News & views related to the war in Ukraine …
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March 15, 2026
Ukraine Open Thread 2026-057
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Make Russia and China look weak. That was the rhetoric in Venezuela but boy did the shit hit the fan in Iran.
Posted by: Princess Bodica | Mar 15 2026 16:00 utc | 1
Arguing with Ukrainians is just like playing chess with a pigeon: it’ll knock over all the pieces, shit on the board, and fly off to tell its own that it won.
https://x.com/sergeenko_i/status/2032703883538055625
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Mar 15 2026 16:28 utc | 3
Did the US ever interdict Soviet ships going to Vietnam?
Posted by: schmoe | Mar 15 2026 12:52 utc | 187
Oh, it’s much worse now.
And they didn’t do that back then, but they would have had the legal right to do it had they declared war officially (which they hadn’t).
But that would have been interdicting Soviet ships going to Vietnam
What we have now is Russia being blockaded in the Baltic Sea, the Black Sea and the Mediterreanean, by outright acts of war. And there is no reaction. No reciprocal action, even though it would be trivial for the Russian navy to sink a bunch of civilian ships and impose a cost on that sort of piracy, and certainly no strikes on the naval assets and HQs of the offending parties.
Russia is just rolling over and exposing its belly for further hits. A giant version of whatever small defenseless country that the US has beaten up on in the past that you want to use as an example.
Posted by: GM | Mar 15 2026 16:30 utc | 4
– Moscow is supposed to defend Russians, Slavs.
– That includes the ordinary Slavs living in ancestral Russian lands like most of Ukraine.
– It is not Moscow’s job to prioritize the well-being of the Westerners “so much” at the expense of these Slavs. The SMO has done this.
Posted by: switched devices and cannot remember | Mar 15 2026 10:41 utc | 181
The Kremlin is not just “supposed”, it has a duty to protect its people.
If Western missiles and drones are killing your people and destroying your infrastructure and industry. you must take all necessary measures to make that stop. You absolutely do not host the people responsible for it as dear guests in Moscow and you do not praise them as “neutral mediators”. You do some combination of:
— hitting their assets and people to impose a cost that will make them stop
— kill them outright to make them stop
— destroy their physical capability to wage war on you.
Russia has the tools, but the Kremlin refuses to use them, and is instead behaving as if its best friends with the people who kill Russians every day.
That is grand treason. There are no ifs, buts, etc.
And if you commit such an act of grand treason, you have to be toppled and executed for it. Why is that even a question…
Posted by: GM | Mar 15 2026 16:35 utc | 6
Putin has shut himself away in the Kremlin. The Telegram debacle and Peskov’s out-of-touch comments on the attacks involving Ukrainian missiles and drones are clear signs that the Russian leadership is drifting away from its own people.All it would take is a well-executed diversion by Epstein’s team to make a mockery of Putin and his whimpering calls for negotiations.The Kremlin has lost touch with reality outside its walls; Putin’s personal chef realised this in time – and paid for it with his life. Dozens of degenerate, corrupt generals and high-ranking officials were reluctantly removed, whilst the Kremlin abandoned its best men without any security measures.For more than four years, Putin has been talking about the most incredible weapons developments.Unfortunately, he is not deploying them in the SVO – which makes one suspect treachery within his own ranks.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Posted by: Oberbayer | Mar 15 2026 16:39 utc | 7
There are no ifs, buts, etc
Posted by: GM | Mar 15 2026 16:35 utc | 6
yes there are.
just be ause ot sounds rheyorically absolute and irrefutable to paint everything as black and white, does not mean it is reality, especially when based upon outright oversimplification of laws.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Posted by: Oberbayer | Mar 15 2026 16:39 utc | 8
from wearewinningguys.ua
Now that the war in Ukraine has receded somewhat into the background, I would like to highlight the following point: Ukraine derives its entire military capability from the West and would quickly lose if left to fend for itself. For Russia, the most effective way to end the war would therefore be to cut off all of Ukraine’s access points to the West (transport hubs near the border, ports, etc.) in the most radical way possible—even resorting to tactical nuclear weapons. (After all, the ongoing war in Iran has shown that “radical” is a relative term.)
Instead, Russia is mainly attacking targets in Ukraine that, while causing significant damage, are not decisive for the outcome of the war. One might consider this strategic short-sightedness—though it now looks more like foresight. For what would a quick end to the war mean? The EU would write off Ukraine, pull itself together, and quickly open a new front, say in the Baltics, which would be much harder for Russia to handle, as it lies closer to critical areas and would also be operated directly by NATO. As it stands, however, the EU is, in a sense, self-imposed “forced” to continuously demilitarize itself through incompetent and corrupt accomplices.
From Russia’s perspective, this is a controlled fire that slowly burns through EU resources and undermines other fronts. One cannot help but marvel at this strategic skill time and again.
