(Image by NEIVANMADE)
The reason:
🇺🇦🫂 Ukrainian soldier evacuates a little girl to a safe place!
— Vitalis Viva (@vitalisviva.bsky.social) March 29, 2025 at 5:41 PM
To quote the IRA: “You have to be lucky all the time. We only have to be lucky once.”
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
A luxury limousine from Putin’s official motorcade has reportedly exploded just blocks from FSB headquarters in Moscow,russia. Putin wasn’t inside it.
— 24Hours Ukraine (@24hoursukraine.bsky.social) March 29, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Meanwhile, in Russia’s Murmansk, before dictator Putin’s arrival, the Federal Guard Service is searching the honor guard for explosives. Nervous much?
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) March 29, 2025 at 5:27 AM
Here is President Zelenskyy’s address from earlier today. Video below, English transcript after the jump.
Partners Should Understand: These Russian Strikes Are Not Just on Civilians, but on International Efforts – Address by the President
29 March 2025 – 20:39
Dear Ukrainians!
First of all, today I would like to thank the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, all our municipal services involved after the Russian shelling. Thank you to the National Police of Ukraine, and medical workers – thousands of people are on duty every day and night to protect lives.
Today, in Dnipro alone, nearly 250 of our people were involved in responding to the aftermath of the Russian drone strike – all the necessary services.
The same goes for Kryvyi Rih and other cities and communities of ours that come under attack. Everywhere, the State Emergency Service, all emergency and special services are working to provide assistance. I am grateful to everyone who saves lives and supports our people – it is extremely important.
Last night alone, Russia launched 172 strike drones – over 100 of them were Shaheds. These massive drone attacks have now become a near-daily reality. On top of that, there are continued missile threats, including ballistic ones.
Our partners should clearly understand: these strikes are not just attacks on Ukrainian civilians, but also on all international efforts – on the very diplomacy we are trying to use to end this war. Russia is striking at the positions of everyone who wants to end this war. It is impossible to ignore hundreds of Shaheds every night. We expect a response – a serious one. We are working toward a response. A strong response is urgently needed – above all from the U.S., from Europe, from everyone in the world who has placed their bets on diplomacy. Russia must be forced into peace – only pressure will work.
For far too long, the U.S. proposal for an unconditional ceasefire has been on the table – without a proper response from Russia. That says a lot. There could already have been a ceasefire – if there had been real pressure on Russia. I would like to thank those partners who understand this and are pushing the necessary decisions forward – including new sanctions.
Today I spoke with Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi about the situation on the front lines, including areas where our forces are operating on Russian territory. We are maintaining active operations that prevent the occupier from advancing into the Sumy and Kharkiv regions. I am grateful to all our units for their resilience – from the Kursk region to the southern directions.
I want to give special recognition today for their frontline effectiveness to our 225th Separate Assault Regiment, as well as the warriors of the 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade. Also, to the Special Operations Forces for their highly effective actions in eliminating the enemy. And to the 35th Separate Marine Brigade for their efficiency in battles in the Pokrovsk sector.
Thank you all, warriors! You are the real deal! I am grateful to everyone who helps our army, works at all our defense enterprises, and provides for the army. I am grateful to everyone who tells the world the truth about what is happening in Ukraine. Ukraine’s strong positions in everything, effective work for our country is what helps bring peace closer the most.
Thank you all! Glory to Ukraine!
Georgia:
#GeorgiaProtests
Day 122— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) March 29, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Day 122. Women march against regime repressions, including violence against female inmates.
“Women against the regime! You won’t scare us women!”
It seems like instead of projected “protests slowing down,” we are growing strong these days. Of course we are! ✊🏻
#GeorgiaProtests
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) March 29, 2025 at 1:59 PM
📷 Giorgi Mumladze
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) March 29, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Nika Gvaramia said that policemen stripped Helen Khoshtaria naked, tied her hands, forced her to lie on the bed, and checked her naked body with a metal detector. The MIA claims she was aggressive and that procedures were “carried out in full compliance with the law.”
