The Krapivnik guy yesterday with Diesen was talking about drones flying over Estonian airspace too.

Posted by: Jo | Mar 29 2026 16:36 utc | 4

Artillery attack on Energodar, no power 
tass.com/defense/2108605
 
Posted by: unimperator | Mar 29 2026 15:49 utc | 2
It’s possible Finland saw what Iran does to supporters of attacks and they started to play the victim card. Maybe the drones were launched directly from Finland, failed there. This doesn’t change the results of the attacks:   t.me/intelslava/85574
 
And today another one:
en.topwar.ru/280118-protivnik-vnov-atakuet-port-ust-luga-tam-voznik-pozhar.htm

Posted by: rk | Mar 29 2026 16:59 utc | 6

slut iknews extract
 
“you know, I may be revealing a secret, but that’s exactly what we’re calling on our US colleagues to do. This is what is needed now,” Ushakov told Russian journalist Pavel Zarubin in an interview out on Sunday, when asked why the Americans cannot demand that Kiev fulfill the agreements reached during the summit in Alaska.”
 
will there be an honest trustworthy answerthat can progress isdues, or this a last warning of wake up or byeeeeee?
Are some reports of a big russian buildup….so yay or nay? More yet again warnings Ukr is finished economically….so USA has a chance to walk away if it  is not really bothered, if so lets finish the job.

Posted by: Jo | Mar 29 2026 17:34 utc | 8

I made a comment on the previous Ukraine thread regarding the unexpected benefits Russia received from invading Ukraine.  Someone asked about my list, particularly the economic benefits to Russia.
 
From a February 2024 article:  “After Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, many Western companies active in the country announced plans to leave, though only a few packed up and left straight away.  The early departees lost considerable amounts of money when they sold their operations to local buyers at fire-sale prices, but they were the lucky ones. Companies that waited longer found themselves facing an ever-increasing number of hurdles that had to be cleared before they could sell (and leave): a voluntary donation to the Russian treasury, then a mandatory donation to the treasury, permits, the scramble for a buyer, any buyer, and of course the obligatory government approval for the sale. To make matters even worse, Russian authorities started taking control of seemingly random companies’ assets in the country. In July 2023, for example, the French diary empire Danone and the Danish beermaker Carlsberg saw their Russian operations seized.  Russia, which was so tantalizingly open for business in the 1990s, and even in the late 2010s, has become like Hotel California.”
 
From an April 2022 article:  “On 5th March 2022, the Russian government issued a decree proclaiming that Russian companies are no longer obliged to compensate owners of patents, utility models, and industrial designs from “unfriendly countries”, being those western states who have issued sanctions against Russia, including the United Kingdom, the US, and the EU. While the only intellectual property right that it explicitly mentions is patents, Russian courts have already used the decree to undermine copyright and trade mark rights, and it has inspired a flurry of unauthorized trade mark applications for western brands in Russia.”

Posted by: Nobody Special | Mar 29 2026 18:37 utc | 10

Well, AFU casualties, 1.275.
 
https://tass.com/defense/2108563
 
And fresh marat, maybe a sign kupyansk is finaly being treated
 
https://maratkhairullin.substack.com/p/brief-frontline-report-march-29th
 
 
 
 
 
 

Posted by: Newbie | Mar 29 2026 18:49 utc | 12

Under Zelenskyy, Ukrainians have become poorer than Moldovans; we are the poorest country in Europe! That’s how our leaders governed one of the richest countries in Europe in the early 1990s, destroying all potential and bringing Ukraine to ruin.The minimum wage in Europe is 16 times higher than in Ukraine, – Visual Capitalist.
 
Ukraine has created its own state messenger, YEDNÁ, with verification via a Gosuslugi-like service.The description states that it will ensure “the absence of Russians.”📢 | 📲
wonder how long before hacked…
Moscow is actively investing in the development of transport and trade infrastructure in the “new” regions around the Azov Sea.
🔻Roads and railway lines are being built, and a route over 600 km long is being formed, which directly connects the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) and the Zaporozhye region with the “old” territories of Russia.
 
 

Posted by: Jo | Mar 29 2026 18:55 utc | 14

this thread best place for this?
💢 HUGE – Russia to Cut Gas Exports for 4 Months⠀TASS reports that Russia will ban gas exports for its oil producers from April 1 for a four‑month period, signaling tighter energy control amid rising global tensions.⠀Subscribe @NewResistance
 

Posted by: Jo | Mar 29 2026 19:00 utc | 16

Heresy!

Ex-deputy of the Rada: “I am for ending the war on any terms”

It is necessary to immediately stop the war on any terms, followed by the liquidation of the Bandera state-concentration camp, into which Ukraine has been turned.
 
This was stated in his video blog by the ex-deputy of the Verkhovna Rada Vasily Volga , who left Ukraine, the correspondent of PolitNavigator reports.
 

” I am for the end of the war immediately and I am certainly not for the victory of this Bandera state. I divide the country, the people and the state. The state is the way of organizing power. This is what was created from above in order to forcibly control these people.
 
