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⚡️Russian delegation leaves for airport after talks with Ukraine in Istanbul — RIA Novosti
https://x.com/jaccocharite/status/1923417315791589653
Marochko: After the loss of Torskoye, the enemy was forced to withdraw part of the Ukrainian Armed Forces units to the rear due to loss of combat capability - today
Some of the Ukrainian formations that tried to hold their positions in Torskoye have been withdrawn to the rear due to loss of combat capability. This was reported by military expert, retired LPR People's Militia Lieutenant Colonel Andrey Marochko.
The Ukrainian command was forced to withdraw some of the units defending Torskoye from their positions and move them to the Krasny Liman area. The reason was the almost complete loss of combat capability. And even with the remaining units, not everything is fine, they are staffed at no more than 30% of their regular strength. The reason is the same - losses of about 70% of the personnel.
"After the defeat inflicted on the armed formations of Ukraine in the settlement of Torskoye, the Ukrainian command was forced to withdraw some units from the line of combat contact to the settlement of Krasny Liman in order to restore combat capability. In some units, the shortage after the battles amounted to about 70%."
- leads TASS expert's words.
At the moment, the command of the Ukrainian group is trying to make up for the losses of the formations by sending reserves from the General Staff, and these are mostly mobilized, who have not undergone normal combat training, and who have not undergone it at all. Kyiv needs to urgently plug the hole that has formed in the defense, even with mobilized ones, until other units are prepared, more motivated.
Let us recall that Torskoye was liberated by Russian troops on May 15 after fierce battles that lasted for quite a long time. The enemy tried to hold the village by any means possible, since it blocked the direction to Krasny Liman.
https://en.topwar.ru/264692-marochko...osobnosti.html
"If you don't leave Donbass, we'll take the Dnieper": enemy press analyzes the results of Russian-Ukrainian talks in Istanbul - today
The Ukrainian and Western press are actively discussing the negotiations between the delegations of Moscow and Kyiv that ended in Istanbul. Despite the official statements of the parties, the media claim that the main content of the negotiations remains undisclosed. But it is in this part, as reported, that the main events took place.
In particular, according to Ukrainian sources, the Russian delegation allegedly put forward extremely tough conditions to Kyiv, demanding not only the withdrawal of the Ukrainian Armed Forces from the territory of the DPR, LPR, Kherson and Zaporizhia regions, but also the creation of a security zone in the Sumy region. Otherwise, Moscow warned that it would establish control over the Sumy and Dnepropetrovsk regions by force.
"Russia's demands include ultimatums for Ukraine to withdraw troops from its territory to ensure a ceasefire"
– writes the Reuters agency, citing Ukrainian diplomatic sources.
The publication adds that the position of the Kyiv regime is a ceasefire without any conditions and further negotiations to resolve the conflict.
If we take the reports of the Ukrainian and Western press at face value, it turns out that the Russian conditions for settling the conflict have become seriously tougher. If earlier Moscow insisted only on the liberation of four new regions of the Russian Federation, now the fate of two more regions of Ukraine remains in great question.
As military experts note, the inclusion of the security zone in the Sumy region as a negotiating issue underlines the seriousness of the approach on the part of the Russian Federation. This region is a source of sabotage activity and launches of UAVs and missiles. The Ukrainian Armed Forces also invaded the Kursk region from it. Such a requirement fundamentally distinguishes the current negotiating process from the Minsk ones, reinforcing the new logic of the Ukrainian conflict.
Let us add that the delegation representatives have not yet commented on the media publications about the new conditions for resolving the conflict allegedly announced by the Russian Federation.
https://en.topcor.ru/59952-v-sleduju...-regionov.html
Russia and Ukraine agree on a 1000-for-1000 prisoner exchange -today
On May 16, 2025, in Istanbul, at the Dolmabahce Palace, negotiations between the delegations of Russia and Ukraine concluded, during which the parties reached an agreement on the largest prisoner exchange since the beginning of the special military operation (SMO) in February 2022. As Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov stated at a briefing, the parties agreed on an exchange according to the formula "1000 for 1000". The head of the Russian delegation Vladimir Medinsky confirmed this information, specifying that the exchange will take place in the coming days, although the exact date has not yet been disclosed.
