Bakhmut Fell But Ukraine Did Not

Leaked Terms Hint at Major US Concessions to Iran

A new leak purports to show the text of the US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding and it's not great. From this document, which US officials have not yet commented on, it appears that Iran's negotiating position has increased while ours decreased throughout the war. In comparing terms before the beginning of hostilities to this document, there a number of areas where Iran gets relief but significant US demands are left unaddressed. I'd like to stress again that US officials have not confirmed or denied this leak and as of recording the official stance is that the terms may be released at a later date. Sources: https://x.com/JoshBlockDC/status/2066684305724592333?s=20 [https://x.com/JoshBlockDC/status/2066684305724592333?s=20] https://understandingwar.org/research/middle-east/iran-update-february-26-2026/#:~:text=US%20officials%20told%20the%20Wall%20Street%20Journal%20that%20Iran's%20proposal,York%20Times%20on%20February%2026 [https://understandingwar.org/research/middle-east/iran-update-february-26-2026/#:~:text=US%20officials%20told%20the%20Wall%20Street%20Journal%20that%20Iran's%20proposal,York%20Times%20on%20February%2026] https://punchbowl.news/wpcontent/uploads/MOU_with_Iran_Messaging_Highlights__The_White_House__June_15_2026.pdf [https://punchbowl.news/wpcontent/uploads/MOU_with_Iran_Messaging_Highlights__The_White_House__June_15_2026.pdf] Store: https://prestonstew.shop/ [https://prestonstew.shop/] Join the community on Substack: https://prestonstew.substack.com/ [https://prestonstew.substack.com/] Twitter: https://twitter.com/prestonstew_ [https://twitter.com/prestonstew_] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@prestonstew [https://www.tiktok.com/@prestonstew] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prestonstew_/ [https://www.instagram.com/prestonstew_/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Preston-Stewart/61584740132063/ [https://www.facebook.com/people/Preston-Stewart/61584740132063/] Unclassified Podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YmaFZihykI0iov9XgQ0uD?si=efe0b3bd89b6421d [https://open.spotify.com/show/4YmaFZihykI0iov9XgQ0uD?si=efe0b3bd89b6421d] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheUnclassifiedPod [https://www.youtube.com/@TheUnclassifiedPod] Contact: preston@warstories.co Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Russian Forces Have Entered Kostyantynivka

Learn more about our truck campaign here: https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/preston-stewart-summer-offensive [https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/preston-stewart-summer-offensive] Or you can pick up a Car4Ukraine shirt where 100% of profits go back to their organization: https://prestonstew.shop/collections/car4ukraine [https://prestonstew.shop/collections/car4ukraine] There’s a town in eastern Ukraine at risk of falling to Russian forces in the next few weeks, with a local Ukrainian commander saying, "It is quite possible to lose Kostyantynivka by the end of the summer. The enemy is pressing very hard." This is shaping up to be a key fight in summer 2026 with recent reports from Ukraine and Russia that the city is becoming a key component of Russian offensive operations. Sources: https://hromadske.ua/viyna/265664-chy-vstoyit-kostiantynivka-do-kintsia-lita [https://hromadske.ua/viyna/265664-chy-vstoyit-kostiantynivka-do-kintsia-lita] https://t.me/mod_russia_en/27529 [https://t.me/mod_russia_en/27529] Store: https://prestonstew.shop/ [https://prestonstew.shop/] Join the community on Substack: https://prestonstew.substack.com/ [https://prestonstew.substack.com/] Twitter: https://twitter.com/prestonstew_ [https://twitter.com/prestonstew_] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@prestonstew [https://www.tiktok.com/@prestonstew] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prestonstew_/ [https://www.instagram.com/prestonstew_/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Preston-Stewart/61584740132063/ [https://www.facebook.com/people/Preston-Stewart/61584740132063/] Unclassified Podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YmaFZihykI0iov9XgQ0uD?si=efe0b3bd89b6421d [https://open.spotify.com/show/4YmaFZihykI0iov9XgQ0uD?si=efe0b3bd89b6421d] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheUnclassifiedPod [https://www.youtube.com/@TheUnclassifiedPod] Contact: preston@warstories.co Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Russian Reporter Worries "Our Air Defense is Weak, There's Not Enough"