That is , today the Ukrainian state is a concentration camp that keeps the remaining 15-20 million people in fear and obedience.
 
Do you want to give victory to this concentration camp over some other peoples? To establish this concentration system in some other places? This is inadmissible. A state that mocks Ukrainians and mocks Ukraine as a country, this superstructure must be destroyed … And for this reason, I am in favor of stopping the war on any terms,” Volga said.
 

” I am in favor of holding elections in which 10 million Ukrainians living in the Russian Federation today will take part. And, of course, a change in the model of power, the return of Ukraine to its life according to its abilities, that is, its return to the international union of labor, which is possible only in an alliance with Russia and Belarus as a single national economic complex.
 
And how there is a new Union Treaty or a Union State, like Belarus and Russia, or as a sovereign state that will be bound by treaties, this is not the point ,” the ex-deputy added.

https://politnavigator.news/ehks-deputat-rady-ya-za-prekrashhenie-vojjny-na-lyubykh-usloviyakh.html (via translation add-on.)

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Mar 29 2026 19:02 utc | 18

Ukraine’s special effects department reveal their trade secrets:

“We aim at barrels for the sake of video” – Ukrainian general complains about the low effectiveness of strikes on refineries

Ukrainian drone strikes are aimed primarily at oil barrels, which burn well but cause little actual damage to the refinery.
 
This was stated on the channel “News Factory” by the ex-deputy commander of the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, General Sergei Krivonos, the correspondent of “PolitNavigator” reports.
 

“You need to understand that an oil refinery is not an area of a kilometer by a kilometer. It is on a much larger scale. And there are also more than enough critical facilities at this plant.
 
And striking what burns well is tanks that give a good result and a great video ,” Krivonos reasoned.
 

“But the sore points of refineries are definitely not oil tanks. This is energy, and other systems”
 
Therefore, you can burn what is burning – this is good. Or you can inflict more pinpoint strikes on other objects,” he urged.

https://politnavigator.news/celimsya-po-bochkam-radi-video-ukrainskijj-general-zhaluetsya-na-nizkuyu-rezultativnost-udarov-po-npz.html (via translation add-on.)

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Mar 29 2026 19:07 utc | 20

The Russian Federation attacked the civilian and energy infrastructure of Odesa region

Due to the attack, there were power outages in a number of settlements
 

This was reported by RegioNews with reference to the Odesa Regional Military Administration.
 
“This night, the enemy again inflicted insidious blows on the civilian and energy infrastructure of Odesa region. An energy facility was damaged. One of the drones hit a private residential building, partially destroying the façade. There is also damage on the territory of the dacha cooperative,” the report says.
 
Due to the attack, power outages are recorded in a number of settlements.
 
All relevant services are working at the scene.
 
Recall that on March 26, Russian troops struck the Izmail district of the Odesa region. As a result of the attack, port and energy infrastructure were damaged.

https://regionews.ua/ukr/news/odesskaya/1774769275-rf-atakuvala-tsivilnu-ta-energetichnu-infrastrukturu-odeshchini (via translation add-on.)

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Mar 29 2026 19:16 utc | 22

Since March 22, more than 100 drones have been shot down near St. Petersburg – a record for the Special Military Operation. The targets were Vyborg and the Ust-Luga port. On the night of March 24, a Ukrainian drone crashed in Lithuania due to electronic warfare; Latvia and Estonia confirmed its origin.
 
there is some thinking these flyover countries are certainly more complicit against Russia.At what level could there be retribution , and when……
 
🇱🇻 Latvia wrote a complaint letter to Russia because a Ukranian drone flew into Latvia. Latvia MFA had s ummoned Russian Charges d’affaires to complain about a drone coming from Russian Federation
 
oh well looking foolish now.join us | @MyLordBebo
 

Posted by: Jo | Mar 29 2026 19:20 utc | 24

🇭🇺🇺🇦 Zelensky was sending the Hungarian opposition Tisza party €5MIL in cash weekly! — Tenyek, Hungarian media Funds were sent from Nov., 2025 Total campaign was planning to receive €50MIL🔗Join us | @MyLordBebo
 
BENGHAZI (Sputnik) – International organizations should investigate the attack on a Russian gas tanker in the Mediterranean off Libya’s coast, Adel Abdelkafi, national security adviser to the Libyan Supreme State Council (SSC), told Sputnik.
well…nearbyMalta was well known UK base….Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova noted that the LNG tanker, carrying 100,000 cubic meters of liquefied natural gas, had lost propulsion and power and suffered a fire and gas explosion. All 30 crew members were rescued, but two sailors were injured.

Posted by: Jo | Mar 29 2026 19:24 utc | 26

The Russians shelled Naftogaz facilities in the Sumy region: there is significant damage

The Russians have been shelling Naftogaz facilities for the fourth day, and on March 29, they attacked assets in the Sumy region.
 
This is stated in the message of Naftogaz.
 
As noted, there is significant damage, a fire broke out on the spot. At the same time, there were no casualties.
 