#TerrorinGeorgia
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) March 29, 2025 at 10:58 AM
The MIA also claims that during the inspection, Khoshtria was „allegedly found in possession of an illegal substance, which has been sent for examination”.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) March 29, 2025 at 11:08 AM
About Elene Khoshtaria.
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) March 29, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Elene has been released! Thank you all so very much! We must, however, stay vigilant about her case!
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) March 29, 2025 at 12:30 PM
“We demand new elections”—a 100-kilometer protest march has started from Dmanisi to Tbilisi. The marchers will join the Tbilisi protest on March 31, the day of the Georgian independence referendum.
#GeorgiaProtests
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) March 29, 2025 at 3:36 AM
Moscow on the Potomac:
A government that is completely & utterly high on its own supply. “The Trump administration has sent a letter to some large companies in the EU warning them to comply with an executive order banning diversity, equity and inclusion programmes.” www.ft.com/content/02ed…
— Shashank Joshi (@shashj.bsky.social) March 29, 2025 at 4:43 PM
From The Financial Times:
The Trump administration has sent a letter to some large companies in the EU warning them to comply with an executive order banning diversity, equity and inclusion programmes.
The letter, sent by the American embassy in Paris and others around the EU, said that Donald Trump’s executive order applied to companies outside the US if they were a supplier or service provider to the American government, according to three people familiar with the matter.
The embassies also sent a questionnaire that ordered the companies to attest to their compliance. The document, which the Financial Times has seen, is titled “Certification regarding compliance with applicable federal anti-discrimination law”.
The document said: “Department of State contractors must certify that they do not operate any programs promoting DEI that violate any applicable anti-discrimination laws and agree that such certification is material for purposes of the government’s payment decision and therefore subject to the False Claims Act.”
The letter was also sent out by US diplomats in eastern EU states and Belgium, the people said.
The documents appear to signal that the Trump administration is widening its campaign against DEI to foreign companies after launching a crackdown against US media groups such as Disney.
A senior banker in Paris said he was shocked by the letter. “It’s crazy . . . but everything is now possible. The rule of the strongest now prevails.”
“American interference in the inclusion policies of French companies — such as threats of unjustified tariffs — is unacceptable,” the French foreign trade ministry said in a statement.
“France and Europe will defend their companies, their consumers, and also their values.”
The existence of the letter was first reported by Les Échos newspaper.
The extraterritorial move may not be enforceable according to initial legal assessments, so some executives and their advisers have decided not to respond for now, said two of the people.
It comes amid escalating tensions between the Trump administration and Europe over economic and security policy as America pivots away from its traditional allies, especially on trade and Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Trump this week imposed an additional 25 per cent levy on auto sector imports into the US and has increased tariffs on European steel and aluminium imports. The EU is working on reciprocal tariffs in response, but has not yet decided which products to target.
Trump officials’ attitude towards Europe was cast into stark relief this week when messages about US attack plans in Yemen were leaked to American media. “I just hate bailing Europe out again,” vice-president JD Vance wrote in a Signal chat group. “It’s PATHETIC,” responded defence secretary Pete Hegseth.
More at the link.
This isn’t going to work the way Trump and his team think it will. It’s just another empty threat from one of the two most empty men on the planet (the other being Trump’s owner/employer Musk).
The following won’t either.
‘Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has reoriented the U.S. military to prioritize deterring China’s seizure of Taiwan and shoring up homeland defense by “assuming risk” in Europe and other parts of the world, according to a secret internal guidance memo’ www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec…
— Shashank Joshi (@shashj.bsky.social) March 29, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Hugely important. ‘Hegseth’s guidance acknowledges that the US is unlikely to provide substantial, if any, support to Europe in the case of Russian military advances, noting that Washington intends to push NATO allies to take primary defense of the region’ www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec…
— Shashank Joshi (@shashj.bsky.social) March 29, 2025 at 4:49 PM
If deterrence fails, you cannot then deter. That’s logically incoherent.
I think it is entirely reasonable for Hegseth to prioritise Asia. But attacking European allies, threatening to annex Canada & Greenland, all while throwing concessions at Russia are not sensible or coherent ways to do this. bsky.app/profile/shas…
— Shashank Joshi (@shashj.bsky.social) March 29, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Back to Ukraine.
