TheOldGuy @TheOldGuy@qoto.org

Don't just say gay. Shout it out

https://www.palmerreport.com/analysis/ron-desantis-is-falling-apart-in-florida-too/55280/

Good morning Resisters. We are supposed to get a bit of extreme weather later today. Thunderstorms with possible tornadic activity. Oh well.

Goodnight Resisters everywhere

Investigations carried out by the Russian incompetent authorities indicate that the traces of the recent terrorist attacks lead to Ukraine, the Russian Foreign Ministry has said.

The main point from the statement of the ministry:

- Russia has handed Ukraine demands for the arrest of those involved in the attack on Crocus and other terrorist acts.

- Russia demands that Ukraine arrest the head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), Malyuk, who admitted that Ukraine had organised the bombing of the Crimean bridge in 2022.

- Ukraine's violation of its obligations under anti-terrorist conventions will lead to liability.

- Russia demands that the Kiev regime immediately cease any support for terrorist activities and compensate the victims for the damage caused.

Investigations carried out by the Russian incompetent authorities indicate that the traces of the recent terrorist attacks lead to Ukraine, the Russian Foreign Ministry has said.

The main point from the statement of the ministry:

- Russia has handed Ukraine demands for the arrest of those involved in the attack on Crocus and other terrorist acts.

- Russia demands that Ukraine arrest the head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), Malyuk, who admitted that Ukraine had organised the bombing of the Crimean bridge in 2022.

- Ukraine's violation of its obligations under anti-terrorist conventions will lead to liability.

- Russia demands that the Kiev regime immediately cease any support for terrorist activities and compensate the victims for the damage caused.

⚡️The Russians are hitting the energy sector again.

Some residents of Odesa have lost power, some are experiencing power surges.

New group of Shaheds are entering the city.

Stay in shelters!

23:35 Kyiv time:

Up to 12 Shaheds are now flying to the Odesa region!

Do not leave the shelter

23:38 Kyiv time:

⚠ WARNING!
🛵 A new group of Shaheds in the south of Mykolaiv Oblast.
🛵 UAV in Khmelnytskyi in the direction of Starokostyantynov.
🛵 Shahed in Odesa in the direction of Odesa.

Zelensky

Our energy workers, repair teams, and construction workers have worked tirelessly throughout the week. These are the people working on recovery efforts after Russian strikes, as well as protecting energy facilities in various regions. They are many, and they literally save our country's normal life. These are thermal power plant employees, engineers, grid masters, and electricians. These are the people who restore generation and power. I would like to thank everyone who works so hard to ensure that Ukraine can live normally, with power and the ability to work, in all cities and villages. Russian terrorists are currently carrying out such heinous attacks in an attempt to drain Ukraine's power.

We sent necessary signals and concrete requests to all of our partners who have the necessary air defense systems and missiles. America, Europe, and other partners all know exactly what we need, and they all understand how critical it is to assist Ukraine in defending itself against these strikes right now. I thank all leaders who are demonstrating leadership right now, especially those who truly uphold our agreements and keep their word.

Thank you to everyone who fights and works for Ukraine! Thank you to everyone who helps!

US House Intelligence Committee chairman Rep. Mike Turner says speaker Mike Johnson will progress Ukraine aid after 9th April

"The speaker has made it clear that he supports Ukraine both directly to Zelensky. Publicly, he's made these statements and to the Secretary General of NATO. The speaker has made very clear statements that when we get back [on 9th April], it's the next top agenda. After having just passed all the bills that fund the federal government, I believe this is going to have overwhelming support in Congress, and we'll put a bill on the President's desk.", Mr Turner told CBS News.

"I think overall, we're going to get a package that is going to be negotiated with the Senate and the and the White House, so that we have a bill that the President can sign.", he continued.

Meanwhile, Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) acknowledged Sunday the possibility that Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) could lose his position if he moves to hold a vote on aid to Ukraine.

When asked on NBC News’s “Meet the Press” if he believes Johnson could lose the gavel over passing Ukraine aid, Bacon said, “It’s possible, I’m not going to deny it. We have one or two people that are not team players. They’d rather enjoy the limelight, the social media.”

At the same time, Bacon received a “commitment” from Johnson and House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Michael McCaul (R-Texas) that legislation for Ukraine aid will be put on the floor, he said Sunday.

“I’m optimistic we’re going to get this done in two weeks. I just want to ensure it’s bicameral because I don’t want to just send a bill over to the Senate and it doesn’t go anywhere,” he said.

The White House once again called on Congress to approve aid to Ukraine

On Friday night, Russia carried out one of the largest aerial attacks on Ukraine's power system since the start of the war, knocking out heat, water and electricity to many people across the country in the still cold days of early spring.

"These bombings - part of a series of Russian attacks on critical infrastructure in Ukraine - are a terrible reminder of Putin's efforts to break the spirit of the Ukrainian people and plunge them into darkness," National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said.

