RSnake Report 20260614
Uptick on strikes in Russia, Anthropic's Mythos and Fable blocked, etc
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Long-range Liutyi drones hit the Rosrezerv strategic fuel depot in Rybinsk, Yaroslavl Oblast, starting a major fire. Someone got it on video of one of the drones approaching as well, and the sound of anti-aircraft fire and then a huge explosion, just showing how useless those AA systems, or small arms fire, are. This has been an especially nasty one for the local residents because it has now started raining petroleum products on the local population. Raining oil. Yep.
There was also an oil refinery hit in Sloviansk, which is in Krasnodar Krai. These refineries are a big deal because it means that Russia is forced to ship its fuel overseas to be processed instead of being able to use it domestically.
The Tamanneftegaz terminal was also hit, destroying multiple tanks and loading infrastructure, and the Ust-Labisk refinery was hit again after the June 6th strikes.
The Grushevaya oil depot in Novorossiysk was also hit, causing a massive fire. Here is some arial photos as well.
On the tech innovation side, Russia has introduced an unmanned ground vehicle equipped with smoke dispensers to create decoys during assaults. They have a confusing pitch, which is that if they set off six large smoke grenades, the Ukrainians will divert all their attention there instead of where the actual assault is. I don't quite get that thinking, but... sure. Maybe? Russian forces have also deployed fiber-optic FPV drones with rear-facing cameras on roads. The theory is that if you try to sneak up behind it, it will see you and kill you. Not a terrible idea, all things considered.
The Russians also built a 20-unit cassette-style mine bomber that drops very small mines that are 3d printed, and only have a nail, and a small amount of explosive and a primer/detonator. The good thing about these things is that they are dirt cheap. The bad thing is that they last virtually forever, making mine clearing extremely expensive and dangerous, because I'd bet a small fortune that Russia isn't keeping meticulous logs of where these mines are dropped to make mine-clearing operations safer.
Russian forces are disguising military fuel trucks as civilian timber haulers to move supplies into Crimea. Of course, this also makes any truck a legitimate-looking target. So I am not sure that this is such a great idea.
St. Petersburg is not faring any better. There has been a huge uptick in VPN usage because the Internet is blocked. For those of you who have read the RSnake Report for a long time, you know that China owns many VPN providers and monitors them closely, so the Russians are now telegraphing a lot about their lives to the CCP. The Internet outages have also caused such a problem that the city is having to hand out paper maps to its local population and tourists.
All four German-supplied SKYNEX air defense systems are now operational in Ukraine. unit combines a 35mm automated cannon with radar-guided targeting and a networked battle management system designed to intercept Shahed-type drones. Rheinmetall plans to scale production to 400 systems per year by 2027. That could make a big difference along the front, at that scale.
Since then, a lot has happened. President Trump stated that a deal with Iran was scheduled for signing and that the Strait of Hormuz would open to all traffic immediately afterward. The agreement, if signed, would prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, with no financial transfers involved. Iran rejected the proposed Sunday signing date, calling it a propaganda event tied to Trump's birthday.
An aerial message reading "86 47" appeared in discolored grass on the National Mall. The Interior Department is investigating. This is the same thing that Comey "found" on the beach and was mystified enough by to post on social media, hoping someone would help him decode the mystery. Imagine being the former director of the FBI and having to pretend you're so clueless that you don't know that "86" means murder. This is obviously an incitement to violence, and now it has spread. It's not clear what they used, but it's likely an herbicide. A pain to dig up the old grass and lay new sod, and a call to murder a sitting, duly elected President. No, this is not the way. But when your ideas aren't working, I guess violence is the answer. 👎
Geopolitics
The French Army is undergoing transformation aimed at adapting to modern warfare through technological innovation and increased readiness by learning from recent conflicts, particularly Ukraine. This includes enhancing capabilities with drones, electronic warfare, and command adaptations, while emphasizing the importance of maintaining a balanced military force capable of operating across varying conflict scenarios. France also seeks to strengthen its military autonomous capabilities to contribute effectively within NATO and European defense frameworks.
The French Army is increasing its readiness and adapting to new warfare technologies while learning from recent conflicts such as Ukraine.
France aims to act as a framework nation in European defense, pushing for greater autonomy and coherence in military operations.
[RSnake: I think the US stepping back has forced them to consider what happens when Europe really does need to protect itself.]