How are the truce talks going?
Expecting a breakthrough was “naive,” Karasin said, and it will first require a breakthrough “on the ground” — meaning Russian military victories or a collapse of the Zelensky government in Kyiv.
— Yaroslav Trofimov (@yarotrof.bsky.social) March 29, 2025 at 3:18 AM
Russia’s purpose in engaging the US was to achieve sanctions relief and a halt on damaging attacks on its energy infrastructure to bolster its war effort, not achieve peace. It still thinks it can win.
Trump has been well and truly played by the Kremlin.
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) March 29, 2025 at 4:22 AM
This was so obviously predictable that I predicted it here.
Russia has used “peace” talks with US to wring out sanctions relief and a halt on damaging attacks on its energy facilities. Meanwhile, Putin is gearing up for fresh ground offensives.
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) March 29, 2025 at 4:44 AM
From the AP:
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian forces are preparing to launch a fresh military offensive in the coming weeks to maximize pressure on Ukraine and strengthen the Kremlin’s negotiating position in ceasefire talks, Ukrainian government and military analysts said.
The move could give Russian President Vladimir Putin every reason to delay discussions about pausing the fighting in favor of seeking more land, the Ukrainian officials said this week, renewing their country’s repeated arguments that Russia has no intention of engaging in meaningful dialogue to end the war.
With the spring fighting season drawing near, the Kremlin is eyeing a multi-pronged push across the 1,000-kilometer (621-mile) front line, according to the analysts and military commanders.
Citing intelligence reports, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia is getting ready for new offensives in the northeast in the Sumy, Kharkiv and Zaporizizhia regions.
“They’re dragging out the talks and trying to get the U.S. stuck in endless and pointless discussions about fake ‘conditions’ just to buy time and then try to grab more land,” Zelenskyy said Thursday in a visit to Paris.
Two G7 diplomatic officials in Kyiv agreed with that assessment. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the press.
Russia has effectively rejected a U.S. proposal for an immediate and full 30-day halt in the fighting, and the feasibility of a partial ceasefire on the Black Sea was thrown into doubt after Kremlin negotiators imposed far-reaching conditions.
Ukrainian military commanders said Russia recently stepped up attacks to improve its tactical positions ahead of the expected broader offensive.
“They need time until May, that’s all,” said Ukrainian military analyst Pavlo Narozhnyi, who works with soldiers and learns about intelligence from them.
In the north, Russian and North Korean soldiers have nearly deprived Kyiv of an essential bargaining chip by retaking most of Russia’s Kursk region, where Ukrainian soldiers staged a daring incursion last year. Battles have also escalated along the eastern front in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia.
A concern among some commanders is whether Russia might divert battle-hardened forces from Kursk to other parts of the east.
“It will be hard. The forces from Kursk will come on a high from their wins there,” said a Ukrainian battalion commander in the Donetsk region, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe his concerns.
“They are preparing offensive actions on the front that should last from six to nine months, almost all of 2025,” said Ukrainian military analyst Oleksii Hetman, who has connections to the military’s general staff.
Much more at the link.
Russia spent all day hammering Kharkiv:
Kharkiv is shaking from multiple drone strikes
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) March 29, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Kharkiv citizens are spending our Saturday night in the bathrooms or corridors, hiding from Russian drones attacking our city, counting explosions, and hoping the next one won’t be the last sound we ever hear.
Hope your Saturday is going better than ours.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) March 29, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Russia is deliberately targeting residential areas of Kharkiv with drones
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) March 29, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Kharkiv mayor reported at least one person killed in tonight’s russian drone strike on Kharkiv. The attack is still ongoing, and the number may rise.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) March 29, 2025 at 3:31 PM
2 people died.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) March 29, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Explosions keep tearing Kharkiv apart—again and again. One of the drones struck a house, killing two people.
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) March 29, 2025 at 3:39 PM
One of Kharkiv hospitals following tonight’s russian drone attack on the city
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) March 29, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Hospital in Kharkiv. So far, at least 15 civilians are reported injured following a massive russian drone attack.
