shipping very soon, the 'apoplectic and demented dervish-swirling' Putin realises that his days are numbered in more ways than one. 

 

Even his 'shadow fleet' of oil tankers are having the proverbial noose tightened around their necks, stemming the flow of illegal dollars into Putin's empty coffers in the vanishing hope that he can  sustain his war with Ukraine.

 

As Patrick Jackson reports,

"An Indian national has been arrested on suspicion of sanctions offences after the dramatic seizure of a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in the English Channel, the National Crime Agency has said.

He was taken into custody for questioning by investigators following the operation mounted by Royal Marine Commandos along with the NCA on Sunday." (BBC News: 15 June 2026) (my emphasis) 

 

 

ITV News: 15 June 2026: YouTube 

 

Putin is now desperately fighting for his survival and, possibly, for his own life. 

 

 

 

(to be continued)

Cornered Putin readying to dangerously lash out!

The total 'fantasy 'world in which Putin is living, surrounded by his 'siloviki' that are constantly showering him with 'praises' and false information about his continuing success  in his war with Ukraine, is best illustrated by Daryna Halperina (left) who reports Putin saying that,

"Lately, I won't name the number of settlements right now because I'm afraid of making a mistake, but the Russian army has taken roughly 2,440,000 square kilometers under its control," Putin boasted, even though this figure exceeds the country's [Ukraine's] total area by more than four times." (New Voice of Ukraine on MSN: 5 June 2026) (my emphasis) (cf. also: Jens Asbjørn Bøgen: Dagens on MSN: 5 June 2026)

She goes on to further report that,

"Ukraine's area within its internationally recognized borders is approximately 603,600 square kilometers. The text transcript on the Kremlin's website reportedly removed the word "thousand," leaving the phrasing as "2,440 square kilometers." (ibid Daryna Halperina)  

Further illustrating the fantasy' world occupied by Putin, a Sky News defence reporter (right) describes the subtext of the recent letter Zelensky sent all over the world as follows:

"We Ukrainians are fighting for our lives and so we have no choice but to carry on. We dont't want to, but if we have to we will. But you don't have to Mr. President. You are suffering, your economy is suffering. 

So the message is, "We can last as long as it takes. But Mr. Putin, can you". (Sky News: 5 June 2026) (my emphasis)

 

Sky News: 5 June 2026 

To save himself, and preserve his tortured sanity within his 'world of fantasy', Putin simply must believe that he can win his war with Ukraine.

As Andrey Kelin (left), the Russian ambassador to the UK states in a Sky News interview,

"We cannot loose this war. We have to win it." (Sky News: 4 June 2026) (my emphasis)  

 

Sky News: 4 June 2026 

And at the recent St Peterburg International Economic Forum, where Ukrainian drones hit St. Petersburg oil terminal before the city hosted the economic forum, 

 

AP: 3 June 2026

 and bathed it in the ensuing fumes and dark clouds of the Ukrainian drone strikes (cf: AP: 3 June 2026),  DPA International reports that,

"Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday expressed firm belief that his country retains the technological upper hand in the air war against Ukraine." 

whilst at the same time,

" … urging his military to take more effective measures to neutralize Ukrainian drones" 

notwithstanding the fact that,

"... increasingly sophisticated, longer-range Ukrainian drones are now causing major damage deep inside Russia – particularly to the oil industry." ( DPA International on MSN: 5 June 2026) (my emphasis)

As Konstantin Samoilov (left) reports,

"Lack of gasoline at the pumps all over Russia. It's the biggest problem right now. 

Because everything, literally everything, is running on fuel ... " (Inside Russia: 5 June 2026: YouTube) (my emphasis)

 

Inside Russia: 5 June 2026: YouTube 

We now also learn from Brian McDonald (left) that,

"RBK reports that Russian Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina (right) has disappeared from the speaker list for this year’s St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

Two sources close to the regulator confirmed she will not attend. Nabiullina had initially been scheduled to speak tomorrow at a session on economic growth alongside Finance Minister Anton Siluanov and Putin aide Maxim Oreshkin." (X post: 3 June 2026) (my emphasis) 

Adding to Putin's woes, Nicole Silverio (left) reports that,

"Eighteen Republicans voted with Democrats Thursday to send more aid to Ukraine and provide weapons from Pentagon stockpiles despite House leadership urging them to vote against it.

The legislation passed in a 226 to 195 vote, which would allocate $8 billion in direct loans to Ukraine and allow the U.S. to send Ukraine weapons from Pentagon stockpiles." (Daily Caller on MSN: 5 June 2026) (my emphasis) 

Furthermore, Clea Caulcutt  (right) informs us that, 

"French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday invited Ukraine's allies to attend France's Bastille Day celebrations in Paris on July 14.

Speaking on the margins of the EU-Western Balkans summit in Montenegro, Macron said the so-called Coalition of the Willing nations (n.b.: not icluding the US) would discuss support for Ukraine and attend France's annual military parade." (Politico: 5 June 2026) (my emphasis)

Added to which, AP reported that, 

"Zelenskyy (right) acknowledged shifting U.S. priorities, saying it would be wrong to simply wait for the Trump administration to return its attention to ending the Ukraine war while it remains heavily focused on the Iran war.

“I am proposing a meeting,” Zelenskyy wrote.

U.S. President Donald Trump said it “would be great” if Putin and Zelenskyy met. “They should get it done,” Trump said." (AP: 4 June 2026) (my emphasis)

As Putin's delusional dreams of recreating "Novorossiya" with his war in Ukraine crumble to dust in his hands, we have Sergey Ryabkov (right) on the sidelines of the forum in St. Petersburg 

"warning Ukraine and allies of aggression against Russia".

He stated that,

"As regards us, those hypothetical extreme situations that may trigger the use of these [i.e. nuclear] weapons were outlined in detail in Russia's military doctrine and the fundamentals of Russia state policy on nuclear deterrence. ... 

These documents send a signal that encroachments on Russia or its territorial integrity by aggressors, including those who may possess such weapons, could prompt us to use such weapons in the worst case scenario."  (Tass: 3 June 2026) (my emphasis)

Putin's failing war in Ukraine, and his imploding Russian economy, has now reached the stage of prompting him to use his 'nuclear' option. 

In the words of Andrey Kelin, Russian ambassador to the UK, 

"We cannot loose this war. We have to win it."  

UPDATE: 8 June 2026 : GMT 11.43 

True to form, Türkiye Today reported that,

"A Russian drone struck Ukraine's Centralized Spent Fuel Storage Facility in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone early Sunday, significantly damaging a fuel reception building and causing a fire, Ukrainian officials said. 

.... 
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of deliberately targeting the facility with a Shahed attack drone and described the strike as an attack on critical nuclear infrastructure." (Türkiye Today: 7 June 2026) (my emphasis) 

As in the case of Stalin, who caused the massive man-made famine in Soviet Ukraine from 1932 to 1933 that killed millions of Ukrainians (Wikipedia), Putin is deliberately trying to cause a nuclear 'radiation' leak from Chornobyl to similarly kill millions of Ukrainians. 

 

 

 

 

(to be continued)