Kremlin File

Thank you to everyone who tuned in to our latest episode of Pax Americana! Below are the show notes… See you next week!

Disinfo Series on Zoom Starts Sept 17

Julie Roginsky and I are so excited to announce our Fall 2025 seminar: a 6-week discussion on information warfare, disinformation, and media manipulation— exclusively for our paid subscribers.

Starts: Wednesday, September 17 at 3:00 PM ETMeets: Weekly on Wednesdays (Sept 17–Oct 22)Format: Zoom

Zoom link will be sent separately on Wednesday at 2:30 PM ET. Cut-off for registration is September 17 at 2:00 PM ET.

Slides will be emailed the following day…

Registration Link:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSccVY1gdQvAJLIsN8ahz0oRRl1bsyqDupu1Ixx5SEcWZLZ6kg/viewform?usp=header

Show Notes

* Russian drones deep inside Poland

NATO warplanes, including Dutch F-35s and Polish F-16s, shot down multiple Russian drones deep inside Poland—the first direct alliance engagement against Russian weapons over member territory. Russia’s attack forced airport closures and damaged homes. It prompted Prime Minister Donald Tusk to invoke NATO Article 4, calling it “the closest we have been to open conflict since World War II.” Source: Wall Street Journal

* Poland and Latvia Restrict Airspace Near Russian and Belarusian Borders After Drone Incursion

Poland and Latvia barred drones and low-flying aircraft along their borders with Russia and Belarus after NATO jets shot down Russian drones inside Polish territory. The restrictions, which don’t affect commercial flights, are meant to give NATO and local defenses room to intercept further incursions. Source: The Moscow Times

* Poland closes all border crossings with Belarus: about 1,700 cars in queues

The State Border Committee of Belarus reported that it had received an official notification from the Polish Border Service about the closure of all remaining active checkpoints on the Belarusian-Polish border.

Source: The Insider (Russian language)

* Belarus frees 52 prisoners after Trump appeal, US eases some sanctions on Minsk

Belarus released 52 prisoners, including journalist Ihar Losik and 14 foreign nationals, after a personal appeal from Donald Trump. In return, Washington eased sanctions on Belarus’ national airline Belavia, even as opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya warned the gesture covered only a fraction of political prisoners and signaled no real change in Lukashenko’s rule.

Source: Reuters

* Belarusian spy network uncovered by Eurojust operation, Moldovan ex-intel chief arrested

A Eurojust-backed operation involving Czechia, Romania, Hungary, and Moldova exposed a Belarusian KGB spy ring spanning multiple countries. Among those arrested was Alexandru Bălan, Moldova’s former deputy intelligence chief, accused of passing state secrets and meeting Belarusian officers in Budapest. Source: Euroactiv

* Russian spy drones over Germany

Russian surveillance drones are conducting reconnaissance flights over eastern Germany to track arms shipments to Ukraine, with over 530 drone sightings recorded in the first three months of this year alone, according to Western intelligence services. Source: Euronews

* Russia plans to produce nearly 2,500 high-precision missiles in 2025

Russia is expected to manufacture close to 2,500 high-precision missiles in 2025, spanning cruise, ballistic, and hypersonic classes, Vadym Skibitsky, the deputy head of Ukraine's military intelligence agency, said in an interview with Ukrinform. Source: Kyiv Independent

* 123,000 flights disrupted by Russian signals – threatening flight safety

In four months, nearly 123,000 flights have been disrupted by Russian signals that interfere with GPS and other satellite systems. This is according to a report from Sweden and five neighboring countries that SVT has reviewed. Source: TVP World and SVT (In Swedish)

* Julie and my latest chapter from our new series

Each week on Pax Americana, we expose Russia’s playbook and its dangerous intersections with U.S. politics. We’ll break down:

* Updates on Russia’s genocidal war in Ukraine

* Russia’s latest news and moves

* The latest on Moscow’s hybrid warfare tactics in the U.S. and Europe

* Sanctions, corruption, and Kremlin networks

* Disinformation and malign influence operations

* Tactics that Trump is using in the U.S. mirroring Russia’s system—politicizing law enforcement, attacking the press, universities, protesters, and opposition— and turning institutions into tools to consolidate power.

