Latest news with #DeepState
Yahoo
an hour ago
- General
- Yahoo
Zelenskyy: Kursk operation keeps Russian troops from being active in Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that the Kursk operation is keeping a significant number of Russian troops from being active on Ukrainian territory. Source: Zelenskyy in an evening address Quote: "Today, there was a report from Commander-in-Chief [Oleksandr] Syrskyi. The situation on the front remains difficult. On some fronts, we are seeing increased Russian activity. The most tense fighting is on the Pokrovsk, Lyman and Kupiansk fronts. We are continuing our Kursk operation, which is keeping a significant number of Russian troops from being active on Ukrainian territory. The war must move into Russian territory – back to where it came from." Background: DeepState, a Ukrainian group of military analysts, has reported on the advance of Russian troops in the vicinity of the village of Oleksandriia in Sumy Oblast. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
DeepState: Russians capture new territory near Oleksandriia in Sumy Oblast
DeepState, a Ukrainian group of military analysts, has reported that Russian forces have advanced near the village of Oleksandriia in Sumy Oblast. Source: DeepState Details: As of 30 May, territory near Oleksandriia, close to the Russian border, is partly designated as occupied and partly as a grey zone. Situation near Oleksandriia as of 30 May Photo: DeepStateMap As of 29 May, the situation was different: there was almost no occupied territory, while some areas across the border were marked as under Ukrainian control. Situation near Oleksandriia as of 29 May Photo: DeepStateMap Therefore, another stretch of Russian-controlled territory has expanded in Sumy Oblast, in addition to the Zhuravka-Novenke-Veselivka-Basivka area. Situation near Oleksandriia as of 30 May Photo: DeepStateMap DeepState also reported that Russian troops had occupied the settlement of Yelyzavetivka in Donetsk Oblast. Background: On 31 May, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, reported that Russian forces had become significantly more active on the Zaporizhzhia front and focused their efforts on the border area of Sumy Oblast. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Forbes
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Forbes
Saturday, May 31. Russia's War On Ukraine: News And Information From Ukraine
SLOVIANSK, UKRAINE - MAY 31: A view of the damaged following the Russian aerial attacks with KAB 250 ... More in a residential area of Sloviansk, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine on May 31, 2025. (Photo by Jose Colon/Anadolu via Getty Images) Dispatches from Ukraine. Day 1,193. Russia's Attacks on Ukraine and War Developments Aiming to create a "buffer zone," Russian forces have seized villages near Sumy, Ukraine's northern regional capital. As 50,000 Russian troops accumulate on Ukraine's border, the Sumy region prepares for a renewed large-scale offensive. More than 200 settlements are under evacuation orders after Russia advanced deeper into Ukrainian territory. The Ukrainian OSINT project DeepState reports that 57 square miles have been captured and another 45 are under attack in border areas. On May 29, Russia launched a series of deadly attacks across Ukraine, killing at least seven civilians. A glide bomb strike in the southern Zaporizhia region killed two, a ballistic missile strike on a farm in the southern Mykolaiv province killed one worker and explosives dropped by drone in the southern Kherson province killed two local residents. The day before, Russian troops killed two residents in the northern Sumy region. Ukraine has deployed its first AI-powered drone, capable of delivering and coordinating two strike drones at distances up to 185 miles while slashing mission costs to just $10,000. Ukraine's Digital Transformation Minister Mykhailo Fedorov announced the system's debut on May 29, highlighting its autonomous target selection and capacity for reuse. Ukraine's latest innovation emerges amid the exponential growth of its defense sector, with 800 domestic enterprises producing $9 billion worth of weapons in 2024 and plans underway to procure 4.5 million drones in 2025 through a $2.7 billion state-funded initiative. Settlement of the War in Ukraine Russian President Vladimir Putin is demanding a written commitment halting NATO's eastward expansion and partial sanctions relief as key conditions for ending the war in Ukraine, according to sources familiar with internal negotiations. Despite battlefield advances, Putin has reportedly agreed in principle to begin drafting a peace framework following a two-hour call with U.S. President Donald Trump, who has voiced frustration over Putin's refusal to engage with Kyiv directly and recent large-scale Russian attacks. Following Trump's call, Moscow proposed resuming direct peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on June 2 to exchange