Source: https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2026/06/14/interview-french-army-chief-schill-talks-technology-surprise-and-archaic-combat/
President Trump announced the killing of Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, the leader of the Tren de Aragua gang, during a U.S. military strike in Venezuela. The gang has been involved in violence, drug trafficking, and other crimes across multiple continents. The operation reflects a U.S. and Venezuelan collaboration against narco-terrorism, amidst ongoing security issues related to organized crime in the region.
A U.S. military strike targeted the leader of the Tren de Aragua gang in Venezuela.
The strike is part of a broader strategy to combat narco-terrorism and organized crime in Latin America.
[RSnake: Good riddance. But a decapitation strike will need follow up work. This is really just the beginning of a larger operation or it will have no meaningful affect at all. That said, it can give negotiations with other cartels a much more serious tone. Look what we did to Hector. You want this happening to you? No? Let's talk.]
Source: https://www.military.com/trump-says-us-military-strike-killed-leader-of-tren-de-aragua-gang-with-help-from-venezuela
The United States is planning to reduce its military presence in Europe, including cuts to fighter jets and warships assigned to NATO operations, impacting NATO's surveillance and long-range strike capabilities. This shift is part of a broader change in NATO's defense strategy aimed at reducing reliance on American forces, with an emphasis on creating a more sustainable military footing for the alliance in the future.
The US will cut a third of its F-15 and F-16 fighter jets stationed in Europe.
The planned reductions reflect a strategic shift in NATO's defense posture to reduce dependence on the United States.
[RSnake: To some degree this is happening, but what's really happening at the same time is we're doing less rotations, and keeping the skilled people in place. So instead of rotating three different groups out we only rotate individuals within a single group out.]
Source: https://taskandpurpose.com/?p=375718
Israel has launched attacks in southern Lebanon amid an ongoing conflict, while the United States is set to announce a deal with Iran that aims to end hostilities on multiple fronts, including Lebanon. Despite the anticipated deal, tensions and military actions in the region persist.
Israel continues military operations in southern Lebanon.
The US is expected to finalize a deal with Iran to end the conflict.
[RSnake: The timing isn't great, but I have read that the Iraeli's did in fact let CENTCOM know that there was an imminent attack in Lebanon.]
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/video/newsfeed/2026/6/13/israel-attacks-lebanon-as-us-says-iran-deal-to-be-signed-on-sunday?traffic_source=rss
Russian forces launched an attack on Ukraine involving 98 drones, of which Ukrainian air defense successfully shot down or jammed 91. Despite the high number of interceptions, some drones managed to hit various locations within Ukraine, contributing to continued conflict and casualties among soldiers and losses of military equipment.
Russian forces utilized 98 drones in an overnight attack on Ukraine.
Ukrainian air defense intercepted 91 of these drones but some still caused damage.
[RSnake: 7-8% slipping through might sound good, but the real question is what was the damage caused. If it's meaningful those are acceptable losses, if not, then Ukraine is doing a good job. It's hard to say with these stats.]
Source: https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2026/06/14/8039208/
In recent developments, the Iranian regime has displayed resilience against military and economic pressures from the U.S. and Israel, despite attempts at regime change. As the situation continues to escalate, there is a focus on potential agreements involving Lebanon that could influence future dynamics in the region. Meanwhile, rising inflation and food prices in Iran have led to severe dietary restrictions for many citizens, with households struggling to fulfill basic nutritional needs.
The Iranian regime has shown resilience amid significant external pressures and military actions.
Diplomatic efforts involving Lebanon may play a crucial role in shaping regional power dynamics.
Severe economic challenges in Iran have led to drastic reductions in the quality and variety of food available to citizens.
[RSnake: Yes, actually, I have been relatively impressed that the sanctions have not had a greater effect. That said, it was supposed to take several weeks before we'd see a real crisis financially. We're right at the cusp of where it's going to start really hurting. So if they don't sign agreements now, I expect that the IRGC not getting paid might change their minds pretty quick.]
Source: https://www.iranintl.com/en/202606127869
Poland has acquired its first F-35A stealth fighters, marking a significant upgrade in its military capabilities and enhancing NATO's defense posture on its eastern flank. This acquisition comes amidst ongoing regional security concerns, particularly following Russia's aggressive actions in Ukraine, and signifies Poland's commitment to modernizing its air force and ensuring interoperability with allied forces.
