Russian invasion of Ukraine

[PhaelixWW]

Slightly large explosion at the Engels air force base, where russia bases heavy bombers. Reportedly it was storage for guided bombs and missiles that got hit. The shockwave from the blast damaged buildings more than 5km from the base - hopefully a few aircraft were around when it went up as they wouldn't take too kindly to a shockwave that big.

Satellite photos are out.

Before:




After:

[Edge-]

some things appear to have gone through rapid unplanned disassembly

[PhaelixWW]

some things appear to have gone through rapid unplanned disassembly

Oh, it was definitely planned.

[Edge-]

Oh, it was definitely planned.

not by russia, though.

[Poopymonster]

not by russia, though.

Critical Existence Failures.

[PhaelixWW]

Politico: Europe’s new unanimity: Orbán doesn’t need to agree

If the Hungarian prime minister wants to go it alone, he’s very welcome to, diplomats say.

European leaders are no longer relying on Hungary to go along with key policy positions on Ukraine. But that doesn't mean Budapest can't still cause problems.

Presidents and prime ministers from across the bloc met in Brussels on Thursday to sign off a raft of new commitments, from economic competitiveness to financial markets.

But by far the thorniest issue, as always, is delivering support to Ukraine — with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán consistently opposing any efforts to step up military aid or progress the country's application to become a European Union member.

Rules that normally require all 27 EU countries to agree on a joint statement for it to be issued on behalf of the European Council were firmly in the crosshairs two weeks ago, when he attempted to derail proposals for Europe to fill the gap left by an American aid cutoff for Kyiv.

Then though, a text agreed by the remaining 26 countries was appended to the other resolutions, which were unanimously agreed. And while Hungary opted out, it was still issued as a formal European Council conclusion. That tactic seems to be working and diplomats told POLITICO they intend to use it again.

"The statement on Ukraine today will be issued as an annex on behalf of the 26," said one senior EU diplomat, granted anonymity to discuss Thursday's closed-door talks. "This is the new normal. And it is useful when it comes to political intent. Maybe down the line though we will encounter other problems."

Meanwhile, a top EU official added, Hungary's objections are being priced in — and quickly ignored.

"After March 6, no one has any doubts that there is divergence with one member state. The objective should always be to have conclusions at 27 — if it’s not possible, if the strategic division is maintained, and we have all the indications that it is maintained, that we would move forward at 26," the official said.

European leaders scored a major win at the last European Council earlier this month when they secured the support of Slovakia’s Robert Fico, splitting him off from joining forces with Hungary.

Ultimately though, tough wording threatening additional sanctions on Russian energy and trade goods might mean little, given actually implementing it at an EU level still does require unanimity — and Hungary has time and time again blocked proposals to tighten the remaining loopholes.

"Orbán chose isolation and a path of illiberal democracy against the obvious interest of the EU and, in fact, Hungary. He was given many opportunities and rejected extended hands," said a second diplomat. "The security of Europe is too serious of an issue to negotiate with one person who sees things 180 degrees differently than everyone else."

"If he thinks he can do it better, by going alone, I don't think many would try to stop him."

A draft of the Ukraine statement, seen by POLITICO, reaffirms the EU's "continued and unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders."

"The European Union maintains its ‘peace through strength’ approach, which requires Ukraine to be in the strongest possible position, with its own robust military and defence capabilities as an essential component," it said.

Meanwhile, a third senior European diplomat said that while the bloc welcomes President Donald Trump's efforts to try and end the war, it was not expecting to change its stance any time soon.

“There are U.S.-Russia talks and U.S.-Ukraine talks, but these are not seen as a peace negotiation,” another senior EU official told POLITICO. However, the official added, “the EU welcomes U.S. efforts” to try and cement a ceasefire, but will continue to provide material support to Ukraine regardless.

Suck it, Orbán.

[Wilian]

Source please?
I see nothing on this. 40b is huge, doubt that would get through anywhere as is.

https://www.politico.eu/article/mili...nds-artillery/

This too. There are Finnish newspaper articles about it as well butnyou probably cant read them.

[Voidism]

Politico: Europe’s new unanimity: Orbán doesn’t need to agree

Suck it, Orbán.

And they just magically could do this all this time, yet whined about Orbán when the new aid packages were held up?

[Wilian]

And they just magically could do this all this time, yet whined about Orbán when the new aid packages were held up?

It's convenient excuse. Southern EU states and Spain&France are kind of typical blockers as well

[Vampiregenesis]

I read something about Ukraine invading Belgorod.

[DarkTZeratul]

I read something about Ukraine invading Belgorod.

And would you care to share what you read? Or are you being vague because you know it's a shitty source and we would rightly lambast you for trusting it?

[Kaleredar]

I read something about Ukraine invading Belgorod.

And I once read about a boy who lived under the stairs in a cupboard who went to school to become a wizard; we just saying things now?

[Mazza]

And would you care to share what you read? Or are you being vague because you know it's a shitty source and we would rightly lambast you for trusting it?

