Don's Weekly, 14 July 2025: Part 1
by Donald Hill (intro by Tom Cooper)
Hello everybody!
It’s mid-summer, the temperatures are high, and so is the Russian pressure - especially in the Pokrovsk Sector of the frontlines in Ukraine. There, Syrsky was highly successful in preventing the creation of a corps command, and the headquarters, Khortysia Group of Forces, ZSU, remains as near-useless as before and ever since Drapaty is not in command any more.
But, don’t worry: Dumpf’s special envoy Kellog arrived in Kyiv to a warm reception by -Yermak. Thinking of that fact alone, cannot but conclude that now everything’s going to be fine. Because Kellog promptly ran into the only character in Kyiv that actually matters.
I’m just not entirely sure for whom is that going to be fine…
Elsewhere… after arranging the XYth meeting to arrange a meeting to talk about meetings, Moron… sorry: honourable President Macron - stumbled over that damn carpet next to his working table, and - by sheer accident - checked ‘yes’ on the contract ordering the MBDA to, after a hiatus of 15 years, re-launch production of SCALP-EG cruise missiles. Which is the French version of the Storm Shadow. I know: many are surprised now. Even confused. What should this mean, and how could it happen? Arguably, there are few daring to wonder why didn’t ‘they’ (read: Mor… erm… honourable President Macron… please somebody help me: can’t write that name without making a typo, first) order this, and place thousands of other, similar orders - already three years ago?
How, you still don’t understand that glorious zombie idiots paid by about 15 people who own 95% of what is to own in this ‘the West’, to administer in their interest, are more scared about what happens if Ukraine defeats Russia, than any other outcome of this war?
So much so that, meanwhile, the loud thinking about an Ukrainian defeat is en vogue in Brussel, for the first time in three years again. And this so much so that, meanwhile, almost everybody has forgotten that Putin is going, 10000000000% sure, to invade NATO. In 3-5-10 years, you know…
Meh. No problem. Ukraine is no ‘the West’. Therefore, all the horror the country went through since February 2022… actually: since February 2014, but why should anybody care - all the dozens of thousands of deaths, millions forced to flee, dozens of thousands of killed, disappeared, tortured, hundreds of thousands of wounded, disabled, devastated, orphaned, traumatised, abducted… tsk, tsk, tsk… who is as stupid as to still think that way? To remember all of that?
Ukrainians suffering horrors of this war is meanwhile granted. A norm. ‘Simply fine & everything’s OK’. Both in Russia and in ‘the West’.
Therefore, the super-smart zombie idiots are now going to arrange a meeting to arrange a meeting, whether in London or Paris, or Brussel, to discuss discussing options for a meeting so they can talk about what happens should Ukraine fail. And we all should be happy - indeed: we must be delighted - because we can expect a decision in this regards…
…as soon as two months and 16 summits after Ukraine fails…
Man, one can’t but simply love the way ‘the West’ is waging its modern wars. It’s so civilised. So affable. So genial, too. So much so, I’m for defining an anniversary of introducing this practice, so we can all celebrate. World-wide.
…which is: in the 35+ countries of that ‘the West’: the rest of the World doesn’t matter, as obvious alone from the fact everybody else is meanwhile recognising Palestine, just the ‘Western civilisation’ doesn’t…
But I’m digressing, of course. Nobody sane wants to talk about Israeli genocide on Palestinians any more. Is so much out of fashion. So boring. Nah. Lets talk about something making far more sense. Like that with celebrations and parades.
Me thinks, we should celebrate that anniversary at least once, better few times a year. With big military parades, lots of delicious food and booze, and parties - preferably staged within 2-5km of the Gaza Strip, so Palestinians can enjoy the music, too. We only need to agree who, when, and where introduced the practice of fighting wars for profit and modelling the outcome.. Hands down all the kids thinking it was Qusay Bush or Oblablah in some places named Afghanistan or Iraq: sorry mates, but that happened long, long, long before. At least in around the times of the Vietnam War in the mid-1960s, if not already in Korea of the early 1950s, or…ugh… that notorious itch in my small toe is telling me it was certain place named Palestine, back in 1947-1949…
But, I’m ranting again… right? And so anti-Semitic, can’t say…
OK… so, what else shall one wonder about in regards of this war?
(Yes, I mean the one in Ukraine.)
Perhaps that with so many ‘in the West’ still proving unable to understand how comes Pudding is fine with the way this war is developing, indeed in a comfortable position: one where his rule is safe (and that regardless how diligently is he ruining the Russia’s economy), where he can continue draining Ukraine, outlast the hesitant West, and win this war…?
