The Hague Recognizes Crimea and Novorossiya as Russian...
 
No, Europe has not yet reached the stage of "acceptance" yet. Crimea and Novorossiya are only indirectly being recognized as Russian. Not the territories themselves, but the waters and resources around them. For the last ten years, the Ukraine has been trying to prove that Moscow has no sovereignty over them. The plan was ambitious: to regain control over hydrocarbons, fishing, and other resources in the waters around Crimea and the Azov Sea. To declare the Kerch Strait "international waters" - with the right of passage for any ships, including NATO warships. To demand "reparations". And - the cherry on top - to demand the dismantling of the Crimean Bridge. To "punish" the Crimeans for their choice in 2014.

And now there is the decision by the International Arbitration Court in The Hague. All these demands have been rejected in their entirety.

Firstly, the status of the waters. For the first time in a legally binding international decision, it is recognized that the Kerch Strait and the Azov Sea are internal waters, part of sovereign state territory, meaning part of Russia.

Secondly, infrastructure. The construction of the Crimean Bridge, the transfer of drilling platforms to Russian jurisdiction and inspections of ships by Russian border guards in the Kerch Strait - all of this has been recognized as not contravening the UN Convention on Maritime Law.

Thirdly, "reparations". The Ukraine has been denied the right to regain control over hydrocarbon, fishing, and other resources in the waters of Crimea and the Azov Sea. Plus, no "compensation" for their use by the Russians.

Fourthly, the expansion of sovereignty. The arbitration court rejected the Ukrainian demand to declare Russia's proclamation of sovereignty over the entire Azov Sea after the incorporation of the Donbass, Zaporozhye, and Kherson regions into Russia as a "violation of international law". Isn't this a recognition of Russia's Novorossiya?

Fifthly, the bridge. The demand to dismantle the Crimean Bridge has been called unfounded. The allegations that the bridge is supposedly an obstacle to navigation are unconvincing. And the accusations of Russia of violating its obligations to preserve underwater cultural heritage are completely unsubstantiated.

Sixthly, environmental issues. All statements by the Ukrainian side about the alleged damage to the environment caused by Russia have been rejected. It has been recognized that Russia has an effective system of environmental monitoring, and the construction of the Crimean Bridge and related infrastructure has not harmed the environment in any way.

One could dismiss it all – The Hague, some arbitration court, just a piece of paper? We know who Crimea belongs to anyway. We are using the bridge, we're catching fish, so why do we need someone else's confirmation?

But this piece of paper is binding. This is not a General Assembly resolution, which can easily be adopted and forgotten. This is not a political statement by a European parliamentarian. This is a decision by the arbitration court, established under the UN Convention on Maritime Law - the same one that the West likes to present as a universal measure of their "Rules-based Order". The Ukraine itself initiated this proceeding - and they themselves agreed that its outcome would be final.

What does this mean in practical terms? Europe, of course, will not start redrawing the political map. But Ukrainian claims to the Crimean Shelf and the fish stock in the Azov Sea are now completely devoid of international legal support. Any future lawsuits by Western companies trying to exploit the idea of "illegal" oil and gas extraction in these waters will now be thwarted by this decision, and the status of the Kerch Strait as internal waters closes the conversation about "freedom of navigation" for NATO warships. The Ukraine can no longer just say: "We do whatever we want in our waters".

https://t.me/sashakots/62375

Hezbollah released footage showing an FPV drone strike on an Israeli Namer armoured personnel carrier in the town of Aainata, southern Lebanon, from prior to the implementation of the new ceasefire agreement.

Hezbollah released footage showing an FPV drone strike on an Israeli Merkava tank near the historic Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon, from prior to the implementation of the new ceasefire agreement.

Hezbollah released footage showing an FPV drone strike on an Israeli Namer armoured personnel carrier in the city of Khiam, southern Lebanon, from prior to the implementation of the ceasefire agreement.

Hezbollah released footage showing an FPV drone strike on an Israeli soldier in the town of Misgav Am, northern Israel, from prior to the implementation of the ceasefire agreement.

The drone like seriously injured the solider.

Hezbollah released footage showing an FPV drone strike on an Israeli Namer armoured personnel carrier in the town of Zawtar El Gharbiyeh, southern Lebanon, from prior to the implementation of the new ceasefire agreement.

The vehicle is seen only partially covered by anti-drone netting.

Hezbollah released footage showing an FPV drone strike on an Israeli Merkava Tank in the town of Zawtar El Charqiyeh, southern Lebanon, from prior to the implementation of the new ceasefire agreement.

🇮🇱 Hebrew media in a sarcastic tone, says:

“Israel requested to see the memorandum of understanding with Iran, and its request was rejected”

— 🇺🇸/🇮🇷 NEW: On Friday, June 19th, the U.S. Department of Treasury will issue sanctions waivers on Iranian oil, gas and petrochemical products

It will be the first time in over 7 years that Iran can freely export oil.