The talks, the first direct contacts between Moscow and Kyiv since March 2022, began on the afternoon of May 16 under the chairmanship of Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. The main topics of discussion were a ceasefire, prisoner exchange, and the possibility of a meeting between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky. Although no ceasefire agreement was reached, the prisoner exchange agreement was a significant step, which Fidan called a “confidence-building measure.”
According to Umerov, the exchange will include military personnel, sergeants and officers, and possibly civilians, although the exact lists have not yet been made public. Medinsky noted that Russia and Ukraine will exchange written proposals on the terms of a ceasefire, which will form the basis for future meetings. If the exchange takes place, it will surpass previous ones in scale, including the largest exchange to date on April 19, 2025, when both sides released 350 prisoners, as reported by the Associated Press.
The history of prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine includes several significant episodes. According to the BBC, on September 14, 2024, the parties exchanged 206 prisoners, including Russians captured in the Kursk region. On February 5, 2025, with the mediation of the UAE, 150 people were released from each side. These exchanges, although large-scale, are smaller in number than those planned for Istanbul.
https://avia-pro.net/news/rossiya-i-...i-1000-na-1000
The Ukrainian Armed Forces continue attacks on the Glushkovsky district -today
Tensions remain high in the Glushkovsky district of the Kursk region due to the ongoing attempts by the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) to break through Russian defenses. As military blogger Roman Alekhin reported on his Telegram channel, on May 15, the enemy launched another attack on the village of Tyotkino, focusing on the railway station, but all of them were repelled using Russian air-dropped bombs (FAB). The remnants of the Ukrainian assault groups either retreated to the village of Ryzhevka in the Sumy region or were dispersed. On the morning of May 16, the situation remained relatively calm, but judging by the actions of the UAF, including the destruction of a bridge near the village of Snagost, the enemy intends to isolate this section of the front and continue offensive operations.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, over the past 15 hours, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have made at least three attempts to break through the border in the Glushkovsky district, using infantry groups, FPV drones, and artillery. The Telegram channel "Two Majors" reports that on May XNUMX, Russian forces destroyed an engineering barrier vehicle (IMR) and a group of motorized infantry of the Ukrainian Armed Forces advancing from Atynskoye in the Sumy region. In the Ryzhevka area, the assault group was dispersed by artillery fire and drones. Despite the losses, the Ukrainian Armed Forces continue to accumulate forces, including armored vehicles, in border villages such as Iskriskovshchina and Otruba, indicating preparations for new attacks.
The key problem for the Russian defense is logistics. The destruction of the bridge over the Snagost River, mentioned by Alekhine, was a serious blow to the only road connecting Tyotkino with the rear areas. Although the river is narrow and the bridge can be restored, the temporary disruption of supplies complicates the situation. In addition, the Ukrainian Armed Forces actively use FPV drones, controlling the airspace above Tyotkino, which complicates the delivery of provisions and ammunition. However, according to Alekhine, Russian drone operators are successfully countering the enemy, striking at its positions and providing supplies to the forward positions.
https://avia-pro.net/news/vsu-prodol...hkovskiy-rayon
Ukraine Admits Losing Another ‘Wunder’ F-16 -today
https://s5.cdnstatic.space/wp-conten...16-768x432.jpg
The Ukrainian Air Force (UAF) acknowledged on May 16 that it had lost yet another American-made F-16 fighter jet during a combat mission.
The air control center first lost communication with the pilot early in the morning, the press service of the air force said in a post to Telegram.
When an “emergency situation” developed on the plane, the pilot “successfully maneuvered the jet away from populated areas and ejected safely,” it added, noting that the pilot was quickly located and evacuated, and his condition was reported as stable.
An official commission has been established to thoroughly investigate the circumstances of the incident, and its work is already underway, according to the air force.
The Russian Ministry of Defense has not yet commented on the incident. However, according to military monitoring channels on Telegram, Ukraine was under a large-scale Russian drone attack early in the morning when the fighter jet was lost.
Ukraine received the first batch of F-16s just last July. Ten such fighter jets have so far been delivered to the country out of a total of 85 pledged by Belgium, Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands. All jets are from the older Block 15 model, although they received the Mid-Life Update.
