Moon of Alabama Brecht quote
March 15, 2026
Ukraine Open Thread 2026-057

News & views related to the war in Ukraine …

Comments

Gilbert Doctorow is a Western Russia “expert” whose expertise stems from watching Russian political talk shows.
 
True story. Watch him with Judge Nap. Like Helmer, he doesn’t have sources in the Kremlin or in industry.
 
He’s not a fantasist like Helmer but is as equally obtuse.

Posted by: LoveDonbass | Mar 21 2026 15:47 utc | 401

I would trust Dr. Brovkin more than Helmer, never mind Gilber Doctorow (who has a real potential of being a CIA asset).

Posted by: unimperator | Mar 21 2026 16:10 utc | 402

American drone USV drone washes ashore on the Black Sea.
 

Today, an American AEGIR‑W drone washed ashore near Ordu on Turkey’s Black Sea coast. Produced by Sierra Nevada, it can carry up to 300 kg over 900 km at speeds of 25 knots (46 km/h). The drone had been tested in the Black Sea in Ukraine and may already have been handed to the Kiev Regime for combat use.
 
Pictures in link ==>  https://t.me/DDGeopolitics/178673

 

Posted by: too scents | Mar 21 2026 16:11 utc | 403

Ukraine’s population down to 20 mln people by 2025 — British journalist
https://tass.com/world/2105065
 
But a reduction of this size would need, 6.5 million, men mostly, KIA/MIA or escaped the country (above and beyond current estimates of refugees)
 
The table will not work, but not hard to rebuild
 

year
start pop
year loss
births
normal deaths
gowest
goRF
KIA/MIA

2014
41000
-410
-820
410
 
 
 

2015
40590
-407
-812
405
 
 
 

2016
40183
-403
-804
401
 
 
 

2017
39780
-399
-796
397
 
 
 

2018
39381
-395
-788
393
 
 
 

2019
38986
-391
-780
389
 
 
 

2020
38595
-387
-772
385
 
 
 

2021
38208
-383
-765
382
 
 
 

2022
37825
-11393
-757
264
-6500
-3500
-900

2023
26432
-1544
-529
185
 
 
-1200

2024
24888
-2724
-498
174
 
 
-2400

2025
22164
-2389
-444
155
 
 
-2100

Posted by: Newbie | Mar 21 2026 16:33 utc | 404

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Mar 21 2026 11:45 utc | 399
 
I counted (I know, don’t ask) 63 comments from the GM bot, at all times, mostly very long, and I won’t even talk about the content. It’s total contamination.

Posted by: Avtonom | Mar 21 2026 17:54 utc | 405

Posted by: Newbie | Mar 17 2026 20:14 utc | 309  “1.240 AFU casualties, but finnaly fresh marat”
Message from the Russian Ministry of Defense: 
^ still publishing fantasy after all these years.
 

Posted by: ed4 | Mar 21 2026 20:57 utc | 406

In honor of the shadowbanned / GM AI:
 
This is a throwback to March 7, 2022.  On that date, four experts, probably involved in the creation of the shadowbanned / GM AI, announced the complete collapse of the Russian economy.  “Oh no!  The Russian economy collapsed in 2022.  How will Putin survive?!”
 
Hat tip Lord Bebo: t.me/myLordBebo/110864

Posted by: Nobody Special | Mar 21 2026 21:03 utc | 407

Re Ukraine population: saw a video of a local complaining about a mad influx of foreigners into Ukraine (ie the replacements) and how they get “free” everything while the locals starve. Seems very plausible because it’s what the empire does to their own countries. 
Welcome to the “west” it’s what you begged for.
 

Posted by: Moonraker | Mar 21 2026 22:04 utc | 408

The landslide begins – first slowly . . . etc. Evidently a unit of 30 men deserted en masse.
 
“The institutional crisis within the Kiev regime continues to worsen. According to recent information, Ukraine’s intelligence services have begun discreet checks in response to the recurring increase in cases of desertion among soldiers of the 225th Separate Assault Regiment of the Armed Forces, currently responsible for defense in the Gulyaipole direction.
 
What might once have been treated as isolated incidents is now taking on the characteristics of a systemic phenomenon and, more concerningly, a mass one. There are reports of positions being abandoned not only by individual fighters but by entire units, indicating a critical level of disorganization and demotivation on the ground.”
 
https://strategic-culture.su/news/2026/03/21/desertions-increase-in-ukraine/

Posted by: Jams O’Donnell | Mar 21 2026 22:23 utc | 409

I counted (I know, don’t ask) 63 comments from the GM bot, at all times, mostly very long, and I won’t even talk about the content. It’s total contamination.

Posted by: Avtonom | Mar 21 2026 17:54 utc | 407
 
And after all that prolific posting, a sudden silence; has he gone AWOL? Or geolocated in Dimona?

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Mar 21 2026 23:51 utc | 410

Maybe it’s more prosaic, and it’s just that his Duracell Bunny batteries have run out…

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Mar 21 2026 23:54 utc | 411

@ Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Mar 21 2026 23:54 utc | 413
 
I suspect he’s either bipolar, a troll farm, or a bot farm.

Posted by: malenkov | Mar 22 2026 3:08 utc | 412

Just missed an interview with Z on the UK BBC, oh dear. Available in their iPlayer.

Posted by: Jo | Mar 22 2026 10:01 utc | 413

To be fair with Putin- is his apparent gutless cowardice down to the fact that Kaliningrad can’t be defended and hence these current rules of engagement that favour NATO but don’t give them a totally  free reign?
That HAS to be the reason of why Poland and Romanian airbases untouched or THALES factory in Northern Ireland still standing and free to go about their merry way of supplying weapons  for the killing Russians?
Another red line crossed unpunished by the fag Putin was the stopping of rail transport by Lithuania allowing mainland Russians into Kaliningrad- actually more than a legal casus belli for military operations
 
 

Posted by: Winston | Mar 22 2026 13:05 utc | 414

(Also submitted to the Iran section)
 
Have just seen a rejoinder from some time back to those who believe the Putin administration is selling out.   Appropriate here.  Taken from a site run by an ex-British diplomat.  Re-paragraphed because blocks of text don’t suit all internet platforms:- 
Martin Eden ClarkeMartin Eden ClarkeFeb 14
  
Mr Putin and Co appear to have tactics well under control. The Wests inference that he has no regard for losses in his troops is nothing but propaganda. Respect for his army is reciprocated by the loyalty shown by his troops. They are led by a clever articulate man who is backed by an equally professional War Cabinet. There are no weak members. Progress is slow, it has to be to avoid heavy losses. Whats the point of occupying more acreage than you can control. Ukraine is a massive country. Step by step they are succeeding. Arranging for Pro-Russian factions to oversee fresh occupied territory does not occur overnight. They have to cope with resistance from aggrieved parties. It’s a massive job which takes time. Unlike the West who prefer years of sanctions followed by mass ‘Carpet Bombing’ and the reintroduction of outed former corrupt wealthy regimes. Let’s hope that this attempted ‘Regime Change Failure’ signals a new era of ‘Kick Back’ from a Eurasian/BRICS based Assembly that is based on the full adherence to freshly amended International Laws.
………………………. From:- https://thepeacemonger.substack.com/p/why-cant-western-leaders-accept-that 
Posted by: English Outsider | Mar 22 2026 14:52 utc | 1037

Posted by: English Outsider | Mar 22 2026 14:56 utc | 415

Apologies.  Forgot paragraphing doesn’t work when a comment submitted is copied over.

Posted by: English Outsider | Mar 22 2026 14:58 utc | 416

Another red line crossed unpunished by the fag Putin 

I think thats called projection. There’s no shame in liking it up the ass, kid. You do you.

Posted by: Doctor Eleven | Mar 22 2026 15:30 utc | 417

@ Doctor Eleven | Mar 22 2026 15:30 utc | 419
 
”Shirtless Putin” does seem to have a strange attraction to the gamers in their moms’ basements.

Posted by: malenkov | Mar 22 2026 18:18 utc | 418