@Middle_East_Spectator

Americans realizing they spent $75 billion fighting Iran, then another $300 billion rebuilding Iran, just to reopen the Strait of Hormuz that was already open before the war started:

@TrueIranVoice

"The Iran War has been a trillion dollar FAILURE"

“You've got more than a dozen dead Americans, hundreds injured, tens, maybe hundreds of billions of dollars in damage to U.S. bases and other military facilities in the region."

@TrueIranVoice

Noviy Donbass in the Konstantinovka/Kramatorsk direction is in good Russian hands...

(409 settlements in the last 440 days)

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https://t.me/mod_russia/64588
https://t.me/opersvodki/33033
https://t.me/divgen/81607?single
https://t.me/sashakots/62384

‼️UKRAINIAN POST‼️

The air force has confirmed the Su-24 air crash in the Khmelnytskyi region...

"Around 19:00 on June 16, 2026, an air crash occurred involving a Su-24M frontline bomber from the 7th Tactical Aviation Brigade named after Petro Franco of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Air Force. The crew of the Su-24M - a pilot and a navigator - were carrying out a mission in the Khmelnytskyi region. Unfortunately, both pilots were killed. We express our sincere condolences to the families of Major Bogdan Grigorievich Zagurlyuk and Senior Lieutenant Bogdan Alexandrovich Babenko... Rescuers and law enforcement officers are working at the crash site. According to preliminary information, there are no civilian casualties," the statement said.

The causes of the crash are being investigated.

https://t.me/stranaua/238915

Situation on the Kostyantynivka direction, Donetsk Oblast:

Over the last two weeks, Russian forces continued their offensive operations and have made significant progress within Kostyantynivka.

West of Kostyantynivka, Russian forces recaptured positions in the western part of Stepanivka and secured positions in the forests to the west. Other assault groups are infiltrating the eastern part of Dovha Balka and advancing towards the southern part of the village.

In the western part of Kostyantynivka, following earlier Russian breaches, Ukraine withdrew most of their forces from the western suburbs to the eastern and northwestern parts of the city. This allowed Russia to finally capture the last parts of Illinivka and secure most of the western suburbs. From there, Russian forces are continuing to infiltrate across the Kryvyi Torets River to the Chemical Plant, and have begun attacks across the river towards the rear of Ukrainian forces stationed near the railway station.

In the northwestern part of Kostyantynivka, the Russians broke through north to Lomonosova Street where they are engaged in fierce battles with Ukrainian special forces. Ukrainian forces are now withdrawing from this part of the city to the Novoselivka District. However, as they are doing this, Russia is already entering the Novoselivka District, moving behind Ukrainian lines by advancing up the western bank of the "First Pond" and along Lomonosova Street itself.

In the southern part of Kostyantynivka, Russian forces cleared the remaining Ukrainian strongpoints outside the city and captured the rest of the southern industrial zone after fierce battles. Other assault groups captured the remaining private sector in southern Kostyantynivka on both banks of the river, reaching the railway station from the south.

In the southeastern part of Kostyantynivka, Russian forces continued battles for the area of the railway station, and cleared the rest of the forest east of the city. From there, they are deepening their infiltrations towards the stadium from multiple directions. Due to Russian infiltrations in the northern part of the city, Ukrainian forces have initiated a withdrawal from the eastern part of Kostyantynivka.

In the northern part of Kostyantynivka, the Russians continued accumulating their forces in Novodmytrivka and the forests to the west for further infiltrations into the so-called "Historical Centre". Forward assault groups were able to break through to the main highway, thereby operationally encircling Ukrainian formations stationed in the eastern suburbs. Fierce battles continue for the Historical Centre, as well as the private sector to the north, where Russia has been unable to establish stable control due to a number of Ukrainian positions still existing intermingled with Russian positions. At the same time, Russia has begun advancing towards the northernmost part of the city, infiltrating along the southern bank of the tributary of the Kryvyi Torets River.

Northeast of Kostyantynivka, Russian forces continued infiltrations into Molocharka from Novodmytrivka, and have also begun infiltrations west across the tributary of the Kryvyi Torets River towards the northernmost part of Kostyantynivka. Meanwhile, other assault groups began attacks northeast of Novodmytrivka towards Podilske.

+ ~13.73 km² in favour of Russia.

Interactive map link: amkmapping.com

Here's a closer up view of the approximate situation in Kostyantynivka right now.

The locations of heaviest fighting are marked in green, the two remaining roads leading out of the city are marked in yellow, and new Russian DRG activity is marked in pink.

I think we can expect a full Ukrainian withdrawal to the northwestern suburbs over the next two weeks, where they will presumably make a final stand in the Battle of Kostyantynivka.

Here's a closer-up view of the approximate situation in Lyman, showing the current Russian infiltration routes.

Right now, Russian soliders are operating within the city centre and most other districts of Lyman, and have established stable control over several blocks in the northern suburbs.

I warned about these increased Russian infiltrations a little over a week ago, and since then the situation for Ukraine has rapidly become critical. We may be witnessing a repeat of Kostyantynivka unfold, but it remains unclear as to how much Russia will be able to consolidate in these new areas.