All Hell Breaks Loose as Sneak Attack Hits Russia

Summary

Podcast Summary: “All Hell Breaks Loose as Sneak Attack Hits Russia”

The MeidasTouch Podcast – June 28, 2026
Hosts: Ben, Brett & Jordy Meiselas
Featured Analyst: Military Analyst (name not given in the provided transcript)

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Overview

This episode centers on dramatic escalations in the Russia-Ukraine war, particularly Ukraine’s bold new offensives inside Russian territory. The Meiselas brothers spotlight the unprecedented use of drone swarms and Flamingo cruise missiles by Ukraine, the impact on Russian military infrastructure, civilian life, and signs of tension within the Russian military apparatus. President Zelensky’s announcement of a 40-day special operation is also unpacked, with analysis of Russia’s increasingly strained home front and shifting priorities.

The tone is urgent, informative, and at times laced with the brothers’ characteristic irreverence and pro-democracy stance, even as the military analyst provides detailed, on-the-ground reporting and visuals.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Escalating Ukrainian Attacks on Russian Soil

Timestamps: [02:16]–[13:19]

• Ukrainian forces have launched intense drone swarms and deployed FP5 Flamingo ground-launched cruise missiles deep within Russia, targeting strategic locations like oil depots, power substations, and missile production facilities.
• “Russia is being overwhelmed by these Ukrainian drone swarms and now Ukraine is also escalating its use of these Flamingo cruise missiles, which have a real significant range and they’re causing massive damage.” – Military Analyst [02:18]
• Use of “decoy drone swarms” to confuse and drain Russian air defenses before main attacks.
• Major strikes included the destruction of air defense installations in western Russia, Crimea, and critical infrastructure in Moscow.
• Visual Analysis: Listeners/viewers were guided through rare war footage and B-roll content, showing cruise missiles flying low and striking their targets.

2. Impact on Russian Infrastructure and Civilians

• The attacks have led to massive fuel shortages, power outages, and long lines for gasoline across up to 60 Russian regions.
• “No wonder you’re seeing locals reporting a 20-mile-long traffic jam of vehicles attempting to leave the Russian-occupied Crimea over the Kerch bridge today. This follows major fuel, power, and goods shortages caused by Ukraine’s drone campaign.” — Military Analyst [07:58]
• Shared video clips showing Russian civilians expressing shock and frustration at the disruptions.

3. Russian Military and Political Tensions

• Coverage of a video by Alexander Lunan, a 39-year-old ex-reconnaissance commander, publicly demanding a meeting with Putin and exposing abuse and corruption within the Russian military.
• “He alleges that Russian soldiers are tortured, abused, and punished for refusing what he describes as stupid orders or for failing to hand over money.” — Military Analyst [10:23]
• Hosts note that such open dissent is rare and could signal deeper unrest within the Russian military structure.

4. Zelensky’s 40-Day Special Operation

Timestamps: [13:19]–[16:00]

• President Zelensky has approved a 40-day influence operation aimed at compelling Russia to end the war.
• “I approved a 40-day influence operation for the service against the aggressor state aimed at compelling it to end the war.” — Zelensky, via Military Analyst [13:40]
• The operation includes both long-range and mid-range drone and ballistic missile strikes, coordinated by Ukraine’s Special Operations Alpha unit.
• Notably, Russia has had to redeploy air defense resources to safeguard Moscow and critical bridges like the Kerch Strait, weakening protection in other regions.

5. Broader Consequences and Russian Counterstrikes

• Russian retaliation continues, with significant strikes in Ukrainian territory, notably a drone attack on an apartment building in Izium (Kharkiv region) that resulted in casualties.
• Ukrainian air defenses reportedly perform robustly, intercepting many incoming Russian missiles.

6. Political Fallout and Russian Instability

• The mounting crisis has put pressure on the Russian government, with some security services proposing the postponement or outright cancellation of upcoming parliamentary elections due to uncertainty and unrest.
• Ukrainian leadership remains steadfast in reclaiming all occupied territories, including Crimea:
  “No one on Earth can say that we are not fighting for Crimea or that we have forgotten about Crimea. Every day proves that Ukraine remembers every part of its land, every one of its people, and it’s truly fighting to ensure justice for our entire system.” — Zelensky excerpt [15:25]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Ukrainian Drone Attacks:
  “Russia is being overwhelmed by these Ukrainian drone swarms and now Ukraine is also escalating its use of these Flamingo cruise missiles…they’re hitting their targets in Russia right now.”
  – Military Analyst [02:18]
• On Civilian Disruption in Russia:
  “Russian media influencers…very, very upset that the fuel, she has to wait all day for the fuel and that, you know, they weren’t expecting this to be happening in Russia…just trying to show you what’s happening on the ground there.”
  – Military Analyst [12:12]
• On Russian Military Dissent:
  “[Alexander Lunan] alleges that Russian soldiers are tortured, abused, and punished for refusing…stupid orders or for failing to hand over money. What started as a former Russian army commander threatening Putin…is quickly becoming the seeds of something bigger.”
  – Military Analyst, citing Jane Keefe [10:23]
• On Air Defense Realignments:
  “They are protecting their power, their source of this war. More than 60 Russian regions are already experiencing fuel shortages. There has also been a sharp increase in gas and diesel prices, if they are available at all.”
  – Military Analyst, quoting Zelensky’s remarks [14:45]

