Cynical' Ukrainian Counteroffensive Takes 'Horrific' Casualties

©Photo : Twitter / @clashreport

Ukraine's much-hyped counteroffensive has proven a costly debacle so far. But international relations and security analyst Mark Sleboda warned that Kiev and its NATO backers may still have some tricks up their sleeves.

The Kiev regime appears to be cynically throwing men and machines against solid Russian defenses — but all mat not be as it seems, a military commentator says.

One week into the Ukrainian counteroffensive and the Ukrainian army has already lost thousands of casualties, along with up to 15 of the vaunted German Leopard 2 tanks, 13 M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) supplied by the US and five of the French AMX-10 RC light tanks.

Security Analyst Mark Sleboda told Sputnik that Ukraine's military chiefs were to blame for sending their troops into the killing fields.

"Currently there is fighting along pretty much every line of engagement between Russia and Ukraine right now, except for the Kherson area where the recent flooding has made combat impossible," Sleboda noted.

He said the Kiev regime was sending troops forward in NATO-supplied IFVs and armoured personnel carriers (APCs), supported by tanks and artillery — including US-made HIMARS rocket launchers.

"But they're doing it into echelon to Russian defenses that have been formed over months," Sleboda stressed. "Five layers of defense, trenches, concrete fortifications, pillboxes, bunkers, tank obstacles like dragon's teeth."

But he said that most significant was that Russian forces had "created mazes of minefields" which have taken a significant toll on attacking Ukrainian vehicles.

"it sounds rather cynical, but right now the strategy that the Kiev regime appears to be using to clear the minefields is over the vehicles and bodies of its territorial defense units," Sleboda said. "And the horrific casualties that are resulting from this are pretty high."

He said the Ukrainian plan right now appeared to be based on "hoping to punch a hole in the line somewhere."

"And then presumably a very large reserve force, supported by a the majority of the western main battle tanks, will seek to exploit that," Sleboda ventured. "But then even so, to make it even through one line of defense and to face several lines more, each actually progressively more significant than the others, It seems a very bad situation."

But the security expert warned against complacency on the Russian side, saying he expected "something more cunning" from the Ukrainian armed forces.

"Once the waters recede from the destruction of the Kakhovka dam, I expect some kind of multiple pronged attack, including amphibious assaults against a lower Kakhovka reservoir towards Energodar and the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant," he said. "But I would presume that Russia is also prepared to defend that there as well."

"NATO has been wargaming this out for half a year. This is the most hyped, announced offensive in world history," Sleboda stressed. "I'm expecting that there has to be a curveball. It can't be this straight up playing exactly into Russia's defenses. There's going to be something. We just haven't seen it yet."

Russian Army Launches Counteroffensive Near Vremovka Ledge - Official

Russian armed forces have launched a counteroffensive to push back Ukrainian army near the Vremovka ledge in the Zaporozhye direction, Vladimir Rogov, a senior official of the Russian-appointed Zaporozhye regional administration, said on Monday.

Earlier in the day, Rogov said heavy fighting was going on in the area, while Ukrainian forces managed to capture the settlements of Neskuchnoye and Makarovka.

"Currently, a counterattack has been launched by our guys – the 127th division is going into battle, going forward. At the same time, massive support is being provided by the Russian aerospace forces," he told the Russian Komsomolskaya Pravda broadcaster.

Rogov said that the objective of the counterattack is to drive Ukrainians out of the captured villages, adding that Russian artillery is "giving hell" there.

The Ukrainian government has been planning a major counteroffensive against Russia forces for several months. Ukrainian and Western military experts have repeatedly named the Zaporozhye Region as one of Kiev's main targets, as it would open the access to the Azov Sea and cut off the land corridor to Crimea.

Ukraine Loses 250 Military in Zaporozhye, South Donetsk Directions in Past Day

Ukraine has lost up to 250 military in the Zaporozhye and South Donetsk directions over the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday.

Over the past day, the Ukrainian armed forces continued to attempt offensive operations in the South Donetsk direction.

