Moscow in Total Panic: Ukraine Drones Rattle Putin’s Capital, Elites Flee!

Putin's elite flee, and the regime's fortress cracks and collapses Ukrainian drones broke through thousands of batches into the Russian capital. The strategic positions and oil facilities were turned into an inferno visible from the city's horizon. Companies destroy Military supply chains are severed The stock market crashes The oligarchs are smuggling billions out of the country before the government seizes what remains. Even Putin's previous successors describe a ruling class paralyzed by fear and convinced that the war has already ended. The man who brought destruction to Ukraine now watches that destruction as it reaches Moscow. As those close to him race toward the exits The countdown to a major battle between the United States and Iran may have already begun. President Trump warned that the next Iranian strike on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz would bring American bombs straight to Tehran. The U.S. forces have already launched their fiercest attack in the war. It destroyed the remaining surveillance radars in Iran, shredded missile bases, and stripped the capital of its defensive shield. Iran responded by mining shipping lanes and threatening American facilities in the region. Mobilized what he claims is a million-man army to confront the land forces. A full-scale war may now be just one attack away. Moscow's sky is on fire, and Ukrainian drone strikes shake Putin's capital, forcing the Russian elite to flee. Moscow sank into darkness, literally and figuratively. Over the past few days, Ukrainian forces have launched more than a thousand drones toward the Russian capital and its surrounding areas. producing scenes that Vladimir Putin certainly did not expect to see in his sky The fires illuminated the night sky on a successive evening. Russian politicians have begun speaking out more openly against him. Some people are leaving the country. The outflow of capital from Russia amounts to billions of dollars, a trend that has contributed to pushing the Russian stock market into its worst consecutive losing streak in decades. Putin spends more time in his bunker while bad news arrives from the front. The most obvious damage came from strikes on Wilbur's logistics centers. On the night of July 18 Ukrainian drones struck our main warehouse in the Tula region and another in Elektrostal, east of Moscow. In addition to the Mift warehouse in the Moscow region A subsequent wave overnight the following night struck additional facilities near Bucha and Dmytrivka. From one of Moscow's apartments, residents were able to see multiple fires burning simultaneously. The warehouses were enormous in size. Only one site reached an area of approximately three hundred and fifty thousand square meters. equivalent to dozens of football fields and a significant portion of the company's total logistics capacity Critics swiftly described the attacks on civilian retail infrastructure as war crimes. This claim does not withstand scrutiny. Wilber has become a major channel for dual-use and military goods. Screenshots from its own platform show combat equipment, including drones and bomb-dropping systems. Night vision goggles, military uniforms, and generators available for purchase and shipping to the front line Russian-aligned military bloggers acknowledge this point themselves. Someone wrote that a huge quantity of military goods and dual-use items are being sold on the platform. The volunteers regularly purchase essential supplies there for combat operations. The blogger stated that strikes on warehouses would deal a severe blow to logistics services at the front lines and the movement of volunteers. Under international law, a site that supports military logistics is classified as a legitimate target. Ukraine does not need to prove that every box contained ammunition. The ethical context is equally clear. For years, Russia has been striking Ukrainian warehouses, online retail businesses, and logistics companies. While providing the same justification that these sites have facilitated Ukrainian military activity. Ukraine is currently applying the same standard. The difference is that the Russians suddenly find the medicine. The economic consequences within Russia are immediate and personal. Days before the initial strikes, Wildberries reviewed contracts with its sellers to exempt itself from liability for losses caused by enemy actions. The merchants who stored their goods in the warehouses discovered that their inventory had become zero. They received our decision that the company would not compensate them. One of the vendors who had arrived at Sochi for the event entered the partners' gate and saw his goods destroyed. According to losses amounting to eight hundred thousand rials on a single product page across approximately thirty pages He said that Wildberries is buying space projects and whales in the Pacific Ocean. But she cannot compensate for her seller. Close your damned platform and count your losses. A merchant described his seasonal goods, worth millions of rubles, as a bundle that was then destroyed. I don't know what to do. I'm completely tired of this matter. Wildberries and its competitor Ozon dominate We hold approximately 77% of the e-commerce market in Russia. where Wildberries alone accounts for approximately forty-five percent The destructive clock represents hundreds of millions of individual elements. Billions of rubles in sales and tax revenues have been lost. The reconstruction process following a previous fire at a warehouse near Saint Petersburg took one and a half years. The current