The world has been focused on the 50-day ultimatum given by US President Donald J. Trump for Russia to settle the war in Ukraine and avoid harsher sanctions and secondary tariffs, but the war keeps going on – and in fact Russian territorial advances are shifting to a faster gear.

While the world witnesses the European powers rather confusedly try to sort out who will send what and who will pay for what to Ukraine, Russian forces took around a dozen settlements in a single week.

Watch: Russian Geranium strike on the territorial recruitment center in the Cherkasy region.

The footage shows a Geranium strike on the TCC in Kanev in the Cherkasy region.

According to the author of the video, this is not the first time the facility has been hit. #UkraineRussiaWar #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/D5hM2Lr3lZ

— Maimunka News (@MaimunkaNews) July 18, 2025

Drone and missile strikes continue, but while US envoy General Keith Kellog was in Kiev, no attacks took place there.

5 strikes targeted the territorial recruitment centers and other military facilities.

Read: As Hundreds of ‘Geraniums’ Pound Kiev Nightly, US Secretary Rubio Alerts: A Few Patriot Systems and Missiles ‘Won’t Stop the Russian Drones, but Only Some Missiles’

The pression is ongoing all over the 740-mile-long frontline, and a cursory look reveals that a dozen new settlements were conquered by Russian forces since July 11.

In the all-important Eastern Donetsk region, we have Zelenaya Dolina, Karlo-Marksovo, Nikolaevka, Mayak, Petrovka, Voskresenka, Novokhatskoye and Popov Yar.

Watch: Russian Zapad (West) group conquering Zelenaya Dolina, Donetsk region.

Combat Actions of the “West” Group in Liberating the Settlement of Zelenaya Dolina, Donetsk People’s Republic. pic.twitter.com/wFsRz4FpoF

— Bernadette (@BDooher) July 14, 2025

Watch: Russian flags over the villages of Nikolaevka.

Russian flags over the villages of Staraya Sorochina and Nikolaevka in the suburbs of Malaya Loknya, Kursk region.

The enemy is retreating not only along the flanks near Sudzha, but also further north near the Lgov-Sudzha road.

It is still too early to talk about a… pic.twitter.com/oIYfz6XLKY

— dana (@dana916) March 7, 2025

Watch: The Russian flag is hoisted over Petrovka in the Donetsk region.

‘No one can resist the onslaught of the Russian army’.

The Russian flag is hoisted over Petrovka in the DPR by servicemen of the 1465th Motorised Rifle Regiment (Yug Group of Forces).

The regiment, manned by servicemen from Transbaikal region, has been knocking the… pic.twitter.com/PSjeUKulMC

— Russia Truth (autonomous pro-Kremlin infowarrior) (@Russia_Truth) July 15, 2025

Besides that, Sobolevka and Degtyarnoye in the northern Kharkov region, as well as Malinovka and Kamenskoye in the southern Zaporozhye region were also conquered.

Morning strikes by “Geran” drones hit a target in Kamenskoye.

By the way, locals say the drones hit the military enlistment office (TCC). pic.twitter.com/R2VjJksuzs

— MD (@distant_earth83) July 18, 2025

Once again, that may come across like a meaningless list of Slavic names, but just by glancing at the territorial results of a week, we see that this is no stalemate, and even calling it ‘incremental advances’ seems inappropriate.

Russian Ministry of Defense says over 8,000 Ukrainian troops were killed during the week – further adding to Kiev regime’s main problem: lack of troops.

But the most eye-catching ongoing development is the approach and encirclement of key Donetsk stronghold of Pokrovsk.

Watch: the push toward Pokrovsk continues.

A brutal meat grinder is underway as the push toward Pokrovsk continues—Russian forces are crushing Ukrainian units and grinding NATO equipment to dust. pic.twitter.com/JcPXrse30T

— pocalypsis pocalypseos (@apocalypseos) July 18, 2025

This is a key supply road and railway hub, connecting major Ukrainian military centers like Kostantinovka, Kramatorsk, and Sloviansk.

Pokrovsk allows Ukraine to move troops, equipment, and supplies across the Donbas.

FACE OF WAR: Road to Pokrovsk!

War is hell pic.twitter.com/I5a9WVYiVR

— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) January 9, 2025

The fortress-like stronghold is a linchpin in Ukraine’s eastern defense, and has withstood Russian military pressure for months. Its fate will shape the trajectory of the war in Donetsk.

