Ukraine and World Affairs: Weekly Update
28th March 2025
This week, developments in the Middle East have probably threatened catastrophe more than anything that has happened in Ukraine as some, including Colonel MacGregor, believe that the US is seeking a conflict with Iran. I wonder whether Trump has seen this. The Americans continue to attack and kill civilians in Yemen and the Houthis continue to respond. No military targets have been hit by the US according to Pepe Escobar, who is currently in Yemen. If Trump believes that Ansar Allah can be brow beaten into submission he is either deluded or ignorant. The Houthis have warned the International Community that Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport in is no longer safe and will suffer attacks as long as the Israeli genocide in Gaza continues. True to their word, the Houthis attacked Israel with ballistic and ‘hypersonic’ missiles as more than a million Israeli civilians scurried to the shelters in Tel Aviv. Netanyahu is being criticised for forcing his people back into a war. The opposition leader remarked: ‘Mr. Prime Minister, while you were talking about your absolute victory, there were sirens sounding in Gaza’.
Last week I reported that the Israelis had attacked Lebanon. When Hezbollah reciprocated1 (so the Israelis claim) on the 21st March, the Israelis used this as an opportunity to escalate. The Israelis continue to murder innocents in Lebanon, Gaza and on the West bank and are attacking military bases in Syria where infighting among various minority groups continues in the south and many have been killed while clashes are ongoing between various groups in the north.
With regard to Ukraine, the Trump Team continues to raise expectations of a ceasefire by April 20th, possibly to put pressure on the Russians but the US has not agreed to stop aid during the ceasefire, which is something the Russians will insist on. Putin has provided a compensatory reality check by suggesting to Russian business leaders that negotiations would be ‘difficult and slow’. It will be long time before sanctions are lifted, he said. You can read more at Zero Hedge. According to a Ukrainian source, polls show that Zelensky’s popularity has halved in recent weeks while there is much discontent in the military due to poor command/coordination and to shortages of virtually everything. Inflation has reached record levels while the price of basic foodstuffs and utility bills have skyrocketed. But the main problem is the change in the policies of the Trump administration - which Zelensky is finding it difficult to accept.
Predictably, the Ukrainians have been violating the energy infrastructure ceasefire constantly - Zelensky and Netanyahu are kindred spirits in that sense. Maria Zakharova has warned that Russia will retaliate unless they stop. On the fronts, the Russians are not far away from clearing the Ukrainians out of Kursk and are defeating attacks into the Belgorod region. Elsewhere, progress has been slow but steady for the Russians.
The Americans met with the Ukrainians in Riyadh on the 23rd March and with the Russians on the 24th (see below) A ceasefire agreement in relation to Black Sea shipping, was discussed that will involve a resurrection of the ‘grain deal’ and a partial lifting of sanctions. However, the details will take some time to sort out (see below). Lavrov doesn’t trust Zelensky to conform and will insist that the US provides guarantees. But at the ‘coalition of the willing’ conference in Paris the globalists opposed lifting sanctions and will not, therefore, support the ‘grain deal’ (see below). It appears that Trump and the European globalists now occupy two very different and opposed camps.
It is quite clear that Zelensky is in an obstructive mode and I am not confident that any meaningful progress can be made towards peace while he and his Administration are in control - Colonel MacGregor is one of many who take a similar view. The US should be pushing Ukraine into elections as matter of priority. According to this Ukrainian source, some in the Administration are preparing for an election campaign surreptitiously though talk of such things is taboo.
I should remind everyone that this is a proxy war by America against Russia in spite of the fact that the former is acting as a ‘referee’ between Ukraine and Russia. It should also be noted that US forces are actively engaged in providing assistance and intelligence to the Ukrainians in their use of HIMARS to kill Russians in Belgorod and to attack energy infrastructure. Thus the Americans are assisting Ukraine to violate the ceasefire - which is absurd. But the Russians will not have lost sight of this and will be cautious and suspicious of the Trump team who could have stopped the war by denying Ukraine arms, intelligence and military assistance.
So far, although Trump, unlike Biden, is talking to the Russians, I haven’t seen any evidence that his policies are any different to that of his predecessor on both Ukraine and the Middle East. There is much continuity here, so it appears. Furthermore, Trump is erratic, emotional, reliably contradictory and he may have sold his soul to the Zionists in order to finance his election victory. I get the impression that he and many in his administration don’t know what they are doing. Brian Berletic discusses the matter here.
