(Yeah, table of contents… but honestly, who actually reads those?)
Ukraine Smacks Borisoglebsk, Russia Goes Drone-Crazy
So, July 5, 2025, Ukraine straight-up launched a drone attack on Russia’s Borisoglebsk airbase (that’s in Voronezh, for all you map nerds), aiming right at the fancy Su-34s and Su-35s. At the same time, Russia basically rage-quit and tossed 479 drones and missiles across Ukraine. Huge. Like, one of the biggest air assaults since all this madness started. It’s your classic “you hit me, I hit you harder” energy—right before some awkward peace talks in Istanbul. Oh, and don’t forget, Ukraine pulled this “Spiderweb” move last month that torched 41 Russian planes. Things are spicy.
So What Actually Happened in July?
Ukraine’s secret service (the SBU, which sounds like a discount streaming service but is actually pretty terrifying) went after Borisoglebsk to mess with Russian air raids. Reports say there were explosions and fires—classic action movie stuff—but the actual damage? Depends who you ask. Russia’s like, “Yeah, we shot down 49 Ukrainian drones, NBD.” On the flip side, Russia went full scorched earth with 472 drones and seven missiles overnight. Ukraine claims they swatted 385 of those out of the sky. But a Russian missile did hit a Ukrainian training base—12 dead, 60 hurt. This is not Call of Duty, folks.
Why’s Everyone Playing Drone Dodgeball?
Honestly? It’s about flexing and sending messages. Here’s the vibe:
- Ukraine’s game plan: Hit Russian airbases, try to stop those soul-crushing missile barrages before they even launch. Also, Ukraine’s gotten creative—smuggled FPV drones, anyone? It’s like a hacker’s wet dream.
- Russia claps back: That big drone swarm is their answer to “Spiderweb.” Ukraine dinged a third of their strategic bombers last month. Ouch.
- Negotiation games: Both sides want to look tough before sitting down in Istanbul. Gotta posture for the cameras, right?
- Morale boost and mind games: These strikes are meant to shake confidence, poke holes in the enemy’s “invincible” image, and fire up the home crowd.
- Signaling to the West: Ukraine wants its allies (cough, America, cough) to see it’s still scrappy, especially with Trump back in the White House doing, well… Trump things.
- Attrition warfare: Every lost bomber or A-50 radar plane is a big deal. Russia can’t exactly order new ones on Amazon.
- Infrastructure carnage: Russia’s drone blitz? It’s about making Ukrainian cities and defenses unusable.
- Propaganda circus: Both sides exaggerate wins and downplay losses. Welcome to war in the TikTok era.
- Ceasefire? Lol, not yet: Russia’s totally not into unconditional deals; trust is at rock bottom.
Recent Escalations—The Greatest Hits of 2025
- June 1: Ukraine’s “Spiderweb” hits four Russian airbases, fries 41 planes. Not a typo.
- June 27: Ukrainian drones blow up two Su-34s at Maryinivka airbase.
- June 6: Russia flings 38 cruise missiles and 400+ drones at Kyiv, Chernihiv. Death toll: 5, with 80 injured.
- June 9: Ukraine targets Russian electronic warfare gear in Cheboksary. Bye-bye, Kometa antennas.
- December 2024: Ukraine strikes Engels and Dyagilevo airbases, hits Tu-95s and fuel depots.
If you’re noticing a trend—yeah, drones are basically running this show now.
Quick-Glance Carnage Chart
| Date | Who Hit | Target(s) | What Got Wrecked | Casualties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 5, 2025 | Ukraine | Borisoglebsk, RU | Fighter jets, big fire | Not reported |
| July 5, 2025 | Russia | Ukrainian cities | 385 drones stopped, 12 dead, 60 hurt | |
| June 1, 2025 | Ukraine | Four RU airbases | 41 planes, $7B in damage | None reported |
| June 6, 2025 | Russia | Kyiv, etc. | Infrastructure smashed | 5 dead, 80 hurt |
| June 27, 2025 | Ukraine | Maryinivka, RU | 2 Su-34s toasted | None reported |
What Does This All Mean?
- Military punch: Ukraine’s strikes are chewing through Russia’s ability to launch those awful long-range missiles. Losing those ancient-but-deadly Tu-95s and A-50s is a big deal.
- Money pit: Ukraine says June’s attacks cost Russia $7 billion. July’s bill? Still coming in.
- Diplomatic facepalms: Istanbul peace talks are looking shakier by the day. Russia’s not biting on Ukraine’s ceasefire pleas.
- Psy-ops and morale: Ukraine’s deep strikes make Russia look vulnerable and give Ukrainians a much-needed morale jolt.
- Western “help”: The U.S., now under Trump 2.0, is pushing for a quick end. Good luck with that.
Want to actually do something besides doomscrolling? Stay plugged in, donate if you can, and, for the love of all that’s holy, fact-check everything. The propaganda game is next-level right now.
And that’s the sitrep—messy, brutal, and way more complicated than any headline can capture.