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Key Segment Timestamps

• [02:16] — Start of military analysis, overview of Ukrainian drone and missile tactics
• [04:30] — In-depth discussion of Flamingo cruise missile capabilities and bombings in Volgograd
• [07:58] — Impact on Russian civilians (fuel shortages, traffic out of Crimea)
• [10:23] — Introduction of dissident Russian commander Alexander Lunan and implications
• [12:12] — Russian air defense movements, public outrage, and rare war footage described
• [13:19] — Zelensky’s statement and breakdown of 40-day special operation
• [15:25] — Zelensky’s commitment to reclaiming Crimea and all occupied territories

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Concluding Notes

The episode delivers an in-the-moment snapshot of a critical inflection in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, spotlighting Ukraine’s tactical innovations and the visible strain placed upon Russian military and civil society. The hosts maintain a brisk, news-breaking energy throughout, supplementing analysis with footage, quotes, and a direct line to frontline events. Listeners come away with a clearer understanding of both the military situation and the broader political stakes.

Transcript

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[Military Analyst]

is breaking loose as Ukraine continues to bombard Russia with these drone swarms that Russia's air defense really cannot handle. Russia is being overwhelmed by these Ukrainian drone swarms and now Ukraine is also escalating its use of these Flamingo cruise missiles, which have a real significant range and they're causing massive damage. So you've got the Drone swarms and then separate swarms serving as decoys. Then these flamingo ballistic missiles, one after the other. They're precise, they're hitting their targets in Russia right now. And you got a very serious situation there in Russia taken place. Zelinsky announced that he's launching a 40 day special operation to end the war utilizing these drone swarms and these flamingos. I want to share with you the military tactics going on here, what's taking place and I want to show you visuals that you're probably not seeing many other places. Let's just take a look at this map right here. So yesterday, here's what we saw, this Ukrainian drone swarm raid into western Russia and Crimea. And that's been a constant. Remember earlier this week I've been showing the areas in Crimea, the air defense systems nearby oil depots just totally destroyed. I also showed you a few days before that, air defense systems infrastructure in Moscow, you, Ukraine, picking these off one by one. What they're doing is they're also forcing Putin to put the air defense systems inside Moscow and moving it away from the front and other areas. And once Ukraine sees the air defense systems move, boom, they start attacking those areas as well. Two days ago we saw these large scale drone swarms that were attacking as well in the east. You see the, the graph right here of where these attacks were taking place. And here was that attack yesterday with these Ukrainian F P FP5 Flamingo ground launch cruise missiles. They fly at low altitudes. It almost looks like a flamingo, like a bird. Low altitudes over the Volgograd Oblast in southwestern Russia. I'll show you this right here. As the cruise missile slams into Russia's Titan Barakati factory in the morning, at least two, maybe three flamingos hit this Russian plant. This plant is responsible for producing the launchers for the key Russian systems like the Iskander ballistic missiles, which have also been doing massive damage inside Ukraine. But take a look at this footage right here. This is some rare war footage that we're showing you here as well. Here's the Ukrainian FP5 Flamingo ground launch cruise missile flying at this low altitude and striking that infrastructure at that Titan Barakati factory that does those launchers for the Iskander ballistic missiles. Watch this video right here. Let's play it. Only did one one. On the jeep. I'll show you B roll right here. Another angle of this morning's Ukrainian cruise missile attack against that Moscow Institute of Thermotechnology Titan Barakati fac. Here's what it looks like from Ukraine this footage shows the launch of several FP5 flamingo ground launch cruise missiles against those targets that I just showed you in the Volgograd Oblast in southwestern Russia. Take a look and you'll just see see what these modern warfare marvels look like right here. Here, play this clip foreign. Share with you some B roll over here of the Ukrainian attack drone successfully hitting a major Russian fuel distribution depot in the Krasnodar Kry area in the morning setting in a blaze. This site was also if you've been following our coverage, you'll know we showed you the footage of it hit about a week ago with Ukrainian forces appearing to be intent to just fully knock it out. Before that you had the Ukrainian attack drone successfully hitting a major power substation outside of the South Pole area causing power cuts in the Crimean capital. So no wonder you're seeing locals reporting a 20 mile long traffic jam of vehicles attempting to leave the Russian occupied Crimea over the Kerch bridge today. This follows major fuel power and good shortages caused by Ukraine's drone campaign. But Russia's striking hard inside Ukraine. In Kharkiv region, one person was killed, three others injured as a Russian drone strike hit an apartment building in Izium right there, destroyed the structural components of the building and ignited the fire. We'll show you some B roll here. Footage of destroyed Russian transports littering the side of the E58 highway in southern Ukraine. Ukrainian mid range strike drones continued to true through those Russian rear area supply lines. And what's fascinating is this, this person we're learning more about by the name of Alexander Lunan. Have you heard of him? Well, Loonan recorded this message. He's 39 year old guy, former reconnaissance unit commander in the Sudaplatov battalion. In this video Lunan demands a live meeting with Putin and alleges that Russian soldiers are tortured, abused and punished for refusing what he describes as stupid orders for failing to hand over money. Jane Keefe captured it. Jane kee's got a YouTube channel, he's doing a lot of work. Say what's up to Jay and Keith for me. And Jane Keefe says what started as a former Russian army commander Alexander Lunan threatening Putin over brutality, theft and murder in the Russian military. It's quickly becoming the seeds of something bigger. As you see this battalion over here recording a video with this message for Putin. Let's play this clip. You also got these ballistic missiles of course being fired into Ukraine and Kiev by Russia. Take a look right here, the Ukrainian Air Defense intercept. You'll see it Right here. The Ukrainian Air Force released this footage moments ago showing its air defense system in action engaging incoming missiles over Kiev. Take a look at these interceptors being launched to counter the aerial threat right here. And this is what we're seeing on a daily basis take place over Kyiv. Let's play it. And as I noted folks, Russians are very, very, very upset about what's happening. From what I'm hearing as well, they're spending the entire day waiting in lines for gasoline. You have Russian media influencers like this Russian woman, very, very upset that the fuel, she has to wait all day for the fuel and that, you know, they weren't expecting that this to be happening in Russia. And again, I'm just trying to show you what's happening on the ground there. Let's play this clip.

