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The President's Daily Brief
August 25th, 2025: Nuclear Power Plant Struck Inside Russia & U.S. Jets Intercept Russian Spy Planes Near Alaska
00:25:07
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Israel calls the report a modern blood libel and flatly rejects the findings. Plus, American F16s scrambled two days in a row to intercept Russian spy planes in Alaska. And in today's back of the brief little rocket man we know him as, Kim Jong Un of North Korea is back in the spotlight as North Korea claims it's tested two new unique and special air defense missiles. Of course, anytime that Kim Jong Un feels neglected, he fires off a missile. It's his signature move. But first, today's pdb. Russia says Ukraine crossed a dangerous new line this weekend, accusing Kyiv of targeting one of its nuclear power plants in a drone strike. According to Russian officials, the attack sparked a fire and damaged a transformer before it was put out. No injuries were reported, and the plant's operators say radiation levels remain within normal ranges. But the accusation itself is notable. Moscow claims the nuclear power plant was just one of several energy facilities struck overnight. Ukraine, for its part, flatly denies that it targeted the site. Officials in Kyiv say any fire was likely caused by falling debris after air defenses shot down one of the drones. They blasted Russia for spreading manipulations and accused Moscow of using its typical propaganda playbook, painting Ukraine as reckless and dangerous. While the nuclear scare grabbed headlines, the bigger picture is one we've been following here on the PDB for weeks. Ukraine's sustained campaign to hit Russia's energy sector where it hurts. Over the weekend, firefighters will call to the port of Usluga in Russia's Leningrad region. That port is home to a major fuel export terminal, and according to the regional governor, about 10 Ukrainian drones were shot down there. Their debris, however, ignited a fire that burned for hours. It's the latest strike on the facilities that under underpin Russia's economy. As we've been reporting, Ukraine has zeroed in on Russia's refineries, pumping stations, and fuel trains. By targeting these nodes in the system, Kyiv hopes to choke off Moscow's ability to keep its military machine running. Although the military is more dependent on diesel, and thus far, diesel capabilities have reportedly not been significantly impacted. But the scale of the strikes is remarkable. Ukrainian drones have now hit at least 10 major energy sites this month alone. That list includes some of Russia's most important infrastructure. The Lukoil refinery in Volgograd, southern Russia's largest, was hit. So was a massive refinery in Saratov. And in the Rostov region, another facility is still burning days after it was struck. In total, the refineries damaged by Ukraine represent more than 44 million tons of products annually. That's over 10% of Russia's refining capacity. That's according to Ukrainian intelligence. The strategy appears to be having real economic effects. Russian gasoline prices have climbed to record highs even after the Kremlin banned exports in a bid to keep more fuel inside the country. Prices of the pump are climbing, and the shortages are spreading. We're already seeing it in Russia's Far East. Motorists there first reported fuel supply problems back in early August. Since then, the shortages have moved from small towns to larger cities along the Pacific coast. Drivers are now waiting in long lines at gas stations, with reports of wait times at the pump stretching up to two hours long. In some areas, fuel is rationed. Residents say they can only fill up with special coupons, while emergency services and government vehicles are the only ones guaranteed access. Eastern Russia is sort of the canary in the coal mine when it comes to Moscow's fuel supply. Most of the country's refining capacity sits in the west and south. Closer to Europe, the Far east relies on long, vulnerable supply chains, rail lines and pipelines that stretch thousands of miles. When those links are disrupted, the Kremlin makes sure that Moscow and the Russian heartland get fuel first. That leaves Siberia and the Pacific coast on the short end of the stick. So when gas stations of Vladivostok run dry, it's not just a regional problem. It's a warning sign that Russia's energy network as a whole is under stress. But if these strikes continue, it's only a matter of time before that pain at the pump spreads westward. Up to now, Putin has worked hard to insulate Moscow and its surrounding regions from the worst effects of the war, knowing that angering his political power base could be dangerous. That's why much of the military conscription effort, for example, has been focused on regions well outside Moscow and St. Petersburg. But protecting the capital comes at a cost, meaning the shortages hitting the Far east today could be a preview of what's to come for the rest of Russia tomorrow. With the war grinding on, striking at oil and fuel infrastructure may be one of the few ways that Ukraine can hit back, driving up costs, sapping morale, and forcing the Kremlin to make tough choices about where to send its dwindling supplies. Alright, coming up next, the UN declares famine in Gaza for the first time, drawing outrage from Israel. And US jets scramble twice in two days to intercept Russian spy planes near Alaska. I'll be right back. Hey, Mike Baker here. Now you've heard me talk about the great company Jacked Up Fitness and their amazing all in one home gym. It's a complete game changer for home fitness. And now, well, I've got some more exciting news from Don and his team at Jacked Up Fitness. Look, they know that many people are short on time and short on money, but still want to get fit. 