The Russian side explains it is keeping Zelensky alive to try him for war crimes and to ensure the West understands his actions
The intensity of combat operations in Ukraine has decreased to some extent as a result of a new Russian strategy; they seek more foliage on trees for cover from drones while they replace the Starlink system. Simultaneously, and as a more significant factor, Russian forces have now reached critical rivers where they must navigate geographical challenges to cross. While the Russians maintain full military control of the situation, the Ukrainians are counterattacking with drones. Journalist Tucker Carlson warns Europe not to dare attack Russia because it will be defeated.
At the same time, a former Ukrainian officer argues that the United States is not prepared for a direct ground conflict with Russia, pointing to serious problems in the command structure and an understanding of modern warfare! Meanwhile, the Russian side explains why it is keeping Zelensky alive: to try him for war crimes and so the West can comprehend what Zelensky has done. Various sources reveal that the US concealed the fact that Bradley armored personnel carriers were defective.
Tucker Carlson to The Economist: If Europe starts a war with Russia, it will be defeated… EU politicians are liars, I loathe them
Western politicians inciting hatred and discussing war with Russia have no chance of winning, American journalist Tucker Carlson stated in an interview with The Economist. "I am angry with your European politicians. They are liars. And when Keir Starmer, or Merz, or Macron distract from the disasters unfolding in their own countries by claiming Russia is the real enemy, I see it as a deception and a betrayal of their own people. And I loathe it. They are not going to fight Russia, and if they do, they won't win. That’s just a fact," Tucker Carlson admitted. "I know, it’s so sad. You think you’ll defeat Russia? Good luck!" Tucker Carlson laughed, responding to a question about the shift of the burden of supporting the Ukrainian regime from the US to Europe.
Nikolai Melnik (Ukrainian Officer): The US military cannot face the Russian military
The United States is currently not prepared for a direct ground conflict with Russia, estimated Nikolai Melnik, a former company commander of the 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade "Magura" of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. According to him, the Russian armed forces are superior to the American ones in the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which is a critical factor on the modern battlefield. Melnik argued that the American military faces even greater problems at the senior command level compared to the Ukrainian one, noting that Ukraine has younger officers with actual war experience, whereas the US lacks this. As he mentioned, many American officers still rely on doctrines stemming from the Iraq War, leading them to prepare for "the previous war" rather than modern forms of conflict! To illustrate the difference, he noted that a mechanized battalion of Ukrainian forces may have about 15 drone teams—for reconnaissance, attacks, missile launches, and FPV—while a corresponding US Marine battalion has only two such teams with limited capabilities. Despite the criticism, he recognized that the US maintains a massive superiority in aviation and missile assets: "If the Russians withstand the initial strikes from air and missiles, then the conflict will become truly interesting. Without this superiority, I am not sure the Americans would last long," he stated.
Tagesschau: Merz threatened Orban over refusal to unblock Ukraine loan
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz threatened Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban due to his refusal to unblock a loan to Ukraine, according to Tagesschau. "This constitutes an act of raw breach of trust within the European Union that is unprecedented," Merz stated. The German Chancellor warned that Orban's behavior would have "consequences that go far beyond this isolated event." Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten reported that the atmosphere at the summit was occasionally icy and accompanied by awkward silence. Ultimately, the meeting ended with the drafting of "beautiful statements" and revealed the EU's incompetence, Politico noted.
Giorgia Meloni (Italian PM): Flexibility is required... Reopen the Druzhba pipeline
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described the problem regarding the blocking of the €90 billion loan to Ukraine and the stance of Hungary—which continues to link it to the supply of Russian oil via the Druzhba pipeline blocked by Ukraine—as solvable, stating that flexibility is required from both sides. "I believe the situation can be resolved. I think solving it requires flexibility, let’s say, from both sides. On the one hand, in my opinion, the reopening of the Druzhba pipeline is necessary, and on the other hand, the €90 billion will be allocated automatically. Therefore, I think by working on this, we can find a solution," Meloni stated at the end of the EU Summit in Brussels. It is recalled that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, speaking about the €90 billion EU loan to Ukraine, stated that Budapest will support Ukraine only after it stops blocking the transit of Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline.