As we’ve seen many times before, when encountered with formidable defense formations and fortifications, the Russians go around it, encircling it, conquering the supply roots, depleting the defense capabilities until the it becomes a much weaker target.

More often than not, the Ukrainian defenders will retreat under fire before the encirclement is complete.

Read more:

Moscow Forces Complete Conquest of Luhansk Region, One of the Cradles of the War, Fighting Since 2014 to Secede from Ukraine and Join Russia

The post Russians Conquer a Dozen Settlements in a Week – In Eastern Donetsk, Northern Kharkov and Southern Zaporozhie – Moscow Forces Encircle Key Ukrainian Stronghold Pokrovsk (VIDEOS) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Welcome to The Gateway Pundit’s Week-in-Review with Elijah Schaffer, where he covers the top 5 stories throughout the last 24 hours.

ARTICLE 1: Sperry: Secret Meeting Opens Document Floodgates on Trump-Russia Hoax  

ARTICLE 2: Whoops: David Hogg’s First PAC-Backed Primary Candidate Goes Down in Flames 

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ARTICLE 3: Joe Rogan Reveals the Reasons He Decided to Interview Trump on His Podcast Before the Election (VIDEO)   

ARTICLE 4:  Touchdown: Tuberville Has Blunt 4-Word Response When Asked About ICE Apprehending Citizens Along with Illegals

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ARTICLE 5: Mike Rowe’s Mother Had an Important Warning for Him Before He Met Trump   

Please leave your opinions / comments on these stories below as Elijah reads every single one and appreciates your perspective.

The post Leaked BOMBSHELL: Secret Meeting Shatters Trump-Russia HOAX with Jaw-Dropping Details! | Elijah Schaffer’s Top Stories (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

The tech company Astronomer issued a statement Friday announcing an investigation into the Kiss Cam video seen ’round the world of CEO Andy Byron in a warm embrace with a woman not his wife, but Chief People Officer Kristin Cabot, at a Coldplay concert at Gillette Stadium near Boston Wednesday night.

Astronomer also said a fake statement was posted in Byron’s name, in fact he has issued no statement. The company shot down rumors that another employee, Alyssa Stoddard, was the blushing brunette seen with the couple in videos of the incident.

The illicit couple’s stunned, embarrassed reaction to being seen on camera brought a reaction from Coldplay singer Chris Martin and helped drive millions of views of videos of the incident.

Martin commented as he watched the couple react to being on the Kiss Cam screen, “Oh, look at these two. Alright, come on, you’re okay. Oh, what? Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy.”

This version has over 136 million views:

Coldplay puts CEO of Astronomer and Head of HR on jumbotron looking cozy during their concert. pic.twitter.com/yuy2R5FAEc

— Buzzing Pop (@BuzzingPop) July 17, 2025

View from near the stage:

BREAKING: CEO of $1.3 BILLION tech company Astronomer, Andy Byron, gets caught on kiss cam with his HR Chief Kristin Cabot at a Coldplay concert…

Chris Martin stops mid-show:

“Oh look at these two, either they’re having an affair, or they’re very shy.”

They IMMEDIATELY… pic.twitter.com/iF6eFiyhCy

— Desiree (@DesireeAmerica4) July 17, 2025

Astronomer statement:

Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding. Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability.

The Board of Directors has initiated a formal investigation into this matter and we will have additional details to share very shortly.

Alyssa Stoddard was not at the event and no other employees were in the video. Andy Byron has not put out any statement, reports saying otherwise are all incorrect.

Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding. Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability.

The Board of Directors has initiated a formal investigation into this matter and we will have additional… pic.twitter.com/rfrAQ5bygy

— Astronomer (@astronomerio) July 18, 2025

Page Six reported Thursday that Byron’s wife initially took off her married name from her Facebook page Thursday morning, and then later deleted her account after it was targeted with comments on the video of her husband (excerpt):

Astronomer CEO Andy Byron’s wife, Megan Kerrigan Byron, quickly deleted her social media page after a video of her husband allegedly cheating at a Coldplay concert went viral.

Page Six observed that Megan’s Facebook page, which contained family photos, was no longer accessible as of Thursday morning.

Shortly before taking down her profile, she deleted her surname from her account.

Megan was quick to take action after several people bombarded her account with comments on Andy being spotted with his company’s chief human resources officer, Kristin Cabot, at Wednesday night’s concert in Boston.