According to her, in order to help Ukraine protect itself from these attacks, the House of Representatives of the US Congress needs to pass a bipartisan supplemental bill on national security.

"Ukraine's need is urgent, and we cannot afford further delays," the spokeswoman emphasized.

Investigations carried out by the Russian incompetent authorities indicate that the traces of the recent terrorist attacks lead to Ukraine, the Russian Foreign Ministry has said.

The main point from the statement of the ministry:

- Russia has handed Ukraine demands for the arrest of those involved in the attack on Crocus and other terrorist acts.

- Russia demands that Ukraine arrest the head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), Malyuk, who admitted that Ukraine had organised the bombing of the Crimean bridge in 2022.

- Ukraine's violation of its obligations under anti-terrorist conventions will lead to liability.

- Russia demands that the Kiev regime immediately cease any support for terrorist activities and compensate the victims for the damage caused.

Wall Street Journal: Russia has doubled imports of nitrocellulose - a key ingredient for artillery ammunition - since 2021, using firms from the US, Germany, Taiwan and Turkey to circumvent sanctions.

In 2021, Russia imported 3.5 million pounds of nitrocellulose, and from 2023 - already 6.7 million.

Nitrocellulose is a scarce component that ammunition manufacturers are chasing. Its prices have skyrocketed, a problem compounded by the fact that only a few countries can produce it due to international trade restrictions.

Russia itself produces little nitrocellulose; it imports the main volumes from abroad. And these imports played a key role in its ability to produce artillery ammunition.

China has increased supplies of nitrocellulose to Russia. But among the companies whose products end up in Russia, there are companies from the USA, Germany and Taiwan. And one small intermediary from Turkey, Noy İç Ve Diş Ti̇caret, has provided 40% of Russian nitrocellulose imports since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine.

Russia officially imports nitrocellulose for its civilian chemical industry - it is actually used in inks, paints and varnishes. But until 2022, only 1% of Russian imports of nitrocellulose passed through Turkey, and now it has reached 40%, despite the fact that the volume of imports itself has doubled.

German subsidiaries of New York-based International Flavors & Fragrances, German Hagedorn-NC and Taiwanese TNC Industrial have been observed supplying nitrocellulose through Turkey.

These supplies of nitrocellulose to Russia are being carried out in conditions where European defense companies themselves are experiencing a shortage of the component for the production of ammunition for Ukraine. For example, Poland has invested in restarting its own nitrocellulose production amid global shortages.

The American Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has begun work to limit Russia's access to Western nitrocellulose.

From "The Analyst":

FRONTLINE UPDATE…ETC

I haven’t posted a frontline update for a while for the simple reason, that other than ongoing clashes and probing attacks, most if not all of the line has been fairly static.
Both sides are using this period to regroup and in Ukraine’s case, install defences as fast as they can in long fortified lines behind their current positions so they have somewhere to go in the event of a retreat.
Heavy reinforced concrete underground bunkers, dragons teeth and deep and wide anti-tank ditches, all proved last year effective for Russia. Mass production of the required materials is well underway.
This has actually been a very inefficient and fraught process until recently. To put it simply bureaucracy got in the way. Arguments over weather the Oblast governments should build and pay rather than central government went on for too long.
Zaporhizia built its own, but that could hardly happen in Donetsk and Luhansk which are both mostly occupied. Eventually a central government agency took over the role late last year and coordinated the standards and designs, along with the material requirements. That resulted in contracts and production with the agency then organising delivery and distribution.
We actually saw truck loads of dragons teeth being shipped east last week.
To their credit, now they have decided to do this, they’re getting on with it at quite a pace.
However the Ukrainian defences face tougher weapons than Russia did. They use heavy mortar ‘tanks’ to fire shells specifically designed to break defences down - though these are major drone targets when located, and not so many are left now.
The biggest challenge is the huge aerial glide bombs. These are effective and devastating- with an accuracy of about 5m. Of course the bigger the bomb the accuracy matters less.
Exposure of Russian tactics has been helpful to understand how their process works as they try to advance.
Small groups of low quality troops maybe four men strong are given just 4 clips of ammo. Enough to get them where they’re going because it’s a one way trip. Watching them from the rear are highly trained soldiers- usually just one, who keeps an eye on the sacrificial soldiers to see how far they get before the Ukrainians kill them. They repeat these attacks to probe for weakness. When they find a hole in the lines, that’s when the trained soldiers and equipment move in. It can take dozens of sacrificial troops to map out an area but they don’t care about the losses or the morality of what they’re doing.
In some good news, Sweden has again made it clear it’s actively looking to supply Gripen fighters to Ukraine now it is in NATO. These are what Ukraine needs. I have gone on about them before, but they are ideal. They don’t need bases, manning and support crews are minimal and they’re designed to operate at dispersed sites and use low quality roads if need be for runways. That’s exactly what Ukraine needs. On top of that they’re proven to be outstandingly good at dealing with the enemy. Thailand ran air war games against Chinese made fighters and was shooting them down at a rate of 9-1. They can also carry Stormshadow/Scalp/Taurus.
Talking of which MBDA is warning that the production and support line will soon be closed unless there are parts and even missile orders. They say that without update request of new missile orders there’s no point in maintaining the supply chain if it has nothing to do. The UK/France were supposed to have agreed on a procurement deal in July last year.
So what happened to that? I’d bet my bottom dollar that’s the UK MoD procurement office up to its usual crap.
The Washington Post interview with Zelensky was very interesting in two ways. It portrayed the realities but it also was clearly aimed at explaining it in a way Washington’s decision makers could understand. This is the tone of dire consequences that seems darker than we imagine. It’s what we hope motivates Americans to act. I don’t think Americans are the problem. The problem is Trump and his fascist acolytes in Congress.
Slowly but surely though aid will come. Republicans have just one seat as a majority and the speaker is under threat- Democrats could save him but the price will be aid for Ukraine. Sometime in April it’s likely to finally be decided.

Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦!

⚡️Comment from the SBU press service regarding the statement of the Russian Foreign Ministry about the arrest warrant for the head of the Service, Malyuk:

Trying to appeal to the norms of international law, namely the convention on the fight against terrorism, the Russian Foreign Ministry forgets that it is Putin who has been officially put on the international wanted list - in particular, he is expected in the Hague Tribunal for the kidnapping of Ukrainian children.

Statements about terrorism are especially cynical from the terrorist country itself against the backdrop of the anniversary of the liberation of Bucha and the atrocities that the Russians committed there.

We remember every Ukrainian who died and will do everything to ensure that the enemy receives fair retribution.

Therefore, any words of the Russian Foreign Ministry are insignificant. Russia can really make only one statement that is worth attention - to announce to the whole world about its defeat in the war and the withdrawal of occupation troops from Ukrainian soil.

The SBU, together with its brothers from the Defense and Security Forces, is doing everything possible to speed up this time. And it brings the Victory of Ukraine closer every day.

Joe is quite a guy.

https://www.palmerreport.com/analysis/score-another-one-for-president-biden-3/55270/

Trump’s biggest fear is to be recognized as the loser that he is.

https://www.palmerreport.com/analysis/donald-trumps-biggest-fear-is-coming-back-to-haunt-him/55287/

Ukraine is using lots of decoy weapons.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/03/29/ukraine-decoy-weapons-surge-russia-steps-up-attacks/

Zelenskyi's evening speech

--

Today, a petition on the topic of casinos - online gambling platforms - has quickly gathered the necessary votes. It's about how widespread it is and how it affects a part of society. I instructed the head of the Security Service of Ukraine, the State Special Communications Service, the Ministry of Digital Transformation, and the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council to collect all the analytics on this issue and propose a solution next week.

And today started early - at night - because of the Russian missile strikes. I was in constant contact with Air Force Commander Oleshchuk and with Chief of Staff Syrsky. I received detailed reports. The answers to the enemy will also be detailed.

Glory to our strong people! Glory to Ukraine!

Jeff Tiedrich is writing a lot today

https://www.jefftiedrich.com/p/ronna-mcdaniel-just-wants-to-let

The Czech Security and Information Service has exposed a Russian bribery scheme targeting politicians from six European countries—Germany, France, Poland, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Hungary—on the eve of the European Parliament elections. Czech Deník N and German Der Spiegel report, citing investigation data.

Funding was channeled through the propaganda portal Voice of Europe, which is linked to Viktor Medvedchuk, a Ukrainian state traitor, and Artem Marchevsky, a former producer of the pro-Kremlin TV channel "112 Ukraine."

Voice of Europe, registered in the Czech Republic, masqueraded as a news website promoting right-wing populist politicians in Europe, including the German AfD (Alternative for Germany). It served as a conduit for transferring money to Moscow sympathizers in cash and cryptocurrency, amounting to several hundred thousand euros.

The site was sanctioned and closed on Wednesday, and its Twitter account, with 182 thousand subscribers, ceased posting news. The Telegram channel was renamed but continued to operate.

The enemy attacked Odesa region with drones. Air defense was working well.

Around 02:03 , an air alert began in the city.

The defense reported that the enemy was attacking with attack drones and called on the population to stay in shelters until they were repulsed.

At 02:04 , the Air Force reported an unmanned aerial vehicle in the direction of Odesa region, Tatarbunar district.

At 02:30 , another group of enemy drones was reported from the Black Sea in the direction of Odesa Region, Tatarbunar District.

The Defense Forces of Southern Ukraine noted that air defense is operating on the territory of the Odesa region.

🇺🇦@ukraine_report 🇺🇦