During Massive Strike on Kiev, Russian Forces Hit Missile Factory, Triggering Hours of Secondary Explosions

SHOCK VIDEOS: During Massive Strike on Kiev, Russian Forces Hit Missile Factory, Triggering Hours of Secondary Explosions

Paul Serran

While the MSM keeps insisting that Ukraine is suddenly winning the war against Russia, the developments on the ground across the 800-mile frontline show a very different story.

After the key victory in Konstantinovka, opening the way for an assault on the Slaviansk-Kramatorsk fortress belt, news arises that the Russian army liberated 4 settlements in the Kharkov region at once.

Units of the Запад (West) group of forces established control over the settlements Shiykovka, Novy Mir, Cherneshchina, and Druzhelyovka, as well as in Vasilevka in the Donetsk region.

And even when it comes to the gruesome exchange of drone-missile combined strikes, while Ukraine does have successes in their efforts, it can’t really be compared to the absolute blitz that Russian forces are submitting the capital Kiev.

Here’s a list of what was hit in last night’s strikes on military-industrial facilities in Kiev and the surrounding region, according to Russia’s MoD:

Kiev-71 Industrial Enterprise (Abris PT Association) which manufactures long-and medium-range UAVs;

Kiev-1 Electronic Industry Assembly Plant which produces long-and-medium range UAVs and radar equipment;

Kiev-79 Industrial Enterprise which manufactures and supplies armor protection components for Ukrainian Armed Forces;

Kiev Shipyard that manufactures artillery boats and attack boats;

Kyiv-1 Instrument-Making Plant which produces fire control systems, optoelectronic countermeasure systems, navigation and automation equipment;

The Vyshneve Fuel and Lubricant Warehouse facility which stores diesel fuel for the emergency use;

And finally, the Zhulyany Missile Assembly and Components Plant which manufactures anti-aircraft missile systems, components for aircraft and air defense systems.

And it was at the Zhulyany plant that the most shocking image was captured, where the initial explosion from the strike was followed by hours of secondary explosions as the missiles and missile components kept exploding.

Russia hit a missile storage facility. I'd guess it's air defense missiles, and they fly around Kiev as secondary detonations.

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US Launches New Iran Strikes Overnight: 'Heavy Costs' For Attacks On Commercial Shipping

US Launches New Iran Strikes Overnight: 'Heavy Costs' For Attacks On Commercial Shipping

TYLER DURDEN

US Launches New Iran Strikes, In First Since Ayatollah's Funeral

The US military has announced it has commenced fresh strikes against Iran in the wake of projectiles striking multiple international tankers in the Strait of Hormuz earlier on Tuesday. US Central Command (CENTCOM) in a public X post says its "forces have begun launching a series of powerful strikes against Iran to impose heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping crewed by innocent civilians in an international waterway."

"The U.S. strikes are in response to Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels that were transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s demonstrated aggression was unwarranted, dangerous, and a clear violation of the ceasefire," it added. These will mark the first US strikes against the Islamic Republic since last Friday's start of week-long funeral ceremonies for the slain Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Trump had indicated a pause in both strikes and diplomacy was on in order for the burial to take place. The new US military escalation began around or just after midnight Tehran time.

Just before the start of the fresh Pentagon action, Mohsen Rezaei, adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, said on Iranian state TV that American attempts to forge an alternative route in the Strait of Hormuz will lead to the failure of negotiations between the two states.

⁠"It ⁠is quite clear that the ⁠United States will lead the ⁠negotiations with Iran to failure," Rezaei said. He also demanded the "the withdrawal of the United States from the region" - which can ensure lasting peace, he asserted. And now there could be a return to full war in Lebanon as well. Per breaking newswires:

• Israeli fighter jets carried out attacks in Barachit and Beit Yahoun in southern Lebanon
• US Strikes Targeted Air Defense Systems, Drone Sites: Axios
• Several explosions have been heard near Sirik and Qeshm in southern Iran, according to Iran’s Fars news agency: Al Jazeera

As expected, Tehran has condemned the new attacks as a severe US violation of the MoU. Early reports suggest bombing raids on strategically situated small Iranian islands just off the Strait of Hormuz:

According to state TV, six explosions have been heard on the island of Qeshm which is the largest island in the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz, with very geostrategic significance when it comes to Iran’s control and authority over the Strait of Hormuz.

The state TV also says that at least seven explosions have been heard in the areas close to Sirik Port which is very important because it oversees the Strait of Hormuz, another strategic point from which Iran imposes its control and authority over the Strait of Hormuz.

In a surprise move on Tuesday, the Trump admin revoked a license allowing Iran to sell oil on the open market, eliminating the primary economic benefit for Tehran as part of the interim peace deal/MOU with the US and threatening to unravel the agreement after days of skirmishes in the Strait of Hormuz. 

The Treasury Department said the June 21 license granted to Iran after several months of war would no longer apply, an announcement that came hours after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps fired missiles and drones at ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz. The Treasury allowed for a grace period until July 17 for transactions already authorized under the license.