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The founders of American Giant, well, they were dissatisfied with how clothes are being made and they created their own opportunity to make things better. Choosing American Giant means taking a stand for hard working people, for local communities and importantly for quality clothes. Support American made tariff free clothing with American Giant. Get 20 off your first order when you use promo code baker@american-giant.com that's 20 off when you use code Baker B A K e R@American-Giant. Welcome back to the PDB. For the first time since the war began nearly two years ago, a UN hunger watchdog declared famine in northern Gaza. But Israel, well, was quick to hit back, calling it a, quote, modern blood libel based on Hamas driven fabrication. They insist aid is pouring into the enclave. The report issued by the Integrated Food Security Phase classification, or the IPC, claimed that more than 500,000 people in Gaza, nearly a quarter of the population face famine. The number it warned could swell to 640,000 by late September. The report argues that 280,000 civilians in the Strip meet the technical definition of famine, with southern areas next in line, according to Israel's coordinator for government activities in the territories, known as Kogat. An IDF unit tasked with facilitating logistical coordination into Gaza blasted the declaration as tech, technically flawed and politically tainted, charging that IPC officials ignored reams of Israeli supplied data. In a statement, Kogat said it was, quote, illogical to suggest that conditions will worsen when improvements are already evident on the ground, pointing to a surge in aid shipments since July and a collapse in Gaza food market prices documented in infographics Jerusalem released as counter evidence. Israeli officials went further, noting that Millions of tons of supplies have entered Gaza since October of 2023, while the US and Israeli backed Gaza Humanitarian foundation has served millions of meals under safeguards designed to block Hamas theft and violence at distribution sites. Jerusalem also accused UN agencies of obscuring the reality that nearly 90% of aid trucks never reach warehouses, evidence, it says, of looting and diversion by Hamas terrorists. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's office branded the IPC findings as an outright lie and emphasized that the Jewish state's policy is to prevent starvation, not cause it. The Israeli Foreign Ministry accused the hunger monitor of lowering its own standards for famine classification, calling the report tailor made for Hamas, further undermining the IPC report's credibility. Israeli officials charged that some of the assessments relied on UNRWA staff, some of whom they noted are Hamas operatives. Now the international community and the UN have all previously agreed and acknowledged that UNWRA had been infiltrated by Hamas operatives and sympathizers. Washington, too, struck a skeptical note toward the ipc. The State Department said it was, quote, looking into credible reports that the IPC altered its famine methodology mid assessment, cautioning against quote semantics. A State Department spokesman added that Hamas is, quote, systematically promoting a false narrative of deliberate mass starvation to put political pressure on Israel, while stressing the US focuses on delivering aid with safeguards to stop Hamas from stealing it just to then later on sell to civilians in an effort to further bankroll its war chest. But the IPC defended its analysis, saying it relied on the mid upper arm circumference test, which is a quick field assessment of a child's arm, instead of the internationally recognized weight for height standard, to determine those suffering from potential famine. It's probably important to point out that the MID upper arm circumference test is cheaper and faster, but is also considered less precise in testing because it can exaggerate malnutrition when used alone. Israel dismissed the switch as a deliberate manipulation to inflate famine numbers, pointing out that the IPC halved the required threshold for acute malnutrition in this case from 30% under the wait for height standard to just 15% under the system. The the mid upper arm circumference test. Now, Israeli officials said this amounts to moving the goal posts simply to produce a famine declaration. Still, UN officials ramped up the rhetoric anyway. The human rights chief accused Jerusalem of weaponizing starvation resulting in a war crime, while Secretary General Antonio Guterres demanded a ceasefire, full aid access and the release of hostages. The dueling narratives come as Israel prepares to expand its military offensive into Gaza City. Even as mediators continue to push for a ceasefire and hostage deal for Jerusalem and Washington. The IPC findings are not just about hunger. They're being framed as the latest salvo in a Hamas orchestrated disinformation drive aimed at delegitimizing Israel. Okay, shifting to the US In a provocative demonstration of Putin's attitude toward the recent summit between President Trump and Putin in Alaska, as well as the US meetings with Ukraine and EU leaders, US F16s had to be scrambled two days in a row to intercept Russian surveillance planes skirting Alaska's air defense zone. Last Wednesday, a KC135 refueling tanker and two F16s closed in on a Russian Il 20 surveillance aircraft cruising through the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone, or the adiz. The ADIZ is the acronym for that. You probably didn't think they had an acronym. A stretch of international airspace off Alaska's coastline and notably it's not US sovereign territory. Less than 24 hours