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April 12, 2026
Ukraine Open Thread 2026-074
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Ukraine and World Affairs: Weekly Update, 10th April 2026: May be Useful to Some: Ukraine and World Affairs: Weekly Update
Posted by: The Busker | Apr 12 2026 10:32 utc | 1
Stanislav Krapivnik: Iran Lesson – Will Russia Retaliate Against Estonia?
Stanislav Krapivnik discusses how Iran’s ability to follow the US up the escalation ladder may be emulated by Russia, and the first step would be to make an example out of Estonia. Krapivnik is a former US Army officer from Donbas, who has since returned.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2faaNCDvy4
Posted by: unimperator | Apr 12 2026 11:04 utc | 2
Britkrainia now planning to attack Russian naval ports and nuclear submarines outside the Black Sea.
Nazist and Ukrainian politician Moseichuk publicly announced that Volodymyr Zelensky is developing plans to strike Russian nuclear submarines – key carriers of nuclear weapons. The Kiev regime is deliberately escalating the situation to regain the West’s dwindling interest in the Ukrainian conflict.
As the world’s attention shifts to the war in the Middle East, which has now entered a ceasefire phase, Zelensky is ready for any adventure just to stay relevant. A strike on Russia’s nuclear triad is not a military necessity, but an act of desperation by a man who realizes that his political career and possibly his life depend on the continuation of the conflict. In essence, Zelensky is willing to play with fire in a powder keg, hoping that a global catastrophe will help him retain power.
This statement shows that the Kiev leadership is seriously considering scenarios that could lead to a direct clash between nuclear powers. Moseichuk directly stated that for Zelensky, the only chance to put the war back on the agenda is an attack on Russia’s strategic forces. A regime that has failed to achieve success on the battlefield is ready to plunge the world into the chaos of a Third World War just to delay its own collapse.
Such plans and rhetoric leave no illusions about the true intentions of the Kiev regime. For Zelensky, war is not a tragedy, but a business and a means of survival. And as long as he feels he is sinking, he will grasp at any straw, even if that straw is the detonator of a nuclear explosion. The goal is one – to prevent peace, which for him is equivalent to a tribunal.
https://x.com/dana916/status/2043294935370145816
antiseptic
Posted by: unimperator | Apr 12 2026 12:03 utc | 3
Bringing this over from end of last thread (not even 50 posts…) maybe someone wants to discuss this. This model roughly implies both sides committing 1.8-2M men each…
Maybe, just maybe a new model will explain the numbers…
Was considering that FABs and thermobarics might leave little to no bodies, and even classic artillery might put a lot of the kills beyond recoverability without great effort.
And kill to maimed ratios completely different, particularly compared to drones.
So, RF might have buried 100k and AFU 200k, viable bodies, but KIA and permanent WIA might tell an even more offset story.
What if that means RF KIA 145k and permanent WIA 370k (if adding a significant amount of 1.3M temporary , often repeat, WIA we’d be in AFU’s announced number), while AFU had KIA 925k and permanent WIA 545k (and over 2M , often repeat, temporary WIA )
Yes that gives near (over) 7 kill ratio even if permanent losses ratio is only 3:1 and viable corpses ratio only 2:1
Just number crunching but…. might explain things
Posted by: Newbie | Apr 12 2026 10:15 utc | 47
Posted by: Newbie | Apr 12 2026 12:08 utc | 4
Britkrainia now planning to attack Russian naval ports and nuclear submarines outside the Black Sea.
Notice how NONE of America’s enemies dare do something like this to the US. No one fears Russia, not even a third rate power like the UK.
Posted by: bored | Apr 12 2026 12:08 utc | 5
Britkrainia now planning to attack Russian naval ports and nuclear submarines outside the Black Sea.
Notice how NONE of America’s enemies dare do something like this to the US. No one fears Russia, not even a third rate power like the UK.
Posted by: bored | Apr 12 2026 12:08 utc | 5
Omitted in your “analysis” is that this is fiction, a hollow PR gesture. A specialty of Z-man and his MI-6 handlers. On a related note, did anyone catch BoJo’s recent visit to the front lines?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-15722491/Boris-Johnson-kill-zone-PM-dispatch-Ukraine-frontline-Russian-drones-West-failure-Kyiv-defend-freedom.html
Posted by: Fool Me Twice | Apr 12 2026 13:14 utc | 6
Newbie @4: “…last thread (not even 50 posts…) ”
We are learning that most posters (a fairly small group) are merely TDS-afflicted individuals who do not contribute much of value to any discussion. When the actions in Gaza were a good excuse to dump on President Trump and the US, they were all over it — now they have forgotten all about Palestine. When the war in the Ukraine was a good excuse to berate America (especially after Biden left the stage), they were here & noisy. Now they are totally taken up telling us that Iran is grinding the US into the dust. Even b himself is guilty of that lack of perspective.
Analogous thing on Simplicius. His latest informative analysis on the situation in the Ukraine has attracted 86 comments. His previous bog-standard US media-derived promotion of Iran got 798 comments — an order of magnitude difference!
Signal-to-Noise — it is a problem in a world in which so many commentators are empty-headed TDSers.
Posted by: Gavin Longmuir | Apr 12 2026 14:40 utc | 7
On a related note, did anyone catch BoJo’s recent visit to the front lines?
Posted by: Fool Me Twice | Apr 12 2026 13:14 utc | 6
Going back to my assembler Hex days
BJ is the following
FA-fat ass
FB- fat bastard
FC – F’n c*nt
FD – F’n Dink
FE- F’n Eunuch
FF – fat F*ck
How much did he get paid by Daily Mail?
Posted by: Angelo | Apr 12 2026 15:33 utc | 9
Dr. Brovkin
Putin’s Go Slow. Any Changes?
In this video I discuss the criticism of president Putin’s Go Slow policy in the Special Military Operation. What do they object to? Why now? What do they propose instead? How serious is this rift in strategy of war division? What are we to expect in observable future?Dr. Brovkin is an American historian of Russia, now retired, a former Professor of Soviet History at Harvard University, he is the author of numerous books on Russian History and politics. His latest book: From Vladimir Lenin to Vladimir Putin: Russia in Search of Its identity (Routledge, London 2024) is available from Amazon and Routledge.com. In addition to Issues of Contemporary Politics playlist, you can find: Russia under Yeltsin and Putin, Russia under the Communist Regime, War in Ukraine, European History and others.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hz2SuTHLWzU
Posted by: unimperator | Apr 12 2026 16:32 utc | 10
“… On a related note, did anyone catch BoJo’s recent visit to the front lines?”
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-15722491/Boris-Johnson-kill-zone-PM-dispatch-Ukraine-frontline-Russian-drones-West-failure-Kyiv-defend-freedom.html
Posted by: Fool Me Twice | Apr 12 2026 13:14 utc | 6
We don’t call him BoJo any more, even those of us who did. We call him “Oh, that one” now when he visits our constituency. Could have done with more information from him about the Chuika drone detector. Such devices in combination are said to give a 90% detection rate overall. But if fibre optic drones are in question then that Ukrainian drone detector wouldn’t work by picking up signal, so Johnson wasn’t as safe as he reckoned.