Tune in each week as we go beyond the headlines, delivering the unsanitized truth and exposing Russia’s playbook in real time. From Ukraine to Washington, we’ll break down how Russia’s tactics—oligarchy, disinformation, propaganda, political repression, and institutional capture—are being mirrored in the U.S. and what it means for the future of America.

📅 Join us every Thursday at 11 AM ET on Substack Live!

Thanks for reading Unmasking Russia! This post is public, so feel free to share it.

Thank you to everyone who tuned in to our latest episode of Pax Americana! Below are the show notes… See you next week!

Show Notes

* Trump-Putin Meet

Trump’s shady real estate associate Steve Witkoff met with Putin in Moscow yesterday. The Kremlin announced a potential Trump-Putin summit as early as next week, with Trump floating the idea of including Zelenskyy. Earlier today, the White House pushed back, saying no meeting will happen. Regardless, Trump continues buying time for Russia as it escalates its genocidal war. Source: CNN and ABC News for today’s update

* Russia Launched Record 6,129 Drones Against Ukraine in July

Russia launched a record 6,129 Shahed-type drones on Ukraine in July, surpassing June’s 5,337. Daily swarms now hit up to 728 drones, devastating civilian areas and causing mass casualties—an enormous escalation from 423 drones in July 2024. Ukrainian officials warn the true count may be higher as Russia ramps up drone production. Source: Kyiv Independent

* Lithuania Requests NATO Help Boost Its Air Defenses After Second Drone Crosses Border

Lithuania has formally asked NATO to deploy additional air defense resources, including experimental systems, after a Russian drone carrying explosives entered from Belarus and crashed in a military training zone. This marks the second such incident in July, with officials warning these incursions are likely to continue. Source: Politico

* Russia Moves Jamming Systems Closer to NATO Border, Estonia Says

Estonia revealed that Russia has deployed additional electronic warfare systems near the Estonian border, specifically in the area around Kingisepp—just 12 miles from NATO territory. These jamming systems, used in Ukraine to disrupt drones and GPS signals, are now interfering with civilian aviation and maritime navigation in the Baltic region. Source: Bloomberg

* Russia's sending kidnapped Ukrainian children to front line’

Ukraine’s government says Russia is conscripting abducted Ukrainian children into its military. An estimated 35,000 children have been stolen since 2014 (though Russia claims over 700,000), and some are being forced to fight against Ukraine. Zelenskyy’s chief of staff confirmed that the bodies of former stolen children have been found on the battlefield, and Yale researchers are investigating what they describe as a growing "conscription-to-combat pipeline." Source: The Times

* Russia’s Hybrid War on Moldovan Democracy

With Moldova’s September 28 parliamentary elections approaching, Russia is already executing a full-scale hybrid interference operation to destabilize the pro-European government of President Maia Sandu. Tactics include mass vote buying via an app, AI-generated fake news, paid protests, and cyberattacks—while pro-Kremlin oligarchs like Ilan Shor and Vladimir Plahotniuc orchestrate efforts from abroad. Source: Reuters

* Durham’s Debunking of the ‘Clinton Plan’ Emails, Explained

Trump allies pushed a declassified claim that Hillary Clinton orchestrated the Russia probe to smear Trump. But Special Counsel John Durham concluded the so-called “Clinton Plan” emails were likely Russian fabrications and created by Russian intelligence—assembled using info from real hacked emails to appear authentic and mislead U.S. intelligence. Source: New York Times

* NY Times reported John Durham found the “Clinton Plan” emails were likely created by Russian spies. Right-wing media are running with them as legitimate.

John Durham’s Russia probe revealed that so-called “Clinton Plan” emails were likely fabricated by Russian intelligence. But right-wing media are pushing the documents as “proof” that Clinton plotted to frame Trump, calling it a “soft coup” and demanding prosecutions. Source: Media Matters

* Julie and my new series

Each week on Pax Americana, we expose Russia’s playbook and its dangerous intersections with U.S. politics. We’ll break down:

* Updates on Russia’s genocidal war in Ukraine

* Russia’s latest news and moves

* The latest on Moscow’s hybrid warfare tactics in the U.S. and Europe

* Sanctions, corruption, and Kremlin networks

* Disinformation and malign influence operations

* Tactics that Trump is using in the U.S. mirroring Russia’s system—politicizing law enforcement, attacking the press, universities, protesters, and opposition— and turning institutions into tools to consolidate power.