In the area of the Vremovka ledge, the Vostok group of the Russian armed forces repelled three enemy attacks from the direction of the Donetsk People's Republic and in the Zaporozhye region.

"Over the past day, up to 250 Ukrainian military, five tanks, seven armored combat vehicles, two cars, an Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system, and a D-30 howitzer were destroyed in [the Zaporozhye direction]," the ministry said in a statement, adding that Ukraine lose over 120 military in South Donetsk direction. The Russian military also repelled two attacks of Ukraine in the Donetsk direction, the statement said, noting that Kiev lost up to 140 military in the direction over the past day.

The ministry also reported that the Russian armed forces launched a missile attack with sea-based high-precision long-range weapons, targeting places of deployment of reserves of Ukrainian troops.

"[On Sunday night], the Russian armed forces launched a sea-based high-precision long-range weapon at the places of deployment of the Ukrainian armed forces' reserves. The designated objects were hit. The goal of the strike was achieved," the ministry said in a statement.

Special operation, 10 June. Main:

▪️Shoigu signed an order that defines the procedure for organizing the service activities of volunteer formations to increase their effectiveness as part of the Joint Group of Forces, said Pankov, deputy head of the Ministry of Defense;

▪️The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that the Ukrainian troops continued unsuccessful attempts of offensive operations in the Yuzhno-Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions and in the Artemovsk region throughout the day;

Artillery from Group South hit several field barracks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the direction of Donetsk

▪️The department added that Kyiv lost up to 230 militants in the Zaporozhye and Yuzhnodonets directions in a day; in Kupian - up to 65, in Krasnoliman - more than 60, in Kherson - up to 40;

▪️The actions of four Ukrainian DRGs were suppressed in the Kupyansk direction, the Russian Defense Ministry noted;

▪️The defense department clarified that the Russian air defense systems shot down a Ukrainian MiG-29 in the DPR, 2 Storm Shadow cruise missiles and 10 HIMARS MLRS shells;

▪️Artillerymen of the Russian Federation destroyed 2 self-propelled Gvozdikas, 4 ammunition transport vehicles, a D-30 howitzer and 2 mortar positions of Ukrainian troops in the Krasnolymansk direction, Savchuk, the head of the press center of the Center group, told RIA Novosti;

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▪️Strikes, presumably, by Storm Shadow missiles, were carried out by Ukrainian troops at temporary accommodation points on the Arabat Spit, a woman died, Acting Governor of the Saldo region said.

Special operation, 11 June. Main:

▪️The Armed Forces of Ukraine tried to attack the Russian ship Priazovye with drone boats, which controlled the security of the Turkish Stream and Blue Stream gas pipelines in the Black Sea, all 6 boats were destroyed, the RF Ministry of Defense reported

▪️As a result of negotiations, 94 Russian servicemen were returned from Ukrainian captivity, the military department said

▪️According to the Ministry of Defense, the Armed Forces of Ukraine lost more than 360 military personnel during attempts to attack in the South Donetsk, Zaporozhye and Donetsk directions

▪️There are no agreements and prerequisites for negotiations between the Russian Federation and Kiev, Russia does not even see a flimsy foundation for building a dialogue, Peskov said.

Former AC Milan boss and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi Dies Age 86 in Hospital in Milan

©Sputnik / Alexey Vitvitsky / Go to the mediabank

In early April, Berlusconi was treated for a lung infection, which was reportedly linked to a previously undisclosed case of chronic leukemia.

Former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi of Italy, who was hospitalized in Milan's San Raffaele hospital for scheduled follow-up tests for a blood condition last week, has died aged 86, an Italian newspaper reported on Monday.

Health Problems

Berlusconi was rushed to hospital on Friday afternoon, just three weeks after leaving the clinic. The re-hospitalization of the veteran of Italian politics understandably alarmed many supporters and political allies of the ex-prime minister, according to media reports.

However, the ex-PM’s attending physicians said that the new hospitalization was due to the need to "carry out planned control studies in connection with a known hematological pathology."

The bulletin, which was released on Friday by the former prime minister's personal physician Alberto Zangrillo and hematologist Fabio Ciceri, reportedly noted that their patient's condition was stable.