The price of oil rose sharply after the news, even as President Trump has boasted that his efforts to wind down the war with Iran have lowered the price of gas and other products. The price of a barrel of Brent Crude oil was almost $76.00 after the announcement, up about 5% on Monday’s closing price.

The US has continued to coordinate with commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz using a route that it cleared near the coast of Oman. Over the weekend, the IRGC warned ships that it was prepared to target them if they used the route promoted by the US and Oman. Early Tuesday, Iran fired antiship cruise missiles and one-way attack drones at vessels seeking to cross the southern route. Three ships were struck, including an LNG tanker, and the US downed some of drones. 

Meanwhile, American warships remain on standby to restart the blockade of Iranian ports should Trump choose to reimpose it.

In summary, the two most critical elements of the interim deal are now under threat: the oil sanctions relief and safe passage for vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. In effect, the entire ceasefire is now in question. 

Perhaps worst of all, people close to the talks say there has been no substantive progress made yet by the U.S. and Iranian teams on a final nuclear agreement, with technical talks on the issue barely commencing.

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US Military Launches Powerful Strikes Against Iran

Cristina Laila

The US military on Tuesday launched powerful strikes against Iran.

The latest military strikes come in retaliation for the Iranians attacking vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

Earlier Tuesday, Tehran struck three ships, including a Qatari natural gas vessel.

The US called Iran’s attacks on the commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz “a clear violation of the ceasefire.”

President Trump is currently in Ankara, Turkey for a NATO Summit.

Via CENTCOM:

U.S. Central Command forces have begun launching a series of powerful strikes against Iran to impose heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping crewed by innocent civilians in an international waterway. 

The U.S. strikes are in response to Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels that were transiting the Strait of Hormuz. 

Iran’s demonstrated aggression was unwarranted, dangerous, and a clear violation of the ceasefire.

According to Axios correspondent Barak Ravid: A senior American official told me that the targets that were attacked included Iranian air defense systems, coastal surveillance systems, ground-to-air missiles, launch sites for anti-ship cruise missiles, drone launch sites, and Iranian port facilities.

Antisemtism And Vitriol For Israel: One Of The Most Distinguishing Signs Of Our Time

Antisemtism And Vitriol For Israel: One Of The Most Distinguishing Signs Of Our Time

Jonathan Brentner

It’s everywhere. We hear it on popular news channels. Its anthem rings out in the halls of the US Congress. Most churches, many knowingly and others unwittingly, promote it.

The steadily intensifying antisemitism of our day points to the reality of the rapidly approaching Tribulation period. It’s one of the more distinguishing signs of our time because it aligns with so many prophecies that predict hatred for Israel and the Jews during the last days. 

In Zechariah 8:13, the Lord foretold what we see today along with His promise to dramatically reverse the fortunes of the Jewish people: “And as you have been a byword of cursing among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so will I save you, and you shall be a blessing. Fear not, but let your hands be strong.”

What we see today fulfills the first part of these words from the Lord. Those inside and outside the church who attack Israel, however, overlook the Lord’s promise that after the hatred and cursing, He will save Israel and cause it to be a blessing to the nations.

It will be one of the greatest plot twists of all time, rivaling what the account recorded in Esther with its radical change of direction, with its most unexpected outcome.

God’s promise in Zechariah 8:13 underscores the misunderstanding—and even unbelief—of those who attack us as “Zionists” because we believe the Lord will someday fulfill His promise to restore a kingdom to Israel. The accusations of today’s anti-Zionists continue the world’s cursing of the Jewish people while at the same time, they deny the Lord’s promise that He will not only save the Jewish people, but will also make them a “blessing” to the nations. Read Zechariah 8:20-23 for the details of how the Jewish people will bless the nations during the Millennium.

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As Ebola Outbreak Spreads, Health Workers Threaten Strike

As Ebola Outbreak Spreads, Health Workers Threaten Strike

Newser Editors

At least 500 people have died out of over 1,500 confirmed cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo's Ebola outbreak, authorities said, as frontline workers threatened to go on strike on Monday over unpaid benefits and poor working conditions. The outbreak has recorded 1,561 cases, including 506 deaths, since it was declared on May 15 as the spread continues to outpace response, Congo's Ministry of Health said in its latest update on Sunday night. Frontline workers deployed in Ituri province, the epicenter of the outbreak, issued a 24-hour notice on Sunday threatening to strike if authorities fail to pay them and improve their working conditions. The workers include mostly health professionals who have been laboring with little rest as they battle attacks from angry residents and widespread skepticism about the virus.

