First, links to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, Agence France-Presse, Tass, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. Then, a link to an interview — in audio-video and transcript that is mostly accurate —from ScheerPost. — MCM

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Russian attacks in Ukraine leave 3 killed, 17 injured. Spain highlights European support for Kyiv, by Samya Kullab | AP  KYIV — Ukrainian officials reported more civilian casualties from Russian shelling in the country’s east and south on Saturday, as Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez began a visit to Kyiv as a show of continuing support from Madrid and the European Union for . . . READ MORE . . .

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The U.S. is considering providing cluster munitions to Ukraine, says America’s top military officer, by Tara Copp and Lolita C. Baldor | AP  WASHINGTON — Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Friday the U.S. has been thinking about providing cluster munitions to Ukraine  “for a long time.” He noted that Russian troops are using them on the battlefield in Ukraine and that Ukrainian forces have received . . . READ MORE . . .

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Prigozhin-controlled Russian media group shuts amid mutiny fallout. From Reuters. Yevgeny Prigozhin’s media holding group is to shut down, the director of one of its outlets said, highlighting the now-exiled mercenary chief’s worsening fortunes a week after the collapse of a brief mutiny staged by his Wagner Group fighters. Under a deal that . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine war ‘corrosive’ for Putin, CIA ‘opportunity’: Spy chief. From AFP. Russian discontent over the Ukraine war has created a “once-in-a generation opportunity” for the Central Intelligence Agency, its director said Saturday in an address in Britain. William Burns called . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukrainian officials demand UOC monks leave some Kiev-Pechersk Lavra premises by July 4. From Tass. MOSCOW — The Ukrainian government has decided to ban monks of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church from using some premises at the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra and is demanding they vacate these premises by July 4, according to a lawyer for the church. He said a commission set up by the Ukrainian Culture Ministry will start work sealing up the buildings on . . . READ MORE . . .

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Zelensky says wants ‘invitation’ to join NATO at Vilnius summit. From AFP. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday said he wanted his country to receive an “invitation” to join NATO after the war during a key summit this month. “We need . . . READ MORE . . .

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Putin retains power after aborted revolt. But for how long? Reported by host Scott Detrow, Charles Maynes and Mary Louise Kelly | NPR  Altantic Council nonresident senior fellow John Sipher and Gulnaz Sharafutdinova, professor of Russian politics at King’s College London, give their perspectives on President Vladimir Putin’s hold on power. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Russia’s ‘coup’ is actually Biden’s disaster. Robert Scheer of ScheerPost talks with retired CIA analyst Ray McGovern. Over the past weekend, the media said Russia was undergoing a coup and then they weren’t. The leader of the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, was a brutal military figure, then suddenly a liberator of Putin’s hold on Russia. These entanglements in narratives . . . Click HERE for a conversation between Scheer and McGovern, audio-video and printed mostly accurate transcript.

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First, links to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, and Tass; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. Finally for today, commentary from the Greanville Post and Consortium News. — MCM

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Ukraine aims to wear down and outsmart a Russian army distracted by infighting, by Samya Kullab | AP  How the revolt by Wagner Group mercenaries under the command of Russian warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin affects the trajectory of the war remains to be seen. The infighting is a major distraction for Russia’s military and political leaders, but experts say the impact on the battlefield so far appears minimal. For the past four days . . .. . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine, U.S. agree: counteroffensive creeps ahead, measured in blood, by Olena Harmash | Reuters  Ukraine has been publicly cautious in counting gains in a counteroffensive it launched this month to reclaim territory occupied by Russian forces, and on Friday its president and a U.S. general acknowledged that progress is measured in blood. The top U.S. military officer, Army General Mark Milley, told an audience . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russia’s Battlegroup West tanks wipe out two U.S.-made armored vehicles — top brass. From Tass. MOSCOW — T-90 tanks from Russia’s Battlegroup West have eliminated two U.S.-made MRAP and HMMWV armored vehicles of Ukraine’s armed forces, Battlegroup Spokesman Sergey Zybinsky said today. According to him  . . READ MORE . . .

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Understanding the Wagner private military company, by Larry Johnson | The Greanville Post  There is a massive misunderstanding about the Wagner PMC. I want to try to clear up some of the confusion and erroneous assumptions. First, Wagner PMC was created by the GRU, Russia’s military intelligence organization. Think of it as . .  READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine timeline tells the story, by Joe Lauria | Consortium News The way to prevent understanding of the Ukraine war is to suppress its history. Please use this short, historical guide to share with people who are still trying to figure out what’s going on in Ukraine. The mainstream account is like opening a novel in the middle of a book to read a random chapter as though it’s . . . READ MORE . . .