Posted by: xblob | Mar 15 2026 11:14 utc | 182
You start well. Then you go off the rails.
1) Only Russia’s resources are being burned here. No real capital is destroyed in Europe — no physical infrastructure, factories, etc. has been destroyed, very few people have been killed. Unlike in Russia. Yes, Russia will rebuild. But guess what? The resources that will be used up for that are resources that will not go into building new things in addition to what existed had it not been destroyed. So it’s still a net loss.
Also, building up the capability to produce a lot of advanced weapons is a good thing. It stimulates scientific and technological development, builds up industrial capacity, etc. But actually producing the weapons needed to fight a prolonged large-scale war is a bad thing, as that stuff has no use for anything beneficial — it literally gets blown up.
2) Europe being drained of resources is entirely irrelevant and not a win for Russia. Europe is a fully disposable proxy here. What matters to Russia is that Russia itself is being drained
3) You yourself seem to understand that Ukraine is just the platform from which strikes are launched into Russia. But effectively the strikes are launched from and by Europe and the US. When you are in that situation, you don’t have the choice of pretending Ukraine is the only country you are at war with. You have to neutralize the threat, no matter where it is located. The Iranians are demonstrating now how that is done, with nowhere close to the same resources Russia has.
4) Europe opening another front is the best thing that could happen now. Provided that it is responded to properly, i.e. by nuking all of northern Europe, moving in with ground forces, exterminating all survivors (there are no innocents there, enough with that bullshit — how many wars have those people started on Russia now?), and then permanently taking over the land as part of Russia. It will also solve Russia’s centuries-long geostrategic problems — there will be no more threats from the western direction, it will have direct warm-water access to the ocean, no bottlenecks in the Bosphorus, Gibraltar and Denmark, the Atlantic can be properly contested, etc. etc.
Thus Russia’s goal should be to make the Europeans give Russia a reason. Which they pretty much already have, but with these people in the Kremlin…
Posted by: GM | Mar 15 2026 16:50 utc | 10
Provided that it is responded to properly, i.e. by nuking all of northern Europe,
Posted by: GM | Mar 15 2026 16:50 utc | 11
so reasoned and articulate!
I do wish SB would fermez son bouche and ideally boil his head. But I guess it must pay something.
As I used to point out to his previous incarnation, what’s the point of Putin should do X” ? None of us here are Russian, have a vote there or any influence there. If SB weren’t a troll but a real Russian patriot, he’d be arguing in Russian on Russian language sites.
Here endeth today’s reading from the Book Of Trolls.
Posted by: YetAnotherAnon | Mar 15 2026 16:53 utc | 12
@ Oberbayer | Mar 15 2026 16:39 utc | 8
I appreciate GM/SB arguments. But FWIW superficial commentary criticizing Putin won’t be received well here and doesn’t even appeal to me, the lone GM/SB reader.
Posted by: switched devices and cannot remember | Mar 15 2026 16:55 utc | 13
> None of us here are Russian, have a vote
> there or any influence there.
None of us have a vote or influence anywhere. So why do any of us, including you, comment?
Posted by: switched devices and cannot remember | Mar 15 2026 16:57 utc | 14
In honor of the shadowbanned / GM AI:
The U.S. Navy refuses to seize Chinese ships carrying Iranian oil. Netenyahu is a traitor.
Posted by: Nobody Special | Mar 15 2026 17:02 utc | 15
In honor of the shadowbanned/ GM AI:
Russia is selling oil to India at twice the price it was three weeks ago. Mertz refuses to do anything. Mertz is obviously a Putin puppet.
Posted by: Nobody Special | Mar 15 2026 17:04 utc | 16
Odessa beckons – if not now then when for goodness sake.
While the world’s eyes are elsewhere – seems a good time to reclaim Odesa. She beckons – and within the catacombs are treasures and portals and evidence to bring this sad episode of human history to a close – so now or never Russia – otherwise – tis the Ides of March for thee I reckon.
Posted by: Ken Hausle | Mar 15 2026 17:07 utc | 17
The Ukrainian war will be another Vietnam for both EU/USA and Afghanistan for the Russian
It’s a waste of resources lives and money
Posted by: KillerDoll | Mar 15 2026 17:08 utc | 18
I suppose that, in comparison to the Kremlin, the Verkhovna Rada is purely acting altruistically in the interests of the Ukrainian people, being a steadfast example of probity and a beacon of free and democratic values…
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Mar 15 2026 17:09 utc | 19
@ GM | Mar 15 2026 16:35 utc | 6
I was particularly trying to explain why your POV differs from the POV of MoA barflies, who are unwilling to even attempt to understand you let alone agree.
I see less contradiction than refinement. Agree? If not, what did I write that is really off? Curious, that’s all.