[Podcast Host]

Now.

[Military Analyst]

As I noted at the beginning, Ukrainian President zelensky approved a 40 day operation to influence Russia into ending the war. After receiving a briefing from the head of his security service on strikes against Russian targets, here's what he had to say. Report from Major General General Yevni Kamara on our long range sanctions plan, mid range sanctions and the results of the Security service of Ukraine, specifically the center of Special Operations Alpha on the front. When Zelensky refers to long range and medium range sanctions, he's referring to Ukraine sending the drones and ballistics into Russia. I approved a 40 day influence operations. Alinsky writes for the service against the aggressor state aimed at compelling it to end the war. Importantly, for several months in a row the Special Operations forces has demonstrated the highest performance in defending Ukraine's positions on the front lines through the use of various types of drones. The center of Special Operations Alpha leads the terms of the occupiers. Personnel and equipment neutralized. We also separately discussed challenges to Ukraine's internal security. I am grateful for, for the protection of our state and for Ukrainians. Zelinsky also described the following that was taking place. The Russian leadership is now pulling more air defense assets to Moscow, Valdai and Putin's bridge across the Kerch Strait at the expense of air defense elsewhere. In the Moscow region alone, they have amassed hundreds of launchers for S400 as 500 and Pantsir systems. Nearly 90 launchers have been redeployed to Valday from other regions regions of Russia. And a special air defense division is also being formed there to safeguard the peace and quiet of the Russian chief. To compare, there are only a couple of launchers per directions across Russia and around their other cities. Those are their priorities. They are protecting their power, their source of this war. More than 60 Russian regions are already experiencing fuel shortages. There has also been a sharp increase in gas and diesel prices, if they are available at all. Russian security services have proposed postponing or canceling altogether the ritual of electing united Russia to the State Duma. Their latest imitation of election was scheduled for September, and intelligence reports now show that Russia itself is not confident about what will be happening in September. And finally, Zelinsky writes, today, no one on earth can say that we are not fighting for Crimea or that we have forgotten about Crimea. Every day proves that Ukraine remembers every part of its land, every one of its people, and it's truly fighting to ensure justice for our entire system. And he talks about depriving Russia of its launch pad and drawing a line under its attempts to normalize war. He goes on and says, right there. So that's what's happening again. I'm not sure you're seeing this video anywhere else. Hat tip to my bud J in key friend of mine who's doing great work out there and getting in a lot of this footage. Hit subscribe. Let's get to 7 million. Thanks for watching, everybody. Thanks for watching. Be sure to add the Midas Touch podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcast for new updates every single day.