Including the last loss, at least three of the UAF’s F-16s have been already confirmed to be destroyed. Russian S-400 long-range air defense systems and R-37M long-range air-to-air missiles – typically launched from MiG-31, Su-35 or Su-57 fighter jets – were blamed for the previous two losses.
The F-16 was touted by the mainstream media in the West as a game changer, and even a “Wunderwaffe”. Yet, the fighter jets have so far done nearly nothing of value for the UAF, which continues to rely more on its aging Soviet-made fighter jets.
https://southfront.press/ukraine-adm...r-wunder-f-16/
The War That Won’t Wait for Diplomacy -today
As diplomatic talks in Istanbul remain in their preliminary stages, the intensity of military operations on the frontlines shows no signs of abating. Both Russian and Ukrainian forces have escalated aerial and ground engagements, underscoring the fragile nature of the current ceasefire negotiations.
Russian air defense systems reported intercepting and destroying 65 Ukrainian UAVs overnight, with the majority—43 drones—neutralized over the Black Sea and another 21 over Crimea. A single drone was downed in the Belgorod region.
Crimea faced concentrated attacks, with Ukrainian drones reportedly striking an ammunition depot in Perevalnoye, leading to road closures and heightened security measures.
In their turn, Russian forces reportedly launched 112 strike drones, primarily of the “Geran” type, targeting Ukrainian infrastructure, including in Kyiv and Odesa. Ukrainian defenses struggled to repel the onslaught, losing another F-16 fighter jet in the process. The pilot ejected safely, but the incident highlights the growing strain on Ukraine’s air capabilities.
On the frontlines, Ukrainian forces renewed attempts to breach Russian defenses in the Kursk region, deploying infantry, mobile units, and even boats to cross the Seym River. Russian troops repelled multiple incursions, destroying armored vehicles and thwarting sabotage groups disguised in Russian uniforms. However, Ukrainian rocket attacks inflicted damage on civilian infrastructure, including a hospital and a church in Tetkino, further escalating tensions.
The Russian offensive continued on Donbass frontlines, with the liberation of Volnoye Pole in the south and sustained pressure on key strongholds like Konstantinovka in the north. Russian victory in Torske near Krasny Liman further weakened Ukrainian positions, with reports indicating severe manpower shortages in defending Ukrainian units. Russian forces, meanwhile, consolidated gains near Pokrovsk, threatening to envelop Ukrainian defenses along the Kazenny Torets River. Western analysts noted a cascading collapse of Ukrainian defenses in several directions, attributing Russian gains to relentless airstrikes and artillery barrages.
The juxtaposition of ongoing negotiations and escalating combat operations underscores the precarious nature of the conflict. While diplomats are trying to engage in dialogue, the battlefield realities suggest neither side is willing to cede ground without a fight. The coming days will reveal whether the talks in Istanbul can yield tangible de-escalation or if the war will continue to overshadow diplomatic efforts.
https://southfront.press/the-war-tha...for-diplomacy/
https://youtube.com/watch?v=d1-kAtfr7oc
Second Round of Talks Begins in Turkey🚨 Russia Appoints New Army Chief⚔️ Military Summary 2025.05.16
Now the EU will put hard sanctions on its own citizens! Two famous (living in Russia) journalists are affected, one is the very Thomas Roeper whose articles I posted in this thread very often.
https://anti--spiegel-ru.translate.g..._x_tr_pto=wapp
Arbitrariness: Sanctions against EU citizens?
The unconfirmed report by correctiv that Alina Lipp and Thomas Röper are to fall under the 17th EU sanctions package would be a sensation if it turns out to be true, because it would ultimately render the rule of law obsolete, as governments would expropriate their own citizens without a court order.
https://anti--spiegel-ru.translate.g..._x_tr_pto=wapp
by Anti-Spiegel
May 16, 2025 , 6:25 PM
Since Correctiv reported that Alina Lipp and I are to be included in the 17th EU sanctions package next week, my phone hasn't stopped ringing. Of course, the report hasn't been confirmed yet; the sanctions are supposed to be confirmed and thus come into force on May 20th, which is why it won't be known whether this is actually true until May 20th.