Sorry, can’t explain that. It’s too complex and would be too long to read, you know.
Instead, let me finish this intro with something nice. Something heart-warming. Yes, weeks late, even the Russians have meanwhile figured it out: their offensive into Sumy has failed. Almost as miserably as the offensive of the 1st Guards Tanks Army into Sumy back in February 2022. Now, the part of me loving to play the Devil’s advocate can’t avoid adding that, considering it was just like back in February 2022 - when the the ‘local Ukrainians’ organised themselves on their own, without any interventions by Syrsky & Buddies in Kyiv - this is, actually, no surprise. But, that doesn’t matter. What does matter is the actual primary difference between Sumy of February 2022, and of June 2025: back then Russia still had something resembling a professional army.
Not an uniformed and armed mob resembling the Monthy Python’s 13th Queen’s Own Highlands Kamikaze Regiment…
There are few other reasons for the Russians being unhappy, too. For example, because it turned out the entire headquarters – including the commander, his deputy, the chief-of-staff and his assistant (and chief of communications), and all of their aides - of the 155th Naval Infantry Brigade was smashed by an Ukrainian missile strike in the Korenevo area.
…which reminds me that this is about the only discipline in which the Russians are resembling, definitely matching, ‘the West’, meanwhile: the West still can’t understand how comes Pudding is so happy with the way his Special Military Operation is developing (and the majority of the Russians is happy about this, too), and the Russians still can’t understand how comes the Ukrainians are shooting back at them…
Sigh… now how to finish this intro?
Oh, that’s simple! You’ve now all been warmed up, and warned, too. Thus, over to Don…
***
Kursk/Sumy
A Ukrainian airstrike destroyed a bridge in Korovyakovka, north of Tyotkino and destroyed a building in Tyotkino itself.
The Russian Zemledeliye system can deploy 600 mines up to 15 km away; one was destroyed by several drone hits, some 15 km north of Novomykolaivka.
Oleksyivka was bombed by Ukraine.
Russia bombs the northern side of Kindrativka and a treeline to the west was hit by 22 bombs over time. A Ukrainian drone was intercepted and Andriivka and the treelines to the south were hit by 32 Russian bombs. All this activity was in response to the ZSU’s fire brigade - yup, the 225th Assault Regiment - attacking Kindrativka from the west and eliminating the Russians inside the village. So unkind, these pesky Ukrainians… just like their trees that provided cover for them, although houses were heavily damaged…
Perhaps Russia should go and try invading somebody else? Somebody not shooting back? Ah yes, in Ukraine, it’s only ‘Ukronazis’ doing that…
The 47th Engineering Brigade, ZSU, is building the anti-drone tunnels around Sumy. A Swedish group donated 250 tons of fishing nets so far in 2025, after collecting them from other Nordic countries. The type of material in the net is important because ultraviolet light can weaken some synthetic netting. Russia fiber optic drones will sometimes wait in ambushes outside the tunnel instead of flying into them because they have more maneuver room to attack a vehicle.
***
Milove
No further Russian advances were made from Milove and Stroivka, but they did advance up to 1500 meters west of Kamianka.
***
Kupiansk
Russians attack Ukrainian positions around Zelenyi Hai, where they advanced as much as 3 km. Again, when drones are out you don’t want to be seen. But if enemy infantry is advancing you have to be able to observe and engage them or it’s a one-way battle. The Russians also took the village of Radkivka, north of Kupiansk.
A Russian tank fires on Ukrainian positions in Kopanky.
***
Terny
A Russian drone attacks a Ukrainian position in a treeline near Zelena Dolyna, where Russia advanced over 4 km.
The 3rd Assault Brigade used aerial and ground drones to attack Russian positions. Two Russians survived and signalled that they wished to surrender and they walked to Ukrainian positions. Ukrainian infantry were able to occupy the position without firing a shot.
***
Siversk
The Ukrainians bomb what they say is a gathering place for drone teams and enemy soldiers 4 km from the front.
***
Toretsk
There is a 23 km gap between Chasiv Yar and the front lines just south of Stepanivka, but make no mistake, the Ukrainian troops inside the cauldron are under siege. Conditions were manageable until the Russian advance through Tarasivka and the arrival of Russia’s elite Rubicon drone unit in early May. The advance meant that there were fewer roads to reach the front line units and those roads became closer to the front. The arrival of Rubicon meant there were more Russian drones and those drone attacks were deeper and more effective. It also meant that more Ukrainian drones were intercepted by Russian drones.