“The fire was quickly extinguished thanks to the coordinated work of our employees and units of the State Emergency Service,” the company said.
 
We will remind:
On March 28 , the enemy hit three production enterprises of the Naftogaz group in the Poltava region with drones.

https://epravda.com.ua/energetika/yaki-naslidki-rosiyskih-obstriliv-ob-yektiv-naftogazu-na-sumshchini-819782/ (via translation add-on.)

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Mar 29 2026 19:27 utc | 28

eports that Russia will ban gas exports for its oil producers from April 1 for a four‑month period, signaling tighter energy control amid rising global tensions.⠀Subscribe @NewResistance 
Posted by: Jo | Mar 29 2026 19:00 utc | 20
 
I believe that is gasoline exports. That is to stop arbitrage on russian gasoline to countries with higher prices.
Actually also helps Iran imo.

Posted by: arby | Mar 29 2026 19:35 utc | 30

Eyewitness report of a train journey evacuation:

“You have received the Lucky Award. The story of one train trip and two evacuations

The idea of a good Sunday is to visit a friend from another city and write Easter eggs with her, I decided. The total travel time is 7 hours, 3.5 in each direction. Ideal to finish reading the book and meditatively look out the window at the forests and fields waiting for spring greenery. Sounds like calm. Exactly what you need – before the working week.

~~~

Before we have time to leave, air raid sirens begin to sound from the phones of the passengers of the carriage, to which no one responds.
 
I pulled out the book “Hemingway Knows Nothing” by the writer Arthur Dron about war, God and people of war. I finished reading, shed tears and was sad that for the next hour and a half I would have nothing to do.
 
In the meantime, we pass Nizhyn.
 
“Be afraid of your desires,” people say, because after a few minutes of doing nothing, the guide announces an evacuation due to increased danger.
 
An older woman with bags begins to complain and hopes that the train will reach the nearest station so that she can get off instead of jumping off the car. This is not the first evacuation for her, unlike me.
 
I really had to jump. We stopped literally in the field and step of the train, and the ground was separated by a good meter.
 
The passengers calmly began to leave with all the things. Quietly, calmly, it seemed that standing in the middle of an unknown field was an everyday thing for passengers of the train heading in the direction of Slavutych.

~~~

About a hundred people go deep into the ravine – away from the train, but keeping in sight the conductors in reflective bright yellow sleeveless jackets. When asked from the crowd how long to wait, Ukrzaliznytsia employees answered “We don’t know, you see what is being done to Ukraine today.”

~~~

After half an hour of waiting in the Nizhyn field, we are allowed to get on the train again – the threat has passed.
By the way, getting into the car turned out to be more difficult than jumping off. Thanks to the conductors and male passengers who helped.

~~~

The train manages to pass two stations, the last one “Vertiyivka”. When we set off, they announced that we would go further to the station “Borys Oliynyk” and I remember the school and the “Song of the Mother”… But it was not possible to get nostalgic .
 
