Zelenskyy Strikes Deep In Russia...Major Updates

Summary

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The MeidasTouch Podcast

Episode: Zelenskyy Strikes Deep In Russia...Major Updates

Date: July 5, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this episode, the Meiselas brothers break down the escalating series of military strikes between Ukraine and Russia, focusing on Ukraine's unprecedented attack on critical infrastructure deep within Russian territory—namely, a major oil terminal in St. Petersburg. The discussion highlights the implications of these strikes, intelligence reports of possible Russian attacks on NATO territory, high-level diplomatic conversations involving Donald Trump, as well as the ongoing destruction on both sides of the conflict.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Ukrainian Strikes Deep Inside Russia

• St. Petersburg Attack
  • Ukraine launched a massive drone and ballistic missile attack (“Flamingo” ballistic missiles and swarms of drones) that struck St. Petersburg’s major oil terminal—one of the largest in the Baltic region (12.5 million ton annual capacity).
  • The attack set the facility on fire, with dramatic footage shared on air.
  • Quote:

    “St. Petersburg is on fire… this facility is among the largest oil terminals in all of the Baltic, just destroyed by Ukrainian Defense Forces.”
    —Ben Meiselas [02:44]

• Ukraine's "Long Range Sanctions" Strategy
  • President Zelenskyy refers to these strikes as "long range sanctions," aiming to cripple Russian war revenue.
  • Zelenskyy highlights the range of these strikes—over 850km from the Ukrainian border—and their precision targeting (including military assets in Kronstadt).
  • Quote (attributing Zelenskyy’s statement):

    "My thanks to everyone who is ensuring Ukraine’s precision in carrying out our long range sanctions. Glory to Ukraine."
    —Ben Meiselas reading Zelenskyy's post [03:50]

2. Putin’s Precautions and Threats

• Putin’s Super Yacht Fleeing
  • In a sign of insecurity, Putin's 82-meter super yacht "Kasatka" was quickly moved to Arctic waters amid drone strike fears, escorted by two navy ships.
• Alleged Russian Plans Against Poland
  • U.S. Intelligence reportedly warns Poland, Ukraine, and NATO that Russia might target Warsaw and test NATO’s resolve—potentially hitting critical infrastructure or even crossing into Poland from Kaliningrad or Belarus.
  • Quote:

    "Russia’s years-long operation aimed at destroying the alliance between Ukraine and Poland is only part of Kremlin's plan. U.S. Intelligence says Russia will attack Poland soon."
    —Ben Meiselas [05:10]

  • Discussion on whether Russia would blame Ukraine for any attack on Polish territory.

3. Communication Between Trump, Putin, and Zelenskyy

• Putin & Trump Call
  • Kremlin sources claim Vladimir Putin called Donald Trump for a 90-minute conversation, reportedly to congratulate him for U.S. Independence Day (July 4th), and invited him to visit Russia.
  • Trump’s fellow advisors, Witkoff and Kushner, are mentioned as possibly aiding further peace efforts and being "prepared to visit Moscow again."
  • Quote:

    "Putin gave Trump precise evaluation of battlefield developments in Ukraine War. Their discussion was pragmatic and constructive."
    —Ben Meiselas paraphrasing Russian aide Ushakov [07:00]

• Zelenskyy & Trump Call
  • Zelenskyy posted that he had also spoken to Trump, thanking America for its continued support and mentioning they discussed frontline and diplomatic efforts, agreeing to continue talks during an upcoming NATO summit.
  • Quote (attributing Zelenskyy):

    “We deeply value that America stands by us in defending our independence.”
    —Ben Meiselas reading Zelenskyy’s message [07:30]

4. Escalation on the Ground: Attacks on Both Sides

• Russian Strikes Inside Ukraine
  • Recent Russian attacks targeted central Kyiv—including the Premier Palace Hotel (severely damaged)—resulting in about 30 deaths and widespread damage.
  • Footage and descriptions of missile impacts on civilian infrastructure (hotels, gyms).
• Ukraine's Broader Long-Range Campaign
  • Overview of other Ukrainian missile and drone attacks, including targeting Russia's Titan Barakati factory and launching ground-based cruise missiles (FP5 “Flamingos”) at Volgograd.
  • Quote:

