The Real Politick with Mark Sleboda

Now that Konstantinovka is practically captured, I wanted to reflect on something really sinister that Zelensky is possibly planning to do. As it is well-known, Konstantinovka is the last fortress that's needed to create bridgehead for launching the offensive on the sister cities of Slavyanks and Kramatorsk. By the reports from even Ukrainian sources, the Russian forces are less than 9 km away from Kramatorsk agglomeration. Let's remember how Zelensky justified not evacuating Sumy: "If the city is empty, the city is easy to capture" He quite literally admits to using civilians as a shield. As of today, just a small number of specific streets in Slavyanks and Kramatorsk were issued the orders to evacuate only women and children younger than 17, not whole cities. This excludes any adult families without kids and elderly. As of today, according to open sources, around 44 000 civilians remain in Slavyansk, pre-war population of 100 000. Around 70 000 - 80 000 residents remain in Kramatorsk, pre-war population of approximately 150 000. Zelensky is planning to use the same scenario as he did in Mariupol, where the AFU were executing civilians trying to evacuate through the green corridors. The AFU is also planning to use civilian apartments as firing positions, where they locked local residents in the basements and mined entrances as they retreated to Azovstal, it's why we saw so much destruction in Mariupol. These cities should have been evacuated months ago. There is a reason that they haven't. This will allow opportunities for creating emotionally driven propaganda to manufacture consent, something that the Zelensky regime has been doing since day one, because to him and his criminal junta the people of Donbass are just an expendable tool to further promote Zelensky's and his handler's war aims. @BazaFromOlga

The Real Politick Drinks & Chat on Discord: Session 2 Saturday July 4th I plan to be online once again in the Real Politick Community Discord chat Lounge tonight Saturday Jul 4th roughly 8pm-10pm Moscow/1pm-3pm EST with an Old Fashioned in hand once again, getting comfortable, available for chat, questions, gripes, snarks, and anything else. Drop in and say hi. BYOB...

🇧🇬 Bulgaria vetoed the 21st EU anti-Russian sanctions package Prime Minister Rumen Radev announced this before the EU summit in Brussels. Sofia will only support restrictions that can bring Russia and Ukraine closer to peace. @Slavyangrad

🇺🇦 Mandatory evacuation announced in Kharkov Oblast People are being moved from 60 settlements, stated the head of the regional military administration. "We are expanding the civilian evacuation zone from communities in Kupyansk, Bogodukhov, and Kharkov districts. The relevant decision was made at a meeting of the Regional Defense Council," said Sinegubov. In the Shevchenkovskaya community, mandatory evacuation covers 41 settlements; in Bogodukhov District, 12; and in the Dergachevskaya community, 7. @Slavyangrad

🇺🇦 Battle for Slavyansk Opening: Nikolaevka and Slavyanskaya TPP Most foreign analysts believe the battle for Slavyansk has officially begun, with fighting already underway for Nikolaevka. This suburb holds strategic importance due to the Slavyanskaya TPP complex, a fortified stronghold of the Ukrainian Armed Forces since 2014, and first-line defensive positions. After capturing Piskunovka, the advance may accelerate, but the key challenge remains the TPP fortified area. Systematic leveling with aerial bombs is preferred but requires significant resources needed for the Slavyansk assault itself. Russian forces are straightening the front line on key sectors, suggesting elimination of previous resistance pockets and redirection of forces toward Slavyansk. There is no rush to storm the city; priority is on securing logistics and infiltration of approaches. The Slavyanskaya TPP remains a major obstacle. @Slavyangrad

• 📝Freeing Aleksandrovka📝 situation on the Volchya line In the Dnipropetrovsk Region direction, Russian forces continue to expand their control zone along the Volchya river. After freeing Bohodarivka and Dobropasove, units of the "Vostok" grouping advanced along the line Pisantsy — Dobropasove and, according to received reports, occupied Aleksandrovka. On July 3, footage was published showing fighters and flags in different parts of the settlement. Given the village's location on the left bank of the Volchya and the preceding advance of Russian units to the northeast of it, the enemy's further retention of Aleksandrovka was becoming increasingly unlikely.