In the notice to the government, a copy of which was seen by the AP, workers both in and outside hospitals said they had not been paid benefits since the outbreak began and they do not have adequate supplies for their work. They also complained of poor salaries, the "arrogance" of teams sent from Congo's capital of Kinshasa, and the "excessive" use of labor from other provinces without prioritizing local labor in Ituri, as well as the lack of adequate equipment. The strike threats come just days after enrollment for clinical trials started, raising concerns in the epicenter about its possible impact. Any strike could also hamper efforts to slow the spread of the outbreak, which is now confirmed in three eastern provinces, including North Kivu and South Kivu.

The lack of approved vaccines or treatments for the Bundibugyo virus, which is responsible for the latest Ebola outbreak, has complicated response efforts. The more common Zaire virus, for which there is a vaccine, was responsible for most of Congo's past 16 outbreaks of the disease. Officials have yet to identify the outbreak's patient zero and still need to trace possibly tens of thousands of people who may have come in contact with infected individuals. The first month of this Ebola outbreak was already the worst on record, the World Health Organization has said.

Qatari LNG Tanker Hit By Iranian Missile In Hormuz Chokepoint

Qatari LNG Tanker Hit By Iranian Missile In Hormuz Chokepoint

TYLER DURDEN

A fully loaded Qatari LNG tanker was struck by a projectile near the Omani coast while exiting the Strait of Hormuz, raising fresh concerns that disruptions across the key energy maritime chokepoint could persist longer than traders had expected. Brent crude rose more than 1% to $72.76 a barrel as traders reassessed the war-risk premium in the Gulf area.

The Al Rekayyat, owned by Qatar's state shipping company Nakilat, was struck early Tuesday about 8 nautical miles east of Limah, Oman, according to Bloomberg, which cited people familiar with the matter and an alert from EOS Risk Group.

EOS said the maritime incident involved either an Iranian suicide drone or a missile strike that resulted in a fire on the Al Rekayyat. No casualties were reported.

Al Rekayyat was fully loaded at Qatar's Ras Laffan export terminal, making it the first Qatari LNG carrier targeted since the US-Iran conflict began in late February. The tanker appeared to be transiting part of the Hormuz chokepoint with its transponder off, indicating it was not on an Iranian-approved shipping route.

Following the attack, another Qatari-loaded LNG carrier, Al Areesh, made an abrupt U-turn before entering the strait and began circling, Bloomberg ship tracking data showed. Other tankers continued to sail through the highly contested chokepoint, including oil tankers and LPG carriers, using both Iran-approved and US-managed routes.

Later today, President Trump heads to a NATO summit in Ankara, where the Iran conflict is expected to be the center of discussion among world leaders.

US-Iran talks remain suspended while Tehran holds funeral ceremonies for late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Qatar has said negotiations will resume after the ceremonies.

UBS analyst Justinus Steinhorst commented on market reaction:

Energy {UBXEENER} is among the best sectors on Tuesday after an LNG tanker was hit at Hormuz, rekindling fears around longer term disruption. Progress to normalise flows through strait appears to be stalling slightly with crossings still well below pre-conflict levels.

UBS analyst Aditi Samajpati noted:

Oil prices may remain under pressure in the near term as additional barrels from previously stranded ships in the Strait of Hormuz reach the market. UBS Wealth Management CIO however believes the current price level overestimates how quickly traffic through the waterway will normalize as it takes time for shipping confidence to be fully restored and for tankers to return to the Persian Gulf to load oil for export. The Strait is now accommodating fewer ships than before the conflict began, and the recovery of shut-in production is likely to be slower than expected, CIO says, adding that broad commodity exposure continues to offer diversification benefits in a portfolio.

Vessel flows on the Hormuz chokepoint (transponders on) remain elevated but well below pre-war levels. This may only suggest the normalization process will take longer than expected.

Latest Iran and Hormuz headlines (courtesy of Bloomberg):

Strait of Hormuz Attacks

• Iran reportedly fired at least two missiles at commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday night, with both vessels suffering significant damage but no casualties

• A Qatari LNG carrier, Al Rekayyat, was struck by a projectile near the Omani coast on Tuesday morning as it exited the Strait of Hormuz

• Another loaded LNG tanker, Al Areesh, appears to have U-turned in the Persian Gulf on Tuesday following the strikes

• The attacks are testing a late-June US-Iran deal intended to halt attacks in the waterway as the two sides work toward a peace agreement

Diplomatic Developments

• Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned on Tuesday that negotiations on a final deal will not commence if threats continue, referencing a memorandum of understanding with the US

• Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian will travel to Iraq on Tuesday to attend funeral processions for former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, scheduled for Wednesday in Najaf and Karbala

Market Impact

• European natural gas prices surged as much as 6% on Tuesday, the most in a month, following the attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz

• Oil prices climbed on Tuesday, with Brent trading near $73 a barrel, as the attacks highlighted continued risks to vessels in the critical waterway

• Gold fell for a second day on Tuesday, dropping as much as 1.2% to below $4,120 an ounce, as the Hormuz attacks rekindled inflation concerns

• France lowered its 2026 GDP growth forecast to 0.7% from 0.9%, citing the Middle East conflict as a factor holding back output