First, links to reports from Reuters, the Associated Press, Tass, Agence France-Presse, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. Then, commentary from Indian Punchline and Popular Resistance.  — MCM

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Ukraine pressed to restore anti-corruption disclosure requirement lifted for war, by Dan Peleschuk | Reuters KYIV — Ukraine is under pressure from international lenders and watchdogs at home to re-impose a requirement that officials publicly declare their assets, a pillar of its anti-corruption policies that was suspended after Russia’s invasion . . . READ MORE . . .

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Pence makes a surprise trip to Ukraine and meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, by Jill Colvin | AP  NEW YORK — Former Vice President Mike Pence made a surprise visit to Ukraine today, meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and touring the war-torn country as it fights Russian aggression. He has called on the U.S. to deliver more military aid to the country and criticized GOP rivals who have questioned the ongoing U.S. involvement as “Putin apologists” and . . . READ MORE . . .

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Mutiny attempt in Russia lesson in giving too much power to PMCs – German chancellor. From Tass. BRUSSELS — The attempt by the Wagner Private Military Company (PMC) to stage an armed mutiny in Russia showed the danger of transferring military power into private hands, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said upon arrival at an EU summit on Thursday. “Certainly . . . READ MORE . . . 

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Russia will be ‘stronger’ in wake of Wagner insurrection: Lavrov. From AFP. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said today that Moscow will emerge from the aftermath of a recent armed insurrection by the Wagner mercenary group “stronger” than before. “Russia has always overcome . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine has an array of new Western weapons. What advantages could they offer in a counteroffensive? From AP. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, billions of dollars in military assistance has since poured into the country, including more modern Western-made weapons. Ukraine’s current counteroffensive could offer a glimpse of whether and to what extent the newer weapons systems have strengthened Kyiv’s ability to . . . READ MORE . . .

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Trump, longtime admirer of Putin, says aborted mutiny ‘somewhat weakened’ Russian leader, by Steve Holland and Nathan Layne | Reuters WASHINGTON — Former U.S. President Donald Trump, a longtime admirer of Russian President Vladimir Putin, said tooday Putin has been “somewhat weakened” by an aborted mutiny and that now is the time for the United States to try to broker a negotiated peace settlement between Russia and Ukraine. “I want people to stop dying over this ridiculous . . . READ MORE . . .

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Five days since the revolt in Russia, Putin is still standing — but for how long? Reported by Marc Rivers, Adam Raney and Mary Louise Kelly | NPR  Gulnaz Sharafutdinova, professor of Russian politics at King’s College London, is interviewed about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s current hold on power. Click HERE to listen and read.

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A Russian general is believed to have been detained in connection to failed rebellion. Reported by Charles Maynes | NPR  A senior Russian general has been detained in Moscow in connection with the failed rebellion of Wagner head Yevgeny Progozhin over the weekend. Click HERE to listen and read.

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Gen. Surovikin, Russia’s former commander in Ukraine, is detained. Reported by Bill Chappell | NPR  Gen. Sergei Surovikin, a senior commander in Russia’s war against Ukraine, has been detained, days after an uprising by mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin set off widespread speculation about loyalty and schisms within Moscow’s leadership. A U.S. official confirmed Surovikin’s detention to NPR’s Tom Bowman on Thursday, after . . . READ MORE . . .

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Prigozhin goes into exile but left behind a can of worms, by M.K. Bhadrakumar | Indian Punchline  On Monday night, Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the nation for the second time with the intention to bring the curtain down on the coup attempt by Wagner “founder” Yevgeny Prigozhin. It was quintessentially a self-congratulatory speech — well-deserved, perhaps. The speech had four principal elements. First,  . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russian (melo)drama, by Patrick Lawrence | Popular Resistance After a few hours of high drama in southwestern Russia last Saturday, featuring a paramilitary leader, 4,000 to 6,000 followers, and a small column of trucks and other military vehicles driving north toward Moscow, let us try to understand . . . READ MORE . . .

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MAY BE CONTINUED

Links to reports from the Associated Press, National Public Radio, and Reuters on the same discovery of events in outer space; other, unrelated, reports are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. — MCM

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Scientists have finally ‘heard’ the chorus of gravitational waves that ripple through the universe, by Maddie Burakoff | AP  NEW YORK — Scientists have observed for the first time the faint ripples caused by the motion of black holes that are gently stretching and squeezing everything in the universe. They reported Wednesday that they were able to “hear” . . . READ MORE . . .

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Scientists have found signs of a new kind of gravitational wave. It’s really big. Reported by Nell Greenfieldboyce | NPR  Scientists say they are starting to find signs of an elusive type of rumbling through space that could be created by the biggest, baddest black holes in the universe. The discovery means that astrophysicists may have opened a whole new window onto supermassive black holes. These mysterious, extremely dense objects, millions to billions of times more massive than the sun, sit at . . . Click HERE to read more or listen to report on “Morning Edition.”