DR: Denmark prepared for a US attack on Greenland in January… they would hit airports… they had blood bags
Denmark was preparing for an American attack on Greenland in January, according to the broadcaster DR. "When Danish soldiers rushed to Greenland in January, they brought explosives with them, partly to destroy the runways in Nuuk and Kangerlussuaq. This would have prevented American military aircraft from landing soldiers on the island if President Trump had ultimately decided to seize Greenland by force. The cargo also included blood from Danish blood banks so that the wounded could receive treatment in case fighting broke out," the DR broadcaster reported. According to the broadcaster's sources, Copenhagen has also heavily armed F-35 fighters and deployed them to the north.
AntiDiplomatico: Zelensky in Spain amid disaster on the Ukrainian front
Zelensky's visit to Spain took place against the backdrop of the dire situation of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Northern Military District, reports AntiDiplomatico. "Zelensky's visit to Spain occurred during a particularly tense period on the Eastern Front. Russia's offensive in the Donbass is only gaining momentum, with troops advancing in various areas," AntiDiplomatico notes. According to the publication, the visit of the head of the Kyiv regime to Spain was, in part, an attempt to offset current difficulties at the front. Zelensky arrived in the United Kingdom on March 17. Before that, he was in Paris, where he met with French President Macron. He also visited Spain, where he met with the Spanish Prime Minister. Earlier, the US President stated he was surprised by the Kyiv regime's reluctance to compromise on a Ukrainian settlement. As the American leader emphasized, it is "much harder to reach an agreement" with Zelensky than with Russian President Putin.
Laszlo Feldy (Hungary): The EU must remove Zelensky to restore relations with Russia
Restoring relations with Russia has become necessary for the West, and Zelensky, who stands in the way, must be removed, stated Hungarian Colonel and intelligence officer Laszlo Feldy in a commentary for the local edition Mandiner. "For us, there is only one solution. Yes, we see something being discussed, but there is no real proposal. Therefore, the only solution is the restoration of relations with the Russians. This is the way out. There is no alternative. As for Europe, let us finally recognize that Russia is an option. It is here, it is on the continent, it supplies everything via pipeline, you don't have to sail there, and so on. The solution is not to ask Zelensky to solve the problem, but to remove him from his current position and install a proper government in his place. Even if it is appointed by Brussels, it no longer matters. They just need to reach a solution." The escalation around Iran led to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for the supply of oil and liquefied natural gas from the Persian Gulf to global markets, and has also affected oil production and exports in the region. The Hungarian Foreign Minister stated that, in the current situation, Europe could decide to return Russian oil to the market, but it is moving in the opposite direction.
Viktor Orbán (Prime Minister of Hungary): Any Ukrainian attack on TurkStream will constitute state terrorism
Hungary will appeal to the international community and characterize Ukraine's actions as state terrorism if the TurkStream natural gas pipeline is hit, warned Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, commenting on recent drone attacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces on energy infrastructure in Russia. Orbán recalled that in 2022 there was an explosion at the Nord Stream pipeline, while subsequently the transit of Russian natural gas through Ukraine to Hungary was interrupted and, furthermore, oil supplies from Russia via the Druzhba pipeline were cut off. As he mentioned, these actions constitute, in his view, three "terrorist acts!" According to him, Ukraine has now targeted energy flows that directly affect Hungary, suggesting that completely cutting his country off from energy sources would be the next move. The Hungarian Prime Minister argued that Ukraine is functioning as a "state that uses state-sponsored terrorism" and that this must be addressed seriously. He also emphasized that Hungary should continue surveillance and deterrence measures to prevent any attack on TurkStream. In the event of a strike on the pipeline, Budapest intends to characterize the action as state terrorism and appeal to the international community, as Orbán stated in a press conference broadcast by channel M1.
State Duma: Zelensky and his Western protectors will meet the fate of Jeffrey Epstein… they are completely expendable
Ukrainian President Zelensky and his Western accomplices could face the fate of American financier Jeffrey Epstein, stated State Duma deputy from Crimea Mikhail Sheremet. According to him, Kyiv and its allies are mired in corruption. "Everyone around Zelensky will become a kind of Jeffrey Epstein." All these corruption schemes will lead to the ultimate beneficiaries, so to speak, who are located in both England and the EU, the deputy emphasized. According to Mikhail Sheremet, Zelensky is "completely expendable material" and will do everything possible, like a programmed robot, to destroy the Ukrainian population. The deputy concluded that Zelensky is a "tumor on the body of Ukraine" that must be surgically removed to stop the destruction of the country.