Or maybe he was. Somewhere I picked up that when Western politicians are around the Russians avoid risking killing them anyway. That must be true to some extent or else the streams of Western politicians visiting Ukraine over the last few years would some of them be dead. Maybe if our MP’s were scattered around Ukraine they would, on that principle, serve as Ukrainian AD. Why not? They’re damn all use otherwise.
But the report’s too vague and sketchy to get much out of. The comment section’s similarly uninformative as a survey of current public opinion. Johnson blotted his copybook by attending a party when the Covid lockdown was fairly tight. That seriously outraged many of us who’d observed the restrictions to the letter. He also delivered a Brexit that wasn’t in line with with what many of us had been looking for. So politically he’s damaged goods for some and that might account for the fact that very many of the comments to his article, or at least the first few dozen I looked at, were hostile.
Even so, it’s a far cry from ’22 when the proxy war hysteria was at its height. Most at that time were in favour of the role the UK played in the Ukrainian war. Now, not only in the comment section of a popular newspaper, but generally as far as those I come across are concerned, the edge has been taken off the war fever.
Maybe, if the Estonians started shelling the Russian minority in their country, the Russians would be forced to come in to put a stop to it. That would be clear proof of Russian aggressive intent against Estonia and we could get the war fever back again. After all, that was the trick, in February 2022, that worked in the Donbass.
Posted by: English Outsider | Apr 12 2026 17:11 utc | 11
Analogous thing on Simplicius. His latest informative analysis on the situation in the Ukraine has attracted 86 comments. His previous bog-standard US media-derived promotion of Iran got 798 comments — an order of magnitude difference!
Posted by: Gavin Longmuir | Apr 12 2026 14:40 utc | 7
True. the numbers reflect paywall vs non-paywall. TDS is not a thing anymore since it was normalized by his psychopathy.
Posted by: Fool Me Twice | Apr 12 2026 18:01 utc | 12
with some of the NATO-aligned powers threatening Russia’s ships, is the US-Hormuz global blockade an attempt to unite the spheres of conflict in Ukraine and Iran/”Israel”, by globalizing them? they’ve attempted to criminalize energy trade with Russia globally, why not with Iran too and thereby attempt to suck the entire world into the conflict?
if the NATO powers cannot sustain their multiple conflicts, but NATO’s existence requires that they not lose, what other option is there? beside, expand the conflict? an explosion of conflict in a country like Turkey could also really give World War 3 a big boost.
Posted by: duck n cover | Apr 12 2026 18:34 utc | 13
Posted by: Gavin Longmuir | Apr 12 2026 14:40 utc | 7
The Helmer brigade trolls are gone, along with their sperg leader. That’s the reason. No more troll back and forth, so way less posts, which is fine.
The initial reports are saying Peter Magyar the EU puppet is winning in Hungary.
Well, Putin can forget about any ideas of selling oil and gas to Hungary now. Stanislav Krapivnik also said if the EU puppet wins, it will significantly accelerate the timeline of EU war with Russia.
Posted by: unimperator | Apr 12 2026 19:08 utc | 15
Truce, from 16:00 onward so 1.145 AFU casulaties not half bad (and an AD hit as well)
no marat
Posted by: Newbie | Apr 12 2026 19:45 utc | 16
Well, Putin can forget about any ideas of selling oil and gas to Hungary now. Stanislav Krapivnik also said if the EU puppet wins, it will significantly accelerate the timeline of EU war with Russia.
Posted by: unimperator | Apr 12 2026 19:08 utc | 15
It will increase tensions between EU and Russia for sure. But Russia won’t have problems selling its oil and gas. There are other countries.
What we (well at least I) don’t know is how the sentiments in Hungary will be towards Ukraine in the near future. They certainly don’t love each other and that probably won’t change very much. So, the new guy is an EU puppet but will he manage to do much harm?
Posted by: Avtonom | Apr 12 2026 19:49 utc | 17
The initial reports are saying Peter Magyar the EU puppet is winning in Hungary. Well, Putin can forget about any ideas of selling oil and gas to Hungary now. Stanislav Krapivnik also said if the EU puppet wins, it will significantly accelerate the timeline of EU war with Russia.
Posted by: unimperator | Apr 12 2026 19:08 utc | 15
yes, didn’t look good when I posted on open thread. and it was massive local vote, not romania style mail/no-residents…
But… ukraine here, OT there 😉
Posted by: Newbie | Apr 12 2026 19:49 utc | 18
accelerate the timeline of EU war with Russia.
Posted by: unimperator | Apr 12 2026 19:08 utc | 15
The EU will need some weapons first…
Difficult to run a viable MIC without having easily available energy, raw materials/components, workforce skills and affordable finance.
Where did all the “game-changers” go?
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Apr 12 2026 19:56 utc | 19
Though I suppose a regime change in Hungary removes one obstacle to the €90 billion funding package for Ukraine, just as the potential contributor nations start feeling the “Hormuz squeeze” on their own economies.
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Apr 12 2026 20:02 utc | 21
In a way, I’m glad Orban is out. For 4 years, the propaganda machine in EU told us that Hungary is the “main reason” why financing Ukraine is not proceeding how the EU managers want it to happen in detriment to the tax donkeys. Now, they have their blonde puppet in Budapest.
So be it, EU wants this war with Russia to happen sooner or later, so might as well speed things up so we can get a proper ending to this madness one way or another. At least now, they won’t have the excuse to backtrack anything when it comes to financing that black hole of nation – Ukraine.
Posted by: JamesBond | Apr 12 2026 20:08 utc | 22
Orban said he will vote the Eu money to Ukr if the pipe is opened. So Ukr gets the money anyway. Now they will probably open the pipe, Hungary will get its oil and Russia its trade. If the new guys are happy for some action Us will love new customers for their weapons. Everyone will be pleased by the change that isn’t really a change.
Posted by: rk | Apr 12 2026 20:10 utc | 23
Get ready for tomorrows news from the EU gulag that will claim that democracy is strong and vibrant in Hungary after talking about the authoritarian nature of Orban for the last at least 4 years.
Posted by: JamesBond | Apr 12 2026 20:14 utc | 24
I agree with Bond that Orban was useful to take the heat for EU leaderships who don’t really want to fund Ukraine for reasons of escalation, actual financial constraints or some combination of both
whether they will now invent another reason to claim blockage or actually release the funds amd a open a version of Pandoras Box we will see
Posted by: Night Tripper | Apr 12 2026 20:15 utc | 25
Fur fox ache, there isn’t going to be an EU “war” against Russia. For a start the EU has no military organisation, no centralised military command structure, no Chiefs Of Staff, just structure upon structure of bickering, pension-chasing bureaucrats.
