Ukraine Russia War Update: Just Back from Russia: Larry Johnson

Daniel Davis Deep Dive Merch: Etsy store

Russia is developing nuclear-powered weapons/platforms (e.g., a nuclear-powered cruise missile and the Poseidon torpedo) that could stay aloft/afloat for months and be fitted with nuclear warheads — with both military and potential commercial/space applications.

The speaker warns these technologies remove traditional fuel limitations (long endurance for aircraft/ships/submarines/spacecraft).

Russia is portrayed as militarily advanced and combat-proven in several areas (hypersonics, drones, artillery, glide bombs). The U.S., by contrast, is said to lack an operational combat hypersonic system.

The Poseidon is described as capable of producing catastrophic coastal damage (tsunami) and of destroying an aircraft-carrier battle group in a single strike, which would challenge Western naval relevance in a full war.

The speaker asserts Russia generally avoids intentionally targeting civilians (contrasting Soviet/Russian conduct with historical Western strategic bombing) and attributes many reported civilian strikes to Ukrainian air-defense failures or Ukrainian shelling.

On the battlefield: Russian forces are making steady, methodical advances along wide sections of the contact line (e.g., Prosk/Prosk area and surrounding cauldrons), creating encirclement risks for Ukrainian units with limited supply, fuel, and reinforcement options.

Estimates of trapped Ukrainian troops range in the thousands; falling defensive pockets (e.g., Mirnord/Prosk) would open routes toward Dnipro-region objectives and further secure Donetsk for Russia.

Russian operational decisions are credited to the general staff (with Putin providing guidance to minimize casualties), emphasizing patience and attritional strategy rather than rapid high-casualty assaults.

Negotiations offered by Russia reportedly require Western acceptance of Crimea, Zaporizhia, Kherson, and Donetsk as permanent parts of Russia — a nonstarter for the West.

Overall tone: Russia is framed as technologically and operationally competent and deliberate, while Western narratives about indiscriminate Russian targeting and military superiority are questioned.