(Image by NEIVANMADE)
All of eastern and most of central Ukraine is under air raid alert for drone swarms and glide bombs as of 8:00 PM EDT/2:00 AM local time in Ukraine.
The Russians have been pounding on Ukraine for hours. This is likely in response to reports of Ukrainian strikes into Russian occupied Crimea, another strike on the Engels airfield in Saratov, and unconfirmed reports coming from Russian social media that a Ukrainian element has pushed towards Smolensk, Russia. Which would be the farthest Ukrainian ground incursion if confirmed.
Earlier today, President Zelenskyy delivered a video address to the Council of Europe meeting In Brussels.
The summit of leaders from the 27 European Union member states has begun in Brussels. The President of Ukraine joined online.
“Ukraine urgently needs enhanced air defense systems and funding for artillery shells,” Zelensky said.
t.me/c/1377735387…— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 10:22 AM
Here’s the video:
He also had a meeting and negotiations with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. They held a joint press conference afterwards:
First Lady Zelenska met with the Åland Islands Speaker of Parliament Jørgen Pettersson and members of the islands’ government. The Åland Islands is an autonomous region of Finland. The meeting was to express thanks for their support for her foundation’s efforts to build and restock bomb shelters in Ukrainian schools and kindergartens.
Georgia:
JUST IN: the ECHR registers GYLA’s case regarding the violation of the secrecy of vote in the October 2024 elections in Georgia.
Registration itself is less concerned with the content of an appeal, but we believe and hope that the ECHR will start to consider the case.
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 4:47 AM
🔴 The European Court of Human Rights [@echr.coe.int] has registered a complaint submitted by Georgia’s Young Lawyers’ Association [GYLA] concerning the widespread violation of ballot secrecy during the 2024 parliamentary elections of #Georgia.
#GeorgiaProtests
#GEOElections2024— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) March 20, 2025 at 4:53 AM
Journalist & human rights defender Regina Jegorova-Askerova says she was denied entry to Georgia despite living there for 15 years. She has husband and underage kids in Georgia.
#TerrorinGeorgia
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 5:30 AM
1/ „Human Rights House” responds to the seizure of their accounts by the Prosecutor’s Office and the ongoing investigation. According to the organization, both the investigation conducted by the POG and the decision to impose the seizure are unfounded and illegal.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 5:50 AM
2/ According to the organization:
“This is another deliberate attack by the illegitimate regime of Georgian Dream on human rights organizations and human rights defenders. It is clearly an attempt to further restrict human rights activities in the country.”
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 5:50 AM
3/ “Human Rights House has currently paid 365 administrative fines, totaling 843,747 GEL. Since the spring of 2024, we have received donations amounting to 921,336.99 GEL from hundreds of individuals”.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 5:50 AM
4/ Among them, in the last two months, we have received donations from TBC Bank and Bank of Georgia—a total of 300,000 GEL. Currently, about a hundred individuals have applied for fine payments, and if they fail to pay, their property will be seized.”
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 5:50 AM
5/ On March 17, the Prosecutor’s Office seized the accounts of organizations that raised money through crowdfunding and provided assistance, including to people arrested and fined for participating in protests, as well as their family members.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 5:50 AM
6/ The Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation under several charges, including “sabotage.”
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 5:50 AM
The US:
“The Trump administration could seek to use the plant to help power the extraction of rare and critical minerals that Ukraine holds, according to two senior Ukrainian officials involved in drawing up an agreement with Washington on rare earths and other raw materials.”
— Mary Glantz (@tarheelmary.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 4:49 PM
From The Financial Times:
Donald Trump has raised the possibility of the US taking control of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants, as part of his push to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The president told his Ukrainian counterpart on Wednesday that US expertise could help manage the plants, with American ownership providing “the best protection” for the country’s energy infrastructure, according to a US readout.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy later clarified that their discussion focused solely on a facility currently under Russian control: the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest.
Three years after Russian troops seized the facility, raising fears of a Chernobyl-style disaster in Ukraine, Trump’s proposal has returned it to the spotlight as a potential pillar of a peace deal — one that also seeks to recoup the billions of dollars in US military aid.
Is the US looking to own Ukraine’s atomic power?
It is unclear, but that is what an account of the Trump-Zelenskyy call from secretary of state Marco Rubio and national security adviser Mike Waltz said.
Zelenskyy, on the other hand, said the discussion only touched on Zaporizhzhia and US involvement would be about helping to “recover” the plant, followed by investment and modernisation.
“I said that liberating the plant alone is not enough because it needs infrastructure — water supply, technical personnel and many other steps to ensure that the plant starts generating money and electricity,” Zelenskyy told the FT after the call with Trump.
Speaking in Oslo on Thursday, Zelenskyy was more categorical: “All nuclear power plants belong to the Ukrainian people.”
If the Zaporizhzhia plant “doesn’t belong to Ukraine, it won’t work for anybody,” he vowed.
More at the link.
Rare Earth Metals are no longer hot topic, as the United States now shifts its attention to Ukrainian Nuclear Power Plants.
Could someone clarify how is this supposed to help Ukraine?
