🇺🇦🇷🇺 Could Ukraine actually take back the land Russia seized at the start of the war?
As crazy as that might sound to a lot of people right now, it is still a fair question.
While Russian forces tighten the noose around Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, the last major Ukrainian fortress cities in Donetsk, a quieter issue is gaining weight: if Kyiv can stabilize or reverse the current pressure, is a genuine recovery of earlier lost territory still possible?
Those 2 cities have been fortified for years.
Roads, rail lines, command posts and ammunition depots all run through them.
Russian units are now within a few kilometers and already hitting them with heavy glide bombs and drones.
If they fall, Moscow would finish its formal claim on Donetsk and gain a clearer path into the flatter ground that leads west.
That would be a heavy military and political blow, and yet the wider front is not one-directional.
Ukraine’s 2026 counteroffensive has already produced net territorial gains in parts of the east and south for the first time in years.
Manpower shortages, logistics strain and the sheer depth of Russian defensive lines still make a large-scale reconquest of 2022 losses extremely difficult.
But the fact that Ukrainian forces are again taking ground in some sectors shows the war has not settled into pure attrition.
The battle for Sloviansk and Kramatorsk will decide whether Ukraine can keep any meaningful foothold in Donetsk.
What happens after that will decide whether the early Russian gains remain permanent or become negotiable again.
Source: @WeTheBrandon Substack / Writer: Lucas
— @MarioNawfal Aug 7, 2026
Day: August 6, 2026
JUST IN: 🇮🇱🇮🇷 Israel Is Silently Preparing for Its Biggest Ever Attack on Iran
Israel is silently preparing for its biggest ever attack on Iran, as the country believes Tehran will never give up its nuclear ambitions.
Israel is prepared to act hard and alone to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
At the same time, Israel is preparing to acquire 50 additional F-35 stealth fighters and 50 F-15EX/F-15I fighter jets, significantly strengthening its long range strike capability.
Israel has made Iran’s nuclear ambitions its ultimate red line.
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— @War_Radar2 Aug 7, 2026
U.S. intelligence now assesses that Vladimir Putin could test NATO’s resolve with a limited attack on a member state within the next several years, marking a shift from earlier assessments that Russia would avoid provoking the alliance while the war in Ukraine continued.
According to The Wall Street Journal, U.S. intelligence believes potential scenarios range from cyberattacks and hybrid operations using unmarked forces to a limited land incursion, with the risk increasing between now and 2029. Officials reportedly assess Putin may be more willing to take risks as Russia faces mounting pressure from Ukrainian strikes, slowing battlefield gains, and domestic expectations for victory.
The report also ties the assessment to growing concerns over U.S. munitions stockpiles. Officials cited shortages of key weapons, including Patriot interceptors, THAAD interceptors, Stingers, Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM), and ATACMS, following years of aid to Ukraine and heavy expenditure during Operation Epic Fury against Iran. The Pentagon and White House dispute those concerns, with Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell calling reports of shortages “false” and the White House maintaining the U.S. has sufficient munitions to meet all strategic objectives.
— @sentdefender Aug 7, 2026
Middle East live: Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey to sign defence pact on Friday
➡️ go.france24.com/wKpT— @FRANCE24 Aug 7, 2026
Exclusive: At a Camp David summit this past weekend, President Trump demanded answers from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over extreme munitions shortages that now threaten to limit military options in the war with Iran. wapo.st/4z6jxUq
— @washingtonpost Aug 7, 2026
Some of Doge’s $110bn saving reports are wrong or lack evidence, US watchdog finds bbc.in/457Hehh
— @BBCWorld Aug 6, 2026
⛔️UNCONSTITUTIONAL: President Donald Trump signed two executive orders targeting the Constitution’s guarantee of birthright citizenship despite a recent Supreme Court ruling upholding it.
⛔️One order declares “alien enemies of the United States, members of foreign terrorist organizations and large categories of people who lobby an act on behalf of foreign governments” Stephen Miller said.
⛔️The second order denies visas for individuals engaged in “birth tourism,” Miller said. x.com/RpsAgainstTrump/status…
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— @drhossamsamy65 Aug 6, 2026
#CIA #DIA #Mossad
– Concerns regarding depleted U.S. missile stockpiles
– Cyberattacks on water systems in at least 12 states are suspected
– Fauci Held in Contempt
News today 6 pm
share.google/aimode/tmsYwPMo…
The top headlines today, Thursday, August 6, 2026, feature major political clashes over national security, immigration overhauls, and significant congressional votes.
🏛️ Congressional & Administration NewsFauci Held in Contempt: The Senate Homeland Security Committee officially voted to hold former Covid czar Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress after he exercised his Fifth Amendment rights and refused to testify. [1, 2]
DOGE Overstated Savings: A new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) stated that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) overstated its savings, calling its $110 billion metric incorrect and unreliable. [1, 2, 3]
Mitch McConnell Discharged: Republican Senator Mitch McConnell, 84, has been discharged from a rehabilitation center following a June hospitalization. He will continue his recovery from home, though his Senate return date remains unconfirmed. [4, 5]
Head Start & Border Actions: The Trump administration unveiled an executive order aiming to end “birth tourism” and birthright citizenship, while simultaneously proposing a major overhaul to remove certain federal requirements governing the Head Start program. [1, 6]🌐 Global & Security Tension
Strait of Hormuz Standoff: Iran stated it is close to a deal with Oman regarding transit arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz, though it will not fully reopen the vital waterway. Meanwhile, the Iranian parliament is reviewing plans to completely ban U.S. and Israeli ships from the area. [2, 7, 8]
Munitions Dispute: Tensions rose behind the scenes as reports emerged that President Trump clashed with officials at Camp David over concerns regarding depleted U.S. missile stockpiles amid the ongoing negotiations with Iran. [3, 8]
Water System Cyberattacks: U.S. officials reported that cyberattacks on water systems in at least 12 states are suspected to be linked to Iran-backed hackers. [2]💼 Economy & Tech
Jobless Claims: Weekly U.S. filings for jobless benefits rose slightly to 199,000, though overall workforce layoffs remain at historically low levels ahead of the Friday jobs report. [9, 10]
FCC Media Deregulation: FCC Chair Brendan Carr pushed ahead with scrapping the national TV ownership cap, a major victory for large broadcasters that is expected to trigger swift legal challenges from critics. [1, 10][1] politico.com
[2] cbsnews.com
[3] cnn.com
[4] nbcnews.com
[5] nypost.com
[6] whitehouse.gov
[7] npr.org
[8] washingtonpost.com
[9] abcnews.com
[10] cnn.com— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Aug 6, 2026
U.S. Marine veteran, detained in Russia since 2022, is hospitalized in serious condition. cbsn.ws/4fUPLc9
— @CBSNews Aug 6, 2026
‘President Donald Trump has reportedly clashed with his defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, over the US missile inventory, and it may have been a factor in his decision over the weekend to call off a “massive” campaign of strikes against Iran – though this is denied by the White House.
‘As we shall see, this is a problem for the whole world,’ writes Lewis Page.
Tap the link below to find out why ⤵️
— @Telegraph Aug 6, 2026