Russia's Startup Reload: Force Redistribution. July-August 2026 (Part 1)

Forecast: "Future of key players. Near and slightly further horizons" (published July 14, 2026, link)

S. Dragan:

...And for Russia, it's like a startup rebooting its enemies. And this could all require a reshuffling of Russian forces around July 25, 2026...

In July-August of this year, "...for Russia, a startup rebooting its enemies...".

This period for Zelenskyy has been under the shadow of transitioning to a new phase of the terrorist war against Russia through strikes on civilian targets deep within Russian territory. Initially, it was a 40-day "operation to force peace", then it evolved into a 4-month plan of terrorist actions, "40+."

"Basically, there was a certain 'reboot' of Zelenskyy by August 12, 2026". But more details about this "reboot" are given in the Confirmation from August 19 of this year.

Evaluating how our Western adversaries have acted in recent times, it is appropriate to begin with how the West currently assesses its prospects in the Ukrainian conflict. According to unofficial estimates, globalists have invested approximately 2.5 trillion euros in this conflict. Initially, they hoped not only to recoup these financial losses but also to gain subsequent benefits from utilizing the natural resources of the (now defeated, in their unfulfilled hopes) Russia.

However, today, rational American and European politicians are realizing the futility and financial burden of such involvement on Kiev's side.

The first to withdraw from direct financing of Ukraine was Donald Trump in January of last year, shifting all financial responsibilities to Europe.

The United States has imposed significant restrictions on the use of its expensive weapons systems for Kiev.

Elon Musk is preventing the Ukrainian Armed Forces (USF) from using Starlink satellite communication systems for strikes inside Russia, according to The Atlantic. The publication reports that former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov attempted to convince the entrepreneur "behind the scenes" - but "there is no positive decision." Sources close to the former minister state that "Elon continues to insist that it's time to make a deal (for peace)."

Shortly thereafter, US President Donald Trump also rejected Kyiv's request to allow the use of Starlink-connected drones for strikes against Russian territory, according to Financial Times sources.

Previously, the US had refused to provide Kyiv with Patriot missiles and a license to produce them.

Moreover, US President Donald Trump accused his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, of deception. According to the politician, the Ukrainian leader claimed during their conversation that the American billionaire Elon Musk allegedly approved the use of Starlink over Russian territory for the country's Ministry of Defense.

However, it was later found that such permission from Musk had not been given to Kyiv.

Currently, the trend of decreasing financial contributions to Kyiv from some NATO allies and the United States is becoming increasingly apparent.

Unsurprisingly, Zelensky has been virtually psyching out due to financial shortages in recent times. Just days ago (early August), the Ukrainian "expired" head of the Bandera regime, Vladimir Zelensky, held an annual meeting with Ukrainian ambassadors, who were specially summoned to Kiev from their respective countries. He set them tasks personally, under the slogan "beg, beg, and beg again - with all your might!".

"Expired" Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky used Ukraine's Independence Day to appeal for additional help from Western countries. This is what they are sure of in the West.

The chief correspondent of Welt in Kiev, Christoph Vanner, reported that Ukrainian President addressed the guests who arrived in Kiev with requests for money and weapons.

According to the journalist, Zelensky has encountered serious financial difficulties. A new hole of $27 billion has appeared in the budget.

Western political figures who have long not denied their role as war hawks are now disavowing their part in stoking the war in Ukraine. Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson claimed he was not to blame for the collapse of peace talks in Istanbul in 2022. The politician's remarks were made in an interview with The Free Press.

“European leaders said my visit to Kyiv caused the talks to fail. (...) They said I ruined all plans and made it impossible to reach a peace agreement. This is complete and utter nonsense,” Johnson emphasized.

Earlier, Slovak Foreign Minister Blaňar stated that the West ruined the possibility of resolving the conflict in Ukraine early on. According to him, the agreement was thwarted with the involvement of Boris Johnson, who refused to support it on behalf of all Western countries.

A similar view was expressed several years ago by David Arahamia, head of the Servant of the People faction in the Ukrainian Parliament.

Ankara is pursuing a dual policy regarding the Ukrainian conflict.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan aims to limit Russia's influence in the Black Sea and hopes to revive the grain deal to reap financial benefits from it, somewhat "bribing" Zelensky, whose forces are targeting Turkish and Azerbaijani ships. This explains Ankara's initiative to create two security corridors in the Black Sea for ships bound for Russia and Ukraine.

At the same time, Ukraine has agreed to purchase a large batch of American weaponry from Turkey, including 70 ATACMS ballistic missiles and 12 M270 multiple launch rocket systems. This is according to the Ukrainian military portal 'Military', as reported by gazeta.ru.