Tune in each week as we go beyond the headlines, delivering the unsanitized truth and exposing Russia’s playbook in real time. From Ukraine to Washington, we’ll break down how Russia’s tactics—oligarchy, disinformation, propaganda, political repression, and institutional capture—are being mirrored in the U.S. and what it means for the future of America.

📅 Join us every Thursday at 11 AM ET on Substack Live!

Catch up on our last episode…

Thanks for reading Unmasking Russia! This post is public, so feel free to share it.

Thank you to everyone who tuned in to our latest episode of Pax Americana! Below are the show notes… See you next week!

Show Notes

* Julie’s article: Fascism is Here

* Trump-Putin: During a Cabinet meeting, Trump criticized Putin’s rhetoric as “a lot of b******t,” dismissed his “very nice” but “meaningless” tone, and announced his intent to supply Ukraine with defensive weapons. This is after Trump ended Congressionally approved weapons shipments, already staged in Poland, last week. Actions speak louder than words. Source: Guardian

* State propaganda ordered to scold Trump after harsh remarks against Putin: After Trump called Putin’s words “b******t” and “pledged” more arms for Ukraine, Russian state media was instructed to lash out, accusing him of “Bidenization” and mocking his intelligence. Kremlin propagandists and bots flooded channels with insults. Source: Moscow Times Russian Edition

* Russian military launches a record-breaking air assault on Ukraine: Russia launched two massive aerial assaults on Ukraine this week—first with 728 drones and 13 missiles on Tuesday, then with 400 drones and 18 missiles on Thursday—and marked a shift in tactics with multi-directional, high-altitude strikes. Kyiv called for tougher sanctions as Zelenskyy warned of Russia’s escalating terror. Source: New York Times and CNN

* Säpo Reports Increase in Hybrid Threat Incidents in Sweden: Sweden’s Security Service (Säpo) reports a sharp increase in hybrid threat incidents, including sabotage of telecom masts, GPS disruptions, and cable breaks. While officials urge caution in blaming foreign actors, military intelligence warns Russia is growing bolder in exploiting instability and spreading propaganda to sow public distrust. Source: Sweden Herald

* Dutch and Norwegian F-35s to patrol Eastern European skies to deter threats from Russia: The Netherlands will deploy F-35 fighter jets to Poland from September 1 to December 1 as part of a NATO mission to protect the delivery of military aid to Ukraine. Operating alongside Norwegian F-35s, the jets will enforce NATO airspace under the alliance’s Quick Reaction Alert system, ready to intercept Russian aircraft. Source: The Insider

* Russia striking NATO while China invades Taiwan 'plausible' scenario, experts say: NATO officials are warning that a two-front war—with China invading Taiwan and Russia striking NATO—is now “plausible.” A statement from Secretary General Mark Rutte reveals concern that Beijing may coordinate with Moscow to divide and distract Western forces. Source: Kyiv Independent

Each week on Pax Americana, we expose Russia’s playbook and its dangerous intersections with U.S. politics. We’ll break down:

* Updates on Russia’s genocidal war in Ukraine

* Russia’s latest news and moves

* The latest on Moscow’s hybrid warfare tactics in the U.S. and Europe

* Sanctions, corruption, and Kremlin networks

* Disinformation and malign influence operations

* Tactics that Trump is using in the U.S. mirroring Russia’s system—politicizing law enforcement; attacking the press, universities, protesters, and opposition— and turning institutions into tools to consolidate power.

Tune in each week as we go beyond the headlines, delivering the unsanitized truth and exposing Russia’s playbook in real time. From Ukraine to Washington, we’ll break down how Russia’s tactics—oligarchy, disinformation, propaganda, political repression, and institutional capture—are being mirrored in the U.S. and what it means for the future of America.

📅 Join us every Thursday at 11 AM ET on Substack Live!

Thanks for reading Unmasking Russia! This post is public so feel free to share it.

Catch up on the last episode…

Thank you 💛 to everyone who tuned in to our latest episode of Pax Americana!