Russians fire smoke shells near Bila Hora that don’t seem to be associated with an assault. A Ukrainian T-64 is destroyed by Oleksandro-Shultyne.
The 24th Brigade stops another Russian assault in Chasiv Yar. The brigade has been pushed back less than 4 km since it was moved to Chasiv Yar from Toretsk a year ago. Unfortunately, as soon as it switched places with the brigade in Chasiv Yar the defensive positions in front of Toretsk became unstable.
The 28th Brigade drones attack Russians around Dyliivka. Russian positions in western Yablunivka are shelled.
Russian drones used to hit targets within 2-3 km of the front. Now they conduct a strike every 10-20 minutes up to 15 km from the front. It’s difficult to send supplies. A ground drone is sent to evacuate a wounded soldier but the ground drone was hit by a drone so the wounded man crawled off the wrecked drone and into a ditch. A second ground drone carried him out during the night.
In another case, a ground drone is carrying two wounded men before it is disabled by a Russian drone. The wounded men crawl towards a ditch and the 93rd Brigade sends an MRAP to evacuate them while a team member covers them with a long-barreled shotgun. The longer barrel allows greater accuracy and a higher velocity for the pellets. The higher the velocity, the greater chance a pellet can down a drone.
Because of Syrsky’s habit of fragmenting units, the 53rd Brigade has just one battalion in the Kostiantynivka pocket. On June 24th, the commander of its medical unit posted that one of her soldiers had been in his fighting position since March. He had been wounded three times, the last wound being the most severe. He had been unable to evacuate for 107 days because each evacuation attempt was hit by drones. She would send antibiotics by drones but several of those drones were intercepted before one made it through. Her unit doesn’t have a ground drone, and even though ground drones don’t always make it through, she was asking for donations to buy one.
In August 2024, Kostiantynivka was given the mandatory evacuation order. By September 2024, the town of 67k was reduced to 24k. 15k still remained by February 2025 and after all the artillery bombardments and drone attacks, 8500 civilians still remained as of July. Half of Kostiantynivka is without electricity. Water flows for just three hours a day. The government says that infrastructure continues to be destroyed and civilians need to evacuate if they want to live. With drones, that is difficult to do because they even attack garbage trucks. Russian drones also call artillery fire on civilians.
The ammo depot in Khartsyzsk that was hit two weeks ago was completely destroyed and contained artillery shells, rockets and air defense missiles.
***
(…to be continued…)
It is such a shame to see Toretsk, so bravely defended, to get more and more encircled.
Regarding the zombies, I agree with everything. HOW COME Macron has the nerve to restart SCALP-EG only three years late? The West is a joke, but a sad one.
Unless the SCALP-EG contracted is paid by the EU, it is unlikely to materialized.
France is near bankrupted. We dont have a proper budget for this year and it seems we arent likely to get one for 2026 either.
The situation could be salvaged if Macron and his buddies paused their kleptocracy for a few months. I emphasis it : pause, not stop. But they wont anyway. So we have unfinanced budget hole of around 50 billions. This is not the yearly deficit (+160 Billions).
For the past month, the government has talked about doing a "White Year" (année blanche). In essence, all social spending would be froze rather than slightly increased to match the inflation (actually it grossly under-estimate inflation to not match it but that is an other subject). This would help the government to save ... 5 Billions of euros. In a context of exploding poverty.
For the context, Macron is spending well over 220 Billions of euros in public aide to compagnies (last week the government has been incapable to provide an exact number to the parliament). A large part of it is done to subsize salaries below the official minimal wage (and in fact below poverty line). This has to be a rare case in economic history where a government subside to bankruptcy its economy to crash it done and throw the majority of population into poverty.
Back to MoD procurement, While Macron announced a 6 Billions increased through the next 2 years in the MoD budget, the same MoD had to stop all its procurement as it has an accumulated debt of around 10 Billions of debt for equipment already delivered to it. This was discovered a few weeks ago when the parliament discovered the MoD was not signing new deliveries despite Macron's rhetoric.
On a side note, its the national day here in France. Which means military parade and a lot of media coverage on the armed forces. The way both media and military officers talked about drone was ... unimpressive. Afaik the army only managed to bring a single Chinese FPV drone for the parade. And they talked about it as if it was a massive industrial investment ...
Well at least we now have our own slightly different licensed MultiCam camo and our licensed M4.
Also, it sort of comical to see the French Army has now repainted all its vehicle in sand/brown ("Brun de terre" is the official name). Just when France has been fully expelled from the Sahel for which it was designed.