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Scientists discover cosmic background ‘hum’ from giant gravitational waves, by Will Dunham | Reuters. Scientists on Wednesday unveiled evidence that gravitational waves, the ripples in the fabric of space-time predicted by Albert Einstein more than a century ago, are permeating the universe at low frequencies – creating a cosmic background hum. The . . . READ MORE . . .

First, links to reports from Agence France-Presse, Tass, Reuters, the Moscow Times, the Kyiv Post, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. Finally for today, a link to commentary from the reporter’s Substack account.— MCM

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Russia claims killed two Ukraine generals in Kramatorsk strike. From AFP. Russia today claimed its forces had killed two Ukrainian generals and “up to 50 officers” in a strike on a restaurant in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk on June 27. “”Up to 20 foreign mercenaries and advisers” were also . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russian Battlegroup Center hits eight Ukrainian troop concentrations with airstrikes. From Tass. MOSCOW — Warplanes of Russia’s Battlegroup Center delivered airstrikes on eight areas of the deployment of Ukrainian troops and artillery, the battlegroup’s spokesman Alexander Savchuk said today. “Su-25 fighter jets of the Battlegroup Center delivered . . . READ MORE . . .

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Where are Russia’s top generals? Rumours swirl after failed Wagner mutiny, by Andrew Osborn | Reuters * Two top Russian generals disappear from public view * Their fate unclear as Putin seeks to reassert authority * Mercenary boss had demanded defence minister’s removal * Yet Sergei Shoigu has made several appearances this week * Rumours of arrest, imprisonment of one of the generals | LONDON — Russia’s most senior generals have dropped out of public view after a failed mercenary mutiny aimed at toppling the top military brass, amid a drive by President Vladimir Putin to reassert his authority and unconfirmed reports of at least one arrest. Valery Gerasimov, Russia’s top general, has not appeared in public or on state TV since . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russian general arrested following Wagner mutiny – Sources. From the Moscow Times Russian General Sergei Surovikin has been arrested, The Moscow Times’ Russian service reported Wednesday, citing two sources close to the Defense Ministry who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The Defense Ministry has yet to comment. Surovikin has not been seen in public since Saturday, when Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin launched an armed . . . READ MORE . . .

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Real Putin has not appeared in public since Wagner’s mutiny – Ukrainian Intel, by Aleksandra Klitina | The Kyiv Post Andriy Yusov, a representative of Ukrainian military intelligence, told Kyiv Post that the real Putin hadn’t made a public appearance since Prigozhin’s mutiny on June 24, raising doubts about whether the real Putin is just in hiding or even still alive. “Since the events related to Prigozhin and the Wagner PMC, and the so-called appeals to Russians, we have been talking about the use of doubles. There is . . . READ MORE . . .

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How much is Putin to blame for the fallout from the failed weekend mutiny? Steve Inskeep of NPR talks with Andrew Weiss of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace talks about the centers of power in Russia, and how they could pose a threat to Russian President Putin. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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EU leaders to debate Russia mutiny, pledge support for Ukraine, by Andrew Gray | Reuters European Union leaders will today debate the repercussions of the aborted mutiny in Russia as they pledge further support for Ukraine in its war against Moscow’s invasion. At a summit in Brussels, the leaders will also talk with NATO boss Jens Stoltenberg and discuss what role the EU could play in Western commitments to bolster Ukraine’s . . . READ MORE . . .

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‘Weaker Putin is a greater danger’: EU’s Borrell. From AFP. The EU’s top diplomat warned today that a “weaker” Russian President Vladimir Putin would pose a “greater danger” after Wagner’s aborted mutiny sparked the largest political crisis in decades in the nuclear-armed country. “So we have to be very much aware of . . . READ MORE . . .

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The role of Belarus’ Lukashenko in resolving the Russia-Wagner Group conflict. Reported on Thursday’s “All Things Considered” by Charles Maynes | NPR  A major player in resolving the dispute between the Wagner Group and the Russian state over the weekend was Belarus’ leader Alexander Lukashenko. Click HERE to listen and read.

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Prigozhin’s folly: Russian ‘revolt’ that wasn’t strengthen’s Putin’s hand, by Seymour Hersh | seymourhersh.substack.com The Biden administration had a glorious few days last weekend. The ongoing disaster in Ukraine slipped from the headlines to be replaced by the “revolt,” as a New York Times headline put it, of Yevgeny Prigozhin, chief of the mercenary Wagner Group. The focus slipped from Ukraine’s failing counter-offensive to . . . READ MORE . . .*

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* May require a subscription to reporter’s Substack account.