Show Notes

* Julie’s article:

* Putin-Trump Call: According to Russian state media, Putin and Trump reaffirmed their interest in joint economic projects, specifically in energy and space. “As part of the exchange of opinions on bilateral matters, mutual interest in implementing a number of promising economic projects was confirmed, in particular in energy and space exploration,” said Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov. Source: Russian state media

* Pentagon halting promised munitions for Ukraine: The Pentagon, under Trump appointee Elbridge Colby, has frozen delivery of critical air defense systems and munitions to Ukraine, citing “low stockpiles”—even though the aid was already approved by Congress, and some weapons are in Poland. The pause comes as Russia unleashes its heaviest aerial assault yet, with over 5,400 drones and hundreds of missiles fired in June. Source: Politico

* Russia Amasses 50,000 Troops Around Sumy, Putting Ukraine in Precarious Position: Russia has massed 50,000 troops near Sumy, just 12 miles from the city, opening a new front. Outnumbered 3-to-1, Ukraine is depending on elite units like the Timur Special Forces to hold the line. Source: Wall Street Journal

* North Korea to Send 30,000 Troops to Fight for Russia in Ukraine: North Korea plans to deploy up to 30,000 troops to support Russia’s war in Ukraine, according to Ukrainian and Western intelligence. This follows a prior secret deployment of 11,000 North Korean soldiers in late 2024, which Moscow later confirmed. Satellite imagery, flight data, and military logistics indicate preparations for the new deployment are underway, with Russian forces integrating North Korean units into combat roles and front-line operations. Source: CNN

* Deputy Chief of the Russian Navy Dies in Kursk Region: Ukrainian troops fired a HIMARS MLRS at a private house in Korenevo, where a temporary deployment point for Russian troops was located. According to Russian military bloggers, 22 people in total were killed as a result of a Ukrainian HIMARS strike in Russia's Kursk Oblast bordering Ukraine. Kyiv has yet to comment on the attack. Source: BBC

* Tensions Between Russia and Azerbaijan Are Escalating: Relations between Russia and Azerbaijan have sharply deteriorated in recent weeks following the deaths of ethnic Azerbaijanis during a Russian police operation, the crash of an Azerbaijani airliner allegedly hit by Russian air defenses, and growing Azerbaijani ties with Ukraine and Turkey. Baku has arrested Russian nationals, raided Kremlin media offices, and publicly condemned Russian abuses—while Moscow retaliated with threats and detentions of Azerbaijani community leaders. Source: Associated Press, Moscow Times, and Meduza

* A Pro-Russia Disinformation Network Is Using Free AI to Flood the Internet with Fakes: A Kremlin-backed disinformation campaign called Operation Overload is flooding the internet with fake content generated by free AI tools. Researchers found over 587 AI-generated images, videos, and websites impersonating real media and pushing racist, anti-immigrant narratives between September 2024 and May 2025. Source: WIRED

Each week on Pax Americana, we expose Russia’s playbook and its dangerous intersections with U.S. politics. We’ll break down:

* Updates on Russia’s genocidal war in Ukraine

* Russia’s latest news and moves

* The latest on Moscow’s hybrid warfare tactics in the U.S. and Europe

* Sanctions, corruption, and Kremlin networks

* Disinformation and malign influence operations

* Tactics that Trump is using in the U.S. mirroring Russia’s system—politicizing law enforcement; attacking the press, universities, protesters, and opposition— and turning institutions into tools to consolidate power.

Tune in each week as we go beyond the headlines, delivering the unsanitized truth and exposing Russia’s playbook in real time. From Ukraine to Washington, we’ll break down how Russia’s tactics—oligarchy, disinformation, propaganda, political repression, and institutional capture—are being mirrored in the U.S. and what it means for the future of America.

📅 Join us every Thursday at 11 AM ET on Substack Live!

Thanks for reading Unmasking Russia! This post is public so feel free to share it.

Thank you 💛 to everyone who tuned in to our latest episode of Pax Americana!

Programming Alert: There will be no live episode of Pax Americana on June 12. We will resume our episodes on June 19…

Town Hall Alert: Zoom Meeting on June 17 @ 3:00 PM EST

Also, join our virtual town hall on June 17 for our paid subscribers for an urgent and important conversation. We’ll discuss the path forward, answer your questions, and continue building this strong, informed, and vibrant Pax Americana community.

This event is open to all paid subscribers—whether you’re with me or with Julie Roginsky, Salty Politics, you’re invited to join us. Please use the registration link below to sign up!