We are immediately dropped off at the station. This time, as I will later find out, almost an hour. Again, “increased danger”. Telegram channels write that drones are flying to Slavutych.

~~~

The alarm, which lasted more than 10 hours in the region, is over.
“I’m there,” she wrote a message to her mother.
“How was your trip,” Ukrzaliznytsia asked me.
“Good luck,” I smiled.
Tetiana Plyatsok

https://www.pravda.com.ua/columns/2026/03/29/8027678/ (via translation add-on.)

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Mar 29 2026 19:55 utc | 32

General Motors 2 8:  “There is an effective solution — stop the supply of drones.”
 
True — but only China can stop the supply of drones by stopping exports of multiple components which end up in drones, including crones built in other countries.  No other country can manufacture those necessary components at scale — or at all, in some cases.  But China chooses not to stop the export of those components.   is this merely the CCP showing the world how to do Capitalism properly?  Or does China actually want to see Russia bleed — because a damaged Russia is a Russia which becomes more dependent on China?

Posted by: Gavin Longmuir | Mar 29 2026 20:23 utc | 34

…there is no need to overreact to Ukraine receiving Patriots, NASAMS, etc. because it won’t make a difference to the final outcome of the war…
This again seems to be a bit of binaryism in thinking, regarding “outcome” (it’s more than just win/lose IMO), not to mention the (painful) effects along the way to putative victory.
 

Posted by: Call it what u will | Mar 29 2026 20:34 utc | 36

A single drone can carry even 6 mines.

Posted by: unimperator | Mar 29 2026 20:44 utc | 38

If Russia can’t do it…How is America going to invade Iran?
Posted by: Fredrick | Mar 29 2026 16:46 utc | 5
 

Ukraine is no longer really a nation, it is operating merely as an expendable extension of NATO … and therefore has access to much more high tech equipment than Iran does. That’s not to say that Iran’s Shahed 136 drones are ineffective … they provide the equivalent of ultra-long range artillery … and they are cheap to mass produce. However, in the Ukraine they are using mostly quadcopters which I am fairly sure Itan cannot produce and probably imports some from China but not enough to simply throw them like NATO forces are doing.
 
So that’s the first difference, but the second is that the USA intends to rally up minority groups in the Ukraine and turn them against the government. This will give them yet another expendable proxy force. Therefore the USA doesn’t have to invade Iran … all they do is destabilize. How well it works? I really don’t know well enough which of these minority groups are likely to sign up for this. The Kurds have already been let down once before … they might be cautious this time. There is talk about a militia based on Balochi nationalists … seems like a long shot, but I dunno nothing seems impossible anymore.

Posted by: Tel | Mar 29 2026 21:09 utc | 40

Ukraine is getting stronger and stronger, almost no land for Russia any more despite high losses of brave men. High losses because of dysfunctional air defense.

 
I doubt anyone can be found stupid enough to believe Ukraine is getting stronger. In 2023 they were declaring Ukraine was just about to storm in and take back Crimea … supposedly smashing through Russian defence lines … now we have a nation falling apart, unable to provide basic heating and lighting … Zelensky is a puppet, an actor with the job of holding out the hat and finding ways to get Europe to put more money in. NATO brings in Polish troops and foreign mercenaries as Ukraine is slowly but surely depopulated. There’s no sign whatever of Ukraine getting stronger, only signs that NATO is willing to push their luck using territory of surrounding countries to extend their reach and attempt to gain access to more hapless proxy fodder troops.
 
Therefore I think it’s fair to discount the rest of what it written by the same author as complete rubbish.

Posted by: Tel | Mar 29 2026 21:31 utc | 42

@26
 
Agree. NATO used salami slicing tactics and Russia has become complacent. Poland to Ukraine land connections still stand and Odessa port is quite busy. Busting both can choke Ukraine.
 
But this assumes the goal is to take back original Russian territory. What if Russian goals are attrition of Ukrainian men and demographic expansion into Ukraine after the war? Then the current strategy is perfect.
 
More Ukrainians die annually than born in Ukraine. If this can be maintained for another 2 years I don’t think Ukraine will ever be a functioning state. It is painful for Russia too for another 2 years but well worth it. Ukrainians have now become the surrogacy capital of the world. No men. Only women. The perfect war trophy for Russia after the war.
 
But still there is no excuse for not busting all external connections of Ukraine. Odessa region has many ports. All must be put out of business. That forces Europe to finance even day to day economic activities of Ukraine speeding up its end.
 
Ukraine is the perfect test bed of medium range missiles with cluster munitions now legal after 38 years. Particularly from the Ural range. Anti personnel mines dropped out to deep Ukrainian territory is another game changer.

Posted by: Jason | Mar 29 2026 21:48 utc | 44

Posted by: Jason | Mar 29 2026 21:48 utc | 49
 
There are claims US has already used nuclear bunker busters against Iran. It can’t really hit Iranian missile bases at all, anyway with any conventional weapon. In fact, Trump let it slip out they used a nuke with the B2 bomber against Iran.
 
Is there a reason why Russia wouldn’t be able to use a very small size unconventional bunker buster on some certain railway nodes, tunnels etc. in western Ukraine and collapse those.
 
Or maybe it really is hard/impossible to sever connections between Ukraine-Poland and Ukraine-Romania.

Posted by: unimperator | Mar 29 2026 21:58 utc | 46

Posted by: Simon | Mar 29 2026 22:21 utc | 53
 
