(Image by NEIVANMADE)
It’s been a long week and I’m approaching fried, so I’m just going to run through the basics tonight. I will include the new Tatarigami and Michael Kofman assessments respectively, as well as the Surkov interview over the next couple of days.
After hammering Odesa and Zaporizhzhia last night, Russia has been pounding on Zaporizhzhia again tonight.
At least seven explosions have been reported in Zaporizhzhia as russia continues its attacks on civilians with waves of drones.
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) March 21, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Russia is attacking Zaporizhzhia right now. At least one of the apartment buildings in the city is on fire
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) March 21, 2025 at 3:48 PM
At least 1 person was killed, and 5 others were injured in russian attack on Zaporizhzhia just now!
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) March 21, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Tragically, among those killed in russian attack on Zaporizhzhia were a 14-year-old girl and her father.
A 9-month-old baby was also injured, according to the head of the Regional Military Administration, Fedorov.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) March 21, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Russia murdered 3 people in Zaporizhzhia tonight. A 14-year-old girl and her father are gone. A normal family, just like yours.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) March 21, 2025 at 8:01 PM
President Zelenskyy addressed the Hope, Struggle, Return – Three Years conference today. Video below, English transcript after the jump.
Address by the President of Ukraine to the Participants of the Conference “Hope, Struggle, Return – Three Years”
21 March 2025 – 19:39
I wish you good health!
And greetings to all of you – participants of the Conference, and everyone helping to release people from captivity.
This Wednesday brought very good news for all of us in Ukraine – 197 more of our people were brought home from Russian captivity. The hundreds of thousands of joyful posts on social media, and all the media coverage about the return of our men, show just how much Ukrainians await and honor their people, how happy we are to see our people come back.
We remember every single person who is in captivity – all our service members and all our civilians. We are searching for information and confirmation about everyone who may be held captive by the Russians, but on whom there is no definite information yet. And it is always a moment of joy when we manage to find someone and bring them home.
For more than three years now, nearly the entire duration of this war, our Coordination Headquarters – all the services working to bring our prisoners home – has been operating. Over four thousand people have already been returned – 4,306. And we will bring everyone back.
All my negotiations, every meeting with our partners who can help, always include the issue of our Ukrainian prisoners. Now, as we speak with the American side and other partners about how to bring the war to an end, the release of prisoners is one of the very first key steps we discuss. We believe this is something that must definitely happen. I thank all our partners who support us in this effort – and everyone in Ukraine and around the world who keeps the issue of prisoners on the public agenda.
I also ask all of you to remember that each person we release is, in fact, a feat of those on the front line who replenish our exchange fund. I want to thank all our warriors for such bravery. And please, I ask you not to forget that bringing people home should not be the end of caring for those who were in captivity. It is a duty of all levels of government – and of every person who is simply able to help.
Today, I want to thank everyone involved in this team effort – the Office of the President, the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, the Security Service of Ukraine, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ombudsman, and all others whose efforts bring Ukrainians home. We always bring our people back – and that is one of the most important principles of our state. That’s how it is, and that’s how it will be. Thank you!
Glory to Ukraine!
He also had a meeting with President Pavl of the Czech Republic followed by a joint press conference.
Georgia:
Day 114: three permanent student protesters have just been detained over putting A CHAIR in front of the Parliament, on a pavement. This night, the police also fought with them over duvets. And it was raining hard.
#terrorinGeorgia #GeorgiaProtests
📷 Ekaterine Demetradze— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) March 21, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Look at the regime police sneaking himself behind the guy who simply stood there and asked why it was illegal to put a chair on the pavement (by permanent student protesters who got detained over it). The guy was detained too. #TerrorinGeorgia
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) March 21, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Exactly.
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) March 21, 2025 at 1:52 PM
As a sign of resistance, students lit pyrotechnics (now forbidden) and brought plastic chairs to their overnight protest.
Today, police snatched two students for bringing chairs and arrested another for ironic clapping.
