Overnight, Ukrainian attack drones struck Russia’s Taganrog airfield, and for the first time, successfully destroyed a pair of Tu-142 Bear-F long-range maritime patrol aircraft.
Early this morning, the Ukrainian Air Force conducted a wide-ranging cruise missile attack (likely using Franco/British Storm Shadow/Scalps), hitting key Russian aviation targets in Voronezh, Sevastopol, and Taganrog.
Trump's chief of staff was "concerned aides were... telling Trump what he wanted to hear instead of what he needed to hear. " -Time
The President has begun many recent mornings watching video clips compiled by military officials of battlefield successes.
"Trump told them he wants to wind down the campaign, wary of a protracted conflict that could hobble Republicans heading into the midterms. At the same time, he wants the operation to be a decisive success. "
"As preparations for the war began, the Administration believed it had a winning formula. The U.S. would deliver an opening strike so overwhelming Tehran’s only viable response would be limited retaliation—enough to satisfy domestic audiences without inviting more attacks."