Poland has become the first Eastern Flank nation to operate F-35 stealth jets.
The acquisition is part of Poland's efforts to modernize its military and strengthen NATO's defense against potential threats.
[RSnake: Good for them. They'll want them if Russia ever gets itchy trigger fingers. Its hard to get access to these fighters in war time, and training time is slow. So better now when there is nothing happening than later when it's a bit too late.]
Source: https://www.eurasiantimes.com/?p=294892
Cybersecurity
Chinese hackers, identified as the Velvet Ant group, have conducted a decade-long espionage operation, gaining access to a target organization's authentication system and critical infrastructure. The hackers successfully maintained persistence and full visibility into administrative activities by compromising internet-facing servers and modifying key authentication components, making detection and remediation exceptionally challenging for the affected organization.
Chinese hackers maintained access to an isolated critical infrastructure network for 10 years.
The Velvet Ant group exploited vulnerabilities in internet-facing systems to pivot into the network and embed themselves in the authentication process.
Successful remediation of the breach was complicated due to extensive replacement of legitimate authentication components with trojanized versions.
[RSnake: The initial access vectors were F5 and Nexus switches, and it went undetected for far too long. I have used both of those in my career, and I can tell you both of them had a lot to be desired at the time in terms of security. Our team found dozens of flaws in the F5 device in a single day of testing that we had allocated for it - all of which were patched, but just goes to show.]
Source: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/chinese-hackers-hijack-auth-flow-spy-on-isolated-network-for-a-decade/
A security assessment revealed a sophisticated malware attack within a client's network, where attackers gained access to systems built on a custom Linux kernel and a Go application. The malware was designed to collect and exfiltrate Personally Identifiable Information (PII) from decrypted HTTP traffic, using covert channels to avoid detection and efficiently manipulate data flows.
Malware infiltrated a network, modifying the Linux kernel and Go application to extract PII.
Attackers used covert channels to exfiltrate data while remaining undetected.
[RSnake: I remember when Linux was secure because no one attacked it. Look how far we have come! Modifying the kernel itself...]
Source: https://igor-blue.github.io/2021/03/24/apt1.html
Amazon's CEO informed the U.S. Treasury Secretary that the company's researchers used Anthropic's Fable 5 model to gather information relevant to cyberattacks, prompting the government to impose export controls and shut down both Fable 5 and Mythos 5. This decision indicates significant tensions between corporate interests and regulatory actions, as Amazon is a major investor in Anthropic, leading to implications for the AI industry's competitive landscape.
The U.S. government imposed export controls on Anthropic's AI models after Amazon raised concerns about cybersecurity risks.
Amazon's investment in Anthropic and the subsequent government response exemplify the complex relationship between tech companies and regulatory oversight in the AI sector.
[RSnake: I do think it shows a few new vulnerabilities in using commercial LLMs. The government can cause them to stop selling them to you. And even if your company gets to use it, your overseas contractors can't. This has woken a lot of people up to the idea of local models again. Unfortunately, the state of the art really is mostly Chinese models, and a handful of models from Google (Gemma) and Meta (Llama).]
Source: https://thenextweb.com/news/amazon-jassy-triggered-anthropic-fable-mythos-crackdown
The FBI has developed a 22,000-square-foot fake town in Huntsville, Alabama, designed to train agents for responding to live cyberattacks, including ransomware threats. This facility simulates a real community with essential services, allowing agents to practice their skills in realistic scenarios as cybercrime losses in the U.S. reach record levels.
FBI's Kinetic Cyber Range simulates real-world environments for training against cyber threats.
The facility features various community infrastructure components to simulate real-world conditions during cyberattacks.
[RSnake: Cool. They should give some of my friends access to it!]
Source: https://thenextweb.com/news/fbi-kinetic-cyber-range-replica-town-cyberattacks
The UK government is proposing a new law that would enable extensive smartphone surveillance, requiring tech companies to implement systems to scan all communications and images for explicit content. This law could lead to severe penalties for non-compliance and raise concerns about individual privacy and government oversight in digital communications.
The UK is considering legislation to mandate that smartphones have surveillance capabilities to monitor and block explicit content.
Failure to comply with these mandates could result in prison time for tech executives.