Posted by: switched devices and cannot remember | Mar 15 2026 17:09 utc | 20
@ Nobody Special | Mar 15 2026 17:04 utc | 17
Another guy joining the angry mob here to heckle.
For people probably frustrated by the lack of empathy and understanding they see in the world, some of you might want to work harder to understand divergent views.
Posted by: switched devices and cannot remember | Mar 15 2026 17:12 utc | 21
Note:
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever (N-VA) has called for the EU to negotiate with Russia to bring an end to the war in Ukraine and for the “normalisation” of relations with Russia.
In an interview with L’Echo, De Wever, said: “The official line is that we’ll continue until Russia is brought to its knees. This would only be realistic with 100% US support, but they’re not at all on Ukraine’s side. I sometimes think they’re closer to Putin than to Zelensky.
De Wever calls for ‘normalisation’ of relations with Russia and says EU must strike deal over Ukraine
Posted by: Don Firineach | Mar 15 2026 17:17 utc | 23
Posted by: switched devices and cannot remember | Mar 15 2026 17:12 utc | 22
“plz dont ban, b, i cant remember my name because I switched devices”
…yeah, so smart. he’ll never suspect a thing .. hee hee her
I was particularly trying to explain why your POV differs from the POV of MoA barflies, who are unwilling to even attempt to understand you let alone agree.
Posted by: switched devices and cannot remember | Mar 15 2026 17:09 utc | 21
Perhaps there is an exasperation with the one-sidedness; pages and pages of pixels are expended examining, in minute detail, perceived shortcomings in the Kremlin, while next to no attention is paid to the administrative and governmental chaos in Kiev. The latter factor IMO is what will shape the local outcome of the SMO, which in turn affects the wider regional/global outcomes.
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Mar 15 2026 17:24 utc | 25
Lviv children are becoming infected with the Russian language: the language ombudsman complains about the “language of power” (EADaily, March 15, 2026 — in Russian)
Lviv children easily pick up Russian from newcomers and begin speaking it. This is because Russian is the “language of power and arrogance.” Language ombudsman Elena Ivanovska complained about this on Channel 5’s Randevu program.
“The Russian language is synonymous with arrogance. Neurolinguists should study the very structure and specificity of this language. Because, have you noticed, for example, the pattern that we really do learn Russian easily? They (Russian-speaking children) move to Lviv, and then the children of Lviv begin speaking Russian, and not the other way around,” complained Elena Ivanovska.
She believes that Lviv children easily learn Russian because it is the “language of power.”
“Usually, when these Russian-speakers appear among our children, they present themselves with insolence and the language of power. And when the language of power is present, everyone else submits. The Russian language has a vertical structure. The Ukrainian language has a horizontal structure,” the ombudsman stated.
Ridiculous pseudo-scientific neo-Nazi bullshit.
Posted by: S | Mar 15 2026 17:32 utc | 26
If part of Russia’s goal is to take most of Ukraine and drain NATO/Europe of cash/weapons…then perhaps Russia is OK if the Ukraine war lasts 20 years.
Posted by: Fredrick | Mar 15 2026 17:33 utc | 27
Posted by: Fredrick | Mar 15 2026 17:33 utc | 28
Tis not in anybody’s interest per the views of Kropotkin that war last indefinitely – that is contrary to Mutual Aid – and by the way – Odessa beckons.
Posted by: Ken Hausle | Mar 15 2026 17:36 utc | 28
A piece from late last year discussing looming financial problems: https://ces.org.ua/en/ukraines-resilience-at-risk/
It popped up because I went searching for updates on Ukraine’s looming funding shortfall, and strangely enough I can’t find anything. It seems to be swept under a (Persian?) rug, along with some certain files.
The first tranche of a US$* billion dollar loan was predicated on the Rada passing tax reform and currency liberalisation measures, but this was voted down at the first attempt, so that cash is now in limbo.
The €90 billion EU loan/financing package was stalled by Hungary, apparently some workaround is being contrived, but Ukraine’s need for cash infusions is becoming desperately urgent.
Expect increased squealing from the Zelensky cohort as attention is diverted elsewhere.
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Mar 15 2026 17:39 utc | 29
Tis not in anybody’s interest per the views of Kropotkin that war last indefinitely – that is contrary to Mutual Aid – and by the way – Odessa beckons.
Posted by: Ken Hausle | Mar 15 2026 17:36 utc | 29
Russia does not seem in a rush to finish Ukraine off.
Posted by: Fredrick | Mar 15 2026 17:42 utc | 30
@ Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Mar 15 2026 17:24 utc | 26
>> Perhaps there is an exasperation with the one-sidedness; pages and pages of pixels are expended examining, in minute detail, perceived shortcomings in the Kremlin, while next to no attention is paid to the administrative and governmental chaos in Kiev.
Did you sense or intend the irony while writing this?
With the exception of a couple of posters like “rk” (who couch their remarks in heavy sarcasm that everyone seems to ignore), literally everyone else spends their time criticizing Kiev, Brussels, Washington, and London. The ratio of remarks on this blog critical of Kiev/Moscow is perhaps in the trillions.
I mostly agree with it. But it’s so redundant. Do you ever tire of reading *those* same arguments for 4 years? Do you tell other posters to shut up and go away?
Posted by: switched devices and cannot remember | Mar 15 2026 17:43 utc | 31
@ UWDude
Don’t be a jerk.
Posted by: switched devices and cannot remember | Mar 15 2026 17:44 utc | 32
Caught out by my own Shift key, $* billion should be $8 billion.
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Mar 15 2026 17:44 utc | 33
Posted by: Fredrick | Mar 15 2026 17:42 utc | 31
######
NATO and Europe are bleeding out through Ukraine, which has become Russia’s proxy now.
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Mar 15 2026 17:45 utc | 34
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Mar 15 2026 17:44 utc | 34
#####
Infinity billion seems reasonable to me. 😂😂😂
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Mar 15 2026 17:46 utc | 35
Don’t be a jerk.
Posted by: switched devices and cannot remember | Mar 15 2026 17:44 utc | 33
dont give me lectures on ettiquette when you are committing a bannable offense by socking, asshole.
Posted by: Fredrick | Mar 15 2026 17:42 utc | 31
No doubt on that but there comes a time when decisive decisions need to be made – and the time is……I don’t know – seems the time is now with respect to Odessa.
She beckons.
https://youtu.be/TdsAa919RUY
Good Day to you.
Posted by: Ken Hausle | Mar 15 2026 17:48 utc | 37
@ all
https://paulcraigroberts.org/my-prediction-for-the-war-with-iran/
and l.e. ukraine
Posted by: Oberbayer | Mar 15 2026 17:49 utc | 38
Posted by: switched devices and cannot remember | Mar 15 2026 17:43 utc | 32
literally everyone else spends their time criticizing Kiev,
On the contrary, there is very little detailed critical analysis of the machinations within the Kiev regime, compared to the copious and length commentaries on the Kremlin.
But it’s so redundant.
So bring some new material. There is no refund for your admission fee here.
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Mar 15 2026 17:50 utc | 39
The Europeans are getting very shaky. Witness the panic in the Belgian prime minister, who said EU can’t support Ukraine or destroy Russia’s economy without the US. Hence they are desperately looking for yet another ceasefire.
The EU will most likely be hit with another extra 1 trillion EUR energy and food subsidy bill over the next few years as oil and food shortages occur and SHTF. That will break its backbone. They aren’t getting many AD systems or other weapons from the US. They may even get fuel shortages soon.
All this should theoretically mean that kill and surrender rate of AFU is going up. Russia could also have a card at play where they can turn the AFU to attack Europe instead. They might be able to form new volunteer battalions from POWs. At least Dr. Brovkin and Dmitry Orlov both seem to think that Ukraine will eventually turn against the west, as they finally get the betrayal.
Posted by: unimperator | Mar 15 2026 17:52 utc | 40
https://t.me/RVvoenkor/111139
I think it´s enough.
Kremlin wake up.
Posted by: Oberbayer | Mar 15 2026 17:52 utc | 41
Russia does not seem in a rush to finish Ukraine off.
Posted by: Fredrick | Mar 15 2026 17:42 utc | 31
That’s the plan.
Posted by: malenkov | Mar 15 2026 17:52 utc | 42
GM is right about Russian strikes on Ukraine’s power grid not being or doing much. Even Russians admit it.
Meanwhile, the number and duration of power outages in the regions, despite regular strikes by the Russian Armed Forces, remain relatively low. Clear weather is helping, allowing solar power plants to compensate for lost power during the day.
The operation of hydroelectric and nuclear power plants is also contributing. Furthermore, the enemy continues to deliver generators to critical infrastructure facilities and deploy cogeneration units, mitigating the impact of the airstrikes. @rybar
Posted by: MiniMO | Mar 15 2026 17:52 utc | 43
@ LoveDonbass | Mar 15 2026 17:46 utc | 36
Beware the misplaced wildcard in a command line…
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Mar 15 2026 17:53 utc | 44
This is an “open” thread is it not?
For some bizarre reason at 46 seconds into the video I posted above – Sweet Dreams and whatnot – the sound goes silent?
Oh – makes one wonder but Odessa if full of folks who really I suspect would prefer to be part of Russia – they speak the language and they know the history. So nowadays when Sroedingers Cat (sorry I spelled that incorrect) seems to be everywhere – I mean everywhere – tis hard for one not to realize we live in a world of dreams. My dream is some good ideas from the 19th century got stifled get a bit of a revival and Kropotkin was a Russian genius spoke of Mutual Aid and ideas been stifled…..regardless, what will be will be cause time moves on endlessly and there is not a damn thing can be done to stop that – but better ideas beckon – just like Odessa.