Finally, Vladimir Putin who was first elected President on March 26th, 2000 - 25 years ago, has suggested introducing external governance to Ukraine under the auspices of the UN so that legitimate elections can be held. I expect commentators will have lots to say about this proposal during the course of the week. The idea is supported by Ukrainian RADA MP, Artem Dmytruk who called it a logical and understandable plan that corresponds to reality. The Administration hasn’t been legitimate since last May. You can read more at Pravda.
What a week.
Riyadh Talks
The Riyadh talks commenced on the 23rd March between Ukraine and the US. The Ukrainians were represented by Defence Minister Rustem Umerov and Zelensky advisor Pavlo Palisa. On the 24th, the Russian delegation met with the Americans. Russia was represented by Grigory Karasin, Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs and Segey Beseda, advisor to the head of the Federal Security Service. The US delegation was led by Andrew Peek, Senior Director of the White House National Security Council, alongside Michael Anton, Policy Planning Director under Marco Rubio. The US-Russia meeting lasted twelve hours while that between the US and Ukraine lasted 40 - 70minutes - which reflects Ukraine’s minor role in these negotiations.
According to Sergei Lavrov, the meeting focused on safe shipping in the Black Sea and a resumption of the ‘grain deal’ which would allow Russia to export grain and fertilizer free of sanctions. Ukrainians would also benefit from the deal which would allow them to export their grain via the Black Sea. It would also allow much needed grain and fertilizer to be exported to countries in the Global South. But Lavrov also expressed concern that Zelensky cannot be trusted to conform to the deal and could take advantage of it by bringing in military supplies via the Black Sea - as he did when this deal was last tried. You can read more at Tass. Lavrov wants the Americans to provide guarantees that Zelensky will conform and eliminate all the obstacles that caused the deal to fail last time - including the failure of the Europeans to cooperate. As far as I am aware, Zelensky has not yet agreed to the deal, and has accused the Russians of trying to manipulate the Americans at Riyadh with lies. Enforcing such an agreement could prove problematic according to Pravda. But if agreed, it would allow Russia to use the SWIFT system from which it has been banned for three years: it would amount to a slight easing of sanctions. The Europeans, including Macron, are opposed to the lifting of any sanctions. He insists that Russia must obey international law including the acceptance of international borders (i.e. Ukraine) before sanctions can be lifted.
Dmitry Petrov has announced that much of the technical detail of the talks will not be made public.
The Islander summed up the US statement thus:
• Guarantees for safe navigation in the Black Sea
• No military use of commercial vessels
• A freeze on energy infrastructure strikes
• U.S. to help restore Russia’s agricultural exports
• A shared vow for “lasting peace” (translation: peace on Russia's terms)
The US will be expected to ensure that Zelensky conforms to the energy ceasefire and everything else. Infrastructure sites include:
1. Oil refineries;
2. Oil and gas pipelines and storage facilities, including pumping stations;
3. Electricity generation and transmission infrastructure, including power plants, substations, transformers and distributors;
4. Nuclear power plants;
5. Hydroelectric dams.
The agreement will run from March 18th for 30 days but a violation by one party will release the other from any obligation to conform. The Ukrainians have already broken the agreement 8 times at least. One commentator noted that these sites will be used by the Ukrainians to store ammunition and important war materiel.
More discussions will be needed before the deal comes into force. If you would like more details of the talks, Al Jazeera provides a good article here.
When Narratives Collide
Until recently, the dominant Russian narrative delivered in harmony by Western press and politicians alike is that Putin is an evil Dictator, several leagues above Adolph Hitler in terms of his ambitions for expansion and in terms of the cruelty he wishes to unleash on the poor unsuspecting Europeans. I am not sure how many Europeans actually believe this nonsense but it has been consistently peddled for years. But now enter Special Envoy Steve Witkoff who has collided with the old narrative in his recent revealing interview with Tucker Carlson:
Tucker: “Do you think Russia wants to march across Europe-?"
Witkoff: “100% not.’’
That’s unambiguous: Russia poses absolutely no threat to the Europeans. Witkoff appears to be planted firmly in the real world - in this respect at least.
