Blogger’s Note: Summer vacation for your resident blogger has arrived, no posts expected until after mid-August

WW4 File: UKRAINE-RUSSIA WAR: Nuclear-capable Russian bomber lurked 40 miles off coast of California on July 4, crew issued cocky greeting to intercepting US fighter jets: “Good morning American pilots, we are here to greet you on your Fourth of July Independence Day”; NORAD spokesman labels incident “potentially destabilizing”; Ukraine’s Justice Minister cites new de-communization law, bans main Communist Party (CPU), two other far-left groups from participating in elections, stresses intent to outlaw same orgs altogether; CPU cadre interviewed: “After the anti-people coup in Kiev [i.e., Maidan protests] . . . we organized the first militia squadron to protect the civilian population of Lugansk from fascism [i.e., pro-West government],” “We actively engaged in the collection and transfer of humanitarian aid to Lugansk from Russia. We were really helped by the Communist Party [i.e., CPRF] committees of Rostov and Voronezh. These two areas border Lugansk . . .”; ex-Soviet republic Moldova hosts 800 US, other NATO, Georgian troops in Joint Effort 2015 drill, while Russian-occupied Transnistria mobilizes all males aged 18-27 for military service

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WW4 File: UKRAINE-RUSSIA WAR: Russian soldiers reportedly fear covert deployment to Ukraine to fight on side of Donbass separatists, desert unit, face secret court martial; meanwhile, Moscow struggles to maintain world’s 4th-largest defense budget on back of shrinking energy revenue as older combat planes fall out of the sky with 2nd strategic bomber disaster, Tu-95 crashes in Far East Russia, both pilots killed, 5 crew injured, no nuke payload apparently on flight, 6th air force calamity in as many weeks; 23 Russian soldiers crushed to death after Siberian barracks collapses; 2,000 Russian paratroopers (VDV) hold drills near ex-Soviet Baltic states, practice attacking simulated enemy’s rear flank; incoming Chairman of US JCS, Marine Corps Gen. Dunford brands Russia, Red China “existential threats” to USA, Pentagon submits budget re-allocations to Congress, shifts US$42 m to upgrade Cheyenne Mtn. bunker, US$10 m to modernize ICBM silo “red phones,” US$5.3 m to EMP-harden Buckley AFB, ground site communicates with missile detection sats; 36,000 NATO troops to participate in 2-month Trident Juncture ’15 exercise in Portugal, Spain, Italy this fall, prosecute “hybrid warfare” against ISIS, Russia

If Putin wants to knock out the USA, he might have to do it before the Soviet-era portions of Russia’s military kit completely fall apart.

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WW4 File: UKRAINE-RUSSIA WAR: Ukraine’s SBU sends dossier to White House, IDs five Russian generals commanding separatist forces in Donbass; rebels withdraw from villages around government-held port city of Mariupol after months of violating Minsk 2 ceasefire, leave town of Shyrokyne “completely destroyed”; US fighter jets intercept two pairs of Russian strategic bombers off coasts of Alaska, central California, NORAD refuses to comment on distance of nuclear-capable intruders from US airspace; Swedish Air Force also intercepts Russian bombers off coast of Gotland on July 4, Stockholm claims 33,000 Russian troops simulated attack on large Swedish island during March exercise; Kremlin propaganda outlet Sputnik gloats over alleged inability of USAF B-2, F-117 stealth bombers to “hide” from Russian anti-aircraft missiles, while Russian Air Force suffers fifth crash in one month as Su-24 medium-range bomber banks into ground during takeoff in Far East, both pilots killed; Moscow outraged by removal of Soviet war memorial in W. Polish town of Nowa Sol, warns of “most negative consequences,” Warsaw engaged in rapid remilitarization in wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

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WW4 File: UKRAINE-RUSSIA WAR: Pro-Ukraine militia Dnipro-1 publishes UAV video footage of Russian Ground Forces FOB near Donetsk-Mariupol highway, secret base in Donbass houses 9 T-72 tanks, comm vehicle, anti-tank gun, parade square; Sweden’s top general accuses Russian Air Force pilots of flying in “aggressive” manner over N. Europe, “breaking normal rules of conduct” near NATO aircraft, e.g., breaking formation, flying at unsafe distances, firing decoy flares at Swedish warplanes; senior NATO cmdr. Gen. Bradshaw: “The Russian Federation is shadowing and . . . collecting intelligence from NATO nation naval units in the Baltic, Atlantic, Mediterranean and Black Sea, using methods that can be considered bold and sometimes aggressive”; Czech police capture 20-year-old “Russian-speaking man” in connection with June 7 Molotov cocktail attack on defense minister’s residence, Stropnicky unveiled plans to beef up Czech army from 16,600 to 27,000 troops by 2025, accused Moscow of “disinformation ” over Crimean annexation

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