And opportunity lost is lost forever.
Posted by: Ken Hausle | Mar 15 2026 17:53 utc | 45
The number of enemy drones shot down targeting Moscow has already exceeded 108 in two days, and it looks like there’s more to come.
The Ukrainians are sending them north-northeast nonstop, testing and straining our air defenses.
Follow MAX@voenkorKotenok
Posted by: MiniMO | Mar 15 2026 17:55 utc | 46
“The number of enemy drones shot down targeting Moscow has already exceeded 108 in two days, and it looks like there’s more to come.”
Ukraine is going the opposite way of being “demilitarized”.
Posted by: MiniMO | Mar 15 2026 17:56 utc | 47
GM is right about Russian strikes on Ukraine’s power grid not being or doing much. Even Russians admit it.
Posted by: MiniMO | Mar 15 2026 17:52 utc | 44
Perhaps we would all be better off going by the statistics published by the Ukrainian authorities themselves, which I linked to several threads ago, showing a 24% decrease in the amount of electricity its grid was able to handle.
That’s not generating capacity, that’s distribution capacity.
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Mar 15 2026 18:00 utc | 48
generators
Posted by: MiniMO | Mar 15 2026 17:52 utc | 44
which run on what again?
Ukraines energy grid not hurt…
…but omg end of world every missile and drone that hots Russia.
Transparent as a fart, and appreciated as much too.
.
@ Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Mar 15 2026 17:50 utc | 40
Bring new material? SB/GM does that and people tell him to fuck off.
You don’t want new material.
My “new material” contribution is to tell people to behave unlike a mob. The mob gangs up on me.
You do not want new material.
Posted by: switched devices and cannot remember | Mar 15 2026 18:06 utc | 50
Re: generators, a quiet scandal is still rumbling along in the background about how many of these turn up in online marketplaces, with Ukrainian contact details…
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Mar 15 2026 18:10 utc | 51
27 – I remember a couple of years ago an article in The Guardian in which a Ukrainian nationalist looked forward to the extinction of the Russian language in Ukraine within about 10 years. Even though his own first language was Russian.
Looks like things are not going in the right direction from his point of view…
Lviv is traditionally the least Russian-language part of Ukraine, and if any language other than Ukrainian were to have an impact on them, I would expect it to be Polish or English.
Posted by: Waldorf | Mar 15 2026 18:11 utc | 52
The mob gangs up on me.
Posted by: switched devices and cannot remember | Mar 15 2026 18:06 utc | 51
bevause you are socking. banned hundreds of times for socking and assholing, then trying to act holy woth a new sock.
Stop crying, little bitch.
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Mar 15 2026 18:10 utc | 52
It’s quite likely the EU can’t afford to be sending any electricity related infrastructure to Ukraine soon. The EU itself will probably end up de-energized soon, without a single Russian drone or missile.
AFU will collapse together with EU collapse, like the RSU collapsed in Sudan amid the collapse of UAE economy.
Posted by: unimperator | Mar 15 2026 18:17 utc | 54
“Bring new material? SB/GM does that”
Does he hell. He brings a litany of strikes on Russia, all known to everyone, and proves thereby that Russia should bin their leader and also use nukes. I discard him as I would a snot stained tissue.
Posted by: YetAnotherAnon | Mar 15 2026 18:18 utc | 55
Posted by: YetAnotherAnon | Mar 15 2026 18:18 utc | 56
every single one of his posts:
Russia destroyed by latest attack. Hang Putin. Nuke Europe.
I see less contradiction than refinement. Agree? If not, what did I write that is really off? Curious, that’s all.
Posted by: switched devices and cannot remember | Mar 15 2026 17:09 utc | 21
Not every quotation is combative in intent, I just expanded on the point.
Posted by: GM | Mar 15 2026 18:24 utc | 57
every single one of his posts:
Russia destroyed by latest attack. Hang Putin. Nuke Europe.
Posted by: UWDude | Mar 15 2026 18:21 utc | 57
In all fairness, shadowbanned did once demand that Putin’s head be impaled on a spike for public viewing.
Posted by: malenkov | Mar 15 2026 18:27 utc | 58
Have to dox myself to post here… and then shadow banned… see you later
Posted by: L | Mar 15 2026 18:29 utc | 59
Posted by: malenkov | Mar 15 2026 18:27 utc | 59
lets not forget his calls for Putin to be tied to a post and whipped to death.
(yes, he actually posted this fantasy once)
Myth : Ukraine is being demilitarized.
Reality : Moscow under drone bombardment for two days straight with no let up in sight. Missiles striking deep inside Russia destroying critical war infrastructure.