The Globalist Europeans, on the other hand, inhabit a very different world: a very scary world in which panicked politicians are preparing their people and their territory for the inevitable attack by Russian hordes. But Russia does not wish to attack Europe. Did you hear that Kaja dear, what about you Ursula: are you listening. Why not break the news to Annalena. The boys should also have a listen. Have you heard the news Keir? You don’t have to play soldiers any more. And Emmanuel, you have no further need to indulge in your Napoleonic impressions while Duda can stop salivating over nuclear weapons. Poor Mark Rutte at NATO doesn’t know which way his head is facing having promoted a normalisation of relations with Russia a few weeks ago only to change his mind because the Russian ‘threat is still there’.2 Didn’t you hear Witkoff, Rutte boy? The people on the streets of Germany share Witkoff’s world (see below): they can see through the lies.
Rather disingenuously, in my view, Witkoff explained why they had not spoken this truth before:
We’re able to speak freely again. We can breathe. It’s important to speak the truth now. We weren’t permitted to speak the truth for years. We’ve endured censorship.
Witkoff has been caught in a lie before.
He also said:
I like President Putin. He is a super-smart guy. It was gracious of him to receive me. President Putin has deep respect for President Trump. During the first term, President Trump had a great relationship with Vladimir Putin.
Is this the Putin you have heard about? But maybe he has changed in the past five years - made a pact with the devil or something.
Putin even presented Witkoff with a portrait of Trump he had commissioned for delivery to the President. And the evil dictator, so Witkoff said, went to his local church to pray for Trump following the attempt on his life.`
Witkoff’s words attracted much criticism from some. Oleksandr Merezhko, the head of the Ukrainian Parliament’s Foreign Policy Committee, believes that he should be removed from negotiations on resolving the Ukraine conflict - precisely because he is saying nice things about Putin. As well as claiming that Russia will not attack Europe, which has annoyed many, Witkoff also talked about the possibility that Ukraine will have to concede territory - which is a red line as far as Merezkko and Zelensky are concerned. I honestly don’t see any point in partial ceasefires, a revision of the grain deal or any further talks until such people are gone. There is no middle ground to be had between Russia and the current Ukrainian Administration so what’s the point! I say tomato you say tomayto - let’s call the whole thing off.
Witkoff on Trump and Iran
Witkoff also told Carlson about a letter Trump recently sent to Iran in which he said:
I’m a president of peace. There’s no reason we should do anything militarily. I want to negotiate with you on your nuclear program. I want Iran to be a great nation once again.
Donald wishes to deal with Iran respectfully, Witkoff claimed. If this is the case, he should have sent this message before the threatening one he sent some time ago demanding: negotiate or else! Trump is also making a hubristic and exceptionalist assumption that the US is in a position to judge whether another nation is great or not. This will not impress the Iranians who, in 2015, agreed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) limiting their nuclear program only for Trump to tear it up when he came into office last time. This does not inspire confidence in the Americans to honour agreements - so why should Iran be in a hurry to sign another one.
In spite of some kind words, I have zero trust in the Zionist Witkoff who recently blamed Hamas for breaking the ceasefire when quite clearly this was broken by Netanyahu who would not allow food, supplies, mobile homes and tents into Gaza - as Mohammad Marandi discusses here. Netanyahu was attempting to starve the Gazans into compliance.
Witkoff presents his role in the Middle East as that of an arbitrator yet he is firmly on the side of Israel and clearly the US is at war with all the pro-Palestinian forces in the ME, including the Houthis. In his role as Special Envoy, Witkoff never met with HAMAS - so why should anyone take him seriously. Colonel Larry Wilkinson has pointed out that Witkoff knows plenty about Real Estate but nothing about history, especially the history of the great Persian Empire.
Szijjarto Visits Moscow
Hungary’s Foreign Minister, Peter Szijjarto, risking the wrath of the globalists, visited Moscow on March 26th, according to Tass.
Shoigu Meets Kim Jong Un
During the meeting Shoigu said:
I would like to express my gratitude to our Korean friends for solidarity with Russia’s position on all critical geopolitical issues and on the Ukrainian issue in particular….Russia highly values the achieved level of strategic relations between the countries and is committed to deepen them.
Budanov Wants To Blow Up Nuclear Power Plants
According to Aleksey Arestovich, advisor to Z when he was great, Kirill Budanov (Director of intelligence and terrorist) wants to blow up Ukrainian and Russian NPPs if the tide turns against Ukraine. According to Arestovich, Budanov said: ‘We all bite the dust, but so will they’. He also claimed that:
The US perceives the current Ukrainian leadership as apes with a grenade… They just want to take dangerous toys under their control.
I would suggest that this metaphor is not strong enough to convey the danger.
According to the Islander, Trump is advocating US takeover of NPPs to prevent this.