Registration Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1InLg53QPkQrTTJVEQxqgsaiLdgHocpF3s8D09iS-wkA/edit

Show Notes

* Putin-Trump Call: Putin and Trump held a call in which they discussed Ukraine’s attacks on Russian airfields and Iran’s nuclear program—but the real story lies in what the media isn’t focusing on. Also, missing from the Trump-Putin conversation was any condemnation of Russian aggression, any defense of U.S. allies, or any push for accountability—revealing once again Trump’s fealty to Moscow

Source: CNN

* Trump Official Who Dismantled Russia Disinfo Unit Tied to Kremlin via Wife’s Family: Darren Beattie, the Trump appointee who shut down the State Department’s Russia disinformation agency, is married to Yulia Kirillova—whose uncle has been thanked by Putin and held Kremlin posts. Beattie, previously ousted for white nationalist ties, is known for disseminating pro-Kremlin and anti-NATO propaganda. Source: Telegraph

* Russia's Useful Idiots, Trump's inner circle sides with Putin -- again:

* Hegseth will skip a meeting on organizing military aid to Ukraine in a first for the US: For the first time since its creation, the U.S. defense secretary will not attend the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting. Pete Hegseth won’t appear in person or virtually as over 50 nations gather to coordinate military support for Ukraine. Source: Associated Press

* Official Involved in Withholding Ukraine Aid Confirmed for Defense Role: The Senate confirmed Michael Duffey—who infamously ordered the freeze on Ukraine military aid in Trump’s first term—to serve as undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment. Source: Reuters

* Under Trump, State Department questions Europe’s commitment to “democracy.” Trump is accusing key European allies of “free speech backsliding” and plans to impose visa bans on officials tied to online content moderation. A new “Office of Natural Rights” is being created to push this line, while Trump praises far-right leaders like Marine Le Pen and Viktor Orbán. Source: Washington Post

* State Dept. Launches “Remigration” Office to Advance Trump Deportation Agenda: The State Department is replacing its refugee bureau with an “Office of Remigration” to carry out Trump’s mass deportation agenda. The plan slashes 300 offices and purges over 3,400 jobs, gutting refugee support in favor of expulsion. Source: The Guardian

* Each week on Pax Americana, we expose Russia’s playbook and its dangerous intersections with U.S. politics. We’ll break down:

* Updates on Russia’s genocidal war in Ukraine

* Russia’s latest news and moves

* The latest on Moscow’s hybrid warfare tactics in the U.S. and Europe

* Sanctions, corruption, and Kremlin networks

* Disinformation and malign influence operations

* Tactics that Trump is using in the U.S. mirroring Russia’s system—politicizing law enforcement; attacking the press, universities, protesters, and opposition— and turning institutions into tools to consolidate power.

Don’t forget to subscribe to Julie’s Substack for amazing insights!

Tune in each week as we go beyond the headlines, delivering the unsanitized truth and exposing Russia’s playbook in real-time. From Ukraine to Washington, we’ll break down how Russia’s tactics—oligarchy, disinformation, propaganda, political repression, and institutional capture—are being mirrored in the U.S. and what it means for the future of America.

📅 Join us every Thursday at 11 AM ET on Substack Live!

Thanks for reading Unmasking Russia! This post is public, so feel free to share it.

Catch up on the last episode…

Thank you 💛 to everyone who tuned in to our latest episode of Pax Americana!

Julie Roginsky and I explored some of the most significant Russia-related developments of the week and their implications for the U.S. and Europe.

Also, thank you to everyone who joined Julie and me for yesterday’s AMA on Zoom—it was such a great conversation, and we really enjoyed connecting with everyone. We’ll be hosting these virtual town halls for our paid subscribers a few times each month, with the next one coming up in mid-June. Stay tuned for the exact date and time…

Show Notes from today’s episode

* Russia, Stalin, and their new claims that the dissolution of USSR was “illegal” —Russia is resurrecting Stalin statues and glorifying his legacy, in its campaign to whitewash Soviet crimes. And, the Kremlin now pushes the narrative that the USSR was illegally dissolved—part of a broader effort to rewrite history, legitimize imperial ambitions, and erase the truth of past atrocities. Source: @BBCSteveR on X

