Ukrainian forces successfully struck the Russian cargo ship Port Olya-4 in the Caspian Sea, marking a significant event as the first confirmed loss of a vessel transporting military cargo from Iran. The ship, owned by the sanctioned Russian shipping firm MG-Flot LLC, was hit near the port of Olya after being en route from Iran, where it was used to transport Shahed drone components and ammunition. This attack highlights the ongoing efforts to evade sanctions, as MG-Flot continues to operate vessels involved in transporting military supplies, including those utilizing the “North-South” transport corridor.
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Ukraine has claimed responsibility for a long-range drone attack on a supply ship in a port north of the Caspian Sea, purportedly carrying drone components from Iran, as well as an overnight bombing of an oil refinery deep inside Russia. These actions are seen as a show of force ahead of a summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. While Ukraine continues to strike targets within Russia, the war on land intensifies, with Russian saboteur groups breaching Ukrainian frontlines in the Donbas region. Military analysts suggest that Russia has gained some aerial dominance in the Pokrovsk area, making it difficult for Ukraine to counter these advances.
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Iran and Russia Begin Joint Naval Drills in Caspian Sea: So, the news is out that Iran and Russia have kicked off joint naval drills in the Caspian Sea, and, well, it’s stirring up quite a bit of discussion. You’ve got folks joking about the “world’s most incompetent navies,” and even tossing around the idea of the exercises being target practice for Ukrainian drone boats or Storm Shadows. Honestly, the image of those two navies together just conjures up some pretty wild mental scenarios, doesn’t it? Some are envisioning Francis playing with those warships in his enormous indoor-pool-bathtub.
Considering the players involved, there’s speculation swirling around the actual purpose of these drills.… Continue reading
Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8432 crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, resulting in 38 fatalities. Preliminary investigations indicate a Russian surface-to-air missile, fired during drone activity over Grozny, struck the aircraft. The plane, reportedly denied landing at Russian airports despite damage, was instructed to cross the Caspian Sea, with its GPS navigation jammed en route. This incident bears resemblance to the MH17 tragedy and raises serious questions regarding the circumstances surrounding the missile launch and subsequent actions.
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In a significant escalation, Ukraine launched a drone attack on Russian warships in the Caspian Sea, marking the first time Kyiv has targeted vessels in this region. The attack, which took place in the port city of Kaspiysk, hundreds of miles from the frontlines, highlights Ukraine’s growing long-range strike capabilities and its ongoing efforts to cripple Russia’s naval forces. This attack follows a pattern of successful Ukrainian strikes on Russian naval vessels in the Black Sea, demonstrating the effectiveness of their asymmetric warfare tactics. The Caspian Sea attack, coupled with Ukraine’s increasing use of drones to strike land targets deep within Russia, suggests a new phase in the conflict, characterized by Ukraine’s ability to project force beyond the immediate battlefields.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood