0652GMT//Kremlin evacuates Russians from Iran; Shoigu returns to North Korea
EVACUATIONS FROM IRAN: The Kremlin continued to evacuate its citizens from Iran through Azerbaijan. On Monday it said that 225 Russians had fled from Iran, including families of Russian diplomats and the touring Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra. This followed a group of 88 Russians who fled Iran on Saturday. Russian media reported that the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra played an unscheduled concert in Baku as a thank you for its evacuation.
OIL PRICE REBOUND: The Israel-Iran conflict in the Middle East has pushed up the price of oil by around 15%. The price of a barrel of Urals oil, Russia's standard, is now at $65 up from $57.20. (COMMENT: This is clearly good for the Kremlin.)
PRAISE FOR ISRAEL: There has been more praise in Russian media by pro-war Z commentators for Israel's attack on Iran compared to the Kremlin's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Andrei Pinchuk, a military analyst, told the Tsargrad media unit that "Israel's actions represent a valuable lesson for Moscow". (COMMENT: These pro-war commentators are allowed to sound off against the Kremlin because, ultimately, the Kremlin knows that they are onside and support its mission to capture Ukraine.)
RELATIONS WITH NORTH KOREA: Sergei Shoigu, Secretary of Russia's Security Council, flew into Pyongyang for his second meeting in less than a fortnight with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un. (COMMENT: Shoigu last visited Kim on June 4. These regular visits show just how important Putin considers his alliance with Kim to be, perhaps especially now that Isreal is attacking Iran – one of his other key allies.)
RUSSIA-US TALKS: Russia's foreign ministry blamed the US for cancelling the next round of bilateral talks to restore diplomatic relations. It had said that a third round of talks was imminent. The previous round was held on April 10. (COMMENT: The US side hasn't commented. The talks may have been delayed by the conflict in the Middle East. They are important for the Ukraine-Russia peace negotiations.)
RUSSIAN PIZZA MOVES TO KAZAKHSTAN: The Russian owners of Dodo Pizza, the largest pizza franchise in Russia, and the Drinkit coffee brand on Monday re-registered the company's HQ in Kazakhstan from the British Virgin Islands. (COMMENT: Kazakhstan's Astana International Finance Center has been a net beneficiary of the Kremlin's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Several Russian companies have relocated there as Kazakhstan is considered a neutral territory that allows them to operate in the West. The Dodo Pizza brand operates in 26 countries across Russia, the Middle East, Europe, Africa and South East Asia. It said the move to Kazakhstan "aligns with its plans for further international expansion".)
APARTMENT SALES DROP: Sales of new apartments have dropped by 40% this year, the dom.rf website reported. It measured this figure in the square area of flats being sold, not the value. (COMMENT: More evidence of Russia's drooping civilian economy.)
UKRAINE WAR: Russian missile strikes on Ukraine killed at least 14 people overnight. This is one of the deadliest missile attacks of some time.
WHEAT EXPORT DROP: Russian wheat exports are likely to be 20% lower for the 2024/25 season which ends on June 30 compared to the 2023/24 season, analysts said. They said that a combination of the high strength of the rouble and increased costs associated with Western sanctions have made Russian wheat less competitive. (COMMENT: Wheat exports are important to the Russian economy. Russia is currently the world's fourth-largest wheat exporter. The Kremlin also uses cheap wheat exports as part of its alliance-building strategy for Africa and South East Asia.)
YOUTH BRAINWASHING: Vladimir Putin on Monday ordered the Movement of the First, one of Russia's youth groups, to hold drone racing competitions for seven-year-olds, the Kremlin reported on its website. He also ordered the creation of "political instructors" in schools. (COMMENT: This is all part of a drive to manipulate and brainwash the next generations of young Russians and to ensure that the Kremlin's message is consistent across the country.)
NEWS MATRIX:
Arguably, the most surprising story of the past 24 hours from Russia is that Sergei Shoigu, the Secretary of Russia's Security Council, is back in North Korea to see Kim Jong-un again – the scond time in less than a fortnight. Officially, the visit is to push Russia-North Korea relations forward but it could also be linked with the worsening Israel-Iran conflict.