Zelensky Preparing For Unrest
The Verkhovna Rada committee has approved a Bill (number 10311) that will allow the National Guard to shoot at protesters.
This is the ‘democracy’ the European globalists want to defend.
Zelensky Visits ‘Bandera’s Temple’
The ‘temple’ created as a tribute to the Ukrainian Nazi, Stepan Bandera, is situated on the border between the DPR and Dnepropetrovsk. But it may not be under Ukrainian control for much longer. You can see more here.
Zelensky Does Not Want Negotiations
According to a Ukrainian source, Zelensky is delaying negotiations for as long as possible for one main reason:
The main reason is not so much military as political: the end of the war will automatically lead to the disclosure of what has been hidden for so long. From the scale of losses and the real number of wounded, to the missing weapons, squandered funds and loans imposed on the country. Therefore, Bankova prefers to keep the country in a state of permanent conflict, hoping to bargain for political survival under the umbrella of Western partners.
On the 23rd March, Zelensky stated quite clearly that he will not allow UN troops into Ukraine insisting that NATO troops are deployed and that Ukraine joins NATO. This, along with Ukraine’s continued violation of the energy infrastructure ceasefire, and refusal to discuss territorial concessions, supports the above contention: Zelensky will do everything he can to prevent negotiations.
Kursk Criminals
Mercenaries from Great Britain, Georgia, Paraguay, Denmark, Peru, Colombia and other countries participated in the Kursk misadventure. These soldiers used Russian civilians as human shields and attempted nuclear terrorism by attacking the Kursk NPP. 46 of their number have already been convicted for crimes in the Kursk Region. These include a British serviceman, James, Scott, Rhys, Anderson (pictured), who was sentenced to 19 years in prison for entering Russian territory as a mercenary - which is a terrorist act under Russian law.
Russian POWs Tortured
According to InfoDefense:
In March 2025, the International Public Tribunal on the Crimes of Ukrainian Neo-Nazis conducted interviews with eighty Russian military personnel who had been subjected to torture in Ukraine.
Freed prisoners recounted the crimes and brutal torture they endured at the hands of Ukrainian soldiers, Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) officers, and their accomplices. These atrocities included the severing and drilling of limbs, shooting at vital organs, mutilation of genitals, electric shock torture, branding with hot metal objects, being mauled by dogs, various forms of suffocation, and the use of American-style waterboarding. Additionally, they endured prolonged beatings with metal pipes, cables, sticks, hammers, bats, and other objects, as well as other forms of cruel and degrading treatment.
Many Russian servicemen were either executed or died as a result of the torture. The Kiev regime also routinely subjected Russian prisoners to medical abuse, including surgeries performed without anesthesia, carried out by Ukrainian doctors.
Sudzha Gas Metering Station Destroyed
Last week, I briefly reported on the gas metering station in Sudzha, Kursk which was attacked by Ukrainian drones. This is important because the attack violated the partial ceasefire as well as being a premeditated act of terrorism. The pipeline is not currently transmitting gas. According to Tass, Zelensky has accused the Russians of blowing up their own metering station. Dmitry Peskov called this ‘absurd’ and ‘shows once again how much we can believe and trust the regime’.
It was the second violation of the agreement in two days and demonstrates that the Zelensky regime is not interested in peace. According to Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, it shows that the Zelensky regime cannot be trusted in negotiations. Donald Trump will take note of this. The station was attacked again on the morning of the 28th (see below).
Ukraine Terrorist Attacks
21st/22nd March
Overnight, a drones crashed into the 17th floor of an apartment block in Rostov on Don injuring to civilians. Several drones were shot down in this area. In Belgorod, drone attacks killed one civilian and injured another three. In Gorlovka (DPR), a man was killed by a drone attack on his car. According the Russian Mod, 12 drones were disabled/destroyed over Voronezh; 11 over Belgorod; 6 over Rostov; 4 over Volgograd; 3 over Astrakhan and 1 each over Bryansk, Kursk and Samara.
22nd/23rd March
Overnight, according to the Russian MoD:
29 drones were destroyed/intercepted over Rostov Region; 20 over Astrakhan; 3 over Voronezh; 3 over Volgograd; 1 over Kursk and 1 over Saratov.
23rd/24th March
Overnight in Gorlovka (DPR) three teenagers and three adults were injured by artillery shells while elsewhere in the DPR two civilians were injured by drone strikes. According to the Russian MoD: 12 drones were destroyed/disabled over Bryansk/Rostov Regions. In Vladivostok, 20 cars were burned in a parking lot - presumably by drones.