* Elon Musk, unauthorized Doge, and our data —

Also, an article I wrote…

* Ukraine, Trump theatre, and the failure of media —

Also, check out Julie’s article …

* Noem blasts 'weak' European leaders, stumps for conservative candidate in Poland —

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stunned diplomats by endorsing far-right Polish candidate Karol Nawrocki at CPAC Warsaw, slamming his opponent as “a train wreck” and attacking Biden over immigration and terrorism. Source: ABC News

* Germany Deploys First Permanent Brigade Abroad Since WWII to Bolster NATO Defense

What Happened: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz inaugurated a permanent German army brigade in Lithuania—marking Germany’s first long-term foreign troop deployment since World War II. The 5,000-strong unit, to be fully operational by 2027, will help guard NATO’s eastern flank amid escalating Russian threats.

Source: CNN

* Young U.S. Men Join Russian Orthodox Churches for ‘Absurd Manliness’

A growing number of young American men are converting to Russian Orthodoxy through the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, drawn by its rigid gender roles, anti-modern ethos, and glorification of “traditional masculinity.” Priests like Father Moses McPherson in Texas preach virility, large families, and rejection of liberal norms. ROCOR, with historical ties to the Moscow Patriarchate, has seen a surge in U.S. popularity alongside Trump’s growing alignment with Russia.

Source: BBC News. Some background on the Russian Orthodox Church from an article I wrote for CEPA

* Judge Orders Release of Russian Harvard Scientist —

A federal judge ruled that ICE must release Kseniia Petrova, a Russian scientist at Harvard, detained since February for failing to declare frog embryo samples at U.S. customs. The DOJ then filed felony charges to keep her in custody. Source: New York Times

Unmasking Russia is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Each week on Pax Americana, we expose Russia’s playbook and its dangerous intersections with U.S. politics. We’ll break down:

* Updates on Russia’s genocidal war in Ukraine

* Russia’s latest news and moves

* The latest on Moscow’s hybrid warfare tactics in the U.S. and Europe

* Sanctions, corruption, and Kremlin networks

* Disinformation and malign influence operations

* Tactics that Trump is using in the U.S. mirroring Russia’s system—politicizing law enforcement; attacking the press, universities, protesters, and opposition— and turning institutions into tools to consolidate power.

Don’t forget to subscribe to Julie’s Substack for amazing insights!

Tune in each week as we go beyond the headlines, delivering the unsanitized truth and exposing Russia’s playbook in real-time. From Ukraine to Washington, we’ll break down how Russia’s tactics—oligarchy, disinformation, propaganda, political repression, and institutional capture—are being mirrored in the U.S. and what it means for the future of America.

📅 Join us every Thursday at 11 AM ET on Substack Live!

Thanks for reading Unmasking Russia! This post is public so feel free to share it.

Catch up on the last episode…

Thank you 💛 to everyone who tuned in to our latest episode of Pax Americana!

Julie Roginsky and I delved into some of the biggest Russia-related developments this week and how they intersect with the U.S. and Europe. If you missed it, here’s a recap of what we covered:

📢 Exclusive Zoom AMA for Paid Subscribers: Trump, Russia & the New Geopolitics

Wednesday, May 28, 2025 @2:00 PM ET

Join us for a candid, paid subscriber-only Zoom meet where we’ll break down how Trump is borrowing straight from Putin’s authoritarian playbook—media control, political persecution, disinformation, and the weaponization of institutions. We’ll explore the latest geopolitical shifts, Russia’s growing influence, and what it means for the U.S. and Europe going forward.

This is an open AMA format—come with your questions, insights, or just listen in on an honest, urgent conversation.

This event is open to all paid subscribers—whether you’re with me or with Julie Roginsky Salty Politics, you’re invited to join us. Please use the registration link below to sign up!

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Show Notes

* Update on Ukraine..