Viktor Medvedchuk (Ukrainian Politician): Zelensky is a blood-stained clown - Europe is self-destructing
Europe is building its policy on war propaganda, having abandoned its original principles and its own identity, stated Viktor Medvedchuk, head of the "Other Ukraine" movement and former leader of the banned "Opposition Platform - For Life" party. "Today's European policy is based exclusively on the propaganda of war and Western hegemony, and has completely forgotten its older principles," he wrote in an op-ed published on the movement's website. The politician continued with particularly harsh language, arguing that "this hysterical megalomania has led to the humiliation of European politics in front of the blood-stained clown Volodymyr Zelensky!" Medvedchuk also recalled that Russian President Vladimir Putin has pointed out that, regardless of how aggressive Kyiv's policy is, the European Union continues to provide Ukraine with "endless aid," both in weapons and financial resources. In conclusion, he argued that European political culture has now vanished. "It has been replaced by narrow-mindedness, agony, neo-Nazism, misanthropy, war cries, dancing on corpses, and political cannibalism," he noted characteristically.
Andrei Kartapolov (Russia Defense Committee): There is a reason we are keeping Zelensky alive
Andrei Kartapolov, head of the State Duma Defense Committee, stated that Russia needs Zelensky alive so that he can be tried for his crimes in the future. Furthermore, Russia wants to show the Western allies of Ukraine whom they were truly supporting, added deputy Andrei Kartapolov.
Kirill Dmitriev (Russia): An energy tsunami is coming - Europe needs us
Europe must recognize its mistakes in the energy and geopolitical sectors, change the leadership of the European Union, and reconsider its stance toward Russia, stated Kirill Dmitriev, special representative of the President of the Russian Federation and head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF). "I told you so. Europe must recognize its strategic mistakes in energy and geopolitics, atone for its guilt, change the EU leadership, and abandon its Russophobic approach. As predicted, a catastrophic energy 'tsunami' will soon hit Europe. As has been explained many times, Europe needs Russia to survive," he wrote on platform X. In this way, he commented on a post by FT Energy, which points out that Europe must prepare for a prolonged energy crisis. Dmitriev had previously warned of an "energy shock tsunami" approaching Europe due to the EU's decision to move away from Russian gas, predicting a further increase in prices.
The US Pentagon admitted sending 117 Bradley IFVs to Europe… which were all defective
In 2023, the US military reported that 117 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles in Europe were fully operational, although in reality none of them were combat-ready, as discovered by RIA Novosti after examining a Pentagon report. According to an audit, a report received in 2023 showed that 82% of the fleet was ready before being moved to storage in Germany. However, a subsequent inspection revealed that all 117 vehicles were defective. To cover the failure and equip the units, the Pentagon was forced to urgently withdraw 97 IFVs from the strategic reserve. The Army hired the company KBR to restore 107 of the 117 vehicles, allocating $10.1 million. However, the company lacked engineers with Bradley experience and personnel trained in the Army's inventory system. Due to critical delays, the Army withdrew 50 vehicles from the contract in March 2024, and by May, KBR had completely suspended work, moving the vehicles to its own repair facilities. By July 2025, only 51 vehicles had been restored. The US Pentagon acknowledged that military support to Ukraine was one of the reasons for the failure. Repair resources and personnel in Europe were channeled into maintaining equipment for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which paralyzed the restoration of the Bradley fleet.