damage is greater and more extensive in scope. Bankruptcies were already on the rise amid inflation and new taxes. These beats accelerate this process and deepen daily frustration. This discontent is visible at the top of the wealth ladder. Russia's wealthiest citizens, including those close to Putin, have taken action. Transferring billions abroad over the past year Prominent asset seizures totaling approximately sixty billion dollars belonging to ordinary citizens Investment portfolios have shifted toward gold, cryptocurrencies, foreign real estate, and private investment funds. which have their headquarters located in the Gulf Capital flight contributed to the longest continuous decline in the Moscow stock market since 1997. The index tracking the largest companies has dropped by 9% in just one week recently. to reach levels not seen since late 2022 It has declined by about 30% since April. A lawyer who has been practicing for nearly a decade Description of the former Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov who held his position from 2000 to 2004 Worked closely with Putin during his first presidential term The mood among the elites in a recent interview with him He said, "Fear, absolute fear, is facing activists with years or even decades in prison for criticism." The elite feel like hostages. They serve Putin because they have to stay alive. But they all dream of ending the war because they are distressed that it has already ended. When asked about Putin's personality today, Kashin was candid. He is now a real KGB agent. Grand narcissistic ideas about himself and the place he sees himself occupying in history Kassianov insisted that the sole objective was personal power. It is not the establishment of a new Soviet union. No, not remaining in history, nor the country's future. He is thinking about himself and about what will happen today, and perhaps tomorrow, not about the day after. Inside Russia, Ukrainian units continue eliminating key personnel. According to Ukrainian sources, Andriy Tsyarov, the chief aircraft engineer at Yuzhnoye Design Office, was killed. Worked on T-95 and T-22 bomber engines The strategy in Samara is in the hands of one person who calls himself Podinov's "special agents." The group stated that every Russian war criminal and anyone supporting them will face justice wherever they may be. There are footage of the procedure, and it is shocking. Meanwhile, Russia continues to lose aircraft at rates the Kremlin struggles to explain. Entire units fell into traps and surrendered immediately. None of these blows alone can end the war. Together, they increase the cost of maintaining it and lead to erosion of local support. Putin is increasingly isolated, even among those who once formed his inner circle. The skyline of its capital was burned by Ukrainian drones. Those who have a lot to lose are already heading toward the exits. Moscow is in a state of chaos following the collapse of air defense, the closure of the capital, and the breakdown of logistics services. Moscow is trapping itself inside a defensive cage it has imposed upon itself. Recently, over 400 Ukrainian drones forced the closure of the Russian capital for 8.5 hours. Main airports, including Domodedovo, have been closed. The city's second-largest airport, routinely experiencing 6 hours or more of delays Anti-aircraft batteries are now being installed on the rooftops of residential buildings. Even with around 130 units concentrated around Moscow A 94% increase within just a few weeks The system cannot maintain a clear sky. Each defense closure results in automatic daily losses amounting to $12.6 million. Companies near the capital report losses ranging from 38 million to 63 million dollars. Due to the disruption of air flights, delivery operations, payments, and transactions The cumulative effect is tangible and measurable. About a quarter of Russian companies are already approaching bankruptcy. Stress is not limited to the capital alone. On the day before one of the major waves Russian authorities claimed to have intercepted 379 drones across the country and 85 over Moscow itself. At peak density, drones reached a rate of approximately one aircraft every 77 seconds across hundreds of miles. The air defense system faces an impossible sorting problem. At the same time, the Ukrainian systems significantly expanded their reach. The operational range increased by 178%, from approximately 630 km to over 750 km. With now recording precise strikes exceeding 2,500 km and more than 500 km deep inside Siberian refineries, such as those near Omsk More than 70% of Russia's population lives within the current threat zone. Factories that once seemed safe due to distance are no longer so. Logistics service centers have become high-value targets. Facilities covering an area of more than 850,000 square meters were targeted. A single strike on the Yuzhny 40 complex, a vital link between Moscow and the M4 highway leading to Rostov and Donbas, caused significant damage. In damages that cannot be quickly compensated Wildberries' warehouses alone suffered direct damages exceeding $1.3 billion due to the fires. These are not minor losses. It reduces the ability to transport fuel, ammunition, dual-use goods, and industrial materials at the scale required to support military operations. The deeper crisis is an internal one. Russian railways transport approximately 83% of the country's freight volume across a network spanning 85,500 kilometers. Shipment volumes have been shrinking year after year, by 4% in 2024 and another 5.6% the following year. Industrial shipments of cement, metals, and other commodities declined