This was preceded by Berlusconi being admitted to the San Raffaele hospital on April 5. Italian media reported at the time that he was being hospitalized due to breathing problems, but later on, the ex-PM's attending physicians reported for the first time that he was suffering from chronic leukemia. He received chemotherapy at the clinic and was discharged on May 19.

Quick Look at Biography

Berlusconi was born on September 29, 1936 in Milan, Italy. After graduating from the University of Milan with a degree in law in 1961, he decided to kick off a business career in construction. As a real-estate developer, he obtained a massive fortune by the 1970s.

The future media mogul created the cable television firm Telemilano in 1974 and six years later, he established Canale 5, Italy’s first commercial television network.

By the late 1980s, Berlusconi-created TV stations dominated Italian airwaves. Separately, he diversified his business holdings as he acquired department stores, movie theatres, publishing houses, and the AC Milan football team. He strengthened his empire under the auspices of the Fininvest holding company, a huge conglomerate controlling more than 150 businesses.

Political Career, Sex Scandals

The billionaire media tycoon first came to office in 1994 and was at the helm of four of the country’s governments between then and 2011.

Berlusconi led the center-right Forza Italia party which went into coalition under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after elections in September 2022, when he was elected to the Senate, Italy's upper house.

The media mogul's political career saw him being convicted of tax fraud in late 2012, for which he served a year-long sentence doing part-time community service at a residential home in Milan. His ban on running for office was scrapped in time for the Italian general elections in 2018, when Forza Italia ran in coalition with the League and Brothers of Italy. At the end of the day, Forza Italia fell short of the 40% required to become the ruling party.

Apart from tax scheme-related scandals, Berlusconi was involved in trials over his sexual escapades. He was once convicted, but later cleared of charges of having sex with an underage nightclub dancer during one of his so-called “bunga bunga” parties. Berlusconi was married twice and he is survived by his five children.

Beppe Severgnini, a columnist and author of a book on Berlusconi, described the politician as a “protopopulist” whose success had paved the way for leaders like Hungary’s Viktor Orban, Britain’s Boris Johnson and former US President Donald Trump.

“Berlusconi was actually less arrogant and less obnoxious than most but nonetheless he started it all,” Severgnini said.

“The legacy of Berlusconi was he could read the weaknesses and temptations of a nation. That’s what he really is a master of. He absolved us of all our sins, we were acquitted even before we committed those sins, and he was not a leader, he was a follower in a way, he followed the ‘pancia’ – the guts of Italy.”

A state funeral will be held Wednesday, according to the state-owned public broadcaster RAI, citing the president of the Senate.

Property developer to political power

Born in Milan in 1936, Berlusconi was first to make his name as a business tycoon, at one point becoming the richest man in Italy.

He gave notice early of his showman side by working as a lounge-room crooner aboard a cruise ship to help attend university, where he studied law.

Various low-level commercial enterprises followed before the fledgling entrepreneur enjoyed his first real success in property development in the late 1960s when he was involved in a project to build Milano Two – nearly 4,000 flats – outside Milan.

After amassing a fortune from his property portfolio in the 1970s, he diversified his interests by setting up a TV cable company, Telemilano, and buying two other cable channels in an effort to break the national TV monopoly in Italy. In 1978, these channels were incorporated into his newly formed Fininvest group, which included department stores, insurance companies and even AC Milan – one of the world’s biggest football clubs, which he owned for 31 years. 

Berlusconi turned his attention to politics in 1993 when he formed the center-right Forza Italia Party, named for “Forza, Italia!” (Go, Italy!), a chant heard at Italian national soccer team games. 

The following year, in a snap election, he became prime minister. However, a dispute with his right-wing coalition partners from the Northern League Party, as well as an indictment for alleged tax fraud, ended Berlusconi’s tenure in the job after barely seven months. He was acquitted on appeal in 2000 after the statute of limitations had expired.

After defeat in the 1996 election to his political nemesis, Romano Prodi, he became embroiled in other financial scandals, including a charge of bribing tax inspectors. He denied any wrongdoing and was cleared again on appeal in 2000.