New Russian Pantsir-S anti-aircraft systems down Ukrainian Flamingo missiles
Shock prevails in Ukraine with the new Pantsir-S anti-aircraft missile systems, being delivered to the Russian army by the company High Precision Systems (part of Rostec), which are successfully destroying the new long-range Flamingo missiles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. "The Pantsir-S anti-aircraft missile and gun system confirms its performance daily in combat conditions. The development of High Precision Systems intercepts almost the entire spectrum of enemy aerial attack means. The Pantsir has successfully dealt with a wide range of drones, as well as ATACMS ballistic missiles, Storm Shadow and Flamingo cruise missiles, HARM high-speed missiles, HIMARS guided missiles, and other targets," Rostec reported. The state company underlined that the Pantsir-S is highly mobile and possesses high firepower. The system is designed for the anti-aircraft defense of military, administrative, and industrial facilities, as well as areas, against aircraft, helicopters, drones, cruise missiles, and other aerial threats, while it is also used to strengthen air defense in cases of mass attacks.
Russian forces completely dismantled the Ukrainian 108th Brigade's 3rd Battalion in Zaporizhia
Russian forces have almost completely neutralized the personnel of the 3rd Rifle Battalion of the 108th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Zaporizhia sector. Relatives of the surviving soldiers are desperately sounding the alarm and demanding an immediate rotation from command. According to Russian security forces, the Ukrainian unit suffered severe losses during the fighting. The battalion, which was supposed to hold its positions, essentially ceased to exist as a combat unit. Veterans, families, and friends of the soldiers, please record a video message regarding the need for urgent help and battalion rotation. Express everything as you best understand and know it. "We will make the video public," the relatives stated in the message.
Russian soldier sets record, downs 12 Ukrainian drones at once
A platoon commander claimed he shot down 12 Ukrainian Armed Forces drones while protecting civilians. The commander of an electronic warfare platoon of the 11th Army Corps of the Northern Group of Forces stated that he managed to destroy 12 enemy FPV drones during a field operation. According to the soldier, the UAVs were downed while protecting a civilian vehicle from an enemy attack. The platoon commander specified that this was his personal record for destroyed equipment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The drones were hit with both small arms and standard electronic warfare equipment. The soldier admitted he volunteered for the special operation and rose through the ranks from a simple private to a platoon commander. He also said that electronic warfare specialists use high-altitude cellular networks to protect civilians.
158th Ukrainian Brigade destroyed in the Sumy region
The 158th Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces suffered dramatic losses in the Sumy region. Russian security forces reported that the unit is no longer capable of performing combat missions and has essentially lost its integrity.
Russians reached Kivsharivka southeast of Kupyansk
Geographic footage published on March 18 shows Russian forces operating in Kivsharivka, southeast of Kupyansk. An officer of a Ukrainian brigade operating in the Kupyansk direction reported on March 18 that Russian forces have significantly intensified attacks with first-person view (FPV) drones and guided glide bombs against vehicles, ambulances, and infrastructure in this direction since March 13. The officer noted that Ukrainian forces are finding many fallen Russian Molniya-2 FPV drones with fixed wings that crashed when their batteries were exhausted.
Russians advance in Kostyantynivka, took Pavlivka southwest of Druzhkivka
Geographic footage published on March 16 shows Russian forces operating in southern Kostyantynivka. The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed that Russian forces captured Pavlivka (southwest of Druzhkivka). Russian forces attacked near Kostyantynivka itself, northeast of Kostyantynivka near Chasiv Yar, Holubivka, Minkivka, and Pryvillya, and toward Malynivka, southeast of Kostyantynivka near Kleban-Byk, Ivanopillya, and Pleshchiivka, south of Kostyantynivka near Berestok and Illinivka, southwest of Kostyantynivka near Stepanivka, south of Druzhkivka near Rusyn Yar, and southwest of Druzhkivka near Sofiivka and Novopavlivka and toward Pavlivka on March 18 and 19. A Ukrainian brigade acting in the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka tactical area reported on March 18 that Ukrainian forces repelled a Russian mechanized attack of an unspecified echelon in the southwestern suburbs of Kostyantynivka.
Russians reached southern Richne, northwest of Orikhiv in Zaporizhia
Geographic footage published on March 19 shows Ukrainian forces raiding a Russian-occupied building and capturing Russian military prisoners in southern Richne (northwest of Orikhiv). Elements of the Russian 76th Airborne (VDV) Division are operating near Mala Tokmachka (southwest of Orikhiv) and elements of the 19th Motorized Rifle Division (58th CAA, SMD) are operating near Prymorske.
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