Journalists Murdered - Two Majors Report
The death of our journalists in the SMO zone was a tragedy. The cameraman of the Zvezda TV channel Andrei Panov, the driver of the film crew Alexander Sirkeli, and the war correspondent of Izvestia Alexander Fedorchak were killed.
These men were deliberately targeted by US-supplied/guided HIMARS in the Luhansk People’s Republic.
25th/26th March
Overnight, two civilians were injured by drone attacks in Belgorod region, according to the Governor.
On the 26th March, military correspondent, Anna Prokofieva was killed in Belgorod. Her cameraman was injured. Maria Zakharova believes that the Ukrainians are deliberately targeting Russian journalists.
26th/27th March
Overnight, one man was injured by drone strike in Kherson while one ‘aircraft type’ drone was shot down over Bryansk.
27th/28th March
According to the War Chronicle:
At night, 78 Ukrainian UAVs were intercepted and shot down over Russia. 32 of them are over the Voronezh region, 19 over the Saratov region, 17 over the Kursk region. At least 10 explosions were in the area of Engels and Saratov - drones flew towards a local refinery and an airfield with Russian strategic aviation.
In Gorlovka (DPR), two civilians were injured when a drone hit their car while another was injured by cluster artillery.
The Sea War
21st/22nd March
Overnight, 7 drones were destroyed over the Black Sea and 1 over the Sea of Azov.
22nd/23rd March
Overnight, 2 drones were shot down over Crimea.
23rd/24th March
The Russian MoD reported that 2 drones were destroyed over Crimea and one each over Krasnador and the Sea of Azov.
24th/25th March
Overnight, Cape Tarkhankut suffered drone attack.
27th March
Three more violations of the energy ceasefire were recorded today as Ukrainian drones attacked an electricity sub station, power lines and a gas facilities in Crimea. I’m not sure how much longer Putin will turn the other cheek.
The Air War (Map)
Russian Missile/Drone Attacks
21st/22nd March
At night, 40 Geraniums were seen over the Ukrainian held part Zaporozhye and more were reported over Kiev, according to this report. Russian Geraniums inflicted the most massive strike of the war on port facilities and warehouses in Odessa at night. The War Chronicle suggests that this became necessary because Odessa is now being used as a transshipment hub for equipment, ammunition and weapons from NATO countries.
24th/25th March
Overnight, the Russians attacked Izyum, Poltava, Sumy, Kiev, Nikolaev, Cherkasy, Dnepropetrovsk, Kirovograd and Odessa. No strikes on energy infrastructure were recorded. You can obtain more detail here.
25th/26th March
Overnight, Geraniums attacked Kryvyi Rih (15) and Cherkasy (20) in one of the largest attacks of the war. Zaporozhye, Nikolaev, Poltava and Dnepropetrovsk were also attacked.
26th/27th March
Overnight, the Russians carried out massive attacks on Sumy, Dnepropetrovsk and Kharkov.
27th/28th March
According to the Two Majors:
Throughout the night, the enemy's reconnaissance channels reported on Russian strikes with Geraniums on objects in the Kiev, Odessa, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Khmelnytsky, Nikolaev, Cherkasy, and Poltava Regions.
Ukrainian Missile/Drone Attacks
22nd March
On Saturday morning, Kiev carried out two drone strikes on the Valuyka gas distribution station in Russia's Belgorod Region, damaging the facility’s technological equipment, the ministry said, adding that Ukraine has continued its attacks on energy facilities in Russia, using multiple launch rocket systems HIMARS.
If HIMARS are being used, this means that the Americans are assisting Ukraine to break the ceasefire - as I have already stated above.
22nd/23rd March
On the 23rd March, in flagrant violation of the energy infrastructure ceasefire, yet gain, the Ukrainians launched artillery strikes at a sub-station in Zaporozhye region leaving 11,000 without electricity. On the evening of the 23rd March, the Ukrainians attacked Glebovskoye gas condensate field in Tarkhenkut with drones. This was another violation of the ‘energy’ ceasefire.
23rd/24th March
Once again the Ukrainians have violated the ceasefire by attacking the Kroptinskaya pumping station on the Caspian pipeline in Krasnador. All the drones were destroyed. The Ukrainians broke the energy ceasefire agreement by attacking the Svatovo gas distribution station (LPR) with a drone on the 24th March.