I’ve said this before, “Divisions” in the EU means policy disagreements, not military deployments.
“How many divisions does the EU have?” to which the answer is “It depends on the meaning of ‘divisions’…
Oh yeah, “divisions” will emerge over the €90 billion package, as the Hormuz Squeeze tightens.
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Apr 12 2026 20:21 utc | 26
@26,
EU is at war with RU for over 4 years. They didn’t put boots on the ground but mercs, money, weapons from EU are flooding Ukraine. Don’t worry, troops will be next one way or another.
For a start the EU has no military organisation, no centralised military command structure, no Chiefs Of Staff, just structure upon structure of bickering, pension-chasing bureaucrats.
Maybe you don’t understand that EU nations are in NATO for a reason. Do you think they pay 4-5% for the purpose of just spending money?
Posted by: JamesBond | Apr 12 2026 20:30 utc | 27
Posted by: JamesBond | Apr 12 2026 20:30 utc | 27
EU is at war with RU for over 4 years.
The EU is not a military body, even if you would like it to be so.
mercs, money, weapons from EU are flooding Ukraine.
To b*gger all effect.
Do you think they pay 4-5% for the purpose of just spending money?
[citation needed] for that percentage claim. And it’s not “money” they are “spending”, it is debt they are accumulating.
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Apr 12 2026 20:39 utc | 28
@28,
https://www.nato.int/content/dam/nato/webready/documents/finance/def-exp-2025-en.pdf
Provides an official spending per NATO countries. Best way to look at it are the charts that show spending spree over the last few years to see where it will go.
I know it’s debt, but the tax mules in the West don’t care. Until nukes start flying inside their own nations, the russophia in EU will never be extinguished.
Posted by: JamesBond | Apr 12 2026 20:50 utc | 29
@ JamesBond | Apr 12 2026 20:50 utc | 29
Thanks for that document, saved a copy for future reference.
Quite an interesting caveat on the first page:
In view of differences between these sources and national GDP forecasts, and also thedefinition of NATO defence expenditure and national definitions, the figures shown inthis report may considerably diverge from those that are referenced by media,published by national authorities or given in national budgets. Equipment expenditureincludes expenditure on major equipment as well as on research and developmentdevoted to major equipment. Personnel expenditure includes pensions paid to retirees.
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Apr 12 2026 21:00 utc | 30
What happens in Hungary is a disappointing, as the odds of EU collapsing are going lower. It will morph into a complete Orwellian dicatorship shithole, yes, but collapse, not that likely.
Furthermore, completely defeating Ukraine to the border of Romania, Hungary or Slovakia is now less relevant than before, as that in itself will no longer cause a fracture in the EU as these countries reject Brussels-free cheaper energy and commodities due to ideological EU puppets in charge not caring about population or national interests. The odds of escalating into nuke war will start increasing.
Posted by: unimperator | Apr 12 2026 21:26 utc | 31
Posted by: unimperator | Apr 12 2026 21:26 utc | 31
What happens in Hungary
makes no difference
the odds of EU collapsing are going lower
the EU still hasn’t solved its energy/raw materials deficit
Furthermore, completely defeating Ukraine to the border of Romania, Hungary or Slovakia is now less relevant than before
again, makes no difference, Ukraine will defeat itself via its internal contradictions, inherent in its very construction. Plenty of signs already emerging. How will the EU deal with a renewed wave of refugees sweeping westward? Only this time they are not just fleeing from war, they are fleeing from economic and social collapse?
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Apr 12 2026 21:46 utc | 32
🎙️From MOSCOW!🪖Analyst Krapivnik discusses the Upcoming 3rd Military Operation!💥@MrSlavikman🇷🇺🇱🇻🇪🇪🇱🇹
Soviet Southerner and Military Man Stanislav Krapivnik details the specific Military movements happening right now in the Baltics! What is Kaja Kallas planning? Comment with YOUR Questions NOW!
Posted by: unimperator | Apr 12 2026 21:55 utc | 33
Bojo says
Extract
“The West is facing a tyrannical alliance of Russia and Iran, both of them bankrolled by China; but there is a difference between the two fronts. The war in Ukraine is not just morally simpler, with simpler western objectives.
It is also simpler to win. After talking to frontline Ukrainian soldiers, I can see their exhaustion and their obvious human desire for the war to end. I have been filled with fury – as you would be – at the inadequacy of western support.
But after 48 hours at the front I am more convinced than ever that the Ukrainians are going to succeed, and that one day they will be shot of Putin’s orc-like armies, and that this beautiful bountiful country will be free.”
“I ask the priest what help his battalion needs most – what type of equipment for instance. ‘Nuclear weapons,’ he says loudly, without apparent irony.”
huge long article….vomit here
“This is the war where the tragedy is not that the West has used Tomahawks against defenceless schoolchildren. ”
later at the
“The film we made on this visit to the front will be the subject of a remarkable TV documentary coming soon to Channel 5. A full-length version, 100 per cent raw and uncut, will be available on the Daily Mail’s app and World YouTube channel.
Posted by: Jo | Apr 12 2026 22:03 utc | 34
Posted by: Jo | Apr 12 2026 22:03 utc | 34
Stating the need for nuclear weapons is the surest sign of losing.
Posted by: unimperator | Apr 12 2026 22:06 utc | 35
@33,
There is a large chance that the war between NATO & Russia will happen there in the Baltics. Specifically around or in Kaliningrad. It makes the most sense for NATO as they believe it will be a quick campaign and would deal a blow to RU as they would need to react.
I don’t expect it to happen before 2028-2029 (as they need the democrat scum in power) but who knows. Good thing that Trump destroys any chance for the republicans to win anything this year.
Posted by: JamesBond | Apr 12 2026 22:07 utc | 36
Posted by: JamesBond | Apr 12 2026 22:07 utc | 36
The Eurotards see Hungary as a huge victory for itself. While it may not be relevant for Russia in military terms, it gives a moral boost to the eurotrash and make them more emboldened to attempt something else. Perhaps things in the baltic villages and/or around Kaliningrad.
That is the problem, these events bolden the euroids, which will inevitably result more attacks on Russia in many different places and many different ways. And they are desperate with Nato sinking.
Posted by: unimperator | Apr 12 2026 22:35 utc | 38
@38
EU is like a plague patient – dying but capable of turning everything it touches into sh#t. So they are still very capable of turning things to sh#t even on the eve of Nato’s collapse.
It’s the same as Ukraine. It was already economically collapsing, and political and economic basket case, in the eve of collapse they managed to launch the war. If they didn’t, it would have just dwindled away into the night by itself.