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His fortunes turned again in 2001 when he was sworn in as prime minister for a second time. But Prodi – a former European Commission president – ended Berlusconi’s more successful reign with his center-left Union coalition victory in 2006. At that time, the tycoon had presided over the longest-serving post-war Italian government.

Despite having a pacemaker implanted to regulate his heartbeat after he collapsed during a political rally, he refused to slow down. Sporting a hair transplant, cosmetic surgery and a tan, Berlusconi returned to power for a third time in 2008 under the banner of the newly created People of Freedom party, which he left in 2013 when he created his Forza Italia party.

Ebbing authority The next year proved to be one of extremes for the veteran politician. He was praised for his handling of the devastating earthquake that struck the Italian town of L’Aquila in April 2009, and survived criticism after urging survivors to see their plight like “a weekend of camping.”

But the following month, Berlusconi’s second wife, Veronica Lario, filed for divorce – alleging her then 73-year-old husband had an inappropriate relationship with an 18-year-old aspiring model whose birthday party he had attended. Berlusconi said she was the daughter of a friend and that he had done nothing wrong.

In December that year, a man with a history of mental illness hit Berlusconi in the face with a replica of Milan’s cathedral at a campaign rally, breaking several of his teeth and fracturing his nose. Defense Minister Ignazio La Russa told the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera that the irrepressible Berlusconi continued to shake hands with supporters for “a couple of minutes” after being hit.

Ada seni jalanan interaktif di Solo tiap akhir pekan. Mau coba?

Usai direvitalisasi, kawasan koridor Gatot Subroto di Solo Jawa Tengah kini menjadi pusat kesenian dan hiburan pada setiap Sabtu malam. Ribuan pengunjung berdatangan menyaksikan aneka pertunjukan seni serta workshop sejumlah kesenian dan kerajinan. Warga yang datang juga dipersilakan untuk berinteraksi dan mencoba membuat karya tersebut.

Koridor Gatot Subroto atau lebih dikenal Gatsu, makin memantapkan sebagai areal seni jalanan yang keren dan menarik.

Terlebih bila malam minggu, puluhan seniman menampilkan karya-karya mereka yang berbaur dengan anak muda yang mengunjungi koridor Gatsu.

Tak hanya menampilkan lukisan-lukisan yang ada di pintu-pintu toko, namun seniman-seniman lukis dan musik juga melibatkan diri sepanjang malam.

Hasil karya seniman itu, justru menjadi incaran pelaku media sosial karena sangat instagramable. Warna-warna cat yang ditorehkan dengan berbagai figur dan gambar, menjadikan setiap gambar yang diabadikan terkesan estetik.

Yang menarik, warga yang mengunjungi areal tersebut, juga bisa menyaksikan para kreator menuangkan kreasinya masing-masing. Mulai dari seni lukis, teater, musik dan puisi dengan desain panggung teatrikal yang menarik.

Sekelompok komunitas budaya, juga menampilkan monolog dan pembacaan puisi. Di sudut lain juga ada sekelompok komunitas yang sedang perform musik untuk sebuah ajang donasi.

Seperti yang diperlihatkan komunitas penyayang kucing yang sedang ‘ngamen’ di Street Art week’. Mereka yang memiliki kepedulian luar biasa pada hewan kucing, berinisiatif mengumpulkan dana untuk dibelanjakan pakan kucing yang terdampak banjir Solo belum lama ini.

Melalui kegiatan seni, mereka berempati terhadap kucing tak bertuan atau kucing jalanan yang sering kelaparan dan sakit.

Warga yang sengaja menikmati aktivitas seni, juga bisa terlibat pada workshop yang digelar para kreator seni.

Goresan cat di atas kertas atau kanvas menjadi pilihan yang menarik bagi pengunjung. Terlebih ketika memperhatikan seni sketsa yang menampilkan sketsa-sketsa wajah yang karyanya nyaris sempurna.

Gemerlap lampu-lampu kecil yang menyorot dari kanopi-kanopi indah, makin membuat Koridor Gatsu semakin hidup.