First, links to reports from the Associated Press, the Moscow Times, Reuters, Tass, National Public Radio, and the Kyiv Post; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. Then, links to commentary from the Kyiv Post and, via Popular Resistance, from Moon of Alabama. — MCM

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9 killed, including 3 dhildren, as Russian missile slams Into pizza restaurant in east Ukraine city. From AP. KYIV — A Russian missile attack that hit a crowded pizza restaurant in an eastern Ukrainian city killed at least nine people, including three children, authorities said today, as rescue workers continued searching in the destroyed building’s rubble. The Tuesday evening attack on Kramatorsk wounded another 56 people, the Ukraine Ministry of . . . READ MORE . . .

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Wagner camp under construction in Belarus – Reports. From the Moscow Times. Satellite images purporting to show the construction of a camp for exiled Wagner mercenaries after their failed revolt were shared online late Tuesday by independent Belarusian media. According to . . . READ MORE . . .

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Cheap Russian drone a menace to Ukrainian troops and equipment, by Max Hunder | Reuters DONETSK REGION, Ukraine — DONETSK REGION, Ukraine — As Russia’s invasion enters its 17th month, Ukrainian forces say Moscow is ramping up its use of low-cost suicide drones that are capable of destroying equipment many times their value and not easy to defend against. The Lancet drone, an angular grey tube with . . . READ MORE . . .

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Most Americans support U.S. arming Ukraine, by Jonathan Landay | Reuters  WASHINGTON — Solid majorities of Americans support providing weaponry to Ukraine to defend itself against Russia and believe that such aid demonstrates to China and other U.S. rivals a will to protect U.S. interests and allies, according to a Reuters/Ipsos survey. The two-day poll that was concluded on Tuesday charted a sharp rise in backing for arming Ukraine, with . . .  READ MORE . . .

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Situation along line of contact in LPR tense, but controllable – Lugansk leader. From Tass. MOSCOW — The situation along the line of contact in the Lugansk People’s Republic remains tense amid Ukrainian attacks but Russian forces are in control, Acting LPR head Leonid Pasechnik said today. He said the enemy has been making sporadic attempts to attack Russian defenses but . . . READ MORE . . .

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There’s instability in Russia’s military leadership. What does that mean for Putin? Leila Fadel of NPR speaks with former CIA operative John Sipher about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s grip on power after the Wagner Group’s aborted mutiny. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Russian generals supported Wagner mutiny but backed out – U.S. intelligence. From the Kyiv Post. Reports are appearing, in The New York Times and elsewhere, that senior Russian military officers may have known about chief of the Wagner mercenary force chief Yevgeny Prigozhin’s plans in advance and may have indicated they would support him or may have actually helped plan it. U.S. Intelligence agencies . . . READ MORE . . .

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Putin reveals Russia paid $1 bln to Wagner Group in past year. From the Moscow Times. Russia’s Wagner private military group received roughly $1 billion in funding from state coffers over the past year, President Vladimir Putin revealed Tuesday. His comments mark a departure from Moscow’s previous denials of any links between the Russian state and Wagner. Speaking after . . . READ MORE . . .

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Prigozhin’s farce is over and it is clear who has won, by Moon of Alabama | Moon of Alabama / Educate! The Prigozhin’s insurrection farce is over. In fact there was at no moment any danger for Russia. Click HERE for MOA articles, the later linking to a previous one.

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What’s the Future of Wagner PMC in the Failed Coup aftermath? by Steve Brown and Christopher Stewart | The Kyiv Post  With the Wagner private military company failing in its “March on Moscow” last weekend, and its leader bound for apparent exile in Lukashenko’s Belarus, questions arise. On Monday, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin tried . . . READ MORE . . .

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Should we prepare for sudden Russian collapse? by Steve Brown | The Kyiv Post Ever since the failed 1991 coup against then Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev, it has been a fear shared by much of the Russian public and some international commentators that history would one day repeat itself. The events back then . . . READ MORE . . .

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First, links to reports from National Public Radio, Tass, the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, and Reuters; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. Next, commentary from Bloomberg Opinion and The Grayzone. Finally for today, a job offer from Consortium News. — MCM

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Putin addresses Russians after Wagner Group’s failed uprising. Reported by Leila Fadel and Charles Maynes | NPR  In a short speech, Putin talked about the mutiny and said he was always in charge. Russian authorities have dropped the charges against the mercenary leader and others involved in the brief rebellion. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Military, law enforcement officers in fact stopped civil war – Putin. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russia’s military and law enforcement agencies took crucial streps to protect the people’s safety at the time of an attempted armed insurgency and effectively saved the country from civil war, Russian President Vladimir Putin has told soldiers and other law enforcement personnel who played a key role in recent events. “You have . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russia drops charges against Prigozhin and others who took part in brief rebellion. From AP. Russian authorities said today they have closed a criminal investigation into the armed rebellion led by mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, with no charges against him. The Federal Security Service, or FSB, said . . . READ MORE . . .