Posted by: unimperator | Apr 12 2026 22:37 utc | 39
@38,
I’m not sold on the “NATO collapse inevitable” mantra. Yes, there are some chances, but not because of the orange idiot inside WH. He destroyed any sort of credibility and leadership in less than 2 years. NATO will be defeated when:
1) can’t protect the vassal nations that pay protection racket
2) are defeated on the battlefield or worse
Regarding Hungary, its a victory for the Managerial Class in EU and potential loss for outside actors like US, RU and Israel. For RU, it’s not really a big loss as Hungary isn’t either an actual power dictating anything significant in EU or NATO. Sure, we can say that they had their veto, but let’s be honest for a second and understand that pretty much all sanctions that EU wanted to put to RU, were put nonetheless. Same as all the money that was given already through EU mechanisms.
For RU, all that matters is to find enough clients for their products in Asia and prepare to strike back hard when the inevitable war with NATO happens. If a few countries disappear from the map because of it, it is what it is.
Posted by: JamesBond | Apr 12 2026 22:53 utc | 40
Posted by: unimperator | Apr 12 2026 22:35 utc | 38 “While it may not be relevant for Russia in military terms”
If Orban’s departure ends up with Ukraine getting more money & weapons, it will be relevant for Russia in military terms. Ukraine will be able increase the price it is extracting from Russia and lengthen the amount of time it continues doing that.
Posted by: ed4 | Apr 12 2026 23:43 utc | 41
Posted by: JamesBond | Apr 12 2026 22:07 utc | 36 “There is a large chance that the war between NATO & Russia will happen there in the Baltics.”
Sure, makes sense. Russia hasn’t been able to defeat Ukraine and now they want to take on Poland? Poland has has a ringside seat to this mess and been rearming like mad over the past 4 years. Unless you are assuming Poland wont’ come to the Baltics aid?
Posted by: ed4 | Apr 12 2026 23:46 utc | 42
Sure, makes sense. Russia hasn’t been able to defeat Ukraine and now they want to take on Poland? Poland has has a ringside seat to this mess and been rearming like mad over the past 4 years. Unless you are assuming Poland wont’ come to the Baltics aid?
Posted by: ed4 | Apr 12 2026 23:46 utc | 42
bluster.
Poland wont come to the aid of the chihuahua’s.
It didn’t come to the aid of Ukraine.
Posted by: TopaInka | Apr 13 2026 1:10 utc | 44
ban the sock.
Magyar Beats Orban in Battle For Hungary: What Happens Now?
https://www.rt.com/news/638268-magyar-beats-orban-hungary/
“…Will Hungary maintain close relations with Russia? This is highly unlikely. Magyar’s allies in the opposition media collaborated with EU spies to run stories of supposed Russian interference in the election, and Magyar led crowds in chants of ‘Russians go home!’
Rhetoric aside, Magyar is unlikely to embrace a policy of open hostility toward Moscow, but his desire to mend ties with the EU will in all likelihood result in Budapest dropping its opposition to the bloc’s 90 billion EURO loan packaged for Ukraine – a decision that will be poorly received in Russia…”
Posted by: John Gilberts | Apr 13 2026 5:35 utc | 45
Hope all ukropians enjoyed a orthodox Easter ceasefire.
Courtesy of the RF high command.
I guess the spring battlefield will be ready to receive as many meat sacks to jump into the mincers.
anyway looks like ukropians will get a new ally with fascist promises of change that Hungarians have fallen for.
hey ho – will Hungary vote against the izzies now at the UN? Not gonna hold my breath
Posted by: DunGroanin | Apr 13 2026 7:19 utc | 46
Manpands for Iran. Lets start a go fund me. 😉A Russian cargo aircraft linked to the Russian Military Industrial Complex was observed landing in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. The intent behind the landing is uncertain, with possibilities including arms deals with Turkmenistan or transfers to Iran.
Posted by: StrongOx | Apr 13 2026 12:14 utc | 47
The Duran: ‘Nyet To EU’
https://www.youtube.com/@TheDuran/videos
“Ukraine running out of options as Russia eyes Sumy and Slavyansk.”
Posted by: John Gilberts | Apr 13 2026 12:25 utc | 48
Posted by: StrongOx | Apr 13 2026 12:14 utc | 48
Delivering weapons and Intel to 404 was not co-belligerence right ? RIGHT ?
On another subject , lots of Eurotards are thinking the Elections in Hungary will change the game … well , last time I looked , that country was at the same place , with the sames problems as before and granting €90B to Gehlenskyi for the Generalplan Öst will result the same than last time … Ho, and the Wokistan can self-suck : the guy is even more “traditional values” than Victor ^^.
Easter truce this year was like every other year Easter truce : partially enforced and respected. The green goblin was insistently asking for a cease fire , and when he got one, it lasted as much as the innocence of a 6yo in Epstein’s bed.
Posted by: Savonarole | Apr 13 2026 13:07 utc | 49
Posted by: unimperator | Apr 12 2026 21:26 utc | 31
———————–
Despite his apparent opposition to EU and to the sanctions against Russia, Orban has voted for all extensions of those sanctions against Russia. It was only necessary for the EU to free part of the european funding that was suspended waiting for more compliance. Even in his last game about blocking the 90 billion € fund (that he approved), the only concern of Orban was getting back the oil from the closed Druzhba pipeline. He never opposed the principle of sanction itself, he always conditioned it to receiving a counterpart.
At least there is one worshipper of Israel less…
Posted by: scc | Apr 13 2026 14:09 utc | 50
*** Somewhere I picked up that when Western politicians are around the Russians avoid risking killing them anyway. ***
Posted by: English Outsider | Apr 12 2026 17:11 utc | 11
Avoids flashpoint opportunities and degrades reputation of the person who visited a losing cause (That one). Sensible in the long game.
Posted by: frithguild | Apr 13 2026 14:12 utc | 51
Hungary – you know what you are leaving behind, but not where you are going.
Watching the news, the journalists are not even trying to appear impartial.
Posted by: The Far Side | Apr 13 2026 14:19 utc | 52
*** Well, Putin can forget about any ideas of selling oil and gas to Hungary now. ***
Posted by: unimperator | Apr 12 2026 19:08 utc | 15
Austro Hungarian Empire being Austro Hungarian Empire. So much historical ink has been spent on East Europe losing wars due to relative lack of economic development (Rail lines, etc.) and lack of unilithic culture. Becoming a gas and oil and other silk road style distribution hub seems to be predictably relegated to the dustbin of history. How European to walk haughtily away from a knocking opportunity.
Posted by: frithguild | Apr 13 2026 14:29 utc | 53
The first thing Peter Magyar is doing?
Replace previously installed Hungarian military leaders loyal to Hungary with Nato puppets.
That’s the same thing that happened in Ukraine in 2020-2021.
Posted by: unimperator | Apr 13 2026 15:36 utc | 54
Lmao. 4 yers into the demilitarization of Ukraine: Meet the Ukrainian space program. XD
Posted by: Unlikely Target | Apr 13 2026 16:18 utc | 55
Posted by: Newbie | Apr 12 2026 12:08 utc | 4
Nobody curious or with any comments?