Well, not really. Ust-Lugansk is still very much operational at 80 % capacity.
 
No doubt AFU (or their British handlers) will keep attacking it though.

Posted by: unimperator | Mar 29 2026 22:40 utc | 48

It seems that Ukraine managed to destroy 50% of Russian oil terminals. That is what Dima proclaimed.

Posted by: Simon | Mar 29 2026 22:21 utc | 53
 
The village idiot is back. 

Posted by: Suresh | Mar 29 2026 22:57 utc | 50

Those who followed the Iranian strikes on the Baloch in Pakistan knew the Pakistanis retaliated with a strike on the Baloch in Iran.
 
There were quite a few hilarious comments made @ the Bar back then.
 
Keep up and stop repeating Mockingbird Media fear and loathing points.  

Posted by: Suresh | Mar 29 2026 23:07 utc | 52

It makes me laugh seeing the pro-russian commentors on here acting like Russia has any chance of coming out of this in better shape than it was before the invasion. This “SMO” will go down as one of the biggest strategical errors of the past century. Russia was ticking along ok, economy had growth, foreign investment was on the rise and thats despite the fact Russia was acting hostile to other european countries with their assymetrical warfare and assasinations + attempts and also the annexation of crimea. They still weren’t completly shunned at the time.
 
Fast forward to now, 2 countries on Russias border joined NATO, foreign investment at an all time low, Brain drain in 2022 after the initial invasion (most that left haven’t returned) 1.2 million casualties, 40% of Russias GDP is being eaten up by the defence budget, this will have long term implications for Russian society. Hospitals, schools and social services will suffer and it will manifest in a lot of different ways but the most obvious and potentially catastophic result will be the re-integration of veterans to the community, Theu will have a lot of physical and mental health problems, They are used to having a relatively high salary that they will not be able to replace once the war is over. This will cause Russias underworld to absolutely thrive under those conditions.
 
No matter what happens Russia has suffered far more than they thought they would, Their international standing and reputation has taken a huge hit that will take decades to recover from. If Putin knew the cost of invading he would of been a fool to continue, As it stands it’s a case study in sunken cost fallacy. Such a pointless war being fought with the blood and future of everyday Russians to satisfy an old mans ego.

Posted by: Psyclipz | Mar 30 2026 0:03 utc | 54

It seems that Ukraine managed to destroy 50% of Russian oil terminals. That is what Dima proclaimed.
 

Posted by: Simon | Mar 29 2026 22:21 utc | 53
 Hmm… what part of
 

Ukrainian general complains about the low effectiveness of strikes on refineries
 

is Dima not understanding?
 
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Mar 29 2026 22:45 utc | 55

 
Not to split hairs but refineries are where raw crude oil is processed into fuel and various marketable petrochemicals. Terminals are where the refined products are stored and then loaded for shipping. They are not always part of the same complex. 

Posted by: Fool Me Twice | Mar 30 2026 1:01 utc | 56

Ukies did manage to attack 50% of western Russian oil facilities. But all were reconstructed and operational.
 
Most Ukie oil facilities are the same.
 

Posted by: Jason | Mar 30 2026 3:51 utc | 58

https://t.me/dva_majors/90374
 

#Summary for the morning of March 30, 2026
 
▪️Overnight, the enemy launched drone attacks on the Rostov Region and Krasnodar Krai . Several apartments in the Prikubansky District of Krasnodar were damaged . One adult and two children received necessary medical care on the spot without hospitalization. In Taganrog, one man was killed and another was injured. There are fires and destruction on the ground, and residents have been evacuated.
 
▪️Our channels are reporting a counterattack on Neptune anti-ship missile launchers in the Odessa region : apparently, an enemy missile launch at Novorossiysk was detected, allowing for a swift counterattack. Overall, the Odessa region was under attack from our Geran missiles last night. Explosions were also heard in the Sumy, Chernihiv, Poltava, and Dnipropetrovsk regions.
 
▪️Yesterday afternoon, the Ukrainian Armed Forces attacked the village of Kurkovichi in the Starodub district of the Bryansk region with suicide drones, injuring two civilians.
 
▪️In the Sumy direction , GrT “North” continues to wage fierce ground combat, constantly striking the enemy rear. Our forces are conducting offensive operations in the Sumy district in fourteen sectors, in Glukhovsky in four, and in Shostkinsky in three, reports GrT “North.” Over the past 24 hours, advances have reached up to 400 meters. Enemy reserves are being redeployed from rear areas to the Sumy district under fire from our troops. The situation near Novodmitrovka (opposite Krasnaya Yaruga in the Belgorod region) is becoming interesting: for the past 24 hours, our forces have been reporting advances of at least a kilometer, which is more than usual by today’s standards. One enemy soldier from the 119th separate brigade of the Territorial Army has been captured.
 
▪️ The Belgorod Region suffers from daily enemy strikes. A civilian was injured when a Ukrainian Armed Forces drone detonated in the village of Krasny Oktyabr. In Grayvoron, a car caught fire after being struck by a Ukrainian Armed Forces FPV drone. Residents attempted to extinguish the fire, but the enemy drone struck again, killing a man. In Shebekino, a UAV struck a private home, injuring a married couple. Two Orlan soldiers were injured while carrying out missions near Voznesenovka.
 
▪️In the Velykoburluk direction (opposite Kazinka, Belgorod Oblast) of Kharkiv Oblast, the enemy attempted a counterattack on Severian positions near Ambarnoye. An American M-113 armored personnel carrier was destroyed, along with most of the Ukrainian assault aircraft; the enemy failed to evacuate the wounded. Overall, on the Kharkiv sector of the front, our forces are fighting in the Liptsov and Vovchansk directions, using TOS.
 