It does look like Ukraine did an incursion into Belgorod to take pressure of the Kursk region, Youtubers like Denys Davydov reported on it like 2 days ago. He has an update here

[Deus Mortis]

And I once read about a boy who lived under the stairs in a cupboard who went to school to become a wizard; we just saying things now?

https://www.reddit.com/r/UkraineWarV...hat_ukrainian/
Ukrainian military channels claim that Ukrainian forces have almost completely taken over the border village of Demidovka in Russia's Belgorod region. March 2025 [unconfirmed]
He is not fully wrong. It seems Ukraine is probing the area.
https://www.reddit.com/r/UkraineWarV...hicles_led_by/

A column of Ukrainian armored vehicles led by BREM advancing towards Demydivka, Belgorod region, a few hours ago, footage from enemy UAVs
Photo

[Kaleredar]

https://www.reddit.com/r/UkraineWarV...hat_ukrainian/
Ukrainian military channels claim that Ukrainian forces have almost completely taken over the border village of Demidovka in Russia's Belgorod region. March 2025 [unconfirmed]
He is not fully wrong. It seems Ukraine is probing the area.
https://www.reddit.com/r/UkraineWarV...hicles_led_by/

Sure, I’m not saying it’s impossible or didn’t happen.

What I’m saying is I sure as shit don’t trust that poster randomly saying “hey I heard a thing”

[alach]

Its most likely the assault brigades again. These guys are not trained to sit around defending, they are trained to push forward and having them not doing that somewhere is a waste. Its what a lot of the critics of the Kursk incursion didn't really understand. Anyways, I expect to hear more about this in the next 24 hours. Zelensky lost one bargaining chip, so hes out to grab another, and teach russia they can't afford to defend a border that large and still have the manpower to continue to invade your neighbour.

News headline from CNN.
For Vladimir Putin, Russia’s position in the world is personal. Here’s what he really wants

CNN — US President Donald Trump said he thinks Vladimir Putin wants peace. Ukraine and its European allies don’t believe he does, while the Russian leader himself said he wants peace but then refused to sign up to it when presented with the option.

What Putin really wants, though, is much, much bigger.

The Russian president has made no secret of the fact that he believes Ukraine should not exist as an independent state and he has repeatedly said he wants NATO to shrink back to its Cold War-era size.

But more than anything, he wants to see a new global order — and he wants Russia to play the starring role in it.

I personally find this incorrect, since what this invasion has cost russia in terms of reputation, human lives, and money, they really don't have a lot of influence around the world left any more.

[Deus Mortis]

I personally find this incorrect, since what this invasion has cost russia in terms of reputation, human lives, and money, they really don't have a lot of influence around the world left any more.

It is funny, no one even wants to buy their military toys anymore after it has been shown their newer stuff is inferior to the handmedowns from the US.

[Kaleredar]

Its most likely the assault brigades again. These guys are not trained to sit around defending, they are trained to push forward and having them not doing that somewhere is a waste. Its what a lot of the critics of the Kursk incursion didn't really understand. Anyways, I expect to hear more about this in the next 24 hours. Zelensky lost one bargaining chip, so hes out to grab another, and teach russia they can't afford to defend a border that large and still have the manpower to continue to invade your neighbour.

News headline from CNN.
For Vladimir Putin, Russia’s position in the world is personal. Here’s what he really wants


I personally find this incorrect, since what this invasion has cost russia in terms of reputation, human lives, and money, they really don't have a lot of influence around the world left any more.

Well consider that he likely thought this was going to go a much different way… that he’d sweep in, take over, and the world would be utterly complacent in him wholesale taking over another nation or installing some puppet government. And then he’d move on to the next and the next until Europe was begging him to stop.

He likely thought that, at the time, he had paralyzed the US into inaction (or thought he had lost his chance with Trump losing reelection and had to act) and that Europe’s energy reliance would cause them to roll over.

Luckily for Ukraine and the world Biden provided a brief respite from Trump’s Russophile foreign policy madness to give Ukraine a boost and Europe the kick in the pants it needed to jump into action as well.

And now that madness has unfortunately returned, Europe better get its ass into gear and quick.

But as far as “new world order goes,” whatever Putin’s plans were, even if he grinds Ukraine down, are shot. Even with the current occupant of the White House being his asset and retracting from global hegemony at his behest, China and Europe are poised to vie for that new power vacuum.

[Mayhem]

And now that madness has unfortunately returned, Europe better get its ass into gear and quick.

I hope you're aware that Europe can't do it without a revolt from within the US?

I mean, yes, we have to take the lead, no question, but Europe can't fend off Russia and the US at the same time, that's just not possible.

I wonder when you folks wake up and realize that the precedent from the past couple of weeks means one thing and one thing only, no more democracy.

They are erasing history, they are ignoring the courts, they are prosecuting people without cause, they are locking up people without charges, destroying crucial government institutions, and establishing their special police force.

[Kaleredar]

I hope you're aware that Europe can't do it without a revolt from within the US?

I mean, yes, we have to take the lead, no question, but Europe can't fend off Russia and the US at the same time, that's just not possible.

I wonder when you folks wake up and realize that the precedent from the past couple of weeks means one thing and one thing only, no more democracy.

They are erasing history, they are ignoring the courts, they are prosecuting people without cause, they are locking up people without charges, destroying crucial government institutions, and establishing their special police force.

Whether that’s true or not Europe best not throw up its hand and say “well the US didn’t do anything, nobody deposed Trump… we’re all out of ideas. Shame.” And not for the US’ sake, and not just for Ukraine’s sake… but for their own sake as well.

Cuz the next stop in Putin’s little bastardized speed run of Hitler’s expansionism isn’t the US, it’s Europe.