    "Let me show you just what these flamingos looked like that Zelenskyy's been launching at Russia... several FP5s targeting Volgograd Oblast."
    —Ben Meiselas [09:30]

5. North Korea’s Missile Tests

• Contextual Commentary
  • Kim Jong Un has tested more cruise missiles, with the hosts noting the muted response in U.S. media when compared to previous administrations.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Impact of Ukrainian Strikes:

  “You would not be able to even dream about Ukraine getting some of its ballistic missiles or drone swarms into an area… but we’ll take a look right here.”
  —Ben Meiselas [03:15]

• On Impending Escalation:

  “We will see what happens there… will Russia try to blame Ukraine for the attack on Poland?”
  —Ben Meiselas [05:32]

• On U.S. Political Response:

  “It barely gets reported on as well… every time there were tests under former President Obama, before Kim Jong Un had nuclear weapons, it was always used as like 'Obama's weak.'”
  —Ben Meiselas [08:08]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [02:41] — Ukraine’s devastating attack on the St. Petersburg oil terminal
• [03:50] — Zelenskyy’s announcement on “long range sanctions”
• [05:10] — U.S. Intelligence warning on potential Russian strike against Poland
• [07:00] — Putin calls Trump; invitation to Russia and peace talks
• [07:30] — Zelenskyy’s call with Trump and continued NATO support
• [08:08] — Commentary on North Korea’s cruise missile tests
• [09:15] — Russian missile strikes in Kyiv and footage of aftermath
• [09:30] — Description of Ukraine’s FP5 missile launches into Russia

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Tone & Style Notes

The Meiselas brothers maintain their signature blend of urgent news delivery, insightful commentary, and pointed humor—describing events with directness and democratic advocacy, and highlighting the global stakes involved.

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Conclusion

This episode provides an up-to-the-minute, comprehensive overview of a rapidly escalating front in the Russia–Ukraine war, offering both strategic context and frontline details. It situates military developments within broader geopolitical risks, especially the possibility of spillover into NATO territory, and unpacks the high-level diplomacy taking place behind the scenes—all with the Meiselas brothers’ trademark mix of factual reporting, impassioned analysis, and brotherly banter.

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Transcript

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[Midas Touch Network Host]