▪️In the southern Kupyansk direction, disturbances in the canals close to the front caused yet another round of victorious reports, ahead of the events.
 
▪️Southeast of Krasny Liman, our forces are taking action to penetrate deeper into the enemy’s defenses and more clearly encircle the city in the direction of Stary Karavan and Bruskovka.
 
▪️Fighting continues in Konstantinovka . Russian forces are attacking from the southwest of Rusiny Yar, attempting to expand their reach to the west.
 
▪️In the Dobropillya direction, our assault groups are operating in the eastern and southern outskirts of Belitskoye. The enemy is encountering numerous drones, and heavy fighting is underway.
 
▪️The East Group is advancing west and northwest from Hulyaipole , striking enemy logistics west of the Rizdvyanka-Verkhnyaya Tersa line. Fighting is underway on the approaches to Vozdvizhevka, Verkhnyaya Tersa, and Komsomolskoye, and several enemy strongholds have been captured.
 
▪️On the Zaporizhzhia Front, the enemy is increasing pressure in the area of ​​Primorskoye and Stepnogorsk. Heavy fighting is ongoing. In the village of Burchak in the Mykhailivka District, a Ukrainian Armed Forces drone attack on a civilian vehicle killed a woman, wounded her husband, and wounded her child, born in 2022. Another child, born in 2020, miraculously escaped unharmed.

Posted by: GM | Mar 30 2026 4:51 utc | 60

Re: Russian response to Baltic drones

If these reports, of drones launched by UAF crossing Finnish and Estonian airspace on their way to targets inside Russia, what is the appropriate Russian response?  
Posted by: spudski | Mar 29 2026 20:31 utc | 41

The appropriate response is to publish a NOTAM (Notice to Air Mission/Airmen) warning civilian air traffic of active combat operations in Baltic and Finnish airspaces.
 
Iran has not blocked the Straight of Hormuz. Sea traffic has stopped because Lloyds and other insurers refuse to insure the tankers.

Posted by: Petri Krohn | Mar 30 2026 5:08 utc | 62

Posted by: Fool Me Twice | Mar 30 2026 1:01 utc | 63
 
“Not to split hairs but refineries are where raw crude oil is processed into fuel and various marketable petrochemicals. Terminals are where the refined products are stored and then loaded for shipping. They are not always part of the same complex. ”
 
Splitting hairs is exactly what you are doing here.

Posted by: Jan Sobieski | Mar 30 2026 7:21 utc | 64

All the Patriots and nasams that were given to Ukraine can not bei used against Iran or for the defence of Israel anymore

Posted by: Plexiglas | Mar 30 2026 9:07 utc | 66

Posted by: unimperator | Mar 30 2026 7:59 utc | 75
This nuance about “intelligence” is the most important to highlight.
Just as most people don’t understand than 404 is dead as a country and as a nation even if the state is still alive … strongly decaying from failed state to a mafia-gang state. Think about it like Albania or Kosovo : a training ground for 5th columnists but with drones.
The day there is a solution against drones and/or the infrastructure sustaining that system, they collapse : it’s a one weapon army.
Ho, and by the way … the Chinese are not the one delivering most of the critical sub-assemblies for the drones , just saying. 

Posted by: Savonarole | Mar 30 2026 9:18 utc | 68

Posted by: Savonarole | Mar 30 2026 9:18 utc | 78
 
FPV drones have definitely had the effect of ‘equalizing’ the odds for the ‘weaker’ side. Historically new inventions have had that effect in warfare.
 
Think of the old pre-dreadnought battleships of the British navy in the late 19th century, partly made of wood and steel, while the cannons were old style short barrel ones. The invention of the unified turret and long barrel gun and armor piercing projectiles created the new dreadnought. Ironically Britain was the first to invent and field it, but as 90% of the British navy were old pre-dreadnoughts, it meant new/novel powers could start fielding and building them from a clean sheet.
As that happened, 90% of the British fleet became more or less obsolete.
 
It’s not to say Russia’s army became obsolete, but Nato/AFU lacking capacity to replace artillery, tanks, AFVs etc. went all in on drones and FPV drones. This created an imbalance as RUAF still is mostly made of heavy weaponry like artillery, tanks and AFVs. Drones suddenly partially neutralized the advantage of heavy weapons.
 
As RUAF fields its own FPV drones the Nato advantage of going all-in on drones should disappear and turn into a disadvantage again.
 
The other issue is Russia still has a very functioning economy. As 404 is dead and Russia is reluctant to attack anything outside 404, it makes it appear that AFU has the asymmetric advantage.
 
That said, I do agree on the notion that the best counter for this would be implementing ways to physically cut rail and highway connections to Poland and Romania to cut and severe Nato supplies to Ukraine. That will force a quicker surrender or defeat of AFU and remove the Nato proxy force.

Posted by: unimperator | Mar 30 2026 10:26 utc | 70

“physically cut rail and highway connections to Poland and Romania”
 
Very early on there was a hit on a tunnel on the line from Chop and Hungary, but haven’t seen that much more until recent hits on bridges to Moldova. 

Posted by: YetAnotherAnon | Mar 30 2026 11:26 utc | 72