later, the same drill, two more F16s, another KC135, and this time joined by an E3 Sentry airborne warning and Control System plane, intercepted the same Russian aircraft before it altered course. Now, I'd like to make clear that the aircraft never entered American or Canadian sovereign space, but its very presence did raise eyebrows. The IL20 is a specialized platform for electronic intelligence gathering, rarely seen in the region where Russian Tu 95 nuclear capable bombers are the more frequent visitors. Military analysts noted the unusual deployment of the spy plane and the timing of its flights. They said it echoed similar sorties into the Alaskan ADIZ earlier this year, two days in February and another in April as we flagged here on the pdb, suggesting that Moscow is establishing a deliberate pattern of testing American response times. The latest flights also came on the heels of President Trump's sit down with Vladimir Putin in an effort to hammer out a ceasefire in Ukraine. While officials at the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or norad, were quick to downplay any looming military threat, they also acknowledged the symbolism of Russia flexing its military muscle along America's northern flank. Norad, for its part, went out of its way to underline its readiness, stating, we employ a layered defense network of satellites, ground based and airborne rad and fighter aircraft to detect and track aircraft and inform appropriate actions. Translation, I suppose, would be we see you, we're watching and we're prepared to act. And Russia wasn't only busy near Alaska. In Europe, Poland scrambled jets earlier last week as Moscow unleashed long range missile strikes on Ukraine to the east Japan dispatched fighters of its own to intercept two Russian TU 95 bombers and their escorts barreling over the Sea of Japan in a week of global flybys. As of now, U.S. defense officials say no adjustments have been made to America's overall air defense posture. Coming up next, in the back of the brief, Kim Jong Un is touting North Korea's newest weapons. State media claims two special missile systems were successfully tested. More on that when we come back. Hey, Mike Baker here. Let me take just a moment of your time to talk about protecting your hard earned assets. Now, you've probably noticed out there in the big wide world there's a bit of turmoil in the economy, right? I mean, trade wars, tariffs back and forth, a US Federal Reserve that seems a bit at odds with the White House. Uncertainty over employment numbers, volatile stock market. 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In today's Back of the brief, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un resurfaced in front of the cameras to watch two new air defense missile launches in a pointed show of defiance against peace efforts on the Korean peninsula, according to state media. Kcna, the regime's missile specialists, launched the so called improved systems against multiple aerial targets to determine combat readiness. Just on Sunday, state media gushed. Oh, they gushed that the platforms were built with unique and special technology. Highly effective, they claimed, against drones and cruise missiles. Kim, flanked by senior officials, praised the launches as vital to strengthening Pyongyang's air defenses. As we've long tracked here on the pdb, Western officials suspect Russia has quietly been lending a hand to Pyongyang's weapons programs, though the regime has offered no acknowledgment either way, the tests add fresh anxiety in Seoul and Tokyo, where leaders remain rattled by Pyongyang's expanding nuclear stockpile, long range missile trials and most recently, its flirtation with hypersonic system. Complicating matters further, the UN command reported that tensions spiked last week when about 30 North Korean soldiers briefly crossed the heavily fortified Military Demarcation line. South Korean troops fired warning shots and blared loudspeaker alerts, forcing Kim's troops back. The UNC said the soldiers appeared to be engaged in construction and maintenance activities tied to what Pyongyang later called a permanent barrier project. North Korea blasted Seoul's reaction despite its troops crossing the border as a serious provocation. Meanwhile, South Korean and American troops pressed on with their annual ongoing joint military activities, which will wrap up later this week. Drills at Pyongyang, say, are destabilizing South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, fresh from a stop in Tokyo, is in Washington today for talks with President Trump as part of a wider push to lock in trilateral coordination against Kim's regime. North Korea, however, shows little appetite for any dialogue. A senior commander warned that the South's warning shots from earlier in the week risked escalating the standoff into a, quote, uncontrollable phase. And that, my friends, is the President's Daily brief for Monday 25th August. Now, if you have any questions or comments, please reach out to me at pdb@the first tv.com and I hope that you managed to find some time over your weekend to check out the latest episode of our extended weekend show, the PDB Situation Report. Our guests this week were the always insightful and entertaining military analyst and author Ryan Macbeth, as well as John Lott, the head of the Crime Prevention Research Center. In case you missed it. Well, no need to fret. I know you don't want to fret. You can catch it and past episodes on our YouTube channel. That's at Presidents Daily Brief as well as on all the podcast platforms in podcast land. I'm Mike Baker and I'll be back later today with the PDB Afternoon Bulletin. Until then, stay informed, stay safe, stay cool.
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