Page 3 – Ukrainian strike on Starobelsk, and Russia’s retaliation
10. Analysis – published May 29, 2026 – The Duran: Isolating the Zelensky Regime
Ukraine’s air defense has collapsed around Kiev and Zelensky is now begging the United States for Patriot interceptors that Washington almost certainly will not send, leaving Europe to gut its own defenses to fill the gap. Alex Christoforou and Alexander Mercouris on The Duran break down what Russia actually intends for Kiev: not obliteration, but a calculated siege strategy targeting command bunkers, drone factories, and the rail supply lines that keep Western officials and weapons flowing into the capital. Is Russia systematically cutting Zelensky off from the West, and what happens to Ukraine when Kiev becomes a city under siege?
Timestamps
00:00:00 Introduction: Zelensky’s letter begging for Patriot interceptors
00:01:08 Why the US will not send Patriot systems to Ukraine
00:02:04 NATO 3 program: US military withdrawing from Europe
00:03:42 Europe under pressure to strip its own air defenses for Ukraine
00:05:18 Will Russia follow through on striking Kiev decision centers
00:07:31 Putin’s decision making pattern: once decided, no turning back
00:09:12 Kiev’s historical significance and why Russia will not obliterate it
00:11:08 Russia’s two objectives: hit command centers and expel the West from Kiev
00:14:43 Can trains and supply lines into Kiev be severed
00:18:15 Russia’s gradual campaign: drone and missile strikes tighten over time
11. Analysis – published May 31, 2026 – Alexander Mercouris: Kiev Drone Strikes Zaporozhzhye NPP; West IAEA Silent; Russia Orekhov Breakthrough; Konstantinovka
Ukraine has launched a fiber optic drone directly into the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, and yet Western governments and the IAEA have nothing to say about it. Alexander Mercouris on The Duran breaks down a day of alarming developments: the accelerating collapse of Ukrainian resistance in Konstantinovka, the rapid Russian encirclement of Orekhov, credible new intelligence on the Oreshnik missile’s devastating submunition capability, and the deepening silence in Western media as the Ukrainian front approaches a genuine existential crisis. Is the West sleepwalking toward a moment it will not be able to paper over?
Timestamps
00:00:00 Introduction and overview
00:01:24 Ukrainian drone attack on school in Zaporizhzhia region
00:04:28 AI targeting errors and Western silence on civilian strikes
00:06:24 Drone attack on Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant
00:11:27 History of Ukrainian operations against the NPP
00:15:36 IAEA silence and Western media complicity
00:23:18 Escalation pattern and international law on NPP attacks
00:25:57 Hornet drones and the Mariupol to Crimea highway offensive
00:32:10 Konstantinovka collapses under Russian advance
00:37:53 Orekhov encirclement and Zaporizhzhia region crisis
00:41:17 Existential stakes if Slavyansk and Zaporizhzhia city fall
00:44:16 Oreshnik missile strike on Kiev bunkers imminent
00:50:40 Oreshnik submunition details and penetration capability
00:59:47 European diplomacy deadlock and Macron pressure
01:02:30 Russian economy resilient despite Western sanctions
01:12:52 Other subjects
12. President Putin Reacts To Ukraine Deadly Dorm Attack, published June 2, 2026: ‘Well Then, That Is Their Choice’
Kyiv leadership is facing sharp accusations after a deadly strike on a student dormitory in Starobelsk, where Russian officials say multiple drones hit an educational facility housing students. According to statements from Leonid Pasechnik and Russian investigators, the attack left 21 students dead and dozens injured, with rescue operations reportedly disrupted by repeated drone alerts.
Russian President Vladimir Putin reacted strongly to the incident, stating that “Ukraine opened a new page in its long history of crimes,” and describing the strike as a deliberate attack on children and young people. Russian officials also claimed that the investigation is ongoing and that those responsible have been identified and charged in absentia.
Ukraine has not independently verified these claims.