If this is true, it would be a real sensation, because to my knowledge, not a single EU citizen has ever been sanctioned by the EU. And for good reason, because sanctions mean that all assets of the sanctioned person are frozen, from bank accounts to real estate or company shares. However, de facto expropriation of one's own citizens based solely on a government decision is actually legally impossible; that would require an offense, an indictment, and a legally binding court ruling.
So, if the report is true, this would be the officially announced transition from a supposedly constitutional state to an arbitrary state of oppression, in which the government can simply expropriate and punish all critics by decree. This is by no means an exaggeration, because that is precisely what the sanctions against Alina Lipp and me seem to mean.
I don't know if there are other EU citizens on the list, but I see the sanctioning of us as a test run. If it goes through and isn't overturned legally somewhere, then anyone can guess what will happen in a year. Then they'll start sanctioning critical journalists, anti-government activists, so-called "right-wingers," and who knows who else, step by step.
For someone living in the EU, this would mean that they would no longer be able to have a bank account and likely wouldn't be able to work, because EU citizens are prohibited from any professional collaboration with sanctioned individuals, and their wages could be frozen as assets. How would they then pay their rent? And all the other costs that arise?
For Russians, the sanctions mean that their assets in the EU will be frozen and that they will no longer be able to enter the EU. I have no assets in the EU and I don't want to enter there, so it shouldn't really matter to me. But: This would mean that EU citizens would be banned from entering their homeland.
This is quite absurd, which is why I do not rule out the possibility that different restrictions may be introduced for sanctioned EU citizens than for sanctioned non-EU citizens, such as Russians.
I'm not even sure if Alina or I could take legal action against this. The reason is that we wouldn't be able to afford lawyers if we were sanctioned and all our assets in the EU were frozen. And whether lawyers would be committing a criminal offense if they represented us (we're unlikely to ever have any professional cooperation with them again) is also a question. When Russian businessmen sued against their sanctions, they had to use very convoluted mechanisms to do so.
So let's wait and see. Perhaps Correctiv's report is fake, although I don't believe it, because Correctiv is so closely linked to the government that I suspect the report is true. The list will be published on Tuesday, and then we'll know more. And then we'll also know which restrictions will actually be introduced and whether they might also affect other EU citizens.
Since it may be forbidden to support my work with a donation starting next Tuesday, all that remains for me to do is wish you a nice weekend and, as is customary with “Friday Thoughts,” thank everyone who has (so far) supported my work.
As some very interesting background to today's Russia-Ukraine talks, Alexander Mercouris argues in the opening 20-minute section of his video update today that Zelensky's meeting yesterday morning with Turkish President Erdogan was very probably heated and acrimonious, explaining its unusual 3 hour length.
He suggests that Erdogan read Zelensky the riot act (likely on behalf of the Americans) and told him in no uncertain terms that his team absolutely had to meet the Russians as the world was expecting. He describes Zelensky leaving the Erdogan meeting "in a cold rage".
Mercouris says that this of course is his speculation, but it's well-founded speculation. And he's rarely wrong. As a reminder, a few days ago Mercouris correctly predicted that when the Russians arrived for their meeting yesterday there would be no-one there.
:)
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Posted by Bill Ryan
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Ok. So I'm going to post about the whole "Russia stole Ukrianian children hoax."
I went to two funerals of children in Donbass. Killed by Ukrianian shelling. They were hard to find. Driving around all morning in the suburbs. Asking people.
The first I turned up as the funeral procession was starting. I asked the family if I could film. They said yes. And I did a story about her. A six year old girl, Alina. A deeply lovely family. Whom I went back to see six months later.
The second. I turned up as the funeral was going on. Asked if I could film. They said no. And I was shouted at by mourners as I left. "You're British! You did this!" They were angry that Britain was supplying weapons to Ukriane. One of those times as a journalist, you just have to stand there and feel absolutely awful.
I spent a lot of time on the frontlines of Donbass. Its a hellscape war zone out of an American zombie movie. Most families have fled. Although some have stayed and even have their kids with them. I would go out with a humanitarian worker I knew. It was the only way I could gain access to these areas and bypass Russian checkpoints.