Bangku-bangku penonton pertunjukan seni yang terbuat dari keranjang atau bronjong, merupakan ide unik yang natural dan berkesan tradisional.

Malam terus merambah, namun Koridor Gatsu malah semakin ramai pengunjung, baik anak muda maupun keluarga. Koridor itu malah berubah seperti galeri seni mural yang panjang dan hidup.

Pengunjung tidak hanya dibiarkan sebagai penonton, tapi diajak untuk ikut berpartisipasi dalam membuat berbagai karya-karya seni. Hal ini memberikan pengalaman tak terduga dan sangat berkesan bagi siapa saja yang berkunjung.

Ajak yuk semua teman dekat dan keluargamu untuk berkunjung ke Koridor Gatsu Solo.

Ini Langkah Mahfud MD Perihal Jusuf Hamka Tagih Utang Rp 800 M ke Pemerintah

Menteri Koordinator Politik Hukum dan Keamanan (Menkopolhukam) Mahfud MD mengatakan telah mendapatkan instruksi dari Presiden Joko Widodo atau Jokowi terkait utang pihak swasta kepada pemerintah. Mahfud mengungkapkan bakal mengambil sejumlah langkah.

“Benar, Presiden RI telah menugaskan saya untuk mengkoordinasi pembayaran utang pemerintah terhadap pihak swasta atau rakyat,” kata Mahfud, seperti dikutip Tempo, Ahad, 11 Juni 2023.

“Silahkan Pak Jusuf Hamka langsung ke Kementerian Keuangan, nanti kalau butuh bantuan teknis saya bisa bantu, misalnya dengan memo atau surat yang diperlukan,” kata Mahfud dalam siaran pers di YouTube Kementerian Polhukam, Ahad, 11 Juni 2023.

Untuk itu, Mahfud telah membentuk tim yang bertugas untuk memverifikasi utang-utang yang dimiliki pemerintah dan telah berkekuatan hukum tetap oleh pengadilan. Dia mengatakan tim itu terdiri dari Kementerian Keuangan, Polri dan Kejaksaan Agung.

Terkait utang pemerintah kepada Jusuf Hamka sebesar Rp 800 miliar, Mahfud menyarankan Jusuf untuk mengirimkan surat kepada Kemenkeu yang isinya menagih pembayaran utang. Karena, menurut Mahfud, bisa saja utang Jusuf Hamka sudah ada dalam daftar yang sedang diteliti oleh timnya. Mahfud bersedia membantu penagihan itu dengan membuatkan memo atau surat.

“Kemenkeu wajib membayar dan itu kewajiban pemerintah dan hukum negara terhadap rakyatnya dan terhadap pihak swasta yang melakukan usaha secara sah dan transaksi sah,” kata dia.

Mahfud mengatakan Presiden Jokowi sudah dua kali menyampaikan kewajiban pemerintah untuk membayar utang ke masyarakat dalam dua kali rapat internal yang berbeda. Dia mengatakan rapat internal pertama dilaksanakan pada 23 Mei 2022.

Rapat itu kemudian ditindaklanjuti dengan penerbitan Surat Keputusan Menkopolhukam Nomor 63 Tahun 2022 yang isinya adalah perintah meneliti kembali dan menentukan pembayaran terhadap pihak yang mempunyai piutang kepada pemerintah.

Menurut Mahfud, Presiden Jokowi kembali mengingatkan soal kewajiban pemerintah membayar utang dalam rapat internal tanggal 13 Januari 2023. “Presiden menyampaikan kalau rakyat dan swasta punya utang kita menagih dengan disiplin, tetapi kita juga harus konsekuen kalau kita yang punya utang harus membayar. Itu perintah presiden,” kata dia

Sebelumnya, Jusuf Hamka menagih utang kepada pemerintah sebesar Rp 800 miliar. Dia mengatakan bahwa utang itu berhubungan dengan deposito PT Citra Marga Nusaphala Persada Tbk (CMNP) yang belum dibayarkan pemerintah sejak 1998.

