Oil War: The European Union has agreed to ban most imports of Russian oil, the harshest economic penalty yet to be imposed on Russia for invading Ukraine, and a big sacrifice for Europe itself.

  The agreement applies to oil delivered by tanker, the primary method, leaving open an exception for pipeline oil primarily for the benefit of landlocked Hungary. Europe was reluctant to take such self-sacrificing measures early in the war. They have already barred imports of Russian natural gas and cut off Russian banks.

  Prohibiting tanker deliveries cuts off two-thirds of Russian oil exported to Europe and that represents 27 percent of all oil imported by Europe.

The War Zone: The Ukrainian military over the past several days launched a counter offensive aimed at taking back all Russian-controlled territory in the country’s east. They’ve already taken back several miles of front, but it’s likely to be a grind against dug-in Russian forces.

  At the same time the Ukraine government urged everyone living in those embattled areas to flee to the west. Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said in a statement, “I know that it’s difficult, but you have to try and find ways and opportunities. Because ultimately, it is a question of your safety and that of your children.”

  At the same time, death and inexperience among the Russian officer ranks are playing to the hands of the Ukrainians. The British Ministry of Defense said Russian forces have suffered devastating losses among mid and junior ranking officers and they are being replaced at the front by  battalion and brigade level officers exposing themselves to fire. 

  The Institute for the Study of War says, “Continued demoralization and poor command and control among Russian forces could present Ukrainian forces opportunities to conduct prudent counteroffensives, particularly as the Russian military continues to pour resources into the battle of Severodonetsk at the cost of other lines of effort.”

  The ISW says of the current situation: “Putin is now hurling men and munitions at the last remaining major population center in that oblast, Severodonetsk, as if taking it would win the war for the Kremlin. He is wrong. When the Battle of Severodonetsk ends, regardless of which side holds the city, the Russian offensive at the operational and strategic levels will likely have culminated, giving Ukraine the chance to restart its operational-level counteroffensives to push Russian forces back.”

  Covering the war continues to be as hazardous as fighting it. A 32-year-old French journalist was killed yesterday in eastern Ukraine when the armored bus he was riding in was hit by shrapnel. At least seven journalists have been killed and nine wounded since the opening of the war.  

The Shooting Gallery: Detectives in Tampa, Florida arrested an 18-year-old after getting a tip that he had posted on social media a threat to carry out a mass shooting at a school. Corey Anderson’s post showed him with a handgun, a rifle and a tactical vest with a caption that said, “Hey Siri, directions to the nearest school.” 

  While the National Rifle Association maintains the fiction that “guns don’t kill people, people kill people,” there have been 15 mass shootings in the United States since the May 24^th Uvalde, Texas school massacre that took 22 lives. A mass shooting is an event in which four or more people are hit.

  The biggest since Uvalde was in Taft, Oklahoma on Sunday. One person was killed and seven wounded. The Gun Violence Archive counts 228 mass shootings in the US so far this year. 

  All told, more than 30 people across the country died in shootings  during the holiday weekend.

Unsworn: The city council in Uvalde, Texas cancelled last night’s meeting at which Pete Arredondo, the chief of the local school district police, was set to be sworn in as a new member. Arredondo was the official who held back the cops for an hour while a mass shooter occupied two classrooms at the Robb elementary school, killing 19 children and two teachers.  He has been holed up in his home and has yet to explain his decision. 

  A statement from the mayor said the council is focused on the shooting and burying the victims.

Long Time Coming: The Egyptian government has unveiled a trove of 150 ancient bronze statues and sarcophagi discovered in the Saqqara since 2018. 

  The Saqqara is the location of the 4,700-year-old Step Pyramid about 20 miles  south of Cairo. It’s one of Egypt’s richest archaeological sites. The latest finds have included the earliest and largest bronze statues in the area from the Late Period, or the 5th century BC.

  The 150 statues discovered portray pharaonic gods, including the protector of graves, Anubis; the god of creation of day, Nefertem; and Amun, the god of the sun and air. 

The Spin Rack: Paul Pelosi, husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, was arrested Saturday night in Northern California wine country on suspicion of driving under the influence. The 82-year-old was arrested after his Porsche was was hit by another vehicle.— One man has been charged with boating under the influence after the crash on Georgia’s Wilmington River that took five lives, including four from one family. Chris and Lori Leffler died with their two sons. Their daughter and a friend survived.  — Former President Trump adviser Peter Navarro has been subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury investigating the January 6^th insurrection. He said he plans to fight it.

They Have Blamed You: A 36-year-old man disguised as an elderly woman in a wheelchair attempted to smear a cake or whipped cream on the Mona Lisa at the Louvre on Sunday, but she’s protected by glass.

  The man was hauled away saying, “Think of the Earth. There are people who are destroying the Earth. Think about it. Artists tell you: Think of the Earth. That’s why I did this.” 

-30-