The New York Post posted work photos of Byron and Cabot:

Astronomer CEO Andy Byron gushed about Kristin Cabot’s hiring — months before getting caught on Coldplay’s kiss cam https://t.co/yzgqcuEhDS pic.twitter.com/fcD0OzJF8G

— New York Post (@nypost) July 17, 2025

Update: Axios reports Byron and Cabot have been immediately put on leaves.

BREAKING: Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and chief people officer Kristin Cabot have been immediately put on leave, a source familiar with the situation tells @emayhawk.https://t.co/CrvXznlI9f

— Axios (@axios) July 18, 2025

The post Astronomer Addresses Rumors, Announces Investigation Into CEO’s Coldplay Kiss Cam Embrace With HR Exec – CEO Andy Byron and Kristin Cabot Reportedly Put on Leave appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

The US Health and Human Services Department and State Department on Friday officially rejected the latest World Health Organization rules on pandemic response measures.

HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy, Jr. and Secretary of State Marco Rubio released a joint statement on the proposals that gives the WHO the ability to order global lockdowns, travel restrictions, or any other measures it sees fit to respond to nebulous “potential public health risks.”

The US will not be participating in this globalist power grab.

The Health and Human Services Department released this statement.

US Health and Human Services reported:

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Secretary of State Marco Rubio today issued a Joint Statement of formal rejection by the United States of the 2024 International Heath Regulations (IHR) Amendments by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The amended IHR would give the WHO the ability to order global lockdowns, travel restrictions, or any other measures it sees fit to respond to nebulous “potential public health risks.” These regulations are set to become binding if not rejected by July 19, 2025, regardless of the United States’ withdrawal from the WHO.

“The proposed amendments to the International Health Regulations open the door to the kind of narrative management, propaganda, and censorship that we saw during the COVID pandemic,” Secretary Kennedy said. “The United States can cooperate with other nations without jeopardizing our civil liberties, without undermining our Constitution, and without ceding away America’s treasured sovereignty.”

Secretary Kennedy also released a video explaining the action to the American people.

“Terminology throughout the amendments to the 2024 International Health Regulations is vague and broad, risking WHO-coordinated international responses that focus on political issues like solidarity, rather than rapid and effective actions,” Secretary Rubio said. “Our Agencies have been and will continue to be clear:  we will put Americans first in all our actions and we will not tolerate international policies that infringe on Americans’ speech, privacy, or personal liberties.”

Robert Kennedy Jr. released this statement earlier today.

The WHO global pandemic treaty that was being discussed for several years would have given sole authority over what constitutes a pandemic. And, as we have seen over the past two years, just about anything qualifies as an ‘existential threat to public health’ including, but not limited to: misinformation, parents protesting at school boards, free speech, and – of course – racism. The fact that the WHO is on the cusp of unrestricted authority to decide these measures should terrify every American.

What’s more, the changes also include plans for a mandatory and universal vaccine passport system that’s overseen by the WHO. In fact, the globalist organization has already contracted a German-based company, called ‘T-Systems’, to develop the technology.

According to Garret Mehl – the head of WHO’s Department of Digital Health and Innovation, the plan for the new universal system is to issue a QR code digital ID to every single person on the planet – that way, everyone is tracked. But, don’t worry, it’s just a “trust-building” exercise, Mehl explains.

Oh, is that all?

Thankfully the WHO global pandemic treaty failed in 2024. But that has not stopped the globalists from continuing their drive to control the US and the world with their totalitarian and likely flawed future pandemic rules.

Once again, President Trump, Robert Kennedy, Jr., and Marco Rubio made a principled stand for the American public.

Thank God for Trump and his outstanding cabinet members!

The post Top US Officials Reject Amendments to International Health Regulations appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Grant Stinchfield has been demanding it for months, and now Congress may finally be listening. In this episode of “Stinchfield,” Grant lays out the undeniable case for why both Joe and Jill Biden must be hauled before Congress to testify under oath.

From the former president’s obvious mental decline to the outrageous use of the auto-pen to sign critical legislation, executive orders, and pardons, all while he’s missing in action.  It is a full-blown cover-up of the hijacking of American government at the highest level.

Jill Biden served as the gatekeeper and queen of the White House. She was the caretaker-in-chief. Congress needs to prove who was running the country and what they were really hiding from the. Jill Biden and Joe Biden need to be hauled before Congress.

Their presence isn’t just warranted; American people- it’s urgent.

The post The Biden Testimony America Deserves appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.