Jusuf mengatakan utang itu bermula dari deposito milik perusahaannya di Bank Yakin Makmur alias Bank Yama yang tak kunjung diganti selepas likuidasi pada krisis moneter 1998. Saat itu pemerintah berdalih CMNP terafiliasi dengan pemilik Bank Yama, yakni Siti Hardijanti Hastuti Soeharto alias Tutut Soeharto.

Sengketa ini kemudian masuk dalam gugatan di Mahkamah Agung (MA) pada 2015. Hasilnya, Jusuf memenangkan gugatan tersebut dan pemerintah diwajibkan membayar deposito CMNP tersebut beserta bunganya sebesar 2 persen per bulan.

Namun, Jusuf Hamka mengatakan pemerintah hingga kini belum membayar kan utang tersebut. Jusuf mengatakan sudah bersurat ke Direktorat Jenderal Kekayaan Negara (DJKN) Kemenkeu pada 2019-2020. Namun, DJKN selalu mengatakan sedang melakukan verifikasi Kemenko Polhukam.

Jusuf Hamka mengungkapkan, CMNP telah mengajukan gugatan perdata terhadap pemerintah terkait penempatan dana oleh PT CMNP pada PT Bank Yakin Makmur (Bank Yama) saat krisis likuidasi. Menteri yang menjabat pada saat itu ialah Bambang Brodjonegoro.

Dia juga membantah pernyataan Staf Khusus Menteri Keuangan Sri Mulyani, Prastowo Yustinus, bahwa utang pemerintah hanya senilai Rp 179,4 miliar

Dalam surat perjanjian antara CMNP dan Kementerian Keuangan (Kemenkeu) berjudul Amandemen Berita Acara Kesepakatan Jumlah Pembayaran Pelaksanaan Putusan Hukum, tergugat membayar denda sebesar 2 persen setiap bulan dari seluruh dana terhitung sejak Bank Yama dibekukan.

“25 tahun berapa bulan itu, satu tahun 12 bulan, 25x12 bulan=300 bulan. 300 bulan kalau dikali 2 persen, 600 persen. 600 persen kalau utangnya Rp 179 miliar, 6 kalinya, bahkan lebih dari Rp 1,2 atau Rp 1,4 (triliun) dengan pokoknya,” ujarnya.

Sementara itu, Prastowo memastikan angka Rp 179,46 miliar merupakan putusan Mahkamah Agung pada tahun 2015. Pembayaran yang dimohonkan Jusuf Hamka adalah pengembalian dana deposito PT CMNP yang ditempatkan di Bank Yama yang kolaps pada saat krisis.

“Jika mengikuti Putusan MA Rp 78,91 miliar (pokok deposito Rp. 78,84 miliar + giro Rp. 76,08 miliar) ditambah Rp 100,54 miliar (bunga/denda sebesar 32,5 persen dari total bunga/denda yang dihitung hingga cut off date Juli 2015 sebesar Rp 309,36 miliar) menjadi total: Rp. 179.463.322.259,82,” katanya.

Mahfud MD meminta Kementerian Keuangan (Kemenkeu) yang dipimpin Menteri Keuangan Sri Mulyani untuk membayar tagihan utang pemerintah ke Jusuf Hamka. Utang tersebut merupakan pengembalian dana deposito perusahaan miliknya, PT Citra Marga Nusaphala Persada Tbk (CMNP) di Bank Yama yang kolaps saat krisis tahun 1998.

“Silakan Pak Jusuf Hamka langsung ke Kementerian Keuangan. Kalau butuh bantuan teknis, saya bantu dengan misalnya memo-memo yang diperlukan atau surat-surat yang diperlukan kalau bapak memerlukan itu,” kata Mahfud MD dalam keterangan pers virtual, Minggu (11/6)

Mahfud memastikan pemerintah secara sah mempunyai utang berdasar peraturan pengadilan yang sudah inkrah. Presiden Jokowi telah menugaskan Mahfud untuk mengakomodir pembayaran utang pemerintah terhadap pihak swasta atau rakyat.