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Putin says gave orders to avoid bloodshed during revolt. From AFP. Russian President Vladimir Putin has told his nation that he had ordered that bloodshed be avoided during a weekend armed rebellion and offered Wagner fighters to join the army or leave the country after their mutiny. He spoke as Moscow appeared to show a business-as-usual approach in the aftermath . . . READ MORE . . .

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West asked Ukraine not to strike Russian territory during Wagner PMC mutiny – CNN. From Tass. NEW YORK — The U.S. and other Western allies of Ukraine asked Kiev to refrain from striking Russian territory during the armed mutiny of the Wagner Private Military Company (PMC), CNN reported today, citing Western officials. “The message was don’t rock . . . READ MORE . . .

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Senior Russian lawmaker calls for professional army of seven million. From Reuters. Lawmaker Leonid Slutsky, who early in the 16-month war took part in peace negotiations with Ukraine, said Monday that Russia needs a contract army of at least seven million military and civilian personnel, on top of the current conscript army. “The country does not need any PMCs [private military companies] and their . . . READ MORE . . .

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The U.S. was not involved in the Wagner Group’s revolt in Russia, Biden says. Reported by Leila Fadel and Franco Ordoñez | NPR  President Biden is emphasizing that the West had nothing to do with the power struggle between Russian President Vladimir Putin and the mercenary Wagner Group. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Chair of the U.S. Senate intelligence committee weighs in on failed mutiny against Russia. Reported on Monday by Alejandra Marquez Janse, Ashley Brown and Ari Shapiro | NPR  Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., chair of the Senate intel committee, speaks about the Wagner Group’s apparent failed mutiny against Russia. Click HERE to listen and read.

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What’s next for Putin’s rule and the war in Ukraine. Reported on Monday by Greg Myre and Charles Maynes | NPR  The private military contractor Wagner Group launched a brief uprising this weekend, raising big questions about the Russian military and the conduct of the “special military operation” in Ukraine. Click HERE to listen and read.

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Kiev won’t recapture its territory if Ukrainian forces ‘no more successful’ – newspaper columnist. From Tass. WASHINGTON — Ukraine will not be able to recapture the territory it has lost if its armed forces do not turn the tide on the battlefield in the next few weeks, Washington Post columnist Graham Allison wrote today. “If Ukrainian forces remain bogged down over the course of the summer . . . READ MORE . . .

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Zaporizhzhian Cossack traditions are making a comeback during the war. Reported by Joanna Kakissis | NPR  On a wooded river island, a Ukrainian family guards the legacy of the Zaporizhzhian Cossacks, whose history and traditions are making a comeback during the war. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Putin says the aborted rebellion played into the hands of Russia’s enemies. From AP. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday blasted organizers of a weekend revolt, the gravest threat yet to his power, as traitors who played into the hands of Ukraine’s government and its allies. Speaking in a stern tone and looking tired in a five-minute TV address near midnight, Putin sought to project stability. He tried to strike a balance . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russia uprising: Putin made himself even weaker, by Andreas Kluth | Bloomberg Opinion Russian President Vladimir Putin is damaged goods. He may have survived this weekend’s mutiny by Yevgeny Prigozhin and his Wagner Group of mercenaries. In reacting as he did, though, Putin not only made himself even weaker but planted the idea . . . READ MORE . . .

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Casualties of Russian ‘civil war’: Beltway experts, by Max Blumenthal and Wyatt Reed | The Grayzone / Consortium News When Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin launched a supposed revolt against Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, sending his forces on a march toward Moscow following a series of tirades against the country’s defense establishment, Washington’s expert class overflowed with an orgy of regime change fantasies. For just over 12 hours . . .READ MORE , , ,

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CN offers work to NZ editor suspended for Ukraine edits. From Consortium News. Earlier this month, Consortium News reported that an editor at Radio New Zealand was suspended for editing Reuters copy that actually inserted correct facts about the war in Ukraine — facts that CN has been reporting since 2014 but which establishment media has been suppressing. Mick Hall resigned from his job. We are making a public pronouncement that we hope reaches him: You are welcome to work as an editor at CN. Contact us at . . . READ MORE . . .