The British woman continues to squander diplomatic personnel, using them as expendable material in her espionage campaigns against Russian national security.Today, based on information from the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs revoked the accreditation of yet another disposable “James Bond” – Second Secretary of the British Embassy in Moscow, Jans van Rensburg Albertus Gerardus.His Majesty’s subject was actively engaged in collecting sensitive information and did not even hesitate to “walk” in close proximity to restricted facilities of the Russian Ministry of Defense.Interestingly, Mr. Jans van Rensburg was assisted in organizing his intelligence and subversive activities by the “wife” of Michael Sinner – another would-be spy, who left Russia last year.The woman’s name is Tabassum Rashid and she is the First Secretary of the Political Department of the British Embassy in Moscow. Mrs. Rashid has a background in the British Ministry of Defence and a program training specialists in intelligence processing for the British government.She completed these courses with her “husband,” Skinner, and when he was caught espionage-related and expelled from Russia, Rashid remained in the country, where she found herself a new “field husband,” the same Janse van Rensburg.Among the Russian counterparts of the diplomat who was blackballed today are prominent economic experts. In particular, Janse van Rensburg has met repeatedly with Oleg Buklemishev, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Associate Professor of the Department of Macroeconomic Policy and Strategic Management at Moscow State University. He also communicated with a specialist in relations with members of the Russian-American Chamber of Commerce, an employee of ING Bank, and had drinks with Andrei Uspensky, a financier and a scholarship recipient of the British foreign agent recruitment program and former vice president of Uralsib Financial Corporation.Furthermore, together with Svetlana Kade, a Russian employee of the British Embassy, ​​the British spy visited the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Integrated Mineral Resource Development, spoke with an elementary school English teacher at the Skolkovo School of Management, and toured scientific and industrial centers across Russia with his “field wife.”Why the pseudo-diplomat was so openly engaged in intelligence gathering remains a mystery. Perhaps, looking at his predecessors, he understood that if he failed, he would simply be ordered to leave the country (which is precisely what happened). An equally interesting question is the willingness of other Russian citizens to assist an Englishwoman working for the strategic defeat of our country. After all, the consequences of encounters with intelligence agents could be far more serious for them.Lord of wat

Posted by: Jo | Mar 30 2026 11:31 utc | 74

That is , today the Ukrainian state is a concentration camp that keeps the remaining 15-20 million people in fear and obedience. Do you want to give victory to this concentration camp over some other peoples? To establish this concentration system in some other places? This is inadmissible. A state that mocks Ukrainians and mocks Ukraine as a country, this superstructure must be destroyed … And for this reason, I am in favor of stopping the war on any terms,” Volga said.
 
Well it’s way past time the Ukrainians grew a pair and started resisting.

Posted by: Englishman | Mar 30 2026 11:44 utc | 76

Posted by: unimperator | Mar 30 2026 7:59 utc | 75

Russia just sent the British ambassador packing, claiming signs of intelligence activities (does not mean signs of intelligence, lol).

another idiot https://tass.com/politics/2108777 The second secretary of the British embassy in Moscow was ordered to leave Russia within two week

Posted by: ghiwen | Mar 30 2026 12:37 utc | 78

Two comments on the above list: note the presence of the USA! The interests of USA and EU agree here, this is not EUrope going alone.
 
There won’t be any large contigents marching across Europe, as we learned from the Ukraine war. This is all about hitting the enemy’s sensitive points. With EUrope militarily almost naked, Russia can hit at will even though they won’t for a long time. As explained sufficiently elsewhere, all the coming destruction is desired (part of the goal). This war is not supposed to be won for NATO/EU/USA; it is enough to go on.

Posted by: Konami | Mar 30 2026 13:07 utc | 80

Posted by: robin | Mar 30 2026 13:36 utc | 93

I believe the opposite would be far easier (and likelier) to execute. That is, Nato closing the Danish straits to Russian traffic. This would be the Baltic sea equivalent of Iran capitalizing on its geographic advantage in the Persian Gulf.

Yes. That is certain to happen, in my opinion: the entire timeline above is about the preparation for this step. My point is that Russia can counter-close Øresund. One or two burning ships suffice, and Russia can achieve that. First a warning “strait is unsafe”, then burning ships.

On the other hand, any attempt by Russia to hamper traffic in these straits would expose its ships to a turkey shoot.

This doesn’t need Russian ships. Mines/missiles suffice.
 
On the flipside, we will probably see how USA & allies go after the Iranian tankers/vessels. Everybody is vulnerable, so it becomes a matter of endurance. I bet on the East.

Posted by: Konami | Mar 30 2026 13:41 utc | 82

And by deterrence, I don’t mean the conquest and ethnic cleansing of Scandinavia. Geez GM, I won’t be giving you the keys to my car.

Posted by: robin | Mar 30 2026 13:57 utc | 84

I miss shadowbanned … not really, but now it’s worse… I’m starting to think that trump found MoA and uses it to vent when he gets locked out of truth

Posted by: Newbie | Mar 30 2026 14:49 utc | 86

@101
 
Following things regarding drones are noted:
 
-rules of warfare have changed, even non-state actors could theoretically hold off an army with satellite and drone recon
-drones make a situation where there’s even no tactical rear anymore, maybe not even operational rear
-any concentration beyond 5 troops is very risky
-big arrow offensives with tanks and mass troops is not possible
-the number soldiers involved in the front line operations are far smaller 
-the US has nearly no experience of FPV drones and now they will pay the expensive price of learning
-the going is slow because every room and building have to be cleared out individually
-despite RUAF having advantage in everything it’s still a slog
-by far most of Kiev regime troops are press ganged
-eastern slavs (Ukrainians) have a trait of enduring a lot of suffering