Russia Demands Zelensky’s Removal to Sign War Memorandum: A top Russian Foreign Ministry official declared that Volodymyr Zelenskyy must be replaced before Moscow will sign any peace memorandum with Ukraine. Maxim Musikhin questioned Zelenskyy’s “legitimacy” and insisted that any deal signed by him would be invalid. This follows Putin’s May 19 call with Trump. Bottom line: Russia has zero desire to end its genocidal war against Ukraine and continues its stalling tactics using Trump to provide cover. Source: Tass

* Germany Foils Alleged Russian Plot to Mail Explosives: German authorities arrested 3 men—two in Germany, one in Switzerland—accused of plotting to send explosive-laden packages in a Russian-backed sabotage campaign targeting logistics operators. The suspects reportedly tested the scheme with GPS-tracked dummy packages. Source: Wall Street Journal

* Russia Accused of Trying to Hack Border Security Cameras to Disrupt Ukraine Aid: UK and allied intelligence agencies say Russia’s GRU Unit 26165 (Fancy Bear) hacked into thousands of border and traffic cameras to track Western military aid flowing into Ukraine. The group also targeted logistics networks with phishing emails and attempted voice impersonation to access sensitive shipment data. Over 80% of compromised cameras were in Ukraine, with others in Romania, Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia. Source: The Guardian

* Finland ‘Preparing for the Worst’ as Russia Expands Military Presence Near Border: Finland’s top defense strategist warned that Russia is gradually expanding military infrastructure along their shared border, likely preparing to redeploy troops after its war in Ukraine. Satellite images show new bases, vehicles, and construction activity. Meanwhile, Finland has completed the first segment of a high-tech border fence designed to counter Russian hybrid threats, such as asylum-seeker manipulation. Source: The Guardian

* Poland Prepares for War: Poland is rapidly militarizing, spending nearly 5% of its GDP on defense—more than any other NATO country. It’s deploying Abrams tanks, laying mines and anti-tank barriers along its border, and training civilians for war. Source: NPR

* Western intelligence: Putin will transfer hundreds of thousands of soldiers to NATO borders if war in Ukraine ends: Western intelligence warns that if Russia’s war in Ukraine ends, Moscow plans to redeploy up to 800,000 troops to NATO’s borders, including Finland, the Baltics, and Poland. Russia is already expanding military infrastructure and could use the Zapad-2025 exercises as a smokescreen for further aggression. Source: Moscow Times Russian Edition

* U.S. to Begin Talks on European Troop Reductions Later This Year, NATO Ambassador Says: U.S. NATO Ambassador Matthew Whitaker confirmed that Trump will begin formal discussions on reducing American troop presence in Europe after the June NATO summit. While claiming the U.S. isn’t withdrawing from NATO, Whitaker said Trump has “run out of patience” with allies and wants immediate action. Source: Reuters

* The Spy Factory: Russia Used Brazil as a Launchpad for Deep-Cover Operatives A years-long investigation by Brazil’s Federal Police—supported by U.S., Israeli, Dutch, and other Western intelligence services—exposed a covert Russian GRU operation using Brazil as a breeding ground for “illegals,” elite spies posing as Brazilians. At least nine Russian officers created entirely new identities, built real businesses and relationships, and were then dispatched to NATO countries for espionage. Some were caught trying to infiltrate institutions like the ICC and U.S. universities. The operation was codenamed Operation East. Source: New York Times

* Centrist Dan Defeats Pro-Trump Simion in Romanian Presidential Upset: Bucharest mayor Nicușor Dan won Romania’s presidency with 54% of the vote, defeating hard-right, Trump-aligned Kremlin loyalist George Simion, who had campaigned to cut Ukraine aid and mimic MAGA policies. Source: Reuters

* Each week on Pax Americana, we expose Russia’s playbook and its dangerous intersections with U.S. politics. We’ll break down:

* Updates on Russia’s genocidal war in Ukraine

* Russia’s latest news and moves

* The latest on Moscow’s hybrid warfare tactics in the U.S. and Europe

* Sanctions, corruption, and Kremlin networks

* Disinformation and malign influence operations

* Tactics that Trump is using in the U.S. mirroring Russia’s system—politicizing law enforcement; attacking the press, universities, protesters, and opposition— and turning institutions into tools to consolidate power.

Don’t forget to subscribe to Julie’s Substack for amazing insights!

Tune in each week as we go beyond the headlines, delivering the unsanitized truth and exposing Russia’s playbook in real-time. From Ukraine to Washington, we’ll break down how Russia’s tactics—oligarchy, disinformation, propaganda, political repression, and institutional capture—are being mirrored in the U.S. and what it means for the future of America.

📅 Join us every Thursday at 11 AM ET on Substack Live!

Thanks for reading Unmasking Russia! This post is public so feel free to share it.

Catch up on the last episode…