First, links to reports from the Kyiv Post, Reuters, the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, Tass, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. Then, links to two pieces of commentary from Indian Punchline. — MCM

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Ukrainian forces seize ground including an area occupied by Russia since 2014, by Stefan Korshak | The Kyiv Post  The Armed Forces of Ukraine reported today that its troops have launched a series of short-range assaults across the frontline, gaining ground and scoring modest seizures of multiple locations; in at least one place where they have captured defensive positions held by the Russian military since 2014. The most . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russia calls for unity behind Putin after aborted mutiny, by Andrew Osborn | Reuters * Prime minister says Russia must stay united behind Putin * Defence minister appears after mercenary move against him * No sign of Putin or Prigozhin after deal ending revolt * Moscow cancels counter-terrorism measures, Russia said ‘stable’ * Western leaders say events show cracks in Russia’s facade | Russia has faced “a challenge to its stability” and must remain united behind President Vladimir Putin, its prime minister said today, after mercenaries briefly occupied a strategic command centre for its Ukraine war and marched on Moscow. The armed mutiny over the weekend . . . READ MORE . . .

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The chaos in Russia is a morale booster for Ukraine as it pushes forward with its counteroffensive, by Samya Kullab | AP  KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — The armed rebellion against the Russian military was an unexpected gift and timely morale booster for Ukrainian troops. “Soldiers at the front lines are positive about it,” the spokesperson for Ukraine’s Eastern Group of Forces said. “Any chaos and disorder on the enemy’s side . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine forces recapture new Russian-occupied settlement. From AFP. Ukrainian forces have recaptured another formerly Russian-held settlement on the southern front between the two armies, deputy defence minister Ganna Malyar said today. “Defence forces returned Rivnopil . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russian forces control ‘difficult’ situation on flanks near Artyomovsk – Acting DPR head. From Tass. MOSCOW —.The situation on the flanks near Artyomovsk (Ukrainian name: Bakhmut) remains difficult, but the Russian forces have everything under control, Acting Head of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) Denis Pushilin said over the weekend. He said the Ukrainian servicemen continue to fire indiscriminately into the city, preventing the start of demining. According to . . . READ MORE . . .

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Revolt by Wagner Group raises questions about consequences for Putin. Leila Fadel of NPR talks with Russian investigative journalist Andrei Soldatov about what the Wagner mercenary group’s revolt means for President Vladimir Putin. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FSB spooked the CIA on Prigozhin coup, by M.K. Bhadrakumar | Indian Punchline The CNN, followed by the New York Times, broke the story on Sunday that the U.S. and western intelligence were indeed aware of the failed coup attempt on Friday night by Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner Group of Russian military contractors, “for quite some time and making preparations for such a move, including by massing weapons and ammunition.”  What we do not know is . . . READ MORE . . .

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The rise and fall of Wagner Group’s Yevgeny Prigozhin, by M.K. Bhadrakumar | Indian Punchline / People’s Dispatch / Popular Resistance In his address to the nation, Russian President Putin stopped short of alleging any “foreign hand” in the current developments, and put his finger on “excessive ambitions and personal interests [having] led to treason.” But, rather explicitly — more than once — Putin also highlighted that it will be foreign powers inimical to Russia who are the ultimate beneficiaries of Prigozhin’s activity. Significantly, the . . . READ MORE . . .

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MAY BE CONTINUED

First, links to reports from the Associated Press, National Public Radio, Tass, Agence France-Presse, the Kyiv Post, and teleSUR; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. Next, a link to commentary from the Moscow Times. Then, a link to an op-ed piece in this weekend’s Berkshire Eagle. — MCM

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Russian mercenary leader’s exile ends revolt but leaves questions about Putin’s power. From AP.  The greatest challenge to Russian President Vladimir Putin in his more than two decades in power fizzled out after the rebellious mercenary commander who ordered his troops to march on Moscow abruptly reached a deal with the Kremlin to go into exile and sounded the retreat. The brief revolt, though, exposed vulnerabilities among Russian government forces . . . READ MORE . . .

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The short-lived Wagner group rebellion has permanently damaged Putin’s reputation. Reported by Ayesha Rascoe and Jackie Northam | NPR  The events of the past two days raise many questions about the future of Vladimir Putin’s Presidency and many are asking how he will recover from this most public of challenges to his leadership. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Former U.S. ambassador to Russia says aborted Moscow march signals Putin’s weakness. Scott Detrow of NPR speaks on Saturday with Michael McFaul, former U.S. ambassador to Russia, to get his reading on the day’s events in Moscow. Click HERE to listen and read.

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The Wagner group retreated from its ‘march on justice’ in Russia, ending the rebellion. Reported by Ayesha Rascoe and Charles Maynes | NPR  The so called “march for justice” on Moscow has been halted, and Wagner mercenaries are returning to base, their leader exiled – we get the latest from our correspondent in Russia’s capital. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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The Biden administration’s response to the events in Russia. Reported by Ayesha Rascoe and Tamara Keith | NPR  We look at what the Biden Administration is and isn’t saying about the remarkable events that unfolded in Russia yesterday, when the leader of a private army threatened to march to Moscow. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Russian assault helicopters attack two Ukrainian brigades near Kupyansk – top brass. From Tass. MOSCOW — The crews of assault helicopters of Russia’s Battlegroup West unleashed 11 missile strikes on two Ukrainian brigades in the Kupyansk area, according to Battlegroup spokesman Sergey Zybinsky. He added that Russian forces averted four attacks of Ukrainian subversive groups in the Kupyansk area and thwarted . . . READ MORE . . .