All hell is breaking loose right now in Russia as Zelensky just launched a massive drone swarm. Flamingo ballistic missile strike deep in Russia. St. Petersburg is on fire. Take a look folks, right here. Overnight Ukraine's defense forces targeted key Russian energy infrastructure, striking a major oil terminal in St. Petersburg and igniting a large fire visible across the area. The facility is among the largest oil terminals in all of The Baltic, operating 21 storage tanks with an annual handling capacity of approximately 12.5 million tons just destroyed by Ukrainian Defense Forces. Let me show you right here what it looked like when the drone was in the air on its way to hit this massive facility in St. Petersburg. Now I'll share with you this video of the port of St. Petersburg so you can see what it looked like itself on fire. It is spreading that fire. I'll share with you another video right here. This used to be an area that was heavily fortified and you know, you would not be able to even dream about Ukraine getting some of its ballistic missiles or drone swarms into an area. Or at least that was the public perception of everything. But we'll take a look right here. As you know, the budget, you know, was supposed to be allocated for Russian air defense, you know, was either patching up some refineries that had been destroyed or who knows where, where it's going at this point. Thanks hat tip to J and Kee for getting some of this footage aggregated. More footage as well that you can see over here. Let's talk about what was posted by President Zelensky. President Zelensky posted the following about what he refers to as his long range sanctions. Talked about how effective his long range sanctions are. Last night our Ukrainian long range sanctions against Russia over this war reached targets near St. Petersburg. Ukraine's defense forces struck port oil infrastructure that generates revenue for Russia's war. And there were also successful strikes in Kronstadt, an important military target. The distance from Ukraine state border is more than 850km. My thanks to everyone who is ensuring Ukraine's precision in carrying out our long range sanctions. Glory to Ukraine. Want you to take a look what what was going down here. You can watch for yourself now. Also we're learning that Putin's super yacht has been urgently transported to the Arctic due to threats that it will be attacked by Ukrainian drones. It's an 82 meter super yacht though Kasatka, worth an estimated 117,000 million euros has left European waters and is headed for Murmansk. The vessel is accompanied by two navy ships right there. One of the things that we're learning as well, and this is what US Intelligence has been telling Poland and telling Ukraine and others in Europe that Russia is planning an attack on Warsaw in Poland to try to test the resolve of nature. NATO critical infrastructure could be targeted by missiles and drones with soldiers potentially crossing the border from Kalin Grad or Belarus. As Spragdi writes, Russia's years long operation aimed at destroying the alliance between Ukraine and Poland is only part of Kremlin's plan. US Intelligence says Russia will attack Poland soon and so we will see what happens there. And as Sprov denotes, will Russia try to blame Ukraine for the attack on Poland? I'll share this with you. A missile strike by Ukraine on Russia's Belgorod Mitchernskaya thermal power plant that triggered widespread disruptions across parts of the cities. Telecommunications have been impacted with mobile networks and Internet connectivity reportedly experiencing significant disruption. You can see for yourself right here. I will show you more footage here posted by Jay in Kiev over here from the missile strikes and drone swarms in St. Petersburg. Now we also are aware that Putin called Donald Trump today according to Russia's media networks. They say that the call lasted 90 minutes or so. Barack Ravid, Trump's personal stenographer who is a reporter at Axios, wrote the following Russian President Vladimir Putin called Trump and congratulated him for the US 2:50 Independence Day. The Kremlin says the call lasted an hour and a half. Putin invited Trump to visit Russia and this followed Ukrainian President Zelensky saying that he spoke to Donald Trump. And Zelensky posted I congratulated Trump and all Americans on Independence Day. We're grateful to the United States for assistance we received from javelins and patriots to political support. And we deeply value that America stands by us in defending our independence. Of course, Trump and I discussed the currency situation on the front line as well as our diplomatic efforts. We have agreed to continue these discussions during the NATO summit. Thank you. Happy 4th of July. That went first and then Putin announced that he spoke with Donald Trump for approximately 90 minutes or so. Share this with you as well cuz we're learning more about those phone calls. Yuri Ushakov, one of Putin's and Donald Trump, one of Putin's top A's, said Putin gave Trump precise evaluation of battlefield developments in Ukraine War. Putin Trump discussed that their discussion was pragmatic and constructive. Ushakov says Witkoff Kushner to keep aiding peace efforts and are prepared to visit Moscow again. So more Witkoff and Kushner apparently heading to Moscow. Ushakab says Putin and Trump talked for 1 hour and 25 minutes. Trump offered before NATO summit in Turkey to assist Ukraine conflict settlement. Just also notable too that Kim Jong Un tested more missiles today. Cruise missiles, which I just find interesting cuz every time there were tests under former President Obama before Kim Jong Un had nuclear weapons, it was always used as like Obama's weak Kim Jong Un is testing nuclear weapons. And now under Donald Trump when you have Kim Jong Un has nuclear weapons and does all of these cruise missiles like it barely gets reported on as well. I want to share this with you too though because you know we see Ukraine striking deep inside Russia and St. Petersburg and other areas. But you also saw in the past week Russia striking inside of Ukraine. These were the massive strikes that were launched in the heart of the Kiev by Putin. I'll share with you over here. Let's play it more over here. You can see Kiev light being lit on fire earlier this week. Close to 30 people died in the strikes by Russia on Kyiv. The five star Premier Palace Hotel in central Kiev was severely damaged in the Russian strikes. You could see right here that it was on fire as well. I'll show you the aftermath footage of a large jagged hole in the ceiling pool filled with floating debris in Japricia. This gym facility was targeted by Russia. You can see for yourself right here. And then I want to share with you just what these flamingos looked like that Zelensky's been launching at Russia. I showed you St. Petersburg, but let me show you what it looked like when they targeted Russia's Titan Barakati factory a few days back. Then I'll show you the footage showing the launch of these several FP5s, the Flamingo Ground launch cruise missiles that targeted the Volgograd Oblast, southwestern Russia earlier this week. So you can see that as well. Well, there you have it folks. Let me know what you think about all of that. We'll keep you posted every step of the way here on the Midas Touch Network. We want to keep you updated on what the latest developments are there. Hit subscribe. Help us get to 7 million subscribers. And thank you so much everybody for watching this. We appreciate you can't get enough Midas. Check out the Midas substack for ad Free articles, reports, podcasts, daily recaps from Ron Filipkowski and more. Sign up for free [e-mail].