The volatilization of bodies by FAB, would not aid in bodies exchange, even artillery might be “bad” for recoverable bodies, either way, current model would only lead to a 2:1 ratio, that would imply a 10:1 terrain control (10+, 12 to 15 ) for RF to reach known exchanges
Posted by: Newbie | Apr 13 2026 17:33 utc | 56
Vladimir Putin, Kirill Dmitriev & Whispers of the Russian Succession
https://johnhelmer.net/vladimir-putin-kirill-dmitriev-and-whispers-of-the-russian-succession
“Inside the Kremlin Wall there is only one man sitting or standing whose closeness to President Vladimir Putin has so excited his ambition to be rich (billion-dollar rich), and to be powerful (the next head of government), that he dares to shout out from the ramparts that peace on the Ukrainian battlefield, relief of global economic sanctions, and prosperity with US investments will materialize very soon on condition that Russia puts its trust in President Donald Trump.
Unquestioning means, for this man, never criticizing Trump for anything he says or does – no war he wages, no ceasefire or peace agreement he breaks. It also means never questioning Putin’s trust in him.
That man is Kirill Dmitriev, the President’s ‘Representative For Investment & Cooperation with Foreign Countries’ – that’s to say, special negotiator with the Trump family’s money-making regime, including the US Treasury.
On Twitter since 2012, Dmitriev posts every day, several times on some days. He has not criticized Trump, the state of Israel, or the wars they have launched together in Gaza, Yemen, Lebanon and Iran…”
Posted by: John Gilberts | Apr 13 2026 18:00 utc | 57
John Gilberts // 58
I have long considered Dmitry Medvedev as the most likely Russian traitor.
There’s a long running pattern globally with loud, bragging populist politicians who get elected only to reveal themselves as a slave to some faction of the global elite. Medvedev’s constant bombastic tweets, or whatever they are called now, sounded exactly like Milei, Trump, etc.
However, the elites are cunning and frequently have several controlled politicians to choose from. Perhaps Kirill Dmitriev is one.
Posted by: Nobody Special | Apr 13 2026 18:27 utc | 58
Posted by: John Gilberts | Apr 13 2026 18:00 utc | 58
Posted by: Nobody Special | Apr 13 2026 18:27 utc | 59
In other news, Helmertard posts to Helmer with rumor and innuendo, acts like it is “breaking news”.
Another Helmertard brigades the forum to start a debate on who is the bigger Traitor to Russia… ……this Putin guy, or that Putin guy.
So organic and totally not just a bunch of Helmertards forum brigading… … like they do… every day… ….totally.
TopaInka @44: “You’re still defending Trump after the horror he’s done in Iran?”
The horrors in Iran? You mean the protestors gunned down in broad daylight? You mean the youths strung up from cranes with their bodies left hanging to frighten other Iranian citizens into silence? There were definitely “horrors” in Iran, but they were not done by President Trump. Direct your justifiable rage at the Cardboard Ayatollah.
The IRGC/theocracy stages Death to America rallies, builds long distance missiles (while lying about it), and pursues uranium enrichment far beyond the level needed for nuclear power. And they have a religious belief that welcomes Armageddon. It is not surprising that eventually someone in the US was going to take them seriously and destroy Iran’s nuclear capabilities before the IRGC/theocracy could attack the US and trigger a global war. Russia & China are glad about that, which is why they are not actively helping Iran.
Meanwhile, Russia is smiling. All the “Slava Zelensky” short attention span crowd who used to rail against Russia have been totally distracted by the events in Iran. The peace & quiet for Russia is a bonus while it gets on with its own war in the Ukraine — a war which (like all wars) is filled with genuine “horrors”.
Posted by: Gavin Longmuir | Apr 13 2026 19:05 utc | 60
Indeed the Cult of Helmerology shows a strange mindset; notable that they don’t wish to proselytise over at Andrei Martyanov’s blog, wonder why that might be?
Somewhat surprising that, so far, we haven’t had the wailing, gnashing of teeth and rending of garments from the usual suspects about how the change of admin in Hungary is somehow a “defeat for Putin”.
Anyway, nothing has changed yet re: Hungary’s approach to Ukraine, with less than warm comments from Mr. Magoo about the prospect of the €90 billion financial package, along with some mild sabre-rattling over the fate of the Hungarian minority population in Transcarpathia, who have been on the receiving end of the less than tender mercies of the TCC press-gangs, but nevertheless gave a good account of themselves in dissuading the TCC from trying to repeat the effort.
For the EU, it is looking like “Meet the new Hungarian boss, he might not be so different from the old boss as you first hoped”, especially as the Ukrainians are still playing silly beggars with the Druzhba pipeline issue.
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Apr 13 2026 19:06 utc | 61
Somewhat surprising that, so far, we haven’t had the wailing, gnashing of teeth and rending of garments from the usual suspects about how the change of admin in Hungary is somehow a “defeat for Putin”.
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Apr 13 2026 19:06 utc | 62
Judging by media reactions it kind of is. And in the Iran thread yesterday, (Iran, of course), they were trying to figure out a way to blame Putin, but could not figure it out yet. Just wait for their god Helmer to hand down the talking points on stone tablets, about how Putin failed to stop Orban from being ousted, or how Putin failed to protect Orban, or how it’s because Putin made Russia a joke in the eyes of the west, and we’ll be regaled with such fine wisdom on the subject, I am sure.
The Helmertards are retards; they dont stop trying the same thing expecting different results.
So, in case you missed it and lived under a rock the last 4 yrs – Ukraine is no joke.
Posted by: Responsible Ant | Apr 13 2026 19:42 utc | 63
Looks like I’m not the only one:
“The Hungarian position on Ukraine is not disappearing anywhere.”
https://news-pravda.com/world/2026/04/13/2235614.html
Some excerpts:
[…] Yes, the government is changing, but the Hungarian position on Ukraine is not disappearing significantly.
Russia’s relations with Hungary are likely to become significantly colder on the level of rhetoric, but they will not break off in essence. The new prime minister will be forced to demonstrate a “return to Europe” and loyalty to Brussels. But economics and energy are stronger than slogans. Hungary remains dependent on Russian supplies, including Turkish Stream and projects involving Rosatom. Such things are not nullified by political declarations.
~~~
The situation in Ukraine is also not changing. Peter Magyar has already indicated that he does not support the supply of weapons and accelerated accession of Ukraine to the EU. This means that Budapest’s baseline remains: Hungary is not ready to pay for this conflict. Accordingly, the issue of €90 billion does not disappear anywhere. It will just become less noisy, but no less problematic. By the way, the problem of migration will not go away either — despite all the rhetoric, the Magyar is well aware that borders open to migrants will simply bring down the country’s already weak economy and bury it with them.
And here Brussels really falls into a trap. Orban was a convenient figure to blame for all the sins, now this argument is disappearing. If the money is not coming, then the problem is not in Hungary as such, but in the European model itself, where fatigue from Ukraine is growing and resources are running out.
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Apr 13 2026 19:55 utc | 64
The EU wished to be rid of Orbán, but ignored the saying “Be careful what you wish for”:
Hungary’s victorious Magyar rejected the EU’s €90 billion loan to Ukraine
https://news-pravda.com/world/2026/04/13/2236042.html
Magyar not only supported his predecessor’s position, but also justified it with Hungary’s sovereign right:
I ask all foreign countries to treat Hungary with the same respect that it treats them.
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Apr 13 2026 20:11 utc | 65
And here Brussels really falls into a trap. Orban was a convenient figure to blame for all the sins, now this argument is disappearing. If the money is not coming, then the problem is not in Hungary as such, but in the European model itself, where fatigue from Ukraine is growing and resources are running out.
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Apr 13 2026 19:55 utc | 65
I am actually very curious to see if the money that VdL has been keeping to blackmail Hungary will actually be paid and the miliion-euros-a-day “fine” stopped.
She has a habit of spending other peoples money as she wants, particularly Russian seized assets. So the question of exactly what is left and the effect on EU finances if they have to pay them back with interest, is probably the next “restricted for security reasons” affair they will try to hide.
I remember an interview I saw at the beginning of the war. The reporter was asking a few question about the war to an old Russian woman. I don’t remember exactly how the subject came up but she basically said that Russians were fools to attack Ukraine… because the only things that worked in the USSR came from there.
Posted by: Poglosaurus | Apr 13 2026 20:22 utc | 67
Highly speculative of course, but the thought does occur that something akin to the Putin – Medvedev dynamic could be going on with Orbán and Magyar.
After all, Orbán had been in place for 16 years and some commentary suggests that political fatigue became a major factor in him losing the popular vote. However, something I hadn’t realised was the Tisza party was an offshoot from Orbán’s Fidesz movement, so Magyar may not be the change the EU/Soros/NATO elites were seeking, it eventually turns out that, like Medvedev, the continuity of policy direction is not unduly disrupted by Magyar.
What if they weren’t really opponents, but actually partners? Successfully pulling the wool over the eyes of the EU and NATO?
Prove me wrong…
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Apr 13 2026 20:31 utc | 68
Russians were fools to attack Ukraine… because the only things that worked in the USSR came from there.
Posted by: Poglosaurus | Apr 13 2026 20:22 utc | 68
Always worth bearing in mind the time that elapsed between the end of the USSR and the start of the SMO.
Something like 33 years or so…
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Apr 13 2026 20:35 utc | 69
t Russians were fools to attack Ukraine… because the only things that worked in the USSR came from there.
Posted by: Poglosaurus | Apr 13 2026 20:22 utc | 68
The Zaporozhets motor car!
Posted by: The Far Side | Apr 13 2026 20:38 utc | 70
I am actually very curious to see if the money that VdL has been keeping to blackmail Hungary will actually be paid and the miliion-euros-a-day “fine” stopped.
Posted by: Stonebird | Apr 13 2026 20:15 utc | 67
Yes, I share your curiosity about that.
As for tampering with the frozen Russian assets, I continue to believe the ECB has quietly veto’d any moves there, because of the profoundly disastrous consequences for €-valued assets and transactions.
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Apr 13 2026 20:42 utc | 71
All modern politicians, except for General Francisco Franco, have shelf lives.
Orban’s shelf life was over we believe (not sure if there was EU interference), folks may have grown tired and desired new leadership, as will happen with DJT in 2032 or 2036 – so much winning.
Be careful of Magyar though, I believe that he is a Manchurian candidate. In reality a EU sacophant hiding as a moderate. We will see if he opposes the $90B payout to the Little Dictator in Kieve, and continues to purchase RF gas and oil, and still refuses to sell arms and ammo to the UAF.
LOL !
Posted by: tobias cole | Apr 13 2026 20:46 utc | 72
Be careful of Magyar though, I believe that he is a Manchurian candidate.
Posted by: tobias cole | Apr 13 2026 20:46 utc | 73
Possible; I suppose it depends on whether his name appears on particular flight manifests to a certain island, recorded in sensitively-redacted files…
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Apr 13 2026 20:54 utc | 73
Apologies for going way off-topic, just musing if there is a correlation between being mentioned in sensitively-redacted files and visits to the Wailing Wall???
So far I can’t find any reference to Magyar visiting Jerusalem’s feeble pastiche of Stonehenge…
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Apr 13 2026 20:59 utc | 74
Ukraine is the reason why the Soviet Union was a industrialised and technological superpower. Shouldn’t come as a surprise that ukranians can punch way above their weight
Posted by: Dear Benito | Apr 13 2026 21:30 utc | 75
Ukraine is the reason why the Soviet Union was a industrialised and technological superpower. Shouldn’t come as a surprise that ukranians can punch way above their weight
Posted by: Dear Benito | Apr 13 2026 21:30 utc | 76
So what happened to Ukraine’s technological prowess between, say, 1991 and 2022? Should we compare Russian and Ukrainian technical prowess between those dates?
For example, we could compare Russia’s modernisation and expansion of the Moscow Metro system with Ukraine grappling with expensive repairs to subsidence of the Kiev Metro tunnels caused by the maintenance budget vanishing into the murky and corrupt “contract” process. Major closures are needed for key central sections of the Metro in Kiev, if the repairs can actually be afforded, and if the workforce necessary hasn’t been “mobilised”.
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Apr 13 2026 21:41 utc | 76
J R-L…Magyar gave a TV interview actually indicating that as EU had allowed -permitted certain decisions re budgets , the 90b, that these still stand and could not be revisited….hmmmm. Still also seemed to be an indication that Russia was not the complete enemy , although the more firming up Polish influence might change that…?
Posted by: Jo | Apr 13 2026 23:05 utc | 77
Magyar gave a TV interview actually indicating that as EU had allowed -permitted certain decisions re budgets , the 90b, that these still stand and could not be revisited….hmmmm. Still also seemed to be an indication that Russia was not the complete enemy , although the more firming up Polish influence might change that…?
Saw all that too. Maybe just a negotiating tactic poland good guess. The blubbering love from all the EUcrats speaks way louder than anything he says.
Back to Ukraine proper, it’s bizarre that the Saturday evening had a more significant per hour impact than the Sunday.
rounded numbers
saturday 800 AFU casualties looked a lot like the missing third had equivalent reduction compared to a low ish 1.200 day
sunday with almost 400… a bit too much
and Tass had several articles about truce violations…
Posted by: Newbie | Apr 14 2026 0:08 utc | 79
It’s time pro Russia people be honest about the SMO and self criticize.
It was as incompetent and unplanned as Trump’s stupid war on Iran.
The Kiev offensive (and subsequent retreat) wasn’t a “diversion” but an objective military failure and a failure to meet objectives. As was the retreats from Kharkov and abandonment of Kherson later in 2022.
~100K troops is an extreme underestimation of force needed to fight Ukraine, a relatively near peer military to Russia’s. And Russia itself stated it retreated because it didn’t have enough forces to hold lines for example at Kharkov 2022.