Learn more about our truck fundraiser here: https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/preston-stewart-summer-offensive [https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/preston-stewart-summer-offensive] Buy a Car4Ukraine shirt and 100% of the profits go to their organization! https://prestonstew.shop/en-eur/collections/car4ukraine [https://prestonstew.shop/en-eur/collections/car4ukraine] Looks like Russia is in denial about the ongoing Ukrainian middle and deep strikes. We're seeing clear evidence of the impact of fuel shortages and stretched air defense, which some in Russia are taking seriously, but others are opting to brush aside as an information operation. This is the race between Ukrainian drone volume and Russian air defense coverage. In the coming weeks we'll see which side is able to adapt and win this race. Merch Store: https://prestonstew.shop/ [https://prestonstew.shop/] Join the community on Substack: https://prestonstew.substack.com/ [https://prestonstew.substack.com/] Twitter: https://twitter.com/prestonstew_ [https://twitter.com/prestonstew_] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@prestonstew [https://www.tiktok.com/@prestonstew] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prestonstew_/ [https://www.instagram.com/prestonstew_/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Preston-Stewart/61584740132063/ [https://www.facebook.com/people/Preston-Stewart/61584740132063/] Unclassified Podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YmaFZihykI0iov9XgQ0uD?si=efe0b3bd89b6421d [https://open.spotify.com/show/4YmaFZihykI0iov9XgQ0uD?si=efe0b3bd89b6421d] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheUnclassifiedPod [https://www.youtube.com/@TheUnclassifiedPod] Contact: preston@warstories.co Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Another Week Another Crisis Still No Breakthrough

In the past few days the US has carried out strikes inside of Iran. Iran launched missiles and drones at targets across the Middle East. President Trump threatened to invade Kharg Island and now we’re finally on the verge of a peace deal. Or so we’re told, but let’s be honest, we’ve heard that once or 37 times before. The fact is, this war is messy and becoming more complicated by the day, but it’s far from resolved. To to help us understand where things sit, we’re joined today by Janatan Sayeh. Jon is the Iran research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies focused on Iranian domestic affairs and the Islamic Republic’s malign influence. Prior to joining FDD, he supported Iranian activists through State Department grant programs. https://www.fdd.org/team/janatan-sayeh/ [https://www.fdd.org/team/janatan-sayeh/] https://x.com/JanatanSayeh [https://x.com/JanatanSayeh] Store: https://prestonstew.shop/ [https://prestonstew.shop/] Join the community on Substack: https://prestonstew.substack.com/ [https://prestonstew.substack.com/] Twitter: https://twitter.com/prestonstew_ [https://twitter.com/prestonstew_] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@prestonstew [https://www.tiktok.com/@prestonstew] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prestonstew_/ [https://www.instagram.com/prestonstew_/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Preston-Stewart/61584740132063/ [https://www.facebook.com/people/Preston-Stewart/61584740132063/] Unclassified Podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YmaFZihykI0iov9XgQ0uD?si=efe0b3bd89b6421d [https://open.spotify.com/show/4YmaFZihykI0iov9XgQ0uD?si=efe0b3bd89b6421d] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheUnclassifiedPod [https://www.youtube.com/@TheUnclassifiedPod] Contact: preston@warstories.co Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

"It's Getting Worse" - Russian Reporters Warn of Crimea Siege

Learn about our truck fundraiser here: https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/preston-stewart-summer-offensive [https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/preston-stewart-summer-offensive] Merch store: https://prestonstew.shop/ [https://prestonstew.shop/] Join the community on Substack: https://prestonstew.substack.com/ [https://prestonstew.substack.com/] Ukraine is cutting off Crimea. This is part of a deliberate strategy that Russia can see playing out, but so far has been unable to stop. Today we’re going to look at exactly how the isolation of Crimea is happening with Ukraine shutting down the routes to the peninsula via air, land and sea. Twitter: https://twitter.com/prestonstew_ [https://twitter.com/prestonstew_] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@prestonstew [https://www.tiktok.com/@prestonstew] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prestonstew_/ [https://www.instagram.com/prestonstew_/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Preston-Stewart/61584740132063/ [https://www.facebook.com/people/Preston-Stewart/61584740132063/] Unclassified Podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YmaFZihykI0iov9XgQ0uD?si=efe0b3bd89b6421d [https://open.spotify.com/show/4YmaFZihykI0iov9XgQ0uD?si=efe0b3bd89b6421d] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheUnclassifiedPod [https://www.youtube.com/@TheUnclassifiedPod] Contact: preston@warstories.co Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]