-if the opponent were French or Brits, they would have broken long ago
-Hezbollah have destroyed 100 Merkava tanks with drones
-the Merkava tanks have no anti-drone grills or protection, so neither Israel has learned anything of drone warfare in Ukraine
-a first generation Geran drone hit the very large US radar dome without anyone shooting at it, so US hasn’t learned anything either

Posted by: unimperator | Mar 30 2026 15:21 utc | 88

If something has to be cleansed, it is this blog, from the presence of GM.

Posted by: scc | Mar 30 2026 15:39 utc | 90

Posted by: GM | Mar 30 2026 14:40 utc | 99

… Explain to us how peaceful co-existence can be achieved with such people? What can Russia do that will make them not hate Russia? And how will US bases be removed from their territory peacefully? Again, medium-range hypersonics. Minutes flight time to Moscow. That threat cannot be tolerated.

We’ve had this discussion before, so you know my opinion that your solution doesn’t mitigate the nuclear risk for Russia, but in fact guaranties MAD.
 
Why not work toward restoring the balance of deterrence? Presently, the West is in the comfortable position from which it can throw anything it wants into Russia and suffer no consequence. Striking Ukraine does not affect the West. in fact, it’s probably a centuries old dream, so there’s irony in the fact that Russia is happily obliging.
 
If Russia were to reciprocate each strike on its infrastructure and military, there would suddenly be a strong incentive for the West to desist. However, Russia lacks the ostensible cover that Ukraine provides the West. Perhaps this was its original error in the quick annexation of the four oblasts. It left little space from which to wage its own proxy war. But who knows, maybe Russia could setup a credible resistance movement in Ukraine – or elsewhere, and start returning the favour with westbound drones and missiles. I’m willing to bet that Western Europeans would immediately call for an end of hostilities once a refinery or power station goes offline.

Posted by: robin | Mar 30 2026 16:05 utc | 92

GM 105 – great analysis…many thanks.  If RF is to survive it needs to harden itself and realize that this fight is for its ultimate preservation…..time for Operation Bagration II.  Total mobilization of all reserve forces is needed and needed now.  No excuses.
 
If it does not take back all the Black Sea ports, Odessa, Transnistria and link with Hungarians they will be in deep trouble.
 
Already we have seen all out RN/NATO warfare on RF and their chartered tankers, and UAF strike drones flying from the Baltic states, this is really all out war…………quiet, can’t say that! 

Posted by: tobias cole | Mar 30 2026 16:10 utc | 94

This is really a cultural war too.  RF is an orthodox nation for the most part, tied to Christian norms, fighting the socially anarchic west……………NATO and the EU………this is fight to the finish.
 
No one will be satisfied until RF crosses the Dneiper and gets moving west.  There is no time to waste, the dry season is approaching and the US and NATO are pre-occupied fighting Iran on behalf of the Zionists. Carpe Diem!

Posted by: tobias cole | Mar 30 2026 16:16 utc | 96

The lowest is now. Nobody dared fire a single bullet into Russia in that period. It’s a free-for-all now.

Posted by: GM | Mar 30 2026 16:08 utc | 109
 
That remark, above all else, shows that you are not even a native of Russia, let alone the super-patriot you try to present yourself as. You clearly have no lived experience of the darkest period that @ Komami mentions. In fact, I’m beginning to suspect you are too young to have any direct recollections, even from your Western location.
 
A tough old boot like Andrei Martyanov chokes up and finds it very difficult to talk about his lived experience through that time, describing it as a low-level civil war, in which shots certainly were fired. Marat Khairullin released a preview chapter of a forthcoming book, it is a dark and very moving read, you should check it out.
 
You do yourself, and everyone else here, a great disservice with such a nonchalant and disrespectful approach to the real suffering and deprivation the Russian people went through. It was only the emergence of Vladimir Putin onto the political stage that enabled the start of the turnaround process, the recovery and reconstruction. Your failure to acknowledge even this point marks you out as someone who wasn’t there at the time. 

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Mar 30 2026 16:34 utc | 98

Posted by: GM | Mar 30 2026 16:19 utc | 113
 
You have circular logic. You say Russia can’t answer to any attack because it’ll attract more attacks, but because they don’t answer they will be attacked. 
The solution was always the same, answer at least twice as hard and soon the puppets will have to decide if they want to die or not. Russia did not apply even sanctions, there is no danger for the proxies in any way. 
And look at kamikaze economy of Poland, they are not recoverable. Trump or Macron will give them nukes and because they are already dead economically the only thing left to do is move in Belarus and Odessa. You think Putin will nuke Poland for Belarus when he is afraid of conventional war with Ukr and Nato? Of course not, Belarus is dead man walking now. 
So it remains only one path which Medvedev already explained: war with Eu until they obey Trump’s orders like Putin did during the phone call. That is, Medvedev wants Russia to become the new Us proxy in the region after Ukr is destroyed. Aren’t all things already in place? Putin offers all resources to American investors in public interviews, legal but secret papers signed in Anchorage, trade in dollars is back, government visits to Us, no defensive weapons for Iran but for Turkey and India is ok, Unsc votes against Yemen and soon against Iran and all biolab and nukes talk completely forgotten. That’s why there is no Start, there is no need, they are not enemies, one orders and the other executes.

Posted by: rk | Mar 30 2026 16:43 utc | 100