RH 5.13.26 | Russia: Sarmat Test, Drone Swarms, US Targets, Ukraine Strikes, Elite Pressure

👉 Subscribe to The Restricted Handling Podcast  https://www.restrictedhandling.com/  Russia is back in the spotlight and the stakes have never been higher. In this episode we dive into Vladimir Putin's latest Sarmat ICBM test, a nuclear weapons flex that he claims will redefine Russia's strategic reach by the end of the year. We break down what this means for Moscow's global messaging and how it ties to a battlefield reality that is far less smooth than the Kremlin wants the world to believe. The Victory Day parade may have looked controlled, but Ukrainian strikes over the weekend exposed cracks in Moscow's ability to project conventional power and keep its optics intact.  Meanwhile, the war in Ukraine is heating up again. The recent US-brokered ceasefire quietly expired and Russia immediately unleashed more than two hundred drones across multiple regions, hitting energy infrastructure, apartment buildings, and even kindergartens. We explain how Kyiv is turning technology and AI into real operational advantages, with over a hundred companies supporting eighty AI models to detect drones, process intelligence, and guide deep-strike planning. Ukraine's long-range strikes are reaching deeper into Russian territory than ever, from energy hubs in Astrakhan and Perm to industrial targets in Orenburg. The result is a chessboard where Moscow's rear areas are no longer safe, and the strategic calculus for the Kremlin is getting increasingly complicated.  US-linked businesses are caught in the crossfire as well. Coca-Cola, Cargill, Boeing, Flex, Bunge, Philip Morris, and Mondelez have all been targeted. We break down how this campaign is influencing investor confidence, shaping Washington's muted response, and potentially serving as a pressure tactic on foreign investment in Ukraine.  Domestically, Russia is feeling the strain. Internet restrictions, VPN throttling, and forced use of domestic apps are creating frustration and pushing ordinary Russians to find inventive work-arounds. Elite anxiety is rising, volunteer enlistments are down, and casualty reports continue to mount. On the Ukrainian side, anti-corruption investigations are moving closer to Zelensky's inner circle, with former chief of staff Andriy Yermak formally accused in a high-profile case. This is political pressure and governance under fire while the country continues to wage a high-tech, high-stakes war.  We also touch on Russia's shifting posture beyond Ukraine, including Putin's comments on a "civilized divorce" with Armenia and what that might mean for post-Soviet influence in the region. Intelligence, strategy, technology, sanctions, and domestic politics all intersect in this evolving story, and we bring it together in a way that keeps you informed and ahead of the game.  If you want a concise, entertaining, and insight-packed briefing on Russia's current strategic, military, and domestic dynamics, this episode is essential listening.  👉 Subscribe to The Restricted Handling Podcast  https://www.restrictedhandling.com/  Get the daily intelligence brief Ryan and Glenn read covering Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, the Middle East, geopolitics, sanctions, military and intel operations. Save a few hours of your time getting ahead of the news cycle at restrictedhandling.com.