ceasefire draft proposals, according to Russian officials. The previous round of bilateral talks on May 16 ended without agreement, but Kremlin negotiators now say they are prepared for 'substantive discussion' on a package deal and awaiting Kyiv's response. China Deepens Tech Support for Russia Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused China of cutting off drone sales to Ukraine and Western allies while continuing to supply Russia, including via production lines on Russian territory with Chinese oversight. Zelenskyy's claims, backed by European officials, highlight concerns over Beijing's export of dual-use technologies such as Mavic drones and motor components, which are widely used on the battlefield for surveillance and strikes. China denies providing lethal aid to Moscow. The U.S. and EU, however, have sanctioned several Chinese firms for supporting Russia's drone production efforts. Recent reporting by Forbes Ukraine substantiates Zelenskyy's allegations, revealing that Russia's Iranian-built Shahed drones (deployed in record numbers during a late May barrage) now rely more heavily on Chinese electronics. Analysis of drone wreckage from attacks in March, 2025, showed that 10 of 15 identified components originated from Chinese companies. This use of Chinese parts represents a clear shift from earlier models, which contained more U.S. and European components. Experts suggest that Russia is compensating for Western export controls by deepening technological reliance on Chinese suppliers, many of which help circumvent sanctions through dual-use goods and Western parts re-exported through third countries. Beijing's support extends beyond electronics. In 2024 alone, China exported $4.6 billion worth of critical goods to Russia, including CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machines used for precise fabrication of complex parts and microelectronics used in weapons production. Given that up to 90% of the precision components in Russian high-tech weapons are now Chinese-made, some experts claim that China's role has evolved from cautious neutrality to crucial support of Russian aggression. Germany's New Military Aid Package Germany will provide Ukraine about $5.7 billion in military aid, including funding for Ukrainian production of long-range missiles and air defense systems, following an agreement signed by German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov. Approved by the Bundestag, the package also includes support for Ukrainian repair centers and satellite communications. The new military aid package for Ukraine follows Chancellor Friedrich Merz's pledge during a joint press conference with President Zelenskyy on May 28 to fund the development of Ukrainian long-range missiles. Earlier reporting by the German newspaper Bild revealed Berlin's plans to invest in Ukraine's own production of cruise missiles with ranges up to 1,500 miles. By Danylo Nosov, Alan Sacks
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Russians operate in small groups in northern Kharkiv Oblast, no signs of large-scale offensive
Russian troops are operating in small assault groups in the northern part of Kharkiv Oblast, trying to identify weak spots in the Ukrainian defence. The National Guard Brigade Khartiia has stated that there are currently no signs of Russia preparing for a large-scale offensive. Source: Captain Oleksii Krymeniuk, head of the planning department of the Khartiia Brigade, on Suspilne Details: Krymeniuk said that the Russians were trying to break through from different directions, looking for weak spots in the Ukrainian defence, but without success. Quote: "There is no significant build-up of enemy assets and personnel, and we do not expect a large-scale offensive on our front. Meanwhile, they are replenishing these assets and personnel in order to find a gap in the defence and carry out a larger assault operation. In recent weeks, there have been several attempts by the enemy to storm the positions, but the attempts were unsuccessful; their equipment was destroyed and infantrymen were killed or wounded." Details: The captain also noted the active use of motorcycles, ATVs and light vehicles, in particular UAZ-452 vans, by the Russians. These vehicles are usually used not for direct attacks, but to transport personnel to their positions. "Motorcycles are effective in all weather conditions. Their tactic is to use small assault groups, because the larger the group, the greater the likelihood of being hit by our drones," Krymeniuk added. Background: On 21 May, Andrii Pomahaibus, chief of staff of the 13th Khartiia Brigade, reported that Russian troops were amassing personnel near the state border on the Kharkiv front, preparing for active assault operations. He stressed that the Armed Forces of Ukraine were ready to repel attacks and that talk of a summer offensive was pointless, as the Russians were attacking constantly. Later, the analytical project DeepState emphasised that the situation described by the commander is typical for most sections of the front. DeepState noted that the Russians regularly try to probe the defences and, if they find a weak spot, increase the pressure. It was also noted that the build-up of personnel was explained by the replenishment of units that had suffered significant losses. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
