Ukraine Making Slow Progress Against Russian Forces, Breakthrough Possible

THURSDAY PDB – The key to defending Ukraine against Russian aggression now, and in the future lies in the West’s ability to keep supporting the beleaguered country. And key to that support is Ukraine showing that the billions of dollars in military aid are actually being put to effective use.

Battling Russia, Ukrainian leaders also fight high expectations. Seeking to bolster morale and Western support, President Volodymyr Zelensky said the slow progress of Ukraine’s counteroffensive was to be expected.

He is probably right. Finding the weak points in Russia’s strong defenses will take time, but once identified expect Ukrainian armored forces, mostly still held in reserve, to then breakthrough and advance more quickly.

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY – Here’s a roundup of today’s other top defense stories from national security expert PAUL CRESPO.

Not the President’s Daily Brief, but almost as good – PAUL’S DAILY BRIEFING – the PDB:

TITANIC SUB SEARCH

US Coast Guard bringing in more ships for Titan submersible search. Coast Guard officials said they were bringing in more ships and other vessels to search for the missing Titan submersible in the North Atlantic.

PENTAGON WOKE WATCH

Protections for troops booted over COVID vaccine mandate added to House defense bill. House Republicans moved Wednesday to protect former service members who were discharged over the military’s now-defunct COVID-19 vaccine mandate, including easing their path to reinstatement.

NATIONAL SECURITY

GOP moves to instate sea-launched cruise missile nuclear program. Republicans added language to the FY24 NDAA that would make the sea-launched cruise missile a nuclear program of record.

DISGRACEFUL – No air conditioning, parts stashed in tents: Report dings US missile defense. Ranging from coast to coast and far abroad, the study painted an alarming picture of America’s ability to defend itself from missile attacks and concluded that fixes are needed to address the problems. 

HOMELAND SECURITY

Pentagon leak suspect pleads not guilty to federal charges. Massachusetts Air National Guard member Jack Teixeira was indicted by a grand jury on federal felony charges. 

Army Ranger accused of mass shooting at Washington music festival. The alleged gunman who fired into a crowd killing two people at a Washington state music festival Saturday was stationed at a U.S. Army base in Western Washington.

At least 10 federal agencies contracted with hacked software maker. They have contracted with Ipswitch Inc., maker of the MOVEit software at the center of a cyber attack on government networks this month.

CHINA THREAT

Military bases and Biden quips complicate thaw of U.S.-China ties. The administration insists diplomacy is the only way to keep the relationship of the world’s foremost powers on track, Biden keeps f-ing it up.

RUSSIA THREAT – UKRAINE WAR

Ukraine to get AMRAAM weapons under $1 billion deal with RTX. The U.S. Air Force has awarded a nearly $1.2 billion contract to the missiles and defense sector of RTX, until recently known as Raytheon Technologies, to produce the next lot of AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles. 

US, West pledge billions for Ukraine reconstruction. Europe and the United States pledged nearly $60 billion for the next few years, but the World Bank estimates that Ukraine needs many times that amount.

SPACE THREAT

How is the Space Force planning to get around all the debris in orbit? Lt. Col. Dan Kimmich, of Space Systems Command, explains how the Space Force is using technology to abate the space junk problem.

Schriever Space Force Base honors namesake, buries time capsule. The last Air Force flag to fly above Schriever Space Force Base, commanders’ coins, squadron patches, a COVID-19 test and other memorabilia were packed into a time capsule Wednesday as a future reminder of a transitional time for the base as its shifted from the Air Force to the Space Force.

INTERNATIONAL SECURITY

NATO’s largest-ever aerial wargame has Russia, China in mind. The German-led exercise simulates mass deployment in skies across Europe in response to an attack. 

B-52s make first-ever landing in Indonesia to join Air Exercise. Two Air Force B-52s made history with the bomber’s first ever landing in Indonesia on June 19—a gesture of partnership with the strategically important southeast Asian country.

US MILITARY

The Army’s M10 Booker is a tank. Prove us wrong. When the Army formally unveiled its new tank on June 8, the service’s acquisition officials didn’t mince words. 

How the Air Force plans to shift to larger conflicts. The next Chief of Staff of the Air Force will lead the service to a larger fight. 

How loud are those F-35s really? We’re starting to get some numbers. With F-35 jets at Truax now a firm reality — the first of 20 arrived in April — those who fought the decision to station the jets with the Wisconsin Air National Guard’s 115th Fighter Wing have turned their attention to measuring and monitoring how much noise the jets are really making.

Service members more vulnerable to digital payment scams, federal report finds. Service members are more susceptible to identity theft and getting scammed out of money on digital payment applications than their civilian counterparts, according to a new government report that found a sharp rise in consumer complaints from the military community.

END of PDB

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.

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