[RSnake: No, thank you. Talk about stifling people's freedoms. Woof. Also, if you were a tech executive living in that regime, you'd likely want to bail and go anywhere else in the world that wouldn't try to put you in jail for creating back doors. The question is, will Apple and Google comply with UK laws? Or just stop selling in the UK?]
Source: https://www.zerohedge.com/political/britain-goes-full-airstrip-one
Technology
Access to advanced artificial intelligence models is facing restrictions, prompting calls for global openness in AI development. Zhipu's GLM-5.2, an open-source model, aims to maintain accessibility to frontier intelligence for developers, promoting collaborative exploration of artificial general intelligence (AGI). The model offers significant capabilities, including a large context window and support for complex applications, and is set to be made available shortly.
Zhipu has released the GLM-5.2, a fully open-source AI model designed to facilitate access and collaboration.
The move towards open-source AI is seen as crucial in ensuring that advancements in artificial intelligence benefit a broader audience.
[RSnake: Another Chinese model. Beware.]
Source: https://twitter.com/jietang/status/2065784751345287314
Researchers at the University of California San Diego are developing a low-carbon computing platform using retired smartphones to create a more sustainable and efficient cloud computing solution. This project aims to repurpose the motherboards of 2,000 Pixel smartphones into a computing cluster, significantly reducing the carbon footprint associated with new hardware manufacturing while providing low-cost computing resources for academic research and education.
A new cloud computing platform is being developed using retired smartphones to minimize environmental impact.
The project will replace traditional data centers with a cluster of 2,000 smartphones to support educational applications and research.
[RSnake: That's pretty cute. Honestly, lots of applications I run barely need any power at all, so it would make a lot of sense for one-off apps. Though 2,000 phones is a tiny cluster by any datacenter's standard. It's a toy model for now, but maybe there's a way to make this into something more robust. It also begs the question if there is a way to upcycle phones/devices for future applications for the right recycler.]
Source: https://research.google/blog/a-low-carbon-computing-platform-from-your-retired-phones/
A Tesla vehicle on Autopilot crashed into a garage door in Redmond, Washington, with the driver blaming a malfunction of the self-driving system. This incident is part of a broader series of events involving Tesla's autonomous technology, which is currently under federal scrutiny due to safety concerns and incidents involving its Full Self-Driving capabilities. Investigations into multiple crashes have raised questions about the reliability of the technology, particularly in complex driving conditions.
A Tesla on Autopilot crashed into a residential garage door, allegedly due to a malfunction.
The incident contributes to ongoing federal investigations into the safety of Tesla's Full Self-Driving technology.
[RSnake: It's still very early technology. That said, I wonder how many people ran into their garage doors the same day under their own steam? I'm betting a lot more than one.]
Source: https://thenextweb.com/news/tesla-autopilot-garage-door-crash-redmond
Microsoft has updated Windows 11's search functionality, allowing users to find files with two-character names instead of the previous three-character minimum. This update also prioritizes local file results over web results and app suggestions. Additionally, the June Patch Tuesday released a record number of security patches, addressing several critical vulnerabilities.
Windows 11 now allows searching for files with two-character names.
The June Patch Tuesday included 200 security patches, addressing 33 critical vulnerabilities.
[RSnake: Lol, what a lame issue. Glad it's fixed though, for Windows users who write in Go, or Python, or Perl, or TypeScript, or JavaScript, or Ruby, or most languages, actually. Lol]
Source: https://thenextweb.com/news/windows-11-search-two-character-fix-patch-tuesday
A landmark clinical trial has begun to test a novel therapy designed to rejuvenate aging cells by reprogramming them to act like younger cells. The approach involves activating three specific genes to potentially treat diseases like glaucoma, which is known to cause blindness. The first participant has been treated, and if successful, this therapy could mark significant progress in regenerative medicine and age-related conditions.
A clinical trial for cellular reprogramming has started, aiming to rejuvenate aging cells.
The therapy targets diseases like glaucoma, potentially offering new treatment options.
The study involves careful monitoring due to potential safety concerns related to cell reprogramming.
[RSnake: Neat - we are really just at the beginning of a new ear of science. I keep thinking about what I heard once... that some kids born today will never die. That may just turn out to be true. Let's hope we fix the grey matter issues along with the body.]