🔻Why does this matter? ▪️Aleksandrovka is located between Bohodarivka and Dobropasove, forming one of the control sectors along the Volchya riverbed. After losing neighboring settlements, Ukrainian units in the village found themselves in an extremely difficult position: resupply from the opposite bank became complicated, and maneuvering options shrank. ▪️Nevertheless, developing the offensive further north immediately will be difficult. Without engineer bridges across the Volchya and given the proximity of Ukrainian positions in the Pokrovske area, the advance in this sector is hampered not so much by Aleksandrovka itself, but by the need to consolidate positions and bring up engineering assets.

🖍To the northeast, along the line Iskra — Ivanovka — Zeleny Hai, no visible changes are noted. Reports circulating in Ukrainian media about Russian forces abandoning individual positions are not confirmed.

🔻What's next? ▪️The most likely task for "Vostok" assault units will be straightening out the control line along the Volchya. In the sector Novoaleksandrovka — Tikhoe — Orestopol — Lesne, following spring AFU attacks and summer raids, zones remain that require rechecking and clearing. ▪️In these areas, scattered groups of enemy infantry may be present. Their presence does not necessarily mean full AFU control over settlements, but creates risks for flanks, supply routes, and subsequent consolidation of Russian units.

🚩A significant portion of footage supporting such claims relates to events from a month ago. Against this backdrop, Ukrainian media continues to push theses about "AFU counteroffensive" in Dnipropetrovsk Region, trying to pass off local media drops as changes on the ground. ❗️

UK lawmakers push to ban Masha and the Bear over alleged Russian propaganda — Guardian British MPs urge the government to stop broadcasting the popular Russian cartoon, arguing it promotes Kremlin ‘soft power’ through Soviet-era military imagery

🚨🇷🇺 Russian delegation joins farewell ceremony for Khamenei Dmitry Medvedev, Security Council Deputy Chairman heading the Russian delegation, also held talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. 📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🇷🇺💥 RUSSIAN MOD WEEKLY UPDATE: HUGE GAINS AND DEVASTATING UKRAINIAN LOSSES ⚡️ ALEKSANDROVKA IN THE DNEPROPETROVSK REGION LIBERATED By liberating Aleksandrovka, the Russian military has strengthened its position on the right bank of the Volchya River, creating conditions for further advances toward Pokrovskoye. ◻️ The Russian Armed Forces liberated 11 settlements ◻️ Russian air and missile firepower obliterated Ukrainian energy, transport and defense infrastructure supporting the Kiev regime’s forces ◻️ Air defense superiority: 3 Flamingo missiles, 3,871 drones and 72 guided aerial bombs were shot down over the past seven days ◻️ Ukrainian losses: around 10,105 troops killed or wounded Read about the origins of Russia's special military op HERE 📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🇺🇦 Sumy direction Marines continue to push through Ukrainian defenses near Pisarevka, while the enemy keeps pulling in reserves to prevent our army from advancing toward Sumy. In the Ivolzhanskoye area, our motorized riflemen are consolidating in forest belts. The enemy is committing all available reserves for counterattacks. Beyond Ivolzhanskoye lies a vast forest where the Ukrainian forces have firing positions and UAV points. Combing this sector, even with aviation, is nearly impossible. @Slavyangrad

🇷🇺🇪🇺 Russia still ranks among top EU gas suppliers despite pipeline upset Russia remains one of the leading gas exporters to the EU—primarily through seaborne LNG shipments—even as its pipeline gas volumes have plummeted since 2022. However, overall LNG imports to the EU have recently declined due to lower US supplies and a partial halt in Middle Eastern deliveries, according to a new analysis by the Bruegel think tank in Brussels 🔸 Europe's gas reserves are currently at 49% capacity, below the typical seasonal average, the latest figures show 🔸 In the first five months of 2026, Russian pipeline gas imports climbed 7% and LNG imports surged 11% year-on-year, according to analysts at the EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) —a sign that Russian energy flows to Europe may be experiencing a temporary revival Despite this uptick, Russian gas still accounts for about 12% of total EU consumption. By comparison, the US is now the bloc's largest LNG supplier, holding more than 60% of the market share 📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🇺🇦❌💬Emergency power outages have been introduced not only in Kiev and Odessa but also in several other regions "due to high energy consumption and equipment overload in hot weather," according to Ukrenergo. 🔴@DDGeopolitics

