(C) Meduza This story was originally published by Meduza and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . The Real Russia. Today. Wednesday, June 12, 2024 — Meduza [1] [] Date: 2024-06-13 Russia is continuing the offensive it began in the Donbas region back in October 2023, attacking on several fronts simultaneously. Near the city of Avdiivka, where the Russian command launched its main assault and deployed the most troops, Russian forces have advanced 15–20 kilometers (9–12.5 miles) in the past eight months. About 7-10 kilometers (4-6 miles) of that progress has been made since February, when Avdiivka was captured. In May, Russia opened a new front near Kharkiv and managed to move seven to eight kilometers (a little under five miles) into Ukrainian territory in just a few days. But Russia’s advance has been even slower and more modest in other sectors. If the offensive were to keep its current pace (which isn’t guaranteed), capturing the Donetsk region alone could take Russia a year or more. Accelerating the pace of operations would require significantly increasing the Russian army’s numerical advantage over Ukraine — but another round of mobilization and a rise in casualty rates aren’t appealing options for Putin. There are more political prisoners in Russia today than there were in the final years of the Soviet Union. Mothers with multiple children, teenagers, people with severe illnesses — anyone can be arrested for anything that the Russian authorities decide threatens the regime. On June 12, independent news outlets, including Meduza, are joining the Anti-Corruption Foundation in support of the “You Are Not Alone” drive to raise funds for political prisoners. Last year, this event helped raise almost 40 million rubles ($487,800). To promote the fundraiser, the Bereg cooperative of independent journalists asked the relatives of several political prisoners to share how they cope with being separated from their loved ones and how they look forward to being reunited. In the months following Russia’s full-scale invasion, Kyiv began requesting modern fighter jets to counter Russia’s air advantage. Last year, Washington authorized other countries to send F-16s to Ukraine, although it declined to provide the U.S.-made aircraft itself. Ukrainian pilots have been training to fly the planes, but Ukraine has yet to receive its first F-16. The independent outlet iStories investigated the reasons behind the delays, when the F-16s might reach Ukrainian skies, and whether they can still make a difference on the battlefield. We got The Beet. Don’t miss Meduza’s weekly newsletter (separate from the one you’re reading here)! 🇺🇸 America adds new risks to doing business with Moscow: The U.S. Treasury has unveiled expanded secondary sanctions against Russia. Washington will now “treat any foreign financial institution transacting with a sanctioned Russian entity as though it is working directly with the Kremlin’s military-industrial base,” reports The Financial Times. The U.S. Treasury has unveiled expanded secondary sanctions against Russia. Washington will now “treat any foreign financial institution transacting with a sanctioned Russian entity as though it is working directly with the Kremlin’s military-industrial base,” reports The Financial Times. 🏦 Scrambling to adapt to new U.S. sanctions: Russia’s largest stock exchange, the Moscow Exchange (MOEX), announced plans to halt trading in the U.S. dollar and the euro as of Thursday Russia’s largest stock exchange, the Moscow Exchange (MOEX), announced plans to halt trading in the U.S. dollar and the euro as of Thursday 🦊 Firefox caves to Roskomnadzor: The Mozilla Foundation told The Intercept that it’s “temporarily restricted” various censorship circumvention add-ons for users inside Russia of its popular Firefox web browser at the request of Russia’s federal censor. The Mozilla Foundation told The Intercept that it’s “temporarily restricted” various censorship circumvention add-ons for users inside Russia of its popular Firefox web browser at the request of Russia’s federal censor. ☦️ Highway to Hell: A deranged gunman tried to rob two women near the Optina Monastery outside Kaluga on Wednesday, firing a rifle into the road and sending debris into one of the victims, causing minor injuries. A deranged gunman tried to rob two women near the Optina Monastery outside Kaluga on Wednesday, firing a rifle into the road and sending debris into one of the victims, causing minor injuries. 🕯️ More civilians killed by Russian rockets: A Russian missile hit a residential complex in Kryvyi Rih, in central Ukraine, on Wednesday, killing at least nine people and injuring another 29, including five children, according to Ukraine’s Prosecutor General. The attack also reportedly damaged a local administrative building. A Russian missile hit a residential complex in Kryvyi Rih, in central Ukraine, on Wednesday, killing at least nine people and injuring another 29, including five children, according to Ukraine’s Prosecutor General. The attack also reportedly damaged a local administrative building. 🇦🇿 Russian troops have left Nagorno-Karabakh completely: Azerbaijani defense officials announced on Wednesday that Russian peacekeepers have completed their withdrawal from the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. The troops started pulling out of the ethnically cleansed region in mid-April. Azerbaijani forces took complete control of Nagorno-Karabakh in September 2023. Azerbaijani defense officials announced on Wednesday that Russian peacekeepers have completed their withdrawal from the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. The troops started pulling out of the ethnically cleansed region in mid-April. Azerbaijani forces took complete control of Nagorno-Karabakh in September 2023. ⚖️ Legal action against corruption in Russian defense contracts: Seven companies from across Russia are suing the “Rostov Cartridge Plant” for posing as a Defense Ministry enterprise and ordering vehicles without paying. Investigative journalists learned that the “cartridge plant” has no connection to Russia’s military and was instead reselling the cars. The company is registered at a residential address, and its one employee has a long record of fraud. It’s unclear how many fake government contracts it issued to unsuspecting businesses or how much it stole in automobiles and other goods (though the amount is at least $210,000). Seven companies from across Russia are suing the “Rostov Cartridge Plant” for posing as a Defense Ministry enterprise and ordering vehicles without paying. Investigative journalists learned that the “cartridge plant” has no connection to Russia’s military and was instead reselling the cars. The company is registered at a residential address, and its one employee has a long record of fraud. It’s unclear how many fake government contracts it issued to unsuspecting businesses or how much it stole in automobiles and other goods (though the amount is at least $210,000). ⚰️ Job hazards for Russian officials who risk it all in Ukraine: Ninety-three Russian government officials and volunteers were killed or injured last year in occupied Ukraine, according to a new report by journalists at iStories based on payment data collected from Russia’s Pension and Social Insurance Fund. (Russian government officials can double their salaries by working in the occupied territories, which has enhanced the social mobility of many bureaucrats.) No country can be free without independent media. In January 2023, the Russian authorities outlawed Meduza, banning our work in the country our colleagues call home. Just supporting Meduza carries the risk of criminal prosecution for Russian nationals, which is why we’re turning to our international audience for help. Your assistance makes it possible for thousands of people in Russia to read Meduza and stay informed. Consider a small but recurring contribution to provide the most effective support. Donate here. [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.meduza.io/en/brief/2024/06/13/the-real-russia-today Published and (C) by Meduza Content appears here under this condition or license: Creative Commons CC BY 4.0. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/meduza/