You have these tough Donbass people who wont leave their land. Or arent rich enough to leave. There's Donbass and Russian artillery. Tanks firing. Snipers. One old woman told me how she was shot and she laughed. These are tough people. And some of them still have their kids with them. And so some of them die.
I knew this woman in central Donestk. Who would arrange my accommodation. A real estate agent. A tough woman. But when the shelling got really bad. She sent her kids to a sea side town to keep them safe.
After months in Donetsk. I realized one day. I haven't seen a child in months. Because their parents had got them all out. So bad was the was shelling.
Russians stealing Ukrainain children is absurd. They are just trying to keep children safe.
When peace is sorted out. People will be able to go wherever they want.
https://x.com/johnnyjmils/status/1923426615448473840
Danny Haiphong
421K subscribers
Russia, China & Iran STUN Trump—This War Ends in CATASTROPHE w/ Brian Berletic
Trump's Pentagon hasn't learned the lessons of history and is pushing the unthinkable WW3 on three-fronts: Russia, China and Iran. Geopolitical analyst Brian Berletic discusses the warning that Russia's defeat of NATO's proxy war in Ukraine should have sent and why it isn't being heeded, with catastrophic consequences.
@bonjacan. Thanks for posting a Brian Berletic video.
I find his perspective to be very important. And he backs it coherently (and expertly).
In essence he emphasizes that the key fact about the Trump administration foreign policy is continuity with the previous US administrations: i.e. more of the same.
And indeed, more of the same from the earlier Trump administration, which had continuity from Obama.
US Foreign policy is, Berletic argues, above Presidential level. Whatever President is just a tool for much longer term strategies, which can be read elsewhere in the grey literature - which BB quotes.
What we see in the media, even in the more analytic and alternative media, is just a puppet show - politicians etc just acting their given roles. Puppets pretending to fight other puppets, or hugging them, as the script requires.
For instance the pretence that Trump has fallen out with the leaders of France, UK, Germany etc, who are independently organizing to continue the Ukr war without US assistance. In reality, the US wants to pivot away from Ukr (for a while) to focus elsewhere, and the European nations have been instructed to take over the lion's share of manipulating/ sacrificing the Ukr people (with the assistance of the Ukr puppet government).
Anyway, Berletic sets this out in his videos at The New Atlas - albeit in a rather slow and wordy fashion.
My disagreement with BB is only at the highest level of ultimates. BB has a secular view of the world rooted in elite self-interest, money and power as bottom line motivators. My world view is (in aspiration), by contrast Christian, and I see the ultimate motivators as spiritual not material.
The Odessa Moment -today
Scott Ritter
Russia has informed Ukraine of its baseline condition for conflict termination—the withdrawal of all Ukrainian troops from the territory of lands which, from the perspective of the Russian Constitution, constitute part of Mother Russia. These include Kherson, Zaporozhia, Donetsk and Lugansk. Russia has also made it clear that if Ukraine does not accept these terms, the next time Russia is willing to sit down and negotiate with Ukraine their demands will include four additional Ukrainian oblasts, or administrative regions—presumably Odessa, Nikolaev, Dnepropetrovsk, and Kharkov. We have reached the Odessa Moment.
Back in January 2023, while appearing on “The Gaggle” with George Szamuely and Peter Lavelle, I postulated that Russia was approaching what I called “the Odessa Moment,” that confluence of military and political circumstances which, once reached, would trigger a strategic decision by Russia to expand the Special Military Operation (SMO) beyond the geography defined by the territories absorbed by Russia following a controversial referenda held in September 2022 on the territory of Kherson, Zaporozhia, Donetsk and Lugansk, in which the question of self-determination was answered by a vote on whether these territories should be incorporated into the Russian Federation or not.
As originally conceived, the SMO was not about territorial acquisition but rather defending the rights of the Russian-speaking population of Ukraine. In negotiations which began less than a week after the SMO began—first in Gomel, Belarus, and later in Turkey—Russia simply sought to achieve that which had been promised as part of the Minsk Accords entered into with Ukraine, Germany and France in 2014-2015, in which Ukraine promised to make the appropriate changes to its Constitution guaranteeing that the rights and status of Russian-speaking Ukrainians would be protected...
And NOW...