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Wagner fighters leave Lipetsk region in southern Russia: Official. From AFP. Wagner fighters have left the Lipetsk region in southern Russia, the regional government said today on social media, following a deal to end a rebellion by the mercenary group. “Wagner units that had deployed on Saturday in . . . READ MORE . . .

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Wagner mutiny will not affect Ukraine assault plans: Kremlin. From AFP. The Kremlin said Saturday that a mutiny by the Wagner mercenary group would not affect Russia’s military offensive in Ukraine.Government spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it was “out of the question” that Wagner’s aborted rebellion would . . . READ MORE . . .

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Wagner chief aborts march on Moscow. Reported on Saturday’s “All Things Considered” by Charles Maynes | NPR  Wagner mercenaries have halted their march on Moscow and agreed to return to their bases in Ukraine, to avoid what the Wagner chief described as “inevitable bloodshed.” Click HERE to listen and read.

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Zelensky highlights prevailing chaos and lack of control in Russia, while an advisor stresses the humiliation of Putin. From the Kyiv Post. In a nighty address, President Zelensky said the rebellion of the “Wagner” mercenaries on Saturday showcased the lack of control by the “owners” of Russia. He emphasized . . . READ MORE . . .

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Lukashenko strikes deal with Wagner Group, Prigozhin retreats. From teleSUR. President Aleksandr Grigórievich Lukashenko of Belarus, announced on Saturday that he had arranged a deal in which Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner Group, in exchange for “security guarantees” for his fighters, would end the current armed insurgency in Russia; the talks were held in coordination with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Prigozhin was offered “an advantageous and acceptable . . . READ MORE . . .

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Grupo Wagner acepta propuesta para detener su avance en Rusia. De teleSUR. El jefe del grupo militar privado Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, aceptó este sábado la oferta del presidente de Belarús, Alexander Lukashenko, de detener el avance en territorio ruso y tomar nuevas medidas para rebajar las tensiones. El servicio de prensa del presidente bielorruso dijo que se ha desarrollado una opción rentable y aceptable para resolver la situación con . . . LEA MÁS . . .

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What was at stake in the standoff between Putin and the Wagner group. Miles Parks of NPR spoke (around midday Saturday) with Sam Greene, professor of Russian Politics at King’s College London, about the current turmoil inside Russia. Click HERE to listen and read.

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Why Ukraine’s counteroffensive has gone ‘slower than desired.’ Miles Parks of NPR spoke last week with Mark Cancian, a retired Marine Colonel, about Ukraine’s counteroffensive against Russian forces. Click HERE to listen and read.

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Prigozhin’s armed rebellion will have lasting consequences for Russia, Putin and the Ukraine war, by Joshua R. Kroeker | The Moscow Times Vladimir Putin has ruled Russia with an increasingly tighter grip on power for more than two decades. But his decision to invade Ukraine . . . READ MORE . . .

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Will the Russian Federation survive until 2024? by James Brooke | The Berkshire Eagle  Lenin once wrote: “There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen.” This year, below Russia’s impassive surface, new forces are in motion, forces that could threaten Vladimir Putin’s hold on power. If the center loses hold, it would threaten the integrity of a sprawling, transcontinental nation of . . . READ MORE . . .

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MAY BE CONTINUED

As of about 3 p.m. EDT, links below are to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, Agence France-Presse, the Kyiv Post, National Public Radio, and Tass; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. Finally for today, a link to an editorial in Le Monde, first as translated into English by that newspaper and then in French. NOTE: Owing to the breaking nature of today’s news from Russia and Ukraine (mostly Russia) some reports linked here are being replaced by links to later ones. — MCM

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Wagner chief says he ordered his Russian mercenaries to halt march on Moscow and rcturn to Ukraine. From AP.  A rebellious mercenary commander said today he ordered his mercenaries to halt their march on Moscow and retreat to field camps in Ukraine, appearing to defuse a dramatically escalating crisis. Moscow had braced for the arrival of forces from the Wagner Group, a private army led by Yevgeny Prigozhin that has been fighting alongside regular Russian troops in Ukraine, by erecting . . . Click HERE to read more in English, and HERE to read in Spanish.