The Administration Takes a Hatchet to the NSC
At 4:20 p.m. on the Friday before Memorial Day, Brian McCormack, the National Security Council chief of staff, sent an email to more than 100 staffers telling them that they had 30 minutes to clear out their desk. Nearly all were people the Trump administration had hired to the NSC. President Donald Trump has been gunning for the NSC since 2019, during his first term in office, when two staffers filed a whistleblower complaint about his call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and got him impeached. On Friday, White House officials told Axios that the NSC is plagued by unnecessary committees and meetings that slow down decision making, and that the council is a needless check on the president's power. One official called the NSC 'the ultimate Deep State. It's Marco vs. the Deep State. We're gutting the Deep State.' That is a very strange way to characterize the arm of the government that exists to make sure the others are carrying out the president's agenda. In dismantling the NSC, Trump is not only removing part of his government's brain but creating real risk should a crisis strike. That's because the council has two core functions based in congressional statute: One is to advise the president on national security and foreign policy, and the other is to coordinate the work of agencies and departments in executing the policies he chooses. So why do Trump officials think the NSC staff is unnecessary or harmful? The one quoted by Axios went on to say: 'If you have officials fighting each other and their agencies always involved in turf wars, you maybe need this process. That's not what you have here. Rubio, Bessent, Hegseth, Bondi—all of them know each other and like each other, and they know they're there to execute the president's will.' [Read: Inside the fiasco at the National Security Council] It is nice to hear that Trump officials all get along, and that the rumors to the contrary are false. But the point of the NSC process is not simply to resolve clashes of personality. I served in the NSC for almost three years under President Joe Biden, as the head of the strategic-planning directorate, and I had a bird's-eye view of the entire bureaucratic process. No one loves committees, but that doesn't mean they're unnecessary. In a typical week, a committee of deputy Cabinet secretaries meets two or three times in the Situation Room, to discuss issues of the highest priority to the president. No phones or electronic devices are allowed. Lower-level committees meet to prepare groundwork. Occasionally, if significant differences emerge among departments, Cabinet officials will meet—imagine the Houthi-strike Signal group, but in a classified space, with real preparation. This doesn't involve as many people as you might think. The NSC policy staff stood at 186 at the end of Biden's term, larger than in Trump's first term but smaller than under George W. Bush or Barack Obama. These people are spread across about 20 different directorates, and drawn from across the government. Some directorates are charged with covering different regions or specific issues: technology, energy, intelligence, defense. Most of the people let go on Friday were career civil servants working in these directorates. The White House briefings implied that these people were the tools of the 'deep state,' sent to slow down the decision-making process and work against the president from the inside. But no one is sent to the NSC in that sense. The president and his national security adviser appoint the council's senior directors. These political appointees then pick directors to work on their teams—usually civil servants with the type of expertise and skills they believe the president will need to implement his agenda. The directorates often take the president's overarching ideas and convert them into nuts-and-bolts policy: AUKUS (the pact with Australia and the U.K. on nuclear-powered submarines), key elements of the CHIPS Act (which invested in the domestic manufacturing of semiconductors), the effort to roll back China's overseas bases, and the technology-export controls on China all originated in the NSC. The NSC is a crucial tool for the president in a moment of crisis. Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, for example, called for a policy response spanning much of the U.S. government. The Biden administration's policy mobilized sanctions, weapons, diplomacy, and intelligence cooperation; it required coordination or communication with Europe, China, the Middle East, Congress, and the press. To make all of this happen, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan met daily with senior NSC staffers, not only to solve immediate problems, but also to figure out what more could be done to advance the president's objectives. The NSC was behind the move to get Ukraine sufficient numbers of air-defense missiles; it came up with an inventive scheme to generate funds for Ukraine out of Russian sovereign assets without seizing them outright; and it recommended the strategic declassification of intelligence to pressure Russia. Trump, of course, could use his NSC to advance very different goals than Biden did. That's as it should be. But he has opted instead to divest himself of this tool. He has a few senior directors left—an unspecified number were fired on Friday, and others have been let go over the past couple of months—and each oversees a massive portfolio. The Europe directorate alone covers about 50 countries, including Russia and Turkey. These senior directors are now largely on their own. They have hardly anyone to draft policy guidance, review speeches, or be the first point of contact for embassies. Those who oppose Trump may welcome these cuts, precisely because they reduce the ability of this president to destroy and remake U.S. foreign policy. Decimating the NSC removes a layer of White House oversight from the departments engaged in foreign affairs, which could mean strengthening them relative to Trump: If Rubio is truly a temporary national security adviser, there for just six months, the gutting of the NSC will weaken his successor and strengthen his influence as secretary of state. The Pentagon, Treasury Department, Department of Homeland Security, Central Intelligence Agency, and other agencies could likewise set up their own mini–foreign policies, each based on the Cabinet secretary's interpretation of what they heard from the president, whether in a meeting, a side conversation, or a Truth Social post. Not only would this produce a chaotic and likely ineffective U.S. foreign policy, but the administration could run into some serious trouble with contingency planning. The NSC staff normally flags things that could go wrong and pulls together high-level working groups called 'tiger teams' to prepare plans for worst-case scenarios. The Biden administration ran tiger teams for Ukraine, various Taiwan scenarios, and a widening of the war in the Middle East. At least one looming crisis now deserves that type of attention. [Read: Inside the fight over Trump's foreign policy] On April 1 and 2, China carried out a maritime exercise called Strait-Thunder 2025A, for a quarantine of Taiwan and attacks on its military installations. Senior officials in the U.S. and allied nations saw this as a clear warning that China may be preparing a major action short of an invasion against Taiwan. It could, for example, impose a customs zone on Taiwan, whereby Beijing would control everything going in and out of it. The United States depends on Taiwan for semiconductor chips vital to the AI race—something the Trump administration is particularly concerned abou—and a quarantine or customs zone would wreak havoc with that. In any other administration, the NSC would run a tiger team for such an eventuality. Two senior directors would convene senior officials from all departments and the military, who would then come up with options for deterring China from taking any such action, for making sure the U.S. gets advance notice if China does act, and for responding in a manner that would frustrate China's effort. The team would consider sanctions, diplomacy, and military options. It would scrutinize the plans of the departments. Deputies and principals would then discuss the tiger team's plan and make adjustments. If China struck, America would be as ready as it could be. The kind of coordination the NSC provides, whether in anticipating crises or responding to them, does not happen automatically, even when Cabinet officials get along with one another. And no single department or agency can replace the NSC's role, because none has a sufficient overview of the whole field, or of all the tools the U.S. government can bring to bear. If one department did take the lead over all the others, it would likely be biased in favor of using the tools it controls and advancing its institutional interests. Trump seems to think that he doesn't need any of this, that he knows what to do in any circumstance and doesn't need 'options' and 'recommendations' served up to him. In his mind, he just needs a small team to carry out his orders. But if China makes a move against Taiwan, especially if it is novel and unexpected, Trump may find himself asking what choices he has. If the plans have not been prepared, he will not be able to choose among them. Instead, the country will be dangerously exposed, relying solely on the president's gut instinct on a subject he knows little about. Article originally published at The Atlantic