As the lead Russian negotiator in Istanbul made clear to his Ukrainian counterparts, Russia is prepared to fight for however long it takes, even alluding to the 21 years it took Peter the Great to defeat Sweden.
Ukraine will be lucky to survive the summer.
Zelensky faces one of the greatest tests of leadership he will ever face.
Nationalist forces in his government are willing to commit national suicide in pursuit of the failed Banderist cause.
Ukraine’s erstwhile allies, whose objectives continue to center around Cold War fantasies of strategically defeating Russia, are pushing Zelensky to reject the Russian conditions for peace, all too willing to sacrifice Ukraine as a proxy in pursuit of their unattainable goal.
If Zelensky truly cared about his nation and his people, he would swallow his pride and make the only decision capable of saving them—surrender.
But Zelensky is not a leader who cares about his nation or its people—he has already sacrificed Ukraine’s national integrity and more than a million of its citizens in pursuit of his EU and NATO driven fantasies of relevance and fortune.
This is Zelensky’s Odessa Moment.
And he will fail.
Again.
https://scottritter.substack.com/p/the-odessa-moment
Interesting video with Mark Sleboda... from his point of view..
Regarding Trump from my point of view... he is too busy taking care of family businesses .... he/his Trump Organization has made a deal in Vietnam.. to invest $1.5 billion in golf courses... hotels and real estate projects in the Southeast Asian country... about that I found it in the state/run Tuoi Tre... reported on Friday...
This project.. planned on 990 hectares (2,446 acres) of land... will feature a complex of golf courses... resorts... hotels.. and a modern residential project....
And the approval comes amid trade negotiations.. between Vietnam and the United States... as the Southeast Asian countries...
These days also some personal deals in ME....
Trump is very busy to make a deals for himself..
It does not matter... what Trump is saying... war will go on for years... unless Russia really makes up their mind to fight it like the existential threat they claim it is.
Trump is supporting Zelensky all the time with intelligence... weapons... ammunitions... logistics... training etc... everything is a pony show for the masses... as Israel...
All is just smoke and mirrors....
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Rachel Blevins
106K subscribers
ISTANBUL TALKS A ‘NOTHING BURGER’: Russia, Ukraine Not Ready for Ceasefire, End to War –Mark Sleboda
All eyes are on Turkey, as Russia and Ukraine sent teams for talks… they just arrived in different cities. Now, the Russian delegation in Istanbul is giving Kiev one more chance to attend talks at 10:00 on Friday, after Zelensky and his team arrived in Ankara on Thursday and complained about the fact that Putin wasn’t in attendance.
International Relations and Security Analyst Mark Sleboda noted that this is yet another reminder that this week’s talks were never about the approval of a full ceasefire or an end to the war. Moscow, Kiev and Washington still have months of talks ahead of them, and the Russian Government has made it clear that while it’s willing to talk, it has a long list of concerns. And the ongoing negotiations won’t stop Russia on the battlefield.
Ukrainian sources report massive wave of drone activity across multiple regions.
https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1923879338375774664
Russia Sets Out Harsh Terms At Istanbul Talks; UK/EU Despondent Outplayed; Trump Seeks Russia Summit
https://youtube.com/watch?v=iDA6p8l0xZI (1:21:55)
Only 30 minutes in to the latest Alexander Mercouris update, where he sets out Russia's terms visavis future territories in Ukraine. There doesn't seem to be much leeway for negotiation imo, more likely the outcome if their terms aren't accepted. USA now appear to be taking a back seat on terms but will still no doubt be very interested in the result.
Alexander also notes the subtle recent change in support of Russia firstly by Indian media and anticipates this trend to include other countries, including the USA
Yes... from west and Trump all is just a joke and phoney show... you can not have respect and trust in them... who trust US???? For instance:
I am remembering Witkoff.. who made a deal for the release of the American hostage held by Hamas... and personally guaranteeing that food would be allowed into Gaza if he was released... After then... then immediately tore up the agreement the moment hostage was released....
Here is the latest Alexander's video from today... just finished listening him... before he departure to Russia... A Group of Lawyers there.. they invited him..
Interesting talk!
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Putin Stuns US, Rejects 22 Point US Ukraine Peace Plan, Won't See Witkoff; US Seeks US-Russia Summit