And the decade long American intention to turn Ukraine into a future quagmire for Russia worked hook, line, and sinker. Russia has lost immense amounts of global influence and allies for a war where they likely won’t even gain Odessa or Kharkov, and has gone on for far longer than it should have. This war has exceeded Russia’s participation in WW1, Russia’s participation in WW2, and if it really goes on “until 2030” like some people claim it might, then it will possibly also catch up to the Soviet War in Afghanistan.
Lastly there isn’t even any clear objectives for Russia. The handling of this war has ensured animosity between Russia and Ukraine for decades to come. It firmly delivered Ukraine into the hands of Azov far more openly now than before and has entrenched them. And because it likely won’t even reach the Dniper, it won’t “demilitarize” Ukraine either. So the intitial casus belli of “Denazification and Demilitarization” are completely out of the picture. Protecting Donbass? This war has way too many fronts, way too much investment, and so on to just be about Donbass – and Putin didn’t do anything about Donbass for nearly a decade between 2014 and 2022.
I am being more objective here. Many actual Russian pro-Russians in Russian language telegram channels are far more “blackpilled”, saying that Russia is gonna straight up lose the war and Ukraine will eventually win (which is ultra blackpilled nonsense that’s also common on the Ukrainian side also, saying that Ukraine is about to collapse – an unlikely but more likely outcome than the other blackpill)
This war, the Maidan crew, the atrocities in Donbass, the formation of Azovism, etc could’ve all been prevented or stopped in its infancy – at far lower cost – in 2013/2014 with Russian intelligence and soft power contesting the West’s before/during Maidan.
Posted by: FORTRESS MAXXING | Apr 14 2026 0:43 utc | 80
Posted by: FORTRESS MAXXING | Apr 14 2026 0:43 utc | 81
Hello new Member. I too love russia but think Putin has no balls. I also am Russian and say we need a good strong leader who will nuke America and make the world afraid of Russia again. Be careful of sock accounts by the way. it’s a bannable offense here, and people use them all the time to spread lies about Putin like he helped the Donbass and fight off Ukraine and cares about russians, and is not a zionist. Pernicious lies only smart people like you and me could see through.
This war, the Maidan crew, the atrocities in Donbass, the formation of Azovism, etc could’ve all been prevented or stopped in its infancy – at far lower cost – in 2013/2014 with Russian intelligence and soft power contesting the West’s before/during Maidan.
Posted by: FORTRESS MAXXING | Apr 14 2026 0:43 utc | 81
I respectfully disagree. If Putin had just simply nuked Lvov and kiev and Mariupol, war over, Russian lives saved. World respects Russia again. Soft power is for soft men who pray to oligarchs like Putin. The world only understands nuclear weapons, as has been shown by World war II.
Of course. Christ is our example:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogxEVQjSmpQ&list=RDogxEVQjSmpQ&index=1
Posted by: Luis | Apr 14 2026 1:31 utc | 83
Below is from a Xinhuanet posting about what the new president of Hungary said which somewhat conflicts with other reporting, IMO
On Ukraine, Magyar said Hungary does not support accelerated EU accession, arguing that it is not feasible to admit “a country at war” and stressing that all candidates must follow the full accession process. He added that any future decision on Ukraine’s membership will be subject to a referendum, which is unlikely in the near term.
On the EU’s proposed 90-billion-euro (105 billion U.S. dollars) loan package for Ukraine, Magyar said Hungary had already secured an opt-out under a December European Council decision, signaling that Hungary will not maintain its previous blocking stance.
Hungary should remain outside the scheme due to its difficult economic situation and focus on securing EU funds already allocated to it, he added.
On Russia, Magyar said Europe may reconsider its sanctions against Russia once the conflict in Ukraine ends, arguing that higher energy costs undermine competitiveness. Meanwhile, he said Hungary will seek to diversify its energy sources and procure oil and gas “from as many places as possible.”
He also pledged swift action to unlock around 20 billion euros (23 billion dollars) in frozen EU funds, and outlined a series of reforms aimed at meeting European Commission requirements to unfreeze them, including anti-corruption measures, restoring judicial independence, ensuring media freedom, and strengthening academic autonomy.
Posted by: psychohistorian | Apr 14 2026 4:16 utc | 84
J R-L @77
On the Ukraine economy,
Yes, indeed.
The historian Renfrey Clarke has stated in an interview — In researching this book I found a 1992 Deutsche Bank study arguing that of all the countries into which the U.S.S.R. had just been divided, it was Ukraine that had the best prospects for success. To most Western observers at the time, that would have seemed indisputable.
Ukraine had been one of the most industrially developed parts of the Soviet Union. It was among the key centres of Soviet metallurgy, of the space industry and of aircraft production. (Courtesy of investment by Moscow.) It had some of the world’s richest farmland and its population was well-educated even by Western European standards.
Add in privatisation and the free market, the assumption went, and within a few years Ukraine would be an economic powerhouse, its population enjoying first-world levels of prosperity.
Fast-forward to 2021, the last year before Russia’s “Special Military Operation,” and the picture in Ukraine was fundamentally different. The country had been drastically de-developed, with large, advanced industries (aerospace, car manufacturing, shipbuilding) essentially shut down.
World Bank figures show that in constant dollars, Ukraine’s 2021 Gross Domestic Product was down from the 1990 level by 38 percent. If we use the most charitable measure, per capita GDP at Purchasing Price Parity, the decline was still 21 percent. That last figure compares with a corresponding increase for the world as a whole of 75 percent.
To make some specific international comparisons, in 2021 the per capita GDP of Ukraine was roughly equal to the figures for Paraguay, Guatemala and Indonesia.
What went wrong? Western analysts have tended to focus on the effects of holdovers from the Soviet era, and in more recent times, on the impacts of Russian policies and actions. My book takes these factors up, but it’s obvious to me that much deeper issues are involved.
In my view, the ultimate reasons for Ukraine’s catastrophe lie in the capitalist system itself, and especially, in the economic roles and functions that the “centre” of the developed capitalist world imposes on the system’s less-developed periphery.
Quite simply, for Ukraine to take the “capitalist road” was the wrong choice. Or to put it another way, the ousted president Yanukovych was correct to reject the economic terms offered by the EU in 2014, and go for the more favourable Russian offer.The coup that followed resulted in Ukraine degrading from independence and prosperity to being a colony of Western imperialism. With its new vassal status, it had no option to being used as a pawn to provoke Russia.
Posted by: nuther steve | Apr 14 2026 5:37 utc | 85
Cheers psycho for posting more details re Magyar.. also the western media journalists were so full of glee that they were pushing their agenda and perspectives forward and finding the situation was not quite as they were wishing or thought…evil Putin well deserving Ukraine.
Posted by: Jo | Apr 14 2026 7:23 utc | 86
It’s time pro Russia people be honest about the SMO and self criticize.