13. Analysis – Published June 2, 2026 – Alexander Mercouris: Russian Massive Strike Shatters Kiev; Tsirkon Missile First Mass Use Kiev Troops Flee Konstantinovka
Russia launched what Alexander Mercouris of The Duran describes as likely the most devastating single strike on Kiev since the start of the conflict, deploying Zirkon hypersonic cruise missiles in their first mass use against the Ukrainian capital with Ukraine’s air defenses completely overwhelmed and unable to intercept a single one. Meanwhile Ukrainian troops are being filmed retreating on foot from Konstantinovka in Donbass, Putin has taken an unprecedentedly harsh tone following the Starodubivske dormitory attack, and Iranian nuclear negotiations with the United States have broken down entirely after fresh Israeli advances in Lebanon. With Russian strikes on Kiev’s decision making centers now seemingly imminent, the West silent, and escalation accelerating on multiple fronts simultaneously, is there any path left to a negotiated resolution of this conflict?
Timestamps
00:00:00 Introduction: Russia resumes massive Kiev strikes
00:01:50 Scale of the attack: comparable to last week
00:02:30 Oreshnik not used: what that means
00:05:56 Weapons used: Zirkon hypersonic cruise missiles explained
00:07:20 Ukrainian air defenses unable to intercept a single Zirkon
00:09:55 Patriot missile system: can it stop Zirkon or Kinzhal?
00:12:41 Zirkon first mass ground launch from Kursk region
00:14:31 Why ground launches are harder for Ukraine to detect
00:16:02 KH101 subsonic missiles also deployed
00:17:25 Kiev air defenses: did they function at all?
00:19:34 Targets struck: energy, industry, military facilities
00:21:27 Strike lasted 4.5 hours: scope of damage across Kiev
00:25:58 More strikes coming: decision making centers next?
00:28:23 Why the West has gone silent on Kiev strikes
00:35:46 Russian escalation will only intensify from here
00:37:49 Ground war: troops streaming out of Konstantinovka
00:48:21 Putin: Kiev leadership deliberately targets civilians
00:59:04 Other subject
14. Analysis – Published June 5, 2026 – Alexander Mercouris: Putin Uncompromising Tells West MSM Oreshnik Will Strike Kiev Russia Winning; Zelensky Pleads Summit
Vladimir Putin delivers a blunt, uncompromising message to Western media at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, confirming that Russia is advancing on every front, that the Oreshnik hypersonic missile system is being perfected for precision strikes on Kiev command centers, and that Moscow has no interest in further concessions after the collapse of the Anchorage agreement. Alexander Mercouris on The Duran breaks down Putin’s full press conference, including the state of the Ukrainian army, the Russian economy, the failure of US Congress Ukraine bills to gain bipartisan support, and Zelensky’s desperate open letter demanding a summit Putin has already effectively rejected. Is the West finally running out of options, or will the push to drag America back into the conflict continue regardless of the cost?
Timestamps
00:00:00 Introduction and Channel Update
00:01:39 Ukraine Diplomacy Overview
00:02:17 Putin Meets Western Press in St Petersburg [APT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGxx_Sk2xno]
00:05:37 Putin on the Front Lines No Stalemate
00:07:24 Konstantinovka and Donbass Advances
00:09:25 Ukrainian Army Losses and Desertion
00:10:41 Air Defense Comparison Russia vs Ukraine
00:13:01 Oreshnik Revealed Test Strikes and Targeting
00:15:26 Two Oreshnik Strikes Confirmed
00:16:14 Kiev Command Centers in the Crosshairs
00:18:24 Putin on the Russian Economy and Debt
00:24:36 The Anchorage Agreement What Happened
00:30:47 Why Putin Stays Polite Toward Trump
00:36:18 US Congress Ukraine Bills Disappointing for Backers
00:44:06 Putin on Europeans No Room for Compromise
00:50:55 Key Takeaways from the Press Meeting
00:52:33 Zelensky Open Letter and Summit Demand
00:56:52 The Real Strategy Behind the Western Push
01:02:30 Battlefield Outlook What Falls Next
01:07:46 European Magical Thinking and Final Assessment
Additional: Putin Takes Questions From International News Agency Chiefs at SPIEF 2026 – Published June 4, 2026, by APT
Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with representatives of leading international news agencies during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) 2026.
The annual question-and-answer session provides a platform for Putin to discuss Russia’s domestic and foreign policy, international affairs, economic developments, global security issues and key geopolitical events with journalists and media executives from around the world.
The meeting takes place at the Konstantinovsky Palace in St. Petersburg as SPIEF 2026 brings together political leaders, business executives and policymakers for discussions on the global economy, international cooperation, rare earths, critical minerals and emerging challenges facing the world.
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