24th/25th March
According to Rybar:
On the night of March 24, the AFU again attacked the Kropotkinskaya oil pumping station of the international Caspian Pipeline Consortium. This time, the drone was shot down by air defense systems before it reached the target.
The Ukrainians also attacked an energy facility at the Rosetti centre in Bryansk.
28th March
On the morning of the 28th March, the Sudzha gas metering centre was attacked and set ablaze once again using US guided HIMARS.
The Ground War
Russian MoD Reports on Ukraine’s Losses (excludes Kursk)
w/e March 7th 2025 10,375 Casualties killed and wounded: equipment losses 539.
w/e March 14th 2025 10,780 Casualties killed and wounded: equipment losses 649.
w/e 21st March 2025 10,365 Casualties killed and wounded: equipment losses 585
w/e 28th March 2025 10,780Casualties, killed and wounded: equipment losses 459
Kursk
The Fronts
The colourful maps below are obtained from Marat Khairullin but are drawn by Mikhail Popov.
Front Line Cats
Belgorod
On March 25th, according Marat Khairullin
Near Demidovka, mopping-up operations continue against enemy personnel who managed to escape from destroyed armored vehicles. The enemy is attempting to infiltrate on foot, using ATVs, armored vehicles, and even a tractor (which was documented).
From midday on March 25th until this morning, the enemy tried to break through toward the settlement of Popovka. Our border guards valiantly repelled the attacks until reinforcements arrived. All soldiers were wounded but prevented the enemy from breaking through. Troops from the Russian Armed Forces' 128th Brigade came to the border guards' aid.
By the end of the week, the Ukrainians had accumulated reserves and continued to attack towards Popovka and Demidovka.
Kursk
On March 25th, the Russians captured the Sudzha automobile checkpoint and adjacent territories which marks a new phase in offensive dynamics:
The Sudzha checkpoint [allows] control over an important communications hub linking the Sumy region with the Kursk region. Now the Ukrainian Armed Forces are effectively losing the ability to maneuver in this sector, remaining only in small forest areas to the south, in the Oleshnya area.
On the 26th March, according to the Majors:
Towards the direction of the Sumy Region: reports have been coming in from the Kursk Region that there still are AFU troops occupying the villages of Oleshnya, Gornal, and part of Gogolevka, while the battles for Guevo have commenced. In the Sumy Region, our forces are fighting in a wedged formation between the settlements of Zhuravka-Novenkoye-Basovka, and also near Vladimirovka.
This Ukrainian source reports that Ukrainian civilians in the Sumy border villages are getting concerned because they can hear the fighting getting closer and closer. The source claims that the Russians have 60,000 troops in this area and are worried because there are absolutely no fortifications or air defence to stop them. Marat Khairullin believes that Kursk will be cleared in a week. On the 28th March, the Ukrainians started a chaotic retreat from Guevo and were forced out of the Basovka area.
Kupyansk
On the 26th March, according to the Majors:
In the northern direction of Kupyansk: the RAF continues fighting on the right bank of the Oskol River, within the settlements of Dvurechnaya and Sagunovka, managing to successfully establish a new bridgehead between Krasny Pervy and Kamenka. Fierce ongoing battles continue on the Zapadnoye-Kalinovo line of combat..
Svatovo-Kreminna
By the end of the week, the Russians, who had advanced more that 2 kms, were attacking Katerinovka and Novoye.
Lyman
By the end of thew week, the Russians had liberated the settlement of Mirnoye.
Seversk
By the end of the week, fighting continued in the area of Belogorovka.
Toretsk - Gorlovka
On the 26th March, according to the Majors:
In the southern direction of Dzerzhinsky (Toretsky): the fighting in the Panteleimonovka area is underway.
By the end of the week fighting continued in urban areas.
Pokrovsk - Constantinople
According to the Two Majors:
South of liberated Constantinople, the Russian Armed Forces are advancing on the settlement of Razliv. Far Eastern soldiers continue to advance deep into the defense of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, having captured a forest belt, a height, and two fortifications. The total advance was 1.5 km. In the area of the settlement of Novosyolka, our units cut the defense into parts, advancing 500 m, and also capturing two forest belts and a height. Our troops advanced from Privolnoye to Volnoye Pole. In order to slow the advance of our troops, the enemy is conducting counterattacks with small groups of infantry.