Day 114 of nonstop protests. Rustaveli is blocked. ✅
— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) March 21, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Students and the mothers of political prisoners, spending their fourth night in front of the parliament, in cold and rain. #GeorgiaProtests
— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) March 21, 2025 at 1:59 PM
People brought chairs at the protest, accompanied by the very vulgar anti-regime chant, in support of permanent student protesters who were detained over a chair. The students had been through the rainiest night and had to battle for a duvet too. #GeorgiaProtests
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) March 21, 2025 at 2:30 PM
David Khomeriki was arrested by the police on December 2, 2024, for participating in protests.
The prosecution accuses him of possessing a Molotov cocktail. Khomeriki pleads not guilty and faces a prison sentence of 4 to 7 years.
#TerrorinGeorgia
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Among the incidents are cases of physical attacks, obstruction of journalistic activities, equipment confiscation and fines involving Publika journalists: Aleksandre Keshelashvili, Basti Mgaloblishvili, Natia Leverashvili, Natia Amiranashvili, Mindia Gabadze, and Ana Mskhaladze.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) March 21, 2025 at 5:35 AM
Ireland:
A Russian-linked ship, who recently fled Irish air force after being caught red-handed with its anchor down in a cable heavy area, is again spotted of the Irish coast.
Surveilled by numerous units.
I believe not on AIS, but unsure as I do not know ID.
www.thejournal.ie/a-russian-li…
— auonsson (@auonsson.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 3:55 PM
bsky.app/profile/puca…
— auonsson (@auonsson.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Germany:
Reports say Germany seized the Russian tanker “Eventin” from the “shadow fleet” along with 100,000 tons of crude oil worth 40 million euros. The vessel, adrift near Rügen since January, and its cargo are now German property.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) March 21, 2025 at 7:53 AM
The EU:
EU aims to outmatch Russia militarily in 5 years, — Reuters. Tusk: by 2030, Europe will have full defense. Rutte estimates Russia needs 5 years to recover from Ukraine. No attack expected, but readiness is key.
www.reuters.com/world/europe…— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) March 21, 2025 at 2:59 PM
From Reuters:
BRUSSELS, March 21 (Reuters) – European Union leaders are now in agreement that the EU must be fully capable of defending itself against a Russian attack by 2030, despite earlier resistance to the deadline from some countries, Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Friday.
Europe is dramatically stepping up spending on defence because of concern that the United States, which had guaranteed Europe’s security since the end of World War Two, was no longer keen to do so, shifting its attention to the Indo-Pacific.
But not all EU countries are equally committed to higher defence spending, especially those geographically further from Russia.
Speaking after a summit of EU leaders that discussed the EU plan to step up defence readiness, Tusk said countries now spending less than others on defence had been reluctant to accept the five-year scheme proposed by the European Commission.
“Behind the scenes… it stirred some emotions. Especially in countries that spend little on defence now.
There are several large countries that still spend very little. And they don’t want to spend more. For now,” Tusk told a press conference.
NATO member Spain spent 1.28% of GDP on defence in 2024 and Italy spent 1.49%, falling well short of the agreed NATO target of 2% of GDP, despite three years of war in Ukraine and U.S. pressure to further raise the NATO defence spending target.
Slovenia, Belgium and Portugal also spend between 1.29% and 1.55% of GDP on defence. Italy plans to increase military spending to 1.6% of GDP in 2027, while Spain wants to reach NATO’s spending target of 2% of GDP only before 2029.
“Our position, shared with Denmark and Sweden, was that the more Russia has the advantage today, the more we have to hurry. We finally accepted, as the European Council, this commitment that by 2030 Europe must obtain full defence capabilities,” Tusk said. “By 2030 Europe must be, in terms of army, weapons, technology, clearly stronger than Russia. And it will be.”
Tusk said the five-year deadline corresponded to analysis by NATO head Mark Rutte that this was the amount of time Europe had before Russia rebuilt its offensive capabilities, after losses suffered in Ukraine, sufficiently to be ready to attack Europe.
He made clear this did not mean Europe expected an attack by Russia in 2030.
“It is key that Europe be really capable to defend itself and deter Putin,” Tusk said. “Or, it is less about defending and more about showing through facts, decisions, that Putin’s Russia does not stand a chance against Europe that is united and well-armed. It is the only effective method to avoid a war.”