“Kalau menurut saya yang gampang itu, tak perlu memo-memo. Pastikan saja apa yang saya sampaikan tadi itu memang dari Presiden Republik Indonesia,” ujar Mahfud.

Botched Start of Ukraine’s Counteroffensive Probably ‘Extremely Frustrating’ for Biden

©Sputnik / Konstantin Mikhalchevsky / Go to the mediabank

With Russia continuing its special military operation in Ukraine, it is safe to say that Kiev’s much-hyped counteroffensive kicked off with “not really a good start," international relations and security analyst Mark Sleboda said.

President Vladimir Putin announced earlier this week that Kiev's use of strategic reserves during recent attacks means it can be "stated with absolute certainty" that the much-anticipated counteroffensive had begun.

He stressed that thus far, Ukrainian forces have failed to achieve their objectives and that their advance-related plans had been thwarted by Russian troops.

All this “has got to be extremely frustrating” not only for the political figures of the Kiev regime, but for US President Joe Biden as well, given his murky past regarding Ukraine, Sleboda pointed out, claiming that the POTUS “has been intimately involved with Ukraine since the Obama presidency.”

The analyst was apparently referring to Biden facing allegations that he was purportedly engaged in a spate of corrupt activities related to the employment of his son Hunter Biden by the Ukrainian gas company Burisma while he was the US vice president under Barack Obama.

Biden has repeatedly rejected the allegations that he withheld loan guarantees to pressure Ukraine into firing a prosecutor to prevent a corruption investigation into Burisma and protect his son.

Sleboda recalled in this regard that a US news outlet recently claimed that “Biden's reputation is on the line in Ukraine," which, he said, is “an interesting political salvo at POTUS considering the situation."

Touching upon the counteroffensive, the analyst said that while the Ukrainian military “hasn’t committed the majority of their forces yet, everything they've thrown so far has failed to breach Russian lines for any significant period at any place for an entire week now.”

“That has got to have him (Biden) worried if his political legacy is on the line," Sleboda underscored.

“From everything that we have seen so far, I expect them to make some headway eventually, but they're not off to a really good start.

“I expect some dirty tricks, some cunning maneuver to be pulled out of the bag," Sleboda concluded.

For more in-depth analysis of current affairs, check out Sputnik Radio's Political Misfits.

Watch Russian Warship Fight Off Ukrainian Naval Drone Attack

Having suffered setbacks during its “counteroffensive” on land, the regime in Kiev likewise failed to achieve success in its latest endeavors at sea.

A new video released by Russia’s Ministry of Defense shows a futile attempt by Ukrainian forces to attack the Priazovye, an intelligence-gathering vessel of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.

The attack occurred about 300 kilometers southeast of the Russian port of Sevastopol. The Russian vessel sustained no damage during the incident.

Most Countries Side With Russia in Ukraine Conflict While US's Credibility Slips - Hersh

Most of the world's population supports Russia's special military operation in Ukraine, while the United States lost its credibility, Pulitzer Prize-winning US investigative journalist Seymour Hersh said on Sunday.

"The percentage of the (countries), particularly of the African and Central Asian and South Asian countries, that have changed from being pro-America to being pro-Russia is really quite dramatic. Much more than a half of the world's population supports Russia in the war and not the United States. This was never the way it was," Hersh said in an interview with talk show host George Galloway.

The journalist opined that "things are not as good as they used to be in Russia" amid Western sanctions, but "the idea that they are desperate is just wrong."

Hersh also argued that Washington "lost so much credibility around the world," citing Saudi Arabia's diplomatic rapprochement with Iran as an example.

"It's happened because, I think, because of Ukraine and dislike of the war. Saudi Arabia, by the way, they're selling 25% of (their) oil to China, as I have mentioned, but the Saudis immediately cut a deal. And the Iranians immediately responded … They have a lot of control in Yemen over the Houthi tribes," Hersh said.

Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, following calls for help from the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk. The world has split into those who support Moscow and accuse NATO of provoking the conflict, and those who condemn Russia's actions and impose sanctions on the country, while also ramping up their financial and military aid to Kiev. Some countries have avoided taking sides in the conflict.