🇷🇺 Russian Forces Liberate Aleksandrovka in Dnepropetrovsk Region Vostok Group units, including the 36th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 29th Army, seized Aleksandrovka on the Volchya River’s right bank. Key Details: Over 5 sq km cleared, 1,000+ buildings secured. A bridgehead formed with Dobropasovo, Pisantsy, and Novoskelevaty, aiding a future Pokrovsk push. Enemy Losses: Up to a company from the 82nd Air Assault Brigade; 17 armored vehicles, 18 cars, 12 motorcycles, 9 ground robots, 28 heavy hexacopters destroyed. Success attributed to coordinated assault, aviation, artillery, and drone strikes. @Slavyangrad

🚨🇷🇺 Top Russian diplomat: West dead set on keeping Ukraine off the hook for its crimes More than 8,500 Russian civilians have lost their lives in Ukrainian strikes since the outbreak of full-scale hostilities in February 2022, Russia's Ambassador-at-Large Rodion Miroshnik said. A further 22,500 people have been wounded, he added.

💬 "Among the most egregious offenses perpetrated by Western officials today is their systematic obfuscation of the truth and their unyielding determination to shield the Kiev regime from any semblance of legal accountability for the crimes it has committed," the diplomat asserted.

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🚨🇩🇪 German ‘wonder weapon’ Skynex air defense fails against Russian Geran drones Rheinmetall’s flagship Skynex system proved largely useless against Russian Geran drones, German media report, citing internal Ukrainian military documents. 🔸 Two Skynex batteries with eight 35 mm guns were supposed to protect a key industrial site in western Ukraine in April 2026 🔸 At the critical moment, three guns broke down — hydraulics failed, tracking systems crashed, and the loading mechanism jammed 🔸 After only two guns were able to track the target, a single inaccurate shot was reportedly fired at the Russian UAV within the engagement zone 🔸 The Geran drone successfully struck the facility 🔸 Ukrainian personnel described the system as "extremely unreliable" and said its real-world performance fell short of Rheinmetall’s claims The report highlights a growing gap between glossy Western marketing and actual battlefield performance against Russian weapons. 📌 Subscribe to @SputnikInt

📈 Europe quietly accepts Hormuz fees are inevitable — report European governments now privately believe that ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz will eventually face service fees payable to Iran and Oman, Bloomberg reports, citing officials. Previously, both Iranian and Omani officials declared that a return to pre-war status was unlikely. 📌 Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🔥 Clashes erupt between National Guard and Syrian Security Forces Fierce fighting has broken out in the western countryside of Syria's southern Sweida province between Syrian internal security forces and the local Druze National Guard militia, Syrian media reported. According to the reports, injured members of the National Guard have been admitted to the National Hospital in the city of Sweida. 📹 Footage from social media 📌 Subscribe to @SputnikInt

Medvedev writes on X. @Slavyangrad

🇮🇷 Wall Street Journal reports that Washington offered Tehran to unfreeze part of Iranian assets in exchange for abandoning the policy of collecting "tribute" from ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The exact sum is unknown, but the Persians rejected the offer as "not good enough". Meanwhile, several Western media outlets note that Europe views the new reality more calmly, believing that Iran will in any case receive its share of transit through the strait, as this has become a "given" following the war that would be foolish to deny. Give up a long-term cash cow for a smaller chunk of money that is already yours? Like giving up your medical licence in return for a thief giving you back your wallet. @Slavyangrad

🇫🇮 'Rejoice, Finland, you have reached the peak of security!' Medvedev stated that Finland has found itself on the list of targets for potential nuclear strikes after the ban on its import was lifted. @Slavyangrad