The US:
Journalist: Russia keeps attacking Ukraine, any sanctions?
Trump: Well, they’re just fighting each other.— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) March 21, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Strategic jeenuus!
Back to Ukraine.
Himars strike on the Russian BM-27 Uragan 220mm MLRS.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) March 21, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Precise strike on the Russian BUK-M1 air defence system. t.me/Khortytsky_w…
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) March 21, 2025 at 9:42 AM
Kharkiv:
I hate that I have to keep asking for your retweets and donations to our cause, but unfortunately, I need to ask once again, please retweet and donate
Our team in Kharkiv consistently repairs and delivers engineering equipment and various mobility vehicles to Ukraine
www.paypal.com/donate?campa…
— Constantine (@teoyaomiquu.bsky.social) March 21, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Odesa:
Among other things, Russia attacked the cemetery in Odessa last night. Nothing is sacred for these bastards.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) March 21, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Zaporizhzhia and Odesa last night:
Last night, russia injured 9 people with its drones and glide bombs in Zaporizhzhia and Odesa. Among them are 4 children, the youngest is only 4 years old.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) March 21, 2025 at 8:23 AM
The Kursk cross border offensive:
The Ukrainian General Staff announced this morning that the gas pipeline in Sudzha was shelled and blown up by the Russian side, not Ukraine. In other words, this is a Russian provocation.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) March 21, 2025 at 3:22 AM
Saratov Oblast, Russia:
Aftermath of the strike on the Russian ammunition storage at the Engels military airbase x.com/mike_eckel/s…
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) March 21, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Krasnodar Oblast, Russia:
Krasnodar oil depot still blazing strong as it enters day three of its fiery party!
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) March 21, 2025 at 7:45 AM
Since it’s already tomorrow in Russia, if this burns for just four more days we get a new Ukrainian Jewish holiday.
I do NOT make the rules.
That’s enough for tonight.
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Open thread!
AlaskaReader
Thanks Adam
u
Say what you will about Donald Trump, but the man has invented a new kind of cease fire — one in which one side increases it’s murder of civilians on the other side.
Westyny
Thank you, Adam. “Krasnodar” sort of rolls off the tongue to a klezmer tune, doesn’t it?
Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)
Thank you Adam
Nukular Biskits
Been a while since I had time to stop by and read.
As always, Adam, thanks for the hard work.
And, as I was reading a couple of the posts on social media above (specifically, the Constantine post on Bluesky), the thought occurred to me that it’s probably only a matter of time before Trump/Musk demand Congress pass legislation banning American donations to benefit Ukrainian resistance efforts, whether military hardware or just humanitarian aid.
pieceofpeace
Thank you, Adam.
Adam L Silverman
@AlaskaReader: You’re welcome.
Adam L Silverman
@Westyny: You’re welcome.
Adam L Silverman
@Goku (aka Amerikan Baka): You’re welcome.
Adam L Silverman
@Nukular Biskits: And you get a you’re welcome too.
Adam L Silverman
@pieceofpeace: You are also welcome.
Adam L Silverman
Now that everyone is welcome, I can go to bed.
Lums Better Half
If no one mentioned it yesterday, two Ukrainian born wrestlers (Aonishiki and Shishi) have achieved their first winning records at the March sumo tournament.
Jay
Thank you, Adam.
Adam L Silverman
@Jay: You’re welcome.
Bill Arnold
Caught on video recording:
That probably means that the ship (specifically, the bow, for most ships) was being watched.
Medicine Man
Thank you, Adam.
And also thank you for this laugh (didn’t expect one from these threads) — “Since it’s already tomorrow in Russia, if this burns for just four more days we get a new Ukrainian Jewish holiday.”
Gloria DryGarden
@Nukular Biskits: i hope you’re wrong. That would upset me, and a lot of us.
wjca
Probably right. Although, like many of their bits of performance art, it won’t work. This is why God invented shell companies. :-)
sab
@wjca: And Trump just this month suspended the Biden rules requiring shell companies to report their ownership.