by rates ranging from 10.8% to 20.3%. Some groups shrank by a factor of 14. Investment collapsed as total spending declined by 44%. Equipment purchases were reduced by 37%. Railway construction work has been reduced by 20%. Nearly three-quarters of the remaining investment go only toward maintaining existing assets and basic safety. Russian Railways has dismissed housing management positions. The private sector contracts that previously supported the system are gradually fading away. Roads cannot compensate for this gap. Contractors are facing outstanding payments that have increased by 147% in six months and unpaid balances higher by 2.5 times than before. More than one in every three road construction contractors is approaching bankruptcy. Russia's labor reserve has shrunk by 37% over five years. The Kremlin continues to prioritize manpower for the front line over reconstruction efforts. Companies across the country are closing their doors. As this continues, the tax base funding the war is eroded further and further. Public parking exacerbates pressure. Ordinary Russians are increasingly viewing soldiers and veterans with distrust and resentment. viewing service in Ukraine as a way to make quick money rather than as a sacrifice He views many returnees as criminals or individuals who failed to secure ordinary jobs. It is unlikely that the United Russia party's plan to appoint more veterans will To increase his popularity before the September elections, he held government positions. Our party is politically in decline, and its leader's standing is diminishing. They ask the audience to celebrate many people who are upset with them. Ukraine's strategy is clear and straightforward—making it impossible for Russia to continue fighting. Human losses are reported to exceed 1,350 fatalities per square kilometer in certain sectors. In addition to destroying energy logistics and industrial capabilities within Russia itself The Kremlin is draining its iron reserves, factories, and workforce to sustain the war. Every new defensive focus around Moscow makes other areas more vulnerable. Every new wave of drones is imposing increased economic shutdowns. The system is consuming itself faster than it can repair the damage. Putin shows no sign of slowing down this process. The result is a defensive posture that protects the capital at the expense of the entire country. A military effort steadily draining the resources required to sustain it Trump delivers a final warning The U.S. Army is preparing for a major battle over Iranian mines Hermes summoned the readiness of a million soldiers for a land war. At 22 July Eastern Time United States President Trump traveled to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. To personally receive the remains of deceased American soldiers While at the same time issuing a final warning to Iran Trump described the ceremony as one of the most difficult duties of his presidency. But he insisted on honoring these heroes himself. He emphasized that each of them was firmly convinced. The warning itself was unambiguous. If Iran fires on any ship in the Strait of Hormuz Whether by missiles, drones, or any other weapon The United States carried out a strike on an Iranian bridge or power station. including a facility located within the capital, Tehran Simply put, any attack on navigation will be met with strikes directly on Tehran itself. Last night, the United States launched its eighth round. It is the most intense in a campaign that lasted two weeks. Explosions were reported at no fewer than 17 mines. Including Tabriz, Hamadan, Mahshahr, and Behbahan The geographic scope was much wider than that of previous waves. In Behbahan, the 15th Special Brigade was exposed The ground forces wing of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps responsible for multiple rocket strikes Amid reports of dozens of Revolutionary Guard soldiers being killed The main military complex in Barchin was also shelled. Intensive production and development of biological ballistic missiles in Khujir In southern Iran, the last remaining surveillance radar was destroyed. attached to the Air Defense Forces near Shiraz A noticeable development occurred, particularly above Tehran. Large explosions shook the capital. The tactic used was familiar. Just minutes before the main American strikes Swarms of small drones revealed Iranian air defense sites around the city. As soon as the batteries revealed themselves It was successfully targeted. It appears the drones were launched from within Tehran itself. Due to its maximum range of only 20 kilometers It is a method long associated with Israeli operations. This raises the possibility of a secret intelligence coordination. After the U.S. forces destroyed the Iranian air defense systems Iranian anti-aircraft artillery had no option but to fire. except for randomly firing shots into the sky While American heavy bombers were operating freely at high altitudes above Tehran This incident revealed two truths. Iran's capabilities have significantly diminished, now limited to anti-aircraft artillery in the capital itself. which was subjected to continuous shelling that led to the disintegration of its defensive fortifications Close sources of the Iranian Parliament's speaker, Ghalibaf, responded. And remain closed until the political and economic indicators of the United States are no longer able to withstand the pressures. The clear implication is that Tehran intends to wait until global economic costs force Washington to yield. The same sources added that any American strike against an Iranian target would be met with attacks on multiple American