Posted by: bored | Mar 15 2026 18:33 utc | 61
How many Russian people died because Putin refused to end the war quickly because it was more importan for him to play political games in order to:
1) make yet another shitty for Russia but beneficial for oligarchs deal
2) not upset the “dear partners” in the West
3) not hurt his real masters in Tel Aviv
On both sides. Most Ukrainians are ethnic Russians. Let’s never forget that.
Putin could have finished this at any time since 2014, put Russia in a much stronger position, and not caused so much death and destruction.
But he didn’t and he caused it. Not for good reasons.
So yeah, when you are so guilty, you deserve to die. Preferably in an extremely gruesome way. Slow bleed and dismemberment by hate drops sounds like a very good idea right now, given that this is how many good Russian men left this world.
Posted by: GM | Mar 15 2026 18:36 utc | 63
Posted by: GM | Mar 15 2026 18:36 utc | 64
fuck the minefields….CHARGE
cuz less people will die that way!
Have you noticed the London Daily Mail is claiming that Iran’s Carboard Ayatollah is in Russia, getting medical treatment for his coma among other things? And an Iranian official has pronounced Ukraine to be a valid target for Iranian missiles, given that Zelensky has sold some drone interceptor technology to Israel? Plus the US is using all its military supplies in the Middle East, and even the Euros are beginning to worry about protecting themselves from Iranian missiles after Iran sent missiles into NATO-member Turkey.
Some days, it just sucks to be Zelensky. One of the many consequences of the war in Iran is that the war in the Ukraine may come to a quick end.
Posted by: Gavin Longmuir | Mar 15 2026 18:43 utc | 65
Myth : Ukraine is being demilitarized.Reality : Moscow under drone bombardment for two days straight with no let up in sight. Missiles striking deep inside Russia destroying critical war infrastructure.
Posted by: bored | Mar 15 2026 18:33 utc | 62
Russia has been pushed into a defensive position at this point. People don’t realize it and/or refuse to acknowledge it, but that makes it no less true. Deep strikes on Ukraine have largely stopped, and when they happen, they are the same pointless bullshit, striking the same power plants that have been hit hundreds of times before. Serving what purpose?
They will also occasionally strike some train close to the front lines, and have you think there is a serious campaign to degrade Ukronazi logistics. There is nothing of the sort — the locations of all locomotives have always been known, and if there was real intent to block logistics, they would have all been destroyed with a single properly executed 24-48 hour strike campaign.
Meanwhile the number of drones flying into Russia keeps increasing. And will continue to increase.
Because the Kremlin has not in any way prepared to end the war quickly and decisively. There is no mobilization, and everything meaningful that had to be taken out to win the war is vetoed by the Supreme cuck/traitor in the Kremlin.
Posted by: GM | Mar 15 2026 18:44 utc | 66
So we can safely say that @ GM doesn’t agree with the view that hundreds of thousands of deaths should be laid at the feet of Boris Johnson and his backers, who destroyed the Istanbul 2022 talks and draft agreements.
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Mar 15 2026 18:47 utc | 67
they would have all been destroyed with a single properly executed 24-48 hour strike campaign.
GM
stupid.
Ah, the geographically-challenged aspect emerges; Strange how I can find all manner of reports of strikes in Ivano-Frankovsk, Lvov, Vinnytsia and Odessa, clearly these are not “deep strikes in Ukraine”…
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Mar 15 2026 18:58 utc | 70
Some of the immediate effects of the US/Israeli attack on Iran is for “daddy” to remove sanctions on Russian oil (and natural gas?) , pretend that he has “given permission” for Russia to sell such products to India, and so on.
The Euro-vassals must be livid. Their barking at the Russian caravan – now enriched by more sales at a better price – is getting particularly shrill.
All this reveals how important they are to “daddy” USA. Apoplectic rage follows. But you have to admit that it’s all quite delicious and, frankly, richly deserved.
The only thing worse than the current beating they’re suffering is the anticipation of further beatings to come. “The anticipation of death is worse than death itself.”
Posted by: N_H | Mar 15 2026 19:02 utc | 71
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Mar 15 2026 18:58 utc | 71
another GM/shadowbanned doozy of a lie. Like the Patriot battery videos firing off every day he claims he sees.
He is in deleriously hallucinating hos “facts”, as always. Probably why Simplicius banned him. Every post 50 paragraphs of total bullshit layered on bullshit.
For all these deaths since 2014:
- Nuland doesn’t have any responsibility
- Obama doesn’t have any responsibility
- Biden doesn’t have any responsibility
- Poroshenko doesn’t have any responsibility
- Merkel doesn’t have any responsibility
- Hollande doesn’t have any responsibility
- Cameron doesn’t have any responsibility
- Trump doesn’t have any responsibility
- Johnson doesn’t have any responsibility
It seems there is plenty of responsibility to go round, but somehow it’s all Putin’s fault.