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Rebel Russian mercenaries barrel towards Moscow. From Reuters. * Wagner forces in control of Rostov * Reuters journalists see column advancing past Voronezh * Helicopters open fire on convoy * Moscow accuses Prigozhin of calling for armed mutiny | ROSTOV-ON-DON/VORONEZH, Russia — Mutinous Russian mercenary fighters barrelled towards Moscow today after seizing a southern city overnight, with Russia’s military firing on them from the air but seemingly incapable of slowing their . . . READ MORE . . .

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Moscow braces for rebel assault as rebels defy Putin rage. From AFP. Rebel mercenaries advanced north towards Moscow after seizing a key military base today, just as Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin’s vowed to defeat the revolt and head off the threat of civil war. The rapidly escalating events . . . READ MORE . . .

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Attempted military coup in Russia – situation at midday, Moscow time. From the Kyiv Post. Overnight, Yevgeny Prigozhin and his mercenary Wagner army moved out of eastern Ukraine and took control of Rostov on Don, a key Russian military planning center for its war against Ukraine, complete with an air base. Prigozhin says his forces shot down Russian military helicopters which were sent to attack his forces. Significantly, in Russia, his entry into Rostov was not opposed by the Russian security forces. Prigozhin appears to be holding several key officers as de facto hostages and . . . READ MORE . . .

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Putin accuses Wagner Group of a treasonous ‘military uprising’ in Russia. Reported by Miles Parks, Charles Maynes and Greg Myre | NPR  The latest on a developing situation in Russia involving the high-profile leader of a mercenary group that’s been key in Russia’s war effort in Ukraine. Click HERE to listen, and HERE to read a later story.

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Prigozhin says captured south Russia army HQ ‘without a single shot.’ From AFP. Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, leading a mutiny to bring down Moscow’s top brass, said today his fighters captured the army HQ in Russia’s Rostov-on-Don “without firing a single shot” and claimed to have the support of locals. Prigozhin’s fighters crossed into Russia from occupied Ukraine overnight and took the army HQ in the southern city, which serves as a key operational hub for Moscow’s forces in Ukraine. READ MORE . . .

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Putin slams ‘betrayal’ as Wager boss launches revolt. From AFP. President Vladimir Putin vowed today he would not allow Russia to slip into civil war, after the leader of the Wagner mercenary force seized a key military headquarters overseeing the offensive in Ukraine. The rapidly moving events mark the most serious challenge yet to the Kremlin chief’s long rule and Russia’s most serious security crisis since he . . . READ MORE . . .

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Medvedev highlights need to rally around president. From Tass. MOSCOW — Preventing a national split requires rallying around Russian President Vladimir Putin, Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev said today. “Rallying around our president and the supreme commander-in-chief of the country’s armed forces is crucial for defeating the external and internal enemy, which seeks . . . READ MORE . . .

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Prigozhin, the mercenary chief urging an uprising against Russia’s generals, has long ties to Putin, by Ellen Knickmeyer | AP  Once a low-profile businessman who benefited from having President Vladimir Putin as a powerful patron, Yevgeny Prigozhin moved into the global spotlight with Russia’s war in Ukraine. As the leader of a mercenary . . . Click HERE to read in English, and HERE to read a Spanish version.

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Putin califica de ‘traición’ la rebelión del jefe del Grupo Wagner. De AP. El presidente de Rusia, Vladímir Putin, prometió el sábado que defenderá su país frente a la rebelión armada declarada por el propietario del contratista militar privado Grupo Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, que dirigió a de sus tropas desde Ucrania hasta una ciudad clave al sur de Moscú. El ejército privado de Prigozhin parece controlar el cuartel general militar en Rostov del Don, desde donde se gestionan las operaciones en Ucrania, según . . . LEA MÁS . . .

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Moscú pide a residentes no utilizar coches tras rebelión declarada por Prigozhin. De AP. El alcalde de Moscú advirtió el sábado que el tráfico podría estar restringido en partes de la capital rusa como parte de las medidas para reforzar la seguridad que se adoptaron en respuesta a una rebelión de mercenarios que trabajan en la empresa militar privada Grupo Wagner. El alcalde Sergei Sobyanin pidió a los residentes . . . LEA MÁS . . .

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Putin’s Russia exposed for the world to see. An editorial from Le Monde.  The opening of a second front is rarely advocated in military manuals when the first, currently the scene of a delicate Ukrainian counteroffensive, is still a long way from being stabilized. What can be said when this second front is an internal one . . . READ MORE . . .

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La mise à nu de la Russie de Poutine. Un éditorial du Monde. L’ouverture d’un second front est rarement prônée page les manuels militaires lorsque le premier, actuellement théâtre d’une délicate contre-offensive ukrainienne, est encore bien loin d’avoir été stabilisé. Que dire lorsque ce second front est intérieur . . . LISEZ PLUS . . .