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 8:11 AM
I will remind everyone that Trump’s employer/owner Musk and the latter’s script kiddies fired all of this empty suit’s people at the US Department of Energy that manage the US’s nuclear weapons. I’m not really sure he’s capable of assessing what is and is not a problem.
Regardless, we’re back in the same territory we were in after Trump’s call with Putin. The details in the readouts were widely incompatible on everything other than that a phone call had occurred.
Back to Ukraine.
Russian occupied portions of Ukraine:
Art by Nikita Titov
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Putin just signed a decree ordering all Ukrainian citizens in occupied territories to either get Russian citizenship or leave – otherwise, they face forced deportation. 1/
— Maria Avdeeva (@mariainkharkiv.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Russia wants to remove those it sees as “non-loyal” and force others into mobilization. Russia will replace them with those loyal to Moscow, later claiming these lands were never Ukrainian. This tactic has been perfected since the 1930s. Don’t let them get away with it.
— Maria Avdeeva (@mariainkharkiv.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 2:19 PM
FROG!!!!!!!
An unknown new air defense system with R-73 aircraft missiles in service with the Third Assault Brigade of Ukraine. mil.in.ua/uk/news/tret…
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 11:07 AM
From Militarnyi:
The Third Separate Assault Brigade has received a new anti-aircraft missile system with R-73 missiles.
Brigade soldier Maksym Zaichenko said it is designed for short-range action.
“Despite the venerable age of the equipment and limited tactical and technical characteristics, we find opportunities to modernize and implement the latest approaches,” said Zaichenko.
As a result, the brigade managed to create a surface-to-air missile system that successfully performs combat missions to cover units.
The system, based on a classified platform, was adapted for the use of R-73 air-to-air guided missiles from the ground.
The air defense missile has a certain advantage because it works on a “fire and forget” basis, it does not need to be escorted like some other air defense missiles.
This allows the air defense system to immediately change its position after firing, so as not to expose itself to a retaliatory strike.
The R-73 missile, depending on the variant, can engage targets in the front hemisphere at a distance of 20 (RMD-1) to 40 (RMD-2) kilometers, and in the rear hemisphere – up to 300 meters.
This is not the first time in Ukraine that R-73 missiles have been adapted to ground launchers.
Previously, the Come Back Alive Foundation modernized the Osa anti-aircraft missile systems for the Defense Forces as part of the HORNET project.
After the modernization, the systems can operate not only with standard 9M33M3 surface-to-air missiles, which are currently in short supply, but also with R-73 missiles, which Ukraine currently has in abundance.
FROG is Free Rocket Over Ground. Something you launch and forget about.
FPV drone strike on a loaded Russian Bm-21 Grad. t.me/argus38/515
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Odesa:
Odesa is suffering from a massive russian drone attack right now
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Russia is attacking several Ukrainian cities with drones and glide bombs right now ‼️
Odesa on the video.— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 4:02 PM
🇺🇦🔥 The russian enemy is massively attacking Odesa with attack drones!
There is damage to civilian infrastructure, including a residential high-rise, a shopping center and shops.
Three people were injured, including a minor girl.— Vitalis Viva (@vitalisviva.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 6:20 PM
🔥🇺🇦 As a result of the russian attack, powerful fires broke out in three locations. There are also localized emergency power outages.
Air alert continues! There is a possibility of repeated enemy strikes!— Vitalis Viva (@vitalisviva.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Kupyansk, Kharkiv Oblast:
‼️ The governor of Kharkiv Oblast reports a worsening situation in Kupiansk, where russian forces have dropped more than 30 aerial bombs in the past 24 hours.
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 3:39 AM
Russia launched a devastating attack on Kupyansk in the Kharkiv region, unleashing 31 glide bombs. An 86-year-old woman was killed, and numerous homes were reduced to rubble.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Zaporizhzhia Oblast:
Russia struck Zaporizhzhia region with glide bombs, injuring at least 5 people, including a child
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Kharkiv:
About a year ago, Russia struck ‘Factor-Druk,’ a large printing house in Kharkiv, Ukraine. That strike killed 7 people who simply came to work that day, injured 22 others, and destroyed the printing house.
Today, it reopened!
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 12:53 PM
The Kursk cross border offensive:
Enormous torch lights up entire region in Sudzha, Kursk Oblast. According to reports, local gas distribution terminal is on fire 👀
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Russians wanted to cross the river in the Kursk region, but something went wrong again.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Engels Airfield, Saratov Oblast, Russia:
Russian airbase in Engels is a little bit on fire 🔥
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 7:23 AM
🍄/1. Tonight drones targeted Russian military airfield in Engels, Saratov region of Russia. A strong explosion was reported.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 3:19 AM
/2. An ammunition depot at the Russian Engels airbase was attacked
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 3:19 AM
/3. The detonation of ammunition at the Russian military airfield in Engels was so strong that the shock wave blew off the roofs in the area around it.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 3:20 AM
/4. Engels, destruction from shock wave and sounds of strong continuing secondary detonation
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 3:22 AM
/5. Engels, massive expansion at the ammunition storage at the local Russian military airbase
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 3:24 AM
/6. Engels moments before drone attack on the Russian military airfield
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 4:24 AM
The airfield in Engels is still on fire. There is still a fire, explosions, and secondary detonation of ammunition recorded there. Tu-95MS, Tu-22M3, and Tu-160 bombers, along with warehouses containing FAB, KAB, and cruise missiles, are stationed there.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 8:24 AM
There has been speculation that this morning’s Ukrainian strike on the Engels-2 airbase was carried out by the new Ukrainian ‘Long Neptune” cruise missile, but it instead appears to be the work of AN-196 Liutyi long-range strike drones.