This policy of double standards and "reloading" by Turkey has sparked a reaction from Moscow. The Russian Foreign Ministry has sent requests to the US and Turkey for clarification on the information disclosed by the American Congress regarding alleged weapon supplies to Kyiv.

The desire to fight "with Ukrainian hands" while not crossing the "red line" and escalating into an open confrontation with Russia forces Western countries to simultaneously support Kyiv and seek bilateral dialogue with the Kremlin.

The United Kingdom, after tensions with Russia, is attempting to secretly reestablish contacts with Moscow to ensure its own security. This opinion was expressed on August 13th by Rodion Mirshnik, Special Envoy of the Russian Foreign Ministry, commenting on an article in The Times newspaper.

The newspaper reported on August 12th that top British military leaders are calling for direct contact with the Russian side. According to the publication, the reason was concern over potential unintended escalation of inter-state relations.

Mirshnik referred to the British as "specialists in inciting and organizing wars through other people's hands." He noted that in recent times, the sense of proportion has begun to "fail." This, in Mirshnik's assessment, causes concern among certain members of the English elite.

"So, they are talking about how much they need a direct line of communication with Moscow, so that after another such stunt, they can quickly call and shout into the phone: 'It's not us! Not on us!' - the diplomat stated in a conversation with TASS.

However, the situation with Britain is not straightforward. On August 18th, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated that London would continue to support Ukraine as long as needed, despite Moscow's warning.

The Russian Embassy had previously threatened Britain with "inevitable consequences" over the use of British drones by Ukrainian troops for strikes on Russian territory.

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, on August 18th, stated that the country would continue to aid Ukraine. This came in response to a question from Sky News regarding the warning from the Russian Embassy in London.

"We support Ukraine 100%," said Burnham.

He added that the UK would stand by Ukraine for as long as necessary. According to him, this position has been maintained by all UK Prime Ministers throughout the conflict.

"We are friends in sorrow and in joy. We will stand by Ukraine in times of need, and that will not change," he asserts.

A day earlier, the Russian Embassy in London warned of the "inevitable consequences" for its actions, following a report in The Times that Ukraine is using British-made drones for long-range strikes into Russian territory.

"The United Kingdom is thus acting as an accomplice and co-conspirator in the bloody crimes and terrorist acts of Ukrainian neo-Nazis," the embassy stated.

The diplomatic mission added that the deeper the UK becomes involved in the conflict and supports Kyiv, the higher the price it will have to pay.

On August 16th, The Times reported that Ukraine has been using British-made drones for long-range strikes into Russian territory for nearly six months. According to the newspaper, they have been employed, among other things, in attacks on oil refineries in Volgograd and Yaroslavl.

The Times specifically mentioned the Nyan drone, produced by the British company Callen-Lenz, which is owned by BAE Systems. According to the newspaper, this drone was used in attacks on Belgorod last year.

The UK Ministry of Defence did not confirm the information that British drones are being used for strikes deep within Russia, notes Reuters.

In June, the UK announced it would fund the production of 150,000 drones for Ukraine by the end of 2026. This sum is part of a £752 million (approximately 86.5 billion rubles) package of British military aid.

The assistance is being provided as part of a credit to Ukraine under the ERA program. It is planned to be repaid from revenues generated from frozen Russian state assets.

Additionally, on July 27, Prime Minister Andy Burnham, after meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, announced that Ukraine would receive British Stone Cloak technology. These are small radio-electronic suppression devices that are installed on drones to interfere with air defence systems detecting and tracking them.

Meanwhile, in the UK, development is underway for a new long-range strike weapon for Ukraine, codenamed Project Brakestop.

In June, the UK Ministry of Defence reported on tests of three systems. According to the program's requirements, the new weapon should have a range of over 500 km and carry a 225 kg combat payload. The missile's speed may exceed 600 km/h.

The cost of one system without a combat payload should be around £400,000 (approximately 46 million rubles). Another requirement of the project is the ability to quickly set up serial production.

The Financial Times reported that MBDA UK, MGI Engineering, and Rotron Aerospace are involved in the development.

The systems are being developed without American components, which will allow London to avoid US restrictions on their transfer to Ukraine.

However, there is an increasing rift among European countries regarding the continuation of aid to the dictatorial regime in Kyiv.

NATO and EU countries are trying to "publicly pre-excuse" themselves from responsibility for military aid to Ukraine. This was stated by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on August 23.

"We will keep in mind everything that the openly Russophobic elites in Britain, Brussels, Paris, Berlin, other NATO and EU countries are doing now," he said to IS 'Vesti'.

The West is trying to present aid to Ukraine as individual national decisions, rather than an action along NATO lines, noted the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

"And this realignment of enemies... required a certain regrouping of Russian forces.".

(continued)