facilities throughout the region. Including assets associated with the Trump family Immediately after the presidential warning, the Revolutionary Guard announced that the southern maritime corridor of the Hormuz Strait The route that was being promoted by the United States and Oman as an alternative has now been officially mined. Shipping companies have been warned against following American guidelines. This move expands Iran's mining operations to include our waters connected to Oman. The Revolutionary Guards have also reinforced the Houthi forces in Yemen. This afternoon, Houthi forces launched drones and missiles against two Saudi oil tankers. Notably, the official account of the Ministry of Defense of the internationally recognized Yemeni government has, for the first time since its establishment last year, Regarding the fact that military operations against the Houthis and their supreme political council may be imminent Iran's official television claimed that the country has now mobilized over one million troops ready for a potential land battle with the United States. Officials stated they are merely awaiting the moment when American forces set foot on Iranian soil before igniting the fuse to punish regional allies. Tehran also warned that it would create a historical hell for Americans on Iranian soil and expand the war to encompass the entire region. U.S. military positioning shifts in parallel with this. Personnel and equipment are being withdrawn from key locations in Jordan following the Iranian attack on al-Jafr Air Base. A helicopter and two F-15 Eagles were observed departing the facility. Similarly, the assets located at Al Udeid Air Base were also redeployed. Most importantly, the United States has completely vacated Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. These moves appear designed to reduce vulnerabilities ahead of high-intensity operations and indicate that a major escalation is imminent. Israel raised its alert level to the highest degree following talks between Netanyahu and Trump. Washington has already informed Jerusalem that there are plans to carry out intense strikes on Iran in the coming days. including the first use of heavy artillery in the conflict Fordow remains one of the designated targets. Dozens of heavy aerial fuel tankers have been transferred to Israel and other regional centers to support sustained and deep strikes by long-range strategic bombers. Israeli Chief of Staff Halimi convened the entire General Staff at the military headquarters for a special assessment. Radar tracking shows additional American reinforcements, including five C-17 transport aircraft. Trump pursues a dual strategy of military pressure and financial coercion. On July 21, the Treasury Secretary stated that the United States has identified financial flows linked to the Revolutionary Guard and secret accounts around the world. Including cryptocurrency wallets As the American investigators identified the financial operators managing the supreme leader's global funds. which are described as system cabinets with a total value exceeding one hundred million The combination of an explicit presidential threat against Tehran and the systematic dismantling of Iran's air defenses above the capital Mine alternative shipping lanes and mobilize Iranian ground forces The calm rebalancing of American assets Indicates a conflict rapidly approaching a decisive stage Whether the subsequent American response will actually involve the destruction of facilities inside Tehran This is the urgent question facing both capitals right now. The situation is becoming more dangerous. Attack on the Israeli embassy at midnight and an American-British launch Huge joint strikes destroy Tehran's missile warehouse Horizon of Channel 14, Israel Reports have emerged about the Israeli embassy in Manama, the capital of Bahrain, being targeted Strikes with Iranian missiles during the night Detailed assessments of injuries and damages are still under investigation. However, the Bahraini Ministry of Interior has already declared a nationwide state of alert. Earlier the same day, multiple Gulf countries reported Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and Jordan On consecutive Iranian attacks Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps continued asserting responsibility for the attacks. A tactical radar station near the U.S. Ali Al-Salem base was targeted. And another radar system on Boubyan Island The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a strong condemnation. Specifically pointing to the attack on the Kuwaiti vessel Karen while it was passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Doha described the attacks as a blatant violation of the security of Gulf states' territories. Iran called for the cessation of all military operations. Expressed her full support for any measures taken by Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan to defend their sovereignty. Iraq has not been spared from attacks. Reuters reported, citing security sources, that Iraq has also become a target of Iranian attacks. Suspect near the American consulate in Erbil Three armed drones were shot down during the night. Its source has not yet been confirmed. At the same time, social media filled with videos showing multiple fires breaking out simultaneously. Reports indicate that the fires were caused by strikes from drones and Iranian missiles. Initial assessments indicate that the targets were bases and shelters belonging to Iranian Kurdish opposition groups. Immediately thereafter, air defense systems were activated above Erbil. The city's international airport has temporarily