Velikaya (Balshaya) Novoselka
Zaporozhye
On March 26th, according to the Majors:
On the Zaporozhye Front: the fighting is picking up steam in the area between the Stepovoye-Shcherbaki settlements. The Russian Ministry of Defense has announced the liberation of Malye Shcherbaki. The Russian Forces have begun fighting on the outskirts of Lobkovoe.
Later the same day, the Russians took the centre of Lobkovoe. On the 28th March, the Russians were storming the village of Shcherbaki.
Marat Khairullin provides a brief sitrep for the 27th March here.
The Economic War
Russian Third Fastest Growing Economy in G20
Russia’s economy grew by 4.1% for the second year in a row making it the third fastest growing economy in the G20. India was first at 6.7% growth while China and Indonesia came joint second at 5% each. Behind Russia was Brazil with 3.4% and Turkiye at 3.2%. Argentina and Germany were the only countries to see a decline in growth - according to Sputnik.
Seizing Russian Assets ‘Act of War’ Belgian PM
Belgian PM, Bart De Wever, has warned that seizing Russia’s frozen assets would be an ‘act of war’ which would invite legal retaliation from the Russian’s against ‘Euroclear’ which is handling the funds. The move would also pose risks ‘to the entire global financial system’, he argued - according to RT.
EU Economic Mess
I think this speaks for itself.
Increase in Defence Spending Could Bankrupt EU States.
An increase in spending of 30% has been demanded of European countries by NATO over the next few years. Some European economic experts believe that asking this of countries already suffering economic malaise and industrial decline could risk bankruptcy for some, including Germany. You can read more at Sputnik.
World Politics
Peace and Security Meeting For Ukraine - 27th March
Prior to this meeting of the irrelevants, Macron announced that he is providing Ukraine with another 2 billion Euros of military aid and Zelensky announced a new ‘Victory Plan’ which involves waiting for Putin to die. Be careful what you wish for Volodymyr.
At the meeting, Keir Starmer called for increasing sanctions against Russia while Trump wants them lifted as part of a new ‘grain deal’. So, the Europeans will not support Trump’s plans. Emmanuel Macron announced a French-British military delegation to Ukraine which would ‘plan [the Ukrainian] army’s future'. They also talked about how they would control the ceasefire in Ukraine. Europe must be prepared to act without the US, Macron said. There was no agreement on sending ground forces to Ukraine apart from the ‘delegation’ mentioned above.
Ursula’s Fall From Grace
The Germans newspaper, Bild, has been reflecting on JD Vance’s departure from the recent Paris ‘artificial intelligence’ conference as von der Leyen began to respond to his speech. This wasn’t simply a rude gesture; it was a signal to the EU that it’s opinion on anything is no longer sought. Once the US has decided that you are irrelevant, there is no way back really.
Be Prepared - The Russkies Are Coming
According to the EU, these are the essentials items European people will need to help them cope with a Russian invasion. In a brilliant piece of sarcasm, Slavyangrad added one item to the list: A Russian Dictionary!
The Leak
The ‘leak’ is a story that has been exposed and analysed by virtually everyone - so I will not cover it in depth here. It’s about a US security breech in which a journalist was inadvertently allowed to join a confidential on line chat about war plans for Yemen. I think it is important for exposing lax US security and for providing a ‘fly on the wall’ perspective that illustrates the fact that the moral compass of these Western leaders has been misguided by their allegiance to Israel. I described these people as ‘adults’ at one point: I was wrong. Inexcusably, they callously reveled in the deaths of innocents. The air strikes they were monitoring hit a residential neighbourhood. So while these children indulged in a celebratory emoji exchange, civilians were being killed and maimed. Here we saw arrogant Western hubristic exceptionalism laid bare. It also smacked of a residual racism towards brown skinned people. Of those involved, only JD Vance showed a sliver of humanity by disagreeing with the policy of hitting the Houthi hard - but mainly for economic treasons. If you are interested in learning more, Alexander Mercouris does a good job of explaining it briefly at the start of this video. It is also discussed by b and others on the MoA.
Propaganda - Western Style
Western hypocrisy in a nutshell.
Protests
Bangladesh
Thousands took to the streets in Bangladesh to protest the genocide in Gaza.
Tel Aviv
Netanyahu is attempting to introduce a bill that will politicise the selection of Supreme Court judges and opposition leaders are warning that this could lead to civil war. Many on the streets are protesting this ‘anti democratic’ move, they are calling for hostages to be released and they want an end to war. You can read more at Zero Hedge.