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) March 29, 2025 at 4:24 PM
The new wave of russian drones is approaching Kharkiv right now‼️ The city was already under attack tonight just hours ago. There are at least one killed person and a lot of injured.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) March 29, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Rescue efforts continue at the strike sites as russia unleashes another wave of drones on Kharkiv. The number of injured in has risen to 27, two people were killed.
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) March 29, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Kharkiv following tonight’s russian drone attack
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) March 29, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Kharkiv tonight
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) March 29, 2025 at 6:19 PM
As of 11:00 PM EDT/6:00 AM local time in Ukraine, the air raid alert for Kharkiv oblast has just gone back up. It’s been on and off for the past two hours. Sumy has been constant, much of central Ukraine had one, Odesa is up again too.
Best truce ever they said. What could go wrong they said.
Kryvyi Rih:
Russians attacked civilians in Kryvyi Rih with a missile. At the moment, five people are known to have been injured.
–Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Administration— Dr. Michael MacKay (@michaelmackay.bsky.social) March 29, 2025 at 6:23 AM
WARNING!! WARNING!! GRAPHIC CONTENT!! WARNING!! WARNING!!
Russia struck Kryvyi Rih with a ballistic missile
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) March 29, 2025 at 8:04 AM
ALL CLEAR!!
Russian occupied Mariupol:
🔥 In temporarily occupied Mariupol, partisans set fire to the invaders’ base in the “Right Bank” area.
✊ The arson occurred on March 23, as a result of which several pieces of Russian equipment and ammunition were destroyed.
— MAKS 24 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) March 29, 2025 at 5:06 AM
Dnipro:
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Sybiha stated in his X post that today’s strike on Dnipro is Putin’s direct response to Trump’s attempts to negotiate peace.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) March 29, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Kupiansk, Kharkiv Oblast:
Ukrainian drone operators from the 77th Separate Airmobile Brigade turned a Russian tank—piled with junk—into scrap. Kupiansk direction, Kharkiv region.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) March 29, 2025 at 8:50 AM
The Siversk front:
Russian attack with large numbers of civilian vehicles and motorcycles on the Siversk front.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) March 29, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Pokrovsk front:
As said: Russian electric scooters captured by fighters of the 59th Brigade of Ukraine during one of the Russian attacks on the Pokrovsk front. t.me/officer_alex…
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) March 29, 2025 at 6:03 AM
That’s enough for tonight.
Your daily Patron!
There are no new Patron skeets or videos today. Here is some adjacent material.
Today’s dog of war is one of the guards of the Wild Animals Rescue Center. He scared Zorіana with his appearance, and she forgot his name. But this dog was so playful and kind that, in the end, Zorіana even petted him.
— Tim Mak (@timkmak.bsky.social) March 29, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Open thread!
Saturday Night Open Thread Rambling
Jay
Thank you, Adam.
dimmsdale
Many many thanks, Adam. Your steadfastness in doing what’s right is an inspiration.
dr. luba
Thanks again, Adam. I usually read you the morning after, but made it here tonight.
And, as always, fuck russia, fuck putin, and fuck trump.
Adam L Silverman
@Jay: @dimmsdale: You’re both most welcome.
Adam L Silverman
@dr. luba: You’re most welcome too. And no worries.
NotoriousJRT
@dr. luba: Co-signed
Westyny
Thank you, Adam.
AlaskaReader
Thanks Adam
Medicine Man
Thank you, Adam.
When Putin does croak, I wish russia a happy succession crisis. I’m sure the Putin having eliminated anyone he thinks can replace him will help smooth things along.
Bill Arnold
Re explody Putin limousine and “You have to be lucky all the time”, smiling.
This may be of interest. Threadreader:
ChrisO_wiki@ChrisO_wiki – 1/ Leaked interrogation transcripts have revealed that the Kremlin has secretly taken over dozens of popular Russian Telegram channels, deanonymising their administrators on Putin’s direct orders and ‘persuading’ them to hand control to the Russian presidential administration. ⬇️
The rest:
Hiding from large state level security services is difficult. (Can be done, but skill and 100 percent discipline required.)