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 5:58 AM
Marinovka Airfield, Volgograd Oblast, Russia:
✈️🦅 💥Russians write that a drone attack is underway on the Marinovka military airfield in the Volgograd region
— MAKS 24 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 8:14 PM
That’s enough for tonight.
Your daily Patron!
There are no new Patron skeets or videos today. Here is some adjacent material.
Kapibara relaxes on the prosthesis of Serhiy, a veteran and warrior of the 79th Air Assault Brigade 💙💪
— Vitalis Viva (@vitalisviva.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 10:24 AM
u
A “cease fire” where only one side stops killing people.
J. Arthur Crank
I am sure everyone can get up to speed by watching Dr. Strangelove and a few assorted UTube videos. Also too: they can screen Oppenheimer in the White House theater.
Medicine Man
Really looks like trump and his clown attendants are focused on what plunder they think they can get from Ukraine. I wonder if Putin floated the idea in front of him like dangling keys in front of a toddler; truly pathetic.
And thank you, Adam.
Jay
As always, thank you, Adam.
Adam L Silverman
@J. Arthur Crank:
Adam L Silverman
@Jay: You’re welcome.
SC54HI
Thank you, Adam.
Jay
freonis_ is a bitter, reality based, Ukrainian short animation author that exposes the bullshit in every one of their short video’s.
Yes, you can get English subtitles for the content.
Jay
@Medicine Man:
It’s more that whom ever talked to DJTdiot last with an “idea”, well, the rabid raccoons busy chewing up what little remains of neurons in his brain, ran with it.
Medicine Man
@Jay: President Dunning Kruger sure is fun to watch.
Jay
@Medicine Man:
Not really into horror shows,……..
J. Arthur Crank
@Adam L Silverman: I should rewatch that movie to get caught up on the nuclear, along with all of the memes.
Old School
The Pentagon is set to brief Elon Musk on the U.S. military’s closely guarded plan for any potential war with China, officials said. nyti.ms/41GYSGt
m.j.
I was looking at photos of China’s newest landing craft. I think they’re trying to attempt a sort of blitzkrieg from the sea. They’ve seen what Trump did to Ukraine. Who will save Taiwan?
AJ of the Mustard Search and Rescue Team
Thanks Adam, hope you’re well.
(no reply expected, am unlikely to see future comments on the thread)
AlaskaReader
Thanks Adam
Enhanced Voting Techniques
@Adam L Silverman: Speaking of that, this guy is arguing what really is going on is Trump is just a Time Share Salesman at heart.
youtu.be/3whUbWgNDFA?si=kdO38EM7LPpRTLAK
The TLDR: every time thing start moving on the peace talks, Trump creates an obstacle to get some personal benefit.
Enhanced Voting Techniques
@Old School: Well the good news is Musk is likely to stoned to remember none of it. Still.
Westyny
Thank you, Adam.
YY_Sima Qian
@m.j.: The barge-bridges are designed to send the mass of heavier follow on forces ashore & push beyond the initial beachhead, after the beachhead has already been secured by the 1st & 2nd echelon forces that conducted the amphibious assault. All of this presumes the PLA has established sea & air dominance around Taiwan. These particular vessels are aimed at solving the logistical sustainment challenge posed Taiwan having few beaches amenable to transitional amphibious landing, & its major harbors could prove difficult to seize & may be easily sabotaged.
They show that the CPC regime is serious about achieving the military means to invade Taiwan, with reasonable chance of success, & that the PLA & the PRC MIC is working diligently toward that end. The time marker Xi gave was 2027, but these new concepts are still works in progress & few in number, so probably not relevant until 2030 or later. However, the PRC shipbuilding industry could probably replicate them rapidly & at scale, once the designs & the concept matures.
That does not mean an amphibious invasion will not still be very costly & very risky, nor does it mean that the CPC regime had made any decision to invade on any kind of timeline.
Parfigliano
Whose dumb idea to share military plans regarding China and why? Maybe it’s a trap to catch him passing the plans along to an unauthorized recipient? I can dream….
Enhanced Voting Techniques
@Parfigliano: If one subscribes to the Trump wants sell China a Time Share theory, Trump’s thinking might be along the lines of “Musk will crap his pants at the though of losing his Chines factories, run along and tell the Chines, the Chines will demand a meeting to resolve this Taiwan dispute, and during it I can shake China down for a cool 20 million in bribes to clear up the issue”
prostratedragon
@Parfigliano: My answer to the first question is, “Musk.” That might work for the second as well, if it has an answer.
The Other Bob
I wonder if we will see British and French boots on the ground in Ukraine.