Lol that “time” has lasted more than four years. We the terrible “Putin versteers” have been asked from day 1 to self-criticize about the Nazi genocide in Donbass, the Azov slaughter spree in Bucha, etc. etc.
It’s exactly like the old “I used to be a supporter of X [Corbyn, Putin, Maduro, just anyone] but now I’ve seen the light and got intelligent and critical”.
Posted by: Avtonom | Apr 14 2026 7:36 utc | 87
Quite simply, for Ukraine to take the “capitalist road” was the wrong choice. Or to put it another way, the ousted president Yanukovych was correct to reject the economic terms offered by the EU in 2014, and go for the more favourable Russian offer.The coup that followed resulted in Ukraine degrading from independence and prosperity to being a colony of Western imperialism. With its new vassal status, it had no option to being used as a pawn to provoke Russia.
Posted by: nuther steve | Apr 14 2026 5:37 utc | 86
Excellent summary
Posted by: jpc | Apr 14 2026 12:36 utc | 88
While people speak of stalemate, Russia advances (and the advance slowly accelerates year over year): https://xcancel.com/LajosPhd9236/status/2042928516690256168#m
Posted by: Nobody Special | Apr 14 2026 12:54 utc | 89
Posted by: Newbie | Apr 12 2026 10:15 utc | 47 Posted by: Newbie | Apr 12 2026 12:08 utc | 4
The exchange ratio’s are a lot closer to 1 to 1 than the ratios you have been using. People are now counting the dead and wounded in all the drone videos they can get their hands on. That includes, where they can, revisiting the scene later to see if anyone moved to get a handle on the KIA – WIA ratio.
Posted by: ed4 | Apr 14 2026 13:00 utc | 90
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2oVi4ssQ7w
WTF? Grab Donbas and it’s over? That’s it? What about other areas – and Odessa?
Posted by: Eighthman | Apr 14 2026 15:18 utc | 91
The historian Renfrey Clarke has stated in an interview — In researching this book I found a 1992 Deutsche Bank study arguing that of all the countries into which the U.S.S.R. had just been divided, it was Ukraine that had the best prospects for success. To most Western observers at the time, that would have seemed indisputable.
Posted by: nuther steve | Apr 14 2026 5:37 utc | 86
Thank you for introducing me to Renfrey Clarke, not a name I was previously familiar with. I’m guessing this: https://www.resistancebooks.com/product/the-catastrophe-of-ukrainian-capitalism-how-privatisation-dispossessed-impoverished-the-ukrainian-people-pdf-download/ is the book referred to.
While searching him out I found this piece from May 2014: https://truthout.org/articles/the-economic-plans-of-the-kiev-government-will-spell-ruin-for-a-great-many-in-ukraine/ that already sounds an alarm about the theme he developed in his book.
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Apr 14 2026 15:39 utc | 92
Schrödinger’s €90 billion?
The European Commission has postponed plans to provide Kyiv with the first tranches of the €90 billion loan until the second half of 2026, a European Commission spokesperson said.
It is becoming increasingly clear that Orbán’s recent clash with Brussels was merely a pretext for keeping Kyiv under control without spending too much on its support.
The uncertain future of the loan to Kyiv had previously been hinted at by Ms. Kallas, who clearly knew that Hungary would soon become more “convenient.
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Apr 14 2026 17:35 utc | 93
[…] at this stage, the EU remains to adopt three more documents: to finalize the Memorandum of Understanding, which will become the basis of the macro-financial assistance channel within this package; to update Ukraine’s Plan within the framework of the Ukraine Facility mechanism, through which the EU is going to provide budget support to Ukraine; as well as to prepare a loan agreement.
Quoted from: https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2026/04/14/8030111/ via translation add-on.
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Apr 14 2026 17:40 utc | 94
Jamarl Thomas: Mark Sleboda: ‘Victor Orban Falls’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1ya9TpbirI
“What this means for Europe, Russia Ukraine war?”
Posted by: John Gilberts | Apr 14 2026 17:50 utc | 95
Something very interesting happened yesterday.
Four of our Tu-22M3 strategic bombers launched eight X-22/32 cruise missiles at a target in the village of Prikolotnoe, in the Kharkiv region.
All the missiles struck and destroyed several targets in the village, and at the same time, several of our reconnaissance UAVs were also in the area.
Locals reported hearing very loud explosions.
Such attacks using expensive missiles against targets near the front lines are extremely rare. Prikolotnoe is located just 16 km from the front lines. Furthermore, the enemy air force did not mention this attack in its report.
https://news-pravda.com/world/2026/04/14/2238483.html
Certainly is unusual to see this so close to the front. The Tu-22s are normally only seen as part of the mass “set-piece” strikes, that also can include MiG-31Ks and Tu-95s all launching various missile payloads across Ukraine.
Wonder what was targetted?
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Apr 14 2026 18:08 utc | 96
Posted by: ed4 | Apr 14 2026 13:00 utc | 91
actual steady body exchange rates of 1000 : 50 say bullshit.
Attacks during blackouts.
The situation in the western Zaporizhzhia sector continues to deteriorate. Ukrainian forces continue to attempt counterattacks along the Stepnogorsk – Pavlovka line and are pushing the front line toward Kamenskoye . Moreover, there are already reports of small-arms fire between Stepnogorsk and Kamenskoye .
The enemy is consistently pushing through the defenses of Russian units, which have been advancing here since last year. Currently, the Russian Armed Forces risk losing all progress made in advancing toward Zaporizhzhia .
Ukrainian forces in this sector benefit from their complete superiority in drones, the number of trained operators, and the supply of consumables such as drones. The enemy’s transfer of fresh forces to Zaporizhzhia gives rise to expectations of not only a continuation but also an intensification of attacks toward Kamenskoye .
Judging by the enemy’s systematic attacks on Russian air defense systems and the power grid, including the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant , which was cut off from external power, it seems clear that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have far more ambitious plans than simply pushing the Russian Armed Forces away from Konka . This is also supported by the increasing number of UAV attacks on Russian Armed Forces logistics near Melitopol .
Back in early March, the liberation of Veselyanka was announced , although in reality, at best, infiltration groups were approaching it. This is a large settlement by local standards on the southern bank of the Konka River . Rumors are even circulating about Russian attack aircraft advancing toward Zaporozhets , although in reality, there are no Russian Armed Forces anywhere near there.
The “credit line” risks only widening, which raises legitimate concerns. Because worse than an erroneous assessment of the situation are reports diametrically opposed to reality, which lead higher command to make even more serious mistakes.
Posted by: MiniMO | Apr 14 2026 22:46 utc | 98
Attacks during blackouts.
Posted by: MiniMO | Apr 14 2026 22:46 utc | 99
Source please? News of Ukrainian blackouts is usually published by Ukrenergo.
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Apr 14 2026 22:56 utc | 99
Russian continues to expand its control of border territory: https://xcancel.com/AMK_Mapping_/status/2043901087166673240#m
Posted by: Nobody Special | Apr 14 2026 23:55 utc | 100