suspended all flights. This represents a sudden escalation of the security situation within Iraq. The United States has intensified its response. The newly appointed British Prime Minister granted permission to use British military bases. U.S. strikes against specific targets inside Iran The C-130 Hercules aircraft operated by the United States Air Force took off. Indeed, from the base at RAF Fairford It is currently striking Iranian weapon production facilities. including rocket factories in the Khojir area east of Tehran Iranian defense analyst Mollah Torki released footage showing Iranian air defense units. She randomly fires anti-aircraft rounds into the sky. As the strategic drones of the Quds Force, model BS-1, freely flew above Tehran The value of this shooting incident lies not in its being an attempt to boost morale among the local public. Noting that anti-aircraft guns have almost no chance of targeting aircraft flying at the altitudes characteristic of the B-1B Lancer. Military observers also noted that Iranian engineering units swiftly repaired roads and cleared debris. Reopening the entrances to the tunnels at the bases previously struck by the United States Latest satellite images confirm that many of these facilities have resumed operations. The U.S. atmospheric activity has noticeably increased throughout the region. Flight tracking data from FlightRadar24 shows the presence of six aircraft of the KC-135 type refueling. U.S. Air Force aircraft operating above Israel and Jordan The simultaneous deployment of six large fuel tankers strongly indicates that a large number of American fighter aircraft are currently conducting wide-ranging tactical missions. A clear indication of the escalation of military operations Epic natural disasters coupled with war in the Black Sea Global food prices spiral out of control A full-blown storm is forming, threatening to drain household budgets around the world. On July 21, the Yemeni Houthi group announced a maritime blockade of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. targeting Saudi ships, it is the second vital shipping artery in the Middle East to be severed following Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz in March In the same week, Bridgewater Associates, a hedge fund, issued The one managing hundreds of billions of dollars issued a stern warning across the CNN network. Four simultaneous pressures affecting global food supplies for the first time in decades The first pressure emerged in March when Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz. Global attention is focused on oil prices. Nevertheless, the Persian Gulf is also the world's most important corridor for fertilizer exports. Bunko Goldman Sachs points out that the period from July to September is the critical window for fertilizer deliveries. Brazil is preparing to plant corn, rice, and sugarcane The European Union begins winter wheat sowing With the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, maritime traffic was forced to transit through the Bab el-Mandeb. In June alone, the volume of crude oil passing through the Red Sea route jumped from 4.2 million to 7.4 million barrels per day. Global logistics has put almost all its eggs in one basket. And now the Huthis are destroying that basket, with the chokepoint in the Middle East failing. Russia and Ukraine have directly turned their attention toward grain silos around the world. Since July 10, both sides have systematically targeted each other's agricultural exports. where Russian missiles struck the port of Odesa resulting in the destruction of 45,000 tons of wheat Eight thousand tons of cooking oil belonging to Ukraine's largest grain trader were stolen in a single night. Ukrainian forces retaliated by striking shipments in the Sea of Azov. leading to the disruption of one-third of Russia's wheat exports transported by sea The Black Sea remains the cheapest source of wheat on Earth. Its port prices set the benchmark for Asian import markets and others. When Black Sea wheat prices rise The global flour prices followed almost immediately afterward. Wheat futures in Chicago have already risen to their highest level in two years. Artificial bottlenecks can theoretically be addressed As for the fourth pressure, it cannot be dealt with. The World Meteorological Organization has warned of an extreme El Niño phenomenon. It will dominate the Pacific Ocean from July to September. Leonard, the head of forecasting at the UK Met Office The destructive power of the upcoming episodes will reveal historical disasters from the years 1982, 1997, and 2015. Thus, the general data show that global agricultural prices have already increased by 7% in July. With an 8% jump in coffee, cocoa, and wheat within one week Bank of America specifically pointed to a 10% reduction in sugar production in Brazil and Thailand during the summer season. Starting next year, the daily essential items will be upgraded as scheduled. Coffee, chocolate, sugar, bread, and cooking oil are much more expensive. This inflation fundamentally differs from the previous wave, which was driven by money printing by central banks. That previous surge was a financial bubble that could ultimately be burst. The coming pressure comes from the Earth itself. Less food is being produced No amount of monetary policy can create bread from empty fields. We appreciate your perspective. Share your thoughts in the comments If you find this report helpful, please share it with others. Your support helps us continue providing independent, fact-based analysis of global affairs. Subscribe and like to stay updated with State of Play Thank you for watching