Istanbul-Turkiye
Protests have continued in Istanbul this weekend as its mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu was arrested on charges of corruption, fraud and possible terrorism. Spontaneous protests also broke out in many cities across Turkiye and 343 were arrested. People are protesting against what they see as Erdogan’s undermining of democracy. Protesters clashed violently with police. You can read more at Zero Hedge.
Germany
This week, tens of thousands have been on the streets of 15 German cities chanting ‘we want peace’ and ‘Germany and Russia are friends’ and ‘Merz get out’. The gap between the people and the ‘puppet authorities’ is getting clearer'. The people want national sovereignty while the leaders are selling out to Brussels.
London
Outside the Israeli embassy in London, 5,000 people protested against the ongoing genocide in Gaza - according to Socialist Worker.
NATO Bombs Yugoslavia - 24th March 1999
On March 24, 1999, the North Atlantic bloc started bombing Yugoslavia. The "military operation" against a sovereign state became a tragic milestone in the life of the Serbian people and delivered a devastating blow to international law.
The US & its cronies bombed the cities, including Belgrade, villages & civilian infrastructure for 78 days, blowing up bridges, passenger trains and buses and killing women, children & elderly people.
I was involved in lots of anti-war demos at that time.
US Sends Forces To Diego Garcia
According to the Islander:
The US has sent 7 B-2 bombers and 18 refueling tankers to Diego Garcia, with ramp slots closed until May 1, hinting at a sustained air presence possibly tied to Trump’s Iran ultimatum.
This is far out of the Houthis’ reach. Some say that this is designed to threaten Iran. They could be planning to use bunker bombs to destroy Houthis missiles in the mountains, according to Laith Marouf.
The emerging Multi-Polar World Order
I have been looking back at the first Update I published back in June 2023 but I had been producing an Update for family an friends for about a year before that. Anyway, I noticed this profound statement by SCF on the MoA which resonates loudly at the moment. He said:
The Tragedy that besets the West today consists, on the one hand, of the sheer impossibility for it to continue doing what it has been doing - yet matched only by its impossibility to do anything other.
I think I have expressed this view once or twice: it seems to ring true. Western globalists are continuing with failed policies because they haven’t thought of an alternative. Bizarre but true - perhaps. Or it could be that their globalist puppeteers haven’t thought of an alternative. Here’s a link to the Update.
Hassam Shabat - Journalist Killed in Gaza
If you are reading this, it means that I was killed—most likely targeted—by the Israeli occupation forces. When all this began, I was only 21 years old—a university student with dreams like any other. For the past 18 months, I have dedicated every moment of my life to my people. I documented the horrors in northern Gaza minute by minute, determined to show the world the truth they tried to bury. I slept on sidewalks, in schools, in tents—wherever I could. Every day was a battle for survival. I endured hunger for months, yet I never left my people.
Such people have a moral dignity that is absent among most Western leaders.
Three Russian journalists were also killed in Ukraine this week (see above) and Patrick Lancaster had a near death experience involving a drone - as you can see here. You have to admire these people.
Well that’s it for another week: things appear to be getting more complex and more uncertain by the hour. Many thanks for your views, subscriptions, shares, restacks, follows, pledges, likes and comments. Have a good week - best wishes Rob
Non subscribers can view Updates on Telegram: https://t.me/UWUupdate.
Hezbollah has denied this.
Maybe someone’s given him a new script.
Great point, Rob. The US started the war, has for years been attempting to overthrow the country, is still providing material support in weapons, technology and targeting data to Ukrainian forces costing the lives of Russian citizens. And continues to act in bad faith with the minerals deal and in its dealings with Russian negotiators.
And proclaiming themselves the good guys the whole time.
US foreign policy at its usual level.
Superb round up of this weeks events Rob!
I haven't kept up too much on the Ukraine war, or other events for that matter, this week.
But you have highlighted the rank hypocrisy and incompetence of our so called leaders.
World society has big issues.
There is no balance in the press, it is all biased. The politicians all have vested interests and orders to keep to party script and people in general not able to think for themselves anymore.
I read an article on Euronews that the EU made a statement on considering Ukraine's aspirations to join the EU if the minerals deal goes ahead. I guess that is another reason for a few billion more wasted and another 100.000 lives.
Trump is far from helping world affairs, with his zionist interests, in bombing Yemeni civilians and what with his Israeli stooges trying to drag Iran into confrontation with the Beirut attacks today.
These pathetic people will not act rationally in a red button scenario 'if' events escalate.
Poor state of affairs and an indictment on their intellect.
So lets see what happens next.