Source: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/world-first-therapy-to-make-cells-young-again-given-to-a-person/
Business
Microsoft is considering options for its Xbox division, including the potential for a spinoff or a sale, as the division's profit margins have significantly declined to 3%. Major layoffs are planned for July, indicating a substantial restructuring effort within the company. Xbox's recent performance challenges, along with Microsoft's broader financial strategy, are shaping these discussions.
Microsoft may restructure its Xbox division due to declining profit margins and planned layoffs.
Options on the table include turning Xbox into a subsidiary or selling it outright.
[RSnake: I have long thought that they should be separate companies. I know the inventor of the Xbox actually. I never really got why Microsoft wanted to own that, especially because they never really integrated it with the desktop/laptop ecosystem.]
Source: https://thenextweb.com/news/microsoft-xbox-spinoff-subsidiary-asha-sharma
The U.S. Department of Justice has approved Paramount's $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery without conditions, stating it is not likely to harm competition or consumers. Despite the approval, state attorneys general, led by California, are preparing legal action to block the merger on antitrust grounds, raising issues regarding reduced competition and job losses in Hollywood.
The DOJ cleared Paramount's purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery after an extensive antitrust review.
State attorneys general are planning to sue to block the merger despite the DOJ's approval.
[RSnake: Annnd done. Still amazed this went through, but there's still time for appeals. Another article on it here.]
Source: https://thenextweb.com/news/paramount-warner-bros-merger-doj-cleared
The price of gold has been declining due to a war between the US and Israel against Iran, leading to higher inflation and interest rates. This conflict has impacted oil and gas shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, exacerbating inflation in the US, where inflation rates are currently at a three-year high. Strong performance of the dollar has also contributed to the decrease in gold prices, which typically rise in times of economic uncertainty.
Gold prices have dropped significantly since the onset of the US-Israel war against Iran.
Higher inflation and interest rates are negatively impacting gold as an investment.
The geopolitical situation is affecting global economic conditions, including oil prices.
[RSnake: you'd think that gold would be a sure thing, but apparently not! But inflation really shouldn't negatively effect the price of Gold, if anything it should increase it relative to the price of a dollar. But they do make a good point that increased interest rates mean that the dollar makes dollars, vs gold which doesn't yield anything.]
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2026/6/14/why-is-the-price-of-gold-trending-down?traffic_source=rss
Elon Musk's wealth surpasses that of entire nations, prompting discussions about taxation and wealth inequality.
SpaceX's IPO is the largest in history, significantly impacting the market and creating numerous millionaires.
[RSnake: Of course Elizabeth Warrant wants a wealth tax on his unrealized gains?! Dumb. I can't tell if these people are totally financially illiterate or if they just know they need to appeal to people who are.]
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/when-i-give-my-savings-to-elon-musk-senator-elizabeth-warren-trolled-for-demanding-wealth-tax-on-worlds-first-trillionaire/articleshow/131712182.cms
Rivian Automotive is preparing for the launch of its new electric vehicle, the R2, which is critical for the company's growth amidst significant financial losses and stiff competition in the EV market. The company has received major investments from Volkswagen and Uber to enhance its technology and production capabilities, but its CEO emphasizes that the success of the R2 is essential for the company's future viability, especially in an increasingly competitive landscape that includes prominent Chinese automakers.
Rivian has faced substantial financial challenges, losing $3.6 billion in 2025 and burning through nearly $25 billion since 2018.
The company's R2 electric vehicle launch is pivotal for its growth strategy, and significant investments from Volkswagen and Uber are aimed at enhancing its production and technology.
[RSnake: Cool little SUV.]
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Source: https://www.wired.com/story/interview-with-rivian-ceo-rj-scaringe/
The U.S. national debt has surpassed $100 trillion, equating to $1 million per household and exceeding 400% of annual GDP. Additionally, commitments from Medicare and Social Security now exceed their assets by $97 trillion, which is over three times the U.S. GDP.
The U.S. national debt has exceeded $100 trillion.
Medicare and Social Security commitments exceed assets by $97 trillion.
[RSnake: I didn't think I'd see to live the day, but here we are! If every household in the nation paid $1M we could clear the debt. Of course that cannot happen, so there is no path forward without paying this down or defaulting.]
Source: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-true-national-debt-just-hit-1-million-per-u-s-household-bd0924d1?mod=mw_rss_topstories
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