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Mar 15 2026 19:07 utc | 73
@ Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Mar 15 2026 19:07 utc | 74
That’s a straw man argument. Obviously, blame is shared by many. Barflies have talked at length about many. We all agree. What’s there to say? Do you want to bash them all again? Fine, go ahead. Why must barflies become an angry mob when someone wants to explain why someone else bears some responsibility?
Further, “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.”. Do you understand the meta lesson? You cannot simply continually blame other people for attacking you without also examining your own defense.
Posted by: switched devices and cannot remember | Mar 15 2026 19:14 utc | 74
Obviously, blame is shared by many.
Posted by: switched devices and cannot remember | Mar 15 2026 19:14 utc | 75
So why do we see such an obsessive focus on blaming Putin?
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Mar 15 2026 19:17 utc | 76
Bloomberg setting up election steal from Orban a la Romania with headline:
“Orban’s Election Campaign Turns to Russia for Help in Final Stretch”
As for this:
Further, “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.”. Do you understand the meta lesson? You cannot simply continually blame other people for attacking you without also examining your own defense.
Posted by: switched devices and cannot remember | Mar 15 2026 19:14 utc | 75
International relations, diplomacy and agreements are not as “black and white” as you seem to be implying. If they were such, we would have long since become extinct as a species.
There are nuances which seem to escape your binary view.
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Mar 15 2026 19:22 utc | 78
It disappoints me to see the quality of argument directed at SB/GM for expressing different coherent views and at me for standing up for him speaking. It’s mostly a collection of straw men, double standards, and “fuck off”.
Posted by: switched devices and cannot remember | Mar 15 2026 19:23 utc | 79
@ UWDude | Mar 15 2026 19:21 utc | 78
The Orban team have been putting up campaign posters along the lines of “Don’t let Zelensky have the last laugh” and “Don’t let Ukraine interfere” among other slogans.
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Mar 15 2026 19:25 utc | 81
@ Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Mar 15 2026 19:22 utc | 79
It’s you who has a binary view. “NATO bad, Putin unassailably good.”. I’d like to think so. But I’m open to evidence and argument otherwise.
Posted by: switched devices and cannot remember | Mar 15 2026 19:25 utc | 82
@ UWDude
Don’t be a jerk.
Posted by: switched devices and cannot remember | Mar 15 2026 19:26 utc | 83
Don’t be a jerk.
Posted by: switched devices and cannot remember | Mar 15 2026 19:26 utc | 84
silence, sock.
@ UWDude
Oh, I see. You’re calling me a “bitch”.
Noted.
Posted by: switched devices and cannot remember | Mar 15 2026 19:28 utc | 85
It disappoints me
Posted by: switched devices and cannot remember | Mar 15 2026 19:23 utc | 80
https://postimg.cc/Yv8my7jG
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Mar 15 2026 19:29 utc | 86
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Mar 15 2026 19:07 utc | 74
Did Putin take out any of those people? No. He still treats them as “dear partners”.
Did they try to take him out? Many times.
Has he imposed real costs on them, they would not have been able to do what they did. But he didn’t. So he is responsible for what happened too.
Posted by: GM | Mar 15 2026 19:31 utc | 87
@ GM
I guess you don’t blog anywhere huh? If you ever do, kindly post a link on this blog somewhere and hopefully I see it.
Honestly, I haven’t seen a single person engage you in any way constructive. Sadly, I think you’re wasting your time here. Might as well leave people to their echo chamber. They don’t want to consider your POV.
Then again, perhaps I’m an example of someone who read and understood, a little. Not like it’s pleasant to contemplate your POV. Still, thanks for this.
Posted by: switched devices and cannot remember | Mar 15 2026 19:41 utc | 88
Has he imposed real costs on them, they would not have been able to do what they did. But he didn’t. So he is responsible for what happened too.
Posted by: GM | Mar 15 2026 19:31 utc | 88
even of he killed them, and caused WW3 where nobody in the world would blame the countries for attacking Russia for hos actions…
..somebody would still replace them, amd Ukraine would be part of the alliance against Russia in WW3.
And 100 times more Rusdians would be dead.
And you’d be jacking off to their corpses.
It’s you who has a binary view. “NATO bad, Putin unassailably good.”. I’d like to think so. But I’m open to evidence and argument otherwise.
Posted by: switched devices and cannot remember | Mar 15 2026 19:25 utc | 83
Well, first of all, you are falling into the trap of personalising things around Putin, this is something I strenuously try to avoid.
It’s a collective plan being followed and executed by the Russian military staff, a plan none of us here have any insight into. Some here panic in a shrill manner, “Why don’t they do this? They are doing it wrong”, while others here sit back and watch events unfold as they may, noting how things are moving on lots of different fronts and try to compile an admittedly incomplete picture.
@ GM’s picture is no more complete than mine or yours; a narrow-minded obsession on one aspect only serves to make the picture more cloudy.
Information from inside Ukraine, from the NBU, from Ukrenergo, from the rail operator all help to add detail to the picture, as does information from the IMF or EU.
Broaden your outlook.
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Mar 15 2026 19:44 utc | 90
@ GM
Above, UWDude says Simplicius banned you. Is that true? I stopped reading comments there recently and don’t know.
I used to open comments there just to search and read yours, FWIW. But stopped. … It’s been depressing reading about wars for decades. I need another hobby.
Posted by: switched devices and cannot remember | Mar 15 2026 19:47 utc | 91
At least Dr. Brovkin and Dmitry Orlov both seem to think that Ukraine will eventually turn against the west, as they finally get the betrayal.
Posted by: unimperator | Mar 15 2026 17:52 utc | 41
It’s started with the threats against Hungary.
And never once slapped down by the rest of the EU.
Snivelling shits the lot of them.
Posted by: jpc | Mar 15 2026 19:52 utc | 92
@ Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Mar 15 2026 19:44 utc | 91
“Broaden my outlook” but don’t look at one particular direction because that is forbidden…
Jeremy, I have been reading this board for a long long time. My outlook is broad.
> Well, first of all, you are falling into the trap of personalising things around Putin
No, I’m not.
Thanks for staying polite and trying to upgrade this discussion though. It would be nice if barflies would engage at least this well with SB/GM and not make a bystander like me ask for a return to decorum.
I’m going to bow out for today. Cheers.
Posted by: switched devices and cannot remember | Mar 15 2026 19:54 utc | 93
I need another hobby.
Posted by: switched devices and cannot remember | Mar 15 2026 19:47 utc | 92
Playing moral authority on a site that has repeatedly banned you isn’t satisfying enough?
Posted by: malenkov | Mar 15 2026 19:54 utc | 94
even of he killed them, and caused WW3
Posted by: UWDude | Mar 15 2026 19:42 utc | 90
Ah, yes, Russia can’t bomb NATO in response to NATO bombing Russia because then NATO would start bombing Russia. The immortal genius logic that always gets brought up.
P.S. Iran is fighting back for real, has it started WW3 yet (WW3 by your definition, in reality it has been underway for a while now)?
Posted by: GM | Mar 15 2026 19:54 utc | 95
Above, UWDude says Simplicius banned you. Is that true? I stopped reading comments there recently and don’t know.
Posted by: switched devices and cannot remember | Mar 15 2026 19:47 utc | 92
No, it’s just that all the threads are about Iran now and there isn’t that much to say on that topic other than pointing out Putin’s duplicity yet again.
P.S. If someone still thinks Putin is on the right track after the events of June 12 2025 and February 28 2026, I don’t know what to say…
Posted by: GM | Mar 15 2026 19:56 utc | 96
I’m going to bow out for today. Cheers.
Posted by: switched devices and cannot remember | Mar 15 2026 19:54 utc | 94
ie
new sock coming. Long time lurker, first time pister, start out thanking b, then talking about what an echo chamber we are, and how we should respect shadowbanned’s sock, GM.
February 28 2026
Posted by: GM | Mar 15 2026 19:56 utc | 97
the war on Iran is helping Russia. And about time Iran pulled some weight in the war against NATO, Russia has been fighting alone for four years.
Now all we need is China to get involved, since all three are targetted for elimination and subjugation by the rules based order.
But China will have to wait for NATO to do something stupid. Like take your advice and kill some Chinese people NATO hates.
The phrase ‘monkey-branching’ has in the past applied to hypergamy but it applies to other situations. Sometimes a supposed grownup man wants a new leader but refuses to let go of one branch and swing to the other. He might go online and give reasons.
In my humble opinion 90% of the comments such as “This is what is wrong with Xi” or “this is what is wrong with putin” are this. Since they need a branch to hold onto I suggest they choose: let go or do not let go. WTF why post scores & scores of comments saying the same thing? Why be emo? This song by Glasvegas from decades ago is sort of about this.
Posted by: JustSomeOldGuy | Mar 15 2026 20:03 utc | 99
Ah, yes, Russia can’t bomb NATO in response to NATO bombing Russia because then NATO would start bombing Russia. The immortal genius logic that always gets brought up.
Posted by: GM | Mar 15 2026 19:54 utc | 96
Bombing NATO isn’t one of the aims of the SMO. Demilitarizing and denazifying Ukronazistan, on the other hand, are. These can be accomplished without bombing NATO, which would necessarily provoke a large-scale response from NATO.
Iran is willing to tolerate a horrendous amount of damage from the White Empire in order to maintain its freedom. (Not that Iran really has any choice in the matter.) Russia doesn’t seem to feel the need to provoke devastating retaliation. How upsetting to you that Russia is still winning by waging war on the cheap, as it were!
Posted by: malenkov | Mar 15 2026 20:06 utc | 100